Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Latin America not only marks a new chapter in China's relations with the continent but also underscores China's commitment to advancing cooperation with and amplifying the voice of Global South nations, experts said. 

Xi left Brasilia on Thursday after attending the 19th G20 Leaders' Summit and paying a state visit to Brazil. Brazilian senior officials bid farewell to Xi at the airport.

On the way to the airport, representatives of overseas Chinese, Chinese institutions and students waved the national flags of China and Brazil on both sides of the road, congratulating Xi on the complete success of the visit.

During his state visit to Brazil, President Xi and President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva jointly announced to elevate China-Brazil ties to a China-Brazil community with a shared future for a more just world and a more sustainable planet, and to promote synergy between the Belt and Road Initiative and Brazil's development strategies.

When asked to comment on the details, outcomes and highlights of President Xi's visit to Brazil, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian on Thursday said that the two presidents took stock of the past 50 years of China-Brazil relations, and agreed that the relationship is at its best period in history, is growing stronger in global, strategic and long-term significance, and has become an exemplar of common progress, solidarity and cooperation between major developing countries. 

Elevating the bilateral ties and synergizing the two countries' development strategies will certainly enable the two countries to carry forward the past achievements in the relations and usher in the next "golden 50 years," as well as to set an example for Global South nations to seek strength through unity and make new contributions to increasing the representation and voice of developing countries in global governance, according to Lin. 

President Xi also pointed out that next year marks the 10th anniversary of the official launch of the China-CELAC Forum. China stands ready to join hands with Brazil and other Latin American countries to take China-Latin American cooperation to new heights, Lin said. 

Emerging Global South

Chinese analysts said that President Xi's Latin America trip highlighted China's commitment to promoting development and cooperation among Global South countries as the country is positioning itself as a key player in promoting global peace, security, and development. 

In a written speech addressing the APEC CEO Summit 2024, Xi said that the principles of "plan together, build together and benefit together" should be followed, the representation and voice of the Global South should be enhanced continuously, and all countries should be ensured of equal rights, equal opportunities and equal rules in conducting international economic cooperation.

While addressing Session I of the 19th G20 Summit on Fight Against Hunger and Poverty, Xi said "there should be more bridges of cooperation, and less 'small yard, high fences,' so that more and more developing countries will be better off and achieve modernization."

To build such a world, Xi calls for an "open, inclusive and non-discriminatory environment for international economic cooperation," a "universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization," and support for developing countries in better integrating into digital, smart, and green development to bridge the North-South gap.

Xi also said that China will always be a member of the Global South, a reliable long-term partner of fellow developing countries, and a doer and go-getter working for the cause of global development.

Xi's trip to Latin America not only serves as a new chapter for China's relationship with the continent, but also highlighted China's commitment to promoting development and cooperation among Global South countries, Yang Xiyu, a senior research fellow at the China Institute of International Studies, told the Global Times.

He noted that Global South countries are not only focusing on economic cooperation but are also playing an increasingly important role in international political and security matters. 

China has emphasized cooperation among the Global South in various multilateral platforms such as APEC and G20, effectively working to strengthen and elevate the collaboration in the international community. This aligns with the current trend of the Global South's emergence, actively promoting deeper cooperation and enhancing influence within this group.

Within the Global South, the China-Latin America partnership represents a model of autonomous and reciprocal development, in contrast with the traditional dependence on Western powers. This partnership encourages other Global South countries to pursue mutually beneficial horizontal relationships, supporting a new multipolar order, Ronnie Lins, Brazilian economist and director of the China-Brazil Center for Research and Business, told the Global Times. 

By strengthening economic, cultural, and technological ties, China and Latin America have the potential to form a more cohesive bloc, promoting cooperation on global challenges such as inequality, sustainability, and innovation. This integration among emerging countries paves new pathways for development, amplifying the Global South's voice and potentially redefining the global economic and political balance, said Lins. 

Head-of-state diplomacy

President Xi kicked off his first state visits this year to France, Serbia and Hungary in May. 

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said at a press briefing that Xi's Europe trip is a journey of carrying forward friendship, enhancing mutual trust, boosting confidence and charting the course for the future.

In July, Xi attended the 24th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the SCO in Astana, and made state visits to Kazakhstan and Tajikistan.

