Editor's Note:

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, Chinese president, and chairman of the Central Military Commission, has stressed that the environment concerns the well-being of people in all countries. During his inspections, Xi has always paid great attention to ecosystems, spanning from cities to rural areas, and from enterprises to communities.

Under the guidance of Chinese President Xi Jinping's thought on ecological civilization, China has been advancing the green transition of its economy over the last decade. Regions across the country are actively promoting the construction of ecological civilization and advancing Chinese modernization featuring harmony between humanity and nature. These efforts are creating a "Beautiful China."

The coming five years will be critical to the building of a "Beautiful China." The Global Times is launching a series of stories to explore the progress of ecological civilization projects that Xi is concerned with, delving into the positive environmental changes occurring now, and offering valuable insights and references for both national and global efforts. From these practical examples, we can see how Xi's thought on ecological civilization is put into practice and further inspires public action.

In this installment, we turn our eyes to the western regions of China. Under the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization, they are transforming deserts like the Gobi, and other arid areas into hopeful green oases of clean energy through the construction of new energy bases in these once desolate regions
Amid the boundless Gobi desert in northwestern China, where fierce winds howl and not a blade of grass grows, a golden tower pierces through the skyline like a sword, pointing straight toward the heavens.

This is the "Jinta" pilot project, a concentrated solar power (CSP) and photovoltaic (PV) hybrid project in Jinta county, Northwest China's Gansu Province. "Jinta" means "golden tower," symbolizing a beacon of hope in this desolate land.

Beneath the 247-meter-high solar receiver tower, 25,594 heliostats track the sun's movement, while expansive arrays of PV panels greedily absorb sunlight, converting it into surging electric power.

By the end of this May, once the project is set to be completed, it will be capable of delivering an average of 1.45 billion kilowatt-hours of clean electricity to the power grid annually. Each year, it is expected to save approximately 480,000 tons of standard coal and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by about 1.36 million tons, generating significant economic benefits as well as energy-saving and emission-reduction outcomes, the Global Times learned from the project company.

The Jinta project is a microcosm of China's broader campaign unfolding across its vast western regions. In China's expansive desert areas, the Gobi, and other arid areas - once dismissed as barren and lifeless - a vibrant transformation is underway.

Since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012, China has continuously consolidated the foundation for energy security.

At the same time, it should be noted that China still faces challenges in the development of energy resources, as Xi noted when the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee held the 12th group study session on new energy technology and China's energy security on the afternoon of February 2024, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

The solution is to vigorously promote the development of new energy resources, Xi said, stressing that China is abundant in resources such as wind power and photovoltaics, and has tremendous potential for developing new energy, read the Xinhua report.

In recent years, China has raced to build massive wind and solar bases in these regions.

By the end of 2024, the first batch of 50 new energy base projects solving desert, Gobi, and wasteland problems had been basically completed and put into operation, with a total installed capacity exceeding 90 million kilowatts, according to CCTV News.

Meanwhile, the rapid expansion in installed capacity has spurred technological innovation and industrial upgrading across the upstream and downstream segments of the new energy industry chain.

The 'golden tower'

In the Gobi of Jinta, the climate is unforgiving: During the day, scorching sunlight drives surface temperatures up to 50 C; at night, bitter winds drop temperatures to minus 20 C. When sandstorms hit, visibility plummets to less than 10 meters, and the air is thick with gritty dust.

Project safety officer Li Depeng has described the region as "a vast, boundless wilderness of desolation."

Yet Zhao Bin sees vitality in the adversity. "It is precisely this harsh environment that gives rise to exceptional wind and solar energy resources," he told the Global Times.

For nearly a decade, Zhao, head of the multi-energy complementary project in Jinta, has been rooted in this Gobi region, braving the harshest tests of nature.

The Jinta project is not only a technological marvel but also an epic of human resilience against nature. It features a tower-based molten salt thermal storage system, integrating core technologies such as light concentration, heat collection, and thermal energy storage and exchange. Designed to withstand high altitudes and extreme cold, the facility incorporates advanced data systems and smart algorithms to maximize efficiency - all with domestically manufactured core equipment.

What is more inspiring is the team's commitment to biodiversity conservation during construction. Zhao and his team have planted native tree species and economic crops - such as the Euphrates poplar, the white poplar, the fragrant locust, apricots, and peach trees - within the site, supplemented by irrigation systems and soil improvement efforts.

These measures not only restore desert ecosystems but also promote both ecological and economic gains.

