Editor's Note:

The 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit is being held in Beijing from September 4 to 6. The theme of this year's summit is "Joining Hands to Advance Modernization and Build a High-Level China-Africa Community with a Shared Future." In light of this key event, the Global Times launches a series of China-Africa stories, including interviews with political leaders, stories of exchanges between young people from China and African countries, and intensive cooperation in various fields. Through these stories, we will see how China and Africa are deepening their ties and building a brighter future together.

In Southern Africa, the Namib, a coastal desert stretching more than 2,000 kilometers along the Atlantic Ocean, is one of the oldest and driest deserts in the world. With little rainfall there, almost no grass grows. However, as the waves crash against the endless and distinctive sand dunes, illuminated by the ever-changing light and shadow of nature, a breathtaking symphony of sand and sea unfolds, creating the unparalleled beauty that is Namibia.

Driving through the heart of the Namib Desert, people can see from afar a Five-Starred Red Flag - China's national flag - fluttering in the wind.

In an open-pit uranium mine, thousands of Chinese and African people work hard under the scorching sun. Crushing equipment, water treatment plants, settling ponds, calciners, and other large equipment are laid out on the ground in the distance, with mining trucks shuttling back and forth, and workers busy with their duties.

This is the scene at the Rossing uranium mine, the largest and longest-operational open-pit uranium mine in the world. It is also a model of cooperation between China and Namibia. It is one of China's most important mining investments and projects in Namibia, producing about 5 percent of the world's uranium supply.

However, this Namibian landmark, once a "star enterprise," had faced difficulties in production and operation due to the sharp decline in natural uranium prices after the Fukushima nuclear accident in Japan. Declining production and aging equipment have left local employees lacking confidence in the future, fearing the risk of closure at any time. The Rossing uranium mine thus became known in the industry as the "Old Lady" struggling to move forward.

However, changes began to take place when a Chinese company came to the scene.

In July 2019, the state-owned China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) and the multinational corporation Rio Tinto completed the handover of the Rossing uranium mine, officially taking over the project and bringing new vitality to the mine that was originally scheduled to be shut down.

The Rossing project has now become a "ballast stone" for the natural uranium supply guarantee for nuclear power and a "propeller" for deepening global uranium mining capacity cooperation. The CNNC's acquisition and investment in the mine changed not only the fate of the desert mine, but also the fate of mine workers and many Namibians.

Under the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative and the China-Africa Cooperation Forum mechanism, economic and trade cooperation between China and Africa is becoming increasingly close. More and more Chinese companies are investing and developing in Africa, growing together with the African market. These companies provide employment opportunities, conduct skills training, and cultivate batches of outstanding local talents. With the accelerated pace of Chinese companies "going global," the social status and labor skills of African women are also steadily improving.

After the CNNC acquisition, the Rossing project has not only created employment opportunities for many local women, but has also improved their economic and social status. More importantly, it has cultivated a group of high-quality female employees, empowering them to live independent and self-reliant lives.
Equally treated

Angela Kapapilo, principal resource geologist at the Rossing uranium mine, is one of the representatives. Angela joined Rossing in November 2010. After the CNNC acquisition, the company actively introduced new technologies and equipment, and the production has reached record highs year after year.

At the same time, the company has conducted efficient research on extending the life of the mine and restarted the Z20 uranium deposit exploration project. Kapapilo was then appointed as principal resource geologist, in charge of leading the Z20 exploration project, including geological, resource, geotechnical engineering, as well as hydrogeological research.

The Z20 deposit is currently in the deep exploration stage, with plans to drill over 30,000 meters by 2024-25. This will provide strong support for the feasibility study of developing over 50,000 tons of resources in the Z20 deposit and lay an important foundation for extending the life of the Rossing uranium mine for another 20 years.

"In the years working at the Rossing, I have gained experience in different positions. Serving as the principal resource geologist is a highlight of my career, thanks to the training provided by the CNNC. This is also a testament to the importance and cultivation of African employees by the Chinese company," Kapapilo told the Global Times.

While working at the Rossing, Kapapilo said, she feels that Chinese enterprises treat every employee equally, enabling them to have the opportunity to become a leader. Especially in the mining industry, being able to achieve personal ambition as a woman gives her a great sense of accomplishment. With the help of the Chinese company, she completed a master's degree in geology. Learning advanced geostatistics and machine learning techniques sharpened her ability to make wise decisions in mineral resource management.

