URUMQI, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- In a 66.7-hectare demonstration cotton field in Changji, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, the average seed cotton yield reached a record high of 9 tonnes per hectare this year.

This would be a strong harvest in any year. It is even more striking as Xinjiang just experienced the hottest summer since 1961. In northern Xinjiang, cotton fields endured 26 days of sustained high temperatures during the critical flowering and boll-setting stage, conditions that would normally cause a plunge in output.

Statistics from the China Cotton Association (CCA) put China's cotton planting area in 2026 at 43.054 million mu (about 2.87 million hectares), down 3.9 percent, with an estimated yield of 166.2 kilograms per mu, up 0.5 percent. Meanwhile, Xinjiang's cotton yield is expected to reach 173.8 kilograms per mu, higher than the national average. The region's total output is estimated to account for 95.9 percent of the national total, further consolidating Xinjiang's role as the "ballast" of China's cotton production.

How has the Xinjiang cotton industry maintained stable, high output despite the combined pressure of extreme weather, persistent "forced labor" disinformation and external sanctions? Xinhua reporters recently visited cotton fields, factory floors and an industry forum to explore what makes the local cotton industry so resilient.

SMART COTTON FIELDS

Song Meizhen, chief scientist of the high-quality cotton team at the western agricultural research center of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, said the prolonged heat during this year's flowering and boll-setting stage created enormous stress. However, on-site yield measurement by an expert group showed the demonstration field surpassed 600 kilograms per mu, thanks to an integrated technology model combining good seeds, appropriate methods and suitable machinery.

The demonstration field is part of a smart cotton field jointly built by the Changji National Agricultural High-tech Industry Demonstration Zone and the research center, where weather stations, soil moisture sensors, inspection robots and drones form an integrated air-space-ground monitoring network.

The cotton varieties selected were high-quality, high-yield and multi-resistant lines such as Zhongmian 113. Sensors, notably, collected field data around the clock to enable precise water and fertilizer regulation.

Especially in June, July and August, when temperatures exceeded 35 degrees Celsius for nearly 30 days, the intelligent water-fertilizer integrated control system switched irrigation to low-volume, high-frequency water supply, reducing bud and boll shedding caused by heat and drought, Song said.

The flowering and boll-setting stage is critical for yield formation: high temperatures can disrupt pollination and cause shedding. In this smart cotton field, however, experience-based farming has been turned into data-based farming, allowing more timely and targeted responses to mitigate possible negative impacts.

This year, building on a green and intelligent cotton cultivation system developed over the past two years, the field further integrated cotton data with a production decision-making model, introduced plant-protection robots, and applied Internet of Things to deliver water and fertilizer. As a result, fertilizer use efficiency rose by 20 to 30 percent, while water consumption dropped by more than 30 percent.

Li Guozhao, a veteran cotton farmer, recalled that 36 years ago, he planted 15 mu of cotton. At that time, he cut cotton stalks by hand, irrigated the land by flooding, topped plants manually and hired pickers. By season's end, his hands were often covered with blood blisters.

Today, his 350 mu of cotton requires only two hired workers. Drone-based plant protection and machine picking cost as low as 160 yuan (about 23.83 U.S. dollars) to 180 yuan per mu. His next step is to install smart valves for irrigation, so he can water the fields via a tap on his phone.

The United States' so-called "Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act" took effect in 2022, and has since disrupted Xinjiang cotton exports to the U.S. market. "But the U.S. sanctions have had no impact on me," Li said.

In Xinjiang, the traditional hoe known locally as a khetman has long been replaced by Beidou satellite navigation, just as hand-picking cotton has made way for machine harvesting, leaving no ground for the "forced labor" narrative.

Across Xinjiang, a "super cotton field" project featuring extremely high unmanned operation rates in management had been extended to over 2 million mu by the end of 2025.

At present, the comprehensive mechanization rate for cotton cultivation and harvesting in Xinjiang has reached 97 percent, with machine-picking accounting for over 90 percent.

FULL-INDUSTRIAL-CHAIN STRENGTH

Resilience does not only grow in the fields. It extends into factory workshops.

Xinjiang is promoting local processing of the entire chain from planting, ginning and spinning to weaving, dyeing and garment-making. In 2025, the share of cotton processed locally reached 45 percent. During the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030), the region plans to continue developing industries of high-count combed yarn, home textiles and technical textiles.

In southern Xinjiang, Aksu and Bayingolin have laid out million-spindle intelligent spinning bases, while Kashgar and Hotan are taking on apparel and home-textile manufacturing. Dyeing and finishing operations are being concentrated in industrial parks for low-carbon upgrades.

In digital factories, intelligent cotton blending, automated transfer and real-time management systems are already online.

On April 10, an express train loaded with 1,118 tonnes of cotton departed from Bachu Station in Xinjiang for Zibo in east China's Shandong Province, which is 4,600 kilometers away. The entire lifespan of each cotton bale, from field picking and factory processing to rail transport, was recorded by Internet of Things systems. A receiving company can scan a code to see which Xinjiang cotton field the bale came from, which production line it passed through, and what temperature and humidity changes it experienced on the train.

Xinjiang, as China's "cotton granary," has continued to improve cotton output and quality in recent years and consolidate its advantage in large-scale farming, said Liang Yong, a national political advisor and director of the Xinjiang cotton industry development leading group office.

At the 2026 Xinjiang Cotton and Yarn Industry Development Forum held on Sept. 9, Liang noted that the region's textile and apparel industry has risen markedly in the national industrial landscape, with segments such as yarn, grey fabric and chemical fiber accelerating into the front ranks.

Originally aimed at blocking Xinjiang cotton from the U.S. market, sanctions have instead sped up the creation of a self-sufficient green manufacturing system. Sustainable cotton standards, low-carbon accounting and better quality for better prices are gradually taking hold. As experts at the forum noted, the more integrated the industrial chain becomes, the weaker the impact from any single-point blockade.

False narratives can be repeated and sanctions can be escalated, but truth will prevail, as the thriving cotton industry in Xinjiang attests. Here, season after season of high yields have shown that what sanctions cannot touch is an agricultural system successfully integrating technology, land, people and the industrial chain.

