Rock climbing has become a go-to stress reliever for many young people, and its inclusion in the 2024 Paris Olympics has further fueled its appeal. 

Chinese athlete Wu Peng's silver medal in the men's speed climbing event in Paris has sparked widespread interest, with his climbing videos attracting significant attention online. Many netizens expressed a newfound desire to try the sport themselves.

Puzzle-solving

Data from QianGua.com indicate that interactions related to rock climbing on Xiaohongshu, a Chinese lifestyle-sharing platform, reached 2.18 million posts in July 2024, and surged to 2.24 million from August 5 to August 11. 

Climbing gyms across China have seen an uptick in bookings, especially on weekends and after-work hours on weekdays. Hao, manager of Upper Climbing Gym in Shenzhen, told the Global Times that there's a significant increase in visitors, while Chen, manager of Benchmark Climbing Gym in Shanghai, reported a rise in young climbers.

In response to the growing number of people trying rock climbing, more climbing gyms are being established. The "2023 China Rock Climbing Industry Analysis Report" released by Chinese Mountaineering Association (CMA) shows that the number of gyms reached 636 in 2023, surpassing the US for the first time. Hao noted that despite the heavy investment required, gyms like Upper Climbing Gym are planning expansions to meet the demand.

Unlike other sports, rock climbing's puzzle-solving element captivates many climbers. For instance, in bouldering, a discipline of indoor climbing, the same route can be completed using different movements, at varying speeds and levels of energy expenditure. Finding the most efficient way to reach the top is like solving an optimization problem, providing a strong sense of accomplishment.

Leo, an avid rock climbing enthusiast, told the Global Times that this sense of accomplishment is what draws him to the sport. "I'm not someone who enjoys repetitive exercises. In climbing, the change of placement, angle, or shape of a few holds can dramatically alter the route's strategy. Figuring out how to tackle these new challenges is part of what I enjoy."

Jessica, a long-time rock climbing enthusiast who currently works in Hong Kong, told the Global Times that every climber needs to learn how to deal with their own bodies, with the first step being learning how to "fall safely." "For beginners, false falls are common, so finding the right coach or community is important," she said.

Here lies the philosophy of rock climbing - it taps into a person's instincts. Rocky, an intermediate climbing instructor from Shanghai University of Sport, explained: "It's like rediscovering childhood memories, finding a pure 'flow' while climbing." 

Climbing provides an exciting alternative to traditional gym workouts. It combines physical strength, flexibility, problem-solving ability, and mental focus, making it a holistic exercise.

Continued growth

Since making its Olympic debut at the 2020 Tokyo Games, sport climbing soon raised its profile globally and in China. The sport's inclusion in the Olympics has inspired many young Chinese to explore it as a competitive and recreational activity.

Rocky told the Global Times that sport climbing meets the emotional needs of urban professionals.

The popularity of sport climbing can be attributed to the influence of the Olympic Games, and the promotion on social media platforms such as Xiaohongshu. After a day of stressful work, office workers can find relief and excitement in climbing. The sport itself is very attractive and embodies a sense of freedom. The increasing number of climbing gyms and improved services have made it more accessible too, he said. 

In addition, the "people-friendly" atmosphere at climbing gyms contributes to a positive experience. Climbers typically focus on their own routes, and when they hit a difficult point, others in the rest area will encourage them by saying something on the lines like "Just reach out and you've got it."

Nisa, a freshman in rock climbing, told the Global Times that she's not particularly extroverted and doesn't actively seek climbing partners. 

"If I meet someone, great. If not, it's no big deal," she said, noting that the sport's somewhat introverted nature hasn't hindered the formation of a supportive community. 

"Climbing can be a solo activity or a shared one," Chen, the manager in Shanghai, said, adding that the sport accommodates different social preferences.

Climbing also helps some people meet people who share similar interests. Climbers develop a shared understanding with their own "codes" and "lingo." 

Jiang Yiyi, vice dean of the School of Leisure Sports and Tourism at Beijing Sport University, told the Global Times on Wednesday that as a trendy and youthful sport, rock climbing's popularity is expected to continue growing, and its industry chain is expanding rapidly despite certain challenges. 

One of the main hurdles is the technical skills required and the associated risks, which create a barrier to entry for newcomers. 

To address this, there is an ongoing effort to develop professional talent in the field, aiming to increase the number of skilled trainers in climbing institutions. This would not only promote the sport but also ensure its safe and sustainable growth, she noted. 

