With the joint efforts of all parties, the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway is likely to commence construction in the upcoming months, according to media reports. This project, once completed, will further promote economic and trade development in Central Asia, transform the region's economic landscape and inject more certainties to the global trade, domestic and international experts said.

The launch of this landmark project under China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) once again confirms how the joint initiative has evolved from a Chinese proposal to an international framework, being translated from concept to action, experts said.

Construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway is set to commence on August 25 of this year - according to an announcement made by Kyrgyz Prime Minister Okilbek Japarov at the inauguration of a hydropower station in the Chuy region, as reported by qalampir.uz, a local media outlet.

"This railway represents the shortest route from Shanghai to Paris and is projected to handle 15 million tons of cargo annually. We have completed the feasibility studies, and the project is expected to be self-sustaining within 15-20 years. Looking ahead, in 30 years, this railway could extend to the sea, enhancing our global trade," Japarov said.

Since the signing ceremony of the trilateral government agreement for the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway project in Beijing in June, this historic cooperative endeavor has garnered increasing attention.

Experts said that this railway project will facilitate Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan's transformation from "landlocked countries" to "land-linked countries," while serving as a more reliable and efficient transportation network, injecting more certainties into world trade.

In addition, this landmark project, upon its completion, is poised to become a model of regional cooperation under the BRI, injecting substantial momentum into the economic and social development of the three countries, Central Asia and beyond, experts said.

A reliable alternative

As an important corridor forming part of the ancient Silk Road, Central Asia's development has long been constrained by geographical conditions among other factors - despite being located in the heartland of Asia, there are no direct sea ports.

"Traditionally, their access to sea routes has been through Russia, leading to the Black Sea region... However, since the Russia-Ukraine conflict, various factors including Western sanctions have created transportation challenges for their goods and commodities,"  Zhang Hong, an associate research fellow at the Institute of Russian, Eastern European and Central Asian Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Tuesday. He said that the growing complexity of the situation has hindered the regional countries' ability to engage with global economic entities, and further constraining the region's development.

The China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway begins in Kashgar, Xinjiang, and passes through Kyrgyzstan before entering Uzbekistan. Zhang said that the construction of this railway line will facilitate trade between Central Asia to China and deliver the goods from the region in a more efficient way to other parts of the world.

Additionally, the railway construction will attract more investment to Central Asia, promoting deeper involvement in regional economic integration and local economic projects, Zhang said.

"This transformation aims to shift them from being 'landlocked' countries to pivotal transportation hubs, a role that is becoming crucial for the entire region," Zhang noted.

The important role of this new railway network extends beyond a few countries to the entire region. Currently, global trade faces challenges such as geopolitical tensions including the Red Sea crisis, leading to high costs and risks impacting global shipping and freight. The new railway will provide a more diverse option for the global trade network, offering a reliable and secure alternative, Li Xin, director of the Center for Russian and Central Asian Studies at the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies, told the Global Times.

Specifically, the northern route of the China-Europe freight train service, passing through Russia and Belarus to Europe, has been impacted by the Russia-Ukraine conflict and Western sanctions against Russia and Belarus, according to Li.

Meanwhile, the southern Maritime Silk Road route through the Red Sea to the Mediterranean also faces security challenges, necessitating longer detours via the Cape of Good Hope and significantly increasing operational costs.

Given this context, Li said that establishing international transport corridors across the Caspian Sea, including Kazakhstan's Trans-Caspian International Transport Route and the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway extending toward Turkmenistan, could provide viable alternatives.

The China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway corridor will also connect with the Trans-Caspian Corridor, providing Uzbekistan with the shortest route to Europe, according to media reports.

Exemplary model

Central Asia has been pivotal for the BRI, particularly since the Silk Road Economic Belt, an essential component of the initiative, was first proposed in 2013. Experts said that with the construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan rail project, the BRI's emphasis on win-win cooperation and sustainable development will be further illustrated.

