Senior Colonel Xu Chenghua, spokesperson of the PLA Eastern Theater Command said on Friday that from 4:02 to 17:50 on April 17, the Japanese destroyer JS Ikazuchi transited the Taiwan Straits, sending wrong signals to "Taiwan independence" separatist forces. The PLA Eastern Theater Command (ETC) deployed naval and air assets to track and monitor the vessel throughout the process, ensuring an effective control of the situation, according to a statement released by the PLA Eastern Theater Command on its WeChat account.
Forces of the ETC will remain on high alert at all times, and resolutely safeguard China's sovereignty and security, as well as regional peace and stability, Xu said.
A reliable security guarantee mechanism involving the UN Security Council, China, Russia and other major powers, as well as Pakistan, needs to be established to safeguard overall stability in the Middle East, the Iranian ambassador to China Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli said at a Wednesday press conference at the embassy.
The ambassador made the remarks in response to a Global Times inquiry on what key issues Iran believes should be prioritized in the upcoming formal negotiations between the US and Iran in Islamabad over the next two weeks, including navigation rules in the Strait of Hormuz, the withdrawal of US forces from the Middle East, the lifting of sanctions and war reparations, as well as whether Tehran has set clear negotiation red lines and plans for advancing the talks, and whether military operations would continue if no agreement is reached.
He said Iran has already put forward a 10-point proposal, which has been received by the US side. "We hope all the proposals can be effectively implemented and that dialogue will help promote peace across the region," Ambassador Fazli said.
"We also hope relevant parties can provide credible guarantees to ensure that the US will not once again ignite war in the region," he added, vowing to promote multilateralism and oppose unilateralism.
Iran and the US have agreed to a 2-week ceasefire less than two hours before the deadline set by US President Donald Trump, and will hold negotiations in Pakistan, Xinhua News Agency reported Wednesday.
Trump said the US side had received a 10-point proposal from Iran, depicting it as "a workable basis on which to negotiate."
According to Iran's semi-official Mehr News Agency, the 10-point proposal includes a US commitment to ensure no further acts of aggression, continued Iranian control of the Strait of Hormuz, acceptance of Iran's nuclear enrichment rights, and the lifting of sanctions, among others.
In response to a question regarding reports that Iranian Ambassador claimed that he hopes China will become a guarantor of security in the Middle East, Mao Ning, a spokesperson for China's Foreign Ministry, said that "China hopes all parties can properly resolve disputes through dialogue and negotiation. China will also maintain communication with all parties and continue to make efforts to ease the situation and fully end the conflict."
With Oracle reportedly cutting thousands of jobs and becoming the latest US technology giant to announce massive layoffs while ramping up artificial intelligence (AI) investment, the debate over AI's impact on jobs is again in the spotlight. The pressing questions remain: Is the rise of AI destined to bring about massive job losses? Will the "AI-related layoffs" model embraced by US tech giants become the global industry's standard response to the AI era?
To answer these questions, it is necessary to look back at a similar period of technological change for a more rational perspective based on industrial reality. Over the past decades, automation has become a critical tool for boosting productivity, and robot density - the number of industrial robots per 10,000 employees - is a key indicator of each economy's performance in the global automation race.
Years ago, when industrial robots began to enter factories on a large scale and replace some manual labor, there were worries about a wave of mass unemployment as workers would face the risk of being replaced. However, the answer given by reality has dispelled this anxiety. China, with a robot density of 470 robots - far above the global average - did not experience mass unemployment. Instead, the widespread use of robots significantly improved automation levels, production efficiency, and product quality, strengthening the competitiveness of Chinese manufacturing.
At the same time, the automation process has led to a host of new jobs in robot research and development (R&D), manufacturing, maintenance, and system integration. Past experience clearly shows that technological progress itself is not equivalent to job losses. Its essence is the optimization and upgrading of production methods, which ultimately drives industrial iteration and creates new jobs.
The same logic applies to AI. As a core driving force of the new technological revolution and industrial transformation, AI's forward momentum is irreversible. Just like industrial robots in the past, AI will inevitably affect some traditional jobs. The wave of layoffs at US tech giants - Oracle, Amazon, Microsoft and others - is a direct manifestation of this impact. To gain a competitive edge, these companies are betting on efficiency gains from AI, which allows them to cut jobs in certain traditional roles. However, it must be made clear that "AI-related layoffs" are not the only path for AI development, nor should they be seen as the "standard answer."
