"No one can engage in illegal activities under the guise of democracy and attempt to evade legal punishment," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said at Tuesday's routine press briefing in response to the sentencing of 45 separatist activists in the Hong Kong case of conspiracy to subvert state power. "The central government firmly supports HKSAR in safeguarding national security," Lin said.

Marking the first case of subversion of state power in Hong Kong, it saw former legal professor and instigator of Hong Kong unrest Benny Tai Yiu-ting sentenced to 10 years in prison, and secessionist Joshua Wong Chi-fung to 56 months in prison, China Central Television reported on Tuesday morning.

Commenting on the verdict of the case, Lin said that Hong Kong is a society governed by the rule of law, where laws must be followed and violations must be punished. No one can engage in illegal activities under the guise of democracy and attempt to evade legal punishment, the spokesperson stressed.

The central government firmly supports HKSAR in safeguarding national security, punishing activities that endanger national security according to the law, and firmly oppose certain individual Western countries interfering in China's internal affairs, smearing and undermining the rule of law in Hong Kong by using specific judicial cases, Lin said.

The spokesperson added that certain Western countries ignore that they maintain their own national security through judicial procedures while unjustly criticizing the Hong Kong courts for fairly implementing the National Security Law for Hong Kong. "Such actions are a serious desecration of and trampling on the spirit of the rule of law," Lin said.

When asked about opposition from China's Taiwan region regarding the sentencing of the 45 secessionists, Lin stated, "Taiwan is a province of China; what your asked is not a diplomatic issue."

China and Singapore are holding a joint army exercise with the theme of urban anti-terrorism, a move Chinese military expert Fu Qianshao said on Wednesday displays a high level of mutual trust and military cooperation between the two countries.

The China-Singapore Exercise Cooperation-2024 joint army exercise kicked off with an opening ceremony on Tuesday at a training base in Central China's Henan Province, the official newspaper of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA), the PLA Daily, reported on Wednesday.

Under the theme of conducting a joint urban anti-terrorism operation, the drill aims to train in tactics for joint anti-terrorism operations under complex environments and enhance the two militaries' capabilities in joint command, collaborative coordination and unified operation, the report said, noting that the two sides will mix their troops in teams and practice courses such as basic training, live-fire shooting and live-action comprehensive exercises.

The commander on the Chinese side said that the joint exercise is expected to boost combat capability, enhance exchanges, boost traditional friendship and play a positive role in promoting the development of bilateral relations, while the Singaporean commander said that the Singaporean side is willing to work with the Chinese side in carrying forward traditional friendship, elevating the quality and effect of the joint drill, deepening military mutual trust and promoting the healthy and stable development of the military ties, according to the PLA Daily.

Singapore is a city state, so its military's main mission is defense of the city, with anti-terrorism being a main topic. Against this background, the joint exercise with China will help the two sides to boost exchanges, trust and capabilities in urban anti-terrorism operations, Fu told the Global Times on Wednesday.

This is the sixth edition of the Cooperation series exercise between the two countries' armies, the report said.

The fifth edition was held in September 2023 in Singapore, the PLA Daily reported at the time.

In September this year, the two countries' navies also held a joint maritime exercise in Zhanjiang, South China's Guangdong Province, according to the Xinhua News Agency.

Fu said that the consecutive joint exercises on the ground and at sea is a manifestation of the two countries' high level of mutual trust and military cooperation.

The 2024 World Vocational and Technical Education Development Conference began on Thursday in North China's Tianjin Municipality. The conference showcased China's achievements and experiences in skill development, discussed and adopted the "Tianjin Consensus on the Development of World Vocational Education," serving as a new platform for global collaboration in vocational education.

Addressing the opening ceremony, Grahame Morton, Ambassador of New Zealand to China, spoke highly of China's efforts to improve and modernize its vocational education system to enhance quality, accessibility, and employability in key industries. "There is a lot that we can learn from each other," Morton said.

The Luban Workshop represents a milestone in strengthening the partnership between our two sisterly nations, Muferihat Kamil, Minister of Labor and Skills of Ethiopia, told the conference. Through this collaboration, thousands of young Ethiopians have gained access to world-class technical and vocational training, preparing them for today's dynamic global environment, Kamil noted.

Kamil said Ethiopia expressed gratitude for the continued innovative support and investment that China has shown, empowering its labor force and supporting sustainable development.

