The pressure on Apple to reorganize its products structure and find more and stronger business avenues is on, ever since Microsoft has topped Apple about one month ago to become the most valuable public company in the world. The competition between the two major tech titans is expected to persist in the coming two to three years, if not longer.
Now, generative artificial intelligence (AI) is churning the seas and making big waves after OpenAI launched the newest ChatGPT bot "Sora" which is able to make vivid and utterly realistic clips of video streams if fed with descriptive texts. Deemed as the next transformative technology that may be capable to reshape our work and life, AI innovation and development is currently on the top agenda of both Apple and Microsoft.
And on Tuesday, Apple's Chief Operating Officer Jeff Williams affirmed that the company is winding down its decade-old endeavor to build an electric vehicle, abandoning one of the most ambitious projects in the company's history. Many employees working on the EV project reportedly will be shifted to Apple's AI project group. Obviously, AI innovation is a key priority of the company and Apple cannot take it for granted.
AI is presumably the next big thing for the world's corporate giants, as joggling for achieving an AI edge has already started. Microsoft, a major stakeholder of OpenAI, seems to be leading in generative AI development and usage. Microsoft has invested billions of dollars in OpenAI and spent the whole of last year racing to push its AI solutions into every product the company offers, which many watchers claim will enable Microsoft to cash in on what they see as its lead in AI.
Apple does not want to fall behind in AI innovation. Apple CEO Tim Cook told investors earlier this month that it has been working on generative AI and was planning to announce some progress later in 2024. "We've got some things that we're incredibly excited about that we'll be talking about later this year," he said on a call with industry analysts.
The decision to shut down its high-profile EV bid is a bombshell for many, which effectively ended a multibillion-dollar effort named Project Titan which would have vaulted the company into a whole new industry. Apple started working on its EV program about 10 years ago, eyeing on a fully autonomous electric car with voice-guided navigation, but the project stumbled and struggled from the start, causing investors to be increasingly concerned with the eventual birth of a car.
But Apple continues to spend heavily in new technology advances. It spent a total of $113 billion on research and development during the past five years, with an average annual growth rate of 16 percent, one of the highest among major tech companies in the world. For instance, Apple last year launched the popular Vision Pro headset.
But Microsoft has moved from "talking about AI to applying AI at scale," according to its chief executive Satya Nadella. The company's more than $3 trillion market valuation is significantly supported by its lead in AI innovation and its flagship cloud computing product called Azure. In the just concluded quarter ending December, the company netted revenue totaling $62 billion, growing 18 percent from a year earlier. Its profit reached $21.9 billion, up 33 percent. Microsoft's cloud offerings brought in $33.7 billion business, just behind Amazon.
Microsoft vowed to invest tens of billions more in building more data centers for AI and cloud computing. Corporate customers have just started trying Microsoft's Copilot offering, which integrates newest AI tools into its cloud productivity programs including Word, Excel and Teams. The improvements have become widely available at the end of last year and cost about $30 per user per month, which is able to create new streams of revenue for Microsoft.
Years ago, Microsoft trailed in market capitalization as its stock price lacked luster after the company acquired Nokia's mobile phone business, which ultimately failed as it could not compete with smartphone giants like Apple and a slew of Chinese phone makers. But Microsoft again places its focus on software development, cloud computing and AI innovation, which eventually pays off and leads to steadily rising stock prices and becomes a darling at Wall Street.
According to Japanese media, Japanese government sources stated on January 15 that Japan and Australia are discussing potential military cooperation in case of simultaneous contingencies in their nearby regions. They also mentioned increasing the sophistication and frequency of joint drills between the Self-Defense Forces and the Australian military and Tokyo has also asked for Canberra's cooperation in using Australia's vast continent as a testing ground for Japanese missiles that are under development, "apparently with China's growing maritime assertiveness in mind."
This reflects the step-by-step implementation of the Australia-Japan Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation signed by Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in October 2022. It is also a result of vigorous facilitation and promotion by the US. Japan and Australia are becoming two pawns in the US Indo-Pacific Strategy, or more specifically, in the strategy to contain China. This can be likened to the sharp claws of a feline extending from concealed pads.
Following Washington's instructions and deployment, the two countries are overtly strengthening military interactions and cooperation with the explicit goal of countering China. The impact of this approach on the regional situation is inevitably disruptive and detrimental, poisoning the regional peace environment, intensifying tensions, and exerting significant efforts to push the Asia-Pacific region into security dilemmas or traps.