To Maryam Agharabi, research coordinator at China & Central Asia Studies Center, an organization based in Almaty, Kazakhstan, this transnational railway project is an important, long-awaited, and highly anticipated development from various perspectives.

"Broadly speaking, it contributes to the cooperative approach within the region, meaning that it not only helps diversify trade and transit by adding an extra route connecting Central Asian countries in both east-west and north-south directions, but it also demonstrates a commitment to the development of the region as a whole in the spirit of regional economic cooperation, not just within one or two selected countries," Agharabi said.

"It is important to understand that sustainable development should be viewed as a collective endeavor shared among neighbors, so, although Kazakhstan is not a direct party to this project, this is certainly welcomed by Kazakhstan, too," Agharabi said, noting that the launching of this project is a positive development not only for China, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan, which will see direct and immediate economic benefits, but also for the rest of the Central Asian countries and even beyond.

The railway project is an important BRI infrastructure project under the joint cooperation in a sense that the most priority projects in the Central Asia region are joint development projects in trade and logistics, industrial cooperation and energy, Aliya Mussabekova, chief expert at the Asian Studies Department at Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies under the President of Kazakhstan, told the Global Times.

These projects, both on a large regional scale and of local significance, form the foundation of a self-sustaining and secure common market, according to Mussabekova. In the long term, they establish Central Asia's identity as a cohesive region, the expert said.

The China-South Asia Expo opened on Tuesday in Kunming, Southwest China's Yunnan Province, showcasing a deeper commitment to regional cooperation. Exhibitors expressed optimism for the Chinese market and praised the event for providing opportunities to expand business in the region.

Pakistan is a featured country this year, with a 360-square-meter exhibition area designed to showcase its national heritage. The exhibits include agricultural and handcrafted products. 

"I have participated in the expo five times. We mainly export handicrafts to China, which are very popular. The expo provides us an excellent opportunity to display our goods directly to Chinese customers and purchasers," Imran, a Pakistani merchant told the Global Times.

The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor has notably facilitated bilateral trade, for example, it has reduced the transit time of our products from 50 days by sea to just 15 days via land, Imran added. "In the future, I expect train lines can be built in the corridor, which could cut the transportation time more."

Beyond Pakistan, South Asian countries such as Sri Lanka, Nepal and India have also sent delegations to the expo. 

The expo has been very beneficial for Sri Lanka, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises. New companies often lack the experiences to expand internationally due to the high cost of trade fairs in other countries. The expo brings Sri Lankan companies with exhibition opportunities, Devika Mendis, a commercial research officer from the Sri Lankan delegation, told the Global Times.

China has continuously strengthened pragmatic economic and trade cooperation with the region since the proposal of the Belt and Road Initiative in 2013.

Last year, China's trade with South Asian countries doubled to nearly $200 billion compared with 2013, cementing China's role as the top trade partner for most South Asian countries and facilitating their products' access to the huge Chinese market, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce said.

Sri Lanka is keen to continue its participation and expand its delegation size in the expo. Last year, Sri Lanka had 56 exhibition booths, while this year we have expanded to 112 booths, Mendis added. "Domestic businesses are lining up to be part of this grand event." 

Indian firms also noted the importance of the expo to small and medium-sized businesses, expressing optimism about expanding their presence at the event. 

"There are many expos that help trade with China, but the expo is especially important for small and medium-sized businesses, as many of the products displayed here are from labor-intensive sectors," said Ajay Sahai, director-general and CEO of the Federation of Indian Export Organization.

The expo also attracts a growing number of Southeast Asian exhibitors, reflecting deeper integration under the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership and expanding bilateral trade with countries like Malaysia and Laos. 

"We hope to further promote trade between Laos and China, and highlight Lao products, particularly agricultural goods," said Thanousone Phonamat, a vice president of the Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry. 

This year's event coincides with the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and Malaysia, sparking keen interest among Malaysian businesses. "We are hoping for a larger delegation and more booths for next year's expo," said Fan Shu Hua, general manager of ES Event Management Sdn Bhd.

