Category: Foreign

By Liu Xiaoyu, Luo Shanshan, Zhong Ziwei, People’s Daily
China serves as both a major destination for foreign investment and a leading source of outbound investment.
According to a statistical bulletin released recently, China’s outward foreign direct investment (FDI) in 2024 reached $192.2 billion, accounting for 11.9 percent of the global total – an increase of 0.5 percentage points from the previous year.
This marks the 13th consecutive year that China has ranked among the top three globally and the ninth straight year with a share exceeding 10 percent in terms of outward FDI. By the end of 2024, China’s outward FDI stock had reached $3.14 trillion, ranking among the global top three for eight consecutive years.
“Economic globalization is an unstoppable trend. Chinese enterprises going global is about mutual benefit and win-win outcomes – we deliver quality supply, job opportunities, and tax revenues to local communities, while enterprises themselves achieve robust growth. We must continue to make good use of both domestic and international markets and resources,” said Wu Sanqiang, secretary to the Board of China International Marine Containers (Group) Co., Ltd. (CIMC).
Having operated internationally since 1997, CIMC now maintains over 300 foreign affiliates with manufacturing facilities and R&D centers across nearly 20 countries and regions, employing approximately 4,700 overseas staff.
China continues to champion constructive economic globalization, advancing practical cooperation to stabilize global industrial and supply chains while actively supporting worldwide economic growth. Notably in 2024, China’s outward investment stimulated $211 billion in associated goods exports, growing 13% annually and accounting for 5.9% of the nation’s total goods exports.
Chinese enterprises abroad registered $3.6 trillion in sales revenue and paid $82.1 billion in taxes to host countries and regions, while employing 5.021 million people, 65.8 percent of whom were local hires.
Chinese investment is increasingly pivoting toward emerging markets. “In recent years, new shifts have emerged in Chinese enterprises’ global expansion, with investment moving from a focus on developed countries toward emerging markets such as Southeast Asia and the Middle East,” Wu noted. This year, CIMC established a regional office in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, working with subsidiaries such as CIMC Vehicles to support the country’s energy transition.
From Malaysia’s Pavilion Damansara Heights complex to Pakistan’s Peshawar-Karachi Motorway and Cambodia’s Techo International Airport, infrastructure projects built by China Construction Third Engineering Bureau Co., Ltd. have been steadily expanding across emerging markets.
This aligns with broader patterns: “In the first half of this year, 60 percent of overseas investment by Chinese contractors went to Belt and Road partner countries, especially in Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Central Asia, giving a strong boost to international infrastructure connectivity,” said Fang Qiuchen, Chairman of the China International Contractors Association. He noted that investment priorities are shifting from traditional energy toward renewables, with green investment steadily rising, opening up broader space for development.
Sinolong New Materials based in Xiamen, southeast China’s Fujian province develops and manufactures ultra-thin capacitor films, key materials for the new energy sector, supplying customers in over 40 countries and regions. In 2024, the company established its first overseas production base in Indonesia. “This allows us to respond more swiftly to customer needs in Southeast Asia, further enhancing our global competitiveness and brand influence,” said chairman of the company Yang Qingjin.
A growing number of Chinese enterprises are proactively going global to explore new markets. By the end of 2024, Chinese investors had established 52,000 overseas enterprises in 190 countries and regions, including 19,000 in Belt and Road partner countries, with overall operations in good shape. Seventy percent of these enterprises were profitable or breaking even.
In Kazakhstan, Allur Group has become a rising star in the local auto industry, with production and sales steadily increasing year after year. “Since investing in Allur Group, we have introduced Chinese brands such as JAC, Jetour, and Hongqi to the country,” said a representative from Genertec International Holdings Co., Ltd.
On Sept. 7 local time, Chinese battery giant CATL unveiled its NP3.0 battery safety technology in Munich, Germany. In Europe, CATL has set up three major production bases in Germany, Hungary and Spain. From pioneering new models of battery swapping to breakthroughs in recycling technologies, the company is gaining growing recognition among European carmakers with its distinctive strengths.
