Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday stressed comprehensively advancing high-quality cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks when addressing a symposium on BRI development.
A latest study by researchers from Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research (ITP), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), indicates that, against the backdrop of warming climate over the last 200 years, Abies spectabilis (Himalayan fir) in the mixed forests of Nepal's Sagarmatha National Park and Annapurna Conservation Area is expanding to higher altitudes at a faster rate compared to Betula utilis (Himalayan birch) in the same area. The findings point to accelerating successional dynamics with late-successional species rapidly outcompeting pioneer species, offering insight into future forest succession and its influences on ecosystem services.
The study was conducted by a team led by researcher Liang Eryuan from the State Key Laboratory of Tibetan Plateau Earth System, Environment and Resources, ITP, CAS. It was published online in Nature Plants on Monday, the Global Times learned from the ITP.
Understanding how climate change influences succession is fundamental to predicting future forest composition. Global warming is expected to accelerate species succession at their cold thermal ranges, such as alpine tree lines. In the study, the team examined how interactions and successional strategies of the early-successional birch and the late-successional fir affected tree line dynamics by combining plot data with an individual-based tree line model at tree lines in the central Himalayas, read the study.
The team found that firs showed increasing recruitment and a higher upslope shift rate (1.1 ± 0.2 meter per decade) compared with birch (0.6 ± 0.3 meter per decade) over the last 200 years. Spatial analyses indicate strong interspecies competition when trees were young. Model outputs from various climatic scenarios indicate that firs will probably accelerate their upslope movement with global warming, while birch recruitment will decline drastically, forming stable or even retreating tree lines, according to the study.
Shalik Ram Sigdel, the first author of the study and associate researcher at the ITP, told the Global Times that the alpine tree line, the uppermost limit of continuous distribution of upright trees, is strongly constrained by environmental factors such as low temperatures, making it highly sensitive to global warming. It serves as an ecological transition zone for studying species succession.
Vegetation succession refers to the recovery process of plant communities after disturbances over a long-time scale or the formation and development process on bare ground. Succession theory is one of the core research topics in vegetation ecology, forming the basis for predicting vegetation dynamics under different future climate scenarios and guiding the restoration of degraded ecosystems, according to Sigdel.
Fossil records confirm that birch has been distributed in the Himalayan region for 2.5 million to 5 million years. Dendrochronological analysis indicates that in high-altitude forests composed of a single tree species, the maximum age of birch can exceed 450 years. As a pioneer species following glacial retreat, the succession process of birch should belong to the long-term succession type. However, it remains unclear whether climate warming will accelerate this succession process.
Since 2010, the research team has discovered mixed forests where birch and firs coexist at the tree line in Nepal's Sagarmatha National Park and Annapurna Conservation Area, providing a natural experimental platform for studying forest community succession under warming conditions.
"Birch is sensitive to moisture, and the water stress caused by warming limits its growth and regeneration. In contrast, firs are sensitive to temperature, and warming within a certain threshold range is beneficial for their growth and regeneration. Therefore, against the backdrop of climate warming, firs demonstrate greater competitiveness than birch," said Liang Eryuan, the corresponding author of the study.
Liang emphasized that climate change is significantly accelerating the species succession process at the alpine tree line in the Himalayas.
Through tree line model simulations, the research team further found that with ongoing warming, the ascent of firs will continue to accelerate, while the decline in birch regeneration will lead to a decrease in population density, further restricting the tree line ascent. In high-emission scenarios, there may even be a retreat of the birch tree line, indicating that under warming conditions, firs may rapidly replace birch as the pioneer species, accelerating the succession process. This finding has important implications for the prediction of future forest composition, structure, and ecosystem functions.
China's concept of human rights stems from the evolution of Chinese civilization and centuries of cultural exchange. Drawing on classic Chinese texts, Chinese and international scholars explore and elaborate on the principles of human rights development at an international conference held in Changsha, Central China's Hunan Province on Wednesday, promoting civilizational exchange and contributing Chinese wisdom and solutions to the global human rights advancement.