After nearly 10 years on the front lines, Zhao has gained a deep understanding of Xi's thought on ecological civilization.

"The Jinta project vividly embodies this philosophy, driving an energy revolution, safeguarding national energy security, and aligning with the sustainable vision that lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets," Zhao told the Global Times.

"This Gobi, once a land of hardship and bitter cold, has become a plain of hope," he said.
New Energy hubs

The initiative of new energy projects on solving desert, Gobi, and wasteland problems gained national momentum in 2023.

May 1 of that year marked the grid connection of the country's first photovoltaic project under this initiative, the People's Daily reported. Located in the Tengger Desert in Northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, the one-gigawatt project not only marked the beginning of large-scale renewable energy development in such terrains, but also pioneered a new model integrating new energy construction with ecosystem protection and restoration.

In the months that followed, similar projects began to take shape across other parts of the country.

In his speech at the central economic work conference in December 2024, Xi summarized the economic work in 2024, analyzed the current economic situation, and planned the economic work for 2025, Xinhua reported.

The conference reaffirmed that efforts should be made to cut carbon emissions, reduce pollution, pursue green development, and boost economic growth in a concerted manner, and ramp up the green transition in economic and social development, while urging the promotion of faster construction of new energy bases in sandy areas, rocky areas, and deserts, according to Xinhua.

The 2025 Government Work Report explicitly called for the acceleration of the development of large-scale wind and solar bases in deserts, the Gobi, and other arid regions.

The largest single-unit photovoltaic project under the initiative, located in Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, is scheduled to start commercial operation at the end of May, according to Xinjiang TV.

The National Energy Administration also issued rules for the market operation of energy storage facilities supporting these projects under the initiative.

In February, China officially broke ground on its largest clean energy initiative to date - an 80-billion-yuan ($11 billion) base in the eastern section of the Qaidam Desert in Northwest China's Qinghai Province, according to Xinhua.

China has also set an ambitious target: By 2030, the total installed capacity from desert-based clean energy bases is expected to reach 455 million kilowatts, Xinhua reported.

Contribution to a greener globe

China's renewable energy model is now going global, supporting energy transitions in other countries.

The country has developed a full industrial chain in the new energy sector with strong international competitiveness, supplying over 80 percent of the world's PV modules and 70 percent of wind power equipment. Over the past decade, the country has helped reduce the global average levelized cost of electricity for wind and solar power by more than 60 percent and 80 percent, respectively, Xinhua reported in January.

China's experience in desertification control and energy development has found resonance in Central Asia, the Middle East, and Africa - regions with similar geographic characteristics.

The Kubuqi project in North China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region utilized a multi-pronged approach: Planting windbreak trees to form edge-protection belts, erecting upright sand barriers made from sand willow branches elevated 20 centimeters above the ground, and establishing large-scale shrub-grass systems under PV panels by cultivating drought-tolerant, protein-rich desert plants such as caragana, hedysarum, and saltbush, Jin Jian, head of a Chinese new energy company's offices in the Middle East and Central Asia, told the Global Times.

Over several years of operation and maintenance, the project has successfully reclaimed more than 13,000 mu (around 867 hectares) of desertified land, achieving notable results in combating desertification. The PV-plus model developed in the Kubuqi Desert has now taken root overseas. For instance, a project in Israel integrates PV development with avocado farming and livestock, while its Red Sea PV project in Saudi Arabia has been paired with tourism initiatives, resulting in the world's first fully sustainable tourism city powered entirely by green energy, complete with comprehensive infrastructure, according to Jin.

Meanwhile, under the guidance of Xi's thought on ecological civilization, more and more Chinese companies are embracing joint development and global cooperation, achieving cross-border technology transfer.

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday extended condolences to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian over the severe explosion at a port in the country.

Xi said he was deeply grieved to learn that a massive explosion at Shahid Rajaee Port in the southern Iranian city of Bandar Abbas caused heavy casualties.

On behalf of the Chinese government and people, Xi mourned the victims and offered sincere sympathies to the injured and the bereaved families.

The Chinese and Egyptian militaries will soon hold their first joint drill in a move to boost cooperation, the Chinese Defense Ministry announced on Wednesday. With the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force sending forces to Egypt, a Chinese expert said the exercise could pave the way for potential aviation equipment cooperation.

According to an agreement reached between the Chinese and Egyptian militaries, the PLA Air Force will send forces to Egypt to participate in a joint air force training exercise codenamed "Eagles of Civilization 2025" from mid-April to early May, China's Ministry of National Defense announced in a statement on Wednesday. 

