Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday hailed the enormous transformation that has taken place in Macao since its return to the motherland in 1999.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, said the practice of "one country, two systems" with Macao characteristics has been a tremendous success.

How can influencers contribute to bringing China and ASEAN countries closer together As part of the ASEAN-China Year of People-to-People Exchanges, influencers from 10 ASEAN countries with a total of nearly 100 million followers traveled to Sanya, Lingshui and Qionghai, among other places, in South China's Hainan Province, over the last week to discover China's development from this picturesque island. They shared their personal stories and experiences in China through videos they made, fostering friendly exchanges and solidarity between China and ASEAN.  

From interviews with several influencers from ASEAN, reporters from the Global Times learned about their efforts to promote exchanges between China and ASEAN countries and the benefits of China-ASEAN cooperation.

Becoming ambassadors of goodwill

Shi Zhongjun, secretary-general of the ASEAN-China Centre, said at the conference that just as a lush canopy needs strong roots, the friendship between ASEAN and China cannot go far without the solid support of both peoples. 

Influencers are the best standing testimony to the current blossoming of ASEAN-China relations, and they can become ambassadors of goodwill to present the real story of win-win cooperation between ASEAN and China to the international community, while gathering positive energy for regional development to convey to the world the confidence of ASEAN and China in cooperation and development in a truthful, accurate and comprehensive manner, Shi said.

The first stop of the influencers' trip was the Haikou Fullsing Internet Industrial Park in the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP), where they gained a detailed understanding of the development prospects, key industry directions, tax incentives, as well as the scale and layout of the Hainan FTP. 

Hainan FTP enjoys favorable policies, a great environment and a highly potential tourism consumption market that deserves to be known by more people, Shantay, an influencer from Singapore, told the Global Times. "Some of my followers are businessmen, and numerous companies in my country are keen on investing in China. I believe that if I share videos on social media, it will be highly appealing to them," Shantay said.

Influencers also explored several traditional attractions in Hainan, experienced Chinese craftsmanship and enjoyed local delicacies.

They strolled on the Qilou Old Street in Haikou, South China's Hainan Province, where rows of buildings encompass a blend of architectural styles. The influencers were in good spirits, snapping pictures while walking, and even dancing joyfully on the street.

"I feel it's a pity that many Malaysians don't know such a wonderful destination featuring Southeast Asian style in China. I can't wait to share this journey with my followers through my camera," Malaysian influencer Rosshanaz told the Global Times, adding that people from ASEAN countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore will resonate strongly with this attraction.

In the Betel Nut Valley, or Binglang Valley, a large park dedicated to Hainan Li and Miao minority culture, the influencers from ASEAN countries watched a Li and Mao ethnic culture-themed performance with large-scale and original ecological features and applauded the performers for their wonderful performance. They also experienced the rhythm of the Bamboo Dance of the Li ethnic group and enjoyed the delicious cuisine of the Li ethnic group.

The profound cultural heritage and diverse interactive experiences offered the influencers a vibrant and dynamic source of creative inspiration.

Rosshanaz said that she is pleasantly surprised to see how well China's traditional culture is preserved and how effectively its history is passed down. China and Malaysia share many similarities in traditions and customs. Therefore, she hopes that the people of Malaysia can strengthen communication with China, which will help in the preservation of Malaysian culture and promote cultural exchange between the two nations, Rosshanaz added.

Shantay said she is always longing to try traditional Chinese dresses, and this experience in the Betel Nut Valley gave her the perfect opportunity. "My followers are predominantly females, and they are all very interested in beautiful clothing and fashion. I believe that once I post my video, many people will come to experience traditional attire of Li ethnic group," Shantay told the Global Times.

"I have always believed that food is the quickest way to foster connections between people of different nationalities and an effective means to bridge distances. I often share my food-tasting stories on social media, so I am confident that the unique cuisine of the Li ethnic group will become a new trend," Muangphum Harnsiripetch, known as Han Bing in China, a Thai influencer who previously studied at Nanjing University, told the Global Times.

The Best of Both Sides

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, noted in July's ASEAN-China Foreign Ministers' Meeting that China and ASEAN, who are friendly neighbors and close partners, have seen the building of a China-ASEAN community with a shared future being steady and fruitful, benefiting 2 billion people on the two sides while greatly promoting common development, according to the Xinhua News Agency.