As of November 2024, China has established 34 Luban Workshops in 30 countries, including Thailand, Cambodia, Portugal, Djibouti, Egypt, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, the Global Times learned from the conference.
At a special exhibition on vocational education, Luban Workshop highlighted achievements aimed at supporting youth development in partner countries. For example, in the smart transportation section, it highlighted the construction status of programs related to automotive maintenance and intelligent transportation and urban rail systems.

During the opening ceremony, the World Technical and Vocational Education and Training League was launched. Kamil hailed the launch a timely initiative that aligns perfectly with Ethiopia's vision for global collaboration and looked forward to strengthening partnership with China, whose remarkable achievements in skills development offer valuable lessons for Africa's journey.
A ministerial roundtable meeting was attended by education ministers from 32 countries, including China. They discussed and adopted the "Tianjin Consensus on the Development of World Vocational Education," which provides a framework for advancing vocational education globally.

Om Romny, secretary of state of Cambodia's Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport, told the Global Times that China's vocational and technical education has achieved remarkable results, guided by clear goals and a systematic framework.

Romny emphasized the importance of strengthening capacity-building efforts with China across various sectors, including vocational and technical education, to enhance mutual understanding and recognition between the peoples of both countries.

Mustafa Mohamed Mahmoud, Minister of National Education and Vocational Training of the Republic of Djibouti, told the Global Times that he gained valuable insights from the meeting, particularly from the insights shared by Chinese experts regarding the mechanisms China has adopted for the development and management of its vocational education system. Currently, the world is facing an industrial and technological revolution. African countries must keep pace with global developments.

Themed on Innovation Empowers the Future, Skills Enlighten New Lives, the conference hosted over 1,200 representatives from domestic and international backgrounds, including more than 600 overseas guests from over 100 countries and regions, covering government officials, diplomats stationed in China, representatives from international organizations, and academic institutions.

China's top legislator Zhao Leji paid an official goodwill visit from Thursday to Saturday to Portugal, during which Zhao expressed the readiness to expand bilateral cooperation while voicing the hope that Portugal will work together with China to inject more positive energy into the development of China-EU ties.

Zhao, chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, met with Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro, and held talks with Portuguese Parliament Speaker Jose Pedro Aguiar-Branco during the three-day visit.

When meeting with Rebelo de Sousa, Zhao conveyed to him the cordial greetings and best wishes from Chinese President Xi Jinping. Zhao said that in recent years, under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, the China-Portugal comprehensive strategic partnership has been deepening and making solid progress, featuring steady progress in Belt and Road cooperation, as well as rich cultural and people-to-people exchanges.

China appreciates Portugal's long adherence to the one-China principle and is willing to engage with Portugal based on mutual respect and equality, strengthening their bonds as good friends who respect and trust each other, reliable partners for common development, and close companions in mutual learning between civilizations, Zhao said.

It is hoped that Portugal will continue to play an active role within the European Union (EU) and inject more positive energy into the development of China-EU relations, said Zhao.

For his part, Rebelo de Sousa asked Zhao to convey his heartfelt greetings to Xi, noting that Portugal and China are good friends with mutual understanding and affection.

Highlighting that this year marks the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries and the 25th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland of China, the Portuguese president said Portugal is willing to enhance high-level exchanges with China, deepen friendly exchanges and strengthen cooperation in such areas as trade, new energy, marine economy and digital economy.

Portugal firmly adheres to multilateralism and safeguards the role of the United Nations (UN) and the authority of international law. It is very important for Europe and China to strengthen dialogue, and Portugal is willing to play an active role in this regard, said Rebelo de Sousa.

When meeting with Montenegro, Zhao said that China has always viewed and developed ties with Portugal from a strategic and long-term perspective, and stands ready to work with Portugal to firmly support each other's core interests and major concerns, and to cement political mutual trust.

Zhao eyed closer cooperation in areas such as artificial intelligence, clean energy, technology innovation, personnel training, and culture and people-to-people exchanges, encouraging companies from the two countries to expand investment and cooperation.

Zhao said China will continue to advance collaboration with Portugal within the UN and other multilateral frameworks, strengthen communication on international issues such as free trade, global security and climate change, and promote closer multilateral coordination and healthy and stable development of China-Europe relations.

Montenegro noted that Portugal always adheres to the one-China principle and speaks highly of the practice of "one country, two systems" in the Macao Special Administrative Region.

Underscoring that China is an important economic partner for Portugal and his country attaches importance to attracting Chinese investments, the Portuguese prime minister expected more exchanges and cooperation with China in science and technology, marine economy, culture and sports.