The revealed development, particularly Japan's intention to conduct long-range missile launch tests in Australia, is indeed noteworthy. Japan lacks strategic depth domestically and does not have the conditions for testing medium to long-range missiles. It also faces the restricts of the constitution. Utilizing Australia's territory for this purpose is undoubtedly advantageous for Japan. Australia is breeding an inexplicable "sense of insecurity" under the malicious instigation and misleading of the US, blindly cooperating with and supporting Japan's dangerous actions instead of taking precautions. This is very regrettable.
If this comes to fruition, it would represent a fundamental and substantive betrayal and breach of the Constitution of Japan. Many peace-loving individuals in the Asia-Pacific region, including a significant number of Japanese citizens, have long been strongly concerned about and vehemently opposed to such actions. Japanese media has described the US-Japan-Australia defense relationship as "changing the rules of the game." However, the development of long-range missiles by Japan goes beyond merely "changing the rules of the game." For countries that have previously suffered from Japanese militaristic aggression, it is more akin to lifting the seal on a demon.
Japan enacted a peace constitution after being defeated in World War II and pursued a principle of "exclusive self-defense," establishing an image of a "peaceful nation" and embarking on a "peaceful path" to help Japan quickly gain recognition and trust from countries affected by World War II and integrate into the international community. The rapid recovery and development of Japan's economy after World War II are closely related to this. However, when Japan deviates from the path of peace, recognition and trust of the international community immediately turn into vigilance and suspicion, further becoming obstacles and restrictions on Japan's development path.
Medium to long-range missiles are undoubtedly significant offensive weapons. In late 2022, Japan passed "three security documents," which clearly stated Japan's commitment to policies such as having "enemy base strike capabilities," including various types of long-range offensive missiles and the "integrated air and missile defense" system used in conjunction with the US military. From this news, it can be seen that Japan is moving forward along the planned route of the new security documents, and ahead of this path lies a huge crisis.
This road is not only full of dangers but also causes great harm to the people and the economy. Japan's defense budget for the fiscal year 2024 will increase by 16.5 percent compared to the previous fiscal year, reaching a historical high. The Asahi Shimbun commented that such a large-scale budget "has completely exceeded its own needs and is in an inflated state." The high defense expenditure will undoubtedly squeeze out more financial resources related to people's livelihoods, negatively impacting the lives of Japanese citizens.
Since the intensification of global geopolitical tensions, Japan has been distorting the concept, turning regional countries' expectations for peace into tacit approval or even support for its military development. Facts have proven that Japan's actions are seriously stimulating the escalation of regional tensions. As victims of Japan's past militaristic aggression, Canberra and the South Pacific countries should in no way contribute to the growth of Japan's military ambitions.
Australia, located in the southern hemisphere, could have been free from the disturbance of geopolitical conflicts. There is absolutely no need to let military weapons from other countries cast a shadow of war over this land. In December of last year, Australian defense minister refused to send warships or aircraft to the US-led Red Sea coalition, citing "our strategic focus is our region." If Australia truly feels responsible for its surrounding region, this should be reflected in actions that maintain peace and reduce the risk of war. And Australia should demonstrate strategic autonomy through practical actions.
A Chinese mainland spokesperson on Saturday commented on the outcomes of Taiwan leadership and legislature elections.
Chen Binhua, a spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, said the results reveal that the Democratic Progressive Party cannot represent the mainstream public opinion on the island.
Noting that Taiwan is China's Taiwan, Chen said that the elections will not change the basic landscape and development trend of cross-Strait relations, will not alter the shared aspiration of compatriots across the Taiwan Strait to forge closer ties, and will not impede the inevitable trend of China's reunification.
"Our stance on resolving the Taiwan question and realizing national reunification remains consistent, and our determination is as firm as rock," Chen said.
"We will adhere to the 1992 Consensus that embodies the one-China principle and firmly oppose the separatist activities aimed at 'Taiwan independence' as well as foreign interference," Chen said.
He said the mainland will work with relevant political parties, groups and people from various sectors in Taiwan to boost cross-Strait exchanges and cooperation, enhance cross-Strait integrated development, jointly promote Chinese culture, and advance the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations as well as the cause of national reunification.
China's National Immigration Administration (NIA) officially implements five measures to facilitate foreign nationals coming to China, effective on Thursday, including relaxing visa application requirements and simplifying visa application materials. This move represents that China continues to speed up its opening-up to the outside world.
The sluggish recovery of international flights and Western media's disinformation against China are partly responsible for the slow recovery of foreigners' visits to China, said experts. However, they anticipate a boost in visits to China in the coming year. This increase in tourism not only has the potential to enhance trade and people-to-people exchanges but also allows foreigners to gain firsthand experiences and information in China, thereby dispelling any malicious disinformation propagated by Western media.