Han said that for him, the greatest benefit of China-ASEAN cooperation is the visa-free policy between China and Thailand. The visa waiver has made it easier for people to travel between the two countries, said Han, which has also boosted personal exchanges between both countries.

For her part, Bella, an internet influencer from Vietnam, said she has benefited considerably from the cooperation between China and Vietnam in the field of education. "Studying in China will bring a lot of opportunities, it is the cooperation between countries that makes educational exchanges possible."

Like what Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said in a video address to the conference, influencers are the ones who are best at telling engaging stories on the internet and social media. They have a unique and irreplaceable role in promoting mutual understanding among people of different countries. In this very era we live in, we expect more influencers to share more stories about the friendly exchanges between ordinary people of China and ASEAN countries, delivering more positive energy to consolidate and promote people-to-people exchanges between the two sides.

The US Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro on Wednesday revealed the US Navy's plans to upgrade the weaponry of its Littoral Combat Ship (LCS). These upgrades include equipping it with the MK-70 Payload Delivery System (PDS), with Del Toro expressing confidence that the LCS will play a crucial role in the future. However, a Chinese military expert told Global Times that whether this concept can play an important role remains to be seen.

According to the USNI News, the US Navy is planning a lethality upgrade on both classes of the LCS that includes the ability to launch larger missiles like the SM-6, Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro said on Wednesday. 

"Today, the Littoral Combat Ship is equipped with the Naval Strike Missile (NSM), a long-range precision strike weapon. Eventually, many will receive the Mk 70 Payload Delivery System with vertical launch system technology," Del Toro said as he announced the service's efforts to upgun the Littoral Combat Ship with Naval Strike Missiles and containerized Mk.41 vertical launching systems at the Naval Institute's Defense Forum Washington.

On October 24, 2023, the US Navy's Independence-variant LCS, the USS Savannah (LCS 28), conducted a live-fire demonstration on October 24 in the Eastern Pacific Ocean utilizing a containerized launching system that fired an SM-6 missile at a designated target. 

The USNI News report said that the US Navy plans to install the two systems on Freedom and Independence Littoral Combat Ships under the Over-the-Horizon (OTH) Weapons System upgrade, which looks to deliver enhanced maritime strike capabilities to the class. Compared to the NSM, a low-observable missile that can strike targets more than 100 miles away, the containerized four-cell MK-41 vertical launch system can support the multi-role SM-6 and the intermediate ranged Tomahawk Land Attack Missile.

Del Toro claimed the MK-70 PDS would give the service "tremendous firepower and even more technical advantage over our adversaries."

Lockheed Martin also presented concepts that integrate NSM and up to three Mk 70 PDS onto the Freedom-class at Surface Navy Association 2024, USNI News reported.

Del Toro expressed confidence in the combat potential of the upgraded LCS. However, whether it can truly deliver "a strong comeback" with enhanced lethality remains uncertain. Chinese military expert Zhang Junshe told Global Times on Thursday that the LCS was originally introduced by the US Navy in the early 21st century to meet its operational requirements for a "from the sea to the land" strategy, focusing on operations in littoral areas. 

The LCS features modular mission execution capabilities, enabling it to perform mine-clearing and anti-submarine tasks in challenging hydrographic and meteorological conditions. However, it suffers from significant limitations in air defense and anti-ship capabilities, Zhang noted.

Zhang pointed out that the LCS was deployed to locations such as Singapore in the Far East, but during this period, it experienced frequent malfunctions. The modular mission execution performed poorly, and the ships faced issues like hull leaks and unstable electrical systems, often leaving them stranded. As a result, the LCS has been criticized within the US Navy. 

"With the growing far seas combat capabilities of some the US competitors, the US Navy's strategy has shifted back to the traditional goal of sea control, rendering the LCS ill-suited for the latest combat doctrines. This led to plans to retire the LCS from active service," Zhang added.

Subsequently, under the OTH weapons upgrade program, the US Navy sought to deploy air defense and anti-ship missiles on the LCS to address its inherent weaknesses. Zhang explained that the SM-6 missile can perform both air defense and maritime strike missions, while the Tomahawk cruise missile, with a range exceeding 2,000 kilometers, can strike deep into maritime targets, enhancing air defense and maritime strike capabilities. 