Since settling in Kunming 11 years ago, the expo has gone through seven sessions, engaging more than 18,000 domestic and international enterprises and drawing more than 4 million visitors. 

The associated cumulative foreign trade turnover has surpassed $100 billion, with more than 3,000 projects signed and established during the expos, reported the Yunnan Daily.

This marks the eighth session of the China-South Asia Expo and the 28th Kunming Import and Export Fair. Scheduled to run from Tuesday through Sunday, the event features the theme of unity and cooperative development. It boasts participation by 82 countries, regions and international organizations, with more than 2,000 exhibiting enterprises.

Foreign investors increased their holdings of Chinese bonds in June for a 10th consecutive month, and the amount hit a new high, data showed. Observers said on Sunday these figures underscore foreign capital's strong confidence in the stable growth prospects of the world's second-largest economy, and their positive feedback on steady progress in financial market opening-up.

As the third plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) draws up a sweeping blueprint to guide China's reform and opening-up for years to come, it is expected that the conference will channel more confidence and stability into the country's financial market, adding to its allure as an investment destination as global financial volatility increases, analysts said.

As of the end of June, the value of bonds held by foreign investors in the interbank market set a new record of 4.31 trillion yuan ($592.88 billion), data released by the Shanghai Head Office of the People's Bank of China, the country's central bank, showed on Friday.

It was the 10th month in a row for foreign investors to raise their holdings, with the amount exceeding 1 trillion yuan during the past 10 months, financial news website eastmoney.com reported.

Foreign financial institutions also accelerated their entry into China's interbank bond market. As of the end of June, a total of 1,133 foreign entities had entered the market, the report showed.

Observers said that the overwhelming interest in yuan-denominated bonds among global investors mirrored their investment value, which includes minor price fluctuations and stable returns, especially as a Fed interest rate cut looms and concerns grow about the potential high volatility of US Treasury debt.

"The yields of Chinese bonds are also relatively immune to global financial market fluctuations, which is another reason for their increasing attractiveness," Yang Delong, chief economist at Shenzhen-based First Seafront Fund, told the Global Times on Sunday.

The reform-focused third plenum was held in Beijing from July 15 to 18. The gathering reaffirmed China's unwavering commitment to reform and opening-up and drew a clear path for China's continuous high-quality development.

Chinese and foreign analysts said that the third plenum will consolidate foreign investors' confidence in the outlook for the Chinese economy, which is the underlying logic behind their expanding investment in yuan-denominated assets.

"Even though the Chinese economy is facing some challenges, China will do better compared with many developed countries in 2024. As promoted in the third plenum, China will focus on high-quality development, and deepen its supply-side structural reform to create new drivers and strengths for realizing growth," Maya Majueran, director of Belt and Road Initiative Sri Lanka, a Sri Lanka-based organization that specializes in BRI cooperation, told the Global Times over the weekend.

He stressed that with these new and positive developments, China will achieve its GDP growth goal of about 5 percent, and that will create fresh opportunities for the world, injecting confidence and impetus into the global economic recovery.

China's bond market opening-up is seen as a crucial step in China's two-way financial market opening-up. The Bond Connect program was launched in July 2017, aiming to make the Chinese mainland's interbank bond market accessible to overseas investors and international bond markets for mainland investors.

At least 821 international investors had entered the Chinese mainland bond market via the program's northbound leg as of the end of May, according to Bond Connect Co, the management entity of the program.

Chinese bonds have also been included in major bond indexes such as the Bloomberg Barclays Global Aggregate Index, JPMorgan's Government Bond Index-Emerging Markets Index and the FTSE World Government Bond Index in the past seven years, signaling a further enhancement in the maturity and international influence of China's bond market.

China equity funds have welcomed rising capital inflows for a string of five consecutive weeks, reflecting a vote of confidence in the stable recovery of the world's second-largest economy amid multiple sound macro-economic figures and expectations for measures on further comprehensively deepening reform and advancing Chinese modernization.

