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.
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.
Drones weave through golden wheat fields, delivering nutrients with precision — a glimpse into the expanding potential of China's low-altitude economy. Behind the emerging trend, a growing demand for skilled professionals in the field is expected to rise in the coming years.
The low-altitude economy, a term recently included in this year's government work report during the two sessions, has been explicitly recognized as an emerging industry requiring "safe and sound development."
In 2024, the term "low-altitude economy" was first written into China's government work report, sparking a wave of local policies in support of the sector. Data shows that 30 provinces have already included the development of the "low-altitude economy" in their 2025 government work reports, according to China Central Television.
Providing an industry perspective, Fu Changyin, marketing director of Shanghai-based Volant Aerotech, a company developing electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft (eVTOL), told the Global Times that there is a clear shortage of technical talent in research and development of Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM). However, the scarcity of directly specialized talent has led the company to recruit from related industries, such as new-energy vehicles.
Against the backdrop of the rapidly growing low-altitude economy, Chinese universities are introducing specialized programs to cultivate future talent.
Recently, a total of six top universities in China have applied to add a new program in low-altitude technology and engineering, according to a public notice from the Ministry of Education. The program is four years term and leads to a degree in engineering. Some of these universities told the Global Times that student recruitment will begin this year.
Showcase unique prowess
The universities communicate with each other during the application process, enabling each institution to carve out its own unique focus, a staff from Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications（BUPT）told the Global Times, noting that the university is placing emphasis on the field of information and communication technology (ICT).
"As an interdisciplinary major, we conducted a thorough review of our faculty and laboratory resources, developed an initial plan, defined talent cultivation goals and designed the core curriculum," the staff added.
The staff went on to say the new program at BUPT integrates the most advantageous and distinctive resources, including the School of Information and Communication Engineering, School of Computer Science, School of Intelligent Engineering and Automation, bringing together a top-tier faculty who are actively involved in its development of the program, and this is also well-documented in the application materials.
One of the applied universities, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics (NUAA), is focusing on developing the disciplines of transportation equipment engineering and safety science and engineering to support the rapid development of China's civil aviation industry and the low-altitude economy.
With the aim of cultivating high-level, multidisciplinary talent with a global perspective and technological innovation capabilities, the program at the College of General Aviation and Flight offers two main areas of study.
The first area is low-altitude digital detection and certification, which focuses on digital detection technologies for low-altitude aircraft and their airworthiness certification to cultivate talent with advanced research and technical capabilities, Wang Qin, professor from the college, told the Global Times. The curriculum covers sensor and testing technologies, low-altitude intelligent networking, positioning and navigation systems, as well as helicopter flight control.
The other aspect focuses on cultivating professionals in low-altitude flight services and support, encompassing areas such as low-altitude aircraft operation management, flight safety, airspace management and emergency support, Wang said.
Real-world application
Through collaboration with the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), the program at NUAA aims to cultivate talent that meets civil aviation standards, promote the safe and efficient management of low-altitude airspace, and ensure that the development of the low-altitude economy complies with safety regulations, Wang told the Global Times.
The program also combines academic qualifications with professional certifications, where students earn a bachelor's degree while also obtaining licenses in relevant fields, such as drone piloting. This approach ensures a solid theoretical foundation while providing students with the legal qualifications to practice professionally.
Moreover, it features instructors who not only have extensive teaching experience but also practical industry experience, by bringing in experts with corporate backgrounds or project experience, Wang added.
A low-altitude experimental training platform, including a low-altitude aircraft control laboratory, a simulated airspace management system and an intelligent communications laboratory, will also be established, Wang said. Students will have the opportunity to engage in hands-on training on these platforms, gaining practical skills in aircraft control, navigation, communication, perception and control.
The professor noted that NUAA will collaborate closely with enterprises and research institutions in the low-altitude economy sector. Through partnerships with drone manufacturers, general aviation companies and traffic management departments, students will gain hands-on experience in real projects, enhancing their industry skills.
According to the Xinhua News Agency, the CAAC estimates that the country's low-altitude market will soar to 1.5 trillion yuan ($220 billion) in 2025 and as much as 3.5 trillion yuan in 2035.
Fu from the Shanghai company noted that as universities in China gradually introduce relevant programs in response to the growing low-altitude economy, the company will also focus on campus recruitment to attract more top graduates.
In the field of aircraft development, the establishment of a program is only the beginning, and there is a need for more practical experience in the development of the industry, Fu added.
