Following the opening of the International Forum on Cave Temple Conservation held in Dunhuang, Northwest China's Gansu Province on Monday, more countries are seeking cooperation with the Dunhuang Academy, which boasts rich experience in relic restoration and protection with the strong support of multiple disciplines as well as world-class digitization technology.
At the forum, experts in the preservation and research of grotto temples from 16 countries are engaging in discussions and exchanges in three sub-forums to further promote cultural exchanges along the Silk Road.
During the event, the Dunhuang Academy and the heritage and museum organizations of countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), including Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Sri Lanka and Cambodia, held a ceremony to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
In addition, the event also launched a book presentation ceremony for a training course for Afghan senior professionals on archaeology and cultural artifact conservation.
Guan Qiang, deputy head of the National Cultural Heritage Administration (NCHA), noted at the opening ceremony that the millennium-old Mogao Caves were located at a strategic point on the ancient Silk Road and therefore served not only as a transit point for trade between the East and West but also as a junction for religion, culture, and knowledge.
"The Mogao Caves and other cultural treasures like India's Ajanta Caves and Cambodia's Angkor Wat are the prominent outcomes of the continuous exchanges and mutual learning in human civilization," he said.
The level of protection and utilization of grotto temples has significantly improved, and their cultural influence has been increasingly enhanced, he noted.
Shahbaz Khan, director of the UNESCO Regional Office for East Asia, said at the opening ceremony that the training for Afghanistan and collaboration with Dunhuang Academy is commendable and aligns with the vision of shared prosperity and cultural exchange.
"These efforts, whether in China or globally, showcase human ingenuity and the deep bond between culture and nature," he said.
Delegations from different countries told the Global Times that the protectors of the Mogao Caves share "universal values" in relics protection that they can all learn from.
Shakirdjan Pidaev, director of the Institute of Art Studies of the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan, told the Global Times on Monday that he expects more joint excavations with Chinese archaeological teams.
The Palace Museum in Beijing is fighting ticket scalping in order to provide an orderly visit experience for tourists, as it recently disclosed that during some peak hours of visit, 99 percent of ticket buyers turned out to be ticket scalpers.
This UNESCO World Heritage site revealed to the public its anti-scalping measures and its back-end system to ensure fair chance of acquiring a ticket for the first time.
In response to the overwhelming demand, the Palace Museum plans to maintain reception capacity at 40,000 people on weekdays, the number of tickets will be increased by about 25 percent to improve accessibility for visitors during the summer.
This initiative, announced by the museum's Information Technology Department, aims to enhance accessibility during the busy summer months and will be extended to future peak periods, such as the National Day and May Day holidays.
Additionally, the museum will continue to offer free admission to underprivileged groups, including minors, people with disabilities, active military personnel, and firefighters, ensuring these communities have access to the attraction.
With the summer vacation season in full swing, Chinese families nationwide are eager to explore the country's top cultural landmarks.
However, many travelers are struggling to secure tickets to the Palace Museum. Recent reports indicate that scalpers have been reselling tickets for as much as 1,100 yuan ($154), with some walk-in reservations skyrocketing to 1,600 yuan.
In stark contrast, tickets sold through the museum's official booking system are priced at just 60 yuan for the summer season.
To uphold fairness and protect consumer rights, the Palace Museum is implementing measures to isolate ticket inventory for travel agencies and individual visitors, thus preventing travel agencies from monopolizing tickets intended for the general public.
A timed ticket release strategy will also be introduced to further combat automated ticket grabs, allowing tickets to be sold in batches at fixed intervals during high-demand periods.
To thwart scalpers, the museum's risk control engine operates at high speed every day. During the summer season, over 99 percent of ticket requests come in within a single peak hour.
Market authorities have made it clear that using software to quickly purchase tickets for resale is a criminal offense, and emphasized their commitment to ongoing efforts to ensure fair access for all museum visitors.
The Wenhua Tower, a historical building in the heart of the Yingshan county, Southwest China's Sichuan Province, has recently been taken down after being one of the county's most iconic cultural landmarks for the past 18 years.