However, Zhang argued, "This concept may be 'ambitious in design but constrained in reality.' 

With a displacement of only about 3,000 tons—smaller than most frigates—whether the LCS can accommodate the MK-70 PDS and its associated missile payload while maintaining stability remains a challenge, Zhang said, noting that "the feasibility of effectively launching so many missiles is also in question. Based on the US descriptions, this is a classic example of 'overloading a small cart with a big load,' making it difficult to achieve sufficient combat capability. This warrants further observation."

Notably, NSMs have already been installed on forward-deployed Independence-class LCSs in the "Indo-Pacific" region. "We have every intent to deploy them aggressively. Everywhere around the globe. And the Persian Gulf, obviously with the mine-sweeping capability, and everywhere else its needed. Particularly in the Pacific with these added capabilities," said Del Toro. 

According to the USNI News, the US Navy plans to field a fleet of 25 Littoral Combat Ships - 15 Independence-class ships equipped with a mine countermeasures mission package that will eventually replace the legacy Avenger-class MCM ships based in Bahrain and Japan and 10 Freedom-class ships that will field a variation of the surface warfare package that will include Naval Strike Missile and Hellfire AGM-114L Longbow strike missiles in addition to the MK-70 launchers.

In response, Zhang highlighted that this reflects the US military's operational priorities in "the Middle East, Asia-Pacific, and Europe." Del Toro's mention of the Persian Gulf and Pacific underscores the strategic focus on small watercraft maneuverability in the mine-laden waters of the Persian Gulf, where the LCS's small size and flexibility are advantageous. 

Meanwhile, in the Pacific, the US Navy's strategy revolves around countering "competitors" in littoral regions, aiming to strike both surface ships and land-based targets. This deployment strategy demonstrates the Navy's evolving strategic doctrine, Zhang said.

Former Chinese national football team head coach Li Tie was sentenced to 20 years in prison in a first-instance verdict on Friday for a number of charges including offering and accepting bribes.

The verdict was made by the Intermediate People's Court of Xianning, Central China's Hubei Province.

From 2019 to 2021, Li, taking advantage of his position as the head coach of the Chinese men's national football team, accepted bribes totaling over 50.89 million yuan ($7.04 million), the Beijing Daily reported, citing revelations from the courts.

On the same day, Du Zhaocai, former deputy director of the General Administration of Sport of China and former Party secretary of the Chinese Football Association, was sentenced to 14 years in prison and fined 4 million yuan for accepting bribes.

The Wuhan Intermediate People's Court in Central China's Hubei Province publicly sentenced Du in a first-instance trial for accepting bribes worth over 43 million yuan, according to the CCTV news.

Du used his position to seek improper benefits for football clubs in matters such as relocating home stadiums and player transfers, severely disrupting the fair competition order and industry environment in the football field. He also sought job promotions and adjustments for others, which warranted a heavier sentence.

After Li and Du's sentencing, Chinese Football Association (CFA) Vice President Yang Xu on Friday reaffirmed the zero-tolerance stance on corruption in football at a media briefing on the domestic football leagues. He highlighted the CFA's efforts to combat illegal practices during the 2024 season.

"We will continue to adopt a high-pressure approach to combat match-fixing, gambling, and other illegal activities," Yang said.

Yang also emphasized the importance of tightening admission standards for financial management to ensure financial stability for clubs and safeguard the rights of players, clubs, and youth training institutions.

"We must further tighten the league admission standards … Efforts to address unpaid wages and overdue payments will protect the legitimate rights of players, clubs, and training institutions," Yang was quoted as saying by the Xinhua News Agency.

A total of 20 key members of telecom and online fraud criminal gangs have been handed over to Chinese authorities from Myanmar. The operation underscores the strong resolve and cooperation between China and Myanmar to combat transnational telecom fraud and jointly uphold security and stability, according to the criminal investigation bureau under the Ministry of Public Security (MPS) on Sunday.

The 20 major suspects were escorted by Chinese police officers back to China via a charter flight, the MPS said.

For a long time, some of the suspects have clung to the criminal gangs in Kokang in northern Myanmar, and controlled armed forces and established telecom fraud dens. 

