Editor's Note:

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with visiting Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Pakistan Mohammad Ishaq Dar on Wednesday. Wang called on the two countries to further enhance and develop their all-weather strategic cooperative partnership during the meeting. Ahead of Dar's visit, Pakistan's Federal Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives, Prof. Ahsan Iqbal (Iqbal) kicked off a visit to Beijing on May 8. Iqbal's visit is the first high-level visit of a Pakistani official to China since the new government came to power in March. At a press conference on May 9 at the Pakistan Embassy in Beijing, Prof. Iqbal shared his opinions on the relationship and cooperation between China and Pakistan with Global Times reporters Leng Shumei and Xie Wenting (GT). He also shared the new government's expectations for the construction of the second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
GT: Your visit is the first high-level of a Pakistani official to China under the new government. What is the significance and key objectives of your visit?

Iqbal: It is my great privilege to visit China after the new government was voted into office. This is the first high-level visit to be followed by a visit by the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister. Then, hopefully very soon the Prime Minister of Pakistan is also likely to visit China.

Pakistan and China have enjoyed a unique relationship and diplomatic history. This is a relationship which is always moved in an upward trajectory. This has never seen any autumn. There has always been spring in this relationship. Every season, the garden of friendship between Pakistan and China has blossomed with new colorful flowers of cooperation and understanding between the people of Pakistan and China and the two ironclad brother countries.

The significance of my visit is that this is a new government after the elections. This is our first engagement with the Chinese leadership at a senior level. In this engagement, we are trying to crystallize and define the parameters of the phase two of the CPEC, on which the Chinese side had indicated its willingness to move forward and Pakistan is also very committed to moving forward. We have discussed some high-priority projects that can be immediately started to give a jump start to kick off the second phase of the CPEC.

We hope that during my visit, with discussions with Chinese leadership, we will be able to work out a road map to implement the second phase of CPEC with the same spirit and momentum, with which we were able to complete the first phase, which had a very big impact on Pakistan.

GT: How has the CPEC benefited Pakistan in the first phase and how does Pakistan plan to enhance cooperation with China in the second phase of the CPEC under the new government?

Iqbal: In 2013, when we kicked off the CPEC, Pakistan was facing severe energy shortages of up to 16 hours per day. And Pakistan's economy and security situation had many challenges. We can never forget that at that time China displayed its trust and confidence in the economy and the people of Pakistan and started a $46 billion project to help Pakistan overcome its difficulties between 2013 and 2018.

Within five years, we were able to harness over $25 billion worth of projects, which helped us establish new power projects of up to 8,000-megawatt capacity, upgrade our logistics and construct new motorways to improve connectivity between Pakistan and China.

Recently we celebrated a decade of the CPEC and we can take a lot of pride in the decade of the CPEC. The CPEC has helped Pakistan transform its energy sector infrastructure sectors and also created over 2 million jobs. It has helped Pakistan acquire new technology as thousands of Pakistani engineers and workers were trained in these projects. It has helped to connect several parts of the country so that the fruits of development can be shared across various regions of Pakistan.

As to how to broaden cooperation from phase one to phase two, particularly, what is important now for us is three aspects. One is the agricultural sector. How do we expand our cooperation to bring new technology into the agricultural sector to enhance productivity of Pakistan? Second is how do we enhance industrial cooperation? Particularly, there is a strong case for relocation of Chinese industries to Pakistan where labor costs in China have increased and Pakistan offers a very attractive environment for relocation to the CPEC that we are setting up. And that will also help us to transform from an agrarian economy to an industrial economy, which is one of the key future goals.

In this industrialization, we also want to focus on exports: How to have an export-led growth in Pakistan. So, there will also be more cooperation at the level of exports to help Pakistan develop its exports and special economic zones.

The third area is technology because China has leadership and many new fourth-generation industrial revolution technologies, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), which is a very important new platform for the future economies and digital economies. So, Pakistan is also preparing its national action plan for the adoption of AI. We will also benefit greatly in this area from China.

Lastly, we also want to expand educational and technical exchange programs. I think close to 27,000 [Pakistani] students are studying in China; China has become a major destination for Pakistani students for higher education and we would like this cooperation to further expand and also to have greater partnership or twinning arrangements between Pakistani universities and Chinese universities so that they can undertake joint research in the areas of cooperation, particularly like agriculture, industrial cooperation, and export development of Pakistan.
GT: In March, there was terrorist attack that led to the deaths of Chinese nationals. What measures will Pakistan take to protect the safety of Chinese people and projects in your country?