While key economic data are due to be published, analysts forecast the country's GDP growth rate will be 5.2 percent in the first half of the year, laying a solid foundation for the achievement of pre-set annual GDP growth target. They called for targeted fiscal and monetary policies to tackle remaining challenges across the economy.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Tuesday held a symposium on the economic outlook. Li called for the solid implementation of macro policies and enhancement of the effectiveness of the policies to promote the healthy development of the economy, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

According to data released by global industry information provider Emerging Portfolio Fund Research, Chinese equity funds have seen capital inflows for the fifth straight week by July 3, while the country's bond funds reported flows for eight consecutive weeks, Shanghai Securities News reported on Wednesday.

Recently, it is becoming a point of consensus among foreign financial institutions that investors' confidence in China's financial markets are storming back amid the country's improved macro-policies.

Although Chinese stocks have now dropped somewhat after a strong bounce back of 32 percent in the first five months of the year, we still maintain the view that Chinese stocks will bounce again over the upcoming months, Hu Yifan, regional chief investment officer and head of macroeconomics for Asia-Pacific at UBS Global Wealth Management, wrote in a note sent to the Global Times.

Now is a good opportunity for investors to seize China's stock market opportunities amid the country's improving market fundamentals and deepening reforms, Hu added.

Compared with developed markets, the valuations of Chinese stocks remain low, indicating further growth potential for Chinese stocks, Singapore's DBS said in investment insights for the third quarter. The bank says robust profit prospect will support the optimistic development momentum.

Notable growth of high-frequency data in various sectors indicated the potential of China's domestic demand, the resilience of foreign trade and enterprises' innovation vitality, underscoring the recovery momentum of the world's second-largest economy.

The consumer price index (CPI), a main gauge of inflation, was up 0.2 percent year-on-year in June, rising for the fifth straight month as improving consumer sentiment continued to drive domestic demand, data from the National Bureau of Statistics showed on Wednesday.

China set to publish its GDP and several other macro-economic data on July 15.

The economy experienced an overall recovery in the first half of 2024, with the economic growth rate expected to reach around 5.2 percent, laying a solid foundation for the achievement of annual GDP growth target, Wen Bin, chief economist from China Minsheng Bank, told the Global Times.

Wen said exports play a remarkable role in driving the economy. "In the second quarter, export growth rate continues to rebound, which contributes to investment and production in the manufacturing sector. However, domestic consumption remains weak at the moment, whereas infrastructure investment should strengthen," he said.

Analysts said that the upcoming third plenary session of the 20th Communist Party of China Central Committee to be held between July 15-18 in will serve as a barometer to see how policymakers press ahead with comprehensively deepening reform and further shoring up the vitality of the real economy.

On the Tuesday seminar, Premier Li emphasized the need to pursue innovation-driven development to consolidate the economic recovery momentum while giving full play to the role of enterprises and strengthening targeted policy support for enterprises to achieve breakthroughs in more core technologies in key fields.

Since the beginning of 2024, the development of new quality productive forces has been picking up speed. In the future, China should continue to boost related reforms and innovations through developing new quality productive forces in order to enhance enterprises' innovation vitality and achieve high-quality development, Chen Fengying, an economist and former director of the Institute of World Economic Studies at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, told the Global Times on Wednesday.

By cultivating new technologies and new industries while upgrading traditional industries, China will continue to inject fresh vigor into global development, Chen said, forecasting that China will continue to be a major engine of the global economy this year by contributing about 30 percent to global growth.

China's foreign trade in the first half of the year has set a new high, representing a year-on-year increase of 6.1 percent to 21.17 trillion yuan ($2.9 trillion), indicating a positive momentum in the country's foreign trade as well as improvement of the national economy.

The data were released before the third plenary session of the 20th Communist Party of China Central Committee, which will be held from July 15 to 18 in Beijing. The plenum will primarily examine issues related to further comprehensively deepening reforms and advancing Chinese modernization.

