Foreign
Digital technology gives leg up to ecological conservation in Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park

By Zhao Peng, Cao Wenxuan, People’s Daily
Since the Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park was set up as a pilot area in 2019, the southern Chinese province of Hainan has been focusing on building a new model of intelligent ecological management.
The management office of the Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park has built a provincial-level intelligent management center and a smart rainforest big data platform. Besides, it has also planned an integrated monitoring system for the national park, which aims to make daily patrols, animal protection, and resource monitoring smarter.
After a rain shower, Fu Huiquan, a forest ranger in the Yinggeling nature reserve of the Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park, and his teammates went on patrolling, observing water bodies and protecting plants. They took photos, made records, and uploaded data.
As they advanced, their whereabouts were shown on a 3D map of a “Hainan Forest Ranger” mobile application. “Hainan Forest Ranger” is an intelligent application that allows forest rangers to take photos and send relevant data back to the smart rainforest big data platform.
The Hainan tropical rainforest is China’s prime example of a concentrated, diverse, well-preserved, and expansive continental island-type tropical rainforest. Paths in the pristine forest are narrow and slippery, with complex and changing conditions. Relying solely on traditional forest protection models would only result in low efficiency, and it is difficult to guarantee the personal safety of forest rangers.
Fu told People’s Daily that over ten years ago, when patrolling the mountains, they only carried a few items: machetes, compasses, and an old-fashioned camera. But now they bring smarter equipment such as satellite positioning devices, drones, and infrared cameras.
If they need to observe the overall situation of the rainforest or monitor areas that are difficult for humans to reach, they use drones for surveying. If they need rescue or spot fires or pests, they can upload photos or videos to the smart rainforest big data platform or directly connect with the platform for consultation and assistance. The upgraded equipment has made today’s patrols safer and more efficient.
The Hainan gibbon is one of the most endangered primate species in the world. The Bawangling nature reserve at the Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park is the animal’s only habitat.
On the screens in the Bawangling nature reserve’s monitoring center, two Hainan gibbons were seen chasing and leaping through the forest, with the video closely tracking their actions as they ran and jumped.
With the help of 360-degree panoramic cameras that automatically capture and transmit the activities of the Hainan gibbons in real-time, monitoring personnel located tens of kilometers away can observe every action of the animal by simply moving their fingers.
Since the launch of the smart rainforest project in 2021, a total of 105 surveillance cameras, approximately 35 kilometers of vibration fiber optic cables, and hundreds of infrared thermal sensing triggered cameras have been installed in the Bawangling and Diaoluoshan nature reserves at the national park, building an all-encompassing “electronic fence” without any blind spot.
Wild animals’ movements are unpredictable. Relying solely on field patrols and monitoring provides limited information. However, the “electronic fence” allows for 24-hour monitoring of the surveillance areas. To minimize the impact on wildlife, all monitoring facilities have been designed to resemble trees.
The surveillance cameras and vibration fiber optic cables are placed at key points where the core areas and the general control areas converge. If unauthorized individuals or vehicles attempt to enter the core areas of the national park, these devices will alert potential risks.
“After the application of the ‘electronic fence,’ the incidents of unauthorized personnel entering the protected areas have been effectively controlled,” said Wang Nan, deputy director of the management office of the Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park.
With the assistance of digital technology, the population of Hainan gibbons has now recovered to 37 individuals in six groups, Wang said.
Since 2019, the rainforest has revealed 54 new species to researchers. In addition, several rare and endangered species that had not been sighted there in years have reemerged – such as the water monitor and fine-spined frog.
In an ecological monitoring area in the Jianfengling nature reserve, there is a white metal box standing out amidst the lush green trees. This box is an atmospheric negative oxygen ion monitoring system, which not only monitors atmospheric negative oxygen ions but also tracks air particulate matters, temperature, humidity, wind speed, and solar radiation. It automatically transmits various monitoring data to the Jianfengling ecological data management center at regular intervals, contributing to the enhancement of rainforest conservation capabilities.
As of now, the Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park has established four ecological observation and research stations, over 110 monitoring stations, and nearly 500 long-term dynamic monitoring sites, forming a preliminary eco-monitoring network.
Through continuous exploration, the Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park has formulated a set of methods and systems to measure the value of tropical rainforest resources. In September 2021, it became the first national park in China to complete the accounting of gross ecosystem product, with a value of 204.5 billion yuan ($28.79 billion).
