The just-concluded Central Economic Work Conference has drawn warm responses from officials, entrepreneurs, as well as Chinese and foreign observers, boosting their confidence in China's economic operation. Global media outlets also attached great attention to the world's second-largest economy's latest policy stance, which has significant global implications.

The annual Central Economic Work Conference was held in Beijing from Wednesday to Thursday as Chinese leaders decided on priorities for the economic work in 2025, according to the Xinhua News Agency. Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, delivered an important speech at the conference.

The meeting acknowledged the deepened adverse impact brought about by changes in the external environment and the many difficulties and challenges still facing the domestic economic operation, and pointed out that the supporting conditions and fundamental trend for the Chinese economy's long-term sound development remain unchanged.

"We must face up to the difficulties, strengthen our confidence, and strive to transform all positive factors into actual achievements in development," the meeting said.

The important speech delivered by Xi has instilled fresh confidence into the conference participants, as officials expressed resolve to fulfill the goals and tasks in the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) with high quality and lay a solid foundation for a good start to the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30), according to Xinhua News Agency.

Warm response

Representatives from Chinese companies paid close attention to the key meeting, as it outlined a number of key tasks for 2025, including efforts to vigorously boost consumption, improve investment efficiency, and expand domestic demand on all fronts.

Zhou Hongyi, founder and chairman of 360 Security Technology, told the Global Times on Friday that the top meeting's emphasis on innovation-driven growth portends more supportive policies and efforts to improve the business environment in the tech sector, and his company will seek to seize the opportunities in the new era to contribute more to the high-quality development of the Chinese economy by achieving constant innovation and industrial application and promoting the fusion of tech and industries.

Zhou Mi, a senior research fellow at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, noted that China will in the next phase spend more effort on improving its investment environment based on the meeting's guidelines.

"The meeting called for efforts to be made to expand the pilot programs in opening up such fields as telecom, healthcare and education, and stabilize foreign investment… it means there will be more stability when it comes to attracting foreign investment, as it is also a common aspiration for global companies doing business in China," Zhou told the Global Times on Friday, noting that the priority given to further boosting consumption also reflected policymakers' considerations on both the domestic and external fronts.

Tao Wang, chief China economist with UBS Investment Bank, told the Global Times on Friday that the Central Economic Work Conference prioritized "stabilizing growth" and emphasized boosting domestic demand with more proactive macro policies, with "reviving household consumption" listed as a key task.

"The meeting set a much more supportive macro policy tone to stabilize growth, while more details are still set to be revealed later," Wang said, noting that the government explicitly called for cutting reserve requirement ratio and policy rates.

Zou Lan, an official with the People's Bank of China, said that the moderately loose monetary policy tone-setting sends a very strong signal, intensifying the continuity and effectiveness of policies, and is set to boost investor confidence, shore up consumption willingness and further invigorate the activeness of market entities, promoting the real economy to develop in a virtuous cycle, according to state broadcaster CCTV.

The Ministry of Commerce announced on Friday that the policy-backed trade-in programs for consumer goods has lifted sales revenues of related products by 1 trillion yuan ($137.45 billion) as of Friday, including the sale of 5.2 million cars, over 49 million home appliance products and 900,000 electric bikes.

Boon for global growth

The meeting with vital implications for world economy was closely watched by world media.

Bloomberg, in a report, said Chinese policymakers made "lifting consumption vigorously" and stimulating overall domestic demand their top priority, which happens "only the second time in at least a decade."

The New York Times highlighted China's emphasis on borrowing more and cutting interest rates in a bid to bolster growth and analyzed that the statements suggest a "willingness by Beijing to take more aggressive steps to increase spending."

The South China Morning Post noted that the meeting calls for making space for the private sector and increasing fiscal deficit and pledging more spending to keep demand high.