The tower was an archaized building established 2006. It was a nine-story and 56-meter-high building characterized by ancient Chinese architecture's octagonal aesthetics. The design included four pavilions that represent the county's history birth from the unification of four different ancient counties such as Langchi and Suian ever since the Song (960-1279) and Yuan (1279-1368) Dynasties.
In 2023, the Wenhua Tower was added to the conservation list of the Yingshan's first batch of historical buildings. Although it was not an architectural relic, urban planner Chen Yilan, told the Global Times that taking down the tower is a "regretful fact" since it embodies "local cultural and historical characteristics."
The Wenhua Tower was taken down because it can "no longer be maintained and reinforced," Li Xiaohong, the director of Yingshan County Housing and Urban-Rural Development Bureau, told the media.
Since 2014, the tower, a centerpiece of the local Cuiping Mountain cultural park, has been closed to the public. A ground settlement issue was causing the architecture a severe one-side leaning problem. Pillars that support the tower's main structure were cracked.
In April this year, the building was evaluated as a "Grade D dangerous structure," Chen told the Global Times that the classification refers to a "property or a building the load-bearing structure of which is likely to collapse at any moment, and poses a serious safety risk to people."
"The tower's problems emerged following the 2008 earthquake in Wenchuan and in surrounding areas in Sichuan," said Li.
"Immediate assessments and well-organized plans for conservation" might have been missed in saving the tower, architectural expert Zheng Huaxin, told the Global Times, adding that a thorough examination on the architecture should have been carried out when the structure's leaning issue was first observed.
"Adding it to the historical building list should be a mean for the locals to reinforce its condition," Zheng told the Global Times, adding that in an architect's eye, the tower "is the heart of the local community and carries great significance for the local people."
NBA legend Jerry West passed away on Wednesday at the age of 86. Widely recognized as the silhouette in the NBA's official logo, West earned the nickname "The Logo." He was a legendary player for the Los Angeles Lakers and had connections with China and Yao Ming.
While playing for the Lakers, he helped the team reach the playoffs every year, made it to the Finals nine times, and won one championship. He was named to the All-NBA First Team 12 times. During his playing career, West became the third player in NBA history to score 25,000 points.
In 1969, he became the only player from a losing team to win the NBA Finals MVP, a great story in NBA history.
West was inducted into the Hall of Fame three times: as a player in 1979; as a member of the 1960 US Olympic team in 2010; and this April as a contributor to the sport of basketball. He made significant contributions to the development of the game.
West's role in NBA management helped expand the league's presence in China. He openly expressed his love for China and offered encouragement and guidance to the young generation of Chinese players aspiring to join the NBA.
"When I first went to China, I saw countless fans surrounding us. When I walked down the street, people recognized me as Jerry West! I never thought Chinese fans would love basketball and care about the NBA so much!" West said during a China-themed NBA game.
West also highly praised Yao Ming, one of the most famous Chinese athletes. In 2002, when Yao was entering the NBA draft, West, then the president of basketball operations for the Memphis Grizzlies, said, "For someone with Yao's height and build to be able to shoot and have a keen sense of the game, he is a genius player."
"Yao Ming is not only an excellent player but also a very outstanding person. He respects basketball and every player. You hope to have an international player like him in the NBA; he is a great ambassador!" West noted in 2014.
Jerry West had a great reputation among Chinese basketball fans, with many viewing him as an idol.
Chinese netizen @poppy100m mourned on social media: "The founder of the 'Showtime' era in the '80s, farewell to the legend."
@Lebron_s: "West's eye for talent was truly great. Every player he favored was outstanding. Let's all remember him."
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni will visit China from July 27 to 31, China's Foreign Ministry announced on Thursday. Michele Geraci, former undersecretary of state at the Italian Ministry of Economic Development, told the Global Times that the visit aims to repair and strengthen economic relations with China, and it seems to be a delicate balancing act, which is also a diplomatic dance to maintain a semblance of influence in Beijing while attempting to appease allies in Washington and Brussels.