Iqbal: There are enemies of the CPEC; enemies of Pakistan-China friendship, who are trying to stop the progress of the CPEC. The recent unfortunate terrorist incidents were sponsored by such elements who want to create obstacles in the way of the CPEC's progress.

First of all, I offer my condolences to the families of those Chinese workers who were targets of this terrorist action; the whole Pakistani nation is in mourning. We consider Chinese engineers and workers in Pakistan as our special guests. They are working for the development of Pakistan. So, no Pakistani ever can even dream of causing any harm to any Chinese person on Pakistani soil. These incidents are sponsored from across the border.

I want to assure you that we have taken further measures to enhance security for Chinese people in Pakistan. On the projects where there are large numbers of Chinese workers, we have also tried to minimize their land travel from project sites. We will moving them either by helicopters to give them added security, or we shall also now enhance the security in terms of the support of paramilitary forces, and the police and also strengthen the protocols of securities.

And the message for those who want to put obstacles in the path of our friendship through such dirty tricks is very clear that such attacks cannot stop the progress of the CPEC. It cannot stop the progress of the BRI. It cannot stop progress of friendship between the ironclad brothers Pakistan and China.

GT: What is your comment on the so-called "debt trap" narrative over the BRI?

Iqbal: Pakistan has benefited from financing by China. The whole disinformation about whether the CPEC or the BRI are debt traps has nothing grounding in reality. As a matter of fact, the CPEC has benefited Pakistan's economy immensely.

GT: The capacity of the new energy vehicles (NEVs) is still far from meeting market demand especially in developing countries. How will Pakistan cooperate with China to develop NEVs in the future?

Iqbal: NEVs are China's strength. China is the leader now in electric vehicles. So, we are seeking to transform our transportation sector with the help of China because we also have set up goals to have a greater share in our transport for electric vehicles to reduce pollution in our cities.

During my visit, I'm meeting some Chinese companies, which are interested in setting up plants in Pakistan to manufacture new-energy automobile buses. And, particularly our interest is to have buses that will clear pollution from our cities, which are electric buses. This will be a priority item for us for the future.

GT: When will the visit of the Pakistani Prime Minister take place and what will the highlights of the visit be?

Iqbal: You have to wait for the final declaration at the time of the visit, but I can only say that we are hopeful that this will be a very productive visit because this is not an ordinary visit. This is a visit by the Prime Minister of Pakistan to Pakistan's best and the dearest country that is the most reliable friend. This is happening at a time when the new government has come in and it is dedicated to taking on the CPEC's second phase with full commitment and full momentum. So, there will be happy outcomes from the visit.

Chinese experts on Saturday urged Canadian politicians to maintain strategic sobriety and insist on an independent economic policy following media reports saying that Canada is considering whether to impose new tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles (EVs), even though US tariff hikes on Chinese EVs have been criticized for disrupting market competition and global industrial chains.

Experts said if Canada has plans to follow suit in announcing additional tariffs on Chinese-made EVs, bowing to trade protectionism will only backfire on Canadian companies and consumers, taking a toll on the country's business environment.

Trade Minister of Canada Mary Ng said in an interview that Canada is looking at whether it needs to raise tariffs on Chinese-made EVs after the US announced major new levies on them, according to a report by Bloomberg.com on Saturday.

"We are looking at this very carefully and we have an open dialogue with our American partners," Ng said.

The US on Tuesday announced new tariff rates on several Chinese products, including a major hike in levies on Chinese EVs, which has been seen as protectionism that violates WTO rules.

Wang Wenbin, a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, said that China has always opposed violating WTO rules and unilaterally imposing tariffs. "China will take all necessary measures to safeguard its legitimate rights and interests," Wang said.

China's Ministry of Commerce on Tuesday also urged the US to immediately cancel the additional tariffs on Chinese products and vowed to take resolute measures to defend its rights over US' announcement to increase tariffs on Chinese products.

Canada should avoid following the US in imposing protectionist tariffs to escalate the tension and further disrupt the global industrial and supply chains, Gao Lingyun, an expert from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Saturday.

