China's anti-dumping measure against EU brandy completely complies with the WTO rules, a spokesperson from China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) said on Wednesday, in a response to media reports that the EU will launch a challenge at the WTO.
China legitimately launched the anti-dumping investigation into brandy imported from the EU following a request from the domestic industry, and then decided to implement a justified trade remedy, the MOFCOM spokesperson said in a statement posted on the ministry's website on Wednesday.
The MOFCOM said on Tuesday that it would impose temporary anti-dumping measures on European brandy, as preliminary findings indicate that the product is being unfairly dumped into the Chinese market.
However, the EU, without a request from European companies, unilaterally initiated an anti-subsidy investigation into electric vehicles (EVs) imported from China. In fact, various EU member states and industry stakeholders have voiced their objections against the EU move. The EU's relevant measure lacks factual and legal basis, clearly violates WTO rules and is essentially protectionism disguised as a trade remedy, the ministry spokesperson said.
To strongly protect the legitimate development right of China's EV industry, China has lodged strong representations at the WTO and will file a formal complaint with the WTO's dispute settlement mechanism against the EU's tariffs, the spokesperson noted.
"China always opposes the abuse of trade remedy measures and urges the EU to immediately correct its wrongdoing, to jointly preserve the overall China-EU economic and trade relationship," the spokesperson said.
The EU held a vote on whether to impose a five-year countervailing duty on Chinese EVs on Friday local time.
A statement released by the European Commission showed that the commission's proposal to impose definitive countervailing duties on imports of battery-powered electric vehicles from China "has received the necessary support from EU Member States for the adoption of tariffs."
US President Joe Biden has sent a message of congratulations to Chinese President Xi Jinping on the occasion of the 75th founding anniversary of the People's Republic of China (PRC), a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said on Saturday.
Leaders of many countries and political parties and heads of international organizations have recently sent messages or letters of congratulations to President Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, on the 75th founding anniversary of the PRC.
The spokesperson confirmed that President Biden was among the leaders congratulating China.
In the message, President Biden noted that "on behalf of the people of the United States, I send our congratulations to you and the people of the People's Republic of China as you celebrate the 75th anniversary of its founding. The American people and I convey our best wishes to the people of the People's Republic of China," according to the spokesperson.
The Unspoken Mastery - Lin Gang's Centenary Art Exhibition opened on Wednesday at the Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA) Art Museum in China's capital Beijing.
According to CAFA, as Lin, an outstanding professor at CAFA and a prominent figure in China's oil painting community, enters his centennial year in 2024, this large-scale retrospective exhibition is being held to showcase his prolific artistic achievements.
Having studied in the former Soviet Union, Lin was awarded the Pushkin Medal by the Russian Ministry of Culture in 1999 and was appointed an honorary professor at the Ilya Repin St. Petersburg State Academy of Painting, Sculpture, and Architecture in Russia.
Lin applied his knowledge and insights to teaching, making significant contributions to the development of the oil painting education in China.
The exhibition features a vast collection of representative works from various periods of Lin's career, along with a wealth of related documents, creative notes, and other artistic materials. The exhibition will run until October 13.
The public open day event at the Wenyuan Pavilion relic site in the Old Summer Palace, or Yuanmingyuan, in Beijing, invited over 20 students on Sunday, marking the first event since China's National Cultural Heritage Administration released a new guideline on Wednesday to enhance archaeological research and education.
The guidelines emphasized the importance of proper orientation and oversight in content and format, encouraging immersive visits and hands-on learning experiences. It also encourages provincial departments to publish lists of accessible archaeological sites, promoting structured activities at parks, museums, research institutions, and active excavation sites.
Zhang Zhonghua, a deputy director of the Beijing Archaeological Research Institute (BARI), guided visitors through the discoveries made so far. He noted that their excavations have revealed the perimeter walls, cornerstones and remnants of the drainage system, and they have also uncovered traces of rivers and bridges that once connected the pavilion to the surrounding landscape. On the spot, Zhang also noted how the pavilion's distinctive architecture, including its palace gates and inner gardens, reflected the grandeur of imperial China.
"Our goal is to inspire more young people to develop an interest in archaeology. Understanding our past is essential to preserving our culture and history," Zhang told the Global Times.
"In the future, we would also like to let more citizens and tourists see what our Wenyuan Pavilion looks like and open this site to the public," Zhang said.
