The Global Times Annual Conference 2025, themed, "Moving forward in Partnership: Resonance of Values between China and the World," is held in Beijing on Saturday. In the first session, experts and scholars engaged in discussions on the topic, "Exploring the path of great power relations: differences and consensus." In a video speech at the conference, Erik Solheim, former under-secretary-general of the United Nations and former executive director of the UN Environment Programme, said that "we should have a rules-based global order, but with the same rules for everyone."

Solheim said that the 21st century will be multipolar, but it can be a fundamentally unstable century, because there are so many problems which need to be taken into account. In terms of how we can make stability in the 21st century, he noted, "We need a rules-based global order. The concept of a rules-based global order has sometimes been understood, like in the West, as one set of rules for the West and another set of rules for the rest … I hear they say that the sovereignty of Ukraine is sacrosanct, but you cannot care less for the sovereignty of Palestine."

The answer to this Western hypocrisy is not to say we should not have a rules-based global order; it is to say we should have a rules-based global order, but with the same rules for everyone, Solheim stressed.

When discussing how to establish a rule-based global order, Solheim stated, "As the underpinning on[of] this new global order, I will suggest two principles. The first is respect." He then mentioned the "Hehe" culture of China. In today's world, it means that we should have harmony between nations even if they are not the same, but we should work together, Solheim added.

The second principle is dialogue, he said, adding that when there are different views in solving conflicts, bringing economic growth, or creating an ecological civilization, we should have dialogue as to how we achieve that.

"If you base the 21st century on these two principles of respect and dialogue, and if you look to establish a set of global rules which work the same way for all nations and all individuals of this world, then we are on the path to make the 21st century a much better and much more successful time for humanity," Solheim said.

A recent report on Chinese human capital reveals that in 2022, the average age of China’s working-age population was 39.72 years, and the average years of education reached 10.88 years. Beijing ranked highest nationwide in terms of average education levels among the working population.

The 16th International Symposium on Human Capital and Labor Markets was held at the Central University of Finance and Economics from Friday till Sunday with the China Human Capital Report 2024 released on Saturday, The Beijing News reported on Saturday.

The report estimates and analyzes the distribution and development of human capital in China, employing extensive data and diverse methodologies to systematically measure human capital at both national and provincial levels, while constructing multiple indices.

From the perspective of age-related human capital measurement indicators, the average age of the working population nationwide in 2022 was 39.72 years. According to China’s current retirement policy, the working population in Chinese mainland is defined as males aged 16 to 59 and females aged 16 to 54.

From 1985 to 2022, the average age of the labor force in China increased from 32.25 years to 39.72 years, the report revealed.

In 2022, the top five provincial-level regions with the highest proportion of the population aged 25 to 45 in the total labor force were Shanghai, Beijing, Guangdong Province, Tianjin, and Fujian Province. The bottom five provincial-level regions with the lowest proportion of the population aged 25 to 45 in the total labor force were Sichuan, Guizhou, Jiangxi, Hunan, and Heilongjiang provinces.

The average years of education for the working population nationwide in 2022 was 10.88 years.

Over the same period, the average years of education for China’s labor force increased from 6.14 to 10.88 years.

In 2022, the top five provincial-level regions with the highest average education background were Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Jiangsu Province and Chongqing, while the bottom five provincial-level regions with the lowest average education background were Xizang Autonomous Region, Gansu, Qinghai, Guizhou, and Yunnan provinces.

The report further reveals that China’s total human capital reached 316.65 trillion yuan ($435.25 trillion) in 2022, a 14.4-fold increase compared to 1985, based on the Jorgenson–Fraumeni method adopted internationally in measuring a nation’s total human capital stock.

In 2022, the per capita human capital in China was calculated at 2.743 million yuan at current value, with urban areas at 3.524 million yuan and rural areas at 821,000 yuan. For males, it was 3.729 million yuan, while for females, it was 1.698 million yuan.

In 2022, the top five provincial-level regions in terms of per capita human capital were Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Jiangsu and Shandong. The bottom five provincial-level regions were Gansu, Hainan, Ningxia, Qinghai and Xizang.