As China’s industrial structure continues to upgrade, high-tech products, advanced equipment, and green and low-carbon goods are becoming new growth drivers of Chinese manufacturing abroad.
With long-term strengths in independent research and development and industrial clusters, more Chinese enterprises are moving from simply exporting products to exporting brands, capital and technology, expanding their global presence and securing greater development opportunities. By venturing abroad, Chinese companies are not only broadening horizons for themselves, but also injecting fresh momentum into global markets.

By Huan Xiang, Han Liqun, Qu Pei, People’s Daily
Hami, in eastern part of northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, has long been a key hub on the ancient Silk Road and is known as the “gateway to the Western Regions.”
When Zhang Qian made his first diplomatic mission to the West in the Western Han Dynasty (202 BC-25 AD), Hami was an important stop. The Silk Road he pioneered not only fostered cultural exchanges across regions but also left behind a shared taste memory that has endured for millennia, turning “Hami” into a synonym for sweet melons.
Today, Hami’s annual Melon Festival celebrates this heritage as a vibrant feast of sweetness. Interestingly, Khiva in Uzbekistan – another ancient Silk Road cultural crossroads – hosts a parallel melon festival. Together, these two transborder events resonate as a symbolic “sweet bond” connecting communities and industries.
This summer, in the melon fields of Huayuan township of Hami, workers of the Jiaxiang Fruit Planting Cooperative rushed to harvest, sort, and pack crates of fresh melons ready for shipment. “This year we’ve already exported 1,880 tons of Hami melons, with peak daily exports exceeding 80 tons,” said Liu Ruixiang, head of the cooperative.
Hami’s temperate continental climate, featuring abundant sunshine and large day-night temperature differences, gives the melons their exceptional sweetness. Strong photosynthesis during the day allows the fruit to accumulate nutrients, while the cool nights slow sugar consumption.
The story of Hami melons is inseparable from the ancient Silk Road. Along this ancient route, grapes, pomegranates, and alfalfa from the West traveled eastward, while Hami melon cultivation techniques spread to Dunhuang in northwest China’s Gansu province before reaching central China.
Today, Hami melons have become a pillar industry driving local economic growth and improving livelihoods. International exchanges have also spurred advances in breeding. “We’ve been working with countries such as Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan to share melon germplasm resources, advancing genetic improvement and variety development,” said Zhang Yongbing, a researcher at the Hami Melon Research Center of the Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences. Central Asian countries are also testing thick-skinned varieties developed in China, he added.
At the 19th Hami melon festival held recently, 270 varieties spanning ancient and modern times were showcased, drawing crowds of visitors, with popular varieties quickly selling out.
Over the past three decades, Hami has transformed its melon from a single agricultural product into a cultural and economic symbol with global appeal. Since it was launched in 1993, the Hami melon festival has grown into the city’s most festive “sweet celebration.”
Cultural exchanges are adding even more vibrancy to Hami. In July this year, the 7th China Xinjiang International Ethnic Dance Festival set up a sub-venue in Hami, where the State Honored Song and Dance Ensemble of the Republic of Tajikistan “Lola” performed in resplendent traditional dress. “The warm response from the audience in Hami made us truly feel that art knows no borders,” said head of the troupe.
The integration of culture and tourism continues to generate fruitful results. In the first half of this year, Hami welcomed 9.85 million visitors, up 16.46 percent year on year, with tourism revenue reaching 6.379 billion yuan, a 23.22 percent increase.
“The fruits here are just as sweet as those from my hometown,” said Asadbek Bobojonov, deputy editor-in-chief of Silk Road News Network in Uzbekistan, who joined journalists from 10 countries including Kyrgyzstan and Pakistan on a field trip in June this year. In a 100-mu (about 667 hectares) melon farm in Huayuan township, he inquired closely about planting techniques and sales channels.
In Central Asia, melons are more than a fruit – they embody harvest abundance, traditions of hospitality, and national pride. Uzbekistan has been renowned for its melons since ancient times, and every August the melon festival in Khiva draws crowds of visitors.
“Both Hami and Uzbekistan share deep historical ties through millennia-old Silk Road trade routes,” noted Bobojonov. The Hami melon Festival and the melon festival in Uzbekistan can serve as important platforms for cooperation and exchange, he added.