Portugal supports the steady development of EU-China relations and is willing to strengthen cooperation with China on climate change within bilateral and multilateral frameworks, said Montenegro.

In his talks with Aguiar-Branco, Zhao said the National People's Congress of China stands ready to work with the Portuguese parliament to deepen friendly exchanges between the two high-level legislative bodies, special committees, legislators, and local legislative bodies and enhance exchanges of experience in legislation and supervision to provide legal guarantees for promoting bilateral cooperation across various areas and create a fair, just and non-discriminatory business environment.

Zhao also voiced his hope that the Portuguese lawmakers in the European Parliament will continue to support China-EU friendly cooperation.

In addition, Zhao said that in the past 25 years since Macao's return to China, the practice of "one country, two systems" has made remarkable achievements.

He added that the Chinese central government will continue to fully, faithfully and unswervingly implement the principle of "one country, two systems" under which the people of Macao administer Macao with a high degree of autonomy, and support Macao in better integrating into the national development.

China is willing to further consolidate cooperation with Portugal on the platform of Macao and score more cooperation results, said Zhao.

Aguiar-Branco said that the two countries adhere to mutual respect, openness and win-win cooperation, and have achieved positive results in cooperation in various fields. In the face of the complex international situation, Portugal hopes to strengthen communication and cooperation with China and jointly safeguard the UN Charter and multilateralism, he added.

The Portuguese parliament is willing to work with the National People's Congress of China to promote closer exchanges at various levels and make contributions as legislative bodies to cementing practical cooperation and friendship of the two peoples, said Aguiar-Branco.

Basalt samples returned by the Chang'e-6 mission have revealed volcanic events on the lunar far side at 2.8 billion years ago (Ga) and 4.2 Ga, according to a latest research conducted by Professor Li Qiuli's lab at the Institute of Geology and Geophysics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

"Unraveling the volcanic history of the lunar far side is crucial for understanding the hemispheric dichotomy of the Moon," Li told the Global Times.

The asymmetry between the Moon's near side and far side - encompassing differences in basalt distribution, topography, crustal thickness, and thorium (Th) concentration - has long been a mystery. However, China's Chang'e-6 mission - the first to return samples from the lunar far side - has created a unique opportunity to explore volcanic activity in this hemisphere, with the 1,935.3-gram lunar soil samples it retrieved.

Led by Li, postdoctoral researcher Zhang Qian conducted systematic radioisotope dating on 108 basalt fragments from the sample. Of these, 107 fragments revealed a consistent formation age of 2807 ± 3 million years ago (Ma), indicating the eruption age of local basalts at the Chang'e-6 landing site. Notably, this 2.8 Ga volcanic episode has not been observed in near side samples.

The remaining fragment, of high-aluminum basalt and dating to 4203 ± 4 Ma, is thought to have originated from a cryptomare region south of the landing site. It is the oldest lunar basalt sample yet returned whose age has been precisely determined.

These data indicate that volcanic activity on the lunar far side persisted for at least 1.4 billion years, from 4.2 Ga to 2.8 Ga. Initial lead isotope analysis suggests that these basalts derive from distinct mantle sources: The 4.2 Ga basalt came from a KREEP-rich source, i.e., one with abundant potassium (K), rare earth elements (REE), and phosphorous (P), while the 2.8 Ga basalt came from a KREEP-poor source.

The close alignment between the 2.8 Ga basalt age and crater-counting estimates suggests that the cratering chronology model, established based on near side observations, is also applicable to the lunar far side. The radioisotope ages of the Chang'e-6 basalts provide an essential calibration point for refining lunar crater-counting chronology, thus enhancing its accuracy, according to Li.

Li's team's work was published in Nature on Friday. The same day, another study on the Chang'e-6 samples conducted by a team led by Professor Xu Yigang from the Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, which found evidences that indicate existence of young magmatism on the lunar far side, was published in Science.

The samples returned by Chang'e-6, which was the far side South Pole-Aitken (SPA) Basin of the Moon, provide a best opportunity to investigate the lunar global dichotomy, Xu said.

Crustal thickness has been suggested as a key factor in accounting for asymmetry in the abundance of volcanism between the lunar near side and far side. However, this model has been questioned since the SPA Basin on the far side, which has an anomalously thin crust, appears deep and significantly underfilled by volcanism.

In the latest study, Xu's team also suggested that the composition of the mantle source is another important factor controlling the generation of lunar volcanic activity. "Although the SPA Basin has a thin crust, the depleted and refractory mantle source beneath the SPA basin hinders partial melting to a large degree," Xu said.