According to the General Administration of Customs (GAC) on Friday, the country's foreign trade for the first time in the same period in history exceeded 21 trillion yuan. Moreover, the growth rate of the country's foreign trade accelerated quarter by quarter, as it grew 7.4 percent in the second quarter, 2.5 percentage points higher than the first quarter and 5.7 percentage points higher than the fourth quarter of last year.

Imports in January-June period totaled 9.04 trillion yuan, up 5.2 percent year-on-year and exports stood at 12.13 trillion yuan, an increase of 6.9 percent year-on-year.
In the first half of the year, ASEAN maintained China's largest trading partner, with bilateral trade value reaching 3.36 trillion yuan, an increase of 10.5 percent, accounting for 15.9 percent of China's total foreign trade. The EU was the second largest trading partner, but bilateral trade value declined 0.7 percent. The US became the third largest trading partner, with bilateral trade increasing 2.9 year-on-year.

South Korea was the country's fourth largest trading partner in the period, and total value between the two countries reached 1.13 trillion yuan, an increase of 7.6 percent. The trade deficit with South Korea rose by 14.3 fold, GAC said.

During the same period, China's foreign trade with partner countries of the Belt and Road Initiative amounted to 10.03 trillion yuan, up 7.2 percent.

In the first half of the year, Chinese private enterprises excelled in foreign trade, with import and export totaling 11.64 trillion yuan, an increase of 11.2 percent, which accounts for 55 percent of the total value of the country's foreign trade, an increase of 2.5 percentage points over the same period last year.

GAC noted that electromechanical products accounted for nearly 60 percent of the country's exports, and automatic data processing equipment and its components, integrated circuits, as well as auto exports, continued to grow.

From January to June, China's exports of electromechanical products reached 7.14 trillion yuan, an increase of 8.2 percent, accounting for 58.9 percent of the total value of exports. Among them, exports of automatic data-processing equipment and its parts and components totaled 683.77 billion yuan, representing an increase of 10.3 percent. Exports of integrated circuits rose 25.6 percent to 542.74 billion yuan, and exports of automobiles stood at 391.76 billion yuan, soaring 22.2 percent compared with the same period last year.

About 1,500 listed Chinese companies had made preliminary earnings announcements for the first half as of Sunday, with many in sectors such as semiconductors, vehicles and retail reporting remarkable revenue growth. Analysts said that the economic recovery, targeted policies to boost domestic demand and accelerated domestic replacements contributed to the positive results, and they expressed confidence in the long-term rebound of the A-share market.

According to industry information data provider Wind, A-share companies including Chen Ke Ming Food Manufacturing Co, molybdenum producer CMOC Group and Shanghai Metersbonwe Fashion and Accessories Co, were among those reporting strong first-half results, with profits rising by up to 1,025 percent year-on-year.

Some semiconductor companies posted revenue recoveries, especially storage chip manufacturers. Tianshui Huatian Technology Co, which packages and tests integrated circuit products, said on Saturday that first-half profit could reach 190 million yuan ($26.2 million) to 230 million yuan, up 202 percent to 266 percent year-on-year.

IC design firm Montage Technology said its estimated first-half profit would be 583 million yuan to 623 million yuan, up more than sixfold year-on-year.

Veteran telecom industry observer Ma Jihua attributed chip companies' performance to a couple of factors.

"Sales of automobiles, especially new-energy vehicles, and smartphones remain robust this year, driving the IC sector's prosperity," Ma told the Global Times on Sunday.

Amid the ongoing US crackdown on Chinese high-tech firms, domestic companies are turning to local replacements for internet and artificial intelligence chips, Ma said. Along with efforts to fight for breakthroughs in core technologies, Chinese chip firms have achieved notable growth in their production capacity and international competitiveness, giving a boost to chip exports, he said.

China's first-half foreign trade reached to 21.17 trillion yuan, up 6.1 percent year-on-year, indicating positive momentum and the improvement of the national economy.

In the first half, the economy maintained an overall recovery, serving as strong support for listed companies' financial results, analysts said.