Earlier this week, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced that it had added three Chinese entities to the so-called "Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act Entity List," which China strongly condemns and firmly opposes.

The U.S. measures have no factual basis, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Commerce said, accusing the U.S. side of persistently manipulating human rights issues to pursue unilateral protectionism and bullying under the guise of human rights protection.

In an earlier statement, the CCA said the true intent behind such a move is to politicize and weaponize human rights issues in an attempt to contain the development of China's cotton and textile industries, while such actions will also undermine the stability of global cotton industrial chains.

China's cotton industry has the confidence and capabilities to overcome challenges posed by external pressure, it said, noting that China has the world's most complete cotton and textile industrial chains, a vast domestic consumer market, and an increasingly diversified international market layout.

HANGZHOU, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Amid the ongoing urban renewal drive in China, residents in an east China neighborhood have spearheaded a new model by raising funds for rebuilding their dilapidated residential block.

Unlike the government-led model that typically offers residents new apartments and cash compensation, this project saw its 548 homeowner households raise 499 million yuan (about 74.32 million U.S. dollars), more than 80 percent of the reconstruction bill, with the government covering the rest.

The compound with 13 previously run-down buildings, known as Zhegong Xincun, sits in the downtown Gongshu District of Hangzhou, capital of the affluent Zhejiang Province. These six-story walk-ups were transformed into seven mid-rise buildings, surrounded by green spaces and shared facilities, in February last year.

Hangzhou was an early adopter of this approach. It is among initiatives piloted across Chinese cities, from Harbin in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province to Shenzhen in south China's Guangdong Province, to avoid large-scale land acquisition and heavy investment from developers.

Such pilot projects address long-standing hurdles for urban regeneration in China. Small scattered plots often deliver slim returns for commercial developers, and matching residents' compensation expectations has frequently stalled renewal plans, said Wu Songtao, professor at the School of Architecture and Design of Harbin Institute of Technology.

According to a State Council executive meeting held in May, China is shifting from the stage of large-scale incremental expansion to a stage focused on improving the quality and efficiency of existing urban stock.

"Instead of large-scale demolition, the goal now is to revitalize existing buildings, factories, neighborhoods and public spaces," said Zheng Degao, vice president of the China Academy of Urban Planning and Design.

Zheng added that all beneficiaries, namely government, businesses and property owners alike, should share both the costs and the benefits.

But translating this vision into practice was no easy task. Renewing old neighborhoods involves many interests and is prone to disputes, said Li Yin, an official with Gongshu District.

Previous attempts to renew Zhegong Xincun all failed due to residents seeing only limited benefits and strains on public finances.

Built in the 1980s and 1990s as faculty housing for Zhejiang University of Technology, the compound sits in a prime location in central Hangzhou, surrounded by shopping areas, metro stations and a large hospital.

However, over the years, safety hazards mounted. Stiff windows were difficult to close, and building settlement warped door frames and locks, sometimes forcing residents to climb over walls to enter their homes.

"The plaster crumbled at the slightest touch. We lived in fear every day," said a resident surnamed Yu.

The university once carried out reinforcement work, but the effect was limited. Because the buildings continued to tilt and crack due to ongoing building settlement, such measures offered only temporary relief.

A previous housing-relocation plan failed to win broad support. According to residents, a 2014 survey on demolition and reconstruction, and another attempt in 2018, both came to nothing.

"The old idea was that the government should cover everything, from relocation to renovation," one resident said. "But as previous plans kept falling through, we realized we had to do it ourselves."

The turning point came in April 2023, when the subdistrict community office reached out to residents for their opinions on starting a resident-led renewal project.

With support from local policies on renovating old urban neighborhoods, Gongshu District developed and adopted a resident-led renewal model for the compound. The initial stage of the renewal project was launched in mid-2022. The district set up a special task force to coordinate departments, study relevant policies and win public support via explanations.

Local officials said that the harder part was reaching a consensus. "The core of the entire project lies in community engagement, shifting residents' mindset from being asked to renovate to wanting to renovate," Li said.

A voluntary committee of 13 representatives was formed. After consulting all households, it submitted an application and entrusted local authorities to coordinate and initiate the renewal.

By late August 2023, all but one of the compound's 548 homeowner households had signed agreements, bringing the signing rate to 99.82 percent, thus paving the way for the renewal plan to move forward.

In May 2024, the last household came forward to sign before delivery. "This last resident later told me, 'I watched for a long time, and I could see the project is fair,'" Li said.

Yu calculated that her original 76-square-meter apartment, plus an additional 19 square meters and a parking space, brought her total payment to nearly 980,000 yuan.

"I originally bought the apartment for 1.51 million yuan. Even with this expense, my total cost remains below the market price, and I have more living space. I am also a beneficiary," she said.

The project, though, has benefited from the community's demographics. Experts noted that although Zhegong Xincun is an aging community, its residents, mostly Zhejiang University of Technology faculty members and their families, are relatively better off, a factor that helped the project move forward.

When the project was launched, the community also had a large elderly population, with 208 residents aged 80 or above and 36 aged 90 or above. Some feared a long construction period might keep them from returning, while others with children overseas faced the daunting task of relocating alone.

To address these concerns, the working group provided comprehensive support. Ambulances were arranged to escort several residents over 90 on the moving day. Transitional housing was secured and rented to elderly residents, refurbished with age-friendly features such as shower seats and toilet grab bars.

The compound was handed over last year, with about 70 percent of households having moved in, and they have begun renovating their new homes.

The approach of Zhegong Xincun aligns with China's grand roadmap to advance urban renewal as the country endeavors to create safer, greener and more comfortable cities, while fostering new growth momentum.

Under the urban renewal plan during the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030), China aims to renovate 500,000 units of dilapidated urban housing and 115,000 old urban residential communities. It supports resident-led renewal and on-site demolition and reconstruction of old housing, while exploring sustainable operation models.