Economies around the world are actively developing their AI industries. Given differences in national conditions, industrial structures, and policy orientations, the outcomes of AI development are bound to be diverse. Take China as an example: the deep integration of AI with various industries has given rise to new sectors such as intelligent healthcare, smart transportation, and smart agriculture. These not only drive the prosperity of related industrial chains but also create new jobs. In recent years, a wide range of AI-related new professions has emerged in China, spanning technological R&D, data services, product applications, and content creation.
In this sense, some US tech giants' "layoffs" script is not the only answer to AI development. The application of robots from the industrial automation era has shown that the ultimate goal of technological progress is to empower people and drive social progress - not to fuel anxiety over job losses. Different economies will likely give different answers to AI's employment impact.
Faced with AI-driven changes, each economy needs to refer to its own national conditions and explore a path that balances innovation and stability, so as to promote AI development while actively fostering new job growth, thus making AI a true driver of high-quality development and improved public well-being.
China and Belarus are all-weather comprehensive strategic partners, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Friday in response to a question on bilateral relations. "In recent years, under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, China-Belarus relations have maintained sound and steady growth, with cooperation across various fields continuing to deepen. Bilateral trade reached $8.86 billion last year, up 5.5 percent year-on-year," Mao said.
China stands ready to work with Belarus, following the important consensus reached by the two heads of state as the fundamental guidance, to keep bilateral relations moving forward and deliver greater benefits to the two peoples, Mao said.
Chinese Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs Cai Wei held China-Russia Consultations on the United Nations and Security Council Affairs with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alimov Alexander Sergeevitch in Beijing on Wednesday. The two sides conducted in-depth exchange of views on the current international situation, UN and Security Council affairs, as well as regional and international hotspot issues, the Chinese Foreign Ministry announced on Thursday.
Both sides agreed to jointly uphold multilateralism, safeguard the international system with the UN at its core and the international order based on international law, and make positive efforts to promote the political settlement of hotspot issues, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said.
In a statement released by the Russian Foreign Ministry, a wide range of issues on the agendas of the UN Security Council and the General Assembly were thoroughly reviewed, including the reform of the UN Security Council, the UN80 Initiative, elections for non-permanent members of the Security Council and the president of the 81st session of the General Assembly, as well as a number of regional issues with a focus on exploring political and diplomatic solutions to the situation surrounding Iran and cooperation between the two countries on this issue in the Security Council.
The UN80 Initiative is a wide-ranging reform effort launched on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the UN's founding. In a statement, the established Group of Friends of Global Governance highlighted three key points: the initiative must focus on improving both the effectiveness and efficiency of the UN's work; it must address the concerns of developing countries; and its process must remain transparent and inclusive, the Xinhua News Agency reported.
"This round of China-Russia consultations sent a clear signal of the two sides' commitment to defending multilateralism and promoting a rules-based functioning of the UN Security Council and advancing a political solution to the Iran situation," Cui Heng, a scholar at the Shanghai-based China National Institute for SCO International Exchange and Judicial Cooperation, told the Global Times on Thursday.
According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, the two sides also paid special attention to the upcoming election of the UN Secretary-General. It stressed that the future head of the world organization should maintain equidistance and neutrality, approach the principles of the UN Charter conscientiously and without selectivity, and work to build bridges among member states of the global body, the ministry added.
The consultations came after China and Russia vetoed a draft that "strongly encourages" states interested in the use of commercial maritime routes in the Strait of Hormuz to coordinate efforts of a defensive nature to contribute to ensuring the safety and security of navigation across the Strait, including through the escort of merchant and commercial vessels, according to the Xinhua News Agency.
Eleven members of the Security Council voted in favor of the draft resolution, China and Russia voted against it, while Colombia and Pakistan abstained, per Xinhua.
This vote also shows the two countries' shared opposition to unilateral pressure and the use of force, and their support for balancing the concerns of all parties through dialogue to prevent further escalation and provide legal and diplomatic support for easing regional tensions, Cui said.
Overall, the consultations represent coordinated alignment by China and Russia within the UN framework—aimed at stabilizing current hotspots while laying the groundwork for upcoming elections and reforms, outlining a clear line of cooperation for the multilateral agenda in the second half of the year, the expert added.