In October, Xi arrived in Kazan to attend the 16th BRICS Summit at the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Noting that this year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Russia, Xi told Putin that China-Russia relations have forged ahead despite wind and rain in the last 75 years and found the right way for two big, neighboring countries to get along with each other, characterized by non-alliance, non-confrontation, and not targeting any third party.

When meeting with US President Joe Biden on the sidelines of the 31st APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Lima, Peru on November 16, Xi said that over the past four years, China-US relations have gone through ups and downs, but the two sides have also been engaged in dialogue and cooperation, adding that the relationship has remained stable on the whole.

Apart from promoting Global South cooperation, China's diplomacy is also making efforts to stabilize relations with major powers such as the US, Russia, and Europe, said Yang. 

Yang said that the interactions among these major powers, especially with the US, Europe and Russia, not only affect bilateral relations but are also related to the overall stability of the international situation. The endeavor to stabilize relations among major powers reflects China's ongoing commitment to promoting world peace and development.

Another characteristic is marked by China's neighboring diplomacy, said Yang. 

China places great importance on its neighboring diplomacy, consistently prioritizing its neighbors within the overall framework of its foreign policy. President Xi previously put forward the principle of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness to guide China's neighborhood diplomacy, and also proposed an open and interconnected paradigm for Asia-Pacific cooperation. 

These principles have become the fundamental guidelines and direction for the development of China's relations with neighboring countries, aiming to create a peaceful and stable diplomatic environment in the region, which benefits both China and those countries, said Xu Bu, president of Institute of International Development and Security Studies, Jiangsu University. 

Under the guidance of head-of-state diplomacy, China is maintaining stable relations with major countries, working hand in hand with neighboring countries, and collaborating with Global South countries for revitalization, said Xu, noting that in doing so, China is charting a course for world peace, security, and development, writing a new chapter in its diplomacy with Chinese characteristics.

Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory. China strongly opposes official interaction of any form between China's Taiwan region and countries that have diplomatic relations with China. This includes the negotiation or signing of any agreements that implies sovereignty or has an official nature, a spokesperson of the Chinese Embassy in the Netherlands said on Saturday. 

Recently, the House of Representatives of the Netherlands once again adopted a Taiwan-related motion, involving areas such as economy and trade.

"The Dutch motion gravely violates the one-China principle and grossly interferes in China's internal affairs. China deplores and strongly opposes this move," the spokesperson said. 

We hope the Dutch side will bear in mind the overall interests of China-Netherlands and China-EU relations, abide by the one-China principle, deal with Taiwan-related issues with prudence, avoid sending wrong signals to "Taiwan independence" forces in the name of economic cooperation or legal assistance, and maintain a momentum of steady and positive development of our bilateral relations, the spokesperson said in a statement.

Without unveiling its designation, the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force debuted a new type of mysterious armed reconnaissance drone at the ongoing Airshow China 2024.

With enhanced performance, the new drone is expected to be more powerful than the PLA Air Force’s GJ-1 and GJ-2 armed reconnaissance drones, Chinese military expert Song Zhongping told the Global Times on Friday at the airshow.

Exhibited at the ground static display area of the PLA Air Force and painted in light grey, the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) boasts a similar conventional design seen on many armed reconnaissance drones, including the PLA Air Force’s GJ-1 and GJ-2, as well as the Wing Loong-1 and Wing Loong-2.

Officially labeled as a new-type reconnaissance and strike UAV, the drone is capable of tactical reconnaissance, surveillance and attack missions, the Global Times learned at the airshow.

With mission payload such as optoelectronic reconnaissance equipment, synthetic aperture radar, communication and reconnaissance devices installed, the drone can attack fixed, mobile and time-sensitive targets on the ground and on water surface, according to the PLA Air Force.

In previous editions of Airshow China, the PLA Air Force unveiled the GJ-1 and GJ-2 armed reconnaissance drones. This year, it did not provide detailed information on the new drone’s technical specifics and capabilities. 

The new drone is an embodiment of the PLA Air Force’s constant upgrading and optimization of its drone arsenal, Song said, noting that the new drone is likely capable of conducting strikes on more types of targets.

In addition to the new-type reconnaissance and strike UAV, the PLA Air Force also exhibited the WZ-7 and the WZ-10 reconnaissance drones at the Airshow China 2024. Previously, the PLA also unveiled the GJ-11 armed reconnaissance stealth drone and the WZ-8 reconnaissance drone.

Song said different drones have different uses and missions. Some of them play strategic roles while others play tactical roles. Some of them are dedicated to reconnaissance missions while others can also attack.