"This resident-led renewal model has opened a new path for urban renewal in China," said Xu Lin, a professor at Zhejiang University, noting that as China's urbanization enters a new phase, cities are no longer expanding through large-scale demolition and construction, but focusing on improving living conditions for residents.

"At the end of the day, it's about giving people a better life," said Xu.

BEIJING, Oct. 30 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping met with President of the Swiss Confederation Guy Parmelin in Beijing on Friday, calling on both countries to inject confidence and more certainty into China-Europe economic and trade cooperation as well as into the global economic development.

Noting Switzerland is an important partner of China in Europe, Xi said Swiss cooperation with China has always been at the forefront among European countries. He added that free trade cooperation has become the brightest highlight of China-Switzerland relations, which fully demonstrates the political courage and responsibility of the two countries in adhering to open cooperation, and highlights the unique leading role of both sides in promoting the building of an open world economy.

China is willing to work with Switzerland to uphold openness, strengthen cooperation, promote a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, and jointly inject confidence and more certainty into the economic and trade cooperation between China and European countries, as well as into the global economic development, Xi said.

After their meeting, the two leaders witnessed the signing of a protocol on upgrading free trade agreement and multiple cooperation documents in areas such as scientific research, employment and the media.

BEIJING, Oct. 30 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Friday expressed confidence in win-win cooperation and common development between China and Germany during a meeting with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

Lauding the flourishing cooperation between the two countries, Li said an important piece of experience is that both sides have adhered to mutual respect, sought common ground while shelving differences, focused on cooperation, and pursued mutual benefit and win-win results.

"At a time when unilateralism and protectionism are on the rise, China and Germany should shoulder greater responsibility, firmly safeguard free trade, promote openness and cooperation, and push for new progress in the all-round strategic partnership between the two countries," Li said.

China is ready to work with Germany to make good use of dialogue mechanisms such as intergovernmental consultations, leverage their respective strengths, and expand cooperation in areas like automobiles, chemicals, artificial intelligence, and digital and green development, Li noted.

He said China is willing to import more quality products from Germany and welcomes German companies to actively explore the Chinese market, adding that China supports more Chinese companies in investing in Germany and hopes that Germany will provide a fair, stable and predictable business environment for them.

China is ready to expand two-way personnel exchanges with Germany and deepen ties in areas including culture, education, youth, sports and subnational cooperation, he said.

He called on Germany, an important member of the EU, to play a constructive role in the development of China-EU relations.

Steinmeier said Germany and China have long enjoyed a sound partnership, while their economic and trade cooperation has been successful and mutually beneficial.

He said cooperation between German and Chinese companies not only benefits both countries, but is also of vital importance to the world.

Germany will deepen cooperation with China in the spirit of respect, trust and mutual benefit, support enterprises of the two countries in learning from each other for shared success, and continue to properly address differences through dialogue, Steinmeier added.

BEIJING, Oct. 30 (Xinhua) -- Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, stressed the need to persevere with full and rigorous Party self-governance to ensure that the CPC remains the strong leadership core in advancing socialism with Chinese characteristics.

Xi made the remarks at a symposium on Aug. 21 to solicit opinions from non-Party personages on drafting the resolution of the CPC Central Committee on certain major issues concerning persevering with full and rigorous Party self-governance.

The resolution was adopted at the fifth plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the CPC, which concluded on Thursday in Beijing.

A major Chinese commercial space venture plans to conduct the debut flight of its first reusable spacecraft model in early 2027, according to a senior project leader.

CAS Space, which is incubated by the Chinese Academy of Sciences, is independently developing the Lihong 2, which measures about 18 meters in length, has a diameter of 3.35 meters, consists of a booster rocket and a payload module, and has a liftoff weight of roughly 60 metric tons.

Wang Yingcheng, a senior spacecraft researcher and executive vice-president of CAS Space Frontier Labs in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, told China Daily in an exclusive interview that the design work of the reusable spacecraft has been completed and ground tests of the prototype are progressing smoothly.

"To date, wind tunnel tests for the payload module and the booster rocket, as well as propellant retention tests, have been completed. Intensive engine hot-fire tests and captive carry tests are currently underway," Wang said.

"We plan to carry out the debut flight in the first quarter of 2027 to verify whether the spacecraft can return from an altitude of about 100 kilometers and land safely on the ground. During the flight, it will carry various types of payloads, such as space medicines and intelligent robots, to conduct in-space experiments and tests," he added.

Demarcated at an altitude of about 100 km, the Karman Line is the boundary internationally recognized to separate Earth's atmosphere and the edge of outer space.

Wang said the Lihong 2 has a design capacity of carrying at least 3 tons of payloads, or up to seven passengers, during each flight.

The spacecraft's booster rocket is equipped with three self-developed 30-ton-class Liqing 1 engines propelled by liquid oxygen and kerosene, and it also features vertical landing capability, which is critical to reusability.

"The vehicle will serve as a verification platform for major rocket recovery and reuse technologies as well as a microgravity experiment platform," Wang said.

"The 100-km recovery test will help us verify designs for multiple restarts and thrust modulation of rocket engines, propellant management, navigation, guidance and landing control. The designs and the experience will be used on the reusable variant of our Kinetica 2 rocket model," he said.

Wang highlighted that the Lihong 2 can support in-space manufacturing operations, and that capability can inject momentum into the long-term development of a wide range of industries.

"Space-based manufacturing is a breeding ground for disruptive scientific and technological innovations, and also a critical high-value link for the commercial space sector to advance from 'space transportation' to 'space utilization'," he said.

For example, special drug crystals formed in space could serve as trailblazers for biomedical innovation; crop breeding in space could develop new varieties for ecological agriculture; and the deployment of intelligent robots in space could pave the way for "space factories", he said.

CAS Space is also conducting research and development related to its Lihong 3 reusable spacecraft, Wang said.

Designed for long-duration in-orbit scientific experiments and space-based manufacturing tasks, the Lihong 3 can provide a microgravity environment for up to one year for at least 300 kilograms of payloads meant for in-space manufacturing, he said, adding that its debut flight and in-orbit verification are scheduled for 2028.