Maya Majueran, director of Belt and Road Initiative Sri Lanka (BRISL), a Sri Lanka-based organization that specializes in BRI cooperation, told the Global Times on Friday that despite facing numerous domestic and international challenges, supportive policies including a more proactive fiscal policy and a moderately loose monetary stance are expected to support stable and sustained economic growth and this creates a favorable opportunity for developing countries to boost their exports to the world's second-largest economy, with continued growth and influence.

Incremental policies, rolled out in September, have raised expectations of China's economic outlook and boosted market confidence, with a number of foreign financial institutions making positive remarks.

The economy is likely to maintain the momentum, Bloomberg reported on Friday, citing a forecast by a group of economists.

During a meeting on Tuesday in Beijing with heads of major international economic organizations, who came to attend the "1+10" dialogue, Xi said that China has full confidence in achieving this year's economic growth target and will continue to play its role as the biggest engine of world economic growth.

The rise of the Global South represents a shift toward a more balanced and inclusive international system, Evandro Menezes de Carvalho, a law professor at Fluminense Federal University in Brazil, said in a video address during the Global Times Annual Conference 2025, themed "Moving forward in Partnership: Resonance of Values between China and the World," which took place in Beijing on Saturday.

In his address,Carvalho pointed out that the Global South's growing influence helps balance the traditional dominance of Western powers in institutions like the UN, the IMF, and the World Bank.

Many Global South countries are experiencing rapid economic growth, which diversifies global economic leadership beyond Western economies. Initiatives like the BRICS Plus and the establishment of alternative financial mechanisms like the New Development Bank, reduce reliance on Western-dominated systems and promote development tailored to regional needs, Carvalho said.

The professor noted that a multipolar world dilutes hegemonic tendencies and promotes a system where multiple voices and perspectives shape international policies.

"By championing non-alignment and cooperation among diverse nations, the Global South fosters a more inclusive global order that reflects the interests of a broader range of states," he said.

The successful launch of Macao Science-1 satellites, the first space science satellite program jointly developed by the Chinese mainland and Macao, owes much to the strong support of scientists and engineers from the mainland, Zhang Keke, chief scientist of the program and vice president of Macao University of Science and Technology, told the Global Times in an exclusive interview. 

"It is a successful example of leveraging the advantages of the 'one country, two systems' policy to jointly achieve technological breakthroughs," Zhang said, while revealing that on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland, the Macao Science-2 satellite project has also been approved by the Macao Special Administration Regional (SAR) government.

As the establishment of a "global high-precision geomagnetic constellation" has been included in the recently released national-level development program for medium- to long-term space science from 2024 to 2050, it can be expected that Macao's influence in the international space science and technology field will continue to grow in the future, said Zhang, who is also the director of the Macao Institute of Space Technology and Applications.

The People's Daily reported on December 9 that the Macao Science-1 satellite science team recently released China's first WM³ 4D Earth magnetic field model, which fully leverages the high-precision geomagnetic data collected by the satellite, expected to significantly improve Earth science and geomagnetic navigation. It can be applied to scientific research in Earth's deep interior, oceans, and Earth space, as well as in aerospace, maritime navigation, resource exploration, and intelligent devices.  

Zhang told the Global Times that the current version of the real-time Earth magnetic field model is built on the high-precision magnetic field data from the Macao Science-1 satellites and other effective geomagnetic data. As China's first self-controlled real-time Earth magnetic field model, it holds significant scientific and practical value and represents a major advancement in the scientific research and applications of the satellite project.  

Zhang added that the data collected by the Macao Science-1 satellites will grow, with algorithms undergoing continuous refinement. The team plans to release updated versions of the real-time Earth magnetic field model in the future.  

The study of Earth's magnetic field is key to human survival, Zhang said. The sun constantly emits high-energy particles that hurtle toward Earth at high speeds. Earth's magnetic field serves as a protective shield, shielding the planet from these particles. Without it, life as we know it would be impossible, he said.

