平陆运河为何是世纪工程 广西明明靠海，为什么还要修一条运河去“找”海？因为对广西人来说，海近在眼前；但对货物来说，西江与北部湾之间一直缺少一条直接向南的水路。为了打通这关键的134.2公里，工程要穿过群山、跨越约65米水位落差，还要让5000吨级船舶安全通行。平陆运河通航后，广西将多一条更直接的向海水路，中国西南多一种连接海洋的选择，并由北部湾进一步通往东盟和世界。134.2公里并不长，却正在重新丈量中国西南与大海、与世界之间的距离。#平陆运河 #新中国首条通江达海运河工程 #超级工程

The BRICS summit in New Delhi strengthened common ground among major Global South countries on development, cooperation, multilateralism and global governance reform amid global volatility and recurring regional conflicts, officials and analysts said as President Xi Jinping concluded a two-day visit to India on Sunday.


The summit, which brought Xi and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi together for their third consecutive year of bilateral talks, also gave fresh impetus to improving relations between the two neighbors, with broader implications for regional stability and Global South cooperation, they said.


Speaking to reporters upon the conclusion of Xi's visit, Foreign Minister Wang Yi described the trip as a major diplomatic engagement with Global South countries in the opening year of China's 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) period.


Coming after Xi's visits to Central Asia and the Middle East earlier this month, the trip was strategically significant for advancing high-quality cooperation within the expanded BRICS grouping and strengthening Global South solidarity, Wang said.


In less than 24 hours in the Indian capital, Xi attended nearly 10 events, discussed development and cooperation with BRICS leaders, and held in-depth talks with Modi to chart the course of bilateral relations, Wang said.


This year marks the 20th anniversary of BRICS cooperation.


At the summit, Xi said solidarity and cooperation had always been the source of the grouping's strength.


He called on BRICS countries to take a leading role in innovation-driven development, safeguarding peace and stability, promoting exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations, and reforming and improving global governance.


At a new historical juncture, Xi had responded to the high expectations of Global South countries by reaffirming the historic mission of BRICS cooperation and charting its future course, Wang said, noting that Xi's urging elevated the strategic importance of BRICS cooperation and bolstered members' resolve and confidence to seek strength through solidarity.


Speaking at a media briefing on Saturday, Sudhakar Dalela, secretary for economic relations at India's Ministry of External Affairs, said that there was a broad convergence among BRICS leaders on the need to strengthen multilateralism and to make global governance institutions more representative, inclusive, effective and responsive to today's realities.


To bolster the strength of the Global South, Xi said during the summit that Global South countries should jointly defend the rule of law in international affairs, hold high the banner of multilateralism, remain committed to a people-centered development philosophy and jointly advance security governance.


He proposed five initiatives for "greater BRICS" cooperation in artificial intelligence, trade and investment facilitation, digital industry, intelligent manufacturing and talent development.


Lawrence Loh, director of the Centre for Governance and Sustainability at National University of Singapore's Business School, said "greater BRICS" distinguished itself through concrete plans to benefit people in countries beyond its membership.


"The BRICS summit has a broader implied message for the international community — global development cannot be based on a zero-sum game mentality where development is pursued at the expense of others," he said.


Swaran Singh, a former professor of international relations at Jawaharlal Nehru University in Delhi, India, said that Xi had presented "greater BRICS" as a platform for a more multipolar, rules-based order, with a strong emphasis on practical cooperation.


He said Xi's proposals overlapped significantly with India's own emphasis on technology, resilient supply chains and a stronger role for the Global South in shaping international affairs.


With China set to assume BRICS' rotating presidency for the fourth time next year, Wang said the country would remain committed to, rooted in and supportive of the Global South, sharing opportunities and pursuing common development on the path toward modernization.


The bilateral meeting between Xi and Modi, following their talks in the Russian city of Kazan in 2024 and Tianjin in northern China in 2025, also brought the direction of China-India relations into focus.


Wang said the two leaders held candid, in-depth exchanges on strategic and long-term issues shaping bilateral relations, with their most important consensus being that China and India should be partners.


Under the leaders' strategic guidance, ties have gradually emerged from a low point, with an expanding range of cooperation, record bilateral trade and more active people-to-people exchanges, Wang said.


Improved relations serve the interests of the two countries' more than 2.8 billion people and are also important for strengthening Global South cooperation, he added.


India's Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement on Saturday that the leaders welcomed the steady progress in relations since their Tianjin meeting and reaffirmed the need to take a strategic and long-term perspective on the bilateral ties.