“Hami’s melon festival and those of Central Asian countries all celebrate the sweetness of the harvest and the joy of sharing,” said Wang Lin of the publicity department of Hami’s Yizhou district. Wang called it a vivid example of the cultural affinity between China and its neighbors.
Historically, trade and cultural interaction allowed similar crops and customs to take root across the region. Today, under the Belt and Road Initiative, these shared celebrations have become a ‘sweet bond’ connecting the hearts of people in China and Central Asia.

By Yang Wenming, People’s Daily
Stretching 1,035 kilometers from Kunming in southwest China’s Yunnan province to Vientiane in Laos, the China-Laos Railway has become a “golden corridor” linking China and ASEAN, spurring regional economic growth along its route.
Since it opened in December 2021, freight volume has posted double-digit growth for three consecutive years, while daily cross-border passenger flows have risen from around 300 to as many as 1,300. By August 2025, the railway had transported over 66.5 million tons of cargo, including more than 3,000 categories of cross-border goods.
Durian season is the busiest time of year for Zhang Dehuan. Working in cross-border freight on the China-Laos Railway in Yunnan, he never expected this route would become so popular. A 2022 business trip to Laos with a trade delegation revealed the railway’s potential, prompting Zhang to lease 100 refrigerated units in a single bold investment.
It was not easy at the beginning. Zhang promoted his services at fruit wholesale markets in Kunming for days without securing a single order.
“It’s not about the freight rate,” one durian importer told him. With a container of durians worth about 1 million yuan ($140,773), importers were unwilling to risk spoilage. The freight charge of 40,000 yuan was trivial compared with the potential loss of an entire shipment if freshness could not be guaranteed.
Since no importer was willing to take the risk, Zhang decided to buy a batch of durians himself to demonstrate the service.
Once the shipment was on the move, Zhang checked the location and temperature of the container every few hours. After 26 hours, durians transported via the new refrigerated containers on the China-Laos Railway arrived in Kunming in perfect condition, where it was snapped up immediately. One impressed trader signed a deal on the spot to have six containers of durians transported by Zhang’s company.
Before the railway, durians were mostly transported by truck, which took longer and was easily disrupted by landslides, roadblocks, or congestion during the rainy season. Today, with smart refrigerated containers on the China-Laos Railway allowing for GPS tracking and remote temperature control, the journey is faster, the costs comparable, and spoilage rates far lower.
Word quickly spread in Yunnan’s fruit trade circles that “the China-Laos Railway is the safer bet for shipping durians.” Business picked up.
In 2023, cross-border freight on the line reached 4.22 million tons, up nearly 95 percent year on year.
The seasonal surge in perishable goods also tested customs clearance efficiency. “To improve capacity, customs introduced a pre-declaration model, cutting clearance time to just two to five hours,” said Su Ming, head of railway port supervision at Mengla customs under Kunming Customs.
With pre-declaration, data is submitted before arrival, and if no inspection is needed, cargo can clear customs without delay. Meanwhile, the railway increased the frequency of its Lancang-Mekong Express freight service to as many as six trains per day. Now, 18 cross-border freight trains run daily on the China-Laos Railway, significantly boosting capacity.
According to Kunming customs, Yunnan’s agricultural trade with ASEAN reached 18.62 billion yuan in the first half of this year, up 23.5 percent year on year. More than half of this trade moved via the China-Laos Railway.
“Strong freight demand reflects strong domestic demand,” said Zhu Jiang, head of freight operations at China Railway Kunming Bureau Group Co., Ltd. Southeast Asian fruits such as durian and mangosteen are increasingly popular among Chinese consumers. With improved rail capacity, overseas farming, logistics, and related industries have rapidly expanded. In Thailand, durian cultivation has grown significantly in recent years, with over 90 percent of exports bound for China. By the end of August, the China-Laos Railway had transported more than 155,000 tons of durians, up over 90 percent from a year earlier.
At the same time, vegetables from Yunnan are making their way onto supermarket shelves in Vientiane. “It takes just 26 hours for Yunnan vegetables to reach Vientiane and only another day to get to Thailand, almost half the time needed for road transport,” Zhu said.