China launched the Macao Science-1 satellites on May 21, 2023, with a Long March-2C carrier rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

According to the China National Space Administration (CNSA), Macao Science-1 project is the first jointly developed space science satellite program by the Chinese mainland and Macao. It is also the first scientific exploration satellite designed to study the geomagnetic field and South Atlantic Anomaly, Xinhua said.

"After more than a year in orbit, the 'Macao Science-1' satellite has completed 8,000 Earth orbits, operating smoothly, collecting extensive high-precision data," Zhang said. "Scientists and engineers from countries including the US, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain are using this data for research and applications in fields such as Earth's deep interior, ocean science, and Earth space science."

According to the CNSA, the Macao Science-1 satellite program has signed cooperative research agreements with 18 countries including the US, the UK and France, positioning it as a "golden calling card" showcasing Macau's cutting-edge high-tech capabilities. 

"Due to the great success of the Macao Science-1 satellite, our team is now working on the planning of Macao Science-2," Zhang Keke shared. "If all goes well, the 'Macao Science-2' satellite is scheduled to be launched in late 2026 or early 2027."

When asked why it is necessary to launch the Macao Science-2, Zhang explained, "Macao Science-1 can only conduct observations, analyses, and data measurements in low-latitude regions, but it excludes polar regions. To achieve full global coverage and to enhance measurements of Earth's magnetic field and spatial data, it is essential to launch the Macao Science-2 satellite."

The Macao Science-2 program will also consist of two satellites. If successfully launched, they will form a satellite constellation with Macao Science-1 satellites. This four-satellite constellation will facilitate networked observations to deliver precise global data on Earth's magnetic field and space weather. It will be the world's first ideal constellation combining polar orbit and low-inclination satellites, offering detailed 3D observations of Earth's magnetic field and space weather.

China deplored and has lodged strong protests to the US over arranging for Taiwan regional leader Lai Ching-te's "stopovers" in Hawaii and Guam and having official interactions with the Taiwan region, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said at a press conference on Friday, urging the US to adhere to one-China principle and stop sending seriously wrong signals to the "Taiwan independence" separatist forces.

By arranging for Lai's "stopovers" in Hawaii and Guam, having official interactions with the Taiwan region, helping Taiwan expand so-called "international space," and providing platforms for "Taiwan independence" separatist activities, the US gravely violated the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiqués. The actions it took undermine China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and send a severely wrong signal to "Taiwan independence" separatist forces, Lin said at a press conference on Friday.

Taiwan regional Leader Lai Ching-te has reportedly concluded his "stopovers" in Hawaii and Guam of the US and is scheduled to return to the island on Friday, according to Taiwan media. 

Lin said the Taiwan question is the first red line that must not be crossed in China-US relations. "Taiwan independence" separatist activities are as incompatible with peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits as fire with water. China urges the US to abide by the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiqués, act on the US leaders' commitment, including not supporting "Taiwan independence," stop its official interactions with Taiwan, stop obscuring and hollowing out the one-China principle, stop abetting and aiding the separatist forces and their activities in any form, and take concrete actions to stabilize China-US relations and contribute to peace in the Taiwan Straits, said Lin.

"Let me stress that attempts to solicit US support for 'Taiwan independence' or use the Taiwan question to contain China will lead nowhere. No one should underestimate the firm resolve, will and ability of the Chinese government and people to safeguard sovereignty and territorial integrity," said Lin.

Also on the same day, Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said Lai's actions once again prove that the so-called "stopover" is merely an excuse, and in reality, it is a political maneuver by the DPP authorities to "rely on the US to seek 'independence'" and by the US side to "use Taiwan island to contain China."

Zhu warned the DPP authorities that relying on the US for "Taiwan independence" and pursuing military means for "Taiwan independence" agenda is a dead end, and is doomed to failure.