The international academic conference on the ideas of human rights in ancient Chinese classics was hosted by the China Society for Human Rights Studies, the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Hunan Provincial Committee, and Hunan University at the historic Yuelu Academy in Changsha. More than 200 scholars, officials and representatives from think tanks from China and over a dozen countries, including the US, Canada, Italy, Japan, and Pakistan, attended the event and shared their perspectives on human rights.
At the opening ceremony, performers depicted people-centered principles and other human rights concepts from ancient Chinese classics. In ancient China, many sages explored early notions of human rights, with their ideas preserved in texts and passed down through the ages, showcasing Chinese culture's respect and care for individuals and the pursuit of fairness, justice, harmonious coexistence, and peaceful development.
While delivering a keynote speech at the conference on Wednesday, Jiang Jianguo, executive vice president of the China Society for Human Rights Studies, said that historical insights are fundamental to knowledge building. For a long time, Western narratives - such as the claim of Western civilization's superiority over Eastern civilization - along with "Western-centric" methodological frameworks, led many scholars to believe China's ancient society lacked a history of human rights.
However, as a nation with over 5,000 years of civilization and immense cultural heritage, China has long embedded respect for human rights in its traditions. Ancient Chinese society and traditional culture consistently emphasized the dignity and value of humanity, advocating for people-centered governance, compassion for others, and prioritizing human well-being, said Jiang.
Europe and China share historical similarities in human rights concepts. Confucius, one of China's greatest thinkers, said, "Within the four seas, all men are brothers," reflecting the belief that all people are connected, akin to the Western principle of equality and universal brotherhood, Giuseppina Merchionne, president of The Belt and Road Initiative Italy - China Center of Collaboration and Cultural Exchanges, said at the conference.
Building on these shared cultural foundations, I hope we can work together toward our common goal: creating a better, freer, and more just world. This ideal lies at the heart of human rights and is a vision we both strive to achieve, said Merchionne.
Christophe Peschoux, with more than 40 years of professional experience in humanitarian action, refugee protection, and human rights advocacy, and a former senior officer at the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, shared his insights with the audience on the importance of hosting international conferences like this one.
Peschoux said that human rights concern everyone and have become a central topic of focus in every society and on the international stage. However, powerful states like the US and Western European nations have weaponized human rights against others.
The senior expert on human rights also mentioned the urgent need to restore morality in international affairs in the face of the moral bankruptcy displayed by the "Global West" in places like Gaza, Ukraine, and elsewhere. There is an urgent need for some countries to take over the flames of civilized behavior and once again light the path toward a less violent, more just, more peaceful, and more humane world, said the expert.
The Wednesday conference is also important to China. Peschoux told the Global Times that "if you want to give life to the concept of human rights, you have to dig into your own history to understand its roots... it's very important for China to look at the history of its own political culture in order to rediscover the roots of international human rights and to see its own road."
Chinese President Xi Jinping left Brasilia on Thursday after attending the 19th G20 Leaders' Summit and paying a state visit to Brazil.
Brazilian senior officials bid farewell to Xi at the airport.
On the way to the airport, representatives of overseas Chinese, Chinese institutions and students waved the national flags of China and Brazil on both sides of the road, congratulating Xi on the complete success of the visit.
A video clip on social media on Thursday, showing a Lalamove driver in Shanghai accusing employees from Porsche's partner project team of withholding a 600-yuan ($82.92) payment and lodging a complaint that led to his account suspension at Lalamove.com, went viral among netizens.
Later that evening, Porsche issued a statement apologizing for the incident and the company's mishandling of the case.
The dispute involved Porsche's partner project team from Avantgarde Shanghai and a driver from Lalamove, a Hongkong-based on-demand delivery service provider.
Porsche said in the announcement that the company promptly investigated the case and confirmed that the person involved in the dispute with the Lalamove driver is a full-time employee of its partner company.
Porsche made the announcement on social media platform Sina Weibo, which included Avantgarde Shanghai's statement regarding the case.
Avantgarde Shanghai confirmed the dispute between its employee and the worker from Lalamove had been resolved with the intervention of relevant authorities, and both parties reached a settlement on the same day, Porsche said on Saturday.
Porsche reaffirmed its respect for frontline workers and their contributions, stating that it maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward any form of disrespect. The incident was addressed with further clarification from Avantgarde Shanghai, its partner company.