A spokesperson for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government announced on Wednesday that the nomination period for the 2025 Legislative Council (LegCo) General Election will be scheduled for Oct. 24 to Nov. 6 this year.
According to the Legislative Council Ordinance, the HKSAR chief executive may, before the end of a term of office of the LegCo, prorogue the LegCo to terminate its operation.
The chief executive has specified the commencement date of the nomination period as the date from which the seventh-term LegCo shall stand prorogued, so as to ensure that all candidates (including serving LegCo members) will compete on a level playing field, the spokesperson said.
The chief executive, having taken into consideration the relevant electoral legislation and the practice adopted in the past public elections, has specified Oct. 24, 2025, as the date from which the seventh-term LegCo shall stand prorogued and its operation shall then be terminated, the spokesperson noted.
Voting for the eighth LegCo General Election is scheduled for Dec. 7, 2025, during which 90 members will be elected.
Zhongjin Gold Corporation on Thursday apologized and organized personnel to the scene to manage the aftermath, after six university students accidentally died on Wednesday during an educational visit at its subsidiary corporation in North China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.
The six students, who were from Northeastern University in the city of Shenyang in Northeast China's Liaoning Province, were learning about the flotation process at a plant of Wunugetushan copper-molybdenum deposit, which belongs to Zhongjin Gold Corporation, when they fell into a flotation tank due to the falling off of a grate, according to the company.
After all efforts to rescue them, the students were retrieved but were confirmed drowned by medical personnel. Additionally, one teacher was injured.
After the incident, the company immediately activated its emergency response plan and sent personnel to the scene to manage the situation, Zhongjin Gold Corporation said in a statement issued on Thursday.
The company expresses its deep condolences to the victims, sincere sympathy to the injured and the families of the deceased, and extended its heartfelt apologies for the social impact caused by this tragedy.
Currently, Zhongjin Gold Corporation has set up an on-site command center, where relevant follow-up work is being carried out, an employee from the company told the Global Times on Thursday, adding that they will provide updates in a timely manner.
At the opening of the A-share market, the stock price of the company plunged by 4.91 percent.
The Chinese Embassy in Israel expressed its firm opposition and has lodged solemn representations with the Israeli side on Friday after certain members of the Knesset jointly signed a statement calling for support for Taiwan's participation in some international organizations, which blatantly challenged the one-China principle.
Taiwan's participation in international organizations and agreements under the UN framework must be handled in accordance with the one-China principle. Since coming to power, the Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities have obstinately pursued a separatist agenda for "Taiwan independence" and refused to recognize the one-China principle, thereby dismantling the political foundation for Taiwan's participation in the activities of organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the embassy said in a statement.
A bipartisan group of 72 members of the Knesset signed a declaration Thursday condemning what they described as the "systematic and unjustified exclusion" of Taiwan from international forums, Israeli news site Ynetnews reported.
As certain members of the Knesset took the lead in initiating such a statement, we cannot but ask: do they truly understand the implications of allowing the Taiwan authorities to join the international organizations they mentioned? the embassy asked.
The DPP authorities' pursuit of so-called "international space" is, in essence, an attempt to expand the room for "Taiwan independence" and to propagate the fallacy of "one China, one Taiwan" or "two Chinas." The DPP authorities have stubbornly upheld the "Taiwan independence" stance, repeatedly engaging in separatist provocations, spreading fallacies about "Taiwan independence", and inciting cross-Straits confrontation and antagonism, according to the statement.
This is the root cause of the current tensions and instability in the region. By supporting Taiwan's participation in international fora on an equal footing with sovereign states, are these Knesset members aligning themselves with the "Taiwan independence" separatist forces in an attempt to split China? Are they willing to become complicit in jeopardizing peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits? The embassy asked.
"We cannot but ask: who is influencing these members of the Knesset, and what ulterior motives are they concealing?" the embassy said.
