May 20 and 21 have become peak days for marriage registrations in China following the implementation of a new nationwide marriage registration policy. A representative of the marriage registration service center of the Civil Affairs Bureau of Beijing's Dongcheng District told the Global Times that 350 and 450 couples had made appointments for marriage registration on these two days respectively this year, nearly double the number from 2024.
May 20 and May 21 are especially popular dates for couples to tie the knot, as the number "520" and "521" both sound phonetically similar to "I love you" in Chinese, making them symbolic "days of love" for many.
Many netizens expressed frustration at not being able to secure appointments due to the overwhelming popularity of the date.
"I waited two hours and still couldn't get a slot," one netizen wrote on Chinese social media platform RedNote, also known as Xiaohongshu. Others said even making reservations a month in advance was insufficient.
Beijing-based Lin Luwen told the Global Times she plans to register her marriage on Wednesday, though she found the time slots were nearly fully booked when checking the system a week earlier.
"The registry office has created special decorations for this marriage registration peak," she said. "This feels like the perfect time for my fiancé and me to get our marriage certificate - it's romantic and will surely become a cherished memory."
To better accommodate the demand, a representative from the marriage registration service center of the Civil Affairs Bureau of Beijing's Dongcheng District, surnamed Li, noted that couples who fail to secure an online appointment but meet the necessary requirements will still be accepted for registration after those with appointments.
Meanwhile, staff at civil affairs bureaus in many regions also adjusted their working hours in advance to accommodate the surge in marriage registrations, including several cities in East China's Jiangsu Province, according to a local media outlet in Jiangsu.
A Beijing-based white-collar worker surnamed Xiong, who registered for marriage on Tuesday, also mentioned the adjusted schedule. She told the Global Times, "I arrived at a civil affairs bureau in Beijing's Chaoyang district around 8 am because I received a message yesterday saying the bureau had adjusted its opening time to 8 am for Tuesday."
When it comes to the actual registration process, she said that she only needed to hand in her and her husband's IDs and three red-background photos and sign some paperwork. "The entire process was efficient and was completed in around 10 minutes," she said.
In addition, China Central Television (CCTV) reported on Tuesday that electronic marriage certificates can now be acquired by couples on China's national integrated online government service platform.
Electronic marriage certificates are already being used in various scenarios such as household registration, real estate registration, housing loan applications, and home purchase eligibility reviews.
China's revised marriage registration regulations came into effect on May 10, simplifying the procedure for marriage registration and allowing couples to register anywhere in the country regardless of their hukou household registration locations, according to a previous report.
The simplification of the marriage registration process has led to an increase in the number of couples getting married. According to The Paper on Tuesday, civil affairs departments in Shanghai have seen a surge in appointments from couples across the country following the implementation of the new nationwide policy.
China is expected to see 2.15 million daily border crossings during the upcoming five-day May Day holidays, representing a 27 percent increase from last year, according to the National Immigration Administration on Monday. The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) said that popular international destinations for Chinese tourists include Japan, South Korea and Southeast Asia.
The peak of cross-border travel is anticipated on May 1 and May 5. Traffic at China's major international airports is set to grow steadily, with Shanghai Pudong expected to lead with 101,000 daily crossings, followed by Guangzhou Baiyun at 50,000 and Beijing Capital at 45,000, the administration said, according to the Xinhua News Agency on Monday.
The passenger volume for domestic flights is expected to reach a record of 10.75 million, marking an 8 percent increase from 2024. Peak travel days at the start and end of the holidays are expected to exceed 2.3 million passengers, according to Shang Kejia, a deputy director general of the CAAC Air Transport Department.
For domestic routes, the majority of travelers are concentrated on key routes between the four major city clusters: Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei, Yangtze River Delta, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao and Chengdu-Chongqing. So far, the highest booking volumes have been on routes between Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, as well as between Beijing and Shenzhen or Chengdu, Shang said.
Regarding international routes, popular destinations remain Japan, South Korea and Southeast Asia. Shang also said that with the continued optimization of entry and transit visa policies and the gradual rollout of services like instant tax refunds, the number of inbound foreign tourists is expected to rise, prompting international airlines to increase flight frequencies.
China unveiled a set of measures on Sunday to further optimize its departure tax refund policy to meet overseas tourists' needs better and expand inbound consumption, Xinhua reported.
Responding to a question on the trending topic "China Shopping" alongside the continued facilitation of inbound tourism and the departure tax refund policy, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Monday that the robust spending by inbound tourists reflects China's efforts in easing visa policies, enhancing payment accessibility, and streamlining the tax refund policy, as well as the sincerity of China's commitment to continued opening-up and bringing benefits to all countries.
Commenting on media reports that inbound tourism bookings have increased by 173 percent year-on-year for the upcoming May Day holidays, Guo said that "we welcome more foreign friends to come to China, enjoy their time here, and let high-quality, competitively priced 'Made in China' products enter every household, benefiting more people."
During the May Day holidays, the outbound tourism market has seen a gradual increase in popularity compared to last year, the Global Times learned from travel platform Trip.com.