The flexible working arrangements in the Chinese company also allowed her to better balance work and family responsibilities.

"I often take work home while also pursuing part-time studies and other personal interests, so the challenge is mainly around ensuring that I am a supportive and intentional parent. I do my best to achieve a work-life balance by following a schedule, and ensuring family time is prioritized," she said.

Kapapilo would often go to the mine, where vegetation is sparse, rocks are exposed, rainfall is scarce, and the wind is strong, to track project progress, identify problems, gather information, and seek solutions. Under her leadership, Chinese and local employees work closely together to complete their tasks on time.

"All Rossing employees have benefited from the CNNC acquisition, as the alternative would have been the mine closure, leading to an increased number of unemployed Namibians. The recent approval of the Phase 4 plan to extend the life of the mine to 2036 means that most employees will be employed beyond the original 2026. Furthermore, Rossing procures a significant number of supplies and services from Namibian companies, and the company's improved profitability in the last few years has contributed to company income tax revenue for our government," Kapapilo said. "This means that the benefit of Rossing's continued operations via the investment by the CNNC positively impacts the livelihoods of not just Rossing employees, but also the broader Namibian society."

Heartwarming and practical actions

The Global Times learned from the CNNC that the Rossing uranium mine, through the establishment of the Rossing Foundation, supports local medical, educational, and sports projects, with its footprint covering the entire Namibia.

The Rossing uranium mine has maintained a local procurement rate of about 75 percent annually, effectively driving local economic development. It also provides employment opportunities for about 1,000 direct employees and about 1,200 contractor employees, indirectly benefiting more than 10,000 people.

Besides actively cooperating with technical schools, the mine has launched female youth entrepreneurship training programs. Since 2019, eight young women in Namibia have successfully established their own businesses with the support of the Rossing.

Education conditions in Namibia are poor, especially in rural and remote areas where resources are severely lacking. Working with UNICEF and the Namibian Ministry of Education, the Rossing has also helped improve the quality of education in remote schools in the country. In 2023, the company donated materials, textbooks and teaching equipment to schools, as well as established three classes for mathematics, physics, and chemistry across Namibia, providing training courses for nearly 3,000 students.

These heartwarming and practical actions have benefited more Namibians, earning strong support from the local government and high recognition from the surrounding communities.

Namibian Minister of Mines and Energy Tom Alweendo said at a press conference held in Namibian capital Windhoek in June that Namibia's mining industry is one of the largest contributors to the country's economy, with Chinese investment playing a significant role in the development of the uranium mining sector.

In 2023, Namibia's mining sector contributed up to 14.4 percent of the country's GDP, Alweendo said, noting that Chinese investment has been instrumental in establishing Namibia as one of the world's largest producers of uranium, according to the Xinhua News Agency.

The longer Kapapilo works with Chinese employees, the more she intuitively feels the benefits of the latest technology brought along by Chinese enterprises.

"Since my interactions with Chinese colleagues in 2019, I have been directly exposed to the technological innovations within the CNNC and Chinese companies. There was one instance during which we wanted to source a particular technology based on internal metallurgical test results. However, no suitable product was available on the market. Our supply chain general manager then introduced us to a Chinese institution, which used the information we gained from metallurgical tests to help design a suitable solution," she said.

In March this year, Kapapilo came to visit Beijing and Central China's Hunan Province. She was very impressed by the hospitality of the Chinese people, the diversity of Chinese cuisines, the richness of Chinese culture, and the level of Chinese technological advancements.

During the interview, she shared an interesting experience with the Global Times.

"I normally wear masks because I have allergic reactions to various airborne respiratory tract irritants. I was pleasantly surprised when I realized there were almost no fumes from vehicles on the roads as all the vehicles we saw were electric! It gave me an impression of what carbon neutral could look like, albeit far into the future for most countries in Africa."

The People's Bank of China (PBC), the central bank, said on Thursday that there is still room to reduce the reserve requirement ratio (RRR) for banks and pledged to continue to implement the supportive monetary policy to shore up the economy. The comments underscored the PBC's commitment to creating a favorable monetary environment to boost market confidence that will help the country's economic recovery, experts said.

The average RRR for financial institutions now stands at approximately 7 percent, and there is still room for further reductions, said Zou Lan, a senior central bank official. 

The PBC will adjust the intensity and pace of monetary policy regulation based on the recovery of the economy and specific issues facing macroeconomic operations, Zou told a press conference.

