Foreign
China’s maritime foreign trade contributes to over one-third of global maritime transport
By Wang Wenzheng, People’s Daily
Maritime transport is the lifeline of global trade, as it handles over 80 percent of the international movement of goods.
According to the Analysis Report on Chinese Port Operations 2024 (hereafter referred to as “the Report”) released by the Transport Planning and Research Institute, China’s Ministry of Transport, the volume of China’s foreign trade via maritime transport accounted for 30.1 percent of global marine shipping in 2023, up 2.2 percentage points year on year.
Driven by the recovery of demand for foreign trade and the restructuring of the global trade system, China’s foreign trade via marine shipping experienced rapid growth. In 2023, Chinese coastal ports handled 4.96 billion tons of foreign trade cargo, a year-on-year increase of 9.6 percent.
Containers, coal, metallic minerals, mineral building materials and petroleum make up the five major categories of cargo handled by Chinese coastal ports, accounting for 84 percent of the total throughput of all coastal ports in 2023. In particular, the throughput of imported coal and crude oil went through rapid growth, while that of imported iron ores remained at a high level.
While maintaining rapid growth, the structure of China’s foreign trade via marine shipping has continuously improved. In 2023, containers were responsible for transporting 23.3 percent of foreign trade cargo by sea in China, 0.2 percentage points higher from a year ago, maintaining steady growth year by year. Now, with the upgrading of customs clearance services at major Chinese coastal ports, exporters now find it easier to ship their cargo overseas via containers.
For instance, Yiwu Customs, east China’s Zhejiang province, has established a special window at Yiwu Port for the UEFA European Championship, offering targeted guidance to sports-related enterprises. It has enabled “one-click declaration,” allowing over 99 percent of export goods purchased via the market to be released by computer review almost instantly.
Besides, intelligent surveillance systems have been installed at the Yiwu West railway station, allowing for automatic container entry and inspection without the need for box opening.
At Ningbo-Zhoushan Port, Zhejiang province, Ningbo Customs has leveraged blockchain technology for authentication and traceability of bulk cargo, resulting in a significant boost in clearance efficiency. This has driven the loading efficiency of new energy vehicles to spike from 180 to 1,000 per day.
If maritime transport serves as the lifeblood of China’s foreign trade, ports are the vital nodes along these crucial pathways.
Rizhao city, east China’s Shandong province, boasts an extensive reach of rail transportation. One rail route starting from Rizhao Port stretches westward, entering Kazakhstan through Alashankou, northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, then continuing through Russia, Belarus, Poland, and Germany before reaching the port of Rotterdam in the Netherlands – a journey spanning over 10,000 kilometers.
Recently, Rizhao Port has been approved to launch international multimodal transport services for transit goods, which means that cargo shipped to Rizhao Port from across the world by sea can be transported by rail to Mongolia, Russia, North Korea, Vietnam and Central Asian countries.
China’s major coastal ports are experiencing rapid growth in cargo throughput, with many ports seeing an annual growth rate of over 10 percent.
According to the Report, 23 Chinese coastal ports reported cargo throughput of over 200 million tons in 2023. Among them, Ningbo-Zhoushan Port took the lead with a throughput of 1.32 billion tons.
Behind this enormous throughput lie the continuously strengthened overall maritime support and infrastructure capabilities of China’s coastal ports. China has established the world’s largest maritime support and infrastructure system.
According to data released by China’s Ministry of Transport, from 2013 to 2023, the number of navigational marks along China’s coast increased by 68.8 percent to 20,600, all of which can be remotely monitored and controlled using the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS).
The advancement of charting services has resulted in comprehensive coverage of electronic charts along China’s coast, and these electronic charts can be published online and updated in real time. In 2023, 4.92 million copies of electronic coastal charts were issued in China.
Besides, China has established a coastal ground-based augmentation system enabled by the BDS, which consists of 23 BDS differential stations and 75 BDS continuously operating reference stations. The system provides centimeter-level high-precision navigation and positioning services.
Furthermore, China has built a maritime safety communications network, which serves as an integral part of the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System, offering communications services for maritime distress situations.
China is also actively promoting the development of 4G and 5G infrastructure and satellite communications applications, continuously enhancing the capabilities of satellite broadband data communications.
According to the Report, the cargo throughput of China’s coastal ports and the country’s foreign trade via marine shipping will continue to maintain steady growth. The total foreign trade cargo throughput of coastal ports in China is expected to reach around 5.1 billion tons this year, a year-on-year growth of about 3.2 percent.
Li Qing, deputy head of the China Waterborne Transport Research Institute under the Ministry of Transport, said that China will continue to accelerate the application of artificial intelligence, 5G, and big data technologies in the port and shipping industry, increase the port efficiency, promote the digital, intelligent, and green development of its coastal ports, and enhance the overall capabilities of ports.
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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