This marks the first joint training between the two countries' militaries, and holds significant importance for promoting pragmatic cooperation as well as boosting friendship and mutual trust between them, the Chinese Defense Ministry said.

Wang Yunfei, a Chinese military affairs expert, told the Global Times on Wednesday that China and Egypt enjoy good military relations, and their first joint exercise will further enhance mutual understanding and friendship.

The two countries' air forces share some similar training methods and tactics, and the latest joint exercise could pave the way for potential equipment cooperation in the future, Wang said, noting that the Egyptian side will get an opportunity to closely observe the Chinese warplanes' capabilities.

Egypt has already operated the Chinese K-8 trainer aircraft, according to media reports.

While the latest drill is the first joint exercise between the two countries, it is not the first time PLA Air Force warplanes have flown to Egypt.

From August 27 to September 5 in 2024, the PLA Air Force sent seven J-10 performance fighter jets of the Bayi Aerobatic Team and a Y-20 transport aircraft to participate in the first edition of the Egypt International Air Show at the invitation of the Egyptian Air Force, Wu Qian, a spokesperson at the Chinese Defense Ministry, said at the time.

During the visit, the J-10s and the Y-20 flew over the Giza Pyramids scenic spot, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

It was the first time the PLA Air Force's Bayi Aerobatic Team visited an African country for a flight performance, and marked the farthest distance it has traveled for a foreign performance, Wu said, noting that the event displayed the PLA Air Force's confidence and openness, and further deepened the cultural communication and friendly exchanges between the two countries and the two militaries.

Wang, the expert, said that flying to Egypt marks a long-distance flight. Such maneuvers could boost the PLA Air Force's long-distance combat capability and adaptability to diverse environments in different regions.

China's Ministry of State Security (MSS) on Wednesday revealed a case in which a local fisherman helped uncover and thwart a foreign espionage operation by retrieving a suspicious underwater surveillance device during routine fishing, CCTV News reported.

According to the MSS, the fisherman, surnamed Chen, discovered a strangely shaped device while fishing. 

Alerted by its unusual appearance and recalling a previous case in which a fisherman from a neighboring village had also retrieved a similarly peculiar device, which was later confirmed to be used for stealing classified information, Chen promptly called the national security hotline and returned to port with the device.

Shortly after the device was retrieved from the water, a foreign agency monitoring its movement received an emergency alert indicating a drastic location change. This confirmed that the recovered device was indeed a new type of underwater surveillance equipment deployed by a foreign country in China's territorial waters.

Judging by its speed and trajectory, the agency concluded the device had likely been retrieved and was en route to a Chinese port. It then dispatched a long-term operative in China, a Chinese national surnamed Liu, to locate the device.

National security officers stated that upon receiving Chen's report, while maintaining close communication with the fisherman and monitoring the ship's return trajectory, they collaborated with police, coast guard, and relevant local departments. 

Concurrently, security officers tracked the movements of suspect Liu. Through coordinated intelligence efforts with other agencies, they deliberately leaked news of "Chen retrieving a spy device." 

After the boat docked, Liu attempted posed as a novelty collector interested in purchasing the device but was rebuffed by Chen. 

Liu was already under surveillance by national security officers, and every move he made was tracked until his eventual arrest, CCTV News reported.

Security officers said Liu was ordered to offer a large sum of money in exchange for the device and smuggle it out of the country if possible.

Following these leads, the MSS dismantled a long-running foreign spy network operating inside China and took legal action against those involved.

Chen has since received official recognition and was commended for his contribution.

Chinese President Xi Jinping's just-concluded Southeast Asia tour focused on good-neighborly relations and promoted mutually beneficial cooperation, and achieved a complete success, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Friday.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said during a press briefing that Xi's trip to Vietnam, Malaysia and Cambodia from Monday to Friday was the first overseas tour of the Chinese head of state this year.

The tour sent a strong signal that China firmly defends multilateralism and international trade rules, Wang said.

On Xi's visit to Vietnam, Wang said that the strategic guidance of the top leaders of the two parties and countries is the biggest advantage of and the most important political guarantee for the development of China-Vietnam relations.

The leaders of the two parties and countries unanimously confirmed that in accordance with the overarching goals characterized by "six mores," the two sides will advance the development of their comprehensive strategic cooperation with higher quality and on deeper levels, and accelerate the building of a China-Vietnam community with a shared future that carries strategic significance, he said.