In the face of intense competition within the industry, Zhang Shanshan, founder of Beijing Aosen Beiding Sports Management Company, told the Xinhua News Agency that to succeed in this market, industry insiders must first be clearly positioned and focus on enhancing professionalism and service for the customer base. 

"The gym needs a diverse range of climbing routes. Professionals are in demand to continuously update the climbing routes in the facility so that each visit feels fresh and innovative," Zhang said.

Study tours have gained popularity in China in recent years as Chinese parents invest more in the well-rounded education of their children. But the industry encountered controversies this year due to reports of overly high cost and disappointing arrangements. Given expanding market and following chaos, more parents and experts are calling for rational choices to avoid being caught up by comparing mentality.

When visiting Tsinghua University on August 1, the Global Times reporter found that dozens of elementary school students dressed in graduation gowns were lining up at the front gate of the university, one of China's most internationally famous universities, to take pictures.

Inside the Tsinghua campus, teenage students were everywhere taking pictures, walking or bicycling among the buildings.

The scene echoed media reports and data from travel platforms, demonstrating that study tour, or educational tour, has become a main part of this summer's tourism market in China.

According to a report from Ctrip, a major Chinese online travel booking platform, orders of parent-child educational products for summer holidays via the platform increased by 70 percent year-on-year. Data from another travel platform Fliggy also showed that, after the summer holiday of Chinese schools kicked off in early July, the search popularity for "educational travel" on the platform has increased by over 60 percent compared to last year.

Historical and cultural cities are the first choice for parent-child educational trips in the summer, with Beijing and Xi'an topping the popularity list. Landmark scenic spots that have appeared in the textbooks of Chinese elementary and middle schools are favored by these groups, according to data from Tongcheng Travel.

Museums, nature and rural areas are also among the most popular destinations, people.cn reported citing Tongcheng Travel.

A notable trend in this year's educational tour market is the tour to some famous Chinese hi-tech companies like new-energy vehicle (NEV) maker NIO and artificial intelligence company iFlytek. Such tours could provide students an opportunity to get a direct and deep sight into companies and the process of scientific research and development, which will not only help popularize science, but inspire these students in career choice, according to experts.

Some parents send their children to educational tours as they need some people to take care of their children while ensuring their safety. "My son can travel with many peers of his age, and at the same time, he can learn something," a mother in Qingdao, East China's Shandong Province, told the Global Times.

Others choose education tours as they want their children to get a deeper understanding of their interests. A mother in Shenzhen calling herself Xi Xi told the Global Times that she once sent her son to a dragon boat educational tour and her son learned a lot about the history and culture of dragon boats. "This made me feel that educational tours are really helpful for my children," Xi Xi said.

According Xi Xi, she and her husband used to take their son on their own to go travel, driving to Xizang, walking through deserts and rain forests, in order to widen their son's horizon. But when it comes to knowledge, especially cultural and historical knowledge, she and her husband felt helpless as they did not how to teach their son. This is when they turned to educational tours.

This summer, Xi Xi sent her 8-year-old son to an educational tour to Beijing. According to her, there were professional guides in the tour to explain cultural and historical knowledge during the tour. "They also invite a professor from Peking University to deliver a speech at the opening ceremony of the tour."

The six-day-five-night tour in Beijing cost Xi Xi about 7,000 yuan ($981.8), excluding transportation cost. This package includes a visit to the Universal Beijing Resort. The package excludes the Universal Beijing Resort is 2,000 yuan cheaper.

The price of a standard day ticket to the Universal Beijing Resort is less than 500 yuan. The Global Times found on Tongcheng Travel that a normal six-day-five-night group tour, including visit to the National Museum, the Forbidden City and the Universal Resort, is priced 4,015 yuan.

For Xi Xi, the extra money for her son's educational tour is worth as it did play an educational role. "It is an independent tour. My son also learned how to take care of himself like washing clothes this time. So, overall, it met my expectations," Xi Xi said.

Some parents got disappointed when they found the tour was not as educational as they expected. According to media reports, some educational tours would only take students to the outside of Tsinghua University to take pictures as they, in fact, did not have official cooperation with the university and were not able to take so many students into the campus all at once. Tsinghua requires real-name reservation for entry and only opens 12,000 reservation vacancies per day for the public from July 15 to August 11.

The Global Times learned from some Tsinghua students that some education tour organizers have tried to find Tsinghua students to help them take tour attendants into the campus. Tsinghua students would get punished once being found doing so.