The Wenyuan Pavilion, originally built in 1775 during the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), was one of the grand libraries that housed the "Siku Quanshu," or the "Complete Library in the Four Branches of Literature," the largest collection of books in ancient China.
However, the pavilion was destroyed during the raze of Yuanmingyuan by Anglo-French allied forces in 1860. Today, only its ruins remain. According to experts, archaeological work on this significant site began in August 2024, with the current excavation covering an area of 1,000 square meters.
During the event, not only were the structures of the site's walls and the specific drainage systems explained, but the tools and processes needed for archaeological work were also vividly demonstrated to students. Students were introduced to tools such as measuring tapes, compasses, markers, and the Luoyang spade.
Luoyang spade is a Chinese ancient tool used to detect underground ruins. The blade, measuring 20 to 40 centimeters in length and 5 to 20 centimeters in diameter, can penetrate several meters underground. By examining the soil it brings up, one can assess the composition and detect potential ancient tombs or underground features. Visitors, especially students, were fascinated by how archaeologists use this tool to analyze soil layers.
"The Luoyang spade is an essential tool for us. It can penetrate deep into the ground, and by analyzing the soil it brings up, we can identify what lies below the surface, whether it's a building or a tomb," Zhang explained.
BARI has been promoting public archaeology since 2015 by opening excavation sites like Yuanmingyuan to visitors. Live excavation demonstrations, expert-led tours, and interactive sessions have made archaeology more accessible to the general public, fostering a greater appreciation for China's rich cultural legacy.
As the excavation at Wenyuan Pavilion continues, the site will remain open to the public until the end of October, allowing more visitors to observe the meticulous work of archaeologists and engage with China's imperial history firsthand.
Beeple, the internationally acclaimed digital artist, is set to debut his first-ever solo exhibition, Beeple: Tales From A Synthetic Future, at the Deji Art Museum in Nanjing on November 14, 2024.
The exhibition, the largest of Beeple's career, will feature a comprehensive retrospective of his work. Visitors will explore the multidimensional nature of Beeple's artistic practice through an immersive experience. Key works on display will include Everydays, Human One, S.2122, and new pieces created specifically for the exhibition.
In addition to showcasing his most prominent works, the exhibition will include a section dedicated to discovering and nurturing emerging digital artists, along with a series of talks and public programs.
As the National Day holidays film season approaches, the spotlight falls on The Volunteers: The Battle of Life and Death, the second installment of Chinese veteran director Chen Kaige's The Volunteers trilogy.
Set against the backdrop of the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-53), the film weaves grand war scenes with delicate character portrayals, showcasing the bravery and sacrifice of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army (CPVA), as well as their unwavering commitment to peace amid adversity.
Many audiences who attended a pre-screening event told the Global Times that the second installment offers a clearer narrative and story compared with the first, with more nuanced and touching character depictions.
Chen shared at the pre-screening that filming was akin to being on a battlefield. The entire creative team spent three months filming one main battle. The extensive trenches filled with smoke and the relentless bombardment of war paint a picture of cinematic quality and epic scale.
Chen emotionally stated, "This film encompasses my respect for the Chinese People's Volunteer Army. The spirit of these brave soldiers who fought valiantly will surely be passed down through the generations."
Indeed, many cast members noted that The Volunteers: The Battle of Life and Death is not just a war film, it is a tribute to the resilience and spirit of the CPVA. It is a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made for peace and a testament to the enduring human spirit.
"After filming a scene, when I went back to check the playback, I feel like I was watching a documentary," Chinese actor Zhu Yawen, who plays the role of a military expert, said at the pre-screening.
His comment was echoed by the other actors in the film, who recalled the realistic and arduous filming conditions that moved them to tears many times.
They were moved not because of the tough filming conditions, but because they strongly resonated with the stories of the Chinese soldiers who devoted all they had to fight in the front-line under adverse conditions where the equipment and food supply were far inferior to those of the enemy.
The authentic portrayal of war scenes immersed them in the story of the film, allowing them to better understand the fearless spirit of the CPVA soldiers, who sacrificed their lives in the service of their country, and to interpret with sincerity a piece of history that must not be forgotten.
Amid the cruelty of war, soldiers are also human beings, and they also miss their families and yearn to reunite with them after the war.