The RRR reductions so far this year have produced many positive effects on the economy. For example, the PBC implemented a 50-basis point RRR cut for all commercial banks, effective February 5, to support the economic recovery.

Regarding interest rates, Zou said that the central bank will continue to cut the financing costs to aid enterprises and consumers. Since the beginning of this year, the one-year and five-year benchmark lending rates have dropped by 0.1 and 0.35 percentage points, respectively. However, the narrowing of banks' net interest margins would constrain further cuts in the central bank's policy rates.

The PBC said that it will stick to the supportive monetary policy, accelerate the implementation of previously introduced policy measures, and provide stronger support for high-quality economic development. 

It will utilize a variety of tools to ensure that overall liquidity remains reasonably ample, "aligning the scale of social financing and money supply with the expected targets for economic growth and price levels," Zou said. 

On the structural front, the PBC said it will improve the efficiency of fund utilization and provide high-quality financial services to support strategic industries and vulnerable sectors of the economy. 

The central bank has clearly manifested its firm commitment to maintaining the supportive monetary policy, which will help bolster market optimism, Zhou Maohua, an economist at China Everbright Bank, told the Global Times on Thursday.

"We do not rule out the possibility of the central bank implementing further RRR cuts and use structural tools in response to changes in the macroeconomic landscape, in order to ensure that market liquidity remains reasonably ample," Zhou said.

Given the domestic low-price environment, there is ample room for more favorable policy tools to be utilized, Zhou noted.

The world’s leading solar technology company, LONGi Green Energy Technology Co., Ltd. (hereafter as "LONGi"),?released its semi-annual report for 2024. Amidst the continuous transformation and challenges in the PV industry during the first half of 2024, the company achieved a business revenue of 38.529 billion yuan. Silicon wafer shipments totaled 44.44 GW (with 21.96 GW sold externally), while solar cell sales reached 2.66 GW externally. Additionally, module shipments amounted to 31.34 GW, with a remarkable year-on-year increase of over 140% in the Asia-Pacific region. Despite the significant decline in industry chain prices and elevated inventory challenges, the company demonstrated strong resilience and adaptability in the market.

Asia-Pacific sales surge; HPBC 2.0 brings industry reformation

In terms of capacity and shipment, LONGi has shown strong productivity and market competitiveness. In the first half of the year, LONGi's BC series module shipments reached 10 GW, and its excellent performance is gaining widespread market recognition. The significant increase of 140% in sales volume in the Asia-Pacific region not only highlights LONGi's deep foundation in the international market but also lays a solid foundation for expanding  global footprint

Based on the high-efficiency HPBC 2.0 cell technology, LONGi has launched the Hi-MO 9 bifacial module product for the utility market. By introducing advanced composite passivation technology and high-reliability back-contact interconnection technology, and leveraging the core advantages of the company's high-quality TaiRay silicon wafers—such as high resistivity concentration, effective impurity absorption, and strong mechanical properties—the module's mass production power has reached 660W. This is more than 30W higher than similar-specification TOPCon modules.

At the same time, the conversion efficiency of Hi-MO 9 has jumped to 24.43%, the bifacial rate has broken through 70%, and the anti-crack ability has increased by 80%. It has obvious advantages over TOPCon products in aspects such as temperature coefficient, degradation, and resistance to uneven light radiation. These excellent performances not only lead the industry by a large margin but also win more opportunities and market share for LONGi in domestic and international markets.

It is worth mentioning that LONGi's module products, with their excellent performance, have won the RETC "Highest Achievement" award for the 6th consecutive year and the PVEL Reliability Test "Best Performance" award for the 7th time. This series of honors is a high recognition of LONGi's technical strength and product quality by the PV industry and beyond. In addition, the company has also won the PV-Tech module bankability highest rating of AAA for the 18th time in a row, further consolidating LONGi's leading position in the global photovoltaic financing market.

It has been revealed that in the next three years, LONGi's mono-crystalline silicon wafer annual production capacity will reach 200 GW, with "TaiRay" silicon wafer capacity accounting for more than 80%; BC cell annual production capacity will reach 100 GW; mono-crystalline module annual production capacity will reach 150 GW, providing a solid support for the company to recover ahead of the industry.