This work also provides an additional calibration point at 2.83 Ga for the lunar crater chronology and implies a constant impact flux after 2.83 Ga. This newly calibrated chronology model improves the age estimation tool based on crater statistics for both the Moon and other terrestrial bodies, and also has additional implications for the evolution of lunar impactors, potentially related with early planet migration in the early Solar System, according to Xu.

Q: It’s reported that China offered to host the 2026 APEC, which has received support from other APEC economies and endorsement at this year’s APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting. What’s your comment?

A: APEC is an important economic cooperation mechanism in the Asia-Pacific. To advance Asia-Pacific cooperation, China took the initiative to shoulder the responsibility by offering to host APEC in 2026, which is welcomed by APEC members and received their endorsement at this year’s APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting.

China attaches great importance to Asia-Pacific cooperation and hosted APEC twice in 2001 and 2014. In 2026, China will host APEC for the third time. China stands ready to enhance communication and cooperation with other parties on hosting APEC in 2026 to jointly implement the Putrajaya Vision 2040, advance the building of an Asia-Pacific community and the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific, deliver more results through practical cooperation and inject fresh impetus into the economic growth of the Asia-Pacific and beyond.

China's position on the Ukraine issue is consistent and clear, and an early ceasefire and pursuit of a political solution are in the interests of all parties. Promoting a de-escalation of the situation as soon as possible is the top priority, the Chinese Foreign Ministry stated on Monday, responding to media reports that the US, UK, and France have authorized Ukraine to use long-range weapons to target deep within Russian territory.

China consistently encourages and supports efforts aimed at peacefully resolving the crisis and remains committed to playing a constructive role in advancing a political solution to the Ukraine crisis through its own approach, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said during a routine press conference.

Biden administration has allowed Ukraine to use US-made weapons to strike deep into Russia, two US officials and a source familiar with the decision said on Sunday, in a significant reversal of Washington's policy in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Reuters reported.

France and Britain have allowed Ukraine to strike deep within Russian territory using their SCALP and Storm Shadow missiles. This decision was made following approval from the US, informs Le Figaro, RBC-Ukraine reported.

In response to a question related to Russia on Sunday launching a large-scale missile and drone attack on Ukraine's civilian energy infrastructure, using approximately 120 missiles and nearly 100 drones, and that power outages began across various regions of Ukraine, Lin emphasized on Monday that all parties should act responsibly to promote de-escalation, thereby creating favorable conditions for an early ceasefire and a political resolution of the crisis.

The 15th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition, or Airshow China 2024, kicked off in Zhuhai, South China's Guangdong Province, on Tuesday with a spectacular opening ceremony featuring unprecedented flight performances of three types of stealth fighter jets, namely the debut of China's newly unveiled J-35A, a group of J-20s and Russia's first-time visitor Su-57.

Ahead of the opening ceremony in the morning, people gathered at the exhibition site at Zhuhai Jinwan Airport, eagerly waiting the appearance of the J-35A. The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force announced a week earlier that the J-35A medium-sized multirole stealth fighter jet will debut at the airshow, and the aircraft had conducted adaptive trainings before the event.

The PLA Air Force's Bayi Aerobatic Team spearheaded the opening day's flight performance. After a series of spectacular maneuvers by the team's J-10 fighter jets, a group of J-20 stealth fighter jets put the opening ceremony to a first climax.

Four J-20s flew in a diamond formation, before breaking up to perform moves such as small radius turn, large attack angle ascending and close-range two-aircraft flyby, prompting waves of applause and wows from the crowd. Two of the J-20s landed in front of the audience for ground displays.

Closely following the J-20s' show, the long-anticipated J-35A appeared from the skyline. The new stealth fighter jet's debut was brief, as it performed only a few maneuvers like fast ascending, rolling, and turning before vanishing into the sky, leaving the audience to eager to see more.

Zhang Xuefeng, a Chinese military expert, told the Global Times at the airshow that while the J-35A's debut did not feature many aerobatic maneuvers, the debut itself is significant.

The appearance of the J-35A is very clean, meaning detailed work was done to boost its stealth capability, Zhang Xuefeng said, noting that the J-35A's radar stealth capability is one of the best in the world with new concepts, crafting techniques and materials reflecting Chinese designers' new understandings on aerial warfare.