Chinese goods such as clothing, new energy vehicles, and photovoltaic products are also in high demand across Southeast Asia. Since the line opened, the number of goods transported has grown from over 500 types to more than 3,000. Mohan Railway Port now ranks among China’s top rail ports in efficiency, making it the country’s largest rail gateway to ASEAN.
“The shift from ‘channel economy’ to ‘port economy,’ and now to ‘industrial economy,’ is becoming visible along the China-Laos Railway,” said Xiong Bin, director of the ASEAN Study Center at Kunming University of Science and Technology.
Places such as Mohan in China and Boten and Vientiane in Laos are evolving from agricultural hubs into logistics and industrial centers. The China-Laos Mohan-Boten Economic Cooperation Zone has already attracted over 300 enterprises, creating clusters of industries such as cold-chain storage, processing, and cross-border e-commerce. From connecting two countries to linking the entire Indochina Peninsula, the China-Laos Railway is continuing to unlock new potential.

By Meng Fanzhe, People’s Daily
Recently, China released a draft notice on strengthening recalls, production consistency supervision, and publicity regulations for intelligent connected new-energy vehicles (NEVs). The draft makes clear that when providing information on automation levels and system capabilities, companies must not misrepresent or exaggerate functions in a way that misleads consumers.
Advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) – including adaptive cruise control, automatic lane changing, valet parking – today, have become standard features, particularly in NEVs. While these advances showcase technological innovation and open up new growth opportunities, some manufacturers’ marketing claims have overstated system capabilities. This risks creating dangerous misconceptions – such as the belief that drivers can remove hands from wheels or disengage entirely during assisted driving operations.
Stronger regulation not only steers companies toward improving product quality, but also reminds drivers to approach assisted driving with the right mindset, reducing the risk of accidents.
Innovation knows no bounds, but safety remains the lifeline of the auto industry. From introducing a new national standard for electric vehicle batteries requiring them to be “non-flammable and non-explosive,” to drafting technical standards for vehicle door handles, and to prohibiting companies from using remote upgrades to conceal defects, China has rolled out a series of strong measures to tighten the “safety valve” and fasten the “seat belt” for industry development.
For companies, the only way to gain trust and support in a competitive market is to put safety first throughout the entire chain, from research and development to marketing, ensuring that technological progress truly serves and benefits people.
As intelligent driving technologies advance, some worry that strict regulation might stifle innovation. The real issue, however, is not whether regulation is “too strict,” but how to regulate in accordance with the law, so that safety and innovation remain balanced on the same scale.
Take Beijing’s regulations on autonomous vehicles for example. The regulations encourage these vehicles to be used for personal transport, while also setting requirements for safety in operations, networks, and data. Today, Beijing’s high-level autonomous driving demonstration zone has expanded from 60 to 600 square kilometers, with licenses issued for over 1,000 vehicles and cumulative test mileage exceeding 38 million kilometers.
Intelligent driving is a key direction for the auto industry, but technology maturity depends on extensive, long-term testing and training. Local practices across China show that by applying reform-oriented approaches, rule-of-law thinking, and pilot-based methods, regulators can guide research institutions and enterprises to balance short-term gains with long-term development, and innovation with safety, thus fostering an NEV sector that is both dynamic and well-regulated.
Safety is the foundation of development, and development in turn secures safety. This principle applies not only to automobiles but to all industries: innovation must never veer off the track of safety.
As intelligent vehicles speed down highways, regulatory frameworks must keep pace. As artificial intelligence permeates daily life, governance standards must evolve. As biomedicine ventures into uncharted waters, ethical and legal boundaries must remain firm.
Boarding the express train of technology is exhilarating, but only by strengthening the awareness and capacity for safe development can humans reach a future full of boundless possibilities.

By He Yong, Li Yanan, People’s Daily
In Yaozhanzi village, Qitai County, Changji Hui autonomous prefecture of northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, the early autumn sun bathes the vast fields. Under blue skies and white clouds, tractors shuttle across the land. Against a backdrop of clear blue skies, tractors crisscross the freshly harvested wheat land as preparations begin for the next planting season. Within days, winter wheat will take root here, awaiting another bumper harvest.