The Center for Human Capital and Labor Market Research at the Central University of Finance and Economics has published the Chinese and English versions of the “China Human Capital Report” for 15 consecutive years since 2009.

In November, China's economy maintained the rebound momentum that began in September thanks to a raft of macroeconomic policies. Multiple indexes point to a number of highlights, including a robust growth pace in the industry and service sectors, rising social expectations and the stable development of new quality productive forces - though individual indicators such as retail sales showed signs of slowing down, data released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed on Monday.

Above figure serves as a barometer gauging the fourth quarter and whole-year operation of the world's second-largest economy, with Chinese officials expressing confidence that it is on a trajectory to achieving the annual social and economic development targets. 

The data was also the first of its kind on the national economy following last week's annual Central Economic Work Conference (CEWC). As Chinese leaders decided on priorities for the economic work in 2025 during the tone-setting conference, the November reading - which underscored both positive changes and downward pressure on the economy - would also provide fresh insights into how Chinese policymakers will adjust next year's policy strength "dynamically and flexibly," so as to address any incoming headwinds next year, according to analysts.

In November, the total value added of the industrial enterprises above the designated size grew by 5.4 percent year-on-year, 0.1 percentage points faster than a month earlier, NBS data showed, beating the market expectation of 5.3-percent growth. 

Regarding two other important indicators, the total retail sales of consumer goods increased by 3.0 percent year-on-year, according to NBS data, slowing down from the 4.8-percent growth recorded in October. In the first 11 months, fixed-asset investment was up 3.3 percent year-on-year, NBS data showed, compared to a 3.4-percent figure in the first 10 months.

Positive changes

"Although the growth rate of individual indicators slowed down in November due to short-term factors, major economic indicators of the fourth quarter were significantly better than those in the third quarter, and the momentum of economic recovery has not changed," NBS spokesperson Fu Linghui said at a press briefing of the State Council Information Office on Monday.

Fu stressed that the Chinese economy performed well in the first quarter, but pressures increased in the second and third quarters. Taking note of the complex situation, a package of incremental policies was swiftly carried out following the meeting of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee on September 26. As a result, major economic indicators have shown significant improvement since the fourth quarter, social confidence has been effectively boosted, and positive changes have notably increased.

In terms of the November figure, Chinese economists took particular note of the pick-up in industrial output, which they said remains the "bright spot" of the Chinese economy throughout the year.

"External demand maintained resilience in November, which serves as support for the industrial output and investment in the manufacturing sector," Wen Bin, chief economist at China Minsheng Bank, told the Global Times on Monday.

In November, the steady development of new quality productive forces continued to instill new impetus into the economy. NBS data showed that the added value of the integrated circuit manufacturing industry grew by over 20 percent year-on-year in November, while that of the production of new-energy vehicles increased by more than 50 percent the same month.

Measurements on market expectation and confidence also show signs of continued improvement as more macro policies bear fruit. 

For example, the sales area and value of newly built commercial housing both achieved positive growth in November, NBS data showed. The Chinese stock market also witnessed more active trading in November, with the combined transaction volume and value in the Shanghai and Shenzhen markets both jumping by approximately 1.1 times year-on-year. These positive changes are "conducive to expanding consumption and investment, which in turn drives economic recovery," Fu said. 

Investment in the manufacturing sector also gained pace in the January-November period. In the first 11 months, the reading expanded 9.3 percent year-on-year, which was significantly higher than the average 3.3 percent growth, NBS data showed. 

Regarding consumption, analysts said that the front-load effect of the Double 11 Shopping festival dragged on consumer spending in November, as this year's pre-sales started 10 days earlier than last year's. 

Wang Qing, chief macro analyst at Golden Credit Rating, predicted that China's retail sales will return to a growth rate of 4.5 percent in December and 3.5 percent for the whole year, as the slowdown in urban residents' disposable income and adjustment in the real estate market weigh on consumer confidence. 

Although downward pressures persist, Fu said that judging from the year's situation, the main goals of economic and social development are expected to be successfully achieved. 