BC advantages emerge, and utility power station procurement opens BC section

In response to the rapid development and technological evolution of the PV industry, LONGi has consistently demonstrated its insight and a forward-looking strategy. In the first half of the year, the company announced the resolutions from the 2023 annual shareholders’ meeting, including the approval of the "Proposal on Public Issuance of 10 Billion Yuan of Corporate Bonds." The funds raised will primarily be allocated for the development of advanced technologies, such as "TaiRay" silicon wafers and HPBC 2.0 cell technology. The goal is to accelerate the industrial iteration of BC and other new technologies, further enhance the company’s competitiveness, and create a new growth driver for the PV industry.

Technological innovation is key to LONGi's continued leadership in the industry. As of the end of the reporting period, the company has secured a total of 3,166 authorized patents, including nearly 200 related to BC technology, establishing a strong and deep technological moat. During the reporting period, the company achieved notable recognition for its technological contributions in the photovoltaic field. Two of its scientific research projects won the 2nd prize for the National Science and Technology Progress Award and the 2nd prize for the National Technical Invention Award, respectively. This achievement makes LONGi the first private enterprise in China’s photovoltaic sector to receive the highest national science and technology honors as both the primary completing unit and the first completer.

With the progress of the first phase of the Xixian New Area’s 12.5GW project, the Tongchuan 12GW project, and other HPBC 2.0 cell and capacity transformation projects, a significant increase in production capacity is anticipated. The HPBC 2.0 product will enter the market on a large scale by the end of 2024, and it is expected that the company's BC production capacity will reach 70GW (with HPBC 2.0 capacity of about 50GW) by the end of 2025, and all domestic cell bases are planned to be fully migrated to BC products by the end of 2026. The company has achieved smooth customs clearance for shipments to the North American region, and the 5GW module factory in the United States is now officially operational. This development provides substantial support for the company's business expansion in North America. These strategic implementations not only show LONGi's deep insight into the future PV market but also reflect its determination and strength as an industry leader to promote technological progress.

It is worth mentioning that the excellent power generation performance and low decay performance of the company's BC series modules have been proven by a large number of market proofs. After 7 months of outdoor proof by the National Centre of Supervision and Inspection on Solar Photovoltaic Product Quality (CPVT), LONGi's Hi-MO X6 anti-dust module has an average monthly power gain of 2.84% compared to conventional modules, with the highest monthly relative gain of 5.4%. This proof result not only verifies the excellent performance of LONGi's products but also provides strong data support for its further expansion in the PV market.

In addition, on August 15th, the announcement of the 2024 photovoltaic module (second batch) framework agreement procurement tender by China Huaneng Group brought new momentum to the market application of LONGi's BC module technology. Notably, the third section includes a 1GW BC module procurement, marking the first time state-owned energy giants have issued a separate tender for BC modules. This represents a significant step forward for the application of BC technology in the domestic utility-scale PV market. As a leader in BC technology, LONGi is well-positioned to capture a larger share and gain a competitive edge in this emerging market.

Chinese scientists have successfully developed ultra-high pure graphite, reflecting that the China's graphite products now reach the world's leading standards, Xinhua News Agency reported on Tuesday.

At a press conference held in Hegang, Northeast China Heilongjiang Province, Wang Jionghui's team from China Minmetals Co unveiled innovational breakthrough in graphite purification technology, successfully producing ultra-high pure graphite with 99.99995 percent purity. This achievement positions China as a global leader in the making of ultra-high pure graphite, according to Xinhua.

Wang's research team has revolutionized graphite purification process by developing a process in tandem with top equipment manufacturers in the country. Their innovative approach, which merges physical-chemical, low and high-temperature, and ultra-high vacuum purification, elevates graphite purity from 95 percent to 99.99995 percent, while ensuring stable product quality. Additionally, their integrated process significantly reduces production cost.

Ultra-high pure graphite, which contains more than 99.99 percent carbon, features excellent self-lubrication, conductivity, corrosion and high-temperature resistance, and chemical stability, Liu Enqiao, a senior analyst at Beijing-based Anbound Think Tank, told the Global Times on Tuesday.

"The higher the purity of graphite is, the better the graphite's lubricity, conductivity, corrosion resistance and chemical stability. Such materials are extensively used in advanced industrial sectors such as aerospace, superconductors, integrated circuits, and semiconductors," Liu stated. 

"Currently, the breakthrough is still at an experimental stage with its commercial viability still under evaluation. If commercialized, the pure graphite would enable China to play a prominent role in the market. The demand for high-purity graphite in cutting-edge industrial sectors has been growing, and the technological advancement could significantly liberate us in this field, reducing our dependencies," Liu added.