They have targeted Chinese nationals, engaging in rampant telecom and online fraud activities, and they are also suspected in serious violent crimes such as intentional homicide and injury. Their criminal activities are extremely severe, posing significant harm to society, said the MPS.

As the criminal gangs in northern Myanmar faced devastating crackdowns, some of the suspects have fled to places like Yangon and Mandalay. Chinese and Myanmar authorities captured all the criminal suspects thanks to a detailed work plan after gathering relevant leads. The suspects have now been handed over to the public security organs for further investigation in China, according to the ministry.

Ming Guoping, Ming Julan and Ming Zhenzhen, ringleaders of a telecom and online fraud criminal gang in northern Myanmar's Kokang, were arrested in November 2023, and the chief criminal of the gang Ming Xuechang has committed suicide, according to the Xinhua News Agency.

Online telecom fraud is a global challenge that requires strengthened international law enforcement cooperation. Recent actions have further promoted the normalization of the joint anti-fraud mechanism between China and Myanmar, according to the MPS.

Public security authorities will continue to enhance international law enforcement cooperation models, deepen practical collaboration with more countries and regions, and rigorously combat cross-border telecom fraud that affects Chinese nationals, safeguarding their legal rights and interests, according to the MPS.

The EU has implemented measures aimed at restricting Chinese products through new rules, investigations and potential tariff policies. Now, it has its sights set on Chinese hydrogen electrolyzers. Chinese experts on Saturday said that it is "a move of self-limitation" that will undermine Europe's green transition goals.

The EU will conduct a second phase auction valued at 1.2 billion euros ($1.34 billion) through its hydrogen bank from December 3, and winning projects will have to limit the sourcing of electrolyzer stacks from China to not more than 25 percent of total capacity, according to the European Commission's auction guideline published on Friday.

"Chinese production capacity is already more than 50 percent of global production… it is assessed that there is a significant risk of increased and irreversible dependency of the EU on imports of electrolyzers originating in China, which may threaten the EU's security of supply," reads the guideline.

"Europe is currently in a contradictory position. Economically speaking, using Chinese products or bringing Chinese industries into its energy transition plans would be the most cost-effective choice," Cui Hongjian, a professor at the Academy of Regional and Global Governance with Beijing Foreign Studies University, told the Global Times on Saturday.

However, with its focus on the so-called reducing dependence and de-risking policies, Europe has effectively imposed self-limitations, thus avoiding the most economically viable path, Cui said.

Electrolyzers are key devices that use electrical energy to split water molecules and generate hydrogen. They account for about 50 percent of the total cost of hydrogen production systems. 

Hydrogen electrolyzers could potentially be China's fourth major new-energy export products, following batteries, photovoltaics and electric vehicles, according to media reports.

"The development of China's new-energy sector is a result of our strong technology, robust market and full-fledged industrial chains. China's exports of related products have contributed significantly to the global response to inflation and climate change," Mao Ning, a spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, said at a routine press briefing on April 10. 

"Protectionism does not solve one's own problems," Mao said.

The South China Sea is the world's most open sea, with tens of thousands of ship-days of surface force presence, sorties of military aircraft, hundreds of large-scale exercises, and thousands of smaller drills conducted annually by countries both within and outside the region. The Chinese military does not engage in confrontational encounters except in a few exceptional scenarios, including foreign military forces entering Chinese territorial waters and airspace, according to a latest think tank report.

The real threats to maritime freedom in the South China Sea come from the so-called freedom of navigation operations conducted by the US military, close-in reconnaissance operations, and intrusions into other countries' military exercise zones, while the disputes over islands and reefs in the South China Sea have little impact on navigation and overflight, the report said.

Beijing-based think tank South China Sea Strategic Situation Probing Initiative (SCSPI) released the report on the navigation and overflight situation in the South China Sea on Friday.

Countries both within and outside the region maintain a presence of over 20,000 ship-days and around 30,000 sorties of military aircraft in the South China Sea each year, along with hundreds of large-scale drills and thousands of various exercises, according to data released by the SCSPI.