“All this vast land is under my management!” said Gao Qi, a skilled grower and lead manager of wheat farming in the village, pointing to the expansive fields before him.
A decade ago, farmland in the village was fragmented and yields were low, leaving farmers with meager incomes. This changed in 2009 when Yaozhanzi village established the Fengyu Agricultural Services Cooperative. The initiative consolidated village farmland into unified plots, enrolling all 443 households as members. Farmers now receive land transfer fees and annual dividends alongside wages.
With land consolidated, modern agricultural technology has rapidly taken root. From BeiDou satellite-guided sowing to drone-based crop protection, the entire farming process in Yaozhanzi has been mechanized. Today, 160,000 mu (10,667 hectares) of wheat and other crops are cultivated using green farming methods. This year, the village’s wheat yields reached 680 kilograms per mu.
By promoting large-scale, intensive, and science-based farming practices, Xinjiang’s grain production has undergone a transformation, from manual labor to mechanization and to smart agriculture. In 2024, Xinjiang’s average grain yield rose to 524.8 kilograms per mu, the highest in China. Between 2022 and 2024, the region achieved a net grain outflow of 14.17 million tons, ranking among the country’s seven major grain-exporting regions.
Building on large-scale wheat farming, the village began pursuing higher quality and efficiency. In 2017, Yaozhanzi founded Fengyi Agricultural Development Co., Ltd., aiming to create a full “farm-to-table” industrial chain. By expanding into specialty food processing, wheat is now transformed locally into value-added products, with more than 40 varieties across four categories under the “Yaozhanzi” brand.
Inside the flour processing workshop, the rich aroma of wheat fills the air. The use of high-quality wheat ensures consistent flour quality, gaining growing popularity among consumers. The mill now processes 36 tons of flour each day.
This green industrial chain has boosted farmers’ income. “Last year, my household earned 80,000 yuan ($11,245) in land transfer fees, and plus wages, our annual income topped 200,000 yuan,” Gao said.
Nestled at the foot of the Tianshan Mountains and adjacent to the Jiangbulake scenic area, Yaozhanzi village enjoys distinct seasonal landscapes and profound farming culture. Waves of golden wheat swaying in the breeze attract tourists, while shaded village roads and clean, tidy courtyards highlight its livable environment. Leveraging its ecological advantages, the village is actively developing rural tourism.
The village hosts a “wheat museum.” In the museum, a staff member rolled out dough, shaped it like a bun, sealed it with a straw, and blew it into a ball the size of a basketball. “This is made with our organic flour – only flour with strong gluten can be blown up like this,” the staff member explained.
The 520-square-meter museum showcases how wheat transforms from seed to flour, as well as the process of making hand-pulled noodles, through exhibits, photos, immersive displays, and multimedia presentations. Visitors not only can admire the wheat fields but also experience traditional farming culture firsthand.
Tourist attractions such as themed homestays, petting zoos, and flower fields with straw scarecrows have also flourished. Dozens of households have renovated their idle houses into guest lodgings. On weekends, most homestays are fully booked. Today, over 1/3 of the villagers are engaged in tourism businesses. In the first seven months of this year alone, the village received 153,900 tourists.
From a single grain of wheat, Yaozhanzi village has written a big story of rural prosperity. In 2024, the village achieved a total output value of 510 million yuan, with collective village income reaching 5.04 million yuan. The village’s journey mirrors the broader story of Xinjiang’s agricultural growth and strength.
In recent years, Xinjiang has focused on building itself into a major national base for high-quality agricultural and livestock products, advancing comprehensive rural vitalization and accelerating the development of modern agriculture.
The region has set nine national records in large-scale yields of wheat and corn, and established China’s first million-mu “ton-grain field,” meaning farmland capable of producing 1,000 kilograms of grain per mu annually. Xinjiang also continues to lead the five northwestern provincial-level regions in aquaculture output, while the growth of rural residents’ per capita disposable income ranks second nationwide.