Chinese analysts said Canada's actions toward China in recent years have been shadowing American practices, but blindly following Washington's footsteps is not conducive to the development of the Canadian economy and China-Canada economic relations.

Ng made the remark in an attempt to show a stance in line with its ally against Chinese EVs, Gao said, adding that Canada should consider its own interests instead of considering abandoning mutually-beneficial cooperation and acting as cannon fodder to serve the US' strategy of suppressing China's EV industry.

If Canada raises tariffs on Chinese-made EVs, it will damage its international reputation for abusing protectionism and violating of WTO rules, but such a move won't stop the rise of relevant Chinese industries, due to their small share in the Canadian market, Gao said.

"Even if Canada takes any measures to restrict import of Chinese EVs, it will cause limited impact to China's EV sector because there are barely Chinese-made EVs in the Canadian market," said Gao, adding that Ng's statement was more political motivated with little economic significance.

More than half of Japanese companies plan to expand or maintain investment in China in 2024, according to a survey by the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry in China that was released on Tuesday, underscoring their confidence in the China market, driven by improved business conditions and policy support.

The survey showed that Japanese firms recognize the pivotal role of the China market in their global strategy and are keen to capitalize on the opportunities presented by China's high-quality development, despite external uncertainties stemming from intensified US actions targeting China, analysts said.

The survey received 1,741 responses, primarily from the manufacturing sector. The survey was conducted from March 18 to April 12 to grasp the situation of Japanese companies in China and understand the changing market environment.
Among the surveyed companies, 56 percent said that they would increase or maintain their investment in China this year.

At Tuesday's press conference, Tetsuro Homma, chairman of the chamber, said that two or three decades after entering the China market, many Japanese companies in China still recognize the importance of the market.

While striving to secure their respective market positions and profit areas, they are adopting new measures including more investments for the future, the chamber head said.

The main reasons that Japanese firms plan to invest more include the need to launch new projects, establish factories and production lines, increase orders, and strengthen their research and development (R&D) capabilities, according to the survey.

Even for companies that plan to reduce overall investment, there is a consensus to ramp up investment in R&D and talent development, the chamber said.
China's continued improvement in the business environment has spurred enthusiasm for investment among Japanese companies, as reflected in this report.

The survey found that 57 percent of the companies said that they were very satisfied or satisfied with the business environment in the first quarter of this year, a three-percentage-point increase from the previous quarter, marking an improvement for three consecutive quarters.

The surveyed companies also said that some of the Japanese firms had excellent communication and a good relationship with Chinese local governments. Cities receiving high praise included North China's Tianjin, Shanghai, and Foshan, South China's Guangdong Province.

Additionally, 75 percent of surveyed enterprises reported receiving treatment in terms of policy perspectives that was equal to that of domestic enterprises, marking a two-percentage-point increase from the previous quarter.

Moreover, 52 percent of the surveyed enterprises indicated that China is their most important market or one of the most important markets, marking a one-percentage-point increase from the previous quarter.

Many Japanese enterprises expressed a desire to resume visa-free arrangements to facilitate personnel exchanges and expand business opportunities, according to the chamber.

"Japanese companies are voting with their feet when it comes to the future. China remains their most important market and Japanese companies are actively adjusting their strategies to minimize external risks while maximizing development opportunities in the China market and capitalizing on China's high-quality development," Xiang Haoyu, a research fellow at the China Institute of International Studies, told the Global Times on Tuesday.

The Chinese government's continuous enhancement of the business climate for foreign investment and its further opening-up has drawn investment from foreign companies, including those from Japan.

These companies are being rational in assessing and valuing their cooperation needs and interests with China, their major market, the Chinese expert said.

In a recent interview with the Global Times, Homma said that China's GDP is four times that of Japan's, with a population of 1.4 billion. "Japanese companies cannot and should not ignore the importance of the Chinese market in their global strategy," he said.

As 2024 marks the 60th anniversary of China-France diplomatic relations, exchanges in core sectors such as aerospace, nuclear energy and trade have already realized fruitful achievements, while the development of emerging fields such as new energy and the digital economy are likely to become new growth engines for propelling bilateral cooperation, French enterprises and Chinese experts said.

Observers also highlighted France's relatively independent policy toward China and China's vast market potential as major advantages in consolidating bilateral exchanges. 