According to a report released in May by United States-based consulting company Future Market Insights, the global market for in-space manufacturing was valued at around $6.3 billion in 2025, and the figure is projected to reach $46.8 billion by 2036.

The sector will register a compound annual growth rate as high as 20 percent over the decade, demonstrating robust industrial growth momentum, the report said.

China's efforts to integrate health into its national poverty alleviation strategy offer important lessons for tackling extreme poverty worldwide, highlighting the need to prioritize health, coordinate government action and expand primary healthcare coverage, according to a report released on Thursday by the Lancet Commission.

The report examines China's health-centered poverty alleviation initiative, which received a cumulative investment of 1.4 trillion yuan ($215.6 billion) between 2015 and 2020, as the country pursued its goal of eradicating extreme poverty by 2020.

The initiative combined efforts in healthcare, water, sanitation, housing, nutrition and education — areas closely linked to poverty and health disparities — within a coordinated, multisectoral framework, the report said at its release event in Beijing.

The initiative also used sociodemographic data and real-time monitoring to identify households at high risk of falling into poverty and target assistance to the most vulnerable. In addition, it built on existing healthcare reforms to improve service delivery and financing for people living below the poverty line, the report said.

The results were significant. Between 2015 and 2020, China lifted about 55.8 million people out of poverty and eliminated absolute poverty across all county-level regions.

The initiative also helped improve access to healthcare. The share of out-of-pocket payments in total inpatient expenses fell from 41 percent in 2013 to 31 percent in 2018. Treatment rates for 30 curable severe diseases reached 99.6 percent, while the hypertension control rate rose from 33 percent in 2019 to 45.4 percent in 2022.

"These improvements were accompanied by accelerated gains in access to safe water, sanitation and housing among people living below the poverty line, narrowing equity gaps," the report said.

Tang Kun, an associate professor at the Vanke School of Public Health at Tsinghua University and a co-author of the study, said healthcare costs are a common and significant cause of financial hardship. In 2019 alone, out-of-pocket healthcare expenses pushed an estimated 344 million people into poverty or worsened their economic circumstances.

"China's experience offers an important case for examining what a more integrated approach can achieve and what it takes to sustain it," he said.

Richard Horton, editor-in-chief of The Lancet, said global progress in reducing poverty had stalled since 2020. Citing World Bank projections, he said the global extreme poverty rate could rise from about 10 percent today to 15 percent by 2050, potentially leaving an additional 600 million people in poverty.

Reflecting on China's experience, Horton emphasized the importance of making health a foundation of social and economic development and mobilizing coordinated action across government departments.

"The multisectoral, collective action across the broad social determinants of health is what really drove the success of taking almost 60 million people out of extreme poverty in just five years (in China)," he said.

Other lessons include expanding primary healthcare to promote equity and establishing rigorous accountability mechanisms and regular evaluations to gather feedback and address weaknesses, Horton said.

However, the report also identifies challenges to sustaining China's health-related poverty alleviation efforts, including financial sustainability, the growing burden of noncommunicable diseases, population aging and climate change.

Amanda Bissex, the United Nations Children's Fund deputy representative to China, said the findings underscored the need to strengthen support for vulnerable families who do not meet the criteria for being classified as poor. She also called for stronger financial and social protection measures, including expanded access to primary healthcare.

wangxiaoyu@chinadaily.com.cn

China will continue to strengthen efforts to improve officials' conduct, address persistent problems such as formalism and bureaucratism, and prevent the resurgence of extravagance and other undesirable practices, a senior discipline inspection official said on Friday.

Zhang Fuhai, deputy secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and deputy director of the National Supervisory Commission, made the remarks at a news conference in Beijing on the guiding principles from the fifth plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee.

Zhang said the Party's conduct is closely linked to its image, public support and its long-term survival.

Since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012, the Party has made unprecedented efforts to improve conduct, with stricter enforcement of regulations and sustained action against misconduct, he said.

These efforts have curbed unhealthy practices that had persisted for years and addressed deeply entrenched problems, bringing tangible changes that have strengthened public support for the Party's long-term governance, Zhang said.

He emphasized that improving Party conduct is an ongoing task that must never cease, noting that the resolution adopted at the plenary session sets out concrete measures to advance these efforts.

The measures include strengthening Party members' commitment to serving the people, deepening efforts to tackle formalism and bureaucratism, and preventing the resurgence of hedonism and extravagance.

Zhang said the Party will also resolutely combat privilege-seeking attitudes and behavior, closely monitor new forms of misconduct, and address violations that have become increasingly concealed or taken on new forms.

To make improvements sustainable, the Party will establish better mechanisms for regularly identifying and resolving problems related to officials' conduct, while promoting positive social values through exemplary Party and government conduct, he said.

Zhang pledged to implement the decisions made at the plenary session, continue enforcing the central Party leadership's eight-point decision on improving work conduct, and make efforts to improve conduct a regular part of officials' daily work.

BEIJING, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- China is expanding and diversifying its launch infrastructure to meet the growing demand from the commercial space industry, with its offshore launch platforms, commercial spaceports and dedicated launch pads opening up new avenues for private rocket makers to send spacecraft into orbit.

A typical example is a commercial rocket carrying nine satellites that lifted off from a ship in the East China Sea near Shanghai in September this year. Although the densely populated economic hub has no traditional rocket launch site, sea-based launches are able to connect Shanghai to the country's growing space industry.

China's first sea launch took place in 2019, off the coast of Haiyang in east China's Shandong Province. The coastal city has since built a spaceport for rocket assembly, testing and launch operations. Teng Yao, chief engineer of the spaceport, said sea launches offer greater flexibility in choosing launch locations and trajectories, and allow rocket debris to fall into waters that are unpopulated.

Wenchang in south China's Hainan Province, which hosts a launch site tasked with missions of launching space station modules and lunar probes, has added facilities specifically for commercial rocket and satellite launches since 2024.

Meanwhile, the Dongfeng commercial space innovation pilot zone near the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China has developed launch pads tailored to private rocket makers.