To support the ongoing economic recovery and healthy development of the A-share market, the authorities have rolled out a series of targeted policies. In March, the State Council, the cabinet, released an action plan to promote the large-scale renewal of equipment and trade-ins of consumer goods.

In April, the cabinet released a guideline on strengthening regulation, forestalling risks and promoting the high-quality development of the capital market.

Recently, the China Securities Regulatory Commission suspended securities relending, a tool used for short-selling, in another step to stabilize the capital market.

"The authorities are expected to increase efforts to stabilize economic growth in the second half of the year, which is expected to further lift investors' confidence," Yang Delong, chief economist at Shenzhen-based First Seafront Fund, told the Global Times on Sunday.

Both fiscal and monetary policies should step up to support private enterprises' recovery and encourage them to create more jobs and increase incomes, Yang said. A series of forceful macro adjustments will stabilize the real estate market and lift the stock market, he said, expressing confidence in China's long-term economic prospects.

While there are fluctuations in the growth trajectory of China’s economy in the second quarter this year, the trend is positive, said a spokesperson from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Monday.

Generally speaking, the favorable factors for development in China exceed the unfavorable factors, and the economic growth trend will remain stable and positive in the long term, the spokesperson said.

The remarks came after China’s GDP for the second quarter expanded by 4.7 percent year-on-year, a slight slowdown from the 5.3-percent growth seen in the first quarter.

The dip in GDP growth in the second quarter was affected by some short-term factors such as extreme weather and floods. It also reflects the increasing challenges in current economic operation, including inadequate domestic market demand and clogged domestic circulation, the spokesperson noted.

Despite the challenges posed by external uncertainties and domestic structural adjustment, China’s economy has withstood pressure and operated relatively smoothly, the spokesperson said.

In the second quarter, the gross economic output exceeded 32 trillion yuan ($4.40 trillion), and its industrial added value and total import and export of goods both surpassed 10 trillion yuan.

Looking ahead to the second half of the year, favorable conditions for China's development still outweigh the negative factors, the spokesperson said, adding that the summer grain and vegetable oil harvest , improving external demand, and the potential for growth in market demand will provide a solid foundation for economic growth.

The industrial structure upgrade, implementation of large-scale equipment renewal, consumer products trade-ins, and issuance of special government bonds, will further boost economic growth and enhance operational vitality, the spokesperson noted.

The Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee is expected to come out with a new roadmap on comprehensively deepening the reform and advancing Chinese-style modernization, the spokesperson said.

Since the 18th CPC National Congress, China's economy has overcome various challenges and steadily built up its economic strength.

From 2013 to 2023, the Chinese economy has achieved an average annual growth rate of 6.1 percent, ranking among the leaders in the world, and contributing over 30 percent to global economic growth each year.

Last year, the country’s total economic output exceeded 126 trillion yuan, maintaining the second position in all economies, and the country’s per capita GDP has surpassed the $12,000 for three consecutive years.

Also, employment and prices have remained largely stable, with over 140 million new urban jobs created from 2013 to 2023. The international balance of payments was kept generally stable, with foreign exchange reserves hovering above $3.2 trillion in recent years.

While major cities remain popular, exploring small towns via high-speed rail is becoming a popular option. Visa-free policies also mean that more foreign tourists are visiting China this summer.

On Qunar, a domestic travel platform, travelers from the US, South Korea, Russia, Vietnam, and Malaysia have shown the most interest in high-speed rail bookings, favoring two-hour high-speed rail journeys, such as going from Southwest China's Sichuan Province to Southwest China's Chongqing, according to a report Qunar sent to the Global Times. 

"I took the high-speed train from Zhuhai to Guangzhou. It is fantastic, much better than driving a car," Luke Serdar, a tourist from Australia told the Global Times on Monday. Serdar has 59,000 fans on Douyin and has published lots of content about travel in China.

