Foreign
Peruvian young man into Chinese lion dance

By Wang Yunna, Yan Huan, Xie Jianing, People’s Daily
To the drum beat, a red “lion” jumped airily onto a stool, looking around, its head tilted…
After the lion dance ended, Atilio Alfredo Sarmiento Rivera, a young Peruvian, stuck his head out of the lion. He was sweating, but a smile could be seen on his face.
Alfredo and three other young Peruvians, all of whom are members of the lion dance troupe of Peru’s China Central Charity Society, came to China in late October, to further improve their lion dance skills and experience the country.
On Oct. 25, Chen Xiaodan, coach of Guangzhou Sport University’s dragon and lion dances team and deputy dean of the university’s school of martial art, gave a lesson to the Peruvian dancers on the campus of the university in Guangzhou, south China’s Guangdong province.
“How can you see your way with your head hidden in the lion’s head? The secret is to put your horizon on the same level of the lion’s jaw,” Chen told them. What he said was interpreted by his colleague Su Qiaobin.
Peru is one of the Latin American countries with the longest history of Chinese immigration and the largest Chinese communities. The fine traditional Chinese culture, represented by dragon and lion dances, has a tremendous fan base among local people and overseas Chinese. China-Peru friendship receives wide support there.
The lion dance troupe of Peru’s China Central Charity Society is the largest of its kind in Peru. It has over 200 members, including both natives and Chinese Peruvians, whose age range from 9 to 55. The troupe often performs at public ceremonies and international culture festivals in Peru.
Alfredo had long looked forward to his trip to China this time. His great grandfather was a Chinese man who migrated to Peru.
“Chinese culture has a profound impact on me. I’ve been learning Chinese martial art and lion dance since a child,” he said.
Being on the land that his great grandfather always talked about, Alfredo felt an inexplicable sense of connection and belonging, which drove him to work and learn even harder during this trip.
“They are energetic and have obtained solid essential skills, but their moves are not powerful enough,” Chen commented.
The Guangzhou Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese offered these young Peruviansthe opportunity to improve their moves under the guidance of Chen.
As a result, they have “unlocked” multiple challenging moves. “I never thought that I could do it. I’ll teach the new moves to other members,”Alfredo said excitedly.
Alfredo and his peers also visited a dragon and lion dances association in Xingtan township, Shunde district, Foshan, Guangdong province. Established in 2012, the association has over 80 members and has won prizes in multiple major lion dance competitions. Thanks to the innovative ideas of the association, it has went viral online and gained many followers.
The head coach of the association Mai Wangtao speaks fluent English. The Peruvian dancers were always amused by his humorous instructions.
“We came here out of admiration,”Alfredo told People’s Daily, saying that he had seen performances by this association on social media before, which had greatly impressed him. Coming to China this time, he naturally wouldn’t miss the opportunity for learning and exchange. “We used to learn traditional routines, but we are eager to add some more cool moves!”
Mai said that with more and more young people joining in, the traditional dragon and lion dances are constantly innovating as they are inherited, incorporating new elements such as dance and acrobatics.
He told People’s Daily, “Traditional culture must also keep pace with the times. In order to be more attractive, it has to become more expressive, so that the lion dance culture can be spread more widely and last longer.”
Alfredo said that Mai, born in 1997, is younger than him and his three peers, yet Mai has bolder ideas and a style that aligns more with the aesthetic preferences of young people when it comes to lion dance. This made Alfredo rethink the relationship between inheritance and innovation.
“Perhaps when I return to Peru, I can also incorporate some Peruvian dance elements into lion dance,”Alfredo said.
When he was free in China, Alfredo liked wandering around. He visited the Foshan Ancestral Temple, where the exquisite architecture and ancient charm made him feel like stepping into a folk art museum. He also toured the Fengjian Watertown in Shunde, where he appreciated the rippling waters and crisscrossing ancient stone paths. He gained a lot from his stay of over 10 days in Foshan.
“China has not only modern development but also profound traditional culture. They blend perfectly into people’s daily lives, which is quite amazing,”Alfredo said. “This trip was definitely worth it!”
“Lion dance has a long history. It embodies courage, strength, and good fortune,” said Deng Zhentang, a director of Peru’s China Central Charity Society.
“The lion dance not only represents the nostalgia of overseas Chinese, but also promotes friendship and unity between the Peruvian and Chinese peoples,” he added.
Nowadays, lion dance troupes have been established in major cities where Chinese communities reside in Peru, and an increasing number of Peruvians have developed a liking for the vibrant Chinese lion dance.
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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