Founded in 1950, China Minmetals Co has taken metals and minerals as its core business, operating as a state-owned capital investment company.

It operates one of the world's largest graphite mines in Hegang city, Heilongjiang Province, with a facility producing 200,000 tons annually and has phased in a set of deep-processing industrial chain. Now, Wang's team is accelerating the development of high-end anode materials, nuclear-grade graphite, as well as semiconductor-grade graphite.

Monday marked the third anniversary since the establishment of the Beijing Stock Exchange (BSE) was announced by Chinese President Xi Jinping, the first bourse based in the capital city, at the China International Fair for Trade in Services in September 2021. Based on various institutional innovations and market reforms, the BSE has developed rapidly since its inception, and has become an accelerator that's turbocharging the growth of innovation-oriented small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Analysts envision the BSE evolving into a well-regulated, influential and dynamic stock market over the next few years, noting that improved capital market services for the country's sci-tech innovations will contribute to the development of new quality productive services in China and the country's economic upgrade and transformation.

Within about three years, the BSE has guided significant capital flow to SMEs engaged in technological breakthroughs, advanced manufacturing and green development, becoming an important force driving the development of new quality productive forces and specialized, high-end and innovation-driven SMEs, or referred to as "little giants."

Latest data from the BSE showed that the number of eligible investors has exceeded 7 million, with institutional investors including private equity, public funds and insurance firms, domestic news outlet Yicai reported on Monday.

As of Sunday, 251 companies are listed on the bourse, with the combined market capitalization hitting 300 billion yuan ($42.23 billion). High-tech companies account for more than 90 percent of the listed companies, the data showed.

"Different from Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges, the BSE is a market more focused on early-stage, small, and innovative companies. Setting up the BSE is of vital importance in creating a multi-level capital market, improving support for SMEs, and promoting innovation-driven development," Wan Zhe, an economist and professor at the Belt and Road School of Beijing Normal University, told the Global Times on Monday.

Over the past three years, the development of BSE has always followed its strategic positioning and development goals, with multiple trading systems rolled out and various investors participating in market trading, Wan said.

"The BSE is a perfect platform through which SMEs can gain access to capital and then expand investment in research and development (R&D) and production," a general manager with a Beijing-based new material company told the Global Times on Monday. The manager declined to be named since the company is in the process of stock flotation on the BSE.

The launch of the BSE came only two months after China announced the plan for setting up a new stock exchange, a move widely welcomed by the market as it aims to address the long-standing financing conundrum of SMEs.

The China Securities Regulatory Commission in September 2023 released a 19-point set of guidelines to drive the high-quality development of the BSE, calling for listings of better-quality companies, more mutual-fund products to track the market and greater participation by overseas investors.

"Looking ahead, the BSE should accelerate the listing of high-quality innovation enterprises, especially by expanding the fundraising channel for 'little giants,' so as to form a reasonable market scale. Meanwhile, efforts are needed to strengthen market foundation, including law improvement, smooth delisting and investor rights protection," said Tian Xuan, vice president of the Tsinghua University PBC School of Finance.

The BSE should further improve capital market services, for example, rolling out BSE-themed creative investment products, boosting its opening-up and introducing long-term and overseas capitals, in a bid to sustainably spark market vitality and gather more high-quality innovation enterprises, according to Tian.

In January 2024, the corporate and enterprise bond market of the BSE started trading, marking a key step in the bourse's high-quality development. It only took 87 days from the release of relevant rules to bond trading, as the market once again witnessed the "speed of the BSE."

"The Chinese economy has shifted toward a stage of high-quality development and is currently at a critical period of transforming its economic development model. At the crucial moment, the BSE can take the Nasdaq Stock Market as a benchmark to step up support for tech innovations so as to contribute to the country's industrial upgrade and high-quality growth," Wan said.

In April, the State Council released a new guideline on strengthening regulations, forestalling risks and promoting the high-quality development of the capital market, which will provide strong guarantees for the healthy, long-term development of the country's capital market.

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday met with Comorian President Azali Assoumani, who is in Beijing for the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).

On the remote island of Baisha in East China's Zhejiang Province, a community of elderly residents live quietly, far from the bustling cities. As the Chinese New Year approached in 2023, British host Tim Hague and his friend arrived on the island, talking with locals and helping prepare for the festival feast for the elderly.    