The initiators of this statement, Boaz Toporovsky from Yesh Atid and Ohad Tal from the Religious Zionist Party, both visited Taiwan earlier this year, meeting with the so-called "Vice President" and "Foreign Minister." Upon returning to Israel, they engaged in mutual flattery with relevant figures of Taiwan on social media, openly referring to Taiwan as a "country." While the statement asserts that Israel adheres to the one-China policy, their actions blatantly contradict this policy. This is sheer self-deception. What truths are they trying to hide from the Israeli public? By what falsehoods did they mislead other Knesset members into co-signing this statement? read the embassy's statement.
"We cannot but ask: in which direction do certain members of the Knesset intend to steer China-Israel relations?" the embassy asked.
They claim that Israel shares common values of human rights and democracy with Taiwan, but the fact is that the DPP authorities are carrying out a "green terror" on the island, suppressing opposition forces as well as those who support peaceful cross-Straits development and exchanges. Where, then, is the freedom and democracy they tout? Does Israel truly intend to stand with the DPP authorities? The embassy said.
The embassy also urged these members of the Knesset to open their eyes to global trends and the course of history. How many countries actually accept the so-called "democracy versus authoritarianism" narrative propagated by the DPP authorities? Such blatant support for the "Taiwan independence" separatist agenda clearly neither represents the official policy of the Israeli government toward China, nor reflects the original intentions of the Israeli people in electing them as their representatives, it said.
The Taiwan question lies at the core of China's core interests and concerns the national sentiments of 1.4 billion Chinese people. No one should underestimate the Chinese people's strong determination, firm will, and powerful capability to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, the embassy noted.
"We urge certain members of the Knesset to stand on the right side of history and take actions that promote China-Israel relations and benefit the Israeli people, rather than the opposite," it said.
Liu Jinsong, Director-General of the Department of Asian Affairs of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, urgently summoned Chief Minister of the Embassy of Japan in China Yokochi Akira on Friday to lodge a stern representation and strong protest over the visit to Japan by Lin Chia-lung, head of the “foreign affairs department” of Taiwan's DPP authorities.
Liu stated that the Taiwan question is at the very core of China’s interests and is fundamental to the political foundation of China-Japan relations, as well as the basic trust between the two countries. By allowing Lin to visit under the pretext of a so-called “private capacity” and providing a platform for his anti-China separatist activities, the Japanese side has sent a seriously wrong signal, Liu said.
This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, as well as the 80th anniversary of Taiwan’s recovery. China urges Japan to abide by the spirit of the four political documents between China and Japan and its solemn commitments on the Taiwan question, and to take immediate steps to eliminate the negative impact of this incident, Liu said.
The Chinese Embassy in Japan also lodged a stern demarche with the Japanese side on Saturday. In a statement, the embassy said that the Taiwan question lies at the heart of China's core interests, and the one-China principle is a red line that must not be crossed, leaving no room for political manipulation.
Despite repeated prior representations from China, the Japanese government allowed Lin Chia-lung to enter Japan and carry out blatant separatist and provocative activities, the embassy said. It emphasized that China will not tolerate this and demands that the Japanese government strictly uphold the spirit of the four China-Japan political documents and its solemn commitments on the Taiwan question. China will closely monitor Japan's actions and respond accordingly.
On July 27, 2024, "Beijing Central Axis: A Building Ensemble Exhibiting the Ideal Order of the Chinese Capital" was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Now marking its first anniversary, experts involved in the bid highlight the significance of interpreting its status as a global cultural treasure. They pointed out that "sustainable tourism" has emerged as a key factor for the Beijing Central Axis' future when communicating with UNESCO officials and overseas scholars. After speaking with experts and the public from all walks of life, the Global Times found the answer that key strategies identified for sustainable development include technology-enhanced conservation, immersive heritage experiences, and community-driven stewardship. Those are also the approaches that have already reshaped the Beijing Central Axis over the past year, renewing the heritage site's glamour in the new era.
In the height of summer, Yongdingmen Park is bathed in lush greenery. Along both sides of the ancient imperial road of the south of the Beijing Central Axis, citizens and tourists alike gather in small groups, resting, strolling, and exercising amid the shade, savoring the respite from the sweltering heat.
Climbing the Yongdingmen Gate, the southern endpoint of Beijing's Central Axis, and facing north, one can take in the entire panoramic beauty of the Central Axis: Expansive, magnificent, and orderly.
On July 27, 2024, the Beijing Central Axis has been added to the United Nations' cultural heritage list.