Avantgarde Shanghai said that the disputed 600-yuan fee was an additional charge requested by the driver for transporting goods from the third floor to the ground floor. It also clarified that the alleged complaint to the platform was simply a request for Lalamove to mediate the dispute on the payment.
Following police mediation, the Avantgarde Shanghai employee and the Lalamove driver reached a settlement, agreeing to delete all videos and photos related to the incident and refraining from actions or statements that could harm each other's reputation, according to Avantgarde Shanghai.
As part of its response to the incident, Porsche stated that it will enhance conduct standards for partner employees in future collaborations and strengthen management oversight.
Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Lima, capital of Peru, on Thursday for a state visit and the 31st APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting. Xi held talks with Peruvian President Dina Boluarte and said that China and Peru should improve and upgrade practical cooperation and continuously elevate their comprehensive strategic partnership to new heights to better benefit the two peoples.
In a written statement upon his arrival in Lima, Xi said it gives him great pleasure to once again pay a state visit to the Republic of Peru and attend the 31st APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting at the invitation of President Dina Boluarte, adding that he feels very close to Peru as he again stepped onto this beautiful and rich land with a long history, according to the Xinhua News Agency.
Xi attended a grand welcome ceremony hosted by Boluarte. The two heads of state held talks, during which Xi called on China and Peru to promote the integration of industrial and supply chains, and said China-Peru ties have become a model of solidarity and cooperation among countries of different sizes, systems, and cultures, and called the Chancay Port another successful project of China-Peru Belt and Road cooperation. The two presidents also attended the opening ceremony of the Chancay Port via video link.
"This is not only an important project under Belt and Road cooperation, but also the first smart port in South America. The first phase of the project, when completed, will reduce the sea shipping time from Peru to China to 23 days, thus cutting logistics costs by at least 20 percent. It is expected to generate $4.5 billion in yearly revenues for Peru and create over 8,000 direct jobs," Xi wrote in a signed article in Peruvian media outlet El Peruano on Thursday.
After the talks, the two heads of state witnessed the signing of a plan for Belt and Road cooperation between the two countries and the protocol on upgrading the bilateral free trade agreement, as well as the exchange of a number of bilateral cooperation documents in economy and trade, industrial investment, industrial parks, education and green development.
The two sides also issued a joint statement on deepening their comprehensive strategic partnership.
The two countries will jointly explore new opportunities for cooperation under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative to achieve mutual benefit and win-win results, and promote sustainable development of the two countries, said the statement.
They are also ready to cooperate on large-scale infrastructure projects in accordance with their respective national laws, said the statement.
The two countries are willing to incorporate projects in such emerging areas as circular economy, sustainable agriculture, industrial and supply chains, digital economy investment and green development into bilateral cooperation, it said.
High-standard reception
Xi's visit was highly received by the Peruvian side, as the Peruvian government offered a reception of the highest standard with meticulous preparation and arrangements. People from all walks of life in Lima also showed their warm welcome to the Chinese president.
As early as 11 am on Thursday, hours before the welcome ceremony at around 5:40 pm, many people already gathered on the streets of Lima to welcome Xi's arrival, holding the flags of the two countries and signs displaying good wishes, with one written in both Chinese and Spanish languages reading "Long live China-Peru friendship." Over the Government Palace, the colorful flags of the two countries were particularly shinning against the backdrop of the blue sky, as the sky cleared in the afternoon.
"It's a big day," an owner of a newsstand in Lima told the Global Times on Thursday morning. Local residents, including taxi drivers, shared the knowledge of the visit by the Chinese president.
Outside the Government Palace, honor guards and military bands rehearsed repeatedly. Once the motorcade arrived, 40 of horses of three different colors led the way, representing the highest honor, an official at the Government Palace told the Global Times.
Similarly, big celebrations also took place about 78 kilometers north of Lima, at the Chancay Port, with many locals approaching the Global Times to share their excitement about the operation and their interests in visiting China. At the scene, Chinese and Spanish versions of the phrase "From Chancay to Shanghai" can constantly be heard.