"Differences should not become disputes," the statement said.


Wang said that each country's development offers opportunities for the other, and that China-India cooperation has significance far beyond bilateral ties, with implications for the Global South and the world as a whole.


He urged both sides to build on the hard-won improvement and implement the leaders' consensus to contribute to regional and global peace and prosperity.

multilateralism /ˌmʌltiˈlætərəlɪzəm/n. 多边主义
solidarity /ˌsɒlɪˈdærəti/n. 团结；同心协力
multipolar /ˌmʌltiˈpəʊlə(r)/adj. 多极的
bilateral /ˌbaɪˈlætərəl/adj. 双边的

The State Council, China's Cabinet, has launched an investigation into the major fire that occurred at a shipyard in Qingdao, Shandong province, on Thursday, killing 25 people and injuring five, the Ministry of Emergency Management announced on Monday.
应急管理部周一通报，9 月 10 日，山东省青岛市一处造船厂发生重大火灾事故，造成 25 人遇难、5 人受伤，国务院已成立调查组对该事故开展调查。

A State Council investigation team, led by the ministry, held its first plenary meeting on Monday.
由应急管理部牵头的国务院事故调查组于 周一召开第一次全体会议。

The meeting set out the investigation plan and called for investigators to identify the cause of the accident as soon as possible.
会议研究制定了调查方案，要求调查组尽快查明事故原因。

Before the meeting began, all the participants observed a moment of silence for the victims of the accident.
会议开始前，全体与会人员向事故遇难者默哀。

Song Yuanming, deputy director of the Office of the State Council Work Safety Committee and vice-minister of emergency management, chaired the meeting.
国务院事故调查组组长、国务院安委会办公室副主任、应急管理部副部长宋元明主持会议。

The investigation will not only examine the cause of the fire, but also determine whether the shipyard, industry supervision and local authorities had acted responsibly.
调查不仅要查清火灾事故原因，还要核查涉事船厂、行业监管部门以及地方政府是否履职尽责。

Those found responsible for the accident will be held accountable in accordance with the law, the announcement said.
通报称，对事故相关责任人员，将依法依规追究责任。

The inquiry will follow the principles of scientific rigor, compliance with laws and regulations, seeking truth from facts and focusing on practical results.
调查工作坚持科学严谨、依法依规、实事求是、注重实效的原则。

The authorities were also urged to draw broader lessons from the accident.
同时要求各方深刻汲取事故教训。

Local governments, relevant departments and centrally administered State-owned enterprises were told to strengthen workplace safety and step up inspections for fire hazards.
要求地方政府、相关部门以及中央国有企业强化安全生产，加大火灾隐患排查力度。

Investigators will also pay particular attention to subcontracting and illegal practices connected with it.
调查组将重点关注分包以及相关违法违规行为。

The meeting called for wider safety checks in sectors including hazardous chemicals, mining, industry and trade, transportation, construction and special equipment, in an effort to prevent serious accidents.
会议要求，在危化品、矿山、工贸、交通运输、建筑施工、特种设备等行业领域开展全面安全排查，防范重特大事故发生。

The fire broke out at around 11:15 am on Thursday aboard a foreign cargo vessel undergoing repairs at China State Shipbuilding Corporation Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding Co.
9 月 10 日上午 11 时 15 分许，中国船舶集团青岛北海造船有限公司一艘正在维修的外籍货轮发生火灾。

Authorities have not yet disclosed the nationality of the vessel or of those killed or injured.
有关部门尚未公布涉事船舶以及伤亡人员的国籍。

There were 42 people aboard the vessel when the fire broke out. Twelve managed to evacuate, while 30 others were trapped.
火灾发生时船上共有 42 人，12 人成功撤离，30 人被困。

The blaze was extinguished at around 2:30 pm.
明火于当日下午 2 时 30 分许被扑灭。

Provincial and Qingdao authorities immediately activated emergency response mechanisms, mobilizing emergency management, fire and rescue, public security, health and industry bodies to carry out rescue operations.
山东省及青岛市立即启动应急响应，调集应急管理、消防救援、公安、卫健、工信等各方力量开展救援。

By 7:24 pm that day, the search and rescue operation had concluded, with all 30 trapped people found.
截至当日 19 时 24 分，搜救工作结束，30 名被困人员全部找到。

The five injured were taken to hospital, where they remain in stable condition, while 25 were confirmed dead.
5 名伤者送医救治，目前伤情稳定；25 人不幸遇难。