Access to launch pads has been a challenge for China's commercial space sector. Wang Lifeng, a professor at Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, cited limited launch capacity, tight schedules and long distances between launch sites and rocket assembly facilities as constraints on growth.

Large satellite networks like Qianfan (or Spacesail) and GW constellations, which each have more than 10,000 satellites, further increase the need for a steady flow of launches.

Diversified facilities not only boost launch numbers but also make launch operations more efficient.

Wenchang's commercial spacecraft launch site has put its first two pads into regular service. The second pad alone can accommodate more than 20 rocket types and can be prepared for another launch in 66 hours. The third and fourth pads in the second phase are scheduled to be operational by the end of the year. Upon full commissioning, the site is able to handle about 60 launches annually.

Haiyang offers another route to greater efficiency. Peng Haomin, co-founder of Orienspace, said the private company's facilities are clustered in Haiyang's spaceport, allowing rockets to be assembled, tested and loaded onto a launch ship within 5 km.

"This has replaced usual transportation over more than 1,000 km, drastically cutting logistics time and cost," Peng said.

Dedicated facilities can also streamline rocket operations. Meng Xiangfu, deputy chief commander of Lijian-1 rocket of commercial spaceflight company CAS Space, said that with its tailored launch pad and technical facilities at the Dongfeng commercial space innovation pilot zone, the company can complete the testing and preparation of a rocket in 10 days.

The expansion of launch infrastructure not only benefits the space industry, but also helps boost local economy through investment.

With more than 30 aerospace projects landed, Haiyang has attracted 33.5 billion yuan (around 5 billion U.S. dollars) in related investment. Wenchang's space industry park hosts over 700 companies, while Shanghai is developing a commercial spaceport-related terminal to link rocket assembly with port logistics and sea launch services.

These developments fit into a broader global trend of investing in space capabilities to support the sector's growth, as the United States aims at expanding its space transportation capabilities and Russia calls for efforts to upgrade its industrial and ground-based space infrastructure.

A 2025-2027 action plan issued by the China National Space Administration calls for coordinated development of commercial space launch sites and supports new types of commercial launch systems, including sea-based launch and recovery facilities.

At the same time, China is pressing ahead with the development of heavy-lift and reusable launch vehicles to further expand launch capacity and improve cost efficiency.

Analysts note that efficient operation of these facilities could equip China's commercial space sector with the launch capacity and operational flexibility it needs.

BEIJING, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with Icelandic Foreign Minister Thorgerdur Katrin Gunnarsdottir in Beijing on Thursday.

Noting that this year marks the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Iceland, Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said China appreciates Iceland's consistent adherence to the one-China policy and stands ready to share development opportunities with Iceland.

The two sides should strengthen coordination and work to promote a more just and equitable global governance system, Wang said.

Wang also briefed his Icelandic counterpart on the fifth plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China.

China's success is of great significance to the world, Gunnarsdottir said, adding that Iceland attaches great importance to the bilateral relations and stands ready to strengthen coordination with China.

by Denis Simon

As China continues on its development path, a range of complex issues will require sustained attention. The good news is that the track record of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the Chinese government demonstrates a number of institutional strengths and development achievements for dealing with these challenges.

To better grasp the capacity of the Chinese government and the CPC to handle the challenges it is confronting, I would like to emphasize three main themes: long-term strategic planning, governance capacity and policy implementation, and the relationship between economic development and improvements in people's livelihoods.

STRENGTH OF CHINA'S GOVERNANCE MODEL

I believe one of the most important strengths of China's governance model is its ability to combine long-term strategic vision with the capacity to mobilize resources and implement policies on a national scale.

One challenge facing many governments today, particularly in developing countries, is the difficulty of maintaining policy continuity. Electoral cycles, political polarization, competing institutional interests, and short-term political calculations can make it difficult to sustain development strategies over a decade or longer. China has developed an institutional approach that places considerable emphasis on long-term planning, policy coordination, and continuity of national development objectives.

The five-year planning system is an important illustration. It allows the government to establish priorities, coordinate national and local development strategies, mobilize public and private resources, and adjust policies as circumstances change. China's experience in infrastructure development, poverty reduction, industrial upgrading, and technological advancement demonstrates the potential benefits of this approach.

I would identify five lessons that may be relevant to political leaders in developing countries: First, the importance of long-term strategic planning. Governments need to look beyond immediate political and economic pressures and develop a coherent national development vision.

Second, the importance of state capacity. Having good policies is not enough. Governments must possess the administrative institutions, professional personnel, financial resources, and organizational capabilities to translate policy objectives into tangible results. China's experience demonstrates the importance of connecting central strategic direction with implementation at provincial, municipal, and grassroots levels.

Third, the ability to mobilize resources around national priorities. Developing countries often face severe resource constraints. China's experience illustrates how governments can coordinate public investment, private-sector participation, financial institutions, and local development initiatives to advance major national objectives.

Fourth, the importance of pragmatism and policy experimentation. One particularly interesting aspect of China's reform experience has been its willingness to experiment with policies at the local level, evaluate results, and expand successful approaches. The establishment of special economic zones is a prominent example. This suggests that effective governance does not require every policy to be perfect from the beginning. It requires institutional learning and the willingness to correct mistakes.

Fifth, the importance of maintaining social stability while pursuing economic transformation. Development requires a reasonably predictable political, social, and economic environment. Governments must address inequality, unemployment, regional disparities, and public concerns if they hope to sustain public confidence.

However, China's governance model should not be regarded as a universal template that other country can simply copy. Every country has its own political institutions, historical circumstances, social structures, and development challenges. Different countries may draw useful insights from one another's development experiences.

Therefore, the most productive international discussion should focus less on competing political labels and more on identifying practical approaches that improve government effectiveness, strengthen accountability, deliver public services, and create opportunities for economic development.

CORE REASON CPC MAINTAINS LONG-TERM GOVERNING VITALITY

In my view, the fundamental reason is the ability of the Communist Party of China (CPC) to maintain a strong organizational structure while continuously adapting its governing priorities to China's changing economic and social circumstances.