In a two-hour high-speed rail zone around Shanghai and its surrounding cities, Yiwu in East China's Zhejiang Province is popular among foreign tourists. A foreign blogger noted that his childhood Christmas gifts were labeled "MADE IN CHINA," making him think Santa was Chinese. In Yiwu, he bought many sports products and said that its Olympic spirit is second only to Paris, according to Qunar's report. 

"We are highlighting lesser-known attractions such as rural tourism, small intangible cultural heritage projects, and the daily lives of people in second- and third-tier cities, which helps to present a more vibrant, diverse, and multi-dimensional China to foreigners," Wang Jinwei, a professor at the School of Tourism Sciences at Beijing International Studies University, told the Global Times on Monday.

China is vast, and foreigners are eager to visit many cities in a single trip. On the Qunar platform, a Russian traveler visited 16 cities within six months while a Turkish traveler visited 12 cities. Over 10 percent of foreign tourists returned for a second visit within six months. 

Serdar has visited five Chinese cities so far. He said that he likes the night markets and street food. "I am happy to say that the food in China is so good that I know I will be replacing my diet back home with Chinese food. Now I can understand why a foreigner would return home heavier."

"We hope more foreigners visit and share the 'real China' in international media. First-time visitors can see China's development, convenience, and safety. On subsequent visits, they can explore lesser-known spots and experience the local culture more deeply," Wang added. 

"Once I return to Australia I'll be doing what I can to get back here as quickly as possible. Yes, I love China that much! After 20 amazing days in China I will be strongly recommending it to my friends, who can utilise the 144-hour transit visa-free policy," Serdar added.

"The visa-free policy is a milestone in China's opening-up to the world. I believe it will eventually be extended to more countries or allow longer visa-free stays. This win-win policy enhances trade and cultural exchanges between China and other countries," Wang said. 

In the first half of this year, bookings from abroad on the eLong hotel-booking platform nearly doubled year-on-year. Hotels in major cities are expected to see significant growth in foreign guest bookings, according to a report from online travel platform Tongcheng. 

In the first half of 2024, there were 14.635 million foreign passenger trips into China, a year-on-year increase of 152.7 percent. Among these, 8.542 million were visa-free entries, accounting for 52 percent and marking a 190.1 percent year-on-year increase, according to data from the National Immigration Administration.

Chinese President Xi Jinping's first Central Asia visit as head of state dates back to 2013 when he proposed the concept of the Silk Road Economic Belt in Astana. In the following years, he visited the region frequently for bilateral and multilateral discussions. On July 2 to July 6, the Chinese president again set foot on this land for attending the 24th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in Astana, and paid state visits to Kazakhstan and Tajikistan.

Streets adorned with Chinese flags, crowds dancing at the airport, children singing Chinese songs, grand official welcome ceremonies…Global Times reporters observed these moments during Xi's visit and tracked his footsteps to Central Asia in the past, which combined telling a story of historical friendship, fruitful cooperation, and a promising future.

In five days, Xi attended more than 30 bilateral and multilateral events, which involved political, economic, and cultural topics, and included reunions with old friends, while also meeting new friends, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said at a press conference.

It is significant to guide the direction of the development of the SCO, deepening China's good-neighborly relations with regional countries, and promoting the substantial advancement of building a community of shared future among neighboring countries, said Wang.

Bridges for mutual learning between civilizations

As Xi's plane entered the Kazakh airspace, two fighter jets from the Kazakh Air Defense Forces took off to escort it and a touching moment at the Astana airport unfolded when a group of Kazakh children sang the Chinese song "Ode to My Homeland" to welcome him.

During previous 11 years, Xi had visited Kazakhstan five times, and has witnessed steadfast progress made on interconnectivity under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), made significant remarks on bilateral cultural exchanges since ancient times, and left numerous memories of friendship and cooperation.

"Warm welcome!" Local residents cheered excitedly in Chinese on July 2, 2024 while lining the sides of the roads where Xi's motorcade passed. People waved the Chinese and Kazakh national flags near the landmark building of Beijing Tower in Astana, giving the city a festive atmosphere.