Experts specializing in fire investigations from five provincial-level regions arrived at the site early on Friday to conduct preliminary inspections and analysis.
来自 5 个省级地区的火灾调查专家于 9 月 11 日一早抵达现场，开展初步勘查与分析。

The investigation team includes representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Transport, the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council, the All-China Federation of Trade Unions, the National Fire and Rescue Administration and the Shandong provincial government.
调查组包含外交部、工业和信息化部、公安部、交通运输部、国务院国有资产监督管理委员会、中华全国总工会、国家消防救援局以及山东省政府相关代表。

Officials from relevant departments of the Communist Party of China Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Commission of Supervision, as well as the Supreme People's Procuratorate, attended the meeting.
中央纪委国家监委相关部门、最高人民检察院派员参加会议。

investigation /ɪnˌvestɪˈɡeɪʃn/n. 调查
subcontracting /ˌsʌbkənˈtræktɪŋ/n. 分包；转包
hazard /ˈhæzəd/n. 隐患，危险
accountable /əˈkaʊntəbl/adj. 负有责任的

A Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman on Monday voiced opposition to a joint military exercise involving Japan, the United States and Australia, as well as Japan's forward deployment of long-range offensive weapons, saying such moves increase the risk of military confrontation in the region.
中国国防部发言人周一表示，反对日本、美国、澳大利亚举行联合军演，以及日本前沿部署远程进攻性武器，称此类举动会加剧地区军事对抗风险。

Jiang Bin, spokesman for the Ministry of National Defense, made the remarks in response to reports that Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force is conducting a joint exercise, dubbed "Oriental Shield 26", with the US and Australian armies in Hokkaido and Kagoshima from Sept 8 to 24.
国防部发言人蒋斌作出上述表态，回应有关报道。报道称，日本陆上自卫队将于 9 月 8 日至 24 日，在北海道和鹿儿岛同美澳陆军举行代号为 “东方盾牌 26” 的联合演习。

The US Typhon mid-range missile system will participate in the exercise for the first time, according to reports, raising concerns among countries in the region.
据报道，美国 “堤丰” 中导系统将首次参演，引发地区国家担忧。

Jiang said the exercise is being used to advance the deployment of long-range offensive weapons under the guise of a "shield", undermining the security interests of other countries and increasing the risk of an arms race and military confrontation in the region, thereby posing a serious threat to regional peace and stability.
蒋斌表示，这场演习借 “盾牌” 之名推进远程进攻性武器部署，损害他国安全利益，加剧地区军备竞赛和军事对抗风险，对地区和平稳定构成严重威胁。

"We firmly oppose this," Jiang said.
蒋斌说：“我们对此坚决反对。”

On Aug 31, Russia lodged a protest with the Japanese embassy in Russia over the joint military exercise.
8 月 31 日，俄罗斯就此次联合军演向日本驻俄使馆提出抗议。

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Sept 1 that deploying such weapons on Japanese territory, including under the pretext of military exercises, would threaten Russia's security and was "absolutely unacceptable" to Moscow. Russia would take countermeasures to ensure its national defense and security, she said.
俄罗斯外交部发言人玛丽亚・扎哈罗娃 9 月 1 日表示，以军演等为借口在日本领土部署此类武器将威胁俄罗斯安全，俄方对此 “完全不能接受”。她说，俄罗斯将采取反制措施，保障本国国防与安全。

China has also repeatedly expressed opposition to the deployment of US mid-range missile systems in Asian countries.
中方也多次反对美国在亚洲国家部署中导系统。

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said at a news conference in May that China firmly opposes such deployments and has repeatedly expressed its concerns over the issue.
中国外交部发言人郭嘉昆在 5 月的记者会上表示，中方坚决反对此类部署，并已就此多次表达关切。

The Typhon missile system is a strategically offensive weapon that undermines the legitimate security interests of other countries, threatens regional strategic security and increases the risk of military confrontation and an arms race, Guo said.
郭嘉昆称，“堤丰” 导弹系统属于战略性进攻武器，损害他国正当安全利益，威胁地区战略安全，加大军事对抗与军备竞赛风险。

"It does nothing to promote regional peace and stability and is detrimental in every respect," Guo said.
郭嘉昆表示：“这无助于维护地区和平稳定，百害而无一利。”

Jiang also pointed out that Japan has repeatedly breached the principles of its pacifist constitution and its exclusively defense-oriented policy by developing long-range offensive weapons and stepping up its military activities overseas.
蒋斌同时指出，日本研发远程进攻性武器、加紧海外军事活动，多次突破和平宪法原则与专守防卫政策。