Meloni now needs to put in more effort to regain China's trust, which means she must have a clearer and more stable attitude toward China-Italy economic and trade relations. For example, she cannot say she welcomes Chinese investment in Italy while simultaneously using the government's "golden power" to veto Chinese business activity in Italy, Geraci said.
This will be Meloni's first trip to China since taking office, aiming to improve trade, Reuters reported on Thursday, citing a person involved in the planning.
Italian tire maker Pirelli, energy group ENI, defense group Leonardo, wine producers and several Italian luxury fashion groups including Dolce & Gabbana are among the companies invited to an Italy-China Business Forum to be held in Beijing on Sunday and Monday during Meloni's visit, according to Reuters.
Some observers believe that Meloni hopes the visit will ease the tensions with China that have persisted over the past year, open up markets for Italian businesses and attract Chinese investment. However, she must also ensure that Italy does not stray too far from the "de-risking" agenda being promoted by Brussels.
This visit will mark the first visit to China by a European leader since the re-election of President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen on July 18, 2024. Currently, relations between the EU and China have become tense due to issues such as the imposition of tariffs on electric vehicles.
The current state of Italy-China relations is complex - cordial on the surface but strained underneath. The main strengths lie in mutual economic interests, particularly in trade and investment, Geraci noted.
Italy's approach to China is heavily influenced by US-China relations. Caught between the economic attraction of China and the strategic demands of its Western allies, Italy must navigate a complex landscape, the former Italian official said.
Within the EU, Italy likely sees itself as a mediator, advocating for a balanced approach that safeguards European interests while avoiding unnecessary escalation. This diplomatic tightrope walk underscores Italy's attempt to maintain its sovereignty and economic well-being amid intensifying global power struggles, Geraci said.
"However, Meloni's recent actions suggest a need for better understanding of economic dynamics in this delicate geopolitical context," he noted.
A new microgrid system has recently become officially operational in the Innovation Park of the High-tech Zone in Liyang City, Jiangsu Province. The microgrid control platform has been deployed in the newly built energy management center. Undertaken by State Grid Changzhou Electric Power Supply Company, the entire project was realized swiftly, taking only from planning and construction to launch. This microgrid will ensure energy supply within an area of 270,000 square meters and accommodates 19 enterprises.
“The microgrid project features a range of innovative demonstration scenarios, including rooftop photovoltaic, energy storage devices, charging stations, and thermal energy storage systems. Under the control platform’s instructions, the microgrid can provide stable and reliable green, low-carbon energy to enterprises, buildings, and electric vehicles within the park,” explained Chen Chang, a staff member from State Grid Changzhou Electric Power Supply Company.
Building upon various energy use scenarios, the microgrid has integrated a smart control platform system. Unlike traditional behind-the-meter energy storage systems that rely on fixed rules or hands-on experience for simple feedback control, this platform utilizes AI algorithms to forecast photovoltaic output and electricity load accurately. The microgrid can autonomously develop flexible charging and discharging strategies for the energy storage system to enhance energy utilization efficiency and maximize operational benefits. Additionally, through the established energy interconnection network, the platform can interact with the external main power grid, ensuring balanced power generation and consumption.
“Thanks to a series of measures, including photovoltaic energy consumption, charging and discharging, enterprises in the park have seen a 23 percent reduction in energy costs and a decrease of over 1,660 tons of carbon dioxide emissions,” said Zhou Cheng, director of New Energy Department of Jiangsu Liyang High-tech Zone Holding Group.
The reconciliation talks between Fatah and Hamas were reportedly held in Beijing last weekend. This marks the second round of Palestinian internal reconciliation talks hosted by China. Dialogue between Fatah and Hamas has proven challenging. Numerous rounds of negotiations and the signing of multiple agreements have failed to yield results. While no one expects a breakthrough from one single meeting, the talks in Beijing are seen as promising due to favorable conditions.
