Latest news with #GaoWencheng
The Star
03-08-2025
- The Star
Feature: British travelers discover many faces of China
by Xinhua writers Gao Wencheng, Yuan Liang LONDON, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- John Coles, managing director of a London-based travel agency, said he had heard a lot, sometimes quite negative things, from Western media about China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region before he set his feet on the land for the first time. "But for me, one of the great thrills of traveling is to go and see things with my own eyes." And what he saw defied all the headlines. From vast grasslands to snow-capped mountains and sweeping deserts, Xinjiang's landscapes left Coles deeply impressed. "The real surprise," he noted, "was the alpine scenery in the mountains. It looked like something from Switzerland or the Canadian Rockies." As his journey continued, Coles found himself drawn not only to the scenery but to the deep historical resonance of the Silk Road. "Many European and Western tourists are fascinated by the Silk Road, its history and romance as a trading route," he explained. "But it carried more than goods. It carried ideas." In remote corners of the region, he encountered crumbling ancient cities, their ruins still whispering the stories of the past. "These are incredible, hidden places," he said. "Deserted cities, full of history, waiting to be seen." Yet what surprised him most was the pace of contemporary change. From cutting-edge infrastructure to enormous wind farms stretching across the landscape, Coles was struck by the scale and speed of development. "The size of the wind turbines was almost unbelievable. The transformation is happening so fast." He also spoke of the openness he experienced. "I wandered freely through neighborhoods. That was one of the most delightful parts of the trip -- I could actually see and feel the place for myself." Coles had been to China before. Two decades ago, when he was based in Singapore and working in the aviation sector, he visited China frequently. At the time, he said, "Leaving Singapore to go to China felt like going back in time." But things have changed. "The infrastructure is astonishing. People are polite and friendly. The transformation is far beyond what I expected. " Coles shared these reflections at a travel experience sharing session held in London on Saturday, hosted by the China National Tourist Office London. Nearly 20 British travelers gathered to exchange stories about the surprises and discoveries they found in China. Alex Outhwaite visited China's Guizhou Province and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in May. She said it was her first time in China, and an unforgettable one. "We visited many traditional Miao and Dong villages, and what stood out most was the pride people had in their culture and how generously they shared it with us," she said. The group explored local music, cuisine and even joined a friendly football match with villagers. "We saw domestic and international tourists all learning together, about music, dancing, art and traditional dress. It was a real cultural immersion," Outhwaite said. The diversity also struck her. "Not just in terms of landscape, though the karst formations were stunning. But also the contrast between peaceful countryside and the bright lights of the cities." Photographer Anok Deb showed a video from Guizhou Province that has since gained more than 500,000 views online. "I often explored on my own and met so many local people," he said. "In a way, I fell in love with China. It's strange -- I didn't speak the language, didn't grow up in the culture, but I felt completely at home. I can't wait to go back." For some, the experience had a more personal meaning. Hari Krishna Daggubaty brought home a traditional Miao doll for his niece, thinking it was simply an exotic souvenir. "But she immediately told me it was a Miao doll." Daggubaty later found she learned it from TikTok. For Emily Grace Lymath, now a senior Asia specialist at a bespoke travel company, returning to China's Guangxi was a journey down memory lane. From 2012 to 2014, she had taught English at a local university. She was even invited to a traditional wedding by one of her former students. "Everyone was so excited." "Every time I return to China," she added, "I'm surprised by how fast it's developing." Nicola Clare Armstrong, who had also lived and worked in China, said she was busy teaching others how to use mobile payments on her recent trip to China. "In China, if you've got an idea, you can make it happen. All you need is a QR code," she said. She recalled chatting with street vendors, reflecting on how digital payments had become more than just a way to buy things. "They're the key to unlock the finance needed to take your business to the next level." One of the things she appreciated most about China was its variety. "From green mountain villages to vibrant city streets, every part of China has something new to offer," she said.