He criticized Japan's military expansion as moving toward a new form of militarism, saying it caters to the interests of countries outside the region while encouraging bloc confrontation and increasing tensions.
他批评日本军事扩张朝着新型军国主义方向发展，迎合域外国家利益，煽动集团对抗，加剧紧张局势。

"Any move that fuels Japan's military ambitions will only plunge the region into a dangerous vortex and will eventually bring harm to the country itself," Jiang said.
蒋斌说：“任何助长日本军事野心的举动，只会将地区拖入危险漩涡，最终反噬其自身。”

He urged the countries concerned to respect the security concerns of other countries, correct their erroneous practices and contribute positively to regional peace and stability through concrete actions.
他敦促有关国家尊重他国安全关切，纠正错误做法，以实际行动为地区和平稳定发挥积极作用。

spokesman /ˈspəʊksmən/n. 发言人
confrontation /ˌkɒnfrʌnˈteɪʃn/n. 对抗
militarism /ˈmɪlɪtərɪzəm/n. 军国主义
vortex /ˈvɔːteks/n. 漩涡

China will continue to have a relatively abundant workforce, and sustained efforts will be made to foster a fertility-friendly society, Health Minister Lei Haichao said on Monday.
国家卫生健康委主任雷海潮周一表示，我国劳动力供给总量仍将保持相对充裕，将持续推进生育友好型社会建设。

Although China's total population has declined for four consecutive years, the country is still home to 1.405 billion people and will remain a major population power for years to come, Lei said during a news conference held by the State Council Information Office.
雷海潮在国务院新闻办公室举行的新闻发布会上说，虽然我国总人口已连续四年下降，但人口总量仍有 14.05 亿，未来较长时期仍将保持人口大国地位。

With more than 10 million students enrolling in colleges and universities each year — a sign of expanding access to higher education, Lei said the nation is building a growing workforce of highly skilled workers.
雷海潮表示，我国每年高校入学新生超千万，体现高等教育普及水平持续提升，正在持续壮大高技能人才队伍。

Meanwhile, the annual number of newborns has held at about 8 million, despite an overall downward trend.
与此同时，虽然新生儿数量整体呈下行趋势，但每年新生儿数量稳定在 800 万左右。

"Compared with other developed and developing countries, the number of nations with this level of births is still very small, so China will still have a relatively ample labor force in the future," he said.
他说：“对比其他发达国家和发展中国家，能维持这一出生规模的国家为数不多，我国未来劳动力供给仍相对充裕。”

Lei stressed that China will continue to roll out fertility-friendly measures to ease the burden of giving birth to, raising, and educating children.
雷海潮强调，我国将持续出台生育支持举措，减轻生育、养育、教育负担。

So far, more than 30 million families have benefited from the fertility subsidy policy launched last year.
自去年出台生育补贴政策以来，已有超过 3000 万户家庭从中受益。

Over the next five years, he said more efforts will be made to integrate nursery and kindergarten care services and to support communities and employers in setting up nursery care facilities, so that residents can access such services more conveniently and at an affordable price.
他表示，未来五年，我国将进一步推进托幼一体化服务建设，支持社区和用人单位兴办托育设施，让群众能够便捷、普惠地获得托育服务。

It is also important to promote a positive view on marriage and fertility, he added.
他补充说，积极倡导婚恋观、生育观同样重要。

workforce /ˈwɜːkfɔːs/n. 劳动力，劳动人口
fertility /fəˈtɪləti/n. 生育；生育率
consecutive /kənˈsekjətɪv/adj. 连续的
nursery /ˈnɜːsəri/n. 托儿所，托育机构

Beijing has tightened restrictions on drones, prohibiting the possession and storage of drones and their core components across the city starting Nov 15 under a revised regulation adopted by the city's lawmakers.
北京收紧无人机管控。根据市人大审议通过的修订条例，自 11 月 15 日起，全市范围内禁止持有、存放无人机及其核心零部件。

The revised regulation, passed by the Standing Committee of the Beijing Municipal People's Congress, tightens controls on drones compared with the previous version, which took effect on May 1, as authorities move to strengthen airspace security in the capital.
北京市人大常委会审议通过该修订条例。为强化首都空域安全，新版条例相比 5 月 1 日施行的旧条例，进一步收紧无人机管控措施。

In line with the new rules, the entire administrative area of Beijing will be designated as controlled airspace for unmanned aircraft. Flights by unmanned aircraft will be prohibited across the city unless otherwise permitted under relevant regulations.
按照新规，北京市全部行政区域划定为无人机管控空域。未经相关法规许可，全市范围内禁止无人机飞行。