Liu Haitao, an official from NIA, announced the measures at a conference held on Thursday. One of these measures include the relaxation of the conditions for foreign nationals to apply for port visas to China. For foreign nationals who urgently need to engage in business cooperation, visit exchanges, investment and other non-diplomatic and non-official activities, if they are unable to obtain a visa overseas in time, they can apply for a port visa to enter China by presenting invitation letters and other relevant supporting documents to the port visa authorities.
Foreign nationals can transit through Beijing Capital Airport and other designated international airports in China without going through immigration procedures for up to 24 hours. This policy applies to nine international airports, including Beijing Capital, Beijing Daxing, Shanghai Pudong, and Xi'an Xianyang.
Travelers with international connecting flights within 24 hours can transit through any of these airports to a third country or region without going through immigration procedures and enjoy visa-free transit, said Liu.
The measures will also allow foreign nationals to apply for visa extensions, replacements, or reissues at the nearest location. Foreign nationals who need to enter and exit China multiple times can apply for reentry visas, as the application process will now be simplified.
For foreign nationals applying for visas, if their accommodation registration records and business licenses can be accessed through information sharing, they are exempt from providing relevant paper documents for verification. For foreign nationals in China applying for short-term family reunion visas, a declaration of kinship by the inviting person can be used instead of proof of kinship.
According to the official, as China's economy continues to recover and improve, and its level of opening-up to the outside world expands, there has been a surge in demand for enhanced immigration management services from both domestic and foreign enterprises and individuals.
In response, the NIA is proactively collaborating with relevant authorities to address key challenges and obstacles pertaining to the entry of foreigners for business, study, and tourism in China.
[The recent new measures] are a game-changer for business, a British national doing business in Shanghai who only gave his name as Barrie told the Global Times on Thursday. "This could open up all kinds of opportunities. I can say from experience that the visa application procedures (even for visiting) had been challenging in the past, this easing of process for foreigners to enter will bring flows of travelers, and workers, and commerce."
Border inspection authorities across China checked a total of 210 million visitors entering the country in 2023, recovering to 62.9 percent of the levels seen in 2019. The number of visitors entering the country will continue to rise in 2024 thanks to the resumption of international flights and cross-border personnel exchanges, said an official from the NIA.
The NIA said the number of new applications and replacements for 'Five-Star Card' that is designated for foreign permanent residents increased significantly. Foreigners with permanent residence permits in China can apply for financial services, including banking, securities, and foreign exchanges, said the administration.
Open up further and wider
The latest measures are in line with China's offering of visa-free policy to six countries last year and Central Economic Work Conference held at the end of last year, signaling efforts should be made to foster new drivers of foreign trade, Miao Lu, secretary general of Center for China and Globalization, a Beijing-based non-governmental think tank, told the Global Times on Thursday.
Last month, China rolled out a one-year visa-free policy to ordinary passport holders from six countries - France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Malaysia - starting from December 1, 2023.
Charles Loke Chee Kin, a Malaysian who has business ties with China, told the Global Times on Thursday, "I used to fly to China once a month. In the past, I had to apply for a visa every time which requires long processing. Now, with the implementation of the visa-free policy between China and Malaysia, it is really convenient for overseas personnel like us who come to China frequently."
Miao said apart from stimulating trade and tourism, the new policies also aim to promote people-to-people exchanges between China and other countries.
According to experts, there is still significant potential for increasing the number of foreigners visiting China, as the number of visitors entering the country in 2023 only reached 62.9 percent of the pre-pandemic level. Miao suggests that one major factor contributing to this slow recovery is the sluggish rebound of international flights.
By the end of 2023, China's scheduled international passenger flights had returned to 4,782 flights per week, around 62.8 percent of the pre-pandemic level, the Civil Aviation Administration of China said on Monday
The pervasive toxic anti-China rhetoric that prevails in the West has undoubtedly taken a psychological toll on some individuals, instilling fear and apprehension in their minds when considering a visit to China, Zhang Yiwu, a professor of Chinese language and literature from Peking University, told the Global Times on Thursday.
For example, some foreign media have been hyping China's revised Counter-Espionage Law since April 2023. A piece published in the Wall Street Journal in April 2023 said that the law and "China's detention of foreigners" have made businesses worried and spooked people who plan to travel there.
Zhang expressed his concerns over the Western media's distortion and defamation of China's efforts to safeguard its national security. He emphasized that this has hindered meaningful people-to-people exchanges. He highlighted that the latest measures, coupled with China's warm gesture, will effectively convey the message that the country welcomes individuals with legitimate intentions. Zhang believes that firsthand experiences in China will dispel the unfounded negative portrayal perpetuated by biased Western media reports.
