By Zhong Sheng, People’s Daily

On April 30, China’s State Council Information Office issued a white paper titled “Covid-19 Prevention, Control and Origins Tracing: China’s Actions and Stance.”

The document provides a comprehensive account of China’s contributions to virus origins tracing and global cooperation in fighting COVID-19, supported by detailed data and scientific evidence.

It also demonstrates China’s consistent position as a responsible major country in advocating science-based origins tracing and international cooperation, and firmly opposes the erroneous practice of politicizing public health issues.

The COVID-19 pandemic stands as the fastest-spreading and most extensive global health crisis that humanity has faced in a century. Its containment requires the concerted efforts of all countries.

From the onset of the pandemic, the collective effort of the whole Chinese nation enabled China to emerge victorious from the crisis – a historic feat for a populous nation like China.While unrelenting in its domestic efforts to contain the virus, China has unreservedly shared its experience to facilitate global pandemic control, done all it could for international anti-epidemic cooperation, fulfilled its international responsibilities, and demonstrated its ethical commitment as a major country.

Tracing the origins of the virus is a serious scientific issue. China has always applied a science-based approach to the task of tracing the virus origins, actively engaging with the World Health Organization (WHO) in communication and cooperation.

At the invitation of China, the WHO sent two international expert missions to the country to carry out a joint study into the origins of the virus in 2020 and 2021 respectively. Their findings were compiled into a joint study report that was released globally. With its rigorous and scientifically sound conclusions, the report earned endorsements from both the international community and the scientific community.

China has actively participated in global virus origins-tracing efforts with the greatest sincerity. Through systematic epidemiological investigations, molecular tracing, animal host screening, and studies on cold-chain transmission, the possibility of Wuhan being the natural origin of SARS-CoV-2 was scientifically ruled out. These efforts have provided the global scientific community with critical empirical evidence and established a research paradigm for future studies.

To date, no findings have contradicted the conclusions of the “WHO-convened Global Study of Origins of SARS-CoV-2: China Part – Joint WHO-China Study.”

The international community widely acknowledges that the Chinese side has fully, timely and effectively fulfilled the obligations prescribed by the International Health Regulations through prompt and extensive actions rarely seen anywhere in the world.

Addressing the global COVID-19 pandemic is a serious scientific issue that bears on the health and wellbeing of all humanity.

Numerous studies have shown that SARS-CoV-2 originated outside China. Research and analysis conducted by the U.S.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC) and the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) indicate that prior to the outbreak in Wuhan, multiple regions in the U.S. recorded positive SARS-CoV-2 test results and other evidence of the virus. A thorough and in-depth investigation into the origins of the virus should be conducted in the U.S.

However, instead of addressing its own inadequate pandemic response, the U.S. government has deliberately suppressed and concealed its findings and evidence, making China the primary scapegoat for its own mismanaged COVID-19 response. This selective blindness and politicization of a scientific issue have seriously impeded efforts to trace the virus origins and undermined the global public health system.

Infectious diseases are the common enemy of humanity. The international community must jointly safeguard the right course of science-based origins tracing. To prevent new infectious diseases in the future, the U.S., as a major country, cannot continue to turn a deaf ear to the numerous questions over its conduct. It must promptly respond to the legitimate concerns of the international community, proactively share with the WHO data on its early suspected cases, and provide a responsible account to the global public.

(Zhong Sheng is a pen name often used by People’s Daily to express its views on foreign policy and international affairs.)

By Li Rui, People’s Daily

At a fully automated container terminal of Qingdao Port operated by Shandong Port Group in Qingdao, east China’s Shandong province, the average operational efficiency of a single quay crane has once again brokenthe world record, reaching 60.9 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) per hour.

This marks the twelfth time that Qingdao Port’s “Liangang Innovation Team” has set a new world record in automated container terminal operations.

While China accounted for seven of the world’s top ten container ports in 2013, there was a notable shortcoming — not a single automated terminal among them.

To address this, Qingdao Port launched its automated terminal project the same year. Zhang Liangang, who had led multiple scientific and technological projects, took the lead in forming the “Liangang Innovation Team,” shouldering the responsibility of building China’s first automated container terminal.

Zhang recalled their early struggles: foreign terminal operators barred them from even gettingoff cars to take a single photograph, which makes studying abroad meaningless. As for purchasing the technology, the prices demanded were sky-high.

He was determined that core technologies could neither be bought nor begged for, self-reliance was the only path.

When the project began, Zhang was still recovering from lung cancer surgery. “Even giving it everything we have might not guarantee success. But half-hearted effortsinevitably guarantee failure,” he said. Under his leadership, the team worked around the clock, pushing themselves to the limit.

On May 11, 2017, the Qingdao Port automated container terminal officially commenced operations. As thousands of containers started moving at a command, everyone’s heartbeat quickened.

Data flashed across the screen: “Single crane efficiency: 26.1 TEUs per hour” – setting a new world record for the first commercial operation at an automated container terminal. At that moment, many team members were moved to tears.