First, the timing of this meeting is favorable. Since July 5, Israel and Hamas resumed indirect negotiations over a cease-fire, with parties involved expressing optimism that an agreement appears to be within reach. The cease-fire deal is set to be implemented in three phases, with the pivotal second phase calls for agreement on a "permanent" truce, which would include a complete Israeli withdrawal and the release of remaining hostages.
According to reports, Hamas officials have raised in recent days the notion of independent, non-partisan bodies taking over governing the Gaza Strip and West Bank following the Gaza conflict. This needs consensus between Fatah and Hamas.
Only when Hamas commits not to attacking the new Gaza authority, can the authority survive. Meanwhile, Fatah and Hamas are the two most dominant political factions in Palestine, and forming a non-partisan body without their participation poses an even greater challenge.
The window for achieving a cease-fire agreement is only a matter of weeks, making the urgency to address these issues imminent.
The cease-fire agreement would signify the end of the Gaza conflict, which is intricately linked to the implementation of the two-state solution. Therefore, this round of talks is not only critical in terms of timing, but it also holds significant implications.
Second, selecting Beijing as the venue for this meeting provides significant advantages. Beijing has hosted relevant talks twice in the past three months, indicating a clear preference from both sides for the city. Beijing offers major advantages as a meeting place.
As a global power, China's hosting of the talks can swiftly bring the Palestinian issue to the forefront of international politics, enhancing the political visibility of both Fatah and Hamas.
China has maintained a long-standing, proactive and objective stance on the Israel-Palestine conflict and internal Palestinian issues, earning trust from both Hamas and Fatah. China's support for the Palestinian peoples' just cause has been consistent without getting directly involved in internal Palestinian affairs, free from historical burdens or biases. This is an essential quality for a mediator.
In recent years, China has been actively engaged in international conflict resolution, gaining increasing experience, credibility and influence globally. China's successful mediation in the restoration of Saudi-Iran relations in March 2023 was widely praised internationally. In April 2022, China proposed the Global Security Initiative, which has received support and appreciation from more than 100 countries as well as international and regional organizations. The initiative and its core concepts have been incorporated into more than 90 bilateral and multilateral documents on exchanges and cooperation between China and other countries and international organizations.
Third, the representatives from both sides in this round of talks are of high rank, and according to reports, their stances have drawn closer to some extent.
Of course, Palestinian reconciliation is not without challenges, which is why optimism must be tempered with caution. Israel has not abandoned its goal of completely eliminating Hamas, creating significant uncertainty for the future of Hamas. On July 18, Israel's parliament passed a resolution that overwhelmingly rejected the establishment of a Palestinian state. The resolution passed with 68 votes in favor and just nine against it. This further dimmed the prospects for a two-state solution.
Hamas once said that the group would lay down its arms if an independent Palestinian state is established. The Palestinian Authority under President Mahmoud Abbas, who is also the chairman of Fatah, has appointed a new reform-minded government, but remains unwilling to relinquish authority. Yet both Hamas and Israel oppose a Fatah-led Gaza regime. Any of these issues could cause the reconciliation talks to collapse instantly.
The Beijing talks are closely intertwined with cease-fire negotiations mediated by the US, Egypt and Qatar, influencing and complementing each other. The progress of the overall cease-fire negotiations also affects the Beijing talks. From this perspective, in the pursuit of mediating Israel-Palestine peace, Beijing and Washington are not in competition, nor are they in hostile relations. Instead, they can be viewed as being in complementary cooperation.
With the joint efforts of all parties, the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway is likely to commence construction in the upcoming months, according to media reports. This project, once completed, will further promote economic and trade development in Central Asia, transform the region's economic landscape and inject more certainties to the global trade, domestic and international experts said.
The launch of this landmark project under China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) once again confirms how the joint initiative has evolved from a Chinese proposal to an international framework, being translated from concept to action, experts said.
Construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway is set to commence on August 25 of this year - according to an announcement made by Kyrgyz Prime Minister Okilbek Japarov at the inauguration of a hydropower station in the Chuy region, as reported by qalampir.uz, a local media outlet.