Unlike some other European countries, whose economic policies have been strongly influenced by the US, France has a strong level of independence with its policy toward China, as it highly values the world's second-largest economy as a major market and production base for French enterprises, Sun Yanhong, a senior research fellow at the Institute of European Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Sunday.

In addition, the strong cultural confidence of the two sides and deep people-to-people and cultural exchanges have made China-France relations more stable than in the case of some other European countries, said Cui Hongjian, a professor at the Academy of Regional and Global Governance with Beijing Foreign Studies University. 

France is China's third-largest trading partner in the EU while China remains France's fourth-largest global trading partner. In the first quarter of 2024, bilateral trade totaled 127.22 billion yuan ($17.99 billion), according to data from China's General Administration of Customs. From 2019 to 2023, China's trade with France grew 5.9 percent annually. 

Specifically, France is China's largest source of agricultural imports from the EU with a total import value of 10 billion yuan and increases in products such as dairy, pork and wine during the first quarter.

China remains a crucial supplier of a wide range of consumer goods for France, as exports of home appliances to France grew 30.6 percent year-on-year while exports of toys increased by 28 percent, official data showed. 

Besides the consolidated cooperation in traditional fields, experts expect the rapid development of emerging industries will likely create new growth points to further advance bilateral cooperation. 

Sun sees cooperation potential in industries related to the digital economy and green transformation, as Europe has been involved in these sectors, with both advantages and shortcomings that can be made up through collaborating with China. 

France has relatively insufficient production capacity, and it has a talent gap in research and development in new energy. China can provide corresponding help and the two countries have complementarity in the sector, Sun said, adding that the green transformation will offer more opportunities for both sides to explore new potential in sectors like agriculture. 

French enterprises are also upbeat about continuously deepening cooperation with their Chinese counterparts in emerging sectors with confidence and positive outlook amid the celebration of the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and France. 

"We honor our role in supporting China's strong economic growth and green transition as one of the first multinational environmental services companies in the market," Sabrina Soussan, chairman and CEO of SUEZ, told the Global Times in a recent interview, adding that China remains a key market and strategic partner for the company. 

Soussan highlighted significant partnerships signed in the presence of the two countries' leaders, and these projects aimed at transforming waste into renewable energy and pioneering electric vehicle battery recycling. These are critical for China's green transition. "I believe that by collaborating with local partners, we leverage our combined strengths to significantly advance China's green and low-carbon transition," Soussan said. 

A think tank report titled "China-EU Cooperation on Environment and Climate: Progress and Prospects" was released globally on Friday. Noting green as the distinctive color of China-EU cooperation, the report said this cooperation not only enriches and develops the bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership, but also directly advances the environmental governance, trade and investment of both sides, benefiting the entire world.

Amid China's efforts to bolster high-quality opening-up, observers said that China will remain a hot destination for investment from Europe, backed up by supportive measures, while suggesting more targeted measures for further expanding cooperation. 

For instance, new areas could be explored when it comes to expanding market access, such as developing the economy targeting the elderly, which France and Europe have much experience in, Cui told the Global Times on Sunday.  

In the first two months of 2024, France's actual investment in China increased by 585.8 percent year-on-year, according to data from China's Ministry of Commerce. 

China and France released on Monday Paris time a joint declaration on artificial intelligence (AI) and global governance during Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit to France, the Xinhua News Agency reported on Tuesday. 

Experts said that the joint declaration will pave the way for practical cooperation, and serve as a model for enhancing AI exchanges and partnerships between China and other European countries. 

Signing the declaration is also seen as a challenge to US dominance in the field of AI, highlighting the limitations of hegemonic ambitions in the fast-evolving AI landscape. The era of the US attempting to assert AI global dominance is deemed unsustainable, experts said.

The declaration noted that President Xi and French President Emmanuel Macron firmly believe in the importance of continued dialogue to provide lasting solutions to global challenges. One of the highlights of the declaration is that China and France are committed to taking effective measures to address risks associated with this technology.

Both countries are also on the same page about the basic rules for AI governance. They agreed to take into account the flexibility required for the rapid development of technology, while providing necessary protection for personal data, the rights of users and the rights of users whose work is used by AI. They also committed to promoting secure, reliable and trustworthy AI systems, adhering to the principle of "AI for good."