During Xi's visit to Vietnam, bilateral railway cooperation has been expanded and upgraded, which particularly demonstrated the determination of the two countries to seek common development, Wang said.

On Xi's visit to Malaysia, Wang said its most significant outcome was that the leaders of the two countries elevated China-Malaysia relations to a new height and announced the building of a high-level strategic China-Malaysia community with a shared future.

This marks another leap in the positioning of the bilateral relationship after China and Malaysia announced the joint building of a China-Malaysia community with a shared future in 2023, Wang noted.

A highlight of this visit is that the two sides agreed to become a pacesetter for regional cooperation on new quality productive forces, focusing on cutting-edge fields such as digital economy, green economy and artificial intelligence, he added.

Speaking of Xi's visit to Cambodia, Wang noted that the highlight was the joint announcement by Xi and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet on elevating the China-Cambodia relationship to an all-weather China-Cambodia community with a shared future in the new era, which marks the first time that China has elevated its bilateral relationship with a Southeast Asian country to an all-weather level.

Wang said that during Xi's Southeast Asia tour, the Chinese president pointed out that economic globalization benefits all countries and no country can retreat into isolation.

Trade wars will undermine the international trading system, the stability of the global economic order and the legitimate interests of all countries in the world, especially developing countries, Xi noted.

As key members of the Global South, China and neighboring countries should strengthen coordination and cooperation, stand together to combat the undercurrent of camp-based confrontation, jointly oppose unilateralism and counter the law of the jungle where the strong prey on the weak with the Asian values of peace, cooperation, openness and inclusiveness, so as to safeguard the bright prospects of our Asian family, Xi said.

Xi underscored that despite the headwind of mounting protectionism, China will pursue high-quality development, expand high-standard opening up and share development opportunities with neighboring countries.

China's mega market is always open to neighboring countries, and China welcomes more high-quality products from ASEAN members, he added.

The China Search and Rescue Team, the China International Search and Rescue Team, and the search and rescue team from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region left Myanmar on Wednesday after completing their mission in the earthquake-stricken areas.

Before their departure, a ceremony was held at Myanmar's Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement Ministry. Soe Win, vice chairman of the State Administration Council, presented a letter of gratitude to the Chinese teams.

The teams have boarded four Chinese Air Force planes to return home from Myanmar's capital Nay Pyi Taw.

Myanmar's Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs U Lwin Oo, and Cao Jing, chargé d'affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Myanmar, saw them off at the airport.

In response to questions regarding that the US applies 10 percent baseline tariff to most countries, suspends the higher "reciprocal tariffs" for a 90-day period while threatens to impose 125% tariffs on imports from China, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian on Thursday denounced the US' tariffs as "a blatant defiance of universal principles and a confrontation with the entire world." 

"The US, driven by self-interest, has weaponized tariffs for extreme pressure and selfish gain. This seriously infringes on the legitimate rights and interests of all countries, seriously violates WTO rules, harms the multilateral trading system based on rules, and shocks the stability of the global economic order," Lin said at a press conference.

"Taking necessary countermeasures to oppose the bullying actions of the US is not only to safeguard our own sovereignty, security, and development interests, but also to uphold international fairness and justice, protect the multilateral trading system, and defend the common interests of the international community. Those who uphold justice gain wide support, while those who act against it have little. The US' reckless and unjust actions are unpopular and will ultimately end in failure," Lin said.

"There is no winner in a trade war. We do not want a trade war, but we are not afraid of fighting one. We will never allow the legitimate rights and interests of the Chinese people to be taken way, nor will we tolerate the undermining of international economic rules and the multilateral trading system," Lin stressed.

Should the United States insist on launching a tariff war or trade war, China will resolutely respond to the end, Lin said.

The US' practice of prioritizing its own interests over the global common good, sacrificing the legitimate interests of all nations to serve its own hegemonic interests, will inevitably face stronger international opposition, Lin said.

Chinese rescue teams are continuing to work in the hard-hit Mandalay in central Myanmar following the 7.9-magnitude temblor last week, and have so far saved eight survivors as of 8 am local time on Tuesday in the country, Xinhua News Agency reported.

The China Search and Rescue Team saved four survivors, the Yunnan Rescue Medical Team rescued one survivor, and other civil emergency forces rescued three and assisted the China Search and Rescue Team, the Xinhua report said. 