Foreign
China’s new chapter in global innovation

By Gu Yekai, Liu Yiqing, People’s Daily
At a smart construction project site managed by China State Construction Engineering Corporation, a quiet technological revolution is underway. Amid cranes and concrete, engineers are deploying advanced artificial intelligence (AI) systems that could fundamentally reshape the construction industry.
Li Fengjian, an AI specialistwith Xianyuan Technology, detailed how the company’s latest intelligent system – built on a large model – adapts to complex construction environments.”Engineering machinery equipped with intelligent agents can adjust its operations automatically in response to weather conditions,” Li explained, adding that a spatiotemporal sensing network further enhances the system, providing real-time tracking of both personnel and materials throughout the construction site.
In February this year, Xianyuan Technology rapidly integrated its self-developed model with DeepSeek-R1, effectively blending a general-purpose framework with industry-specific models. This integration, Li noted, has produced a solution capable of delivering expert-level performance in challenging, dynamic environments. The firm is based in the Shanghai Foundation Model Innovation Center, aburgeoning AI incubator that now hosts over 200 innovative enterprises.
China’s technological transformation extends well beyond the construction sector. Overthe past three decades, the country has evolved from its initial forays into internet connectivity to becoming a key player in global digital innovation.
Here, a steady stream of technological innovations are emerging, from the early days of emails and web browsing to the cutting-edge technologies represented by DeepSeek and the dynamic evolution of social media.
Wu Jianping, an academician at the Chinese Academy of Engineering and headof the Zhongguancun Laboratory, pointed out that while China had introduced only one internet standard before 2005, it now contributes to over 200 worldwide. Such strides illustrate the country’s concerted push toward high-level technological self-reliance – a journey marked by both persistence and determination.
Beyond the digital realm, China is makingsignificant inroads in aerospace, new energy, and other high-tech sectors. It has transitioned from being a follower to standing shoulder-to-shoulder with global leaders, and in some areas, even taking the lead. Wu attributed these achievements to a dynamic ecosystem of policy reforms and talent cultivation that encourages creativity and technical expertise at every level.
Amid intensifying international competition, collaborative research and the integration of new technologies with traditional industries are central to China’s high-quality economic development.
Mei Linhai, a researcher at China’s State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Intelligence, remarked that the age of AI calls for continuous exploration. “In this era, everyone is an innovator. Only by persistently pushing the boundaries can we remain at the forefront of both technological and industrial development,” Mei observed.
In the field of general-purpose AI, Mei emphasized that independent innovation is paramount. He advocates for a self-driven industrial ecosystem that leveragesbreakthrough technologies to boost productivity and unlock new possibilities, Mei said.
Foreign
Chinese democracy in action:a village bench meeting shapes national law

By Wei Zhezhe, Liu Botong, People’s Daily
In a modest corner of Jiangmen, south China’s Guangdong province, residents of Weidong village are experiencing firsthand a form of democracy that starts at the grassroots level and reverberates all the way to Beijing.
Wu Tengxin, a local villager who relies on a scooter for daily mobility after contracting polio, recalls a time when the village’s public spaces were ill-equipped for people with disabilities. Now, thanks to a simple suggestion made during a meeting, his everyday life has changed.
In November 2022, a team from a local legislative outreach office – a branch of China’sNational People’s Congress (NPC) – visited Weidong village and set up a “bench-style meeting.” Residents, including the elderly and those with disabilities, gathered to voice their concerns about inadequate accessibility.
Amid the conversation, Wu offered a straightforward proposal: “I hope rural accessible facilities can be improved to make mobility easier for people with disabilities and the elderly.” His words were relayed verbatim to lawmakers.
The response was swift. On June 28, 2023, at the third session of the 14th NPC Standing Committee, legislators passed a law on building a barrier-free living environment. The law stipulates that improvements”shall align with social and economic development levels, coordinate urban and rural progress, and gradually narrow the gap in infrastructure between urban and rural areas.”
Today, Wu observes that the village’s main roads and public squares have been upgraded with accessibility features that make getting around considerably easier.
This episode illustrates what Chinese officials call “whole-process people’s democracy” – a system where citizen input is woven into every stage of policy development.
Jilie Ziri, head of Abuluoha village in Butuo county, southwest China’s Sichuan province, remarked that for young generations in China, democracy has become a lived experience. “Villagers are the masters of village affairs,” he said, emphasizing how active villager participation has injected new vitality into local governance.