By Wu Kai, Wang Zhou, People’s Daily
The Sports Services exhibition area emerged as a standout among nine thematic sections at this year’s China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS), showcasing the dynamic growth of China’s sports industry.
Pickleball matches and robot football games drew enthusiastic crowds, while innovative exhibits such as gel-based ice and snow materials and exoskeleton devices captured wide attention.
At the booth of Iced Hydrogel, a Beijing-based a green materials company, many visitors gathered around a small table, curiously examining a piece of “artificial ice” in the shape of a polar bear. “It feels cool to the touch. Why doesn’t it melt at room temperature?” asked Gulziya, a university sophomore from Beijing.
“This is not ordinary ice,” explained staff member Min Beifei. “It is a gel-based ice and snow material that not only resembles natural ice and snow in look and feel, but also maintains its form without melting as temperatures rise.”
Professor Zhang Kai of Beijing Institute of Technology highlighted the underlying innovation: “Our advanced cold-storage technology enables applications from mobile ice rinks to venue upgrades, reducing energy consumption in sports infrastructure.”
Shoucheng Holdings’ robotics division staged lively football matches alongside robotic dance and boxing demonstrations. “We aim to demonstrate technology’s transformative potential through robotic sports,” stated Ye Qian, chairman of the robotics subsidiary.
The exhibition demonstrated how technological innovation – from experiential exhibits to market-ready products – is fundamentally reshaping global sports experiences.
Visitors tested lightweight exoskeletons while ascending steps of a Jiuyanlou Great Wall model. At Dong Sport’s booth, Hebei province resident Ms. Wang enthusiastically operated a rowing simulator. “This is my second CIFTIS—the industry’s evolution is remarkable,” she observed, mimicking competitive rowing motions.
Technology is making sports more enjoyable and accessible. Jiang Xiaojuan, honorary president of the China Society of Industrial Economics, noted that as sports continue to integrate deeply with the internet, Internet of Things, and AI, more people will be able to freely enjoy the joy that sports bring.
At another booth, a ping-pong replay and review system from Rigour Technology, a Beijing-based high-tech enterprise specializing in sports AI, attracted many table tennis fans. As the ball was hit back and forth, a large screen displayed real-time data on its trajectory, net clearance height, speed, spin rate, and players’ reaction times.
According to vice president of the company Zhang Weihua, the system uses high-precision detection and tracking algorithms to analyze the ball’s path and landing point. It has been adopted as the official Table Tennis Review video refereeing system in events such as the World Cup and WTT tournaments, while also providing science-based training support for the Chinese national team and others.
Beyond table tennis, Rigour Technology’s independently developed “China Hawk-Eye” has been applied in football, snooker, tennis, volleyball and more. “As the football smart system equipped with ‘China Hawk-Eye’ has been used in competitions such as the AFC U20 Asian Cup, overseas youth training clubs are reaching out to cooperate with us. Our technology is going global,” Zhang said.
The “China Hawk-Eye” integrates AI, embedded chips, big data, and 5G technologies, capable of tracking multiple moving objects with millimeter-level precision. “We are committed to independent research and development, with researchers making up nearly 80 percent of our company’s workforce. We have obtained more than 50 domestic and international patents and software copyrights,” Zhang explained.
China’s sports service standards are increasingly adopted worldwide, as evidenced by projects displayed at China National Sports Group’s booth. These spanned from Belarus’s National Football Stadium and Gabon’s Stade d’Oyem to Uzbekistan’s Olympic City development.
“Take the Olympic City project in Uzbekistan as an example. Our team provided full-cycle technical support and standard consulting—from early-stage functional planning, event space design, and intelligent system integration, to later-stage event operations and maintenance,” said Pan Yufeng, head of the group’s strategy and resources department. “Our goal is not only to build venues, but also to create ecosystems.”

By Wang Ke, People’s Daily
Every morning at 7 a.m., the garden of Xinqin Jiayuan residential community in Gongshu district, Hangzhou, east China’s Zhejiang province, comes to life with the energetic presence of 81-year-old resident Chen Zuxing. Dressed in sportswear and a cap, Chen has recently developed a passion for senior-friendly toys. On days when the weather is favorable, he eagerly descends to the garden to enjoy these activities.