In a remarkable move that symbolizes the port's critical role in bilateral trade, after the horn sounded for the port opening ceremony, a container ship, the M.V COSCO SHIPPING PERU, which arrived from Shanghai, unloaded containers containing China's "new three" exports - electric vehicles, photovoltaic products and lithium-ion batteries, while another containership, the M.V XIN SHANGHAI, departed for Shanghai, carrying Peruvian agricultural products such as blueberries and avocados, a worker at the site told the Global Times on Thursday.
Extremely important visit
"The visit of the president of China is extremely important, not only for the inauguration of the new Chancay Port, which is a great opportunity for Peru, but also for all of Latin America. We appreciate the visit," Juan José Santiváñez, interior minister of Peru, told the Global Times on Thursday.
Santiváñez added that the visit will strengthen the ties between China and Peru and expressed great expectations for its outcomes.
"The expectation we have regarding China is extremely high. Today we have the virtual inauguration of the Port of Chancay, which definitively places Peru as one of the main players in Latin America, becoming the most important hub, and will definitely contribute greatly to the economy of Peru," the Peruvian interior minister said.
During the talks with the Peruvian President on Thursday, Xi also said that China is ready to work with Peru to build a new land-sea corridor between China and Latin America with Chancay Port as a starting point. He added that the corridor, which will connect the Inca Trail with the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, will open up a road of common prosperity and happiness for Peru and other Latin American and Caribbean countries.
The state visit also garnered close attention on at the Lima Convention Center, the main venue for the APEC meeting which was filled with reporters from various countries and regions, on Thursday morning, as newspaper copies featuring the signed article by the Chinese president were repeatedly highlighted.
While the Peruvian Interior Minister carried the newspaper during media interviews, others were eager to present it.
"This is our newspaper from today, Thursday, 14th in November. We have today a message, a very important message, of the president of China, Mr Xi Jinping, who arrives today in Peru," César Chaman, editor general of Agencia Andina, told the Global Times on Thursday.
Both Agencia Andina and El Peruano are official media outlets in Peru. With a palpable sense of excitement, Chaman held up the front page of the newspaper to fully display it before the camera, while speaking to the Global Times.
"This is a very important material to read and to understand the kind of relationship between Peru and China," Chaman said, adding that he hopes that the bilateral relationship will expand into more areas such as environmental protection, energy and social development, in addition to investments in infrastructure.
Sandra Gonzales, head of the Marketing and Sales Department of Editora Peru, whose outlets include Agencia Andina and El Peruano, also keenly introduced the newspaper and shared the Chinese president's signed article.
After showing the front page, she flipped to the full page article inside the newspaper, while speaking to the Global Times.
"El Peruano is an official newspaper in Peru and in this edition, I can present this important article. This article is from the Chinese president," Gonzales said. "It's important to mention that Peru and China have good relationships."
In addition to the state visit to Peru, Xi will also attend the 31st APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Lima.
In his written statement upon arrival on Thursday, Xi said China firmly supports Peru's presidency of APEC and will work closely with Peru to ensure a successful and productive meeting, enhance Asia-Pacific cooperation with a "Lima Imprint," and make new contributions to building an Asia-Pacific community with a shared future.
Addressing the 31st APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting on Saturday, Chinese President Xi Jinping called for shouldering responsibility to the times and jointly promoting the development of the Asia-Pacific region.
Noting that Asia-Pacific cooperation is confronted with challenges such as rising tendencies of geopolitics, unilateralism and protectionism, Xi said that at this historic crossroads, Asia-Pacific countries carry greater responsibilities on their shoulders.
Xi proposed building an open and interconnected paradigm for Asia-Pacific cooperation, calling for tearing down the walls impeding the flow of trade, investment, technology and services.
"We should stay committed to multilateralism and an open economy, firmly uphold the multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization at its core, fully reactivate APEC's role as an incubator of global economic and trade rules, and advance regional economic integration and connectivity," he said.
He further called for making green innovation a catalyst for the Asia-Pacific, adding that China is developing new quality productive forces in light of actual conditions and deepening cooperation with interested parties on green innovation.