Their visit, captured in the ongoing documentary series Towards a Shared Future, highlights the ways in which technology and community care are enabling the elderly in rural China to lead healthier and more fulfilling lives.

The documentary, currently airing on domestic video platform Youku, focuses on the broad theme of "common prosperity." Common prosperity, an essential requirement of socialism and a key feature of Chinese modernization, aims to create a future in which prosperity is shared by everyone in the country, according to the Xinhua News Agency.

Directed by Zhang Wei, the series invites Hague - a renowned British television presenter and former BBC host - to explore various parts of Zhejiang Province from a global perspective to tell the real stories of ordinary Chinese people as China continues on its path to modernization..

"After extensive research, we decided to present this story through an international lens to illustrate the relationship between the ordinary people and the concept of common prosperity," Zhang said at the documentary's global premiere in Beijing on Wednesday. 

"Zhejiang, with its balanced urban and rural development, is like a microcosm of China, making it the perfect setting for this documentary," he noted.

In 2021, China introduced guidelines to develop Zhejiang as a demonstration zone for common prosperity, aiming to balance regional and urban-rural development across the country. This initiative is also one of the reasons the documentary was filmed in Zhejiang, showcasing the province's role as a leader in this national effort.

Hague's curiosity and questions drive the narrative of Towards a Shared Future. With a deep interest in Chinese culture and development, Hague, who has visited China multiple times, explores the lives and relationships of people in rural areas. 

According to Zhang, the documentary, presented largely from Hague's perspective, reveals his observations and discoveries about the unique connections between villagers, volunteers, and the broader community.

The three-part series addresses five key issues: healthcare, elderly care, education, environmental protection, and the global promotion of traditional culture. 

"Tim's curiosity about China's customs, the relationships between people, and the everyday joys and struggles of ordinary people is what shapes the storytelling in this documentary," Zhang explained. "We want to uncover the stories behind his questions, and through those stories, reveal a broader theme."

For example, in the recently aired first episode, Hague visited the Jingning She autonomous county in Zhejiang, where he experienced local wedding customs, spoke with a traditional heritage practitioner, and tried his hand at weaving She ethnic ribbons. In Kaihua county, Zhejiang, he interacted with local volunteers, took part in their daily activities, including visiting a boy with a congenital disease, and assisted at an elderly care cafeteria run by the local government.

On Baisha Island, the local government regularly sends medical teams to provide free checkups. For those with limited mobility, doctors will visit their homes for checkups. In addition to medical care, the elderly receive help with haircuts, tailoring, and tool sharpening.

"Common prosperity is not just a concept; it's built on countless small stories of ordinary people," Zhang said. "It's like constructing a building - each of us is a part of the foundation. When all these individual stories come together, the concept of common prosperity truly takes shape."

Towards a Shared Future will also be broadcast on domestic television and translated into multiple languages for global audiences. 

"We hope that through this documentary, viewers around the world who are unfamiliar with China will gain an understanding of the reality of our country - our people's daily lives, their aspirations, and their spirit," Zhang told the Global Times.

After a concert held at the Shanghai Cultural Square Theater on Monday night, renowned Welsh musical theater actor and singer John Owen-Jones met his Chinese fans at the "More than Music" event hosted by the British Consulate-General in Shanghai on Tuesday to share his career experience, and celebrate the rich cultural exchanges between the UK and China. John Owen-Jones, also known as JOJ, is most famous for his portrayals of Jean Valjean in Alain Boublil's and Claude-Michel Schönberg's Les Misérables and the Phantom in Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera.
Speaking of blending Western and Chinese instruments and making a very unique version of The Phantom of the Opera, which they performed during the China tour, JOJ said, "It's always one of the most exciting parts of the show for me because I get to see how the audience reacts to that, because cultural exchange is such a rich tapestry of different things all over the world that we can all learn from each other and make better art and make better music. And that's what's so exciting about being here in China. I think I'd like to explore more, so I definitely would like to integrate, explore more cultural opportunities between where I'm from, where you are from."

"Regardless of where we come from, music is this universal language, and it reminds us of that shared humanity and the things that bind us together," echoed the British Consul General in Shanghai Matt Burney.

