Foreign
China makes new successes in desertification prevention and control

By He Yin, People’s Daily
The largest desert in China, the Taklimakan has been completely encircled by a green belt stretching 3,046 km as of late November, thanks to more than four decades of efforts as part of China’s Three-North Shelterbelt Forest Program (TSFP), the world’s largest afforestation program to tackle desertification.
This great achievement has capturedworldwide attention. The international community observes that the TSFP has not only contributed to the global combat against desertification, but also increased the global forest coverage rate. They praised the program as the “green Great Wall” that China fortifies to fend off the challenges arising from climate change.
The Taklimakan Desert is China’s largest and the world’s second-largest drifting desert. The completion of the ecological barrier vividly demonstrates China’s battle against desertification.
After over 40 years of unremitting efforts, China has blazed a special path of desertification prevention and control with Chinese characteristics. Environmental conservation and improving people’s well-beinghave entered a virtuous cycle. The country has become a global model for desertification control.
So far, China has effectively rehabilitated 53 percent of its treatable desertified land, with the area of desertified land decreasing by 65 million mu (about 4.3 million hectares). It is the first country in the world to achieve zero growth in land degradation, and the first to reduce the area of desertified and sandy land.
To be specific, Saihanba innorth China’s Hebei province has transformed from a desolate land into the world’s largest man-made forest, thanks to the dedication of three generations of foresters to the Saihanba afforestation project; most of the sand land in the Mu Us Desert, which stretches from north China’sInner Mongolia autonomous region to Shaanxi province, has been brought under control; the Kubuqi Desert, China’s seventh-largest desert, has explored a brand new approach to combating desertification through industrial development.
The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) Secretariat has twice honored China for its “outstanding contribution to combating desertification”, praising its significant contributions to global desertification control.
The 16th Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the UNCCD held in Riyadh, capital of Saudi Arabia, set up the China Pavilion, which marked the first time that China showcased its achievements in desertification control, particularly throughthe TSFP.
“I was moved by the images of different generations of Chinese people fighting desertification and by China’s leadership in this process,” saidAndrea Meza Murillo, UNCCD deputy executive secretary.
She emphasized that effective policies, community and local government involvement, as well as innovation and technology, are key components of China’s success.
The achievements in desertification control reflect China’s relentless efforts to advance ecological conservation. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the country has ensured stronger ecological conservation and environmental protection across the board, in all regions, and at all times.
China has achieved a significant transformation from remediation of major areas to systematic governance; realized an important shift from passively responding to ecological issues to taking proactive actions to address them; has become a leader from a participant in global environmental governance; and has realized a major shift from practical-exploration-based conservation to the one with theoretical guidance.
China’s forest coverage ratio and forest stock volume have both been on the rise for 40 consecutive years. The country ranks first in the world in terms of forest resource growth and afforestation area. It has contributed to one forth of the world’s newly added green areas.
China is also contributing to the global fight against desertification with firm and concrete actions.
This year marks the 30th anniversary of China’s adoption of the UNCCD. Over the past three decades, China has been actively involved in global desertification governance within the framework of UNCCD.
It promoted the establishment of the Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the Convention (CRIC), setting up the strategic framework and objectives; established an office for UNCCD implementation and formulated a national action plan; and set up regional mechanisms to promote regional cooperation on UNCCD fulfillment.
Besides, China hostedthe COP 13 to the UNCCD and carried out cooperation on desertification control within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). It has held nine sessions of the Kubuqi International Desert Forum to promote international policy dialogue and exchanges.
China is also actively sharing its technologies and experiences of desertification control with other developing countries, pursuing green development together with the Global South.
It has established an international training center and an international knowledge management centeron combating desertification together with the UNCCD Secretariat. Besides, the country trains nearly 100 professionals in this field each year for developing countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America, by hosting international seminars and setting up demonstration bases for desertification control.
It has taken the initiative to align with the Great Green Wall initiative launched by the African Union and the Saudi Arabia-led Middle East Green Initiative,within the frameworks of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum (CASCF). It has also established the China-Arab International Research Center on Drought, Desertification, and Land Degradation.
The prevention and control of desertification is a great cause bearing on the sustainable development of all humanity. China will keep acting as a participant and leader in global desertification control, and work with all parties to advance ecological conservation and promote sustainable development for a clean and beautiful world.
Foreign
Judge blocks Trump from deporting non-citizens using wartime law

A federal judge has temporarily halted the Trump administration’s attempt to deport migrants allegedly linked to the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua under a wartime law.
US District Judge James Boasberg issued a restraining order preventing the administration from using the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to expel undocumented migrants accused of gang ties. The order initially protected five individuals challenging the deportation but was later expanded to all affected noncitizens in US custody.
Boasberg also directed that any planes carrying these migrants be returned to the United States. “Any plane containing these folks that is going to take off or is in the air needs to be returned,” he ruled. The restraining order will remain in effect for 14 days or until further court action.
The Trump administration invoked the Alien Enemies Act, citing Tren de Aragua as a terrorist organization that has “unlawfully infiltrated the United States” and is engaging in hostile actions. However, civil rights groups, including the ACLU, argue that the gang’s activities do not meet the legal definition of an invasion.
The Justice Department has appealed the ruling, while the case continues in court.
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.
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