The possession and storage of drones and their core components will also be prohibited. Individuals and organizations will also be barred from transporting or carrying drones and their core components into Beijing.
条例同时禁止持有、存放无人机及其核心零部件。任何个人、单位不得运输、携带无人机及其核心零部件进入北京。

Exceptions will apply to special-purpose flights. Organizations involved in counterterrorism, public order, emergency rescue and disaster relief, major events, teaching, scientific research and manufacturing may conduct flights in accordance with relevant national regulations.
专项飞行活动除外。反恐、维护公共秩序、应急抢险救灾、重大活动保障、教学、科研以及生产制造等相关单位，可依照国家有关规定开展飞行活动。

Such organizations must establish safety management systems, clearly assign management responsibilities and take measures to prevent safety incidents, according to the revised regulation.
修订条例规定，上述单位应当建立安全管理制度，明确管理责任，落实安全防控措施，防范安全事故发生。

Beijing began implementing its drone management regulation on May 1, together with rules requiring authorities to verify information on drones. The verification work, which included registration of existing devices, was completed on July 31, according to the authorities.
北京市原无人机管理条例于 5 月 1 日起实施，配套无人机信息核验工作同步开展，其中包含存量设备登记，该项核验已于 7 月 31 日完成。

The current information-verification rules will cease to apply when the revised regulation takes effect.
修订条例正式施行后，现行信息核验相关规定不再适用。

To help residents dispose of drones already in Beijing before the Nov 15 deadline, authorities have opened several channels in addition to allowing owners to take their devices out of the city themselves.
为方便市民在 11 月 15 日截止日期前处置已在京的无人机，有关部门开辟多条处置渠道，机主也可自行将设备携离本市。

Drone owners can sell their aircraft to buyback companies certified by district-level governments or hand them over to government-designated recycling facilities. In either case, they can receive subsidies ranging from 100 yuan ($14.9) to 3,000 yuan per drone, in addition to the money received from selling the device.
机主可将无人机出售给区级政府认定的回收企业，或移交政府指定回收机构。两种方式下，除设备出售所得款项外，每台无人机还可获得 100 元（14.9 美元）至 3000 元不等补贴。

Another option is to send drones by China Post's EMS service to an address outside Beijing between Sept 12 and Nov 14, and the delivery fee will be waived after the equipment is verified.
另一种处置方式：9 月 12 日至 11 月 14 日期间，可通过中国邮政 EMS 将无人机寄往北京以外地区，设备核验通过后免收快递费。

Residents who choose to take their drones out of Beijing themselves must do so by Nov 15, using transportation such as civil aviation, rail or road services.
选择自行携机离京的市民，须在 11 月 15 日前，通过民航、铁路、公路等交通方式完成转移。

The revised regulation also establishes a citywide ban on drone storage. Unless otherwise provided by law or regulation, no organization or individual may establish a warehouse, temporary storage site or other storage facility for unmanned aircraft within Beijing.
修订条例同时在全市范围内禁止存放无人机。法律法规另有规定的除外，任何单位和个人不得在本市设立无人机仓库、临时存放点等储存场所。

Public security authorities will conduct inspections and take legal action against those who fail to move their drones out of Beijing by the deadline or illegally store them, according to the authorities.
公安部门将开展巡查，对逾期未移出、违规存放无人机的相关主体依法处置。

Beijing said it will continue routine controls over the city's airspace and provide policy guidance and services to help residents comply with the new requirements.
北京方面表示，本市将持续开展空域常态化管控，并提供政策指引与配套服务，引导市民遵守新规。

drone /drəʊn/n. 无人机
unmanned /ʌnˈmænd/adj. 无人的
regulation /ˌreɡjuˈleɪʃn/n. 条例，法规
subsidy /ˈsʌbsədi/n. 补贴，补助金

President Xi Jinping unveiled five initiatives — covering the areas of artificial intelligence, trade and investment facilitation, digital industry, smart manufacturing, and talent development — to deepen practical cooperation among BRICS countries and bolster the collective strength of the Global South.


Addressing the second session of the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi as he wrapped up his two-day participation in the gathering on Sunday, Xi stressed that a stronger foundation for cooperation was essential for the expanded grouping to achieve greater progress.


He urged BRICS countries to leverage their close ties with emerging markets and Global South countries, pursuing open cooperation for mutual benefit while safeguarding stable and smooth industrial and supply chains.


