新上海龙凤后花园

China's top health authority on Thursday advocated people having marriage and childbirth at an appropriate age, called for increased efforts to create a more childbearing-friendly society, in response to the recent changes in the country's demographic development.

Yu Xuejun, deputy head of the National Health Commission (NHC), said at a press conference on Thursday that the new changes occurring in China's demographic development, including low birth rate, an aging population and regional population disparities, are a natural outcome of economic and social development at certain stages, reflecting global demographic transitions and broader trends of modernization.

Yu underscored the importance to optimize birth support policy system and incentive mechanisms, calling for persistent, long-term efforts from all localities to promote sustainable demographic development. 

Yu said the NHC will focus more efforts on advocating marriage and childbirth at appropriate ages, as well as optimal childbearing practices. It will call for shared parenting responsibilities between spouses, aiming to guide young people toward positive perspectives on marriage, childbirth, and family, fostering a new culture of marriage and childbearing. 

According to the latest statistical bulletin on the development of civil affairs in 2023 released by the Chinese Ministry of Civil Affairs, a total of 7.68 million couples tied the knot throughout the year of 2023, marking a 12.4 percent increase compared to the previous year. This is the first rise in marriage registrations in nearly one decade, surpassing the 7.64 million marriages recorded in 2021, Chinese media Yicai.com reported.

He Yafu, an independent demographic expert who monitors marriage registration data, attributed the rise in marriage registrations in 2023 to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which led many young people to delay their weddings until 2023. 

He noted that the number of marriage registrations in the first half of 2024 decreased year-on-year, indicating that the post-pandemic compensatory effect has gradually faded. 

He also mentioned another contributing factor: Many young people chose to get married in 2023 with the intention of having children in the auspicious Year of the Dragon in 2024, He told the Global Times on Thursday.

In 2023, 9.02 million babies were born, resulting in a birth rate of 6.39 per thousand people, according to National Bureau of Statistics.

China will continue to firmly promote high-level opening-up, create a market-oriented, rule-of-law and internationalized business environment, and provide more opportunities for enterprises from all countries, including EU members, said Mao Ning, spokesperson of China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, at on Wednesday commenting on a position paper published by the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China. 

China remains, and will continue to be, a crucial engine driving global economic growth and a promising land for investment and business ventures from around the world, Mao further noted.

The remarks were made in response to a media request for comment on the European Business in China Position Paper 2024/2025 published by the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China (European Chamber) in Beijing. The latest position paper collected responses from more than 1,700 member companies of the chamber operating in China.

EU businesses remain highly committed to China, Jens Eskelund, president of the European Chamber, said at the launch of the position paper on Wednesday, indicating the importance of the Chinese market to many companies from the bloc.

The potential of Chinese market remains attractive, Eskelund told the Global Times, noting that China still has supply chain efficiency, and within many sectors, the technologies and efficiencies in China are very hard to find elsewhere.

The chamber head also mentioned several important efforts that the Chinese government has made, and how these efforts may inspire foreign businesses, including those from the EU.

European firms' perceptions of the Chinese business environment might be changing, yet they still have a shared interest in China's continued success, the chamber said.

Efforts have been noted in several areas including human resources and business travel, where the chamber said that "there was an early, welcome breakthrough with the extension of China's preferential individual income tax policy for foreign nationals, and the waiving of visa requirements for citizens from several EU member states."

The chamber also mentioned several other areas where the Chinese government's efforts have been noticeable including the digital and cyber areas, access to green energy, and investment promotion and facilitation in China.

While acknowledging the efforts of the Chinese government toward opening-up, the European Chamber's position paper was also filled with concerns such as China's "economic slowdown" and "overcapacity" in certain industries, claims that Chinese experts said do not "fully reflect the complete picture of China's current development."

"In recent years, due to changes in the external environment, China's economic development has indeed faced some challenges... there is also the background of China's overall economic transformation, including industrial upgrading and the elimination of outdated capacity," Cui Hongjian, a professor at the Academy of Regional and Global Governance at Beijing Foreign Studies University, told the Global Times on Wednesday, noting that during this economic transition period, there might be some impact on European businesses.

However, Cui noted that it is essential for EU companies to evaluate China's overall environment and development with a reasonable and long-term perspective.

"The Chinese market remains one of the most stable and highest-return markets for European companies, and this is undeniable," Cui said.

The US House of Representatives is speeding up voting this week on up to 28 bills that target China, touching on a slew of issues including Hong Kong-related affairs, and restrictions on Chinese biotech companies, drones and electric vehicles (EVs), in a move that Chinese experts see as weaponizing legislative measures and using China as a "bargaining chip" to gain more political points. 

In response to a bill passed on Monday that aims to restrict business with Chinese biotechnology firms under the excuse of "national security," Chinese Foreign Ministry on Tuesday voiced firm opposition to such discriminatory actions.  

"China Week," a term coined by US media, shows all-out attempts to suppress China's development and influence to bolster American allies in the Asia-Pacific, according to media reports.

The bills include measures against Chinese biotech firms, EVs and drones, limiting Chinese nationals from purchasing farmland, more export controls, and reinstating an initiative to combat so-called espionage targeting US intellectual property.