Following the UNESCO inscription of the Beijing Central Axis and two natural heritages of China, Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged further efforts to preserve the country's cultural and natural treasures and renew their glamour in the new era. the Xinhua News Agency reported.
The inclusion of these heritage items has positive significance for the building of Chinese modernization that features material and cultural-ethical advancement and harmony between humanity and nature, Xi said, noting that it also adds new luster to world civilizations, Xinhua reported.
The Beijing Central Axis, the best-preserved example of traditional central axis architecture in China, extends 7.8 kilometers from the Yongdingmen Gate in the south to the Bell and Drum Towers in the north.
Dubbed the "spine of the city's culture," it can be traced to the 13th century in the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), while its length was extended in the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1911).
Lü Zhou, director of the national heritage center at Tsinghua University who was involved in the application for UNESCO World Heritage Site, told the Global Times that the Beijing Central Axis showcases the most spectacular urban form of oriental civilization, filling the gap in urban planning heritage in East Asia.
"The Beijing Central Axis tells the world how Chinese civilization constructs order, embodying the material expression of the concepts of 'centrality' and 'harmony' in Chinese civilization. It demonstrates to the world the 'consistency, originality, uniformity, inclusivity, and peaceful nature' of Chinese civilization, as well as its inheritability, explaining to the world the essence of the Chinese cultural spirit," Lü said.
Now marking its first anniversary, the Central Axis pulses with celebratory energy as communities host events along its 7.8-kilometer span.
As part of the commemorations, the Beijing Municipal Cultural Heritage Bureau unveiled two milestone publications: Action Plan for Conservation and Inheritance of Beijing Central Axis (2025-2027) and the book series Beijing Central Axis: A Building Ensemble Exhibiting the Ideal Order of the Chinese Capital.
"We envision these publications as vital keys to interpreting the Beijing Central Axis' significance as a global cultural treasure," Zhang Bo, a research fellow from Beijing Union University, told the Global Times.
She stressed that after communicating with UNESCO officials and overseas scholars, "sustainable tourism" has emerged as a key factor for the Beijing Central Axis' future.
Many experts pointed out that the heart of the Central Axis' sustainability lies in cutting-edge technology.
"Technology empowers citizens to become both guardians and ambassadors of culture," Lü said.
Technology empowers protection Among Beijing's many city gates, Zhengyangmen is the largest and highest-ranked in terms of architectural specification, according to news portal The Paper. From the third and fourth floors of its arrow tower, visitors can overlook Qianmen Street, with a distant view reaching as far as the Yongdingmen Gate at the southernmost end of the Central Axis, which is a perfect spot for viewing and photography.
Renovation work on Zhengyangmen Archery Tower and the main tower began in 2021, and in December 2024, the archery tower reopened to the public for the first time in over 30 years.
"3D scanning revolutionized our approach," Chen Liang, director of the heritage conservation department at the Beijing Central Axis Heritage Protection Center, told the Global Times.
Teams created precise molds to recreate damaged window lintels originally patched with cement.
"The precision of 3D laser scanning reaches 0.1 millimeters, enabling even the historical traces in the brick joints to be completely preserved," Chen said.
For 150 balustrades and 48 brackets, restorers developed customized solutions using carbon-fiber composites blended with traditional materials, which has preserved authenticity while boosting resilience.
After the renovation, advanced cultural relic monitoring equipment was installed in Zhengyangmen Archery Tower. Zhou Ziyu, director of the heritage monitoring department at the Beijing Central Axis Heritage Conservation Center, introduces that post-restoration, wireless accelerometers, Beidou navigation sensors, and microclimate monitors now stand sentinel.
"Real-time data on vibrations, displacement, and humidity feeds into our conservation database. Algorithms alert us to anomalies, enabling proactive preservation," Zhou said.
"Establishing realistic 3D models and the heritage monitoring and protection platform allow us to simulate environmental impacts and plan urban development without compromising heritage sightlines," Tao Yingchun, deputy director of the Beijing Institute of Surveying and Mapping, told the Global Times, adding that China's digital technology has now reached world-leading levels, driven in part by the need to manage the vast volumes of data related to the Beijing Central Axis.
Immersive experiences
At the northernmost end of the Beijing Central Axis, a wonderful integration of technology and ancient architecture is unfolding within the Bell and Drum Towers.