In the film, a piece of candy symbolizes the touching story of a CPVA soldier's family uniting and parting during the war. The father gives the candy to his son, and the son later gives it to his younger sister, but he still keeps the sweet wrapper. Before he presses the button that will ignite the explosives, as he prepares to die with the enemy, he opens the wrapper again and licks the candy wrapper with his tongue. At that moment, he smiles, seeming to get a taste of reunion with his beloved family. In such a harsh environment, a piece of candy represents extraordinary sweetness.
Many moviegoers were moved to tears by the story. On each seat in the theater, the cinema prepared a small bag for the audience members that included a handkerchief, a small card to commemorate the CPVA and a piece of candy.
I opened the wrapper of the candy and put it into my mouth. At that moment, I felt an overwhelming sweetness. "This is the sweetest candy that I have ever tasted," I whispered in my heart.
China's A-share market soared strongly on Monday, with the turnover on the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges exceeding 2.5 trillion yuan ($356.5 billion) in total. Monday is the last trading day before the week-long National Day holidays.
The Shanghai Composite Index increased by 8.06 percent to reach 3336.5 and the Shenzhen Component Index ended 10.67 percent higher. ChiNext Index, tracking China's Nasdaq-style board of growth enterprises, witnessed an increase of 15.36 percent. The index that comprises 50 representative companies listed on the Beijing Stock Exchange increased by 22.84 percent. The Beijing bourse index and ChiNext Index witnessed their highest single-day gains on record.
The Shanghai Composite Index has surged more than 17 percent in September.
On Monday, the turnover on the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges exceeded 1 trillion yuan for the fourth consecutive trading day.
The Shanghai Composite Index opened 3.47 percent higher on Monday. The Shenzhen Component Index opened 4.58 percent higher at 9,950.65 points and the ChiNext Index rose 5.77 percent at the opening on Monday.
China's A-share market has rallied since Thursday, after a key Communist Party of China (CPC) leadership meeting on that day stressed the need to boost the country's capital market, and actively promoting the medium- and long-term funds to enter the market, the Xinhua News Agency reported.
After the meeting, the Shanghai Composite Index closed above 3,000 points on Thursday, the first time above the key benchmark since July 2.
The enthusiasm for the stock markets flooded the trading systems of stock exchanges and many securities companies.
On Sunday, the Shanghai Stock Exchange (SSE) completed all trading tests, with the bidding system received 270 million orders, which is double the historical peak and three times the number of orders submitted on Friday. Earlier, the SSE announced plans to conduct trading tests on Sunday, aimed at validating the performance of its trading platforms in handling large volumes of orders, according to media reports.
Saudi Arabia is working with international partners and prioritizes cooperation with China to achieve its goal to a regional hub, Saudi Arabian Ambassador to China Abdulrahman Ahmad Al-Harbi told the Global Times.
He also expressed a willingness to welcome more Chinese companies to invest in Saudi Arabia across various sectors such as the petrochemical and oil, the automotive industry, and infrastructure, which, he pointed out, would be in the interests of Saudi Arabia and China.
Al-Harbi made the above statement during an interview with reporters at Saudi Arabia's 94th National Day Reception event held in Beijing on Monday.
He noted that the bilateral relationship between Saudi Arabia and China is an outstanding example of inter-state relations, characterized by deep friendship, mutual trust, and respect for each other, continuously advancing forward. In recent years, high-level exchanges between the two countries have been frequent, and cooperation in various fields has yielded remarkable results.
Saud Arabia and China signed the implementation plan for the synergy between the Belt and Road Initiative and Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 in 2022. The Saudi diplomat said the plan laid a strong foundation for bilateral cooperation, and noted that both sides not only share many common interests but also match in various sectors.
According to him, both sides have already cooperated across various sectors, including petrochemicals and oil, the automotive industry, technology, logistics, and infrastructure.
"We believe there are many sectors and sub-sectors in which we have common interests. Joint investments have already taken place between both sides, and we welcome more Chinese investment," he said.
When discussing the role of China-Saudi Arabia cooperation in addressing the challenges of conflicts in the Middle East and achieving regional peace and security, Al-Harbi said that the two countries share similar positions on many regional and international issues. Both countries' foreign policies support the realization of global security and peace, respect for the sovereignty of other nations, and non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries. As important members of the international community, Saudi Arabia and China have significant influence globally. Their productive cooperation has already had a notable positive impact on regional and international stability, and is expected to play an even more important role in the future.