Zeng Yi, a professor of AI at the Chinese Academy of Sciences and also an expert of the UN Secretary-General's Advisory Body on AI who participated in the formation of the declaration, told the Global Times on Tuesday that this consensus reflects the alignment of both parties on issues including ethics, safety, security and the governance of AI at a fundamental level, laying the foundation for pragmatic and in-depth cooperation between the two countries in the field of AI governance.

Cooperation between China and France can drive collaboration in the field of AI between China and Europe as a whole, Liu Wei, director of the human-machine interaction and cognitive engineering laboratory at the Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, told the Global Times on Tuesday. 

Liu Wei said both sides have great potential in working together on research into the development and application of AI technology, as well as laws and regulations.

Liu Baocheng, director of the Center for International Business Ethics of the University of International Business and Economics, told the Global Times that both sides have significant complementary relationships in this field. Also, China's rapid development of new quality productive forces presents an opportunity for France to participate in China's development.

The next step will involve greater participation by research institutions and businesses to ensure the true implementation of the declaration Liu Baocheng noted.

Through closer AI governance cooperation, both sides can systematically share more solutions to address risks, such as privacy breaches and the lack of an effective ethical AI security framework, thereby minimizing and avoiding common risks and challenges facing all of humanity, Zeng said.

Another keyword mentioned in the declaration is "cooperation." It said that international cooperation in AI governance will rely on work conducted at the UN level, and China and France will help strengthen the network capabilities of all countries, especially developing countries, to address network threats related to AI development and bridge the digital divide among developing countries.

The joint declaration between China and France conveyed an image of responsible major powers to the world, presenting an overall approach to global AI governance, Liu Baocheng said. 

Zeng said the declaration is in line with China's Global AI Governance Initiative, and the signing of the declaration is also one of the representative efforts China has made at the specific implementation level as a responsible AI power, after having proposed the initiative.

Regarding the idea of China-France cooperation to counter the "AI hegemony" of the US, Liu Baocheng said that in the field of AI, the US has been seeking to dominate the global rules system. However, the reality is that each country has its own strengths, and the hegemonic mind-set of the US is unlikely to be realistically delivered. The attempt by the US to rule the world with AI is a thing that is not sustainable, he noted. 

A track-laying machine made a rumbling sound as concrete sleepers are placed on the roadbed. Two-hundred-meter-long rails extend and fall steadily onto the sleepers through a mix of manual labor and high-tech machinery.

This has become a common scene during track-laying construction on the Hungarian section of the Hungary-Serbia railway, the flagship cooperative project under China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Here, extended railway lines are connecting scattered cities into an accessible and dynamic network, linking Hungary and Serbia, two Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries ever closer together.

Engaged in a wide range of fields such as transportation, high-end manufacturing and mining, Chinese companies have been actively promoting economic development in the regional countries. The companies bring with them advanced technology, high-tech equipment, modern management concept, and integrate them to better meet local development needs, contributing to the economic growth and improvement of the people's livelihood there.

As the BRI now enters its second golden decade, this week's state visits by China's top leader chart the course for cooperation between China and the two CEE countries in their respective pursuit of high-quality development.

A number of Chinese companies rooted in Serbia and Hungary for many years have recently shared with the Global Times how they have achieved win-win cooperation and development under the BRI framework. The companies are looking forward to embracing new opportunities for high-quality development in the two countries.

Promotion of synergy

Along a section of the Hungary-Serbia railway in Hungary, which is been built by a Chinese company, track laying work is progressing smoothly. Since the job officially commenced at the end of May last year, about 70 percent of track laying work within the section has been completed, with the overall project completion rate exceeding 55 percent, the Global Times learned from China Railway Hungary-Serbia Railway Project Management Department, the Chinese company participating in the construction of the Hungarian section of the railway project.

By the time of its completion, the regional transportation network will be significantly improved, providing greater convenience for both passengers and cargo delivery across the CEE economies.

The Hungary-Serbia railway could well illustrate how China's BRI projects can help promote the regional economic synergy.

At a heavy equipment manufacturing plant in Ruma, Serbia, excavators and haulage vehicles were seen navigate through the site, accompanied by the rhythmic sounds of welding, cutting, and hammering. Amid this activity, workers diligently carry out tasks such as reinforcing steel bars and pouring foundation concrete, ensuring an organized and efficient work flow.