The real purpose of Lai's "stopover" in Hawaii and Guam, which are not essential to the travel route for countries in the South Pacific, is to advance the "Taiwan independence" agenda by seeking more US support, Zheng Jian, a professor at the Taiwan Research Institute of Xiamen University, told the Global Times on Friday. 

Before and during the trip, Lai repeatedly exaggerated "threats" from the mainland to gain US backing and deceive the international community. His tactics resemble those used in his inauguration on May 20 and "Double Ten" speeches: provoking first, then inflating potential mainland countermeasures. Once the mainland responds firmly, Lai is portrayed as the victim, said Zheng. 

The US government will not abandon its use of Taiwan as a bargaining chip, but the extent to which the incoming US administration will leverage Taiwan remains uncertain. Lai is compelled to pledge loyalty to the US during his brief "stopover," said Zheng.

Also on Friday, Lai reportedly claimed that he is confident of deeper cooperation with the next administration of Donald Trump and the day before, he had a phone call with US House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson.

In response, Lin said that China has repeatedly stated its firm position on this matter. 

We urge the US to fully see the separatist nature of Lai Ching-te and the DPP authorities, fully understand the grave damage that "Taiwan independence" separatist activities due to peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits, fully abide by the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiqués, stop meddling in affairs related to Taiwan, which are China's internal affairs, and stop aiding and abetting "Taiwan independence" separatist forces, Lin said.  

Unwavering determination

Lai and other "Taiwan independence" separatist forces should know that their provocative remarks promoting "Taiwan independence" cannot be made lightly, and they will have to pay the price. Taiwan is a part of China, and this fact cannot be changed, Song Zhongping, a Chinese military expert, told the Global Times. 

China will not make any concessions on the Taiwan question even when faced with external interference and the People's Liberation Army is fully prepared for any circumstance, said Song. 

On Friday, in response to a query on whether the mainland is planning to conduct more military exercises surrounding Taiwan island, Lin said the Taiwan question is at the core of China's core interests and the first red line that cannot be crossed in China-US relations. China remains unwavering in its resolve to defend our nation's sovereignty and territorial integrity. 

Previously some Taiwan local media claimed that the mainland military is poised to "encircle Taiwan proper in military exercise 'Joint Sword-2024C'," as Lai is returning from his visit to "diplomatic allies" in the Pacific via "transit" through the US.

On May 23, the Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army conducted the "Joint Sword-2024A" military exercise around the Taiwan Straits. Also on October 14, the PLA Eastern Theater Command dispatched troops from its army, navy, air force and rocket force to conduct joint military drills code-named Joint Sword-2024B in the Taiwan Straits. The drill served as a stern warning to the separatist acts of "Taiwan Independence" forces, Senior Captain Li Xi, spokesperson of the PLA Eastern Theater Command, said in a statement.

Conducting military exercises shows PLA's determination to safeguard sovereignty, territorial integrity, and national unity while curbing separatism, Zhang Junshe, a Chinese military expert, told the Global Times.

As the situation in Syria escalates, Chinese Embassy in Syria issued an urgent reminder, advising Chinese citizens to return to China or leave the country as soon as possible. 

Currently, the battle field situation in northwestern Syria is becoming tense, and the security situation in the country is further deteriorating. The Chinese Embassy in Syria has advised Chinese citizens to return to China or leave the country as soon as possible while commercial flights are still available. Those who are able to do so may also consider leaving through relevant land border checkpoints. 

Given these exceptional circumstances, Chinese citizens who insist on traveling to or staying in the affected areas may face extremely high security risks, which could also impact the effectiveness for them to receive assistance.

The Syrian army announced Thursday that it has redeployed its forces outside the western-central Syrian city of Hama after fierce battles with rebel groups, confirming that rebels have entered the city following intense attacks from multiple fronts, according to Xinhua News Agency.

"Over the past few days, our armed forces have fought fierce battles to repel and thwart the violent and successive attacks launched by terrorist organizations on the city of Hama from various directions and in large numbers, using all types of military equipment and assisted by infiltration groups," said a statement issued by the Syrian General Command of the Army and Armed Forces.

