Foreign
Traditional Chinese medicine gains wider recognition around world

By Gong Ming, Xie Yahong, Yan Yunming, Liu Hui, People’s Daily
Over 2,000 years ago, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) began to spread and gain popularity along the ancient Silk Road, becoming an important aspect of commercial and trade exchanges between China and other countries.
Today, TCM has reached 196 countries and regions, gaining greater influence worldwide and making valuable contributions to people-to-people bonds and the protection of health and wellbeing of humanity.
“I’m deeply impressed by the remarkable efficacy of TCM and the expertise of Chinese doctors,” said Anton Melak, a resident in Paola, Malta, at the Mediterranean Regional Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine (MRCTCM) .
Melak was unable to lift his arm last year due to a right shoulder injury, and he sought immediate treatment at the center. After nearly six months of acupuncture and massage therapy, his condition significantly improved.
“I received my first TCM treatment in 1996 when I was suffering from severe migraines, which proved to be truly effective,” Melak said.
In Malta, the MRCTCM has become a well-known institution for TCM treatment and training. In 2008, it opened a TCM department at Mater Dei Hospital, a state-owned acute general teaching hospital in Malta, marking the first time for TCM to be granted an independent department in a state hospital in the European Union (EU).
Since 1993, the Chinese government has sent 19 medical teams to Malta, treating approximately 250,000 patients.
China’s medical assistance to foreign countries started over 60 years ago, and TCM has played an important role in these endeavors.
Acupuncture is among the longest-running departments in the history of Chinese medical assistance to Algeria. At the Cambodia-China Friendship Preah Kossamak Hospital, the TCM clinic set up by the Chinese medical team often sees long queues of patients. In Kuwait, the TCM treatment is popular, and there are groups of enthusiasts for Tai Chi and Baduanjin, both traditional Chinese exercises. In Guyana, the Chinese medical team has provided acupuncture treatment to tens of thousands of patients while also promoting TCM courses such as acupuncture and massage in local schools.
In recent years, China has been deepening the educational cooperation in TCM with multiple countries.
Since its official launch at the University of Johannesburg in 2020, acupuncture has become one of the most popular and competitive programs. The program admits around 50 students each year, and the number of applicants has grown from 1,285 in 2020 to 7,102 in 2022.
Michelle Delpaul was among the first students to graduate with a master’s degree in acupuncture from the University of Johannesburg. She now serves as a lecturer and remains dedicated to expanding her knowledge through further studies.
With acupuncture, Michelle has helped many patients to deal with frozen shoulder, stroke, and acute asthma. She said that throughout the years of clinical practice, she has truly witnessed the remarkable effects of acupuncture. She hopes to continue learning and share the benefits of TCM acupuncture with more people.
Shafiq, who graduated from the TCM department at Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman in Malaysia, began his career at a TCM clinic in Kuala Lumpur last year. He told People’s Daily that through the TCM treatment, his mother’s migraines have been alleviated and his aftereffects of meningitis have greatly diminished over time. These experiences have reinforced his resolve to excel in TCM.
It is reported that the TCM department at Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman has been running for over a decade and has more than 160 students. The average employment rate for graduates stands at 97 percent annually. The university has carried out cooperation with multiple Chinese universities and hospitals specializing in TCM.
According to statistics, China’s exports of TCM products exceeded $2.91 billion in the first half of 2023, an increase of 3.63 percent year on year. In recent years, China has established 31 TCM service export bases, which have evolved into comprehensive international service platforms benefiting people of different countries.
Inspired by TCM literature and supported by Chinese scientific research, artemisinin-based drugs have made significant contributions to malaria prevention and treatment in many African countries.
Over the years, China has strengthened international cooperation in TCM with Belt and Road partner countries, making solid progress in building a Silk Road of Health.
China has established 30 overseas TCM centers incountries such as Russia, Thailand, and Hungary, and facilitated the registration and market entry of over 100 Chinese patent medicines in Belt and Road partner countries. Besides, China has signed traditional medicine cooperation agreements with 14 partner countries and received support for TCM development within the legal and regulatory frameworks of eight partner countries.
Raymond Busuttil, former Chairman of the Board of the MRCTCM, who had held positions in Malta’s Ministry for Health and the World Health Organization (WHO), said that TCM encapsulates centuries of human wisdom and has proved to be uniquely effective in dealing with certain health conditions.
The WHO has included traditional medicine originating from TCM in the International Classification of Diseases, indicating an increasing recognition of TCM’s value.
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.
-
Foreign12 hours ago
Judge blocks Trump from deporting non-citizens using wartime law
-
News13 hours ago
Obasanjo bemoans selection process of traditional rulers in Nigeria
-
News12 hours ago
SERAP sues Akpabio over ‘failure to reverse unlawful suspension of Natasha Akpoti’
-
Metro13 hours ago
4 abducted victims rescued as police neutralise wanted kidnap kingpin
-
News13 hours ago
Market associations, women groups knock el-Rufai, rally support for Tinubu, Gov Sani