During the construction of the second phase, the team set a higher goal: surpassing the achievements of the Phase I and establish global leadership. They implemented bold innovations such as hydrogen-powered equipment and 5G technology.

For the third phase, they launched the fully domestically developed Automated Terminal Operating System (A-TOS), achieving full autonomy in both core hardware and software technologies – from the bottom layer to application-level systems.

The AGV (Automated Guided Vehicle) path planning algorithm, known as the “soul” of the automated terminal control system, was one of the team’s most significant breakthroughs.

To simulate real-world working conditions, the team conducted a 48-hourendurance trial in sub-zero temperatures, enduring countless failures and errors before successfully launching a brand-new, high-efficiency AGV path planning algorithm.

“Only by constantly learning new knowledge and mastering new technologies can we keep pace with the times,” said Zhang Changjiang, a team member born in the 1980s. He once dedicated three consecutive days and nights to resolving the AGV charging bottleneck, successfully reducing equipment weight by 12 tons and extending battery lifespan to over 12 years.

Transitioning from a follower to a pioneer, the “Liangang Innovation Team” has maintained unwavering momentum in technological advancement.

Zhang Liangang’s phone is filled with blueprints for future port projects. “We are currently planning multiple technological innovations,” he explained. “First, we aim to accelerate the implementation of new quality productive forces such as artificial intelligence. Second, we are focusing on original, fundamental innovations for the next-generation intelligent, efficient, green, and lightweight port handling equipment. Third, we are committed to building the next generation of smart and green ports.”

By He Yin, People’s Daily

On April 23, Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered a speech via video link at the Leaders Meeting on Climate and the Just Transition. He called on countries to adhere to multilateralism, deepen international cooperation, accelerate the just transition, and strengthen results-oriented actions – chartingthe course for enhancing solidarity and cooperation in global endeavors for climate governance.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Paris Agreement and the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations(UN). In today’s world, global climate governance is facing multiple challenges. Some major country’s persistent pursuit of unilateralism and protectionism has seriously impacted global climate governance.

According to the World Meteorological Organization, 2024 was the warmest year on record, accompanied by devastating and extreme weather. The UN has repeatedly warned that global warming is accelerating, leaving no room for setbacks in climate governance, and meeting long-term temperature targets will require urgent and intensified efforts.

Multilateralism remains the most effective solution to the global challenge of climate change, with solidarity and cooperation the only viable path forward.

As the international situation becomes more volatile and turbulent, there is an even greater need for all countries to firmly safeguard the UN-centered international system and the international order underpinned by international law, and firmly safeguard international fairness and justice.

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Paris Agreement are the fundamental legal basis for international cooperation on addressing climate change. Although unilateralism and protectionism has seriously impacted international rules and the international order, history will, as always, move forward through twists and turns.

It is essential for all countries to uphold the spirit of solidarity and cooperation. They should rise above estrangement and conflict with openness and inclusiveness, boost technological innovation and industrial transformation through cooperation, and facilitate the free flow of quality green technologies and products, so that they can be accessible, affordable and beneficial for all countries, especially the developing ones.

China will continue to support other developing countries, particularly Small Island Developing States, least developed countries, and African nations, through South-South cooperation on climate change, contributing positive energy and creatingfavorable conditions for multilateral climate governance.

Effective climate action must be rooted in the realities of each country. Respect for different starting points, development stages, and national conditions and capacities is critical to ensuring a just transition – one that unfolds within the framework of sustainable development and poverty reduction.

Green transformation is not only an essential response to climate change, but a new engine for economic and social development. Such transformation must be people-centered and pursued in a way that advances the well-being of people and climate governance in tandem, and strike a balance between multiple goals including environmental protection, economic growth, job creation, and poverty alleviation.

All parties should earnestly honor the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities. Developed countries are obliged to extend assistance and support to developing countries, help drive the global shift toward green and low-carbon development, and contribute to the common and long-term well-being of people of all countries.

Harmony between man and nature is a defining feature of Chinese modernization, and China is a steadfast actor and major contributor in promoting global green development.

China is one of the initial parties to the UNFCCC and among the first signatories and ratifiers of the Paris Agreement. It is home to 70 percent of the photovoltaic components and 60 percent of wind power equipment worldwide, and contributes a quarter of the world’s newly-added area of afforestation.

The country has ramped upits green and low-carbon transition, leading the world in the speed and scale of “greening.” It has built the world’s largest and most complete new energy industrial chain, providing strong momentum forinternational cooperation on climate change and driving the implementation of the Paris Agreement.

China will announce its 2035 nationally determined contributions covering all economic sectors and all greenhouse gases before the UN Climate Change Conference in Belem, Brazil. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that this newly announced commitment to cutting emissions goals is “extremely important” for global climate action.

Climate change is a common challenge of all humanity, and addressing it demands a collective response.However the world may change, China will not slow down its climate actions, will not reduce its support for international cooperation, and will not cease its efforts to build a community with a shared future for mankind.

China is ready to work with all parties, keeping in mind the progress of humanity and the well-being of all people, to earnestly honor the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, do the utmost respectively and collectively, and build a clean, beautiful, and sustainable world together.