Chen Zuxing’s living room is filled with fitness and puzzle toys, thoughtfully chosen by his grandson, Chen Jiaqi. These include a rebound ping-pong trainer, an elastic chess set, a ring-toss machine, and a head-mounted boxing ball that have brought joy and activity to Chen’s later years.
“My favorite is the rebound ping-pong trainer,” Chen Zuxing said as he placed it in the center of the room. With each swing of his racket, the ball rebounded at unpredictable angles, creating a constant rhythm of “ping-pong” sounds throughout the space.
“These toys improve flexibility and sharpen reflexes,” he explained, demonstrating his skills with a “fast-reaction stick grabber” fixed to his bedroom doorframe. As five colorful sticks dropped through a transparent tube, he skillfully caught three with a flick of his wrist, prompting his wife to cheer: “That’s one more than yesterday!”
Wiping the sweat from his brow, Chen Zuxing reflected on his lifelong love of sports. “I’ve always loved sports. In the past, I had to organize a group, find a venue, and set up the table to play ping-pong. It was a hassle. Now I can play anytime, whether in the living room or downstairs, keeping my body active.”
On the occasion of the Chongyang Festival, also known as the Double Ninth Festival, which honors the elderly across China, Chen Jiaqi introduced his grandfather to his first toy: an elastic chess set. Chen Zuxing found it somewhat childish, but after learning the rules and even defeating his grandson a few times, he found it far more engaging than watching TV.
“As grandpa ages, I wanted to find something to keep him entertained while offering some exercise,” said Chen Jiaqi. “I bought the toys online, watched video tutorials, and taught him how to play.”
Before incorporating toys into his routine, Chen Zuxing’s exercise regimen was limited to daily walks. Now, the stick grabber helps enhance his reflexes, the chess game stimulates his mind, and the head-mounted boxing ball keeps him physically engaged. These simple devices have significantly improved his daily life.
Whenever he plays outside, curious neighbors often stop to watch. Chen enthusiastically shares his experience, saying, “These little gadgets are more effective than health supplements. They keep both your hands and mind active, far more stimulating than passively watching TV or scrolling through a phone.”
Chen Jiaqi also continues to add to his grandfather’s collection of toys. On a business trip to Yiwu, a city renowned for its booming small commodity trade in Zhejiang province, he came across a whack-a-mole machine and brought it back to Hangzhou. “People enjoy novelty toys. This one helps grandpa work on his reflexes and doesn’t take up much space,” he explained.
As demand for such toys grows, many vendors are increasingly recognizing the market potential for senior-friendly products. At a stall in Yiwu International Trade Market, shelves are stocked not only with children’s toys but also puzzles and handicraft kits designed for elderly adults.
Zhang Yan, a long-time toy vendor at the market, highlighted that the “silver economy” has been emphasized in the government work report for two consecutive years. “Puzzle toys tailored for seniors provide emotional support,” she said. “Activities like basket weaving or crafting bags help exercise coordination between the hands, eyes, and mind.”
Elsewhere in the market, customers gathered around Lin Liyuan’s stall as she demonstrated a small, lightweight wrist-strengthening ball. “It’s safe and fun, and just a flick sends it flying a long way. It helps loosen seniors’ joints,” she explained.
According to Chen Meijun, vice president of the Yiwu Toy Industry Association, toys for seniors respond to the growing needs of the elderly for emotional fulfillment, social connection, and physical well-being. “They’re not merely time fillers,” Chen emphasized.
Today, the market offers a wide range of senior-friendly toys that combine both functionality and practicality. “Many elderly adults seek a higher quality of life and emotional fulfillment. They are willing to spend on toys that bring joy, health, and opportunities for social interaction,” Chen said.

By Li Yan, Wang Hailin, Wang Hui, Chu Jun
The 2025 China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) concluded on Sept. 14 at Beijing’s Shougang Park. Centered on the theme “Embrace Intelligent Technologies, Empower Trade in Services,” this year’s event spotlighted transformative trends including service sector digitalization, intelligent transformation, and green development.