The measures in the bills that relate to China mainly focus on restrictions concerning China's role in global supply chains, as the Republicans are trying to create obstacles for China in key areas aiming to limit China's development speed and influence, Lü Xiang, a research fellow from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times.

Given the recent visit by US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan to Beijing, which indicates the Biden administration's will to stabilize China-US ties, the US House's legislation aims to sabotage and undermine Democrats' performance on the diplomatic front and foster intra-party unity within GOP, Li Haidong, a professor at the China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times on Tuesday. 

"These bills only reflect the positions of some extreme anti-China figures, yet they could cause substantial damage to the stability of global supply chains and the interests of American businesses," Li said. 

Illustration: Liu Rui/GT

Multiple types of helicopters of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Army recently conducted replenishment on a maritime platform, a tactic experts said on Thursday enables the choppers to return to the frontline faster in cross-sea operations.

A brigade affiliated with the PLA 71st Group Army recently organized its helicopters to conduct a takeoff and landing training on a maritime platform in the Yellow Sea during a littoral exercise, according to China Central Television (CCTV) on Wednesday.

After completing a defense penetration operation, a formation of various helicopter types chose a maritime relay platform to land and replenish fuel and munitions, enabling a quicker return to combat, CCTV reported, noting that during the replenishment, the helicopters received supplies without turning off their engines.

The CCTV report showed that the maritime platform is a large ship with a large helicopter deck, and the helicopters involved in the drill included the Z-19 attack helicopter and the Z-20 utility helicopter.

Utilizing large maritime platforms for helicopter replenishment saves the time needed for helicopters to return to land bases, significantly enhancing combat efficiency, a Chinese military expert who requested anonymity told the Global Times on Thursday.

If helicopters are damaged during a mission, they can also conduct emergency landings on the maritime platforms, which could save them from crashing, the expert said.

The mobile maritime platforms can sail to safe positions under the escort of other warships and warplanes, the expert said, noting that they serve as good additions to the PLA Navy's amphibious assault ships and amphibious landing ships that also have large helicopter decks.

Observers noted that PLA Army helicopters often participate in maritime exercises. In another recent drill, conducted by a brigade affiliated with the PLA 83rd Group Army over the Bohai Sea, Z-8L transport helicopters, Z-20 utility helicopters as well as Z-10 and Z-19 attack helicopters practiced low-air defense penetration and fire strikes, according to a separate CCTV report on Wednesday.

China's ongoing efforts to support development in Africa are receiving a positive reception, with a recent survey showing African youth appreciate the country's contributions in areas such as investment and infrastructure.

According to the 2024 African Youth Survey, released on Tuesday by the Johannesburg-based Ichikowitz Family Foundation, 82 percent of respondents perceive China's influence on the continent as positive.

The survey, conducted among 5,604 respondents aged 18 to 24 across 16 African nations, highlights that China remains one of the most influential non-African countries for the continent's youth. 

Positive views of China's impact were nearly unanimous in Rwanda and Chad (96 percent each), Kenya (95 percent), and Nigeria (93 percent).

Key factors driving these favorable perceptions include the affordability of Chinese products (41 percent) and Chinese investments in infrastructure development (40 percent). 

China has been actively fostering cooperation with Africa in capacity building, offering initiatives such as the Luban Workshops, which focus on practical skills, and Confucius Institutes, which promote cultural exchange. 

The 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) is being held in Beijing from September 4 to 6. Talent support policies and personnel exchanges have become a hot topic of discussion.

China is an increasingly popular destination for African students seeking international education, providing talented African people with front-row seats to the future of innovation, Karanja Ngina, a young Kenyan observer who closely follows news about the Forum, told the Global Times.

Fang Jing, a 24-year-old who exports small commodities to Africa, told the Global Times that many of her African business partners are curious about how China's internet economy and mobile payment systems work. 

"They follow news on China's cutting-edge technology closely. I can feel their enthusiasm and aspiration for modernization," Fang said.

China-Africa cooperation delivers strong results, becomes international model GraphicAnalysis: GT

A new air corridor linking Shanghai and Kunming, Southwest China's Yunnan Province, will commence operations on Thursday, aimed at reducing congestion for east-west flights and enhancing connectivity with some Southeast Asian countries, including Myanmar and Laos.

The Shanghai-Kunming air corridor, is able to handle more than 1,400 flights every day and covers seven major airports in six cities, China Media Group reported.

Experts attributed the demand for the route to rising economic, trade, development and personnel exchanges, which will allow efficient connection not only between the country's eastern and western regions, but also with neighboring countries, further promoting high-level opening-up.

The vital route in China's extensive transportation network has been upgraded from a "single-lane" to a "dual-lane" system for one-way traffic, improving air traffic efficiency and safety, according to media reports. 

The expanded corridor now includes two parallel routes, offering enhanced connectivity between Shanghai's air terminals and the western regions.

Under the plan, a total of 13 new flight routes will be established, while nine existing routes will be adjusted. This initiative will benefit over 1,400 flights per day, accounting for 8 percent of the country's total flight volume, according to Zhang Junjie, an official from Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC).

