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To ensure that China-U.S. sci-tech cooperation truly benefits both countries and world

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By Zhang Siyuan

On Dec. 13, China and the United States signed a protocol to extend the Agreement Between the United States and China on Cooperation in Science and Technology for an additional five years.The extension of the 45-year-old Agreement is of great significance that goes beyond the realm of technology.

Viewed from a historical context, the Agreement served as an ice-breaking accelerator for China-U.S. relations.It was one of the first intergovernmental agreements signed between the two countries after the establishment of diplomatic relations, playing a crucial role in stabilizing bilateral relations, enhancing mutual understanding, propelling sci-tech progress, and benefiting the peoples of both countries.

Under the guidance of the Agreement, China and the U.S.have created numerous stories of mutual benefit. The sci-tech cooperation between the two countries has evolved from sporadic communication in the early days to comprehensive, multi-level, and wide-ranging collaboration, covering more than 20 sub-fields including energy, environment, natural resources, medicine and health, earthquakes, oceans, and atmosphere.

For instance, the two countries launched a “folic acid revolution” within the framework of the Agreement, which confirmed the remarkable effects of folic acid supplementation in preventing neural tube defects, saving millions of newborn lives worldwide.

The Daya Bay Reactor Neutrino Experiment is one of the largest collaborative projects between China and the U.S. in basicresearch. It is also the second-largest overseas investment by the U.S. Department of Energyin particle physics, second only to the Large Hadron Collider. The groundbreaking results from this experiment were recognized by Science Magazineas one of the top 10 scientific breakthroughs of 2012.

The cooperation between China and the U.S. in influenza surveillance has substantially strengthened China’s influenza monitoring capabilities, expanding China’s influenza monitoring sites from a few dozen to over 30,000. The Chinese National Influenza Center was designated as a World Health Organization Collaborating Center, providing significant support for the global influenza vaccine development and pandemic preparedness.

Today, the Agreement has become a propeller for the steady, sound and sustainable development of China-U.S. relations. Chinese President Xi Jinping pointed out that as two major countries, China and the U.S. should bear in mind the interests of the whole world, and inject more certainty and positive energy into the turbulent world. This is also a consensus widely shared by insightful American individuals.

Over 1,000 American scientists and scholars signed a joint letter urging the extension of the Agreement, and many American experts emphasized the need for sci-tech exchanges to prevent bilateral relations from “derailing.” They argued that restricting sci-tech cooperation with China would inevitably hinder the progress of U.S. science and technology.

In recent years, certain individuals in the U.S. have unilaterally pursued technological hegemony, placing undue faith in suppressing China’s technological advancements. This approach of “technological isolationism”will ultimately harm the U.S. interestsand the shared interests of the world.

The extension of the Agreement underscores the aspiration of both countries – and the broader international community – for mutually beneficial sci-tech cooperation between China and the U.S., rather than decoupling and severing industrial and supply chains. It reflects a call for openness and shared benefits, as opposed to building “small yard with high fences.”

Looking ahead, the Agreement should serve as a multiplier for China-U.S. relations benefiting both countries and the wider world.

The advancement of science and technology thrives in openness, which is a fundamental rule of sci-tech progress. Recently, the First Committee of the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly overwhelmingly adopted a resolution proposed by China – “Promoting International Cooperation on Peaceful Uses in the Context of International Security,” which calls for the peaceful use of science and technology and safeguarding the development rights of all countries.

The international community should work together to develop emerging technologies like artificial intelligence and quantum computing,and address global challenges such as global warming. As the world’slargest developing country and developed country, China and the U.S. cannot ignore global challenges or allow the world to splinter into “parallel systems.” Instead, they must demonstrate leadership through cooperation.

The renewal of the Agreement not only acknowledges the fruitful achievements of China-U.S. cooperation in the past 45 years, but also demonstrates the two countries’ long-term commitment to sci-tech innovation, openness, and shared progress.

It is natural for countries to have difference, yet science and technology should remain a vital bridge connecting China and the U.S. and benefiting all humanity. The extension of the Agreement has been widely welcomed by international media, which recognize the synergistic potential of sci-tech cooperation between the two countries.

Over the past 45 years, Chinese and American scientists have jointly carried out extensive research, based on nearly 100 sub-agreements and cooperative projects under the Agreement. China remains committed to enhancing China-U.S. sci-techcooperation and striving for openness and shared benefits for the global progress in science and technology.

Sci-tech cooperation should become a “new oasis” in China-U.S. relations, and the two countries’ joint pursuit of knowledge and progress should be a “source of stability” for the international community.

It is hoped that the U.S. will adopt an open approach, work with China in the same direction, effectively implement the provisions of the Agreement, and ensure that the results of China-U.S. sci-tech cooperation truly benefit both countries and the world.

(Zhang Siyuan is an observer of international affairs.)

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Judge blocks Trump from deporting non-citizens using wartime law

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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.

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China’s new chapter in global innovation

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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.

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Chinese democracy in action:a village bench meeting shapes national law

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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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