China's top legislative body on Tuesday started a regular session to review a raft of bills, including a draft decision on gradually raising the statutory retirement age, the Xinhua News Agency reported. 

The move to adjust the retirement age is in line with both international practice as well as changes in China's demography and social and economic development, and is conducive to unleashing the full potential of China's increasingly high-quality population development to tackle demographic changes and support Chinese modernization, experts said. 

Zhao Leji, chairman of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, presided over the first plenary meeting of the committee's 11th session. 

The move came after a resolution, adopted by the third plenary session of the 20th Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee in July, outlined the task of refining its population development strategy in response to an aging population and a declining birth rate. 

According to the resolution, in line with the principle of voluntary participation with appropriate flexibility, China will advance reform to gradually raise the statutory retirement age in a prudent and orderly manner. Details of the bill have yet to be revealed. 

Experts noted that the move is in line with the actual situation of China's rising average life expectancy and schooling years, and conforms to the need to improve the efficiency of human resources. 

"As life expectancy continues to rise, there will also be more people aged 50-60 who are willing to work at their posts for a longer period of time," Zhou Haiwang, deputy director of the Institute of Population and Development under the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times.

In addition, the reform is conducive to tackling another change in China's demographic - an aging population, according to Yuan Xin, vice president of the China Population Association and a professor at Nankai University.

Average life expectancy in China has risen to 78.6 years as of 2023, Xinhua reported in August, citing a report released by the National Health Commission, compared with 57 years in 1957. 

In 2023, China's natural population growth rate was a negative 1.48 per thousand people, with those aged 65 and above accounting for 15.4 percent of the total population, Xinhua said in a separate report.

The dependency ratio of the elderly population in China reached 22.5 percent in 2023, an increase of 9.4 percentage points compared to 10 years ago. This has led to a reduction in the labor supply and created pressure on the continued disbursement of pensions, the report said.  

Necessary choice

Against such a background, gradually raising the statutory retirement age is a timely move based on the need for China's economic, social and population development, and a necessary choice to adapt to the "new normal" in China's demographic change, and to support Chinese modernization, experts noted.  

"It is a rational approach that balances the interests of all parties under the constraints of China's current population structure and social diversification," said Yin Xiwen, a researcher from the Tian He Institute of Labor Relations at Jilin University, in an interview with Xinhua.

"It also echoes with the global mainstream practice to cope with demographic change," Yuan told the Global Times, noting that almost all developed countries, including the US, have set the retirement age at 65 or older. 

It also adapts to China's changing demographics as well as improved education level and health situation of the population, experts said.

China's current retirement system, formed in 1950s, has set a relatively low retirement age - female employees retiring at 50 or 55 and male employees at 60. The average effective age of labor market exit was 64.4 years for men and 63.1 years for women across OECD countries in 2022. 

Experts allayed concerns that the reform could lead to pressure on the employment market, stressing that the impact could be "minimized" as the plan will be implemented in a phased manner and a series of supporting measures in labor market and pension system will also facilitate the transition process.

Gradually raising the statutory retirement age is just part of China's broader efforts to address the demographic changes. It has pledged to improve the employment-first policy and its social security system, as part of a comprehensive set of reforms outlined in the resolution adopted by the third plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee.

The world is closely watching whether the US and China can cooperate on the issue of climate change. US Senior Advisor to the President for International Climate Policy John Podesta is visiting China from Wednesday to Friday.

Recently, extreme weather events have been occurring with increasing frequency worldwide. Swaths of China logged the hottest August on record. Extreme summer heat has also increased in the US and other countries. Ideally, countries should unite to address this global crisis, pooling their efforts to tackle it together. Unfortunately, the West has chosen to undermine global green cooperation, particularly regarding China's green efforts.

China's new-energy sector has been heavily targeted, portrayed as having "overcapacity" by the West - a typical tactic to manufacture accusations, which are then employed as a pretext for imposing whatever measures they deem "necessary." While China's "new trio" - EVs, lithium batteries, and photovoltaic products - contributes green power to the global energy transition, these products have become the target of Western attacks.