Data from travel platform Fliggy confirmed this trend, and showed that the per capita booking volume for outbound travel products has increased 12 percent year-on-year, with air tickets and hotel bookings significantly surpassing last year's figures, while attraction ticket bookings surged 150 percent.
Benefiting from increased flight routes and visa facilitation policies, some short- and medium-haul outbound destinations have become popular choices for Chinese travelers during the holidays, according to Li.
"I decided to vacation in Indonesia's Bali a few months ago because the flight tickets are more cost-effective, the tourism industry there is well-developed," a Beijing resident surnamed Lin told the Global Times on Monday.
In addition to flight prices, this year's May Day holidays coincide with Japan's "Golden Week," causing a significant rise in hotel prices in Japan, according to the Trip.com. This has sparked widespread discussion among travelers, with many claiming, "The more you search for hotels, the more expensive they get — it's definitely the platform taking advantage of us!"
However, a representative surnamed Li from Trip.com explained to the Global Times that this is not an example of "big data manipulation" but rather a result of the basic principles of market supply and demand. The surge in travelers during the May Day holidays has led to a shortage of available hotel rooms, prompting real-time price adjustments by hotels, not an intentional price increase triggered by repeated searches.
Besides, "the ticket prices are adjusted by the airline's revenue management system based on market supply and demand dynamics, and social media comments are not part of the pricing considerations," the representative added, dismissing such claims as pseudoscience.
Additionally, Fliggy said that personalized experience-based activities have gained traction. Anime-themed experiences and light adventure activities are particularly popular among travelers, with bookings for such "scenario-based services" seeing a strong demand.
A fan of anime culture surnamed Liu said she planned to visit Hitoyoshi, Kumamoto prefecture in Japan for photography and shopping, as the town served as a setting for one of her favorite animated series.
"There is a local hotel that even has specially decorated anime-themed rooms, and there are officially licensed shops selling limited-edition collaboration merchandise," Liu added.
Based on data from Trip.com, alongside usual hotspots like Japan, South Korea, and some Southeast Asian countries, emerging destinations such as Qatar, Austria and Kazakhstan have climbed the rankings due to their unique tourism offerings, reflecting a diversification trend in outbound travel consumption.
Hungary won't reduce its economic ties with China, the nation's minister of economy said, in the clearest sign yet that Prime Minister Viktor Orban's government won't bow to US pressure to distance itself from Beijing, according to Bloomberg on Monday.
Chinese analysts see this reaction from Budapest as "emblematic of a broader sentiment in Europe" and is likely to prompt more European countries to follow suit.
According to Bloomberg, Hungary's Economy Minister Marton Nagy told reporters in Budapest on Monday that "We don't see an investment potential from the US that would be on par with China… We have a very pragmatic position."
The latest development came as the US has been pressuring Hungary to reduce its reliance on China, after the Asian nation became a key partner for Budapest in the electric vehicle industry as well as in telecommunications.
Trump's eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., on Friday urged Hungary and other east European nations with Chinese links to choose the US instead as its main economic partner, according to Bloomberg.
Cui Hongjian, professor of the Academy of Regional and Global Governance at Beijing Foreign Studies University, told the Global Times on Tuesday that Hungary's reaction is easy to understand and within expectation, noting that the European country's economic growth in foreign cooperation over the past decade has been driven primarily by China.
For instance, recent collaborations between China and Hungary in electric vehicles and green energy have achieved remarkable success, Cui said.
According to the Xinhua News Agency in January, China accounted for the largest share of foreign investments in Hungary in 2024, with seven Chinese projects contributing nearly half of the year's total investment value.
From Hungary's perspective, there is no reason to force a binary choice between China and the US, Cui said, pointing out that the US faces not only domestic economic uncertainties but also political unpredictability in its foreign relations.
"As long as Hungary acts in its own interests and pursues long-term, foreseeable goals, it has no reason to yield to what amounts to US coercion or unreasonable demands," Cui said.
"Hungary's stance is emblematic of a broader sentiment in Europe," Cui said.
Similarly, British Chancellor Rachel Reeves said recently that it would be "very foolish" for Britain to disengage with China, Daily Mail reported on April 19. The report noted that Reeves "attempts to draw a line in the sand with the US over their treatment of Beijing."
The fact that even a longstanding ally like the UK, often considered the US' staunchest partner, has made such a statement, is a proof that the US' zero-sum logic and hegemonic tactics are losing credibility across Europe, Cui said.
"Faced with US pressure to choose sides, I believe more European countries will respond similarly to Hungary," he noted.
Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Wednesday that China is ready to work with the Malaysian side to build a high-level strategic China-Malaysia community with a shared future, so as to usher in new "Golden 50 Years" for bilateral ties, according to the Xinhua News Agency.
Xi made the remarks when meeting with Malaysian King Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar during a state visit to the country. Prior to their meeting, Sultan Ibrahim held a grand welcome ceremony for Xi.
During the meeting, Xi pointed out that China and Malaysia are good neighbors, good friends and good partners who visit each other as often as family. Bilateral relations have gone through a magnificent half-century and are embracing an even brighter future, he added.