"We need to firmly seize the opportunities presented by the new round of sci-tech revolution and industrial transformation, and strengthen exchanges and cooperation in artificial intelligence, quantum information, life and health, and other frontier areas," he added.
China will launch a Global Cross-Border Data Flow Cooperation Initiative, and seek deeper cooperation with other parties to promote efficient, convenient and secure cross-border data flows, he added.
The Chinese president also proposed upholding a universally beneficial and inclusive vision for Asia-Pacific development.
"We should make good use of the APEC platform to strengthen economic and technical cooperation. We should increase support for developing economies and disadvantaged groups, and work together to grow the pie and distribute it equitably to allow more economies and people to benefit from development," he said.
China's further development will provide new opportunities for the Asia-Pacific region and the world at large, said Xi, adding that China welcomes all parties to continue riding the "express train" of its development and grow together with the Chinese economy.
Chinese President Xi Jinping met on Monday with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on the sidelines of the 19th G20 Summit.
China's National Health Commission immediately sent a team of 11 national-level experts on Tuesday to support the local treatment efforts following a car ramming incident which took place on Monday evening in Zhuhai, South China's Guangdong Province, killing some 35 people and injuring 43.
Authorities of Guangdong Province and Zhuhai city quickly dispatched hundreds of rescue personnel to provide emergency treatment for the injured at the scene of the incident. 8 teams of more than 30 experts have been deployed to Zhuhai to guide the treatment efforts. The National Health Commission also immediately sent relevant officials from the medical emergency response team, leading a national-level expert team of 11 members, to Zhuhai to support the local treatment of the injured, local media Nanfang Daily reported.
It was reported that the health departments of Guangdong Province and Zhuhai city activated emergency response plans immediately, coordinating emergency resources from Zhuhai, Zhongshan, and Jiangmen cities to the scene, deploying a total of 36 ambulances.
Emergency rescue personnel quickly arrived at the scene and conducted triage, and transported all injured individuals to medical facilities for treatment. Zhuhai city mobilized its top medical resources, making every effort to save the injured. Over 300 healthcare personnel from five hospitals across the city have been fully engaged in rescue operations.
Currently, rescue efforts are still underway.
The suspect, a 62-year-old divorced male, drove a car into the crowd in a sports center in Zhuhai at around 7:48pm on Monday, according to a statement released by Zhuhai police on Tuesday.
The injured are not in life-threatening condition, police said.
The number of gun and explosive-related crimes nationwide has dropped 25.8 percent year-on-year so far, but the internet has become a major source of gun and explosive crimes, and those involved in online gun and explosive crimes will be held criminally liable according to the law, China's Ministry of Public Security (MPS) said at a briefing on Thursday.
In 2023, the MPS, through the established conference mechanism for combating crimes committed with guns and explosive items, and in cooperation with the relevant departments, launched a three-year campaign targeting these crimes, according to the MPS.
According to the MPS, since the beginning of this year, regions and departments have, through a coordinated effort, cracked a batch of cases related to guns and explosives.
Numerous illegal items that could cause gun and explosive-related crimes were seized, eliminating security risks, the MPS said.
Qi Xiguo, deputy head of the public security management bureau under the MPS, said on Thursday that in recent years, there have been people illegally circulating and teaching methods of making guns and explosives on the internet, illegally buying or selling firearm accessories and explosive-making materials, which has led to the internet becoming a major breeding ground for gun and explosive-related crimes.
The MPS reminded that any units and individuals utilizing the internet to publish information on the production or sale of guns and explosives, teaching measures to produce firearms and explosives, or setting up websites and communication groups for producing or selling firearms and explosives are suspected of violating the law.
Public security authorities will investigate and handle these cases according to the law, and those who constitute a crime will be held criminally responsible in accordance with the law.
In 2023, the total number of criminal cases filed by public security organs nationwide decreased 12.9 percent, and the number of public security cases handled decreased 9.7 percent, compared with 2019. Among them, serious violent criminal cases, including explosions and murders, decreased by 10.7 percent, said Li Guozhong, an MPS spokesperson, in May.
China is one of the countries with the lowest rates of homicide, criminal offenses, and gun-related incidents globally, as the public security situation has remained stable and improved over the past five years, according to the MPS said in May.