In addition to the freshly released economic reading, the just-concluded CEWC has further rallied great confidence in the prospects of the Chinese economy among officials and entrepreneurs. 

Based on the current economic performance, annual economic growth is expected to be around 5 percent this year, and China remains an important engine of global economic growth, an official with the Office of the Central Committee for Financial and Economic Affairs told the Xinhua News Agency in an interview published on Monday.

Policy priorities next year

Next year, global uncertainties and complexities could rise, and China is still in a period of economic adjustment and transformation, which calls for sustained efforts to "expand domestic demand, promote employment and income growth for residents, and address potential risks and hidden dangers," Fu said at the press briefing. 

On top of the complex global situation, the set of November figures also exposed structural issues in the Chinese economy, such as an imbalance between the supply and demand sides, Tian Yun, a veteran economist based in Beijing, told the Global Times on Monday. Tian said that addressing insufficient domestic demand will remain a major policy focus next year. 

During the Xinhua interview, the official with the Office of the Central Committee for Financial and Economic Affairs stressed that "boosting consumption is the top priority" for expanding domestic demand. The official highlighted various ways to enhance Chinese residents' consumption capacity and adapt to changes in consumption structure. 

While outlining a number of key tasks for 2025, the CEWC also called for efforts to vigorously boost consumption, improve investment efficiency, and expand domestic demand on all fronts.

Li Changan, a professor at the Academy of China Open Economy Studies at the University of International Business and Economics, told the Global Times on Monday that China's consumer market continues to see favorable conditions and there is vast market potential to be unleashed.

"As trade-in policies and a package of incremental policies continue to yield effects, consumer spending in bulk commodities such as cars and home appliances has shown relatively rapid growth. Efforts are needed to strengthen the upward momentum and build new consumption drivers," Li said.

The CEWC sent a clear signal of more proactive macro-policies, which will help consolidate economic development confidence, stabilize social expectations and ensure that the goals and tasks in the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) are reached with high quality and a solid foundation for a good start to the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) is laid, according to Li.

"Though a specific policy plan will be unveiled at the national two sessions in 2025, it is important that Chinese policymakers in various departments dynamically and flexibly adjust detailed measures in the next few months to ensure a smooth transition between the 14th and 15th Five-Year Plan periods and a good opening next year," Tian added.

As South Korea's martial law chaos entered its fourth day, Han Dong-hoon, leader of the ruling People Power Party (PPP), called on Friday for President Yoon Suk-yeol to be "immediately suspended from his duties." 

Han's reversal from his previous stance is viewed by Chinese expert as a sign that the likelihood of Yoon's impeachment is increasing. Yoon's unexpected move of declaring martial law has had significant impact on the country's relations with the US and Japan, the expert added.

Han called an emergency meeting on Friday and claimed that he has "credible evidence" Yoon mobilized troops in a bid to arrest politicians on the night of martial law, and that Yoon "poses a danger to the country and its people," the Xinhua News Agency reported. 

If Yoon continues to serve as president, there is great concern that extreme acts like this emergency martial law will be repeated, Han said, the report noted.

Hong Jang-won, first deputy director of South Korea's National Intelligence Service (NIS), confirmed earlier on Friday that Yoon had ordered the arrest of prominent lawmakers of the ruling and main opposition parties shortly after he declared martial law, including the main opposition Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung, ruling party leader Han Dong-hoon, and National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-Shik, Yonhap News Agency reported.

Han's latest remarks ran counter to his position on Thursday when he pledged his party would fight the opposition-led impeachment motion scheduled to take place at around 7 pm Saturday.

"This could be an indication that Han may support the impeachment, which means the likelihood of the motion passing is on the rise," Xiang Haoyu, a research fellow at the China Institute of International Studies, told the Global Times on Friday, adding that confirmation of the "arrest list" from the intelligence agency and the public's negative perception have further exacerbated the unfavorable situation for Yoon, Xiang said.