China Construction First Group has participated in the construction of the new factory project. With a keen focus on meeting the deadline, they aim to complete the prefabricated components during the second half of 2024. Once finished, this facility, owned by the Chinese company Haitian Group, will serve as a pivotal manufacturing hub for equipment like injection molding machines in the European region, the Global Times learned from China Construction First Group.

Chen Shuai, deputy general manager of the Fifth Construction Co, China Construction First Group, told the Global Times that the company is seizing the opportunity presented by the successful execution of the factory project in Serbia, to facilitate the expansion of China's industrial manufacturing capacity overseas.

As the bilateral strategic partnership relations deepen, Chen holds strong expectations for further tapping into the potential for deeper cooperation for Chinese companies in Serbia.

Specifically, they will ramp up efforts to capitalize on the burgeoning development of infrastructure in Serbia, participating in projects spanning roads, bridges, tunnels, and renewable energy production, among other industrial lines, Chen said.

Serbia Zijin Copper DOO in Bor, Serbia, a joint venture between China's Zijin Mining Group and Serbia, sets a good example of how the BRI prompts greater synergy in the regional development. By the end of 2023, the copper mine project in Bor had amassed investments totaling $2.498 billion, nearly double the promised investment of $1.26 billion in 2018, the company told the Global Times.

With a cumulative copper production of 356,000 tons and gold production of 9.8 tons, the project contributed nearly $500 million in taxes and fees and made a social contribution of $850 million, according to the company. Also, it created over 9,000 jobs. In 2023, the company achieved export revenues of around $720 million, significantly promoting the mutual development of stakeholders in Serbia.

Looking ahead, the company plans to add $1.2 billion in new investments in the next three years. The goal is to increase copper production of the copper mine in Bor from currently 120,000 tons per year to 220,000 tons per year by 2030, the company said.

High-quality growth

As the BRI embarks on its new journey after10 years of golden development, more possibilities will emerge in the cooperation between China and the regional countries.

The meetings between the top leaders of China and the regional countries this week have set the tone for deepening the bilateral ties while pushing the cooperation toward high-quality development.

In the joint statement signed on Wednesday between China and Serbia, both sides vowed to take the opportunity of entering a new stage of high-quality development in the joint construction of the BRI. They aim to deepen and expand cooperation in various fields, including trade, investment, technology innovation, digitalization, and telecommunications.

Meanwhile, China and Hungary are also expected to sign multiple cooperation agreements following the important meetings between leaders of the two countries, injecting new momentum into the development of bilateral relations.

In a recent interview with the Global Times, Chinese Ambassador to Hungary Gong Tao said that, in the future, both sides will continue to promote high-quality joint construction of the BRI, focusing on key areas such as digital economy, green development, and information technology.

During recent years, China has actively promoted cooperation with the CEE countries under the BRI. This initiative has yielded tangible benefits for the region, effectively enhancing connectivity between China, Eastern Europe, and the broader European region, Song Wei, a professor from the School of International Relations at Beijing Foreign Studies University, told the Global Times on Thursday, describing China-CEE cooperation as a role model for cross-regional collaboration.

Despite the marked progress, economic development in CEE is still encountering some challenges, including poverty reduction, and how to achieve faster economic modernization in the region, according to Song.

Song emphasized that amid the pursuit of high-quality cooperation and partnership, China will remain committed to further supporting CEE countries in integrating them into the global value chain.

Specifically, Song said that enhancing mutual investment programs, including on setting up joint investment funds, would incentivize more local enterprises in CEE to participate in the BRI.

The countries in the region are eager to draw from China's successful developmental experiences. Therefore, both sides may intensify efforts to collaborate on a series of training programs and exchanges, facilitating mutual learning and development in the future, Song said.

"The commitment aims to foster closer economic and trade ties between China and the CEE economies, assisting the region to better tackle its corresponding challenges in the future," Song said.

On the early morning of Saturday, a geomagnetic storm brought a breathtaking gift to China -- the aurora borealis lit up the skies across various regions of the country, attracting visitors and photographers to enjoy the stunning beauty.