An enhanced air route network is anticipated, aligning with the rapid growth of the country's civil aviation market, said the official, suggesting that the average daily passenger flight volume has increased from 10,360 flights in 2013 to 19,000 flights in summer this year.

"The route network is expected to meet growing aviation transportation demand over the next five years and can be adjusted as needed, benefiting over 80 percent of travelers nationwide," said Yan Xiaodong, deputy director of the air traffic management division of the CAAC.

Previously, China has established and activated seven air corridors nationwide, effectively reducing airspace congestion caused by the rapid increase in flight volume. 

The 8th air corridor, linking Shanghai and Kunming, will significantly enhance the capacity of the main air route network, supporting the rapid industrial growth and providing strong backing for local economic development, Lin Zhijie, an independent market analyst, told the Global Times on Thursday.

Yunnan province has been strengthening infrastructure connectivity with South and Southeast Asian countries for years, represented by the China-Laos Railway, experts said, adding that such developments are crucial for driving industrial upgrades and stimulating economic growth in the region. 

The enhanced connectivity has facilitated the flow of people and goods, bolstered regional economic ties, and played a key role in promoting shared development, Xu Liping, director of the Center for Southeast Asian Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Thursday.

Recently, the reporter learned from the State Grid Henan Electric Power Company that since the beginning of summer this year, Henan Province has set two new records for new energy power generation. Specifically, at 12:55 on August 11, the maximum power generation from new energy reached 29.37 million kilowatts, an increase of 920,000 kilowatts from the previous record, accounting for 45.5 percent of the province's electricity load at that time, and a 30 percent increase from the peak value of the previous year.

It is learned that in recent years, the State Grid Henan Electric Power Company has vigorously promoted the precise reinforcement and upgrade of the backbone network at various levels. The number of substations and the length of transmission lines at or above 220 kilovolts have increased by 73 percent and 39 percent respectively, and the scale of the distribution network has doubled, significantly enhancing the capacity for new energy consumption and allocation. The company has resolutely implemented the decision-making and deployment of the provincial committee of the CPC and government, actively developed a distributed source-network-load-storage coordinated control system, achieving full coverage of "group adjustment and group control" for distributed photovoltaics across the province. The establishment of the Henan Province Distributed Photovoltaic Bearing Capacity and Open Capacity Release Platform has guided and supported the standardized and healthy development of distributed photovoltaics, providing useful exploration and important support for ensuring the long-term safe and stable operation of the power grid and the coordinated development of source-network-load-storage.

By the end of 2023, the installed capacity of new energy in Henan Province reached 59.092 million kilowatts, representing 42.5 percent. In 2023, the total electricity generation from wind and photovoltaic power within the province reached 73.8 billion kilowatt-hours, a year-on-year increase of 25.7 percent, equivalent to saving 23.247 million tons of standard coal and reducing 73.5786 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions. In the first half of 2024, under the condition that the new installed capacity of new energy in the province increased by 3.78 million kilowatts, accounting for nearly 50 percent of the total installed capacity, the high proportion of new energy use was ensured, achieving the goal that new energy can be generated and supplied.

While continuing to back Manila's provocative actions in the South China Sea, some allies of the US have been intensifying moves to smear China, Chinese observers said on Monday, when commenting on recent noises on the South China Sea issue from external parties.

The latest irresponsible remarks came from the European External Action Service (EEAS) spokesperson, which condemned China's "dangerous actions," in a statement issued on Sunday. 

The fact was that the Philippine Coast Guard ship MRRV-9701, which has been illegally stationed at China's Xianbin Jiao, on Saturday lifted its anchor and conducted continuous maneuvers, stirring up troubles in the lagoon of Xianbin Jiao. China Coast Guard (CCG) Vessel 5205 took measures including verbal warnings, monitoring and control in accordance with the law and regulations.

In the process, the Philippine MRRV-9701 deliberately rammed into CCG Vessel 5205 in an unprofessional and dangerous manner, causing a collision for which the Philippines bears full responsibility.

China strongly deplored the EU's accusations over the collision, a spokesperson of the Chinese Mission to the EU said on Monday.

Soon after the collision, the US on Saturday backed the Philippines' stance and claimed China's actions to safeguard its own interests were "escalatory." US allies including Australia followed suit in making a biased statement. Japan has also made a high-profile response targeting China over a previous China-Philippines collision incident at Xianbin Jiao in August. 

The Philippines aims to internationalize the issue by leveraging alliance to mislead the public. By engaging with these non-involved parties, including making some off-table trade-offs, the Philippines seeks to "enhance its bargaining power and maritime presence," said Chen Xiangmiao, director of the World Navy Research Center at the National Institute for South China Sea Studies.

The US is the real "mastermind" behind the tension in the South China Sea, instructing Manila to stir up trouble but avoiding a scenario that goes out of control, and it is also the US that has mobilized its close allies to back the Philippines, Chen said. 

The quick responses from the US and its allies after the Saturday incident fully demonstrated their close coordination in this disinformation campaign against China, and their ultimate goal of destabilizing the South China Sea and pushing the US' Indo-Pacific Strategy, analysts said.