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Trade war is about more than just trade, China's official news agency argues
China's official state news agency argued that the ongoing trade war between the United States and China is about much more than tariffs. "At its heart, this is not just a trade dispute — it is an encounter between two fundamentally different visions in this age of economic globalization: one rooted in openness, cooperation and shared growth; the other driven by confrontation, exclusion, and zero-sum mentality," Xinhua wrote in commentary published early Sunday. Writing in support of globalism, Xinhua added: "China will firmly reject any proposal that compromises core principles or undermines the broader cause of global equity." The listed authors of the article were Gao Wencheng and Fan Yu, but Xinhua is the official state news agency of China and it only carries Chinese Communist Party-approved messaging. In Sunday's commentary, Xinhua argued that the United States is hurting itself with its trade positions. "For the United States itself," Xinhua wrote, "its tariff offensive amounts to economic self-harm: while it cannot cure underlying structural problems, it has triggered financial market volatility, fueled domestic inflation, eroded industrial capacity and raised the risk of recession." In contrast, Xinhua contended, China is taking a different path. "At a time when globalization is under strain and protectionism is on the rise, China has chosen not to lock itself up. Instead, it has doubled down on opening up, advancing trade and investment liberalization with renewed determination and creating opportunities for shared development across the globe," Xinhua said. "China's position is clear: no matter how the global landscape shifts, it will remain committed to openness." President Donald Trump on Saturday hailed "a total reset" of relations with China after talks in Switzerland involving Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, adding, "Great progress made." The negotiations followed a deal that the Trump administration reached last week with the United Kingdom. To settle this trade battle, the Chinese publication said the Trump administration must rethink how it views tariffs and trade. "If Washington is truly committed to resolving trade frictions through dialogue, it must first confront the harm its tariff-driven policies have inflicted not only on the global trading system, but also on its own economy and citizens," Xinhua said.
Politico
11-05-2025
- Business
- Politico
Trade war is about more than just trade, China's official news agency argues
China's official state news agency argued that the ongoing trade war between the United States and China is about much more than tariffs. 'At its heart, this is not just a trade dispute — it is an encounter between two fundamentally different visions in this age of economic globalization: one rooted in openness, cooperation and shared growth; the other driven by confrontation, exclusion, and zero-sum mentality,' Xinhua wrote in commentary published early Sunday. Writing in support of globalism, Xinhua added: 'China will firmly reject any proposal that compromises core principles or undermines the broader cause of global equity.' The listed authors of the article were Gao Wencheng and Fan Yu, but Xinhua is the official state news agency of China and it only carries Chinese Communist Party-approved messaging. In Sunday's commentary, Xinhua argued that the United States is hurting itself with its trade positions. 'For the United States itself,' Xinhua wrote, 'its tariff offensive amounts to economic self-harm: while it cannot cure underlying structural problems, it has triggered financial market volatility, fueled domestic inflation, eroded industrial capacity and raised the risk of recession.' In contrast, Xinhua contended, China is taking a different path. 'At a time when globalization is under strain and protectionism is on the rise, China has chosen not to lock itself up. Instead, it has doubled down on opening up, advancing trade and investment liberalization with renewed determination and creating opportunities for shared development across the globe,' Xinhua said. 'China's position is clear: no matter how the global landscape shifts, it will remain committed to openness.' President Donald Trump on Saturday hailed 'a total reset' of relations with China after talks in Switzerland involving Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, adding, 'Great progress made.' The negotiations followed a deal that the Trump administration reached last week with the United Kingdom. To settle this trade battle, the Chinese publication said the Trump administration must rethink how it views tariffs and trade. 'If Washington is truly committed to resolving trade frictions through dialogue, it must first confront the harm its tariff-driven policies have inflicted not only on the global trading system, but also on its own economy and citizens,' Xinhua said.