Military activities by coastal countries are increasing, and extra-regional countries, particularly the US military, are conducting significant operations in the South China Sea. Every year, the US Navy maintains approximately 1,600 ship-days of surface vessel presence and an undisclosed number of submarines (combat vessels) in the South China Sea, as well as over 3,000 ship-days of auxiliary vessel activities. Overall, US Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and Army conduct approximately 8,000 sorties of aircraft annually in the region, including reconnaissance aircraft, transport aircraft, refueling aircraft, fighter jets and bombers, the report said.

Air and maritime encounters between military forces, particularly between China and the US, occur frequently in the South China Sea. Over 10 China-US encounters occur daily and thousands annually, the SCSPI said, noting that the majority of these encounters are professional and safe.

For foreign military vessels and aircraft entering China's jurisdictional waters and surrounding airspace, the report said that the Chinese military follows and monitors the situation based on international practice for safety and security reasons. Frictions primarily arise only when foreign forces approach the Chinese mainland or Hainan Island territorial waters and airspace, when the US military enters the territorial waters and airspace of Xisha Qundao for so-called freedom of navigation operations, when foreign forces enter within 12 nautical miles of Chinese-controlled features in the Nansha Qundao and Huangyan Dao, and when foreign forces excessively approach or intrude into Chinese military exercises.

Some foreign militaries often complain about being intercepted by Chinese forces, portraying the South China Sea as restricted and unsafe. However, they conveniently avoid discussing essential information such as the specific locations of encounters and the reasons behind such incidents, clearly indicating a biased narrative, Hu Bo, director of SCSPI, told the Global Times.

Any country facing challenges similar to the scenarios above-mentioned would take decisive measures, with countries like the US responding even more assertively, Hu said.

The true threats to maritime freedom in the South China Sea stem from extra-regional military operations, including the US military's so-called freedom of navigation operations, provocations that approach or intrude into the coastal state's territorial waters and airspace, and intrusions into temporary military exercise areas of other countries, according to the SCSPI report.

The report also provided analysis on the impact of the South China Sea disputes on navigation and overflight, saying that the disputes overall remain manageable and have not spilled over to the passage of vessels and aircraft from other countries, adding that the activities of law-enforcement and maritime rights protection are not navigation issues in the first place.

The peace, stability, freedom, and security of the South China Sea are crucial not only for the well-being of the region but also for the development and security of the region and globally. Both regional and external countries should contribute their efforts, play constructive roles, and work together to make the South China Sea a sea of peace, friendship, and cooperation, Hu said.

Peng Liyuan, wife of Chinese President Xi Jinping, attended a China-U.S. youth cultural and sports exchange activity at Beijing No. 8 High School on Tuesday afternoon.

During the activity, Peng had a cordial exchange with a delegation of young people from the U.S. state of Washington. She welcomed the teachers and students to visit China, expressing the hope that the young people of the two countries will know each other better and inject positive energy into bilateral relations.

Peng watched a friendly match between Chinese and U.S. youth basketball teams and presented commemorative medals to the players of both sides.

Peng also watched a video documenting the delegation's visit to various places in China. American student representatives shared their unforgettable experiences during the visit, which has helped them learn more about different ethnic customs and the fine traditional Chinese culture.

The visit has a rich and colorful itinerary, helps foster a profound friendship between the American students and their Chinese peers, and will sure leave a deep impression on everyone, Peng said.

Noting that the future of China-U.S. relations rests on the young people, Peng expressed the hope that the American students will share their experiences with their families, friends and classmates when they return to the United States, carry home the friendship of the Chinese people, and help nurture the "tree of friendship" between the two peoples.

At the end of the activity, the Chinese and U.S. teenagers sang Chinese and English songs together. And Peng joined them for a group photo in a warm and friendly atmosphere.

In November 2023, President Xi Jinping announced in San Francisco an initiative to invite 50,000 young Americans to China for exchange and study programs in a five-year span.

The delegation of nearly 100 teachers and students from more than 10 high schools in the state of Washington came to China at the invitation of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries.

After setting up its first branch in Beijing in 2006, the Cervantes Institute opened its second branch in Shanghai on Tuesday, making Spain the first European country to have official cultural institutions in two Chinese cities.    

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez attended the opening ceremony of the Cervantes Institute in Shanghai on Tuesday morning amid his ongoing visit to China.