China is having more and more types of drones. With the country’s aviation and aerospace sectors, universities and companies developing UAVs, China’s drone industry is developing fast and becoming more diversified, according to Song.

Chinese experts and scholars from across the country gathered in Shanghai on Saturday to discuss and share their opinions and latest researches on anthropology and country and region studies, contributing their efforts and wisdom to the establishment of China’s own knowledge system in this respect to satisfy the needs of China’s increasing involvement in international affairs and global cooperation. 

Nearly 80 experts and scholars from 41 universities attended the fourth forum of Anthropology and Country and Region Studies, themed China’s subjectivity and multiple universalisms in local knowledge exploration and practice in country and region studies this year, which is being held at Shanghai International Studies University (SISU) from Saturday to Sunday. 

Engaged in in-depth discussions, the experts hope to consolidate the academic and practical foundation for jointly building a community of shared future for mankind, and promote the building of China’s own specific knowledge system of country and region studies. 

Li Yansong, president of SISU, addressed the forum saying that country and region studies have become a standard practice for major powers and serve as a strategic execution of comprehensive knowledge exploration about the external world, providing essential knowledge support for realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and building a community with a shared future for mankind. As China continues to step onto the global stage, with increasingly frequent and deepened diplomatic interactions, the demand for knowledge about the world has not only become broader but also more detailed and deepened.

Liu Qi, a research fellow with Shanghai Academy of Global Governance and Area Studies under SISU, shared in a keynote speech her views from the perspective of research methodology on the roles of anthropology and country and region studies that play in developing the knowledge system needed to advance a new international order.

Liu said rather than following the West, China should take on a leadership role in the process of critically reflecting on this knowledge system and become a knowledge leader among developing countries via country and region studies. 

The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the Global South and the Chinese enterprises are exploring the international market and are all about the visions of a new world order which needs the support from the new knowledge system that China has now started to establish, Liu told the Global Times on Saturday, noting that the combination of anthropology and country and region studies is the subjects behind the new knowledge system that is urgently needed to be established. 

Since 2021, three forums on anthropology and country and region studies have been held to promote the integration, mutual support and joint development of these fields in terms of theories, methodologies, areas of study, and research topics. The fourth forum is jointly hosted by Shanghai Academy of Global Governance and Area Studies under SISU, the College of International Development and Global Agriculture of China Agricultural University, the School of International Studies of Communication University of China, and the Institute of African Studies of Zhejiang Normal University.

Chinese researchers are working on the development of future hexapod robots, aiming to achieve a qualitative breakthrough in the robot for lunar exploration. The six-legged robot offers enhanced stability, smoother motion, and superior load-bearing capacity, China Central Television (CCTV) reported on Monday.

When the hexapod robot walks, it raises three legs at a time, while the remaining three form a stable triangular base to support the body. This allows the robot to maintain stability even if one leg is damaged.

The robot's body will be fully controllable, with enhanced stability, fluid motion, and robust load-bearing capabilities, Gao Feng, a professor at the School of Mechanical Engineering at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, who is in charge of the robot's development, was quoted as saying in the report.

"For future lunar robot development, we have also created an integrated landing and walking robot, to achieve a significant breakthrough in lunar exploration technology," said Gao.

China's lunar exploration program is set to undertake two more launch missions to pave the way for the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS), with the first mission scheduled as early as 2026, the China National Space Administration (CNSA) announced in September.

The plan includes the Chang'e-7 mission in 2026, followed by the Chang'e-8 mission around 2028.

Chang'e-7 will focus on surveying the lunar South Pole's environment and resources, while Chang'e-8 will validate technologies for in-situ resource utilization, crucial for future lunar construction. The ILRS is projected to be established by 2035, according to Bian Zhigang, deputy director of the CNSA.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged all-out efforts to treat the people injured in a car ramming case on Monday in Zhuhai City in south China's Guangdong Province.

Xi also demanded punishing the perpetrator in accordance with the law.

Up to now, the case has led to the death of 35 people, with 43 severely injured.

China's Tianzhou-8 cargo spacecraft is set to launch in the coming days, after it was vertically transported to Wenchang Space Launch Site in South China's Hainan Province together with its launch vehicle, a Long March-7 Y9 rocket, on Wednesday, the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) announced. All systems are now set and ready for the launch, it said.