The Star
10-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
Xinhua Commentary: China remains steadfast in upholding int'l economic and trade order
by Xinhua writers Gao Wencheng and Fan Yu BEIJING, May 10 (Xinhua) -- At the request of the U.S. side, China and the United States kicked off on Saturday a high-level meeting on economic and trade affairs in Geneva, Switzerland. China decided to make contacts with the U.S. side after taking full account of global expectations, national interests and appeals from U.S. businesses and consumers. China possesses strong resilience and ample policy tools to safeguard its legitimate rights and interests. It stands ready to work with the international community to jointly oppose all forms of unilateralism, protectionism and economic coercion. Whether the road ahead involves negotiation or confrontation, one thing is clear: China's determination to safeguard its development interests is unshakable, and its stance on maintaining the global economic and trade order remains unwavering. The United States' reckless abuse of tariffs has flagrantly contravened World Trade Organization rules and destabilized the global economic order. Far from serving any legitimate purpose, these punitive duties represent a deliberate attempt to upend the multilateral trade system, inflicting damage on the rightful interests of countries around the world. For the United States itself, its tariff offensive amounts to economic self-harm: while it cannot cure underlying structural problems, it has triggered financial market volatility, fueled domestic inflation, eroded industrial capacity and raised the risk of recession. As the world's two largest economies, China and the United States share a profound stake in ensuring the soundness and steadiness of their commercial ties. The U.S. business and academic communities have consistently stressed that international trade is not a zero-sum game but should foster mutual benefit and shared success. U.S. policymakers should heed these rational and objective voices, and take concrete steps to restore China-U.S. trade relations to a path of healthy and stable growth. Given mounting calls for economic stability, the decision to sit down for negotiations represents a positive and necessary step to resolve disagreements and avert further escalation. But as China has consistently emphasized, meaningful dialogue can only proceed on the basis of mutual respect, equal consultation and mutual benefit. If Washington is truly committed to resolving trade frictions through dialogue, it must first confront the harm its tariff-driven policies have inflicted not only on the global trading system, but also on its own economy and citizens. It must honor established international trade rules and adhere to principles of fairness and justice. Talks should never be a pretext for continued coercion or extortion, and China will firmly reject any proposal that compromises core principles or undermines the broader cause of global equity. Confronted with U.S. protectionism and economic bullying, China has deployed decisive countermeasures and rallied multilateral support through the United Nations and other global forums to amplify the call for justice. China's actions defend not only its own legitimate development rights but also the shared interests of the wider international community, particularly smaller and developing nations. China has taken note that some economies are also engaged in negotiations with the United States. It must be emphasized that appeasement cannot secure peace, nor can compromise earn respect. Upholding principled positions and defending fairness and justice remain the right way to safeguard one's legitimate interests. At its heart, this is not just a trade dispute -- it is an encounter between two fundamentally different visions in this age of economic globalization: one rooted in openness, cooperation and shared growth; the other driven by confrontation, exclusion, and zero-sum mentality. The talks in Switzerland mark a crucial step toward resolving the issue. However, its ultimate resolution requires sufficient strategic patience and perseverance, as well as the international community's steadfast support for justice. China entered the Geneva talks with confidence in its solid economic fundamentals. Its economy grew by 5.4 percent year-on-year in the first quarter of 2025; in 2024, its total goods imports and exports surpassed 43 trillion yuan (about 5.94 trillion U.S. dollars), with a more diversified set of trading partners and improved export composition. Meanwhile, policy innovation and market vitality are working in tandem: new fiscal and monetary measures, ranging from interest-rate cuts to targeted support for innovation and social welfare, have further bolstered growth prospects and strengthened China's ability to weather external shocks. At a time when globalization is under strain and protectionism is on the rise, China has chosen not to lock itself up. Instead, it has doubled down on opening up, advancing trade and investment liberalization with renewed determination and creating opportunities for shared development across the globe. China's position is clear: no matter how the global landscape shifts, it will remain committed to openness, using the reliability of its own development to help offset the uncertainties facing the wider world. Trade wars and tariff battles yield no winners. A stable and constructive China-U.S. relationship serves the interests of both nations and the world at large. It is through sustained dialogue, responsible management of differences and deeper win-win cooperation between the world's two largest economies that the global economy can gain the confidence and momentum it urgently needs.