According to Saudi Arabia's media reports, the Saudi Ministry of Education recently officially announced the inclusion of Chinese language courses in the country's primary and secondary school curriculum, designating Chinese as one of the main teaching languages. The aim is to teach students the basic skills of reading, writing, and conversing in Chinese. The Ministry of Education has begun to take necessary measures to adjust the curriculum and class hours, as well as provide professional teachers to accommodate the new teaching system.
In that regard, Al-Harbi further explained that learning Chinese is of great significance for enhancing mutual understanding between the peoples of the two countries, and cultural exchanges fully reflect the friendly bilateral relations between them. More than 170 Chinese teachers have recently arrived in Saudi Arabia to teach Chinese in public schools. Additionally, about 100 Saudi students have gone to China to study Chinese, preparing for future careers as Chinese language teachers in Saudi Arabia.
There are less than 50 days until the US presidential election on November 5. Gao Zhikai, vice president of the Center for China and Globalization (CCG), recently conducted research in the country. He engaged in in-depth discussions with Americans from various social classes, professions, backgrounds, and age groups to hear their perspectives on US politics and livelihoods. In Gao's view, there is an interesting and stark contrast between the attitudes of American elites and the general public regarding this election. The elites are actively participating and making strategic plans for the future, while ordinary citizens are more focused on pressing issues such as prices and employment, showing little interest in the election.
Meanwhile, the Chinese American community appears to be more silent in the face of this political event. They express some concerns about their future living conditions amid a complex and changing political environment. This article is written by Global Times reporter Bai Yunyi based on Gao's observations, providing a glimpse into a complex and contradictory America through the firsthand insights of a Chinese think tank scholar. Contrast in political enthusiasm
One significant observation I have made during my time in the US is that people from different social classes, identities, and age groups have varying levels of participation in and enthusiasm for the election, as well as differing areas of focus.
First, let's talk about what we generally refer to as the "elite class." During this trip to the US, I visited several important political figures in Washington and New York: one was a senior member of the Democratic Party, another one was a politician from a Republican family, and the third was a politician from a swing state.
The first Democratic Party member was assisting Kamala Harris at the time, helping her prepare for the debate with Donald Trump. He was ambitious and actively involved in election-related activities, offering various suggestions to Harris's team. The second politician, from a Republican family, has known me for over 10 years. He believes that this election is very important for the US and will influence the country's future direction. He told me that he would not vote for Trump, which I think may reflect the attitude of a portion of the Republican elite toward the former president.
The third person is a politician from Ohio who is also very interested in the election and is in contact with Trump's team, and hopes to join his administration if Trump wins.
The general attitude of the American public seems to be quite different. They are not very focused on the presidential election. On one hand, this may be because there is still more than a month until the final vote, and it's not yet the critical moment for determining the outcome.
On the other hand, compared with the election, many people are more concerned about specific issues in their lives, such as whether prices can stabilize, whether their income can increase, and the direction of real estate prices. They believe that It is unlikely that the election result will really have much impact on these issues.
A person from a traditional "Rust Belt" state told me that what people there are most concerned about is finding a suitable job, as many local businesses have been "hollowed out."
He believes that both candidates are trying to avoid meaningful discussions when it comes to specific policies, perhaps out of fear that they might not be able to deliver on their promises once in office, or maybe they are concerned about eliciting different reactions from various groups. As a result, the election campaign has devolved into a "fatiguing and frustrating exchange of attacks."
In addition, due to the US' Electoral College system and the basic principle of "winner-takes-all," the true determinants of election outcomes are actually a few swing states and their independent voters.
This demographic is not large in number, leading many voters in other states to feel that their vote is essentially inconsequential, making little difference whether they vote or not.
Especially in many deeply rooted "red" and "blue" states, where there are traditional party leanings that are hard to shake, public interest in the election is even lower because they feel they cannot change anything.
Therefore, although the presidential election attracts global attention, many Americans feel that the impact of their individual vote is "diluted."
Dualities in US economy, society
Ordinary American citizens are most concerned about the economy, especially the prices of goods.
Although data shows that inflation in the US is cooling down, the actual prices of goods on the market have not decreased. Many Americans complain that the prices of meat, eggs, milk, and beverages keep rising, leaving the public feeling helpless.
The rising fuel costs have also increased people's living expenses.
Groups such as the Chinese community are particularly concerned about their children's education, as tuition fees for Ivy League and other prestigious schools have repeatedly broken records, putting significant financial pressure on middle-class families compared to the past.