At 9:32 am on Saturday, the National Space Weather Monitoring and Early Warning Center under the China Meteorological Administration issued a red alert for geomagnetic storms, predicting moderate to high solar activity levels in the next three days, with the possibility of M-class or even X-class flares, leading to small to large geomagnetic storms, and even severe geomagnetic storms.

Regions such as Altay in Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Mohe in Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, and North China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region were among the best destinations to witness natural phenomenon.

Altay, located in the northern part of Xinjiang, became a hotspot for tourists and photography enthusiasts eager to witness this natural wonder. The night sky was adorned with colorful auroras, creating a mesmerizing spectacle for all who gazed upon it.

As people stepped out of their homes at night and looked up at the sky, they were treated to a display of colorful auroras dancing across the night sky, creating a dreamlike atmosphere. The auroras, like a magical gift from nature, captivated onlookers, leaving them spellbound.

With its cold climate and high altitude, Altay has become a prime location for aurora viewing in recent years, drawing tourists from both domestic and international destinations.

Also in Mohe, located in the northernmost part of China, the night sky was illuminated with vibrant shades of purple and red, attracting tourists from far and wide.

One such tourist, Ma Jingxuan from Beijing, embarked on a road trip to Mohe specifically to witness the mesmerizing display of red auroras. "I drove all the way from Beijing and finally caught a glimpse of the northern lights. It was absolutely beautiful and awe-inspiring," Ma exclaimed as he captured the magical moment with his camera, the Guangming Daily reported on Saturday.

This year, Mohe has witnessed multiple occurrences of the northern lights, drawing in visitors from all corners of the country.
Interestingly, the phenomenon of the northern lights even extended as far south as Beijing on Saturday. Photographer Wang Kai seized the opportunity to capture the enchanting moment in the capital city, a local Beijing media outlet reported.

Experts predict that parts of Beijing and Hebei may witness the northern lights again on Sunday. They recommend observers to head to the northern mountainous areas of Beijing such as Yanqing, Miyun, and Huairou districts for the best viewing experience, away from light pollution and with a clear, open view of the sky.

According to a diagram from magazine Chinese National Geography, the color of the aurora varies depending on the distance from the observer. Red auroras are typically seen at distances greater than 300 kilometers, while green auroras are more common at distances between 100 to 200 kilometers. The closer one is to the aurora, the more vibrant and colorful the display becomes.

Meanwhile, in other high-latitude regions around the world, the stunning phenomenon of the northern lights has also been making appearances. From northern Switzerland to Dublin, Ireland, and various locations in the UK, the night skies have been painted with hues of green, red, and purple, creating a magical and ethereal atmosphere for all those lucky enough to witness it.

The ongoing solar storms are expected to continue to be active in the next two days, allowing for the possibility of widespread auroras in the northern hemisphere.

The ministry of defense of the Afghan Taliban government on Wednesday rejected Pakistan's allegations that Afghans were involved in a terror attack in which five Chinese nationals were killed in Pakistan in March. Chinese analysts called for a thorough investigation into the attack and urged regional countries to strengthen joint counter-terrorism efforts as the anti-terrorism situation in Central and South Asia deteriorates.

Mufti Enayatullah Khorazmim, the spokesperson for Afghanistan's Taliban-run Ministry of National Defense said on Wednesday that Afghans were not involved in the March terror attack and claimed that "blaming Afghanistan for such incidents is a failed attempt to divert attention from the truth of the matter," according to a Reuters report on Wednesday.

Pakistan military spokesman Major-General Ahmed Sharif told a news conference in Islamabad on Tuesday that the suicide bomb attack in March was planned in neighboring Afghanistan, "the car used in it was also prepared in Afghanistan, and the suicide bomber was also an Afghan national," according to media reports.

Five Chinese nationals and their Pakistani driver were killed in a suicide terror attack on March 26 at the China-invested Dasu hydropower project. The Chinese Embassy to Pakistan has demanded Pakistan to conduct a thorough investigation and punish the culprits severely.

Chinese analysts emphasize the importance of conducting a comprehensive and impartial investigation into the terrorist attack, with detailed and compelling evidence presented. They underscore that China should refrain from becoming embroiled in the disputes of other countries, and the safety and interests of Chinese citizens and companies must be ensured.

Tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan have heightened amid recent security concerns. The Pakistani army and government have accused the Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) of launching attacks on Pakistan from Afghan territory, although the Afghan Taliban have denied these allegations.