The quality of some so-called professional teachers in educational tours organized by tour agencies are also questionable as media revealed that the certificate for a professional educational tour guide can be bought at about 1,000 yuan.

Chaos arose along with the rapid expansion of the market.

According to media reports, there were more than 29,000 existing educational tour-related enterprises in China in 2023, with 49.4 percent of them established within the past 1 to 5 years. a Report of market consultancy iiMedia Research said that educational tour market has reached 146.9 billion yuan in 2023, and is expected to reach 242.2 billion yuan by 2026.

More and more Chinese schools and other educational bases like museums are also organizing educational campuses as, in December 2016, Chinese authorities issued guidelines to encourage educational tour activities in the county as a bid to promote well-rounded education of Chinese students.

Educational travel itself is a new way of learning, an important component of quality education, and complementary to school learning. It can help students to develop potential in various aspects, Chu Zhaohui, a research fellow at the National Institute of Education Sciences, told the Global Times.

Chu suggests parents choose educational tour based on children's interests rather thanfollowing other parents, avoiding getting trapped by unnecessary anxiety caused by comparing mentality.

"Parents need to choose educational trips that suit children's interests and hobbies, as well as the growth goals you want your children to achieve. After making a choice, parents and children also need to prepare for safety, travel knowledge, and so on. For parents, don't just follow the trend, but consult your children's opinions at first," Chu noted.

Experts also stressed that educational tours should focus on providing high-quality and enriching experiences for participants. This can be achieved through collaboration with reputable institutions and the implementation of strict regulations to ensure the safety and educational value of these tours.

By emphasizing the importance of education and cultural exchange, these tours can have a lasting impact on individuals and contribute to the overall development of society in a long run, they said.

China's economy continued its steady upward trend in August, with the output of industrial enterprises above the designated size up by 4.5 percent year-on-year, and retail sales rising by 2.1 percent year-on-year, according to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Saturday.

Liu Aihua, spokesperson and chief economist of the NBS, told a press conference on Saturday that a range of economic indicators showed a steady expansion trajectory despite the impact of internal natural disasters and external uncertainties. She also highlighted the government's policy support and high-quality development strategy that provide foundation for growth.

In August alone, the value-added industrial output saw a 4.5 percent year-on-year growth, 0.32 percent up from the previous month level. For the first eight months, value-added industrial output rose by 5.8 percent year-on-year.

The growth of industrial output was led with equipment manufacturing and high-tech manufacturing sectors. In specific, the output volume of new-energy vehicles in August increased by 30.5 percent year-on-year, service robots increased by 20.1 percent and the integrated circuit products increased by 17.8 percent.

In the first eight months this year, fixed asset investment reached 32.94 trillion yuan, up 3.4 percent year-on-year, NBS data showed.

She noted that the issuance of the ultra-long treasury bonds and special government bonds will ensure the steady growth of nation's investment into the future.
The retail sales in August rose 2.1 percent year-on-year. From January to August this year, the nation's retail sales totaled 31.25 trillion yuan, up 3.4 percent year-on-year, indicating the great potential of China's super large-scale market.

Looking ahead, Liu stated that the foundation for consumption recovery will be further strengthened through the promotion of ongoing trade-in schemes and other consumption stimulation policies.

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.

Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Friday by phone at the latter's request, during which Xi said that China and Britain should remain firm as partners, strengthen dialogue and cooperation, and benefit the two countries and the world through a stable and mutually beneficial China-Britain relationship.

The phone conversation is the first of its kind between Xi and Starmer since  Starmer succeeded in leading the Labour Party to a decisive victory in the UK general election and was appointed prime minister on July 5. On July 7, Chinese Premier Li Qiang sent a congratulatory message to Starmer on assuming the position.

During his phone talks, Xi congratulated Starmer on assuming office as British prime minister.

Xi noted that the current international situation is volatile and intertwined, and he said that China and Britain, both permanent members of the UN Security Council and major economies in the world, should view bilateral relations from a long-term and strategic perspective, remain firm as partners, strengthen dialogue and cooperation, and benefit the two countries and the world through a stable and mutually beneficial China-Britain relationship.

China is committed to advancing the building of a strong country and national rejuvenation on all fronts via Chinese modernization, and sticking to the path of peaceful development, Xi said, expressing his hope that Britain can view China in an objective and rational way.