The J-35A and the J-20 have made China the second country in the world after the US to have two types of stealth fighter jets in active service, Zhang Xuefeng said.

Chinese military expert Wei Dongxu told the Global Times at the airshow that the J-35A and the J-20 are a combination of a medium-sized fighter jet and a heavy fighter jet. They can become powerful partners and extend combat capabilities beyond the mere addition of two aircraft.

Compared with the heavy J-20, the medium-sized J-35A can better control cost and be produced in large numbers while maintaining high combat capabilities, winning the advantage in terms of numbers, Wei said.

The PLA Air Force's J-16 fighter jet, YU-20 tanker aircraft, JL-10 advanced trainer jet and the Red Falcon aerobatic team among other aircraft also delivered flight performances in the morning.

At noon, Russia's Su-57 stealth fighter jet, another highly anticipated item, soared through the air. It is the first time the Su-57 has visited China.

Piloted by Sergey Bogdan, the Su-57 made thrilling aerobatic maneuvers including the falling leaf and Pugachev's Cobra, demonstrating the aircraft's super-maneuverability, which impressed the crowd.

Fu Qianshao, another Chinese military expert, told the Global Times that this year's Airshow China has set a record: three stealth fighter jets delivering flight performances on a same stage.

Russia has sent its best fighter jet to China, which is a reflection of the two countries' high level military cooperation, Fu said.

Following the Su-57, the Russian Knights marked their return to Airshow China after an eight-year absence, flying with Su-35S and Su-30SM heavy fighter jets and bringing thrilling performances.

Navy sensations

In previous editions of Airshow China in recent years, the most attractive flight performances were usually arranged before noon, particularly the debuts of new aircraft. But this year, things were different.

The highlight in the afternoon was the PLA Navy's first participation in Airshow China, as its carrier-borne J-15 series aircraft and shipborne helicopters delivered flight performances.

A group of two J-15T fighters and a J-15D electronic warfare aircraft delivered flight performances including buddy refueling. This is the first time these two types of J-15 variants have been shown to the general public.

Zhang Junshe, a Chinese military expert, told the Global Times that the J-15T has reinforced front landing gear to become compatible with catapult launch systems. It also has longer detection range and can carry missiles with longer range.

The J-15D is a dedicated electronic warfare aircraft, a key component of an aircraft carrier air wing, and a significant addition to an aircraft carrier group's far seas combat capabilities, Zhang Junshe said. It is equipped with advanced electronic warfare systems with strong capabilities to disrupt and suppress electronically, he said.

The PLA Navy's Z-20J shipborne helicopter also performed in a group of naval helicopters, making its debut.

Zhang Junshe said the Z-20J is a main aviation equipment for the marines to conduct amphibious operations, as it can be equipped with air-to-ground missiles, rockets and guns to provide strong fire support against land targets while also playing multiple roles in aerial transport as well as search and rescue missions.

After performances by helicopters from the PLA Army, China's C919 and C909 airliners also performed at the show.

With these items, particularly the three types of stealth fighter jets, on display, Airshow China has virtually become the world's most attractive airshow, Fu said.

Foreign impressions

This year's airshow is the first edition after the COVID-19 pandemic, which to a certain extent affected the previous two editions of Airshow China particularly in terms of foreign involvement. Many foreign exhibitors and visitors were seen this year at the event, and some of them interviewed by the Global Times expressed their interests in what China has to offer at the airshow.

Miko Issa Ismael, a senior officer of the Niger Air Force, told the Global Times at the airshow on Tuesday that the Niger Air Force expected to buy some Chinese assets to enhance his country's security. He said that he had seen some Chinese fighter jets and transport aircraft, which he deemed very reliable.

A member of Saudi Arabia's delegation who asked for anonymity told the Global Times at the airshow that "we are here to build connections with our Chinese partners as well as exhibitors of other countries, to learn about the latest development in relevant areas, so that we can help our defense authorities to have more cooperation to boost our military industrial strength."

China’s Ministry of Public Security urged to maximize the resolution of contradictions and issues at the grassroots level, address them at the source, dynamically eliminate hidden dangers, and take strict precautions to prevent extreme incidents from occurring after a car ramming incident in Zhuhai, South China’s Guangdong Province. 

The ministry held an expanded meeting of its Party committee in Beijing on Wednesday to convey and study the important instruction made by Chinese President Xi Jinping on the incident, and discussed measures for implementation, according to the website of the Ministry of Public Security.  