Sultan Ibrahim said he believes that Xi's visit will comprehensively upgrade bilateral relations and promote vigorous development of cooperation in various fields, adding that China's impressive development achievements are attributable to the foresight of President Xi and the hard work of the Chinese people.
On Wednesday afternoon, Xi held talks with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. Xi said he is ready to work with Anwar to boost the high-level and strategic development of China-Malaysia community with a shared future. During the meeting, Xi put forward a three-point proposal on building a high-level strategic China-Malaysia community with shared future, Xinhua reported.
First, Xi urged the two countries to adhere to strategic independence and carry out high-level strategic coordination. Second, both countries should build synergy for development and set a model for high-quality development cooperation, Xi said. Third, Xi called for both sides to carry forward their friendship from generation to generation and deepen exchanges and mutual learning between the two civilizations, according to Xinhua.
Following the talks, China and Malaysia exchanged more than 30 bilateral cooperation documents, covering cooperation in areas such as the three global initiatives, digital economy, trade in services, upgrading and development of "two countries, twin parks," joint laboratories, artificial intelligence, railways, intellectual property rights, agricultural products exports to China, mutual visa exemption and panda conservation, according to Xinhua.
Xi arrived in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday for a state visit, the second leg of his three-nation Southeast Asia tour. The Chinese President's visit to the country, his second in the past 12 years, has drawn warm welcomes and positive reactions from all sectors of Malaysian society.
Key outcomes
"President Xi's visit brings key outcomes at a critical moment. The interactions between Chinese and Malaysian leaders signify the deepening of mutual political trust," Ong Tee Keat, president of the Belt and Road Initiative Caucus for Asia Pacific and a former minister of transport of Malaysia, told the Global Times on Wednesday. "It also marks the success of China's neighborhood diplomacy."
During the meeting with Sultan Ibrahim on Wednesday morning, Xi said that the two sides should deepen the synergy of development strategies, draw on each other's strengths for mutual benefit and win-win results, and jointly pursue modernization.
He called on the two sides to ensure good implementation of major projects such as the "Two Countries, Twin Parks" program and the East Coast Rail Link, and to actively foster cooperation in future industries such as artificial intelligence, digital economy and the green economy, according to Xinhua.
China welcomes more high-quality Malaysian agricultural products to the Chinese market, and encourages Chinese enterprises to invest in Malaysia, Xi said.
Also during meeting with Anwar, Xi urged joint efforts to resist decoupling, supply chain disruptions, "small yard with high fences" and arbitrary imposition of tariffs with openness, inclusiveness, unity and cooperation.
He also called for responding to the law of the jungle with Asian values of peace, cooperation, openness and inclusiveness, and responding to the unstable and uncertain world with stable and certain Asia. Xi added that China stands ready to work with countries in the region to sign the upgrade protocol of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area at an early date.
Anwar said that ASEAN will not endorse any unilaterally imposed tariffs, and will promote collective advancement through cooperation to maintain economic growth. Facing the rise of unilateralism, Malaysia is willing to strengthen cooperation with China to jointly address risks and challenges, Anwar added.
In 2024, China-Malaysia trade reached $212 billion, and China has been Malaysia's No.1 trading partner for 16 consecutive years. In terms of investment cooperation, to date, the Malaysia-China Kuantan Industrial Park has received a total investment of over 11 billion yuan, according to official Chinese data.
Many in Malaysia have praised growing ties between China and Malaysia and have expressed earnest hope for greater trade and economic cooperation between the two countries.
Zariman, a resident in Kuala Lumpur who has conducted businesses with China in areas such as durian exports, was watching live television coverage of the welcome ceremony at the National Palace on a small screen on the dashboard of his car on Wednesday morning.
He told the Global Times that he has been paying great attention to the state visit because he believes China-Malaysia cooperation is so important, especially under the current international situation with growing trade bullying from the US. "It's important that in trade… everyone should benefit. All the countries have their sovereignty and there should be mutual respect," he said, adding that threatening other countries "is uncivilized in the modern world."
These sentiments have been echoed by many local residents in Kuala Lumpur, with many bringing up the issue of US tariffs, while stressing the importance of trade and economic cooperation between China and Malaysia.
Successful example
Ong said that deepening and implementing the China-Malaysia community with a shared future not only benefits the two countries, but it has also set a successful example for the economic integration of China and ASEAN, and the building of a community with a shared future between China and ASEAN in the future.
During the meeting with Sultan Ibrahim, Xi said that China supports Malaysia in its role as ASEAN chair and stands ready to work with Malaysia to implement the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative, according to Xinhua.
Malaysia holds the chairmanship of ASEAN this year and "can play a pivotal role in coordinating and connecting ASEAN member states' interactions with China," Ong said, adding that China-ASEAN cooperation can go beyond the existing economic and trade partnership, further deepen the high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative, and they cooperate in the promotion of China's three major global initiatives in Southeast Asia, in conjunction with the implementation of the ASEAN Community Vision.