Experts point to consultative democracy as a cornerstone of this process. Tao Kaiyuan, vice chairman of the Central Committee of the China Association for Promoting Democracy and vice president of the Supreme People’s Court, underscores the important role of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, whose members hail from every stratum of society and bring a wealth of expertise and connections.
Their regular forums, field research, and public consultations have created robust channels for citizens to contribute ideas and forge consensus.”This approach gathers collective wisdom and transforms public voices into policy,” Tao said.
Another crucial manifestation is the effectiveness of China’s political party system. Under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, Chinese democratic parties actively fulfill their duties, offering recommendations that often translate into concrete policy decisions. This integrated approach demonstrates the unique strengths of China’s political system and the advantages of whole-process people’s democracy.
Tao emphasized that whole-process people’s democracyhas evolved into an efficient and dynamic democratic practice – one that not only reflects the essence of socialist democracy but also presents a pioneering model of political civilization, contributing Chinese wisdom and solutions to global governance and democratic development.
Foreign
Chinese modernization: blueprint for global progress

By He Yin, People’s Daily
At China’s recent annual “two sessions,” Chinese modernization once again captured global attention. International observers are closely following a range of new measures designed not only to accelerate Chinese domestic transformation but also to unlock fresh opportunities for global development.
They believe that Chinese modernization, built on a foundation of openness and cooperation, will continue to yield global benefits with each new milestone.
Today, China stands as a formidable force in the global economy – accounting for around 18 percent of the global economy and nearly 30 percent of world manufacturing output. Year after year, the nation has contributed about 30 percent to global economic growth. With import and export records with almost all countries and regions designated in the United Nations Statistics Division, the country is a major trading partner for more than 150 countries and regions. In 2024, its exports to over 160 countries and regions saw growth.
Often hailed as the “world’s largest developing country,”the “second-largest economy,””world’s factory,””global market,” and “innovation powerhouse,” China is increasingly viewed as a beacon of stability and progress.
In recent years, high-profile events such as the seventh China International Import Expo – where intended deals exceeded $80 billion – and the establishment of over 1.239 million foreign-invested enterprises have reinforced the nation’s reputation as a vast, dynamic market.
Meanwhile, policies encouraging Chinese companies to “go global” have seen a steady stream of new technologies, goods, and services permeate international markets, knitting the country ever tighter into global value chains and bolstering its commitment to win-win cooperation.
The influence of Chinese modernization is evident far beyond its borders. In the Central African Republic, President Faustin-Archange Touadera has repeatedly screened China’s political documentary Carry the Reform Through to the End for cabinet discussions, while officialsin Uzbekistan are adapting China’s poverty-reduction experience to suit their national context. These moves challenge the assumption that modernization must follow Western models, suggesting that China’s alternative pathway offers a viable route to development.
Beyond economic growth, Chinese modernization is increasingly celebrated for its potential to foster win-win cooperation and shared prosperity.
Under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), for example, Kazakhstan secured its first maritime access and Laos launched its first modern railway. Support from the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund has propelled over 160 projects, benefiting more than 30 million people. Moreover, China has given all the least developed countries with which it has diplomatic relations zero-tariff treatment for 100 percent tariff lines, signaling its commitment to an open and inclusive global economy.
China’s modernization agenda also tackles global challenges head on. In response to global environmental risks, China advocates for building a community of all life on the Earth. To bridge the digital and AI divide, it has launched the AI Capacity-Building Action Plan for Good and for All to ensure that technological advancements benefit every corner of the globe.
On the security front, China continues to promote dialogue and reconciliation in conflict zones while engaging in multilateral security collaborations, reinforcing its reputation as a nation committed to peace and stability.
By proposing initiatives such as the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilizations Initiative, China is not just charting its own course toward modernization but championing an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization – one that seeks to ensure that no nation is left behind on the path to prosperity.
The global appeal of Chinese modernization is far from accidental. Decades of reform and opening up have accelerated its development while enabling the country to contribute to global governance. On the international stage, it has taken on a leadership role – actively shaping global norms, building a community with a shared future for mankind, and advancing world peace and development. By sharing its successful experiences and technological advancements, the country seeks to help other developing countries chart their own courses toward progress.
With over 1.4 billion people engaged in this modernization journey – a number that surpasses the total population of all developed countries combined – China’s approach is redefining the global modernization landscape. For China, modernization is not solely a national endeavor but a blueprint for global progress – a vision that promises a more inclusive future for all.
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