They should foster a larger integrated market, build incubators for innovation, upgrade traditional industries, develop emerging industries and deploy future industries, Xi added.


China will be a pioneer in establishing a BRICS AI open source community, and it will support cooperation in developing and applying large language models, hold specialized AI seminars and training courses, and build an open AI ecosystem, Xi said.


He proposed a BRICS special economic zone partnership under which countries could set up an intelligent portal, coordinate policies and build a new frontier for open development. China will also host the BRICS Forum on Trade in Services next year to cultivate new drivers of economic and trade cooperation.


Furthermore, China will push for the establishment of a BRICS digital ecosystem cloud platform and conduct digital skills training, technological exchanges and industrial alignment to jointly advance the digital economy, Xi said.


He expressed the country's readiness to assist fellow BRICS countries in building smart factories and developing standards and norms, jointly promoting manufacturing transformation and upgrading.


Xi also proposed a BRICS engineer cultivation alliance for the joint development of engineers and mutual recognition of competency standards. China will launch a BRICS youth exchange program for scientific and technological innovation to cultivate more high-caliber talent.


Noting that this year marks the launch of China's 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30), Xi said China will continue to pursue high-quality development, expand high-standard opening-up, implement the Global Development Initiative and advance high-quality Belt and Road cooperation to share opportunities and prosper together with other countries.


Liu Ying, a researcher at the Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies at Renmin University of China, said that as BRICS marks its 20th anniversary and moves toward its next "golden decade", China's five initiatives respond to the shared development needs of BRICS and the wider Global South.


China has offered not just directions for cooperation, but also concrete platforms and mechanisms to implement it, she said, helping BRICS countries expand their international voice while strengthening their own development foundations.


Openness and inclusiveness in AI especially matter, Liu said, as open-source cooperation, large-model development and talent training can help Global South countries access and apply AI as a foundational resource for national development — an effort that China's strengths in technology, industry and application can help make possible.


China is practicing "developmental multilateralism" — combining capacity building with real development outcomes to help the Global South participate more fully in the new wave of technological and industrial change, and ultimately pushing the global system toward a fairer, more inclusive and balanced order, Liu added.


As the Global South, with its collective rise, has become a key driver of world multipolarity, Xi said that to bring stability to the world and make it a better place, BRICS countries must seize the historical initiative, rally the Global South, be an active, stabilizing and positive force in international affairs, and advance the well-being of all humanity.


He stressed that Global South countries should jointly defend the rule of law in international affairs, safeguarding sovereign equality, noninterference in internal affairs and the peaceful settlement of disputes, to ensure that international law and international rules are applied to all, free from double standards.


Xi emphasized the need to uphold multilateralism and the authority and role of the United Nations, and to support multilateral institutions in advancing reform and increasing efficiency. World Trade Organization reform should proceed in the right direction, while the international financial architecture must be reformed and improved to increase developing countries' representation and voice, he added.


Global South countries should remain committed to a people-centered development philosophy and strive to deliver on the UN's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, he said.


Addressing shared challenges, Xi said that Global South countries should work together to strengthen security governance, tackle traditional and nontraditional threats, and improve global climate governance.


BRICS draws its growing influence from an inclusive approach that respects different development paths and promotes shared economic gains, said Lan Qingxin, director of the BRICS Research Center at the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing.

The BRICS is emerging as a significant force in development and governance of artificial intelligence globally, experts say, highlighting its crucial role in championing the Global South's interests and bridging the digital divide.


BRICS has evolved into a crucial mechanism for Global South nations to pursue shared development. With the rise of AI, the bloc has elevated technology governance as a key pillar of its agenda.


BRICS members and the broader Global South regard AI as both an unprecedented opportunity and a strategic imperative. Jiang Tianjiao, a research fellow at the Center for Global AI Innovative Governance in Shanghai, said that these countries see developing AI as a way of increasing productivity, improving public services and narrowing the digital divide, but also as an essential path to reduce dependence on developed countries for technology, computing power and rules.


A landmark move came at last year's BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where the bloc issued its first leadership-level consensus document on global AI governance, The BRICS Leaders' Statement on the Global Governance of Artificial Intelligence. It underscored digital sovereignty and the right to development as central to global AI governance.


The BRICS consensus serves as a crucial corrective to the global AI governance system, experts said.


Jiang Qingquan, deputy director of the BRICS Economic Research Center at Xiamen University of Technology, said global AI governance discussions have often fixated on security risks, overlooking the more fundamental issue of the development gap.