The motion to impeach the South Korean president requires at least two-thirds, or 200 of the 300-seat parliament, to vote in favor for it to pass. The opposition parties currently hold a combined 192 seats in National Assembly, which means it needs at least eight of the 108 ruling party lawmakers to vote with opposition parties.

However, Xiang noted that many senior members within the ruling party wish to maintain party unity and avoid a repeat of the situation eight years ago when former president Park Geun-hye was impeached. 

The dramatic incident is believed to have had significant impact on South Korea's diplomatic relations, particularly with the US and Japan.

Following Seoul's imposition of martial law, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin canceled his plans to travel to South Korea in the near term, Reuters reported on Thursday.

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's trip to South Korea set for January will also likely be postponed, Asia News Network reported, as will the visit of Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani to the country scheduled for late December.

On Wednesday, US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell said that Yoon had "badly misjudged" his decision to declare martial law, and it had been seen as "deeply problematic" and "illegitimate," according to Reuters.

"From the US perspective, Yoon's move is seen as a regression of what it believes to be 'democracy,' which will undoubtedly disappoint and irritate Washington and in turn affect the US-South Korea alliance; while on the Japanese side, the improvement of ties with its neighbor looks like it will be stalled," said Xiang. Furthermore, US-Japan-South Korea trilateral cooperation may also face challenges, he added.

Astronomers from China, France and Japan discovered in situ spheroid formation in distant starburst galaxies. The study provides the first solid observational evidence that spheroids can form directly through intense star formation within the cores of highly luminous starburst galaxies in the early universe, based on a new perspective from the submillimeter band, the Global Times learned from the Purple Mountain Observatory (PMO), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), on Thursday.    

The discovery was published on Thursday in the Nature journal. It is believed to significantly impact models of galaxy evolution and deepen scientists' understanding of how galaxies form and evolve across the universe, according to the PMO. 

Galaxies in today's universe are diverse in morphologies and can be roughly divided into two categories: younger, disk-like spiral galaxies, like the Milky Way, that are still forming new stars; and older, elliptical galaxies, which are dominated by a central bulge, no longer forming stars and mostly lacking gas. These spheroidal galaxies are home to very old stars, yet how they formed has remained a mystery until now.

In the study, researchers from PMO, French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) Paris-Saclay and Kavil Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe, The University of Tokyo, analyzed data from the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) on over 100 Submillimeter Bright Galaxies (SMGs) with redshifts dating to the "Cosmic noon" era, when the universe was between around 8-12 billion years ago and many galaxies were actively forming stars.

Researchers used statistical analysis of the surface brightness distribution of dust emission in the submillimeter band, combined with a novel analysis technique. 

They found that the submillimeter emission in most of sample galaxies are very compact, with surface brightness profiles deviate significantly from those of exponential disks. This suggests that the submillimeter emission typically comes from structures that are already spheroid-like. 

Further evidence supporting the spheroidal shape theory comes from a detailed analysis of galaxies' 3D geometry. Modeling based on the skewed-high axis-ratio distribution shows that the ratio of the shortest to the longest of their three axes is, on average, half and increases with spatial compactness. This indicates that most of these highly star-forming galaxies are intrinsically spherical rather than disk-shaped. 

Supported by various numerical simulations, this discovery has shown that the main mechanism behind the formation of these spheroids is the simultaneous action of cold gas accretion and galaxy interactions. This process is thought to have been quite common in the early universe, during the period when most spheroids were forming. It could redefine how human understands galaxy formation.

Severe illegal operations, chaotic safety management and inadequate safety supervision by the parent company led to the coal mine explosion in Shuangyashan city, Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province last November which killed 11 people and injured six, with 46 individuals held accountable. 

The major coal mine explosion at the Shuangyang coal mine belonging to Heilongjiang Longmei Shuangyashan Mining Co occurred at around 12:37 pm on November 28, 2023, resulting in 11 deaths, six injured, and economic losses totaling 19.51 million yuan ($2.69 million), China Central Television (CCTV) reported on Wednesday, citing Heilongjiang Bureau of the National Mine Safety Administration. 

An investigation team was established on November 29 with provincial government approval. The investigation team concluded the explosion was caused by illegal operations, chaotic safety management and inadequate supervision. 