Tilting social welfare policies in favor of young people to encourage new births in the face of a low birth rate has been a common view in Chinese society. However, the idea of offering a house as a gift to young parents upon the birth of a child, proposed by a Chinese professor, hasn't received as much support. The suggestion has ignited a firestorm of online discussions and debates.
Professor Di Dongsheng from the Renmin University of China put forward the proposal in a recent episode of the program "China Is Speaking" aired on Southeast Television, in 2023.
He began by noting that young women giving birth to children is a valuable contribution to labor and has profound significance for the country and society. He then expressed his belief that the state should provide corresponding subsidies to these young women to recognize their contributions to society.
Di further proposed that such subsidies can be diversified, and one direct way is to provide housing subsidies for young women, adding that the house needn't be big, but rather a modest single-bedroom house to accommodate a one-child family.
"What if I said yes, would you gift one one-bedroom house to me?" Chenchen, a netizen posted, throwing the question back to the professor, questioning the practicality of the scheme.
Others opined that such a policy would not move them into parenthood. "It is true that I am tempted, but if marriage protection and psychological care for women are not enough, I still refuse to give birth," Jiuer wrote. "It seems like one house is a once-and-for-all solution for those who don't want a child… [it is useless] unless you sent the money for the milk powder, too," Weile, another netizen commented.
But "some families may force the mother to have one child after another in order to get more houses. Eventually, it may lead to female reproductive exploitation," Liubao, another commenter argued. "It really depends on the city in which the house is located. Presenting me with a house in the middle of nowhere wouldn't prompt me to move in," Lingling said.
One online poll, in which over 225,000 people participated, revealed an overwhelming support for the professor's idea among netizens. Out of the total respondents, 141,000 expressed their desire to have a child if they were offered a one-bedroom house as a gift, while the remaining 83,000 opted to not have children .
Demographers reached by the Global Times generally pointed out the fanciful nature of Di's remarks, noting that housing is just one of the factors contributing to young people's reluctance to have children. Boosting people's desire to have children requires a comprehensive strategy on how to build a "birth-friendly society."
A Tianjin-based demographer who spoke on condition of anonymity described Di's remarks as short-sighted and poorly thought out.
Clearly, purely relying on material rewards cannot solve the problem, Peng Xizhe, director of the Fudan University Center for Population and Development Policy Studies, said.
The government's preferential policies should not be aimed at reversing people's attitudes toward childbearing or persuading them to have children. Instead, preferential policies should aim to provide as much support and welfare as possible to those who are willing to have children, Peng told the Global Times.
Some of the supporting measures reported by the media include granting parental leave, childcare allowances, and flexible work arrangements on a family basis, in order to increase paternal involvement in childcare, reduce employment discrimination against women due to childbirth, and alleviate women's concerns about having children.
Linze County in Gansu, for instance, issued a document to provide annual childcare subsidies worth 5,000 yuan for every second child and 10,000 yuan for every third child until the child is 3 years old.
To actively respond to the population worries and effectively address the dilemma of declining birth rates, Li Ting, a professor at the School of Sociology and Population Studies at the Renmin University of China, suggests an overall practical plan for a "birth-friendly society," establish a long-term, comprehensive, and strategic reproductive support childbirth system.
Peng noted that the most crucial issue is still finding a balance between women's career development and their family responsibilities. This requires not only comprehensive government policies but also the cultivation of a culture that supports childbearing, as well as greater tolerance and support for women from the society as a whole, Peng said.
Developed countries, including Singapore, Japan, and South Korea, have comprehensive policies to encourage childbirth, but their birth rates have not increased significantly. It is more about a change in people's lifestyles and their overall concept, Peng said.
The total number of births nationally was 9.56 million in 2022. Among the births in 2022, second children accounted for 38.9 percent of the total, while the proportion of third children and above accounted for 15.0 percent, according to the National Health Commission.
In the disguise of maintaining national security, the US has been ratcheting up chip export control measures against China and unreasonably suppressing Chinese semiconductor companies, which is a genuine act of economic bullying, Mao Ning, a spokesperson of China's Foreign Ministry, told a press conference on Monday.
Noting that the US often talks about international rules, but what it really does is to ignore the rules and violate them, Mao said the implementation by the US of semiconductor export control measures against Chinese companies constitutes a discriminatory practice against China and violates the principle of most-favored-nation treatment under Article I of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT).