On one hand, the West makes a big fuss about China's carbon emissions; on the other, it seeks to undermine China's efforts in tackling this global climate crisis. This contradictory stance reflects their narrow-minded geopolitical calculations. The West cannot tolerate China's rapid advancements in the green economy, particularly the revolutionary breakthroughs in EVs which have made them deeply upset. Their strategic suppression of China is actually aimed at curbing the country's leading position in this field.

China has not only started a fundamental revolution in the EV industry but also demonstrated the unlimited possibility of a green economy. However, to be blunt, the West's current stance implies that the West believes it has the right to dictate the terms of the green transition and that other countries, particularly China, are not recognized for their contributions or advancements in this area. Driven by this mind-set, the goodwill associated with environmental protection and the green economy has been distorted into a geopolitical tool. 

Climate change requires all countries to collaborate in saving the planet. We hope that Podesta's visit to China will demonstrate a shift in the wrong attitude of the West - or at least the US - toward green cooperation with China. To enhance climate cooperation, the US and other Western countries must demonstrate genuine cooperative gestures and cease their unfair crackdown on China's green industries. Otherwise, the actions of the West will continue to exacerbate climate crises, ultimately causing all of humanity to pay the price for their narrow-mindedness and selfishness.

Rwanda, like many other African countries, values its partnership with China, which is based on mutual respect and shared interests; the two countries' collaboration has led to tangible results, especially in poverty reduction, infrastructure development and other areas, Rwandan President Paul Kagame, who is in Beijing for the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), told the Global Times. 

Kagame has visited China multiple times and attended the 2006 and 2018 Beijing summits of the FOCAC. 

"FOCAC has been a key platform for deepening the partnership between China and Africa. China's approach to Africa, characterized by sincerity, real results, amity and good faith, resonates strongly with Rwanda's values," Kagame told the Global Times. 

China has proven to be a reliable friend and partner, supporting Africa's development without imposing its will. "This model of cooperation is one that we deeply appreciate and seek to continue," the president said. 

China-Rwanda collaboration "has led to tangible results, especially in poverty reduction and infrastructure development," said Kagame. 

He noted that China has become one of Rwanda's largest trading partners, and the two countries have deepened cooperation across various fields, including trade, agriculture, green development, and digitalization.

"The Belt and Road Initiative has played a crucial role in enhancing Rwanda's infrastructure and promoting sustainable development," said Kagame. He said projects such as roads in different corners of Rwanda and in the City of Kigali, Institute of Polytechnic Regional Centre (IPRC) Musanze campus in the Northern Province of Rwanda, and the Nyabarongo II Hydropower Plant, have had a direct impact on improving livelihoods and supporting economic growth. 

"Looking forward, we see potential for further cooperation in areas such as digital economy, renewable energy, and agricultural modernization," Kagame noted. 

Kagame has visited several Chinese cities including Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen. He said what impressed him the most is the scale of development and modernization, particularly in infrastructure and technology, which serves as an inspiration for Rwanda's own development journey.

Both Rwanda and China share a history of overcoming immense challenges to achieve significant progress, said Kagame, noting that in terms of governance, both countries prioritize long-term planning, social stability, and the well-being of their citizens. 

He said China's model of development offers inspiration for Rwanda, while also noting the challenge for Rwanda is to adapt these experiences to unique context. Localization of Chinese experiences requires careful consideration of cultural, social, and economic realities," said the Rwandan President. 

Kagame envisions Rwanda becoming a middle-income country, with a diversified economy driven by innovation, technology, and high-value sectors in the next 10 years. On the global and African stage, Rwanda aspires to be a leader in peacekeeping, environmental sustainability, and regional integration and will continue to play a constructive role in African development, contributing to the continent's progress and standing as a strong advocate for African interests in international forums, the president added.

Kagame said the claims of "debt traps" and "new colonialism" are often unfounded and reflect a misunderstanding of the nature of China-Africa cooperation. "Rwanda, like many other African countries, values its partnership with China, which is based on mutual respect and shared interests," said Kagame, noting that "we believe in evaluating partnerships based on their actual outcomes, and our approach to cooperation is one that emphasizes sovereignty, self-reliance, and the pursuit of win-win outcomes."