In another development, Syria's air defense systems intercepted two hostile drones over the capital city of Damascus on Thursday, the Syrian Defense Ministry said.

"Our air defense units recently repelled hostile unmanned aircraft in the skies over Damascus and shot down two drones, without any human casualties or material losses," the ministry said in a statement.

The statement did not specify who was operating the drones or what their intended targets were. There was no immediate claim of responsibility.

Xinhua correspondents in Damascus heard sounds of gunfire and explosions, but the situation returned to normalcy shortly afterward.

Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Senior Minister of Singapore Lee Hsien Loong in Beijing on Tuesday, calling for further synergy of development strategies and enhanced cooperation.

Commending the remarkable achievements Singapore made during Lee's tenure as prime minister, Xi spoke highly of Lee's long-term support for China-Singapore cooperation. The two sides established an all-round high-quality future-oriented partnership last year, setting a strategic course for the development of bilateral ties, Xi said.

Noting that next year will mark the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Singapore, Xi called on the two countries to strengthen high-level exchanges and deepen cooperation in various fields, so as to deliver more benefits to the two peoples and make greater contributions to regional peace and prosperity.

At the invitation of the Chinese side, Lee is visiting China from November 24 to 29. According to Singapore-based CNA, this is Lee's first visit to China since stepping down as Singaporean prime minister in May.

While delivering the keynote address at the China-Singapore Suzhou Industrial Park High-Quality Development Forum in Suzhou, East China's Jiangsu Province on Monday, Lee said that it would be both "short-sighted" and "unwise" to write off China, the world's second-largest economy, despite challenges at home and abroad, CNA reported.

"China's development is an enterprise that will take 100 years. It has shown that it can take a strategic perspective to maintain consistent policies and direction over the long term, riding through transient ups and downs in its development journey," Lee said.

After Beijing, Lee will make his third and final stop in Shanghai, where he will meet overseas Singaporeans, the Singaporean Prime Minister's Office said in a press release.

Lee is accompanied by other ministers and senior officials in foreign affairs, education, national development, trade and industry, culture, community and youth, among others, the Prime Minister's Office announced.

"Lee's visit is anticipated to promote the development of bilateral relations and lay the foundation for further growth," Gu Xiaosong, dean of the ASEAN Research Institute at Hainan Tropical Ocean University, told the Global Times on Tuesday.

Chen Hong, executive director of the Asia-Pacific Studies Center at East China Normal University, noted that the spirit of pragmatism is the cornerstone of China-Singapore relations, as both countries engage in cooperation based on their common interests.

Lee, now a Senior Minister, is one of China's most frequently visiting foreign leaders - having made more than 10 trips as prime minister in the two decades from 2004, South China Morning Post reported. During his China visit in March 2023, the two sides elevated bilateral ties to an all-round high-quality future-oriented partnership, charting the course for the future development of bilateral relations.

The Senior Minister can have positive and proactive influence on the current Singaporean government's policy toward China, which makes Lee's China visit hold important significance, Chen told the Global Times on Tuesday.

China and Singapore are both important countries in the Asia-Pacific and have made important contributions to maintaining stability and prosperity in the region. "Especially against the backdrop of the changing international situation, further consolidating bilateral relations will not only benefit the two countries but also the region," Chen said.

Gu noted that the China-Singapore relationship not only focuses on developing bilateral ties but also extends to a broader scope, such as how to promote the friendly development of relations between China and ASEAN.

According to the Xinhua News Agency, 26 investment cooperation projects between China and Singapore were signed on Monday in Suzhou Industrial Park.

The projects, spanning sectors like biopharmaceuticals, collaborative innovation and the digital economy, were reached during the China-Singapore Investment Forum held in Suzhou Industrial Park, the first intergovernmental cooperation project between China and Singapore.