"Language and culture are the most useful links to unite civilizations and friendly countries like us [Spain and China]," said Sanchez in a speech delivered at the ceremony. The shared interest in languages between the people of the two countries has strengthened bilateral relationships, noted Sanchez. 

Covering an area of 1,200 square meters in the downtown Xuhui district, the newly opened Cervantes Institute in Shanghai was transformed from the former Cervantes Library, which has more than 12,000 books in Spanish, Catalan, Galician and Basque.

The library, now a major part of the current institute, also has a China collection, including translated works from Chinese to Spanish and from Spanish to Chinese, as well as some earlier Spanish books about China.

The establishment of the Cervantes Institute in Shanghai shows the great importance that both the Chinese and Spanish governments and peoples attach to the friendly relations between the two countries, said Luis García Montero, director of the Cervantes Institute, who also attended the opening ceremony.

"I look forward to [seeing] more Chinese people learn about the Spanish language and culture at the institute, so as to further promote two-way communication between China and Spain," Montero told the Global Times in an exclusive ­interview on Tuesday afternoon. 

The Cervantes Institute, or Instituto Cervantes in Spanish, is a public institution created by the Spain government in 1991 to globally promote teaching, study and use of Spanish, and contribute to the dissemination of pan-Hispanic culture.

The three-day Mid-Autumn holidays, which began on September 15, are creating opportunities for the catering industry. Analysts predict that the traditional family reunion holiday will boost local tourism, shopping, and dining sectors, providing a significant boost to economic growth.

As people gather for a big dinner, eating mooncakes, appreciating lanterns and enjoying a light stroll under the full moon, the charm of ancient Chinese festivals has sparked a surge in consumption within the catering industry, fueled by family reunions and holiday celebrations.

Data from the Douyin's local lifestyle services platform reveals an increase of 88 percent increase in searches for "family reunion meals" from September 7 to 13. Additionally, the volume of group meal deals for four or more people has tripled. The platform also reported a 111 percent surge in group orders for mooncakes, according to state-owned news portal southcn.com.

Boosted by festival season, the market for local specialties is in high demand. Hairy crabs from Yangcheng Lake in Suzhou, East China's Jiangsu Province, as well as fruits and mushrooms from Southwest China's Yunnan Province, are gaining popularity, according to domestic media reports.

The surging holiday economy, enhanced consumer market confidence, and record high spending further strengthened the role of consumption as a primary engine for economic growth, said experts.

Data from China-based e-commerce platform Meituan reported a 433 percent week-on-week increase in searches for "Mid-Autumn restaurants," with themed group buying orders surging by more than 76 percent. A staff member at a long-established Baikui restaurant in Beijing told the Global Times that the reservations for Mid-Autumn banquets filled up quickly, with patrons lining up for available spots in the main hall.

The Mid-Autumn Festival also drives significant wine demand through gifts and banquets. Lei Yumeng, general manager of the Zhejiang-based wine importer Xuanyi International Trade Co, said his company saw a 30 percent increase in August sales compared to July, driven in part by a large order in preparations for the festive season. He attributed the surge to strong consumer confidence and a return of gift-giving.

"August sales were indeed substantial, showcasing higher demand for quality dining experiences," Lei told the Global Times on Monday.

Listed catering companies are employing innovative marketing strategies to attract more customers. Chinese restaurant chain Quanjude, for instance, launched a creative cultural event featuring activities including mooncake delivery by individuals dressed as Chang'e, the moon goddess in Chinese mythology, and limited-time online reunion meal deals Meanwhile, hotpot chain Xiabu Xiabu has introduced group meal packages to draw in more patrons.

For many young travelers, exploring local cuisine has become a primary motivation for holiday travel. A university student named Zeng Zhao, from Hangzhou, East China's Zhejiang Province, told the Global Times that he was inspired by food bloggers on China's popular video-sharing platform Bilibili. He planned to follow in their footsteps and embark on a food-hunting journey.

The Mid-Autumn Festival is not just a celebration of tradition but also a catalyst for economic activity, especially in the catering sector, highlighting the resilience and potential of China's consumption market, veteran industry observer Liu Dingding told the Global Times on Monday.

Official data showed that in the first half of this year, the income from catering was 2.6 trillion yuan ($366.5 billion), up by 7.9 percent year-on-year, accounting for 22.8 percent of the total retail sales of consumer goods.