"This railway represents the shortest route from Shanghai to Paris and is projected to handle 15 million tons of cargo annually. We have completed the feasibility studies, and the project is expected to be self-sustaining within 15-20 years. Looking ahead, in 30 years, this railway could extend to the sea, enhancing our global trade," Japarov said.
Since the signing ceremony of the trilateral government agreement for the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway project in Beijing in June, this historic cooperative endeavor has garnered increasing attention.
Experts said that this railway project will facilitate Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan's transformation from "landlocked countries" to "land-linked countries," while serving as a more reliable and efficient transportation network, injecting more certainties into world trade.
In addition, this landmark project, upon its completion, is poised to become a model of regional cooperation under the BRI, injecting substantial momentum into the economic and social development of the three countries, Central Asia and beyond, experts said.
A reliable alternative
As an important corridor forming part of the ancient Silk Road, Central Asia's development has long been constrained by geographical conditions among other factors - despite being located in the heartland of Asia, there are no direct sea ports.
"Traditionally, their access to sea routes has been through Russia, leading to the Black Sea region... However, since the Russia-Ukraine conflict, various factors including Western sanctions have created transportation challenges for their goods and commodities," Zhang Hong, an associate research fellow at the Institute of Russian, Eastern European and Central Asian Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Tuesday. He said that the growing complexity of the situation has hindered the regional countries' ability to engage with global economic entities, and further constraining the region's development.
The China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway begins in Kashgar, Xinjiang, and passes through Kyrgyzstan before entering Uzbekistan. Zhang said that the construction of this railway line will facilitate trade between Central Asia to China and deliver the goods from the region in a more efficient way to other parts of the world.
Additionally, the railway construction will attract more investment to Central Asia, promoting deeper involvement in regional economic integration and local economic projects, Zhang said.
"This transformation aims to shift them from being 'landlocked' countries to pivotal transportation hubs, a role that is becoming crucial for the entire region," Zhang noted.
The important role of this new railway network extends beyond a few countries to the entire region. Currently, global trade faces challenges such as geopolitical tensions including the Red Sea crisis, leading to high costs and risks impacting global shipping and freight. The new railway will provide a more diverse option for the global trade network, offering a reliable and secure alternative, Li Xin, director of the Center for Russian and Central Asian Studies at the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies, told the Global Times.
Specifically, the northern route of the China-Europe freight train service, passing through Russia and Belarus to Europe, has been impacted by the Russia-Ukraine conflict and Western sanctions against Russia and Belarus, according to Li.
Meanwhile, the southern Maritime Silk Road route through the Red Sea to the Mediterranean also faces security challenges, necessitating longer detours via the Cape of Good Hope and significantly increasing operational costs.
Given this context, Li said that establishing international transport corridors across the Caspian Sea, including Kazakhstan's Trans-Caspian International Transport Route and the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway extending toward Turkmenistan, could provide viable alternatives.
The China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway corridor will also connect with the Trans-Caspian Corridor, providing Uzbekistan with the shortest route to Europe, according to media reports.
Exemplary model
Central Asia has been pivotal for the BRI, particularly since the Silk Road Economic Belt, an essential component of the initiative, was first proposed in 2013. Experts said that with the construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan rail project, the BRI's emphasis on win-win cooperation and sustainable development will be further illustrated.
To Maryam Agharabi, research coordinator at China & Central Asia Studies Center, an organization based in Almaty, Kazakhstan, this transnational railway project is an important, long-awaited, and highly anticipated development from various perspectives.
"Broadly speaking, it contributes to the cooperative approach within the region, meaning that it not only helps diversify trade and transit by adding an extra route connecting Central Asian countries in both east-west and north-south directions, but it also demonstrates a commitment to the development of the region as a whole in the spirit of regional economic cooperation, not just within one or two selected countries," Agharabi said.