"By enshrining the right to development as a governance principle, the BRICS statement compels the international community to address the crucial question: how to ensure all countries can access and use AI before discussing its regulation.


"BRICS places the right to development at the core of AI governance. Giving priority to capacity building for developing countries better aligns with the practical needs of Global South nations."


He depicted the grouping's role as a "collective spokesperson for Global South AI governance".


Despite varying strengths in AI technology, computing infrastructure and energy support, experts see these differences as a unique advantage for BRICS multilateral AI collaboration, potentially playing a significant role in bridging the global digital divide.


Jiang Tianjiao underscored the complementary strengths among BRICS members in creating a "resources-technology-scenario energy" synergy. "China has a complete AI industrial chain and open-source model capabilities; Russia and India excel in algorithms and talent; Brazil, Indonesia and South Africa have abundant application scenarios in different sectors; and countries such as China and Brazil offer clean energy for high-energy-consuming computing power."


This complementarity is translating into concrete mechanisms. In Bengaluru, India, in July, BRICS member nations signed an agreement on collaboration in standardization, the bloc's first collective foray into setting international AI standards.


This initiative enables BRICS members to jointly shape international norms within standard-setting bodies, thereby amplifying the voice of emerging economies in frontier technologies governance, Jiang Qingquan said.


BRICS is translating consensus into actionable cooperation mechanisms, with China playing a key role in driving this practical implementation, experts said.


Addressing the 16th BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia, in 2024, President Xi Jinping announced the establishment of the China-BRICS Artificial Intelligence Development and Cooperation Center, expressing China's readiness to deepen collaboration on innovation with all BRICS countries to unleash the dividends of AI development.


"The center's establishment is about converting this vision into implementable cooperation mechanisms, ensuring BRICS countries become cocreators of innovation in the AI era," said Xu Shan, an expert at the China-BRICS Artificial Intelligence Development and Cooperation Center.


The center has facilitated 55 supply-demand matching events for AI companies, promoting plans for international collaboration, she said. Its training programs have reached 105 senior officials in 58 countries, extending the benefits of BRICS collaboration to the wider Global South, she said.


For the public at large, Xu said, AI cooperation can translate into tangible improvements: farmers in remote areas using AI-powered pest detection, grassroots hospitals drawing on AI-assisted diagnoses to help alleviate doctor shortages, and speakers of minority languages accessing intelligent services in their native tongues.


"The ultimate test of AI collaboration is whether people in BRICS and Global South countries can genuinely benefit from this technological revolution," Xu said. "That is the fundamental purpose of everything the center does."

This episode explores the changing dynamics of Teacher’s Day as it marks its 42nd anniversary on September 10, 2026.

 What was once a simple exchange of appreciation has transformed into a high-stakes source of social anxiety for parents, students, and educators alike. We trace the history of this tradition across generations—from the analog era of hand-drawn paper cards built on physical effort to the digital age of video montages and social media tributes. 

We examine the psychological pressure of public performative gift-giving, the stark power dynamics faced by graduate students, and the quiet parallel anxiety experienced by teachers. The episode also looks at recent Ministry of Education mandates aimed at curbing empty formalism, ultimately returning to the core question: what is the true, enduring currency of the teaching profession?

China and the United States are in consultations on a framework arrangement for reciprocal tariff reductions covering products worth $30 billion from each side, with both countries working to bring the tariff cuts into effect at an early date, the Ministry of Commerce said on Thursday.
商务部周四表示，中美双方正在磋商一项相互减让关税的框架安排，涉及双方各 300 亿美元规模的产品，两国正努力推动关税减免尽早落地。

Speaking at a weekly news conference in Beijing, Huang Ling, the ministry's spokeswoman, said that Chinese and US economic and trade teams are earnestly implementing the consensus reached by the two heads of state at their meeting in May in Beijing.
商务部发言人黄玲在北京举行的例行新闻发布会上表示，中美经贸团队正在认真落实两国元首 5 月在北京会晤达成的共识。

Experts said that the proposed tariff reductions are expected to cover products of mutual interest, with agricultural goods and industrial products among those under consideration.
专家表示，拟议中的关税减免预计将覆盖双方共同关注的产品，农产品和工业产品都在考虑范围内。

Continued dialogue and consultation can help manage differences, reduce trade frictions and work toward mutually beneficial outcomes, they said.
专家称，持续对话磋商有助于管控分歧、减少贸易摩擦，争取实现互利共赢的结果。