The CPC's longevity cannot be explained simply by its size or organizational reach. Its membership of more than 100 million gives it an extraordinary organizational presence, but size alone does not guarantee governing effectiveness. What matters is how that organization functions and whether it can continue to deliver results.

I would highlight three interconnected factors. First, the CPC has developed a distinctive capacity for long-term strategic thinking. It has consistently emphasized national development objectives that extend beyond immediate economic or political considerations. The ability to maintain continuity in major national priorities, while adjusting implementation to changing circumstances, is an important institutional advantage.

Second, the Party has demonstrated a considerable capacity for adaptation. Since the beginning of reform and opening-up, China has undergone enormous transformations in its economic structure, social composition, technological capabilities, and international position.

The CPC has chosen to adjust its governing approaches to accommodate these changes. The transformation from a predominantly agricultural economy into a major industrial and technological power required not only economic reform but also significant changes in governance, administration and policymaking.

Third, the Party has placed considerable emphasis on organizational discipline, cadre development, and the ability to translate central policy decisions into action throughout the country. This capacity for coordination and implementation is an important source of institutional strength.

I would add one further consideration: the ultimate test of a ruling party's vitality is whether it retains the capacity to recognize problems, correct mistakes, respond to changing public expectations, and maintain public confidence. No political organization can remain effective simply by relying on its historical achievements. China's economic and social circumstances today are very different from those of 20 or even 10 years ago. The expectations of younger generations, the challenges of an aging population, the pressures of economic restructuring, and the demands of technological innovation all require new governing capabilities.

CPC'S PEOPLE-CENTERED PHILOSOPHY OF DEVELOPMENT

I consider the people-centered philosophy of development one of the most important aspects of the CPC's governing approach, particularly because it connects national development objectives with the everyday concerns of ordinary citizens. One of the most significant achievements of China's reform and development experience has been the transformation of living conditions for an enormous proportion of its population.

Consider poverty alleviation. China's achievement in lifting hundreds of millions of people out of extreme poverty is historically significant. It demonstrates what can be accomplished when poverty reduction becomes a sustained national priority, supported by targeted policies, substantial resource mobilization, infrastructure investment, and local implementation.

But the importance of a people-centered philosophy of development should not be measured exclusively by poverty reduction. It also should be reflected in the quality and accessibility of public services, including education, healthcare, employment opportunities, affordable housing, pensions, and social protection.

China has made substantial progress in expanding educational opportunities, improving rural infrastructure, extending healthcare coverage, and developing social security systems. These achievements have helped create a much stronger foundation for social and economic development.

I also would emphasize an important conceptual point: economic growth and improvements in people's livelihoods should not be treated as separate objectives. They are mutually reinforcing. Economic development creates the resources necessary to improve public services, while better education, healthcare, social protection, and employment opportunities strengthen human capital and support further economic growth.

That said, China's people-centered philosophy of development faces an important new test as China has moved into a substantially different stage of development. The challenges today are no longer simply about lifting people out of poverty or expanding basic infrastructure. They increasingly involve improving the quality of development and ensuring that its benefits are shared more equitably.

My overall assessment is that China's experience demonstrates the importance of placing improvements in people's living standards at the center of national development. But the next stage will require moving beyond the achievements of poverty reduction and basic development toward greater equality of opportunity, higher-quality public services, and more balanced and sustainable growth.

EXPECTATIONS FOR FIFTH PLENARY SESSION

I believe the fifth plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee comes at an important moment for China. The country is entering a new phase of development, facing a more complicated international environment and a number of significant domestic economic and social challenges.

The principal focus of the Fifth Plenary Session is on advancing the Party's full and rigorous self-governance. Against this background, I expect the Fifth Plenary Session to deliver an important message: institutional self-renewal is essential to long-term governing capacity.

The CPC has repeatedly emphasized the importance of discipline, combating corruption, and strengthening Party self-governance. I believe this is particularly important at a time when China is confronting more complex economic, technological, and international challenges.

But institutional self-renewal must go beyond disciplinary measures. It should also involve improving the quality of governance, strengthening administrative accountability, encouraging innovation, and ensuring that officials at all levels have both the competence and the incentives to address difficult problems.

An effective governing party must be capable of renewing itself before institutional weaknesses become serious obstacles to development.

Looking ahead, I believe the Fifth Plenary Session could strengthen the CPC's institutional capacity and reinforce the importance of administrative discipline and organizational accountability. It could also send an important signal to the international community about China's approach to governance, economic development, and its role in an increasingly uncertain global environment.

Ultimately, my expectation is that the meeting will demonstrate that China's next stage of modernization requires not only strong political leadership and long-term strategic planning, but also continuous institutional reform, greater policy responsiveness, and a stronger commitment to improving people's livelihoods.

The most important outcome should not simply be another set of policy declarations. It should be a clearer demonstration of how the CPC intends to translate its governing principles into practical results for the benefit of the entire population.

Editor's note: Denis Simon is the former Executive Vice Chancellor of Duke Kunshan University in Jiangsu province. He is also a senior faculty member in the Schwarzman College at Tsinghua University.

The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of Xinhua News Agency.

NAIROBI, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- In Kigali, Rwanda's capital, Grace Mbabazi, founder and CEO of M&M Sozo Ltd., is busy selecting the company's signature honey products ahead of her upcoming trip to China for the ninth China International Import Expo (CIIE), where she hopes to showcase the Rwandan specialty to a wider Chinese audience.

Scheduled to take place in Shanghai from Nov. 5 to 10, this year's expo will bring together returning African exhibitors and newcomers alike.

With China's zero-tariff treatment for 53 African countries with which it has diplomatic relations having taken effect on May 1, African businesses are looking to the expo to tap the Chinese market and move up the value chain through product processing, brand development and other higher-value activities.

NEW FACES, NEW PRODUCTS

This year's CIIE will welcome a number of new African friends, with Gabon making its debut at the national pavilion and Cote d'Ivoire participating collectively for the first time, injecting fresh momentum into China-Africa trade and economic cooperation.