Many Americans do not expect the candidates from either party to help them solve their troubles. The US has 50 states, each with its own unique conditions, making it difficult for federal policies to have the same effect everywhere.
As a result, many Americans are more concerned about who their governor is and the economic policies at the state level.
Besides, there is a culture of "self-reliance" in American society, with most people believing that their well-being largely depends on their own efforts rather than government policies. The prevailing mindset among many Americans today is, "If you succeed, enjoy it yourself; if you fail, deal with it yourself."
However, I believe that when we observe the American economy and society, we should objectively recognize the "duality" of the US.
If you take a cursory glance at the country, it is easy to see various problems, such as crumbling infrastructure and homeless people on the streets.
This is certainly a real aspect of the US. But there is also another side in the country. New concepts and ideas in the high-tech sector have been emerging one after another in recent years.
The US is developing rapidly in fields such as artificial intelligence, biomedicine, space technology, and deep-sea technology, and in some areas, it is in a leading position globally.
I have been pondering why the US can maintain its leadership in these industries against the backdrop of a declining manufacturing sector. What are the underlying advantages?
My observations are as follows: first, the US has a strong higher education system that continues to attract the best talent from around the world; second, the efficiency of the US capital market is relatively high. If a good concept is deemed promising, even if it carries significant risks, capital will quickly flow in.
Third, the US market has relatively few restrictions and is highly flexible.
Suspicion toward Chinese Americans
During my recent stay in the US, I also interacted with many local Chinese Americans. The attention the Chinese American community pays to this election is relatively low, with many expressing almost no interest at all. Their primary concerns now revolve around the survival environment and social status of Chinese people in the US, as in recent years, a large number of Chinese expatriates, Chinese Americans, and Chinese students have been labeled as "agents" or "spies." To them, it seems that McCarthyism is making a resurgence in the US.
Many local Chinese told me that even those scientists or scholars who were born in the US and hold US citizenship are also facing increasing suspicion. The atmosphere within the Chinese community is mixed with anxiety and fear.
A respected elder in the Chinese community in the US lamented to me, "I was born in the US, and my family has settled here for many generations. I never imagined that we would end up in this situation. Now I don't even dare to return to China to visit relatives, because every time I come back to the US, I have to be monitored and questioned by various US departments. When I interact with Chinese people in the US, I am always met with suspicion, and I am often questioned by American authorities every few days. Sometimes I even encounter 'phishing operations' by US government agencies."
The Chinese community feels quite pessimistic about the future. They worry that their situation tomorrow may be worse than today. Some have bluntly told me that neither of the two major parties in the US currently shows a rational or wise attitude toward or policy on China, making it difficult for US-China relations to show any significant improvement. Many Chinese individuals I have spoken with are pessimistic about the years following the upcoming elections.
China's central bank on Wednesday lowered the cost of its medium-term loans to banks , marking the first reduction of the country's market-based interest rates after the relevant Chinese authorities on Tuesday rolled out major policies to support the economy, including cuts to the reserve requirement ratio and interest rates.
Observers said that the sweeping move is conducive to reducing banks' lending costs and could be followed by more "proactive" policies such as cuts to the market-based benchmark loan prime rate and deposit rate.
Those concrete measures would channel more liquidity into the market and continue lifting up market confidence, providing a solid foundation for steering the world's second-largest economy toward the annual GDP growth goal of 5 percent, they noted.
The People's Bank of China (PBC), the country's central bank, announced on Wednesday that it cut the rate on 300 billion yuan ($54.7 billion) worth of one-year medium-term lending facility (MLF) loans to some financial institutions to 2 percent, from the previous 2.3 percent.
The bid rates in Wednesday's operation ranged from 1.90 percent to 2.30 percent, and the total balance of MLF loans now stands at 6.878 trillion yuan, according to a statement on the PBC's official website.
"Wednesday's MLF cut further sends a resounding signal that, despite internal pressures and external volatility, the Chinese government is determined to and has abundant toolkits to cushion against headwinds and bolster the economic recovery's momentum," said Yang Delong, chief economist at Shenzhen-based First Seafront Fund.
Chinese stocks on Wednesday extended their rally from Tuesday, with all three major indexes closing up by more than 1 percent on major policy support, which indicates heightened investors' confidence in the prospects of the world's second-largest economy. Trading volume in the Shanghai and Shenzhen markets surpassed 1 trillion yuan for the first time since May 6.