As the voices of the Global South grow stronger on the international stage, it is essential for China and Africa to continue to strengthen their unity and cooperation, said Kagame. He said China's commitment to being a member of the Global South and aligning its interests with those of developing countries is commendable. 

"Together, we can work to ensure that our collective voice is heard in multilateral forums, advocating for a more just and equitable global order," said the Rwandan President. 

By highlighting the beauty of Rwanda and the hospitality of its people, Kagame said the country welcomes more visitors from China. He noted the two countries should promote cultural exchanges, educational partnerships, and tourism initiatives, while also enhancing mutual understanding and awareness.   

The 11th Beijing Xiangshan Forum has made new breakthroughs in level, scale and representativeness of participants, which fully demonstrates openness and inclusiveness of China by providing such a platform of dialogue on equal footing, organizers said at a press briefing on Wednesday. 

The 11th Beijing Xiangshan Forum, a high-level security conference, will be convened at the Beijing International Convention Center from September 12 to 14.

During the press briefing, Wu Jiangang, head of the comprehensive coordination group of the forum's preparatory committee, told media that the preparatory work is progressing steadily. 

According to Wu, as of Tuesday, more than 500 representatives of official delegations from more than 90 countries and international organizations, in addition to more than 200 Chinese and foreign experts and scholars, have confirmed their attendance at the forum, making new breakthroughs in terms of the level, scale and representativeness of participants. 

The International Committee of the Red Cross, Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia, NATO, EU, Shanghai Cooperation Organisation will also arrange for representatives to attend the forum. 

The forum will put into practice the concept of common, comprehensive, cooperative, and sustainable global security, and serve as an important platform for promoting the implementation of the Global Security Initiative and building a global community of shared future. 

According to organizers, while continuing to provide a platform for equal dialogue and collective voice for developing countries and small and medium-sized countries, the forum also expanded the participation of developed countries and emerging powers, which injects impetus for strengthening South-South cooperation and promoting North-South cooperation.

The US placed unprecedented focus on the forum, sending a deputy assistant secretary of defense, Wu said. He added that former Chinese ambassador Cui Tiankai and the US State Department's former top China policy official Rick Waters will also be attending.

Different from the Shangri-La Dialogue, which always dominated by the US and the West narratives, the Beijing Xiangshan Forum provides an open and inclusive platform for dialogue and exchanges among all parties in the international community, which outlined China's image as a responsible major power, Wu told the Global Times.

Companies in China's low-altitude economy are seeking to achieve a sustainable business mode in a bid to rapidly foster the growth of the sector at home and prepare for expansion overseas. 

Industry insiders suggested that a profitable, sustainable and replicable operation pattern is necessary for China's low-altitude economy, which is in a formative stage. Finding such a pattern will help Chinese enterprises along the industry chain participate in overseas markets, especially in Belt and Road Initiative partner economies.

The low-altitude economy refers to cargo and passenger transport by drone or aerial vehicles at elevations of up to 1,000 meters, which has become a vital segment of China's transport system and a new growth engine for the economy, Luo Jun, executive director of the China Low Altitude Economic Alliance, told the Global Times on Wednesday. 

Multiple Chinese start-ups that focus on the research and development of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft have conducted successful trial flights, and Luo predicted that by 2026, some will officially put eVTOL aircraft into commercial use. 

China has 70 percent of the global drone volume, making it the largest drone market worldwide, according to industry data. 

Luo noted that China's market scale for the low-altitude economy is also expected to be the largest.

The low-altitude economy was defined as a strategic emerging industry at the country's annual Central Economic Work Conference in 2023 and written into this year's Government Work Report as a new growth engine. 

Relevant departments and localities have been implementing corresponding policies and plans.

The Global Low Altitude Economic Forum 2024 Annual Meeting will be held in Beijing at the end of October, with invitations being sent to about 1,500 government officials, business leaders and investment agencies.

The Silk Road Maritime International Association, based in East China's Fujian Province, is implementing a comprehensive development strategy to promote a global sea transportation network under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), offering stable and secure logistics solutions amid complex international environment.