Zhong Feiteng, a researcher at the National Institute of International Strategy of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said that the remarkably positive reaction to the state visit demonstrates the growing international image of China as a defender of fairness and justice, and a promotor of peace and development amid certain global conflicts and growing trade tensions.
In contrast to the US' role in some conflicts such as the Israel-Palestine conflict, "China stands on the side of international fairness and justice… and the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative are in line with the actual needs of Malaysia," Zhong told the Global Times on Wednesday, noting that amid global turmoil sparked by the US, "China's rise has brought stability" for the world.
Also criticizing the US' "unprecedented economic bullying," Ong said that China's approach of neighborhood diplomacy is conducive to regional development and peace.
"Building a community with a shared future is an integral part of China's neighborhood diplomacy, rooted in the principles of amity, sincerity, [mutual benefit] and inclusiveness. It goes far beyond sheer economics. It constitutes a multi-dimensional partnership allowing good neighborliness to create a conducive environment for economic development. The prosperity accrued therefrom will further bolster peace across the region," Ong said. Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Wednesday that China is ready to work with the Malaysian side to build a high-level strategic China-Malaysia community with a shared future, so as to usher in new "Golden 50 Years" for bilateral ties, according to the Xinhua News Agency.
Xi made the remarks when meeting with Malaysian King Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar during a state visit to the country. Prior to their meeting, Sultan Ibrahim held a grand welcome ceremony for Xi.
During the meeting, Xi pointed out that China and Malaysia are good neighbors, good friends and good partners who visit each other as often as family. Bilateral relations have gone through a magnificent half-century and are embracing an even brighter future, he added.
Sultan Ibrahim said he believes that Xi's visit will comprehensively upgrade bilateral relations and promote vigorous development of cooperation in various fields, adding that China's impressive development achievements are attributable to the foresight of President Xi and the hard work of the Chinese people.
On Wednesday afternoon, Xi held talks with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. Xi said he is ready to work with Anwar to boost the high-level and strategic development of China-Malaysia community with a shared future. During the meeting, Xi put forward a three-point proposal on building a high-level strategic China-Malaysia community with shared future, Xinhua reported.
First, Xi urged the two countries to adhere to strategic independence and carry out high-level strategic coordination. Second, both countries should build synergy for development and set a model for high-quality development cooperation, Xi said. Third, Xi called for both sides to carry forward their friendship from generation to generation and deepen exchanges and mutual learning between the two civilizations, according to Xinhua.
Following the talks, China and Malaysia exchanged more than 30 bilateral cooperation documents, covering cooperation in areas such as the three global initiatives, digital economy, trade in services, upgrading and development of "two countries, twin parks," joint laboratories, artificial intelligence, railways, intellectual property rights, agricultural products exports to China, mutual visa exemption and panda conservation, according to Xinhua.
Xi arrived in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday for a state visit, the second leg of his three-nation Southeast Asia tour. The Chinese President's visit to the country, his second in the past 12 years, has drawn warm welcomes and positive reactions from all sectors of Malaysian society.
Key outcomes
"President Xi's visit brings key outcomes at a critical moment. The interactions between Chinese and Malaysian leaders signify the deepening of mutual political trust," Ong Tee Keat, president of the Belt and Road Initiative Caucus for Asia Pacific and a former minister of transport of Malaysia, told the Global Times on Wednesday. "It also marks the success of China's neighborhood diplomacy."
During the meeting with Sultan Ibrahim on Wednesday morning, Xi said that the two sides should deepen the synergy of development strategies, draw on each other's strengths for mutual benefit and win-win results, and jointly pursue modernization.
He called on the two sides to ensure good implementation of major projects such as the "Two Countries, Twin Parks" program and the East Coast Rail Link, and to actively foster cooperation in future industries such as artificial intelligence, digital economy and the green economy, according to Xinhua.
China welcomes more high-quality Malaysian agricultural products to the Chinese market, and encourages Chinese enterprises to invest in Malaysia, Xi said.
Also during meeting with Anwar, Xi urged joint efforts to resist decoupling, supply chain disruptions, "small yard with high fences" and arbitrary imposition of tariffs with openness, inclusiveness, unity and cooperation.
He also called for responding to the law of the jungle with Asian values of peace, cooperation, openness and inclusiveness, and responding to the unstable and uncertain world with stable and certain Asia. Xi added that China stands ready to work with countries in the region to sign the upgrade protocol of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area at an early date.
Anwar said that ASEAN will not endorse any unilaterally imposed tariffs, and will promote collective advancement through cooperation to maintain economic growth. Facing the rise of unilateralism, Malaysia is willing to strengthen cooperation with China to jointly address risks and challenges, Anwar added.
In 2024, China-Malaysia trade reached $212 billion, and China has been Malaysia's No.1 trading partner for 16 consecutive years. In terms of investment cooperation, to date, the Malaysia-China Kuantan Industrial Park has received a total investment of over 11 billion yuan, according to official Chinese data.
Many in Malaysia have praised growing ties between China and Malaysia and have expressed earnest hope for greater trade and economic cooperation between the two countries.