On the first floor of the Drum Tower, next to the "The Story of Time" exhibition hall, a 35-square-meter VR installation transports visitors to the Yuan Dynasty's founding scenario.
Guided by the mythical dragon "Xiaolongzai," users equipped with VR headsets witness the cosmic vision for the Central Axis by urban planner Liu Bingzhong from Yuan Dynasty, the "chief designer" of the Beijing Central Axis, experiencing the beauty of "artistic conception" in Chinese philosophy through immersive storytelling.
"Since its UNESCO listing, educational tours have surged," Yu Hui, deputy director of the Bell and Drum Towers management office, told the Global Times.
Heritage "passports" allowing stamp collections at 15 Central Axis sites delight young explorers, while the "Chronical Tea" café themed around the 24 solar terms, with seasonal brews and drum-tower-shaped pastries, have become social media sensations.
Keeping lively for people
Xi called for efforts to take this UNESCO inclusion as an opportunity to further strengthen the comprehensive and systematic protection of cultural and natural heritage and make good use of them to better meet the people's needs, Xinhua reported.
He also urged enhanced international exchange and cooperation in this field, and efforts to make greater contribution to the practice of the Global Civilization Initiative and the building of a community with a shared future for humanity, per Xinhua.
A year after the Beijing Central Axis was successfully inscribed as a World Heritage Site, both local residents and visitors from across the country have felt its transformative impact. These changes have seamlessly woven into every aspect of daily life - food, clothing, housing, and travel.
Zhao Yan, a Beijing resident, lives on Di'anmennei Dajie. Throughout the ongoing progress of the Central Axis preservation projects, both before and after its UNESCO inscription, she has witnessed the gradual restoration of her street to its former glory.
The once-bustling thoroughfare is now lined with thriving shops and merchants, while the nearby hutongs, teeming with visitors, have seen significant improvements in supporting facilities. Remarkably, many former neighbors who had moved away from the hutongs have returned to their old homes, bringing a lively yet orderly atmosphere back to the community, Zhao said.
"The extended north-south axis has already emerged as a new highlight of urban development. The cultural heritage is now becoming more deeply integrated into residents' daily lives," Liu Zheng, a member of the Chinese Society of Cultural Relics, told the Global Times.
Along the Central Axis, several revitalized time-honored shops have emerged, such as "Qianxiangyi," a historic store specializing in Chinese silk on Qianmen Street.
Liu Qi, an employee at the shop, said that with the coordination and financial support of relevant government departments, "Qianxiangyi" was included in the architectural restoration project along the Central Axis.
The store underwent an 18-month closure for meticulous renovations, during which traditional techniques were used to restore the building's structure, railings, and decorative patterns to the highest standards.
These efforts successfully revived the historical charm and architectural beauty of the store. The restored facade has drawn in more customers, offering the shop a fresh opportunity for growth as a time-honored brand.
The changes can also be seen in the increased number of foreign tourists.
Yang Ziruo, a 14-year-old student in Beijing, told the Global Times she and other students once jointly wrote to UNESCO to express their support for the Beijing Central Axis' heritage bid. "Now a World Heritage Site, the Beijing Central Axis breathes with a vibrant atmosphere," she said.
Dou Junjie, a seasoned tour guide specializing in the landmarks along the Central Axis, said that he has also welcomed numerous international visitors over the past year.
Dou told the Global Times many seasoned travelers expressed great interest in Beijing's cultural elements, such as the traditional quadrangle dwellings and Peking Opera.
One of visitors from the Netherlands was particularly impressed by the smooth traffic flow and the well-developed infrastructure along the Central Axis, describing the experience of walking and cycling along it as truly unforgettable.
As a professional who often communicates with foreign architects, Li Yinong, the chief architect of the Beijing Institute of Architectural Design Co, Ltd, has found that the "Chinese sense of order" of the Central Axis never fails to amaze international friends.
"Unlike the Avenue des Champs-Elysees in France with its geometric precision like trimmed hedges, ours balances rigor with organic vitality," she told the Global Times adding that "Neither is superior; they reflect distinct aesthetic sensibilities."
This cultural dialogue, Li argues, is the Beijing Central Axis' true power. "It also inspires foreign architects working in China to weave such Chinese wisdom into their designs. That is heritage breathing across borders," she said.