Its blacklisting of relevant Chinese telecommunication equipment enterprises and banning of the entry of Chinese telecommunication equipment into the US market under the pretext of threatening its information security is a contravention of the principle of the general elimination of quantitative restrictions stipulated in Article XI of the GATT, the spokesperson said.
"The US uses 'national security' as a pretext to restrict chip exports to China, but in fact its relevant initiatives completely go beyond the boundaries of the concept of national security, so that the normal trade of ordinary civilian-use chips is significantly restricted," Mao said.
The Nvidia RTX4090 chip is positioned as a consumer-grade graphics card, which is mainly designed for gamers. However, due to the impact of US export control measures, the chip was forced to be taken off the shelves in the Chinese market.
In addition, the US also blackmailed a number of other countries to suppress Chinese enterprises, which has nothing to do with security, but is of typical economic coercion, Mao said.
The facts clearly show that the US' deliberate suppression of the development of China's chip industry is not based on national security considerations, let alone legitimate competitive behavior, but rather unilateral bullying act without any principle or bottom line. It is aimed to deprive emerging markets and developing countries of the right to pursue a happy life, the spokesperson noted.
"The actions of the US have seriously impacted the stability of the international production and supply chain, poisoned the atmosphere of international cooperation and fostered division and confrontation, and this self-serving approach is destined to lead to shooting itself in the foot," said Mao.
If you have recently taken an evening walk in a park, you might have come across some young people wearing fluorescent bracelets running and hiding to evade capture. Not only is this nothing to be scared of, but it's the latest sweeping sensation among social games in China. After frisbee became a phenomenal across the country, young people in China now "invented" a new outlet to channel their stress and socialize: Originating from some college campuses early this year, the live-action cat-and-mouse game has instantly taken many cities by storm.
If you search for the key words "cat-and-mouse game" on platforms such as Xiaohongshu or Douyin, the domestic version of Tiktok, you will find a multitude of online groups organizing the game in parks, plazas and lakes.
It takes only 7 to 19 yuan ($0.9-2.6) to sign up for one game where you will be provided a bottle of water, an insurance, fluorescent bracelets and light sticks. Dozens of participants will be divided into two teams: "cats" and "mice." The cat team is tasked with capturing as many mice as possible within the designated time and game area.
Physical contact is not allowed during the game, however a light touch by the "cat" will turn the "mouse" into a member of the "cat" group and the catcher will be awarded a light stick. The "cat" who got the most light sticks will be crowned the "king of cats."
Hide-and-seek
The rules of the game are reminescent of hide-and-seek, but technology adds a new dimension to the game and makes it a more intensive exercise.
All participants are required to turn on location sharing on their mobile phone application so that every body's real-time location is clear at a glance.
Unlike the traditional hide-and-seek where the "mice" hide in one place and wait to be found, the "mice" of this game have to keep moving and evade capture in the dark. Within an area about five kilometers wide, running and taking advantage of stairs, woods and shelters looks like a live version of Fast and Furious.
The game has quickly become a phenomenon in more than 50 cities across China including Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Hangzhou, Guangzhou and Shenzhen.
One social sports mini program on WeChat has launched a particular column for people to sign up for the game. On October 23, dozens of spots were available in Beijing, Xi'an and Chengdu and some 40 people signed up for a Halloween-themed event in Beijing's Chaoyang Park.
Bao Jun, a 33-year-old who recently played the game in Beijing's Haidian district, told the Global Times that the game evoked his childhood memories.
"I had a lot of fun while running two kilometers that night. It's an opportunity to make new friends and relieve work pressure," said Bao.
Chen, an organizer in Hangzhou, East China's Zhejiang Province, said the game has gained instant popularity in Hangzhou around the National Day holidays.
"Selecting a proper spot is key to ensure enjoyment of the game and safety. Being able to socialize while doing exercise in a fun way is appealing to many young people. It's a new pastime after work or study," said Chen.
Compared with frisbee and flag football, the game is not competitive and is widely accessible. Whether one is a "cat" or a "mouse," the game allows participants to run a lot and socialize with teammates while discussing strategies to win the game, which gives participants a sense of accomplishment.
Social tool
Humans are "social animals," and people's study, work and entertainment are often group-based. Playing "cat and mouse" is innate to human nature, according to Ding Daoshi, an internet analyst.
In the post-pandemic time, it's one of the examples of people releasing their pent-up social emotional demands, just like the rebound of tourism industry. In essence, this is a social game, said Ding.
Nie Xiaojing, a psychologist with The Fourth People's Hospital of Chengdu in Sichuan Province, said that the game is an escape from the real life.