Zariman, a resident in Kuala Lumpur who has conducted businesses with China in areas such as durian exports, was watching live television coverage of the welcome ceremony at the National Palace on a small screen on the dashboard of his car on Wednesday morning.
He told the Global Times that he has been paying great attention to the state visit because he believes China-Malaysia cooperation is so important, especially under the current international situation with growing trade bullying from the US. "It's important that in trade… everyone should benefit. All the countries have their sovereignty and there should be mutual respect," he said, adding that threatening other countries "is uncivilized in the modern world."
These sentiments have been echoed by many local residents in Kuala Lumpur, with many bringing up the issue of US tariffs, while stressing the importance of trade and economic cooperation between China and Malaysia.
Successful example
Ong said that deepening and implementing the China-Malaysia community with a shared future not only benefits the two countries, but it has also set a successful example for the economic integration of China and ASEAN, and the building of a community with a shared future between China and ASEAN in the future.
During the meeting with Sultan Ibrahim, Xi said that China supports Malaysia in its role as ASEAN chair and stands ready to work with Malaysia to implement the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative, according to Xinhua.
Malaysia holds the chairmanship of ASEAN this year and "can play a pivotal role in coordinating and connecting ASEAN member states' interactions with China," Ong said, adding that China-ASEAN cooperation can go beyond the existing economic and trade partnership, further deepen the high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative, and they cooperate in the promotion of China's three major global initiatives in Southeast Asia, in conjunction with the implementation of the ASEAN Community Vision.
Zhong Feiteng, a researcher at the National Institute of International Strategy of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said that the remarkably positive reaction to the state visit demonstrates the growing international image of China as a defender of fairness and justice, and a promotor of peace and development amid certain global conflicts and growing trade tensions.
In contrast to the US' role in some conflicts such as the Israel-Palestine conflict, "China stands on the side of international fairness and justice… and the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative are in line with the actual needs of Malaysia," Zhong told the Global Times on Wednesday, noting that amid global turmoil sparked by the US, "China's rise has brought stability" for the world.
Also criticizing the US' "unprecedented economic bullying," Ong said that China's approach of neighborhood diplomacy is conducive to regional development and peace.
"Building a community with a shared future is an integral part of China's neighborhood diplomacy, rooted in the principles of amity, sincerity, [mutual benefit] and inclusiveness. It goes far beyond sheer economics. It constitutes a multi-dimensional partnership allowing good neighborliness to create a conducive environment for economic development. The prosperity accrued therefrom will further bolster peace across the region," Ong said.
"Dear younger brother, since you've been away for years and we haven't been in touch, I don't know how things are going. I trust the whole family is safe, happy, and everything is going smoothly… All your brothers and sisters back home are well. Wishing you good health."
Inside the home of Hong Sereiparinha, also known by his Chinese name Hong Zhihao, a young man from Cambodia, Global Times reporters read a heartfelt letter sent from his hometown Jieyang, South China's Guangdong Province. In its lines, they saw the profound friendship rooted in history and people-to-people connections between China and Cambodia.
Jieyang is Hong's ancestral hometown. His great-grandparents brought his grandfather - then just six years old - to Cambodia in search of a better life. Although he is a fourth-generation Chinese Cambodian, 26-year-old Hong speaks fluent Putonghua. He told Global Times reporters that he speaks Teochew dialect at home, and began learning Putonghua since middle school. He later studied in the Chinese Department of the Royal University of Phnom Penh, and now works at the Cambodian Chinese Chamber of Commerce.
Hong's home is adorned with traditional Chinese calligraphy artworks featuring phrases like "Ma Dao Cheng Gong (Success upon arrival)" "Cai Yuan Gun Gun (Wealth flows in)," and "Fu (Good fortune)." Hong also showed reporters the carefully preserved family letters - they not only reflect the deep familial bond, but also symbolize the profound ties between the two countries. One letter, written by the cousin of Hong's grandfather, caught the reporters' attention with the words "People's Daily Overseas Edition." It read: Dear Cousin, Jieyang has become a newly established city, with rapidly developing infrastructure and convenient transportation. The People's Daily Overseas Edition reported that Jieyang is a gem for foreign investors. In just over a year since becoming a city, foreign investments have reached $1.5 billion. Please visit your hometown Jieyang, do some sightseeing, and perhaps discuss some business. Wishing peace in both places. Your cousin."
Hong said he was amazed that in an era with limited communication tools, people still found ways through letters to stay informed about China's economic developments. He added that, "The letter mentions Jieyang's rapid growth and the influx of foreign investment. The invitation to 'discuss business while visiting' was probably a way of seeking out business opportunities."
In November 2020, Hong Zhihao won first prize in the 10th "Jiangsu Cup" Chinese Speech Contest and Chinese Talent Competition organized by the Confucius Institute at the Royal Academy of Cambodia. As a reward, he was offered a one-week educational visit in East China's Jiangsu Province. The trip was delayed until 2023 due to the pandemic.
Hong recalled visiting Nanjing, Suzhou, and Shanghai. "We sampled dishes like Shizitou (Lion's Head, a traditional Chinese dish featuring braised pork meatballs), and osmanthus cake, and visited places like the Nanjing Confucius Temple, Suzhou classical gardens, and the Bund."