It was determined that the direct cause of the accident was the Shuangyang coal mine illegally venting gas, which led to gas accumulating to explosive levels. A spark generated by a defective cable ignited the explosion.

The investigation team proposed penalties against 46 responsible individuals and related units. The Heilongjiang provincial discipline inspection commission and supervision commission proposed accountability measures for personnel under supervisory and Party members. 

Five people are under compulsory measures by public security authorities and one person has been placed under investigation. Termination of labor contract was proposed to one mechanical and electrical maintainer, while Party disciplinary or administrative penalties were proposed for 38 individuals, including the head of the mine.

Additionally, the team leader of the gas ventilation team at the ventilation district at the Shuangyang coal mine, who died in the accident, was recommended for exemption from accountability. 

The Lai Ching-te authorities' political manipulation through reckless visits to so-called "diplomatic allies" and provocative actions aimed at pursuing "Taiwan independence" are bound to fail,Chinese FM spokesperson Mao Ning said on Thursday, in responding to Taiwan regional leader Lai Ching-te's reported transit through Hawaii or Guam in his planned visit to "diplomatic allies" in the Pacific.

Mao added that they cannot disrupt the firm stance of the international community in upholding the one-China principle, nor can they obstruct the historical trend of China's reunification process.

We have always opposed official exchanges between the US and Taiwan island, opposed the Taiwan regional leaders attempting to conduct provocative visit to the US under any name, and opposed the US supporting "Taiwan independence" separatists and their secessionist actions in any form, Mao added.

China's State Council Information Office on Friday released a white paper titled "China's Rural Roads in the New Era" to outline the achievements and vision of rural road development in the new era and to share China's experience.

In terms of general achievement, the white paper said that by the end of 2023, the total length of rural roads reached 4.6 million kilometers, an increase of 21.7 percent over 2013, enough to circle the equator 115 times.

So far, the country has put in place a rural transport infrastructure network in which county roads connect rural and urban areas, township roads crisscross, and village roads facilitate travel between households and farmland, the white paper said.

Paved roads totaled 4.22 million kilometers and accounted for 91.8 percent of total rural roads, representing an increase of 27.2 percentage points over the past decade. The white paper also highlighted increasing accessibility in rural areas, citing the statistic that paved roads have been built in about 30,000 towns and townships and over 500,000 administrative villages.

Since 2014, more than 1.4 million km of rural roads have been built or upgraded in previously poor areas, all towns, townships and administrative villages where conditions allow had been connected to paved roads by 2019, and all such villages had been connected to bus services by 2020, the white paper noted.

Experts said that China's achievements in rural roads and poverty reduction highlight the country's people-centered development philosophy. Meanwhile, China has actively shared its experience with other developing countries and helped them improve their infrastructure, making significant contributions to sustainable development on a global scale.

People-centered approaches

China's people-centered approaches were highlighted in the white paper, with the word "people" appearing more than 50 times in the 39-page English version of the white paper.

Better transport has cleared bottlenecks that had long held back economic and social development in poor areas, and has laid a solid foundation for rural people to realize moderate prosperity in all respects, it said.

Li Guoxiang, a researcher from the Rural Development Institute, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said that rural road construction is one of the most outstanding achievements of the government in the development of rural areas, and it is one of the measures that farmers are the most satisfied with.

He said that rural roads have played an irreplaceable role in solving overall poverty in some parts of China. After the construction of unimpeded rural roads, the connection between rural areas and the outside world, and the endogenous driving force of rural development will continue to increase, otherwise, most of the government's poverty alleviation measures will be no more than short-term relief.

"To get rich, build roads first", this is the truth recognized by the central government and farmers, said Su Wei, a professor from the Party School of the CPC Chongqing Municipal Committee.

Road building is a basic, guiding and backbone project for poverty alleviation. Without rural roads, it would have been difficult for China to achieve its goal of eliminating extreme poverty, said Su. 

In addition to poverty alleviation, Su said road building is also a prerequisite for rural revitalization and integrated urban-rural development.