When people are engaged in this game, there is no pressure. It doesn't matter whether you win or lose.
The sporty nature of the game is also different from regular exercises. With goals to achieve in the game, it allows participants to exercise while having fun. In addition, the social aspect is particularly important. Participants have to stick together, which is an important interpersonal link and provides a sense of belonging.
"When you try to complete a task together, the interpersonal relationships will be promoted through verbal, physical and emotional connection," said Nie.
The game went viral across the country because it is well known to the public and does not require any technical training. In addition, the adult participants experience a cognitive contrast as it is perceived to be a children's game. Without professional requirements, the set up cost of the game is quite low, according to the social sports mini program.
However, it remains a question whether the craze will survive the upcoming winter when it's too cold to play such a game outdoors, especially in northern China.
"The number of participants is likely to drop in winter. But we are trying to enrich the game with new elements. I believe the game will come back stronger in spring," said the organizer Chen.
The final competition of the Beijing Central Axis Culture Communication Young Envoy, a sub-track of the 2023 Beijing Central Axis Cultural Heritage Inheritance and Innovation Competition, was held over the weekend.
The event attracted hundreds of young artists from home and abroad to participate in the talent show named: "My Story with the Beijing Central Axis."
The Beijing Central Axis is a 7.8-kilometer-long area that runs through the center of the city from the Drum Tower and Bell Tower north of the Forbidden City to Yongding Gate in the south.
A total of 650 groups from 16 districts were selected to enter the semi-finals. Among these 120 groups of Chinese and foreign contestants entered the final round, including contestants from the US, the Philippines, Canada, Russia, South Korea and Azerbaijan.
The contestants showed their understanding of the Beijing Central Axis culture through on-site displays of paper-cut art, Beijing wool monkey art, silk wrapping crafts, fashion shows, piano performances, lyric, street dance and dramatic performances, and for the shows they used Chinese, English, Russian, Spanish, Italian, Korean and other languages to tell their stories and express their love for the Beijing Central Axis.
The sub-track was officially launched on June 15 and received strong support from the district education commissions and primary and secondary schools in Beijing.
Additionally, it also collected works based on the Beijing Central Axis Heritage Culture Protection Base Schools.
The organizing committee of the event invited 23 experts from the fields of education, culture and history to serve as the final judges for the three sessions of this sub-track.
"Compared with last year, the overall quality of this year's competition has improved significantly and this was reflected in their understanding of the concept of the Beijing Central Axis," said Yu Dan, a Chinese cultural scholar and professor of Beijing Normal University.
"The understanding of the central axis is not simply in language, but more importantly, a lifestyle. The inheritance of the Beijing Central Axis requires the participation of the public, and this competition starts from the children," Yu said.
During the competition, a special contestant impressed the judges. Wei Jiahong, a hearing-impaired student from the Dongcheng District Special Education School in Beijing, who brought a sketch of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests inside the Temple of Heaven, explained his work and background in his own language.
Guo Hongxia, the principal of Haidian Experimental Second Elementary School, told the Global Times that as a child who has grown and lived in Beijing, he feels obligation to inherit the central axis culture.
"I think the Beijing Central Axis is a tangible line, and the children are the 'extension line' of the Chinese culture gene," he said.
The Hangzhou Asian Games was full of bright and impressive sports victories of participants. Among them, the national team of Uzbekistan won 71 medals - 22 gold, 18 silver, and 31 bronze medals - entering the top 5 of Asian countries and regions.
In recent years, Uzbekistan has consolidated the image of a country with outstanding athletes - chess players, boxers, judoists, weightlifters and the like. At the Asian Games in Hangzhou, the audience witnessed the appearance of Uzbek sports stars in boxing, taekwondo, athletics, fencing, rowing, etc.
Observers noted that this was the result of the development of sports in the country. An effective system of training professional athletes, coaches, medical staff and judges has been created in Uzbekistan, a spokesperson of the Uzbek Embassy in Beijing told the Global Times. The implementation of these goals in every way contributes to the wide promotion of a healthy lifestyle, the education of comprehensively developed youth, and the further development of physical culture and sports.
Measures for the development of physical culture and sports are defined in the Development Strategy of the New Uzbekistan for 2022-2026. In 2022, expenses allocated for the development of sports in Uzbekistan increased five times from 2017, according to the embassy.
One hundred and eighteen large sports facilities have been put into operation in the country and 110 more facilities have been reconstructed. Thanks to the sports infrastructure, Uzbekistan has become a venue for major international competitions, including the World and Asian championships in boxing, taekwondo, freestyle wrestling, fencing and other sports. Preparations are underway for the Asian Youth Games in 2025.