Cote d'Ivoire is seeking to further expand its presence in the Chinese market through the CIIE. Kaladji Fadiga, director of the Cote d'Ivoire Export Agency, told Xinhua that the country would focus on five key sectors at this year's expo: cocoa, coffee, cashew, kola nuts and textiles.

"Our ambition is to make this edition a remarkable showcase that reflects the true potential of our trade with China," he added.

Asnath Adje, head of Cote d'Ivoire's Lya Bissap brand, was delighted to learn that her company had been selected to exhibit at the CIIE. She hopes to introduce hibiscus, a plant familiar to many Ivorians since childhood, to a wider international audience in new forms.

At this year's expo, she plans to showcase hibiscus powder, ultrafine powder and concentrate. The ultrafine powder can be used in food processing and cosmetics, opening up new possibilities for downstream product development, Adje said.

African companies will also bring a diverse range of distinctive products to the expo.

Bansa, a brand from Cameroon, plans to showcase a variety of agricultural and processed products, including roasted sesame seeds, spicy dried meat, sesame brittle made with pure honey, processed cocoa products, shea butter and plantain chips.

"This is my first time participating in the CIIE as an official exhibitor. Last year, I attended as an observer," said Ngoyonga Chaswe Clotilde, a Bansa representative.

Clotilde said she hopes the expo will help promote the brand to a global audience and forge partnerships that could attract investment and support further processing in Cameroon.

NEW GROWTH

China's market has brought tangible benefits for African businesses, with rising export volumes among the most notable.

Kenya's tea exports to China rose from about 2 million kg annually in the past to 12.4 million kg in 2025, and are expected to reach around 20 million kg in 2026, said Willy Mutai, chief executive officer of the Tea Board of Kenya.

Ethiopian coffee company AWO Coffee has also recorded strong growth in China. Its marketing manager, Kaleab Fekad, said the company began exporting to China in 2014, initially shipping only dozens of tonnes annually. In 2025, its exports reached 200 tonnes.

AWO Coffee has expanded its offerings from raw beans to roasted beans and packaged coffee powder. After its first CIIE presence last year, the company recognized the expo's potential for brand promotion and sales, particularly for processed products. It is returning this year to reach more Chinese consumers and further expand its sales, Fekad said.

The CIIE has also helped African businesses forge commercial partnerships.

Wendy Mpendulo, founder of South African nut producer Miante Manufacturing, said that at last year's expo, she met a packaging company manager who expressed interest in appointing her as its representative in South Africa and using the country as a starting point to expand into other African markets.

For Cameroon-based company Africa SARL, the expo has helped establish lasting trade relationships. Its chief executive officer, Pitndap Nchandini Ismaila, said he met Chinese partners at his first CIIE last year, and some of whom have since begun working with the company.

"Thanks to the expo, I was able to meet Chinese partners with whom we now work closely," he said. "Our cooperation has enabled me to expand our plantations and increase exports to China."

China's favorable trade policy toward Africa has provided an additional boost by lowering the cost of accessing the Chinese market.

Mutai said Kenyan tea exporters could save 15 percent in tariffs by obtaining certificates of origin issued by the Kenya Revenue Authority, allowing them to benefit from China's zero-tariff arrangements.

He said inquiries about Kenyan tea have increased noticeably, with Chinese buyers recently traveling to Kenya specifically to seek tea supplies. "It is a big opportunity for Kenya, and we can leverage it to sell more tea," he added.

NEW MOMENTUM

The zero-tariff treatment and China's vast market are also creating incentives for industrial upgrading in African countries. From understanding Chinese demand to raising local production capacity, African businesses are seeking to turn market access into long-term development opportunities.

Repeated participation in the CIIE has helped Zimbabwean leather goods exporter Samuneti Leathers gain a clearer understanding of Chinese consumer preferences.

"We have managed to analyze and understand our customers and what they need, and we are able to give them what they want and need," said Dionne Chibaya, an administrator at Samuneti Leathers.

Building on these insights, the company plans to showcase its finest handcrafted products at this year's expo while gaining a deeper understanding of the market to guide its expansion.

With a long tradition of leather craftsmanship, supported by its livestock sector and diverse wildlife resources, Zimbabwe is seeking to increase exports of value-added leather products. The CIIE offers Zimbabwean producers an opportunity to reach Chinese buyers and explore new business prospects.

Madagascar's mutton made its debut at the seventh CIIE in 2024. The entry into the Chinese market has not only benefited local herders but has also energized the whole "farm-to-table" chain, creating large numbers of direct and indirect jobs, particularly for young people in rural areas.

"From livestock farming and transportation to meat cutting, slaughtering and exports to China, every stage creates jobs for the Malagasy people," Madagascar's Minister of Livestock Riana Nantenaina Randrianomenjanahary said in a recent interview with Xinhua. He said at least 3,000 households benefit from this export-related activity.

Madagascar is stepping up efforts to "improve local production and the value chain, while encouraging a growing number of livestock farmers to join this sector oriented toward the Chinese market," the minister said.

BEIJING, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- Educational exchange and cooperation between China and the United States are desired by both sides and benefit both sides, and should not be held back or disrupted, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said at a regular media briefing on Monday.

Last week, the U.S. side reportedly designated the Confucius Institutes on American universities and campuses as a threat to U.S. national security.

Guo said China rejects vilification and smears against Confucius Institute, noting that educational exchange and cooperation between China and the United States help enhance mutual understanding between the peoples of the two countries.

"They are desired by both sides and benefit both sides, and should not be held back or disrupted," said Guo.

BEIJING, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee on Monday started a four-day plenary session in Beijing, which focuses on strengthening Party self-governance.

This marks the latest move by the Party Central Committee with Xi Jinping at its core to strengthen the Party through full and rigorous self-governance.

Xi, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, has emphasized that exercising full and rigorous self-governance is an enduring task for the Party.

"One has to be very strong if he wants to strike the iron," Xi said shortly after his election to the post of general secretary of the CPC Central Committee in November 2012. He later warned at a group study session of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee that if corruption is allowed to grow unchecked, "it could spell the end of both the Party and the state."