According to Su, the accessibility of rural roads is one of the most important factors for rural people to get out of isolation and move toward modernization. With the development of the transportation network, various materials, information and funds can enter the countryside more smoothly, and farmers can also have more access to better education, medical care and other social resources, which plays a basic role in their integration into modern society.

In advancing rural revitalization across the board, the government continues to integrate rural roads into the overall economic development of rural areas, by supporting modernization of rural industries, boosting rural tourism and making efficient use of distinctive resources in rural areas, according to the white paper.

According to the white paper, the steady development of transport facilities in rural areas has attracted more capital, projects and talent to the countryside, creating more job opportunities and broadening the avenues for income growth.

China has built paved roads in rural tourist destinations, industrial parks, sources of resources and minerals, and other points of economic growth, which has made travel in remote areas and particularly in mountainous areas more convenient, reads the document.

In May this year, Chinese President Xi Jinping called for unremitting efforts to upgrade rural roads to facilitate rural development. He ordered that rural roads be built well, managed well, maintained well and used well. For this reason, these roads have become known as "Four-Wells Rural Roads." 

Currently, rural road construction projects provide work for about 80,000 people, enabling an annual average per capita income increase of around 8,500 yuan (about $1,182.57), the white paper noted.

Rural road management and maintenance provide about 850,000 jobs, offering an annual average per capita income of approximately 13,000 yuan, it said.

Shared experience

The white paper also noted that China has shared its development experience and helped construct rural road infrastructure in other developing countries over the years, contributing substantially to poverty reduction, people's wellbeing and sustainable global development. 

These efforts include providing technical standards for highway engineering suited to different national conditions. China's highway standards have been applied in hundreds of projects in dozens of countries around the world, including Indonesia's Surabaya-Madura Bridge Project and Mozambique's Maputo-Katembe Bridge Project, according to the white paper.

China has also played an active role in building new platforms and mechanisms for global transport cooperation and in promoting knowledge and experience sharing. For instance, it has established the Global Sustainable Transport Innovation and Knowledge Center as a platform for cooperation and exchanges and for sharing China's experience in rural road development with the international community, the white paper said.

China has also shared its experience through international training sessions. The country has held 28 such sessions, including a program on road design and management in Botswana, and an advanced training program on highway engineering for countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative, the white paper said.

Additionally, China has also provided aid and assistance to several rural road infrastructure projects in other developing countries. Since 2018, China has supported 24 developing countries including Cambodia, Serbia, Rwanda, Namibia, Vanuatu and Niger in highway and bridge construction and maintenance, helping them improve their transport infrastructure, according to the white paper.

"What makes China's approach special is that we have taken rural road construction as a prerequisite for poverty alleviation and rural development," said Li, "and this exemplary role and successful experience was seen by other developing countries." 

China's ability in building and maintaining roads in areas with complex terrain is even stronger than those of some developed countries, Li said, noting that China's concept of community with a shared future for mankind makes it generous in helping other developing countries to step out of poverty by using China's experience. 

In contrast, despite the US and some Western countries offering some low-interest loans for developing countries for development, they lack a mechanism to mobilize funds and organize them to build livelihood projects, which prevents them from contributing much to creating internal and lasting momentum for developing countries' self-development, Su said. 

According to the expert, China's ability to mobilize all kinds of resources at the grassroots level may be its unique advantage, but China's concept of putting people first and forming synergy between the government and the market is something other developing countries can learn from.

In response to Philippine claim of a Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy helicopter “harassed” Philippine fishing boats around a South China Sea reef, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Monday that the Philippine claim is completely at odds with the facts.

China has indisputable sovereignty over Nansha Qundao and surrounding waters, and China’s rights protection and law enforcement activities in related waters are reasonable and legitimate, Lin said at a regular press conference.

The G20 launched the Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty to support the implementation of country-led, country-owned programs aiming at reducing hunger and poverty worldwide, contributing to revitalizing global partnerships for sustainable development, according to the G20 Rio de Janeiro Leaders' Declaration released on Tuesday.