As the cargo spacecraft with the highest payload capacity in the world, Tianzhou-8 will deliver supplies to China's Tiangong space station for the crew of Shenzhou-19 which is currently in orbit, and the next Shenzhou-20 crew, as well as special birthday gifts for them. But the one item of cargo that has captured the most attention is the "lunar soil bricks," which will mark the first intersection of China's manned lunar landing and manned space station projects, experts said.

An all-system rehearsal was conducted at the Wenchang launch site on Wednesday morning, reported China Central Television (CCTV). All systems involved in the launch mission have completed functional checks and are fully prepared for launch, the report said, adding that this rehearsal is the most extensive simulation exercise for the Tianzhou-8 mission, involving the maximum number of participating systems aside from the actual ignition and launch.

Currently, the flight control team is closely monitoring the attitude and orbital parameters of the Chinese space station, which is in good condition and well prepared to welcome the Tianzhou-8 for its backward docking, CCTV reported. 

The Shenzhou-19 crew onboard the Tiangong is also conducting manual remote operation training to prepare for the arrival of Tianzhou-8.

The Tianzhou-8 mission is taking place nearly 10 months after the launch of Tianzhou-7, setting a new record for the longest interval between China's cargo resupply to the space station. 

China's cargo ships incorporate technical improvements with each mission. For instance, the original schedule of two missions a year has now been adjusted to three missions every two years, averaging one mission every eight months, with task frequency expected to be further reduced. 

It highlights the significant advancements in Tianzhou's payload capacity, Kang Guohua, a senior member of the Chinese Society of Astronautics and a professor of Aerospace Engineering at Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, told the Global Times on Wednesday.

This rapid development positions the Tianzhou series as a global leader in space cargo delivery. "It is not just reflected in cutting-edge technology, but in comprehensive capabilities," said Wang Yanan, chief editor of the Beijing-based Aerospace Knowledge magazine. "Our design prioritizes the efficient use of space and maximizing cargo volume to support long-duration stays in space. Combined with the strong payload capacity of China's carrier rockets, the Tianzhou cargo ships can now meet space station supply needs for up to 10 months, which is truly remarkable," Wang told the Global Times.

Compared to the US Dragon cargo spacecraft, China's Tianzhou series boasts outstanding load capacity. The Dragon has a maximum payload capacity of 6 tons, while the Tianzhou series can accommodate 7.4 tons, according to open data.

Preparing for moon stay

Currently, the Tianzhou-8 cargo spacecraft is sitting steadily within the fairing at the top of the rocket. Most of the cargo is loaded, which is primarily intended to support the Shenzhou-19 and Shenzhou-20 crews, CCTV reported.  

In addition to essential supplies, there are gift packages for various festivals such as the Spring Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival and Dragon Boat Festival. Personalized birthday gifts have been prepared for each taikonaut who will celebrate a birthday in space. 

Furthermore, equipment and materials needed for conducting space science experiments and tests are loaded. Notably, this mission will carry "lunar soil bricks" for the first time, which are made from special materials that simulate lunar soil. 

These bricks will undergo space exposure experiments at the space station to verify whether they can be used for building structures on the moon. After completing the experiments, the first brick is expected to return to Earth by the end of next year, CCTV reported.

The bricks have a density comparable to that of ordinary bricks, but their compressive strength exceeds that of standard red bricks and concrete bricks by more than three times, with one square centimeter able to support over 10 tons of weight, said Zhou Cheng, a professor from National Center of Technology Innovation for Digital Construction, told CCTV in a previous interview.

The bricks are composed of five different components that resemble those on the moon, including a simulated lunar mare - where the Chang'e-5 mission landed. They consist mainly of basalt-based simulated lunar soil. There are also components representing the lunar soil that will be used for future missions, including Chang'e-7 and -8, which will land in the lunar highlands, primarily composed of plagioclase (a type of feldspar), Zhou said.  

The "lunar soil bricks" have already attracted significant attention, as it marks the first intersection of China's manned lunar landing and manned space station projects, Kang told the Global Times. 

"To achieve a long-term human presence on the moon in the future, it is essential to be able to build structures. However, as transporting materials from the Earth is impractical, people will need to utilize local resources such as lunar soil, solar energy and minerals, to create the bricks," Kang said, adding that "before getting there, scientists will need to verify a number of designs so that's why we have simulated ones." 