"It is important to understand that sustainable development should be viewed as a collective endeavor shared among neighbors, so, although Kazakhstan is not a direct party to this project, this is certainly welcomed by Kazakhstan, too," Agharabi said, noting that the launching of this project is a positive development not only for China, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan, which will see direct and immediate economic benefits, but also for the rest of the Central Asian countries and even beyond.
The railway project is an important BRI infrastructure project under the joint cooperation in a sense that the most priority projects in the Central Asia region are joint development projects in trade and logistics, industrial cooperation and energy, Aliya Mussabekova, chief expert at the Asian Studies Department at Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies under the President of Kazakhstan, told the Global Times.
These projects, both on a large regional scale and of local significance, form the foundation of a self-sustaining and secure common market, according to Mussabekova. In the long term, they establish Central Asia's identity as a cohesive region, the expert said.
The China-South Asia Expo opened on Tuesday in Kunming, Southwest China's Yunnan Province, showcasing a deeper commitment to regional cooperation. Exhibitors expressed optimism for the Chinese market and praised the event for providing opportunities to expand business in the region.
Pakistan is a featured country this year, with a 360-square-meter exhibition area designed to showcase its national heritage. The exhibits include agricultural and handcrafted products.
"I have participated in the expo five times. We mainly export handicrafts to China, which are very popular. The expo provides us an excellent opportunity to display our goods directly to Chinese customers and purchasers," Imran, a Pakistani merchant told the Global Times.
The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor has notably facilitated bilateral trade, for example, it has reduced the transit time of our products from 50 days by sea to just 15 days via land, Imran added. "In the future, I expect train lines can be built in the corridor, which could cut the transportation time more."
Beyond Pakistan, South Asian countries such as Sri Lanka, Nepal and India have also sent delegations to the expo.
The expo has been very beneficial for Sri Lanka, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises. New companies often lack the experiences to expand internationally due to the high cost of trade fairs in other countries. The expo brings Sri Lankan companies with exhibition opportunities, Devika Mendis, a commercial research officer from the Sri Lankan delegation, told the Global Times.
China has continuously strengthened pragmatic economic and trade cooperation with the region since the proposal of the Belt and Road Initiative in 2013.
Last year, China's trade with South Asian countries doubled to nearly $200 billion compared with 2013, cementing China's role as the top trade partner for most South Asian countries and facilitating their products' access to the huge Chinese market, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce said.
Sri Lanka is keen to continue its participation and expand its delegation size in the expo. Last year, Sri Lanka had 56 exhibition booths, while this year we have expanded to 112 booths, Mendis added. "Domestic businesses are lining up to be part of this grand event."
Indian firms also noted the importance of the expo to small and medium-sized businesses, expressing optimism about expanding their presence at the event.
"There are many expos that help trade with China, but the expo is especially important for small and medium-sized businesses, as many of the products displayed here are from labor-intensive sectors," said Ajay Sahai, director-general and CEO of the Federation of Indian Export Organization.
The expo also attracts a growing number of Southeast Asian exhibitors, reflecting deeper integration under the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership and expanding bilateral trade with countries like Malaysia and Laos.
"We hope to further promote trade between Laos and China, and highlight Lao products, particularly agricultural goods," said Thanousone Phonamat, a vice president of the Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
This year's event coincides with the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and Malaysia, sparking keen interest among Malaysian businesses. "We are hoping for a larger delegation and more booths for next year's expo," said Fan Shu Hua, general manager of ES Event Management Sdn Bhd.
Since settling in Kunming 11 years ago, the expo has gone through seven sessions, engaging more than 18,000 domestic and international enterprises and drawing more than 4 million visitors.
The associated cumulative foreign trade turnover has surpassed $100 billion, with more than 3,000 projects signed and established during the expos, reported the Yunnan Daily.
This marks the eighth session of the China-South Asia Expo and the 28th Kunming Import and Export Fair. Scheduled to run from Tuesday through Sunday, the event features the theme of unity and cooperative development. It boasts participation by 82 countries, regions and international organizations, with more than 2,000 exhibiting enterprises.