China stands ready to engage in equal dialogue with Britain on the basis of mutual respect, enhance mutual understanding and mutual trust, strengthen synergy of development strategies with Britain, expand cooperation in such fields as finance, green economy and artificial intelligence as well as deepen people-to-people exchanges, to make mutual benefit and win-win the main tone of China-Britain relations, Xi said.

Starmer congratulated the Chinese sports delegation on their outstanding performance at the Paris Olympics and said that developing closer UK-China cooperation aligns with the long-term interests of both sides. Strengthening cooperation in trade, finance, education, clean energy, and healthcare would benefit each country's development and jointly address global challenges such as climate change. 

The UK hopes to enhance contact and dialogue at all levels and in all areas with China, aiming for positive results in practical cooperation and institutional exchanges, and to develop a long-term, stable, and strategically significant UK-China relationship based on mutual respect, said Starmer. 

This phone call on Friday is seen as meaningful for both countries, as China-UK relations had previously been strained for a while, Cui Hongjian, a professor from the Academy of Regional and Global Governance with Beijing Foreign Studies University, told the Global Times. 

Cui noted that the Labour Party's push for phone communication between the leaders is aimed at distinguishing itself from the Conservative Party. Since coming to power, the Labour Party has faced various challenges and is seeking to make a breakthrough in diplomacy, aiming to reactivate China-UK relations and restore them to a normal and healthy state through dialogue and interaction.

However, whether it can rejuvenate bilateral ties depends on the British side, as the current issues in China-UK relations largely stem from the UK. The British government needs to show sincerity and take concrete actions to improve relations, analysts said. 

The Labour Party faces significant pressure from the UK media, Parliament, and think tanks, which maintained a critical stance toward China. Additionally, reduced communication under the previous Conservative government posed challenges, said Cui. 

"We hope the Labour Party will move beyond mere gestures and develop concrete plans to restore bilateral relations responsibly. Both sides should implement the leaders' consensus, build mutual trust, and improve ties step by step," said the expert. 

China's delegation for the Paris Olympic Games arrived in the French capital on Monday evening.

Headed by Gao Zhidan, director of China's General Administration of Sport, a team of Chinese Olympic Committee officials landed at Paris's Charles de Gaulle Airport.

China will be represented by 405 athletes in 236 events across 30 sports at the July 26-August 11 Olympics.

Athletes in table tennis, badminton, swimming and women's volleyball have already arrived in Paris, according to Gao.

China finished second behind the United States in the medals table at Tokyo 2020 with 38 golds, 32 silvers and 19 bronzes.

Top diplomats from Quad countries held talks on Monday in Tokyo, expressing so-called concerns about the situation in the East and South China Seas and vowing to uphold so-called maritime order in the "Indo-Pacific region," which analysts viewed as another attempt targeting China's growth, with a bloc-confrontation mentality.

The analysts noted that hyping up the "China-threat" rhetoric is a typical US way of inciting security anxiety, so as to make some regional countries rely more on the US-led bloc. However, most countries know that making China a target of confrontation may largely suit the needs of Washington's elites, but not their own.

According to the Japanese foreign ministry, the Quad (the US, Japan, Australia and India) foreign ministers have reaffirmed commitment toward the realization of a "free and open Indo-Pacific." In a joint statement released after the meeting, ministers emphasized the importance of adherence to international law for the rules-based maritime order, including in the East and South China Seas. They also reaffirmed "strong opposition to any unilateral actions that seek to change the status quo by force or coercion."

"We continue to express our serious concern about the militarization of disputed features, and coercive and intimidating maneuvers in the South China Sea," read the joint statement, "We also express our serious concern about the dangerous use of coast guard and maritime militia vessels, the increasing use of various kinds of dangerous maneuvers, and efforts to disrupt other countries' offshore resource exploitation activities."

Although China has not been directly singled out in the statement, analysts believe their implication for China is quite obvious.

In terms of the South China Sea disputes, the statement said that foreign ministers emphasized the importance of "maintaining and upholding freedom of navigation and overflight, and reiterate that the award rendered by the Arbitral Tribunal on July 12, 2016 "is the basis for peacefully resolving disputes between the parties." China has previously declared that the award is "null and void and has no binding force," due to its fallacies and unfairness.

Besides, foreign ministers also discussed the promotion of cooperation on maritime security, critical and emerging technologies, cybersecurity, and counter-terrorism. They also discussed the Korean Peninsula situation, the Ukraine crisis and the Middle East situation, according to the joint statement.