After the bricks arrive at the space station, the crew will test their ability to withstand harsh conditions, including extreme temperature fluctuations, lack of atmospheric protection and strong cosmic radiation. This will provide important support for the construction of future lunar research stations, accumulate scientific data, optimize practical plans and push forward the construction process, Kang noted. 

The expert added that this is also sound evidence of how China's space technology is interconnected and steadily advancing. "We have our own timetable that is not affected by external factors," he said.

Brazil and China are collaborating to negotiate a memorandum of understanding aimed at bringing a Chinese satellite company to Brazil, reported The Rio Times. An expert told the Global Times on Thursday that this move indicates the increasing competitiveness of China's commercial aerospace sector.

Brazil's Secretary of Telecommunications Hermano Barros Tercius confirmed the plans to the BBC. According to The Rio Times, SpaceSail, developed by Chinese company Shanghai Spacecom Satellite Technology, which operates in the low Earth orbit satellite internet sector, aims to begin operations in Brazil by 2025. 

SpaceSail, also known as Qianfan megaconstellation project, or G60, was launched with the aim of providing more extensive and high-quality communication services for domestic users. In the long run, it is expected to establish a network of over 15,000 low Earth orbit wide-screen multimedia satellites by the end of 2030.

The Brazilian Minister of Communications Juscelino Filho visited the factory of the company in Shanghai in October. SpaceSail intends to provide its internet services via a constellation of low-orbit satellites in Brazil in the next two years, according to Forum Macao.

The report by The Rio Times said that the move comes amid tensions between Elon Musk and Brazilian authorities, which stemmed from disputes over content moderation on X, formerly known as Twitter. Musk's Starlink currently dominates the Brazilian satellite internet market with a 45.9 percent share, according to the report. 

Meanwhile, Starlink's rapid growth has raised concerns about market monopolization, according to the report. Brazilian government seeks to diversify providers to ensure competition and better service options for consumers. The report also noted that the specific timeline for SpaceSail's operations in Brazil hasn't been set yet.

The potential for cooperation highlights the growing competitiveness of China's commercial space companies, Wang Yanan, chief editor of Beijing-based Aerospace Knowledge magazine, told the Global Times on Thursday, adding that following China's significant breakthroughs in technological advancements, the development of commercial space enterprises is currently in a relatively strong position.

Another important trend is that China's satellite internet is likely to become a global commercial resource for low-orbit satellites upon its completion, whether it is commercial or organized by the government, Wang added.

If China's low-orbit satellite internet is successfully established in the future, it is expected to cover a substantial portion of the globe. Increased cooperation will then unlock greater commercial potential, allowing China to connect regional and national commercial space agencies. This partnership would also benefit these agencies by enabling them to utilize orbital resources to develop their own commercial ecosystems, Wang noted.

Wang also pointed out that China's cooperation is both open and fair. Consequently, many countries are likely to choose China, particularly in the realm of infrastructure like the internet, which is essential for the functioning of national economies.

In 1999, the first China-Brazil earth-resource satellite was successfully launched, which was the first satellite jointly developed by China and another country, according to the Xinhua News Agency, and China and Brazil have jointly developed six earth-resource satellites over the past 30 years.

Imagine controlling actions purely with one's thoughts. A team of researchers from the Northwestern Polytechnical University, based in Xi'an city, Northwest China, has made this impressive feat possible, which could successfully clamp small beans through the minds at an event in Beijing recently, demonstrating cutting-edge brain-computer interface (BCI) technology.

In a stunning live demonstration, researchers controlled a robotic arm to pick up a tiny bean, using nothing but their thoughts. They also demonstrated BCI's capabilities by commanding drone formations to execute complex aerial maneuvers and stunts.

Put simply, BCI technology allows people to control machines using only their thoughts, the media outlet said.

The technology sparked widespread amazement among netizens. Some netizens said that it is incredible to see that the brain-computer interface has been intelligent to such a level, while others said that they never imagined that beans could find a place in ground-breaking science.

Though BCI might sound like science fiction, it's already transforming medical rehabilitation, helping those with paralysis regain mobility. With continued improvements, the potential applications in robotics, consumer tech, and gaming are promising, as reported by the media.

Some netizens comment that this technology may enable the physically challenged, and that in the future it may be possible for them to move just via their minds.

China's Shenzhou-18 manned spaceship separated from the space station combination on Sunday, and the astronauts aboard -- Ye Guangfu, Li Cong and Li Guangsu -- are returning to Earth, according to the China Manned Space Agency.