"What impressed me most," Hong said, "was the rapid rise of China's high-tech industries. I hope to return to China for further study and bring advanced knowledge and technologies back to Cambodia, to help my country grow stronger."
A visiting event was held Thursday at the former residence of Jiang Zemin, the late Chinese leader, in Yangzhou, East China's Jiangsu Province. The event was attended by Jiang's relatives, former staff, and representatives of local officials and residents of Jiangsu Province. Jiang's former residence has recently been opened to the public, according to the Xinhua News Agency.
Located at No. 16 Dongquanmen, Dongguan Street of Yangzhou, the former residence consists of two courtyard complexes: the east and west sections. The west section was where Jiang lived with his family during his childhood and teenage years (1929-1940) as a tenant. The east courtyard now houses the main exhibition, which focuses on Jiang's life and is divided into three themes: "A great and glorious life," "A patriotic intellectual family," and "Yangzhou the forever hometown," Xinhua said.
The residence is open to the public by time-slot appointments from Tuesday to Sunday.
Jiang passed away due to leukemia and multiple organ failure in Shanghai at 12:13 pm on November 30, 2022, at the age of 96, Xinhua reported.
Following the organization of its army, navy, air, and rocket forces to conduct joint exercises around Taiwan island on Tuesday, the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) organized the "Strait Thunder-2025A" exercises in the central and southern areas of the Taiwan Straits on Wednesday.
An expert told the Global Times that this move demonstrates the PLA's tighter siege on "Taiwan independence" secessionist forces through more stringent measures with thunderous actions.
On Wednesday, the PLA Eastern Theater Command conducted military exercises code-named "Strait Thunder-2025A" in the middle and southern areas of the Taiwan Straits, according to Senior Colonel Shi Yi, spokesperson of the Eastern Theater Command.
The exercises focus on subjects of identification and verification, warning and expulsion, and interception and detention so as to test the troops' capabilities of area regulation and control, joint blockade and control, and precision strikes on key targets, Shi said.
Zhang Chi, a professor at the National Defense University, told Global Times that Wednesday's PLA exercises in the Taiwan Straits are codenamed "Strait Thunder-2025A," which shows that the PLA has rich options and various measures in deterring "Taiwan independence" secessionist forces.
For the Lai Ching-te authorities and "Taiwan independence" secessionist forces, the PLA is always on a high level of combat readiness, like a sharp sword or a heavy hammer over their heads, Zhang said.
"We are tightening the siege and chains on the 'Taiwan independence' secessionist forces through stricter measures with thunderous actions. It means that the more 'Taiwan independence' secessionist forces provoke, the stronger the punishment will be put on them," Zhang said.
Fu Zhengnan, an expert at the PLA’s Academy of Military Science, told the Global Times on Wednesday that the “Strait Thunder-2025A” exercises formed a situation in which the island of Taiwan is surrounded from two sides, as “independence” forces are pinned down and deterred.
From the “Joint Sword” series drills in 2024 to the latest “Strait Thunder” operation, the change in code name means the PLA’s military measures to deter “independence” are becoming more and more comprehensive, according to Fu.
Fu said that during the exercises, the PLA Eastern Theater Command had warships and warplane formations advancing simultaneously, locking down the island from two directions, and conducted simulated strikes on key “Taiwan independence” targets. Under the support of a strong reconnaissance and early warning system, the PLA quickly seized the comprehensive control over the battlefield through aerial interception, sea assault and land strikes, forming a psychological deterrent on the “Taiwan independence” forces.
Through routine combat patrols and pressuring, the PLA’s capabilities of joint operations in deterring “Taiwan independence” have significantly increased. If the Lai Ching-te authorities dare to touch the red line or the bottom line, the PLA can crush “Taiwan independence” forces with thunderous strikes, Fu said.
China Welfare Lottery warned against scams claiming AI can predict winning lottery numbers, and explained the mechanics of lottery draws.
In a statement on its official WeChat account on Sunday, China Welfare Lottery warned that scammers have been promoting paid “prediction services” under the false pretense of “100 percent winning rate through AI predicting technology,” leading many to be duped, reminding the lottery players to stay vigilant in the face of such temptations.
The lottery is a game of probability, the statement emphasized. Take the shuangseqiu (double color ball), as an example, according to the rules, players select six numbers from 1 to 33 among the red balls and one number from 1 to 16 among the blue balls to form a single entry. There are over 17.72 million possible combinations, and each combination has the same probability of winning. Every draw is a standalone random event, with no underlying pattern.
Based on statistics, machine learning, and data mining, AI prediction infer the likelihood of future events or outcomes by analyzing patterns and trends in historical data. However, lottery draws are completely random and independent. Past results have no bearing on future outcomes.
Even complex AI analysis of past draws cannot predict future winning numbers, as each draw is an independent event unaffected by previous results, the statement said, noting that fraudsters claiming that AI can predict lottery numbers are simply exploiting people’s desire to win, fabricating a seemingly “scientific” scam.