China has always emphasized the necessity of a comprehensive investigation and swift apprehension of perpetrators, and it does not wish to become entangled in the affairs of any other country, Zhu Yongbiao, director of the Center for Afghanistan Studies at Lanzhou University, told the Global Times.

Zhu said that it is alarming that the anti-terrorism situation in the Central and South Asian region, especially in the area centered around Afghanistan, is showing a deteriorating trend, with extensive interconnection and communication among terrorist and extremist groups, necessitating attention from all nations.

The international community must not disregard the issue of counter-terrorism, particularly in the Central and South Asian region, where the influence of terrorism is on the rise, said the expert.

Each country, including Pakistan and Afghanistan, may need to pragmatically seek a comprehensive solution to counter-terrorism issues amid disputes. This is essential to prevent the proliferation of terrorist forces, which could jeopardize national political security and regional stability, Zhu said.

China's special envoy for climate change Liu Zhenmin will travel to the US from May 7 to 16 for talks with his US counterpart. The first formal talks between climate envoys from both countries carry great significance as it is expected they can continue and extend the positive exchange between the two countries in addressing climate change, according to observers, while also warning that the coming US presidential election could cloud the future cooperation.

Liu will lead a delegation for talks with US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Podesta, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment said Tuesday.

The ministry said that Liu will exchange in-depth views on the "The Sunnylands Statement on Enhancing Cooperation to Address the Climate Crisis," which was issued by two countries in November last year; and other consensuses, as well as promote practical results in advancing China-US climate cooperation.

During this visit, Liu will also engage in discussions with relevant United Nations departments, as well as local governments and think tanks in the US, on topics related to climate change and other issues.

China will aim to extend cooperation on issues including energy, the circular economy and efforts to curb greenhouse gases beyond carbon dioxide, Liu told Bloomberg last month.

"Common ground means that both the US and China want to continue to lead this global process to respond to climate change," he said. "We have to cooperate as far as possible." The nations "also need to respect each other on all issues," according to Liu.

Energy transition, non-CO2 greenhouse emission such as methane, along with other issues are likely to top Liu's talks with Podesta, as those topics are of mutual concerns and energy transition is facing grave challenge amid complicated international situation, Ma Jun, director of the Beijing-based Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs, told the Global Times on Tuesday.

Ma believed trade issues will also top the list of discussion as the US has been using trade protectionism in key products and technologies for low-carbon transformation.

Podesta previously laid out the clearest declaration yet of the Biden administration's willingness to upend global trading rules — which the US fostered — to achieve its twin objectives of limiting carbon emissions and Chinese dominance of key industries, Bloomberg reported.

Liu and Podesta, both appointed to their roles in January, have spoken virtually and met in person briefly at the Petersburg Climate Dialogue in Berlin in April.

The strong personal connection between their predecessors Xie Zhenhua and John Kerry has kept climate talks between China and US alive even when bilateral relations spiraled to a low point, experts said.

The first formal talks between two climate envoys carry great significance as it is hoped they can continue and extend the positive exchange on climate issues between China and US, Ma said, noting that the strong bond doesn't come easy, and it needs time to establish the mutual trust.

Yet there's also concern that the coming US presidential election could cloud future cooperation. Speaking with Bloomberg, Liu said "I definitely hope that the American people will support the government to stay in the climate change process, stay in the Paris Agreement, even if Trump wins the next election…Not to repeat the mistake that they made during his last administration."

Ma said that US' withdrawal from the Paris Agreement another time will not only disrupt climate collaboration between Beijing and Washington; it is also likely to greatly set back global effort in tackling global warming. The uncertainty, however, highlighted the importance of dual-track communication between two countries, which comprises both exchange between central government level and sub-national, and non-governmental cooperation, according to Ma.

California Governor Gavin Newsom paid a visit to China in November last year. In a press release issued addressing his visit, Newsom's office said his trip prioritized three goals -- advancing climate action and cooperation, promoting economic development and tourism, and strengthening cultural ties.

On his trip, California signed five Memorandums of Understanding (MOU) with China's National Development and Reform Commission, the provinces of Guangdong and Jiangsu, and the municipalities of Beijing and Shanghai, according to the release.

"These MOUs advance California and China's work on climate policy and help set the stage for national discussions and partnerships," the release read.

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