The meeting emphasized the need to thoroughly study and implement the important instruction of President Xi, enhance political awareness, strengthen the sense of responsibility, improve the resolution of conflicts and disputes, reinforce risk prevention at the source, and strictly crack down on serious crimes in accordance with the laws, in a bid to fully ensure the safety of people's lives and safeguard social stability. 

The meeting noted that following the car ramming incident, President Xi attached great importance and made important instruction. He made clear requirements in calling for all-out efforts to treat the injured, severely punish the perpetrator, strengthen prevention of extreme case and control of risks at the source.

The meeting noted that thoroughly studying and understanding of these requirements and implement them into practical work.

The meeting emphasized that the car ramming incident at the sports center in Xiangzhou district resulted in severe casualties and was of an extremely egregious nature. The meeting called for a swift and thorough investigation of the case, comprehensive collection and preservation of evidence, and strict punishment of the perpetrator in accordance with the law. It also urged collaboration with relevant departments to provide proper medical treatment for the injured and to handle the aftermath appropriately.

The meeting stressed the need to draw deep lessons from the incident, take preventive measures, and adhere to and develop the "Fengqiao Experience" in the new era, focusing on prevention, prioritizing mediation, applying the rule of law, and resolving issues locally. Efforts should be made to meticulously address various types of conflicts and disputes, including those related to marriage and family, neighborhood disputes, and legal or litigation matters. The goal is to effectively resolve people's concerns and grievances, minimize contradictions and problems at the grassroots level, and address risks at their source, thereby dynamically eliminating hidden dangers and preventing extreme incidents.

Leveraging the integrated mechanism, the meeting called for tighter overall prevention and control of risks in society, especially enhancing patrols in crowded and key locations, to effectively increase police visibility, case-handling capability, deterrence, and control. It also recommended summarizing and promoting successful practices such as Zhejiang Province’s "Red Maple Volunteer Guard" and Beijing’s "Chaoyang Masses," and exploring new approaches and measures that combine specialized work with the mass line in the new context. This includes improving mechanisms for mobilizing public participation, strengthening community public security efforts, and building a "solid wall of steel" in public security work.

Italian President Sergio Mattarella arrived in Beijing on Thursday to start his state visit to China from November 7 to 12. The Summer Palace was the first destination Mattarella visited upon his arrival, China Central Television (CCTV) reported. 

The visit is expected to promote pragmatic cooperation between the two countries in various sectors in cultural and technological communications as well as people-to-people exchanges to facilitate the development of bilateral relations, Chinese experts said.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Italy, as well as the 700th anniversary of the death of Italian explorer Marco Polo, CCTV reported on Thursday.

This is Mattarella's second trip to China since February 2017, the report said.

In response to a question about Mattarella's state visit to China, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said during a routine press conference on Tuesday that China stands ready to work with Italy to further deepen political mutual trust, expand practical cooperation and cultural and people-to-people exchanges, promote mutual learning among civilizations, and provide more stability for a changing and turbulent world.

According to Italian media outlet Agenzia Nova, the Italian side "will visit the monumental complex China Millennium Monument that houses the World Art Museum" on Friday. Mattarella's schedule in Beijing also includes "laying a wreath at the Monument to the People's Heroes and meeting with the Italian community." 

The Italian President will also visit Hangzhou in East China's Zhejiang Province with itinerary there including watching a performance of the opera "Marco Polo" by the Benedetto Marcello Conservatory of Venice, and Guangzhou, the capital city of South China's Guangdong Province, will be the last stop of the visit, Agenzia Nova reported.

The Italian President's China visit is expected to promote pragmatic bilateral cooperation in several areas, such as high technology, culture and people-to-people exchanges, as well as educational communications, Zhao Junjie, a senior research fellow at the Institute of European Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Thursday.

Zhao noted that although there have been some twists and turns, overall, the China-Italy relationship remains stable. "Many high-tech companies in Italy have made great achievements through cooperation with China, and the cultural, tourism, and educational exchanges between Italy and China have consistently maintained substantial collaboration," Zhao said.

"There are people in the current Italian government who are relatively pragmatic and friendly toward China, represented by the Italian President, who is actively advocating for the advancement of China-Italy relations," Zhao said, noting that this visit may also be viewed as a reflection of the mainstream trend in Italian politics, which is favorable towards China.

According to the Xinhua News Agency, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni paid a visit to China in July, during which the two sides issued a 2024-2027 action plan on strengthening their comprehensive strategic partnership.

"It is hoped that the visit by the Italian President will yield more practical results," Zhao said.