The lottery authority urged players to stay rational while seeking luck, to stay vigilant and do not be misled by false promises and temptations. Players were also advised to raise their awareness of scams and improve their ability to spot fraud, and to avoid falling victim to deception, according to the WeChat account article.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Thailand and China. In an exclusive interview with the Global Times, Chinese Ambassador to Thailand Han Zhiqiang said that the two countries are emphasizing the alignment of development strategies, deepening cooperation in emerging economic and technological fields, and making preparations for the historic state visit of the Thailand's King to China in the second half of this year.
Recently, the telecom fraud along the Thai-Myanmar border has drawn much attention. As China, Myanmar and Thailand have stepped up their crackdown on telecom fraud compounds, those compounds in Myanmar have successively released about 7,000 people from more than 20 countries.
Thai foreign ministry spokesperson Nikorndej Balankura told reporters that the government plans to repatriate 1,500 people per week, or 300 each weekday, with "regular repatriations of Chinese nationals every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday," according to the AFP.
Han said China appreciates Thailand's effort for taking strong measures to dismantle telecom fraud gangs and safeguard the lives and property of citizens of China and other countries. China will continue to deepen law enforcement cooperation with relevant countries, including Thailand, step up efforts to combat cross-border criminal activities such as telecom fraud, online gambling, and human trafficking, fully assist in the investigation, search, rescue and release of missing and trapped people, and effectively safeguard the lives, property and legitimate rights and interests of the people.
GT: In February this year, Prime Minister of Thailand Paetongtarn Shinawatra paid her first official visit to China after assuming office. What do you think is the significance of this visit? What are your expectations for the future of China-Thailand relations?
Han: From February 5th to 8th, the Thailand Prime Minister paid her first official visit to China and attended the opening ceremony of the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin. The visit yielded fruitful results. This visit took place at the beginning of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Thailand and the "golden jubilee" of their friendship. The leaders of the two countries had in-depth exchanges of views on bilateral relations as well as regional and international issues, and reached important consensuses.
During Paetongtarn's visit, the leaders of the two countries reaffirmed their mutual support on issues concerning each other's core interests and major concerns.
China supports Thailand in following a development path that suits its national conditions, and Thailand reaffirmed its firm commitment to the one-China principle and its non-support for "Taiwan independence." The two sides emphasized the need to strengthen the alignment of development strategies, deepen cooperation in emerging economic and technological fields, and prepare for the historic state visit of the Thailand's King to China in the second half of this year.
Thai PM's visit has further strengthened the political mutual trust between China and Thailand and further consolidated the foundation for the two countries to jointly build a community with a shared future.
Paetongtarn's visit has also injected strong impetus into practical cooperation. China has been Thailand's largest trading partner, its largest export market for agricultural products, and also its main source of foreign investment and foreign tourists for 12 consecutive years.
Cooperation between the two countries has been booming. During the visit, the leaders of the two countries witnessed the signing of several cooperation documents, and discussed strengthening connectivity under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, deepening cooperation in the industrial and supply chain, enhancing law enforcement security and judicial cooperation, as well as expanding cooperation in emerging fields such as the digital economy and new energy vehicles.
It has promoted a new upsurge in people-to-people and cultural exchanges. The Sacred Buddha Relic, a revered symbol of Buddhist devotion housed at Beijing's Lingguang Temple, was temporarily enshrined in Thailand from December 5, 2024, to February 14, 2025, which received a warm response from all sectors of Thai society.
During the Spring Festival, Thailand's King Vajiralongkorn and Queen Suthida Bajrasudhabimalalakshana held a Spring Festival ancestor worship ceremony. Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of Thailand attended the celebration activities in Bangkok's Chinatown, and Prime Minister Paetongtarn issued a Chinese New Year greeting message using AI.
During Paetongtarn's visit, the two sides unanimously agreed to explore international cooperation on giant pandas, deepen and expand exchanges and cooperation in various fields such as culture, tourism, education, and sports, and continuously promote mutual understanding and friendship between the people of the two countries, so that the China-Thailand friendship can be passed down from generation to generation.
Against the backdrop of the accelerated evolution of the profound changes unseen in a century, the sluggish global economic recovery, and the rising trends of protectionism and unilateralism, the two countries are faced with common external challenges and share common interests and similar views on many international and regional issues.
China and Thailand need to strengthen coordination in safeguarding international fairness and justice, upholding the multilateral trading system, and promoting the improvement of global economic governance.
During Thai PM's visit, the Thailand side clearly expressed its support for China's initiatives, including jointly building the Belt and Road Initiative, the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilization Initiative.
The two sides agreed to strengthen strategic communication under multilateral platforms such as the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the BRICS countries, and the Asian Cooperation Dialogue. The friendly cooperation between China and Thailand will help the two countries jointly address global risks and challenges, and make positive contributions to regional and world peace, stability and prosperity.
Looking ahead, we are confident in the bright prospects of China and Thailand jointly building a community with a shared future.