Fu Suixin, an associate researcher at the Institute of American Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said that the recent interactions between China and the US, along with the establishment of bilateral trade and investment councils, have been significant in helping to stabilize relations and maintain channels of communication.
中国社会科学院美国研究所副研究员表示，中美近期的互动，以及双边贸易投资委员会的设立，对稳定两国关系、保持沟通渠道畅通具有重要意义。

"This does not mean the two sides have resolved their deep-seated differences over trade, technology and other issues," said Fu.
“这并不意味着双方已经解决了在贸易、技术等领域根深蒂固的分歧，” 傅说。

"Rather, these developments have reaffirmed the importance of maintaining high-level communication, managing differences and working toward a relationship characterized by constructive strategic stability."
“相反，这些进展再次印证，保持高层沟通、管控分歧、构建具有建设性战略稳定的双边关系十分重要。”

Da Wei, a professor of international relations at Tsinghua University in Beijing, shared a similar outlook. "Through dialogue, China and the US can work toward a more sustainable balance in their economic relationship by developing a clearer understanding of the scope and boundaries of bilateral economic ties," he said.
清华大学国际关系教授达巍持相近看法。他表示：“通过对话，中美可以更加清晰地把握双边经贸关系的范围与边界，推动两国经贸关系实现更可持续的平衡。”

This would involve identifying areas where closer economic ties remain mutually beneficial, areas where some separation may be necessary, and a level of economic engagement that is acceptable to both sides, said Da.
达巍称，这其中包括界定哪些领域深化经贸联系仍可实现互利、哪些领域需要适度脱钩，以及找到双方都能接受的经贸交往水平。

Despite persistent differences, bilateral trade has remained resilient. China's trade with the US reached 2.76 trillion yuan ($412 billion) in the first eight months of this year, up 1.3 percent year-on-year, according to data from the General Administration of Customs.
尽管分歧依然存在，双边贸易仍展现韧性。海关总署数据显示，今年前 8 个月，中美贸易额达 2.76 万亿元人民币（合 4120 亿美元），同比增长 1.3%。

In another development, France has been urged to immediately stop using its anti-ultrafast fashion law to undermine the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies.
另据消息，中方敦促法国立即停止利用其反超快时尚相关法律损害中国企业合法权益。

In response to remarks by French officials that the law is neither discriminatory nor targeted and is intended to protect the environment and consumers, Huang, the spokeswoman, said that China remains seriously concerned about the legislation.
针对法国官员称该法律不具歧视性、不针对特定对象，旨在保护环境与消费者的表态，发言人黄玲表示，中方对这项立法高度关切。

She said that China will closely follow further developments and take necessary measures to safeguard Chinese companies' legitimate rights and interests.
她说，中方将密切关注事态后续发展，并采取必要措施维护中国企业的合法权益。

The French law, under the pretext of setting so-called standards for "environmental protection" and "sustainability", applies double standards by imposing discriminatory restrictions on Chinese cross-border e-commerce platforms through legislation, which severely distorts fair competition, according to information released by the Ministry of Commerce.
商务部相关信息显示，法国这项法律以制定所谓 “环保”“可持续发展” 标准为借口，通过立法对中国跨境电商平台实施歧视性限制，奉行双重标准，严重破坏公平竞争。

China opposes the abuse of restrictive economic and trade measures and urges France to take China's concerns seriously, stop using the legislation to undermine Chinese companies' legitimate rights and interests, and address economic and trade differences through dialogue on an equal footing, Huang added.
黄玲补充道，中方反对滥用限制性经贸措施，敦促法方重视中方关切，停止借该法律损害中国企业合法权益，通过平等对话解决经贸分歧。

In response to another question about the ministry's recent meetings with several French companies operating in China, Huang said public reports show that some French companies had received subsidies from the European Union and its member states, which may have been passed on to some extent to their entities in China.
在被问及商务部近期与多家在华法国企业会谈一事时，黄玲表示，公开报道显示，部分法国企业获得欧盟及其成员国补贴，相关补贴可能在一定程度上传导至其在华机构。

To assess the potential impact of such subsidies, the ministry has sought information from the companies concerned in accordance with the law and asked them to provide explanations, she said.
她表示，为评估此类补贴带来的潜在影响，商务部已依法向相关企业调取信息，要求其作出说明。

reciprocal /rɪˈsɪprəkl/adj. 相互的；互惠的
tariff /ˈtærɪf/n. 关税
resilient /rɪˈzɪliənt/adj. 有韧性的
discriminatory /dɪˈskrɪmɪnətəri/adj. 歧视性的












今天 16:55