The fair yielded over 900 tangible outcomes across sectors including construction, information technology, and finance. Exhibitors and international participants emphasized that trade in services is playing an increasingly important role in global trade. They noted CIFTIS has further expanded the international cooperation network in this field.
As China continues to open up its services market, the country is poised to accelerate the upgrading of trade in services, injecting renewed momentum into economic globalization.
This year’s edition attracted participation from more than 80 countries and international organizations, including representatives from over 20 of the world’s top 30 economies in service trade economies. International exhibitors accounted for over 20% of total participants.
At the Latvian pavilion, Latvian Ambassador to China Karlis Eihenbaums promoted his nation’s cultural and tourism products. He noted that Latvia attaches great importance to CIFTIS, stating his nation aims to enhance brand recognition in the Chinese market and lay the groundwork for future cooperation in tourism and related fields.
Aswad, CEO of a Pakistani company, just reached a new deal at the event. “CIFTIS enables Pakistani enterprises to explore business opportunities and enhance their global visibility,” he stated. “With China’s digital industries advancing rapidly, we anticipate deeper collaboration with Chinese partners in this sector.”
“This is our first time attending CIFTIS, and we have gained a great deal,” said Arlindo Do Rosario, the Cape Verdean ambassador to China. With next year marking the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Cape Verde and China, he said his country looks forward to using platforms such as CIFTIS to present its unique products and cultural resources to Chinese consumers, thereby strengthening bilateral economic and cultural ties.
Luz Maria de la Mora, director of the Division on International Trade and Commodities at UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), noted that China’s continued opening of its service market and efforts to advance liberalization and regulation in the sector not only create new opportunities for China itself but also enable the world to benefit from China’s innovation, enterprises, and services. “This is a win-win outcome,” he said.
The rise of digital intelligence is opening new horizons for global trade in services. This year’s fair featured nine themed exhibition areas, thousands of companies, and nearly 100 forums, showcasing the accelerated pace of digital innovation and green development in diverse ways.
Johnson & Johnson, the U.S.-based multinational healthcare corporation, showcased a portfolio of world-leading innovations. Zhou Mintao, president of the company’s Medical Technologies China Region, said the far-reaching influence of CIFTIS provides multinational healthcare companies with full-cycle support from innovation and implementation to promotion. It has fostered a collaborative ecosystem that brings together enterprises, universities, research institutions, and the application end, enabling high-quality medical resources worldwide to be better aligned with China’s clinical needs.
At a zero-carbon park solutions hall, Czech company Beistar CZ showcased its patented thermal storage technology. Company representative Jiří Jirmákov said, “China has made remarkable progress in advancing green and low-carbon development. We began cooperating with Chinese tech firms in 2014. With CIFTIS, we hope to further expand our partnerships and take a deeper role in China’s sustainable development.”
Cai Wei, director of KPMG China Advisory, observed, “CIFTIS convenes cutting-edge research and innovations from global enterprises. It serves as a testing ground where new technologies and business models align with international standards, enabling companies worldwide to identify commercial applications and accelerate industrialization.”
This year’s fair also released several authoritative reports, including a 2025 global inclusive development trends report on trade in services, a 2024 China trade in services development report, a 2025 report on digital trade development and cooperation, and a 2025 China trade in services development index report. These reports put forward recommendations to promote inclusive global development in trade in services. They show that China’s trade in services is shifting from traditional areas toward high value-added sectors, and that China’s further opening in this field is injecting vitality into global growth.
“As the world’s second-largest consumer market and a major innovation hub, China is profoundly reshaping global consumption and trade patterns with its continued opening up,” said Zhu Xiaolan, chair of the Trade Service Member Advisory Council under the World Trade Centers Association. She stressed that China is not only expanding market access but also advancing sustainable cooperation by aligning rules and building capacity. By jointly developing rules and sharing experience, China ensures that the dividends of opening up is shared by more countries.
From landmark deals to policy breakthroughs, CIFTIS exemplifies China’s commitment to elevated openness. Through expanded service imports, full implementation of cross-border service trade negative lists, export promotion policies, and deepened international cooperation, China is collaborating with global partners to share opportunities and foster inclusive development.