A healthy lifestyle is widely approved among young people in the country, and mass sports are provided. Uzbek athletes, achieving victories at prestigious international competitions including the Hangzhou Asian Games, demonstrate the high sports potential of Uzbekistan. The results achieved by athletes in Hangzhou vividly present Uzbekistan to the sports community of the world as a country where sports are developing at an accelerated pace, the spokesperson told the Global Times.
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Chief Executive, John Lee Ka-chiu (Lee), led a high-level delegation of 70 people to participate in the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation held in Beijing from October 18 to 19. At the forum, he invited entrepreneurs to Hong Kong to set up belt and road offices. After the forum, he sat down with the Global Times (GT) reporters Xie Wenting and Bai Yunyi for an exclusive interview, sharing his insights on Hong Kong's role in the BRI and Hong Kong's strengths on the global stage. Lee also touched on the "competitive role" of the Hong Kong-Singapore relationship, noting that as long as the "pie" of development is made big enough, everyone can also get a larger share.
GT: You led a high-level delegation of 70 people to Beijing on your latest visit to attend the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, including several high-ranking government officials as well as individuals from the business, academic, and scientific communities. What was the consideration behind this? What is Hong Kong's role in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)?
Lee: I hope to use this platform of the forum to better promote Hong Kong and seek business opportunities. Many of our delegates have also established personal connections with entrepreneurs from various regions, giving them the opportunity to personally introduce Hong Kong's advantages and services, which will be more persuasive.
Hong Kong is a participant, promoter, and beneficiary of the BRI. In the joint construction of the BRI, Hong Kong has its own unique advantages. We boast the position of "eight centers," namely, an international financial center, an international trade center, an international shipping center, and an Asia-Pacific international legal and dispute resolution service center, as well as four emerging centers: An international innovation and technology center, a Chinese and foreign cultural and art exchange center, an international aviation hub, and a regional intellectual property trading center. I believe that Hong Kong can play its role in promoting financial connectivity, attracting international investment, and promoting the internationalization of the Chinese currency renminbi (RMB).
GT: We noticed that not long ago you visited three Southeast Asian countries: Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia. How do you evaluate the prospects for cooperation between Hong Kong and Southeast Asian countries under the framework of the BRI? Which are the areas that hold the greatest potential? In the past, people have often said that Hong Kong is a "bridge" between the East and the West. In the future, do you think Hong Kong will play a similar role between the Chinese mainland and Southeast Asia?
Lee: Hong Kong has a unique status granted by the central government and the One Country, Two Systems policy is implemented in the city. As one of the few cities in the world that can concentrate both China's advantages and international advantages, we are very lucky, and should therefore make good use of this advantage.
First, Hong Kong can help enterprises in the Chinese mainland go global, including in terms of financing, introducing talents, and scientific and technological cooperation. We can give full play to Hong Kong's functions as an international city. This is the "capital" we have accumulated over the years.
Second, Hong Kong attaches great importance to regional cooperation and hopes to have good relations with our neighbors. The ASEAN is Hong Kong's second-largest trading partner, after the Chinese mainland. This is why one of my two official trips this year was to the three ASEAN members, and I will also take time to visit other states.
In addition, the ASEAN is also an important force in helping Hong Kong join the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (RCEP) as soon as possible. I am very happy that when communicating with ASEAN states this time, many of them expressed their support for Hong Kong's joining of the RCEP. In the future, we will continue to promote regional cooperation with the ASEAN.
GT: Many people view Singapore as Hong Kong's "competitor" and believe that Singapore has the potential to replace Hong Kong as Asia's international financial center. What's your opinion on this view? Will Hong Kong be replaced by Singapore? Are Hong Kong and Singapore in competition, or do they have more room for complementarity and cooperation?
Lee: Hong Kong and many places have dual competitive and cooperative relationship. Competition is a good thing. Only with competition can we make progress. Healthy competition is beneficial. In fact, I have a very good relationship with Singapore's leadership. We often discuss how there is a lot of room for cooperation and development.
I think the most important thing (for a city) is to compete with itself. Competing with competitors is important, but it is likely that one day you will have surpassed your competitors. Will you not have goals then? So, every day we have to be the object of our own competition, to surpass what we accomplished the day before, and apply this philosophy to the future as an effective long-term goal.
Therefore, I often tell my colleagues that Hong Kong needs to compete and cooperate with other regions, taking advantage of their strengths and compensating for their weaknesses. This is beneficial for our own development. Cooperation between Hong Kong and all countries and regions is aimed at mutual benefit and win-win outcomes.