In response to the Quad meeting, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said at a Monday press briefing that the Quad keeps chanting the slogan of a free and open Indo-Pacific, and all the while, it has been scaremongering, inciting antagonism and confrontation, and holding back other countries' development.

He said the Quad "runs counter to the overwhelming trend of pursuing peace, development, cooperation, and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific and will by no means gain any support." He described some external forces as "the biggest threat and challenge to regional peace and stability."

Quad is a US-led mechanism, and its joint statement shows that the US is attempting to bolster the bloc's build-up by hyping "China threat" rhetoric and inciting security anxiety in the region, so as to make some regional countries rely more on the US-led bloc in terms of security, Li Haidong, a professor at the China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times.

Quad is a currently more about a partnership, but not yet an alliance. The latest statement suggests that the US is likely to further manipulate other parties with more coordinated actions, to enable Quad to evolve in the direction of a true alliance, Li said.

This means that the quad is likely to become a major source of creating antagonism and confrontation in the Asia-Pacific region, Li said.

Quad foreign ministers' meeting came after a US-Japan 2+2 security talks on Sunday, when they portrayed China as "the greatest strategic challenge" facing in the region. They agreed on upgrading the command and control of US forces and strengthening American-licensed missile production there, according to AP.

Earlier on Sunday, defense chiefs from the US, Japan and South Korea held a trilateral meeting in Tokyo, they vowed to strengthen cooperation to deter "nuclear and missile threats" from North Korea and formalized a trilateral agreement that would "institutionalize" security cooperation among their defense authorities, including senior-level policy consultations, information sharing, trilateral exercises, and defense exchange cooperation, according to CNN.

Strange bedfellows

Before the Quad meeting, Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar also met with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Sunday on bilateral ties and regional and global issues. In terms of the Quad meeting, Western media commented that any criticism of Moscow by the bloc could be "awkward for India," whose Prime Minister Narendra Modi has just met with Vladimir Putin this month and displayed close ties.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang visited Australia in June and attended the ninth China-Australia Annual Leaders' Meeting with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who said that Australia is pleased to see that current Australia-China relations are stabilizing and improving.

About a week ahead of the Quad meeting, from July 21 to 25, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu held the 16th round of China-Japan strategic dialogue with Japanese Vice Foreign Minister Masataka Okano in Tokyo, and held the 10th round of the high-level strategic dialogue between the foreign ministries of China and South Korea with South Korean Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Kim Hong-kyun in Seoul, according to Xinhua News Agency.

"Those interactions are examples that can explain why the Quad joint statement did not name China directly, but dealt with the related issues in an obscure way," a Beijing-based expert told the Global Times on Monday, requesting anonymity.

"The Quad is divided over its handling of relations with China and many other issues … It is a relatively loose mechanism for strange bedfellows," he added.

The US can't get India to break off ties with Russia and fully embrace the US, while Japan and Australia have close ties in trade and people-to-people exchanges with China, and they can't afford to become vassals of the US at the expense of their own strategic interests, the expert noted.

Making China a target of confrontation may largely suit the needs of Washington's elites, but it isn't in line with the interest of the vast majority, he said.

Following the Quad foreign ministers meeting in Tokyo, Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin are expected to travel to Manila, where they will meet with their Philippine counterparts for a US-Philippines 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue.

The Japan and Philippine trip are part of Blinken's 18th trip to "Indo-Pacific" region since becoming Secretary, according to the US Department of State. And the trip, covering Laos, Vietnam, Japan, the Philippines, Singapore, and Mongolia, lasts from July 25 to August 3.

Blinken's Asia trip is shadowed by the domestic political chaos in the US, including US President Joe Biden's withdrawal from the Presidential election.

Different candidates in the US have conflicting ideas on how to treat allies, which brings great uncertainty to the future foreign policy of the US, and that inevitably make many countries, including Asia-Pacific nations, doubt and even be wary of the credibility and consistency of the US policy, Li said.

"Blinken's trip served a strong purpose of reassurance, mainly to convince allies that US policy in the Asia-Pacific region and its security policy toward allied partners would not change because of domestic chaos," Li said. "At the same time, the US is conveying to allies that they need to continue to follow its lead in strategic competition with China and Russia."

"In fact, the US move is an attempt to consolidate its own hegemony at the expense of regional security, stability and prosperity, and even the interests of its allies themselves," said Li. "This means that in the long run, the US may not achieve its goals."