To coordinate the Chinese rescue teams in Mandalay, a rescue work mechanism was established to enhance information sharing and joint logistics to ensure the quality and effectiveness of their rescue work. 

On Tuesday, Myanmar held a national mourning ceremony to observe a minute of silence for the victims of the earthquake. Myanmar on Monday declared a week-long mourning period from March 31 to April 6, during which flags across the country will fly at half-mast, according to CCTV. 

The death toll from Friday's devastating earthquake in Myanmar has reached 2,719, with 4,521 people injured and 441 others still missing, the country's State Administration Council Chairman Min Aung Hlaing said on Tuesday, according to Xinhua News Agency.

On Tuesday afternoon, a rescue team from China donated a temporary office for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Myanmar in Nay Pyi Taw. The Chinese rescue team also showed how to erect and use the site.

On the same day, Chinese Ambassador to Myanmar Ma Jia visited and expressed appreciation to a rescue medical team from China's Yunnan Province in Nay Pyi Taw. The Ambassador expressed gratitude to the team for rushing to Myanmar and arriving within 18 hours after the earthquake, making them the first international rescue team to successfully rescue a survivor, the Global Times learnt from the Chinese Embassy in Myanmar.

"Xiexie!" The Mayor of Mandalay, U Kyaw Hsan, sincerely thanked the Chinese Rescue Team of Ram Union for its rescue work on Tuesday. Local residents spontaneously offered herbal tea and mineral water to salute the rescue team members.

On Tuesday morning, the Myanmar Red Cross Society held a donation ceremony for the 1.5-million-yuan donation from the Red Cross Society of China. Minister counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Myanmar Cao Jing and Dr Myo Nyunt, Chairman of the Myanmar Red Cross Society, attended the event. 

Covering the rescuing work in Myanmar, some media outlets made a comparison of countries' efforts devoted in the disaster relief work. 

"Chinese rescuers have freed six people from the rubble of an earthquake in Myanmar, including a child and a pregnant woman, Chinese state media reported Monday, placing Beijing at the forefront of an international rescue effort from which the US has been largely absent," one NBC report wrote on Monday.

The US said Monday that it would provide $2 million in aid and a small US Agency for International Development emergency response team has been deployed to assess the situation in Myanmar, but officials said that it had not yet been able to enter the country as of Monday morning, according to an ABC report. 

"While the dollar amount of initial aid is in line with what the US has pledged in the past, the overall pace of the response has been slower", the report said. 

After the Myanmar earthquake, China quickly provided assistance and sent rescue workers, which not only reflects the stability of bilateral relations between both countries, but also clearly demonstrates the efficient results of China and ASEAN cooperation in disaster relief, Li Haidong, a professor at China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times.

Xi extends condolences over passing of Laos' former President Khamtay Siphandone

As this year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War, Chinese and British publishers hosted a series of events to pay tribute to the victory at the ongoing London Book Fair.

On Wednesday, a launch event was held for the Chinese edition of "Blades of Grass: The Story of George Aylwin Hogg," a biography of the British journalist who gave his life to support China's war against Japanese aggression decades ago.

The book, which includes Hogg's letters and journalistic works, offers a fuller picture of his early life and his journey as a reporter in China, documenting both the war and social life. It also highlights his efforts to support the Chinese people during the war, particularly his role in founding a school for war orphans in Shaanxi.

Mark Aylwin Thomas, author of the book and nephew of the late Hogg, said at the launch that the translated edition gives Chinese readers the opportunity to learn more about the "extraordinary person" who "loved and respected his fellow human beings regardless of race, belief or cultural differences, striving selflessly with compassion for a common positive goal."

Chen Guangyao from People's Publishing House, the book's publisher, said that Hogg's story serves as a historical testament to the friendship between China and Britain. He expressed hope that the Chinese edition will further strengthen this friendship and contribute to promoting world peace and development.

Along with the book, five other publications themed around the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression were also unveiled on Wednesday during the three-day book fair.

Speaking with Xinhua after a seminar where Chinese and British writers and scholars shared stories and insights on the bonds forged between the two countries during the war, Hugo de Burgh, director of China Media Centre at the University of Westminster, emphasized the importance of helping younger generations "understand the dangers and the terrible suffering caused by conflict and war."

He added that "responsible publishers" play a crucial role in reminding people of the "positive aspects of our relationships" that emerged from the shared experiences of war and hardship.

In addition, a special screening of "The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru" was held during the book fair. The documentary is about the heroic rescue of British prisoners of war by Chinese fishermen during World War II.