First, we will maintain close high-level exchanges and dialogues, deepen strategic communication, jointly address external risks and challenges, and continuously advance the building of a China-Thailand community with a shared future in a deeper and more practical manner.
Second, we will implement the important consensuses reached by the leaders of the two countries, deepen cooperation in connectivity, economic and trade investment, green development, the digital economy, and other fields, boost the modernization process of our respective countries, promote people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and create a more substantial and significant next "golden jubilee" of China-Thailand friendship.
Third, we will strengthen regional multilateral communication, deepen cooperation under the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation framework, China-ASEAN cooperation, and cooperation within the framework of the United Nations, contribute to maintaining regional peace and stability, promote the pooling of strength among countries in the "Global South," and work toward building a more just and reasonable global governance system.
GT: Thailand's cabinet recently approved the second phase of the high-speed rail project that will connect the Southeast Asian country with China through Laos, with completion expected in 2030. The China-Thailand Railway is an important cooperation project under the Belt and Road Initiative between the two countries. Could you share this project's latest progress? And what impact will this project have on the economies of the two countries?
Han: During Paetongtarn's visit, leaders of the two countries reached important consensuses on the proper implementation of flagship projects such as the China-Thailand Railway and on promoting the early achievement of more results in the concept of the connected development among China, Laos and Thailand.
The Thai side stated that it will accelerate the construction of the first phase of the China-Thailand Railway and will launch the second phase within this year. China highly commended this and will provide assistance.
The China-Thailand Railway is not only a new efficient and safe land passage for the flow of people and goods between China and Thailand, but also an important part of the major transportation artery in the Indo-China Peninsula.
In the future, the China-Thailand Railway will be further extended southward and connected with the railway networks of Malaysia and Singapore, which can further promote the connectivity between China and Southeast Asian countries.
This "trans-Asian Railway" can also be connected to Europe via the China-Europe freight trains, and its prospects are indeed limitless. The China-Laos Railway has been operating smoothly for more than three years. And the completion of the China-Thailand Railway will contribute to the realization of the goal of connected development among China, Laos and Thailand, and bring benefits to the people of the three countries.
GT: Since the implementation of the visa-exemption agreement between China and Thailand on March 1, 2024, nearly a year has passed. How do you evaluate the role of the visa-exemption agreement in promoting personnel exchanges between the two sides? What potential do you think there is for further cooperation between the two countries in the cultural industry?
Han: Since the implementation of the visa exemption agreement between China and Thailand, the people of the two countries have been traveling to each other's countries, and the people-to-people and cultural exchanges between China and Thailand have reached a new high.
In 2024, the number of Chinese tourists visiting Thailand reached 6.733 million, accounting for 19 percent of the total number of foreign tourists in Thailand and ranking first. The number of Thai tourists traveling to China has increased rapidly. In 2024, it exceeded 1.1 million, nearly three times higher than that in 2023, far exceeding the level before the pandemic, and China has become one of the most popular overseas travel destinations for Thai tourists.
According to the forecasts of the tourism industry associations of China and Thailand, the number of Chinese tourists traveling to Thailand will further recover significantly in 2025, and the number of Thai tourists traveling to China will continue to rise.
In recent years, with the help of new carriers such as film and television dramas, games, online literature, and cultural and creative trendy play products, Chinese culture and development concepts have been attracting increasing attention and welcome from the Thai people, especially the younger generation, in a more fashionable, diverse, and open manner, thus becoming a new window for Thais to understand China.
At the same time, China and Thailand are important markets for each other's cultural products going global and for soft power economic cooperation. The two countries can further strengthen the alignment of development strategies in the cultural and creative industries, and enhance exchanges in aspects such as policy exchanges, talent cultivation, digital technology empowerment, and the improvement of the international competitiveness of cultural products.
The cooperation in the cultural industries between China and Thailand is not only an important force to promote people-to-people and cultural exchanges, but also a new economic growth point for both sides.
GT: Recently, the telecom fraud on the Thailand-Myanmar border has drawn close attention. How do you evaluate the recent measures cracking down on telecom fraud taken by Thailand? Could you introduce the latest progress of the cooperation between China and Thailand in combating telecom fraud and other transnational criminal activities?
Han: Recently, in response to the continuous occurrence of vicious online gambling and telecom fraud cases on the Thailand-Myanmar border, China, Thailand, and Myanmar have jointly launched a concentrated crackdown operation.
Many telecom fraud compounds have been eradicated, and a large number of suspects have been arrested. More than 2,000 Chinese nationality criminal suspects have been repatriated to China. China has expressed its appreciation for the strong measures taken by Thailand to destroy the telecom fraud gangs and safeguard the lives and property of Chinese and other countries' citizens.
China will continue to deepen law enforcement cooperation with relevant countries, including Thailand, step up efforts to combat cross-border criminal activities such as telecom fraud, online gambling, and human trafficking.
China will assist in the investigation, search, rescue and release of missing and trapped people, effectively safeguard the lives, property and legitimate rights and interests of the people, and jointly maintain regional peace. At the same time, we also require Chinese citizens overseas to strictly abide by local laws and regulations and refrain from engaging in criminal activities.