Li Nan, Secretary-General of the Silk Road Maritime International Association and the General Manager of Fujian Silk Road Maritime Management Co, told the Global Times that the association has put forward a six-point guideline, including establishing an association, a series of sea routes, a standard system, an information platform, a set of policy and a cooperation forum, to better provide high quality services to domestic and overseas clients.
Since the Silk Road Maritime International Association was established in 2018, the association has conducted close exchanges with leading ports, sea transport companies, logistics companies, trading and manufacturing companies and other partners.

To further enhance port and shipping service quality, Silk Road Maritime has named a series of routes that originate from Chinese ports, sail along countries and regions under the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road, and meet the association's standards.

The routes now cover major coastal ports such as Shanghai, Tianjin, Guangzhou, and Xiamen in East China's Fujian Province, among others.

By the end of August this year, the association has grown to include over 330 members, with 122 named routes covering 10 Chinese ports and reaching 135 ports in 46 countries and regions worldwide, said Li.
In terms of forming standards, the Silk Road Maritime International Association collaborated with universities and research institutes, and issued service quality requirements across various links of the logistics chain, including ports, shipping, customs clearance, transshipment, and multimodal transport terminals. These efforts aim to build and improve the Silk Road Maritime service standard system, enhancing logistics efficiency and better supporting the development of trade.

Basing on the standard system, the association established a comprehensive online service platform which has realized functions such as public booking, full logistics visibility and tracking, and monitoring of routes named by the association. It has also installed modules for oceanic weather navigation and intelligent maritime services.

The Silk Road Maritime International Association received supports from local governments. Local governments in Fujian Province, issued a series of policies including financial supports for encouraging port operators, shipping companies and logistics companies to actively expand sea-land cargo sources and innovate logistics channels. The association has also launched a series of measures, such as quantitative assessment rewards, to encourage the industry to improve service standards, Li noted.

A key highlight of the guidelines is the 6th Silk Road Maritime International Cooperation Forum, to be held in Xiamen, Fujian, from September 7 to 8. The event's annual theme is "Promoting the Integrated Development of Ports, Shipping, and Trade under the Silk Road Maritime," signaling that integration in ports, shipping, and trade will be the keyword for the next phase of the association's development.
Since its inception in 2019, the Silk Road Maritime International Cooperation Forum has been held five times, attracting more than 5,000 participants and developing the forum into a hub for government-business communication and a high-quality international port and shipping dialogue and cooperation platform under the BRI.

Currently, in advancing the integrated development of ports, shipping, and trade, Silk Road Maritime is focused on creating an integrated ecological layout of "points, lines, and surfaces" which refers to an overall construction of ports, sea routes and transport network.

In ports construction, almost all large coastal port groups in China have joined the Silk Road Maritime International Association, along with top global shipping companies such as COSCO Shipping, Maersk, and the MSC.

Over the past two years, the Silk Road Maritime e-commerce express line has handled over 50,000 standard containers, with cross-border e-commerce export goods exceeding 1.45 million pieces and a total value of 11.3 billion yuan ($1.59 billion) basing on the construction of ports and sea routes.

Li revealed that the upcoming forum will release multiple development progress of the sector, sign a series of cooperation agreements, including the release of the 14th batch of Silk Road Maritime routes and the Silk Road Maritime integrated development initiative.
Additionally, for the first time, the forum will feature a ports, shipping, and trade matchmaking meeting to strengthen the connection and collaboration between upstream and downstream of the industrial and value chains. Li emphasized that the Silk Road Maritime can play a crucial role in ensuring the security and stability of China's supply chain amidst the complex international environment.

During the 3rd Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation held in October 2023, China announced eight actions in pursuing high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, emphasizing that China will work to integrate ports, shipping and trading services under the Silk Road Maritime, and accelerate the building of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor and the Air Silk Road.
"After six years of exploration, Silk Road Maritime has fully realized that the ultimate goal of port and shipping development is to better facilitate trade, using trade as a link to expand all-round exchanges between China and countries involved in the BRI, and to jointly build a community with a shared future for mankind," Li added.

Moving forward, Silk Road Maritime is considering the establishment of relevant financing firms targeting freight index futures trading, ship leasing, ship transactions, personnel training, and other finance services, further expand channels for enterprises' global business, creating a golden logistics channel serving the BRI partnership countries, Li noted.