As China entered the new era, the CPC, the largest governing party in the world, faced unprecedented challenges in ensuring reform, development and stability, and addressing problems and risks confronting the nation.

Xi has stressed that China's success hinges on the Party, and has made clear that the CPC must continuously strengthen itself through self-governance.

In 2014, he explicitly put forward the concept of "exercising full and rigorous Party self-governance" as part of the Party's four-pronged governing strategy, alongside building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, deepening reform and advancing law-based governance.

He has made full and rigorous Party self-governance a long-term strategy, as he considers it vital to the Party's long-term governance, the country's enduring stability, and the people's happiness and well-being.

BREAK NEW GROUND

In December 2012, Xi began strengthening Party self-governance by introducing a code of conduct that became known as the "eight-point rules."

It established regulations for Party leaders regarding research tours, meetings, documentation, and other official duties, cracking down on lavish banquets, red carpet events, pomp, entourages, unnecessary meetings, and luxury perks that had once been regarded by some as typical symbols of power.

Its implementation has helped curb longstanding malpractices, with effects extending beyond Party and government offices to wider society.

"The eight-point rules have indeed brought about fundamental changes over the years," Xi said last year, when the Party launched a campaign to reinforce this code of conduct and consolidate the improvements it had brought about.

Xi also launched an unprecedented anti-corruption storm that has swept every corner of public office, netting both high-ranking "tigers" and lower-level "flies." Some of the most senior officials -- including former members of the Political Bureau and its Standing Committee, top military brass, and retirees who left their leading positions years ago -- have been brought to justice.

The anti-corruption campaign has continued unabated, with Xi stressing that the fight is an ongoing endeavor. In 2025 alone, 115 officials at ministerial level or above were placed under investigation, while 627,000 people were disciplined in cases involving misconduct and corruption that affect the people's immediate interests. The same year, China also opened investigations into more than 500 cases of cross-border corruption.

At a plenary session of the CPC's top disciplinary body early this year, Xi again warned that corruption remains a problem that arises all too easily and frequently.

"We must see the fight against corruption through to the end, no matter how great the resistance or how high the cost," he said. "No one who engages in corruption will be shown leniency, regardless of who they are, how high their rank or how great their contributions."

EFFECTIVE APPROACHES

To strengthen full and rigorous Party self-governance, it is imperative to uphold the Party's overall leadership.

Over the past 14 years, the Party's leadership has been further affirmed in both the Party Constitution and the country's Constitution. Central commissions have been established to oversee key areas including reform, national security, cyberspace affairs, and financial and economic affairs. Working mechanisms for central decision-making and coordinating bodies have also been strengthened.

Strengthening theoretical education is another approach. With Xi at the helm, the CPC has launched nine Party-wide major education campaigns.

The latest one, launched in February this year, prodded Party members to fix their mindset regarding governance performance, aiming to stamp out the tendency among some officials to sacrifice public well-being in seeking to polish their performance records.

This campaign built on the gains of previous ones on Party discipline and implementing the eight-point rules, among others, to advance the Party's self-governance.

These efforts have gone hand in hand with institution-building. Under Xi's watch, the Party and state oversight systems have been improved.

The National Commission of Supervision and local supervisory commissions were established to bring everyone in public office, regardless of Party membership, under supervision.

And Xi has made discipline inspections a key instrument of intra-Party oversight.

The inspection system allows higher-level Party authorities to send teams to examine how officials exercise power and carry out the central leadership's policies. Inspectors interview officials and members of the public, review documents and receive complaints. They report their findings to Party authorities.

After each round of inspections launched by the Party Central Committee, Xi reviewed the reports in detail, assessed the problems uncovered and pushed for further improvements in inspection work.

Since 2012, the Party has also formulated or revised an unprecedented number of internal regulations, building a comprehensive framework of rules to confine power in "a cage of institutions."

Noting the progress, Xi also warned that in some localities, rules were poorly enforced while "hidden rules" prevailed. He stressed that regulations must become "high-voltage lines" and that power must be exercised transparently, leaving no room for such hidden rules.

All these mechanisms are part of the integrated efforts to ensure officials, in Xi's words, "do not have the audacity, opportunity, or desire to become corrupt."

LEADING MODERNIZATION DRIVE

Full and rigorous Party self-governance serves a broader purpose: strengthening the Party's capacity to lead China's modernization drive.

"To successfully achieve the goals and tasks of the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030), it is imperative to focus on enhancing the ability and competence of the Party in leading economic and social development," Xi told senior provincial- and ministerial-level officials attending a study session at the Party School of the CPC Central Committee earlier this year.

He urged Party officials to become more capable of pursuing high-quality development, serving the people, and guarding against and defusing risks.

China has entered a critical period for achieving the goal of basically realizing modernization by 2035, and still faces rising uncertainty abroad and mounting challenges at home. At such critical junctures, strong Party leadership is vital to chart the course.

All Party members, Xi said, must remain true to the Party's original aspiration and mission, and lead the nation to "create new historic glories."

BEIJING, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- China has issued a regulation on the registration and management of public institutions, aiming to strengthen the Party's overall leadership over such institutions and reinforce their commitment to serving the public interest.

Premier Li Qiang signed a State Council decree promulgating the regulation, which consists of six chapters and 34 articles and will take effect on Dec. 1.

The regulation also standardizes registration and management procedures and safeguards public institutions' legitimate rights and interests.

It requires public institutions to uphold the leadership of the Communist Party of China, firmly implement the Party's lines, principles and policies, and step up efforts to improve conduct, enforce discipline and combat corruption.

It also calls on public institutions to remain committed to serving the public interest, prioritize social benefits, and continuously improve the quality and efficiency of their public services.

The regulation further stipulates that competent authorities and sponsoring organizations must oversee and guide public institutions to ensure their activities are conducted in accordance with the law.

Industry regulators, including those in the medical, educational and scientific research sectors, are also required to strengthen supervision and inspections of relevant institutions' conduct.

To improve registration services, the regulation calls for standardized and streamlined procedures. Registration authorities and public institutions are required to promptly disclose relevant information through the national public institution registration and management information platform, in accordance with the law.