"Indonesia, a country of 17,000 islands, offers a unique experience for tourists. Starting from the Metropolitan city of Jakarta with skyscrapers to Raja Ampat in Southwest Papua with natural beauty that is still natural. As is known, Indonesia will move the capital from Jakarta to the archipelago, which is located on the third-largest island in the world, namely Kalimantan. The relocation of the capital of Indonesia to the archipelago is proof of the progress of the Indonesian nation and hope for a brighter future to welcome [Golden] Indonesia Advanced 2045 [Vision]," said Djauhari Oratmangun, Indonesian Ambassador to China.

Enlivened with various art and cultural performances from Indonesia, the event was the largest exhibition of Indonesian products and culture in China, featuring Indonesia's export products that have entered the Chinese market.

Editor's Note:

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, Chinese president, and chairman of the Central Military Commission, stressed that the environment concerns the well-being of people in all countries. During his many inspections, Xi has always emphasized the importance of ecosystems, spanning from cities to rural areas, and from enterprises to communities.

Under President Xi Jinping's Thought on Ecological Civilization, China has been advancing the green transition of its economy over the last decade. Regions across the country are actively promoting the construction of an ecological civilization and advancing Chinese modernization featuring harmony between humanity and nature. These efforts go toward creating a "Beautiful China."

The coming five years will be critical to the building of a "Beautiful China." The Global Times is launching a series of stories to explore the progress of ecological civilization projects inspired by Xi's words, delving into the positive environmental changes occurring now, and offering valuable insights and references for both national and global efforts.

Through this prism, we can see how Xi's thoughts on ecological civilization is being put into practice and further inspiring public action.

The Global Times recently visited the largest hydropower station in Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, to witness the advanced power and technology achievements of China's clean energy projects in remote areas. The visit also included a trip to an ethnic minority community village that was relocated due to the project's construction. Our reporter witnessed significant improvements in the quality of their life after relocation.

This shows how China's green energy development integrates resources, drives the process of modernization, and sets a scientific example for many developing countries worldwide.
In the past, the Yarkand River in Xinjiang would flood annually during the rainy season, causing destruction to infrastructure, submerging farmland, and engulfing homes and villages. Bubishare, a Uygur resident who grew up in a village upstream of the river, still vividly recalls the cries of helplessness from those affected by the devastating floods before the construction of the Aratax water conservation project. Thanks to the project, these nightmares are now a thing of the past for local residents.

Located in the Karakorum Mountain Valley, the Aratax water conservation project, known as the "Xinjiang's Three Gorges" project for its grandeur and construction challenges, was constructed to control the Yarkant River. The 1,289-km-long Yarkant River in the Tarim Basin is Xinjiang's most flood-prone river, and the towering dam can withstand the turbulent floodwaters in a reservoir with a storage capacity of 2.2 billion cubic meters.

Today, this dam is gushing with clean water sources, stable power, and also gushing with hope for the minority groups on the desert.

In August 2023, President Xi Jinping urged firmly grasping the strategic positioning of Xinjiang in the overall national situation and better building a beautiful Xinjiang in the process of pursuing Chinese modernization, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, demanded thorough, meticulous, concrete and sustained efforts to develop a beautiful Xinjiang that is united, harmonious, prosperous, and culturally advanced, with healthy ecosystems and people living and working in contentment, in the process of pursuing Chinese modernization.

The building of a beautiful Xinjiang extends from a dam to a relocated ethnic minority community. The relocation of villagers to new homes with improved living conditions, as a result of the dam project, has brought green energy, green fields, and a green dream of prosperity to the villagers.
Path to build new hope

After a challenging 6-hour journey along the rugged Tasha Ancient Road, the Global Times reporter finally laid eyes on the Aratax dam nestled in the mountainside deep within the Karakorum Mountain. Without firsthand experience of this journey, it is difficult to fathom the obstacles encountered during the entire process of researching, designing, and constructing the dam - no roads on the ground, barren mountains devoid of trees, transportation primarily by feet, and communication mainly through shouting. Accidents like overturning were frequent due to the rugged environment.

The Xinhua Hydropower Generation Co, Ltd, a subsidiary of the China National Nuclear Corporation, began construction on the water conservation project in 2011, with a total investment of 10.98 billion yuan ($1.5 billion). The Aratax project has played a crucial role in flood control, irrigation, and power generation. The river plain, with a population of 4 million and an irrigated area of over 6.5 million mu (433,333 hectares), is the largest irrigated area in Xinjiang and the fourth-largest in China, benefiting 2.4 million people in the region.