China’s Commerce Ministry announced on Tuesday that it will launch anti-dumping investigations into canola seeds imported from Canada in line with domestic laws and regulations and WTO rules. It will also launch anti-dumping probes into certain chemical products imported from Canada based on the application made by domestic enterprises.

A resolution opposing a series of US sanctions related to Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and providing support for affected companies was unveiled and took effect on Monday, according to the regional legislator.

The resolution aims to expose to both the international community and the people of Xinjiang, what is clearly the US sinister intention in implementing sanctions against Xinjiang, to reveal the US suppression of the region's enterprises and its undermining of Xinjiang's social stability and development. It also supports the development of sanctioned enterprises and related industries.

According to local authorities, the enterprises sanctioned by the US for so-called forced labor allegation are in industries enjoying advantages in Xinjiang region, contributing significantly to job creation for the rural workforce and increasing farmers' incomes.

The so-called "Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act," which took effect in June 2022, prohibits the entry of Xinjiang goods into the US market in the name of combating "forced labor." 

The resolution calls on local authorities to strongly object to the groundless sanctions, and provide support for the sanctions-hit enterprises and associated industries to encourage them to flourish, as it is their just position and unshakable duty. 

It also encouraged the sanctioned enterprises to enhance their awareness of potential dangers, establish confidence in victory, and actively respond to the unreasonable provocation and suppression of sanctions by the US.

Employment is the utmost human right and a demonstration of respect for labor rights. The US and some Western countries, however, have lobbed trumped-up charges against China's production methods, inevitably affecting the normal export of local products, said Wang Sixin, an expert in human rights and a law professor at the Communication University of China.

Chinese President Xi Jinping met with President of Seychelles Wavel Ramkalawan on Monday.

The recent social media scrutiny of Chinese gymnasts headlined by Su Weide at the Paris Olympics highlights a broader issue faced by athletes worldwide: how to deal with intense public and media criticism. 

Su's mistakes in the men's team gymnastics event led to a loss of the gold medal to Japan, prompting an outpouring of harsh public criticism from fans. Accusations ranged from a history of poor performances to even allegations of nepotism.

Public opinion can be incredibly harsh, often fixating on athletes' failures rather than their successes. This phenomenon is not new. Legends like gymnastics great Li Ning and star hurdler Liu Xiang have also suffered under the weight of public criticism. 

Criticism is an inevitable part of sports, but when it becomes baseless and overly harsh, it can cross the line into abuse. 

For instance, the flood of criticism aimed at Su following his performance included not only legitimate critiques of his errors but also unfounded accusations and personal attacks. While it is essential to distinguish constructive criticism from mere vitriol, athletes must learn to navigate and respond to both.

Su's teammates Zhang Boheng and Li Xiaopeng publicly supported Su, emphasizing the difficulty of his role and the team's collective responsibility for its performance. This kind of solidarity and positive reinforcement is crucial to helping athletes withstand the pressures of public opinion.

A notable example of an athlete who can constructively handle opinions against them is Chinese tennis player Zheng Qinwen. 

After defeating US player Emma Navarro in the women's singles round of 16, Zheng faced unwarranted criticism and disrespect from her opponent. 

But Zheng's response, expressing a willingness to learn and grow from the feedback by saying she would like to correct what upset Navarro and become a better player, demonstrated a higher level of wisdom. This kind of approach not only defuses negativity but also sets a positive example for other athletes.

Former basketball star Yao Ming has advocated for athletes to engage more with the public, emphasizing that increased communication and understanding lead to better judgment and perception. This perspective encourages athletes to see public interaction as an opportunity for growth rather than a threat.

China has moved beyond an era in which only gold medals matter, and the broader public is increasingly able to view sporting achievements with a balanced perspective. 

Athletes today should not carry the burden of unrealistic expectations or view public opinion as an insurmountable obstacle. 

Instead, they should embrace the chance to communicate openly, learn from feedback, and turn public scrutiny into a tool for personal and professional development.

Ultimately, athletes who actively engage with public opinion and respond constructively can transform negative spirals into opportunities for growth and improvement.