The senior minister's trip to China comes less than two weeks after a visit to the US, which concluded on November 14, according to the Singaporean Foreign Ministry.

"Although Lee stepped down as prime minister, he still wields significant political influence. This is not only due to his family background - his father, Lee Kuan Yew- but also because of the extensive network of relationships he has built with leaders from countries like China and the US over the years," Gu said.

The Asia-Pacific is a key engine driving global economy. Its peace and prosperity have far-reaching implications for global stability and development, Chen said, adding that Singapore has a special importance given its strategic location at the crossroads of two oceans.

A delegation of the Communist Party of China (CPC) led by Zhao Shitong, assistant-minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, visited Japan from Sunday to Thursday, according to the Xinhua News Agency. 

During the visit, the delegation met and exchanged views with Hiroshi Moriyama, secretary general of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, Tetsuo Saito, leader of the Komeito Party, Yoshihiko Noda, leader of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, Yuichiro Tamaki, leader of Democratic Party for the People (DPP), Mizuho Fukushima, head of the Social Democratic Party of Japan, and Kyoto Governor Takatoshi Nishiwaki.

The delegation also attended a friendship event with representatives from various sectors in the Kansai region and engaged in discussions with faculty and students at Ritsumeikan University.

Both sides expressed their commitment to implementing the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, deepening inter-party exchanges and political dialogue, and working together to comprehensively advance China-Japan ties while jointly addressing global challenges.

China's State Council Information Office issued a white paper titled China's Rural Roads in the New Era on Friday to introduce the achievements and vision of rural road development and to share the country's wisdom and solution to the world.

According to the white paper, from 2014 to 2023, a total of 2.5 million kilometers of rural roads were built or renovated, and 70,600 villages were connected by paved roads. The total length of rural roads reached 4.6 million kilometers by the end of 2023, an increase of 21.7 percent over 2013, enough to circle the equator 115 times, the white paper said.

China's non-toll rural roads constitute the most extensive component of transport infrastructure and serve a significant majority of the population. They play a critical role in assisting the rural population in their travels, improving their well-being and living environment, and advancing the modernization of agriculture and rural areas, read the white paper.

Ten years ago, Chinese President Xi Jinping issued instructions on rural road construction to eliminate the traffic bottlenecks restricting rural development, and to facilitate poverty alleviation work in the countryside.

He ordered that rural roads be built well, managed well, maintained well and used well. For this reason, these roads have become known as "Four-Wells Rural Roads," or "Sihaonongcunlu" in Chinese. In May, Xi issued a new instruction on work related to rural roads, urging unremitting efforts be made to upgrade rural roads to facilitate rural development.

In recent years, the Ministry of Transport and other central and local authorities have made notable achievements in improving rural roads, boosting the sense of fulfillment, happiness and security of rural residents, Xi said.

Better rural roads will provide solid support to bring common prosperity to rural residents, facilitate rural revitalization, and accelerate the modernization of China's agriculture and countryside, Xi said.

Guided by Xi's instructions, China has continued to implement the high-quality development of rural roads through institutional innovation, better policies, systematic planning and targeted policy implementation. This has led to significant improvements in the coverage, accessibility, maintenance, services, safety, and resilience of rural roads.

Better transport has cleared bottlenecks that had long delayed economic and social development in poor areas, and has laid a solid foundation for rural people to realize moderate prosperity in all respects, the white paper said.

According to the white paper, the steady development of transport facilities in rural areas has attracted more capital, projects and talent to the countryside, creating more job opportunities and broadening the avenues for income growth.

At present, rural road construction projects provide work for about 80,000 people in need as a form of relief, enabling an annual average per capita income increase of around 8,500 yuan (about $1,182.57), the white paper noted.

About 850,000 jobs are provided in rural road management and maintenance, offering an annual average per capita income of approximately 13,000 yuan, it said.

