Foreign
Green consumption gains momentum among young Chinese

By Wang Ke, Dou Hao, People’s Daily
As environmental awareness continues to grow, green and low-carbon consumption has become a key factor influencing consumer decisions in China, especially among young people.
From preferring sustainable brands to choosing energy-efficient products and eco-friendly transportation, “green” is a defining term for the evolving consumption trends of China’s younger generation.
“Although it’s a bit more expensive than standard models, the trade-in program makes it a great deal, and most importantly, it’s energy-efficient and environmentally friendly,” said Chen Jian, a post-90s consumer, who was shopping for an air conditioner at a home appliance store in southwest China’s Chongqing municipality.
After comparison, Chen bought a new model equipped with an AI-powered energy-saving chip. This smart air conditioner can detect temperature differences between indoor and outdoor environments in real time, automatically adjusting its settings to maintain comfort while reducing annual electricity consumption by more than 10 percent.
China’s policy-backed consumer goods trade-in program has further stimulated consumer enthusiasm for automobiles, home appliances, and home furnishings, among which energy-efficient products are in high demand.
According to China’s e-commerce platform Suning.com, since the launch of a new round of trade-in program for home appliances in August 2024, the sales of energy-efficient washer-dryers, smart air conditioners, and built-in combi steamers have surged by 129 percent, 135 percent, and 228 percent respectively.
“Compared to traditional cars, new energy vehicles (NEVs) are energy-saving and eco-friendly. They’re also packed with highly appealing smart features,” said Wang Li, a consumer born in the 1990s, at an NEV booth in a shopping mall in Beijing’s Chaoyang district.
In 2024, China’s annual NEV production and sales surpassed the 10million milestone for the first time,with sales of NEVs accounting for 40.9 percent of the country’s total new vehicle sales. Online surveys show that consumers born in the 1980s and 1990s make up a larger share of potential NEV buyers.
While the trade-in program fuels young consumers’ shopping enthusiasm, it also significantly propels resource recycling. Over 75 percent of China’s certified vehicle scrapping companies now have the capacity to dismantle NEVs. In 2024, China recycled 8.46 million scrapped vehicles, marking a 64 percent year-on-year increase.
“It’s not that new products are out of my budget, but second-hand goods offer a higher cost-performance ratio,” said Hu Yuxing, a 24-year-old newcomer to Hangzhou, east China’s Zhejiang province, who often shops for clothing, bags, cosmetics and home furnishings in second-hand markets.
More and more young people are turning to second-hand goods trading platforms, both to sell unused items for extra cash and tohunt for hidden gems.
According to Xianyu, one of China’s largest second-hand goods trading platforms, the number of userson the platform has surpassed 600 million, with an average daily transaction volume exceeding 1 billion yuan ($137.9 million). More than 100 million users listed their idle items on the platform in a year, with 4 million new listingsevery day. Notably, more than half of the platform’s users were born after 1995 and 2000.
“For young people, buying and selling second-hand items reflects a rational and eco-conscious approach to consumption, which has become their way of life,” said Li Shijie, head of Xianyu’s offline business operations. “We aim to connect more idle resources in society, improve the circulation of second-hand goods, and support the growth of green consumption,” Li added.
Around midday, in an office building near Zhongshan Road in Shijiazhuang, north China’s Hebei province, Liu Xinyu, born after 1995, opened a food delivery app on her phone. She began scrolling through the options, especially looking for small-portioned meals. “They’re more affordable, well-balanced with both meat and vegetables. More importantly, they can help reduce food waste – perfect for dining alone,” she explained.
In the past two years, Chinese meal delivery platforms have increasingly introduced “small” and “half-portion” meals, reflecting young consumers’ growing demand for more flexible and efficient dining options. This shift is part of a broader trend, as sustainable practices like “recycling used bottles” and “reusing packaging” also gain popularity among young people in China.
Wei Chenhao, a 24-year-old employee in Shijiazhuang, has embraced green commuting. For his 15-kilometer daily commute, he combines a shared bike with the subway. “Driving to work just means getting stuck in traffic jams and burning fuel. But with the bike and subway, I get there in just 30 minutes and spend less than 5 yuan per trip,” he said.
Young Chinese are increasingly embracing eco-friendly consumption, from food and fashion to transportation and daily necessities.
According to an official from China’s Ministry of Commerce, promoting green consumption is significant forChina to achievethe dual carbon goals of peaking carbon emissions by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2060, foster a new development paradigm, and promotehigh-quality development.
The official said that China will launch arange of activities to encourage green consumption, enhance consumer participation, and further unleash the potential of green consumption.
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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