Relationships that only benefit one side are not sustainable. Maybe this time you gain more and I gain less, but next time I gain more and you gain less, and that's good.
In the end, what is the most important goal of competition? Is it the development of the economy or improving the lives of the people? As long as the "pie" of development is made big enough, everyone can also get a larger share. This is our ultimate goal.
GT: Some international media outlets have claimed that Hong Kong's international status and international attractiveness have declined in recent years. How do you respond to this claim?
Lee: Hong Kong is attractive in many aspects. In world rankings, Hong Kong holds many top positions: Our investment environment is ranked first globally, our offshore RMB trading volume is the highest in the world, and we are also the world's longest-living city. Hong Kong's public transportation system is ranked first among over 60 advanced cities, and we are the only city with an area of only 1,100 square kilometers that has five "Top 100" universities. Hong Kong also ranks second in many indicators worldwide: economic freedom, government efficiency, and innovation environment are all ranked second globally. Hong Kong has many aspects that other regions in the world envy.
The epidemic in the last few years has indeed slowed down Hong Kong's development in some areas. Some places in the world relaxed epidemic control measures relatively early, and therefore have a time advantage, but I think this advantage (relative to Hong Kong) is only temporary. Since resuming customs clearance, Hong Kong has fully integrated with the world. We are also "catching up with time" in different fields. Now, the work of the HKSAR government is all results-oriented, and many citizens also believe that many things are progressing faster this year than before. I think these are all positive factors for Hong Kong (in terms of international attractiveness).
GT: This year alone, you have visited many places in the Chinese mainland, from Beijing to Guangzhou, Shenzhen to Hainan, and Chongqing to Guizhou, among others… As the head of HKSAR, why do you visit the mainland so frequently? During these trips, what made a particularly profound impact on you?
Lee: I visited different places (in the mainland) to gain understanding. In fact, the main reason was I felt it imperative to do. Hong Kong's biggest opportunity lies in the country's development. It is most beneficial to Hong Kong to fully and proactively integrate into the overall development of the country.
At the end of 2022, I established the Steering Group on Integration into National Development to strengthen the integration of the entire HKSAR government and the entire society into the overall national development. This means that we need to develop close relations with different provinces and cities to work together for mutual benefit and win-win results. I attach great importance to this aspect and will continue to establish cooperative relationships (between them and Hong Kong) in different places.
Hong Kong now has different cooperation mechanisms and systems with many provinces and cities. I also often share my ideas with the leaders of various places in the mainland, that is, our cooperation must be "one plus one equals two." Hong Kong will put its best foot forward and so will our partners. This is "invincible."
GT: Not long ago, you expressed your confidence that the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area will develop into one of the most dynamic and competitive regions in China and even the world. What makes you so confident about the prospects of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area? The idea of the Greater Bay Area has been proposed for many years. Do you think the construction of the Greater Bay Area will usher in some big breakthroughs in the next year or two?
Lee: I believe that the Greater Bay Area is one of the most promising regions for development in the country. Currently, Hong Kong and Shenzhen have already achieved a high level of integration, and have formed strong cooperation ties with the entire Guangdong Province. With nine cities and two special administrative regions, each with its own advantages, it is no longer just a case of "one plus on," but rather the synergy of all 11 entities working together, resulting in significant collaborative efficiency.
Hong Kong has a lot to contribute to the Greater Bay Area and the country. First, there is a wealth of talent in Hong Kong. The city is able to attract international talents, with its highly internationalized universities that are among the top in the world.
Additionally, there are scholarships and exchange programs available, such as the "Belt and Road Scholarship," further enhancing the internationalization of Hong Kong's talent pool. Hong Kong's professionals in fields such as accounting and engineering are also highly aligned with international standards.
Second, Hong Kong has a strong advantage in scientific research. In the current complex global (geopolitical) environment, many researchers who had previously left Hong Kong or the Chinese mainland are now looking to return and conduct research in Hong Kong.
Third, Hong Kong implements the common law system, which is similar to the legal systems of many developed countries. As a result, these countries are more familiar with and trust Hong Kong's legal system. This can attract more international partners for cooperation and also make Hong Kong a preferred arbitration venue for international trade disputes.
The entire Greater Bay Area has a population of 86 million and its GDP is equivalent to the 10th largest economy in the world. It is larger than many countries, so the Greater Bay Area can compete strongly with other countries as a whole.
I feel very happy and proud that Hong Kong has the opportunity to contribute to the development of the Greater Bay Area, and Hong Kong will also benefit greatly from it, injecting strong momentum into its own economic development.