While broad highways connect mountains and rivers over this vast land, rural roads buttress common people's dream of prosperity. China has explored an approach to developing rural roads in light of its realities, contributing Chinese wisdom and solutions to global poverty reduction.

Since 2018, China has supported 24 developing countries, including Cambodia, Serbia, Rwanda, Namibia, Vanuatu and Niger, in highway and bridge construction and maintenance. These efforts have helped these countries improve their transport infrastructure, according to the white paper.

Today, as China embarks on a new journey of promoting national rejuvenation through Chinese modernization, the country's rural road endeavors have entered a period of historic opportunity. China will implement a new round of rural road upgrading programs covering road network expansion, road safety, transport capacity, governance ability, public services, the road environment, the integrated development of transport and local industries, and the growth of employment and rural incomes. These efforts will improve the modern rural transport system, open a new chapter of rural road development, and build up China's strength in transport, read the white paper.

As China's modernization advances, by 2035, the country will have in place a rural road transport system with a sound scale and structure, high-quality infrastructure and services, and rational and effective governance. By the middle of the century, China will become a great modern socialist country with a safe, convenient, green and beautiful rural road transport system, according to the white paper.

In a spirit of openness and mutually-beneficial cooperation, China will strengthen international exchanges and collaboration in exploring new models and paths of rural road development, further contributing to global rural road development and poverty reduction, and building a global community with a shared future, read the white paper.

As a trailblazer in combating poverty, China has consistently shared its experiences and resources with other countries, fostering shared development that benefits all of humanity.

At the G20 Summit in November, China announced its decision to join the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty, an initiative designed to raise resources and knowledge to implement proven public policies and social technologies to combat hunger and poverty worldwide.

Over the years, China's commitment has been repeatedly evidenced through a range of projects, such as the Luban Workshop, the program of "Access to Satellite TV for 10,000 African Villages" and the "Africa Solar Belt" program, each widely embraced by locals.

China's success in poverty elimination not only offers hope and inspiration to countries worldwide but also provides valuable insights and practical support for their poverty alleviation efforts.

EXPERIENCE IN FIGHT AGAINST POVERTY

In 2021, China declared that it had eradicated extreme poverty, a remarkable achievement following decades of unremitting efforts by the world's most populous country. Having lifted 800 million people out of poverty, the country realized the poverty reduction goal set by the United Nations (UN) 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development a decade in advance.

However, poverty remains a vexing problem that has plagued humanity. In 2023, global hunger levels were stubbornly high for three consecutive years, with a staggering 733 million people -- one in eleven globally -- facing hunger, according to a report from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN.

This persistent challenge has prompted many nations still struggling with poverty to turn to China, hoping to learn from its success and replicate its anti-poverty achievements.

A cornerstone of China's poverty alleviation efforts is its targeted poverty alleviation strategy. With specific individuals, local conditions, and the root causes of poverty in mind, this approach has proven to be a silver bullet to the deeply entrenched problem.

Under this model, China established clear standards and procedures for accurately identifying the poor and implemented robust team efforts to ensure the effective implementation of tailored measures.

During China's battle against absolute poverty, a total of 255,000 teams were dispatched to offer on-the-ground support and over 3 million people were sent to the countryside as special commissioners for poverty relief, official data showed.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in his message for the 2017 Global Poverty Reduction and Development Forum that "targeted poverty reduction strategies are the only way to reach those farthest behind and achieve the ambitious targets set out in the 2030 Agenda."

"China has lifted hundreds of millions of people out of poverty, and its experiences can provide valuable lessons to other developing countries," he added.

Ravshan Nazarov, senior researcher at the Institute of State and Law of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan, said China's successful approach to combating poverty provides substantial support in implementing the UN's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and showcases a diverse and systematic model of poverty reduction that can serve as a practical example for other countries.