Zhang Yibo, a frontline employee at the developer, told the media, "Over a decade ago, this place was even more desolate and rarely visited, and our water conservancy experts achieved a remarkable feat here." Confronted by the harsh natural surroundings, the builders traversed mountains, camped under the open sky, drank from rivers when thirsty, and rested in tents outdoor, with a firm passion for building a sustainable dam for locals.

From July 18 to August 17, 2021, the Aratax water conservancy project successfully connected four units to the grid in just one month, a rare accomplishment in the history of global hydropower development. This hydropower station significantly alleviated the power shortage in the four southern prefectures in Xinjiang. The project's designed annual power generation is 21.86 billion kilowatt-hours, saving 883,100 tons of standard coal annually while reducing smoke and dust emissions by 175,300 tons, and enabling the residents of southern Xinjiang to access cleaner energy.

The dam's incorporation of advanced technology, such as unmanned compaction technology using the Beidou satellite, improved digital visualization of the construction progress, and magnetic induction devices to assist in fish migration, have been notable features of its intelligent design.

"Following the completion of this project, it has greatly supported our irrigation efforts. Economic crops like sea buckthorn and apples are now extensively cultivated in the desert, leading to significant improvements in both economic and ecological benefits," Fan Kexing, Party secretary of Tong'an township, Kashi, Xinjiang, told the Global Times. "Previously, the area was plagued by strong winds and sandstorms, with sand and gravel striking house windows with a loud thud, but this phenomenon has now been alleviated," Fan noted.

Path to enjoy better life

Over the last six years, the residents of the remote Karakorum Mountains in Xinjiang have experienced incredible changes. Having previously lived in the vast desert with only three mu of arable land per person a decade ago, they had to trek seven kilometers to the mountains for drinking water, which needed to be purified before consumption. Power outages lasting for days at a time were a common occurrence. However, these challenges are now a thing of the past.

Today, the residents have an average annual income exceeding 10,000 yuan, live in beautifully decorated homes with their ethnicity characteristics, and enjoy access to closer schools, more job opportunities, and reliable water and electricity services.

Thanks to the construction of the dam, in August 2018, 4,243 individuals from over 1,000 households in Kusilafu township, Aketao county were resettled in Tong'an township, over 100 kilometers away. This diverse community, made up of Uygurs, Kyrgyz, Tajiks, and other ethnic groups, have embraced their new beginning.

Zhou Jingfang, an expert at the Xinhua Hydropower Generation Co who led the relocation work, still remembers the days of tirelessly conducting site surveys, clearing land, mobilizing villagers to relocate, planning and designing new sites, building resettlement houses, greening rural areas, reclaiming farmland, introducing livestock, and setting up factories, schools, clinics, and markets.

He told the Global Times that the dedicated team members worked long hours in harsh conditions, and navigated countless checkpoints and roads in the vast desert and rugged mountains without complaint. Nowadays, the villagers are no longer facing the endless desert of despair as they did in the past.

When discussing stories of relocation, 25-year-old Bubishare said, "Our village now has schools, factories, and employment opportunities. The village has supported us to find more diverse ways to make a living."

"We have 20,000 acres of farmland, where we not only grow food but also operate cash crops cooperatives. This area is a seabuckthorn forest, and our village recently constructed a seabuckthorn fruit processing plant. Our seabuckthorn beer will soon hit the market. With ample water supply, we are confident in our farming endeavors." Fan shared proudly while standing amid the seabuckthorn forest.

In a local farmer's backyard sheep pen, the Global Times reporter observed over 20 Dolan sheep, known as "living banks." Zhou explained that by raising two Dolan sheep, a farmer can become prosperous within two years due to their high reproductive rate. In Tong'an, many villagers raise Dolan sheep in this manner and enjoy prosperity.

Tong'an township has also collaborated with local businesses to establish factories, providing employment for local women to produce items made from Xinjiang cotton, such as down jackets and socks for overseas export, ensuring female workers earn at least 2,000-3,000 yuan per month. "The factory is conveniently located, allowing women to balance family responsibilities while earning an income," Fan informed the Global Times.

In one factory, a wall in the workshop reads, "Happiness is achieved through hard work." These words have accurately described how local women in Xinjiang have embarked on the path to modernization through their own hands.

Along the Yarkand River, beyond the Karakorum Mountain, the villagers of Tong'an are employing their diligence and unwavering efforts to write their own happy stories in the desert. They have left behind isolation and poverty, embracing hope and prosperity within short years. In this vibrant land, a new life of perseverance and success is blossoming with vibrant hues.