SUPPORT FOR GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT

At the G20 Summit, China also outlined eight actions for global development. These include pursuing high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, implementing the Global Development Initiative, supporting development in Africa, and supporting international cooperation on poverty reduction and food security.

"China is clearly demonstrating its commitment to the fight against poverty and its real support for the development of countries, especially those in the Global South," said Eduardo Relagado, researcher at the International Policy Research Center of Cuba.

Through various initiatives, China has consistently increased its resource input, optimized cooperation methods, and expanded financing channels to support the shared development of nations around the world.

The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), an important part of the eight actions, has already brought substantial benefits since its launch over 11 years ago.

By June 2023, China had signed more than 200 BRI cooperation agreements with more than 150 countries and 30 international organizations across five continents, yielding a number of signature projects and small-scale yet impactful projects.

World Bank has estimated that by 2030, BRI-related projects and investments could lift 7.6 million people out of extreme poverty and 32 million others out of moderate poverty.

The Global Development Initiative, launched three years ago, has provided nearly 20 billion U.S. dollars in development funds and launched more than 1,100 projects. Over 80 countries have joined the "Group of Friends of the Global Development Initiative," further strengthening global consensus on poverty reduction.

The country has trained over 400,000 professionals from more than 180 countries in a bid to strengthen their capacity to combat impoverishment and drive sustainable development.

In addition to these initiatives, China is expanding its trade openness with the least developed countries and has pledged to offer zero-tariff treatment on all products from these countries with diplomatic relations with China.

Dennis Munene, executive director of the China-Africa Center at the Africa Policy Institute in Nairobi, Kenya, emphasized that the launch of tariff-free measures for more African products will help open up China's market of over 1.4 billion people to them.

This move will promote trade and economic development in the poorer countries and help many of them escape absolute poverty, he added.

There is no fundamental conflict of interests between China and Australia, Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Monday.

Xi made the remarks when meeting with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro.

Xi said that as long as the two sides adhere to mutual respect, treat each other as equals, and seek common ground while shelving differences, China-Australia relations will surely develop well.

In his meeting with Albanese, Xi also called on China and Australia to strengthen coordination and cooperation and oppose protectionism.

Noting that both China and Australia are supporters and defenders of economic globalization and free trade, he urged the two sides to promote the sharing of opportunities and benefits among various countries via opening up, so as to realize common development.

Xi also said he is ready to work with the Australian side to build a more mature, stable, and fruitful comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Australia to inject more stability and certainty into the region and the world.

Xi pointed out that in November last year, he and Albanese had in-depth communication in Beijing on strategic, overall, and directional issues concerning the long-term development of China-Australia relations.

Over the past year and more, the two countries have maintained close communication and exchanges at all levels, actively promoted the implementation of the important consensus reached between the two leaders, and achieved positive progress, Xi said.

Xi pointed out that more than 250 Australian companies participated in this year's China International Import Expo, a record high, which is a "vote of confidence" by Australian companies in China's economy and cooperation between the two countries.

Noting that the two sides should be firm in expanding the pattern of mutually beneficial and win-win cooperation, Xi said China is willing to import more quality Australian products, encourage Chinese companies to invest and do business in Australia, and hope that Australia will provide a fair, transparent and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese companies.

Albanese said he is very glad to meet with President Xi again on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the Australia-China comprehensive strategic partnership.

Since his visit to China last year, Albanese said, the Australia-China relationship has made encouraging progress in various areas, including trade, bringing tangible benefits to the two peoples.

The Australian side stays committed to the one-China policy, opposes "decoupling," advocates promoting economic globalization, and hopes to strengthen cooperation with China in such areas as energy transition and climate change, he said.

Noting that China's development has made important contributions to the long-term stability and growth of the Asia-Pacific region, Albanese said that Australia appreciates China's important role in APEC and other multilateral mechanisms, supports China's role as the host of APEC in 2026, and stands ready to strengthen multilateral communication with China to promote regional peace, stability, prosperity and development.