"China is one of the largest countries in the world. Many Kazakhs travel to China and bring back a lot of useful information and technology. I think cooperation with China is having a very positive impact on our country," a Kazakh resident surnamed Salima told the Global Times.

Energy has been a cornerstone of China-Kazakhstan cooperation, with two projects holding flagship status - the China-Kazakhstan oil pipeline and the China-Central Asia natural gas pipeline.

The China-Central Asia natural gas pipeline A/B/C lines runs through Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and China. A key section of the pipeline within Kazakhstan was opened in 2013 during Xi's first visit to the country.

Kaiypov Yerseiit Zholmyrzauly, an executive at the Asian Gas Pipelieng LLP, a Kazakh-China joint venture, told the Global Times that the thriving energy cooperation with China has been helping Kazakhstan to diversify export channels and integrate into a larger energy market, and the wider use of natural gas also aligns with the green energy development goals of the two countries.

During this visit, President Xi and Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev also jointly attended the opening ceremony of a road transport route to a Caspian Sea port. This marked a comprehensive, multi-dimensional, Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR) integrating road, rail, air, and pipeline transportation network establishment.

The TITR begins at East China's port of Lianyungang in Jiangsu Province and runs through Kazakhstan, the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and European countries.

This major transport system has turned land-locked Kazakhstan into a land-linked country. As of 2023, more than 80 percent of Kazakhstan's major trade commodities such as mineral products and grains were exported via the Lianyungang port, Du Anji, a representative of the Lianyungang New Silk Road International Container Development Co, told the Global Times previously.

In parallel with infrastructure connectivity, the two heads of state also witnessed the "soft connectivity" through new cultural and educational projects: Attending the opening ceremony of the Chinese Culture Center in Astana and the Kazakh Culture Center in Beijing, and unveiling the Kazakhstan Branch of the Beijing Language and Culture University (BLCU) in Astana. BLCU in Beijing is where Kazakh President Tokayev studied the Chinese language and made profound memories between 1983 and 1984.

Walking through the cultural exhibition hall of the campus on July 3, Global Times reporters noticed a photocopy of Tokayev's student ID card, which documented his years in China and epitomized the ever-lasting friendship between China and Kazakhstan.

The opening of the university's branch in Astana is expected to play an important role in promoting mutual understanding and exchanges between China and Kazakhstan, BLCU president Duan Peng told the Global Times.

The plan is to build the branch campus into a high-level university with undergraduate, master's, and doctoral programs in the next 5 years, which can radiate throughout the entire Central Asian region, Duan said. "Young Kazakh people can study here, make friends, and build bridges for mutual learning between civilizations."

On the Astana campus, a Qing Dynasty-style (1644-1911) pavilion named "Tang Di" will be built, the Global Times learned. Tangdi is a shrub from the rose family. In the "Book of Odes," the oldest existing collection of Chinese poetry dating back to the 11th to 6th century BC, tangdi is a symbol of profound brotherhood.
Good neighbors, friends, partners and brothers

Upon arrival in the Tajik capital of Dushanbe late on July 4, Xi noted in a written statement that China and Tajikistan are good neighbors who help each other, good friends who support each other, good partners with mutual benefit and win-win results, and good brothers who treat each other with absolute sincerity.

Young Tajik people dressed in traditional costumes and performed folk dances at the airport to welcome Xi. Global Times reporters felt the hospitality and hearty affection for the Chinese president among Tajik people.

Xi has met with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon 15 times since the beginning of the new era and visited the country three times, in 2014, 2019, and this July. During this recent state visit, the two heads of state announced the elevation of bilateral relations to comprehensive strategic partnership status in the new era.

They also attended the inauguration of a parliament building and a government building constructed with China's assistance.

When passing through the blue-domed new Parliament House of Tajikistan in the city center of Dushanbe, Global Times reporters noted that the magnificent building has already become a new calling card of the capital, attracting crowds of local residents to take photos.

On July 5, Xi awarded the "Friendship Medal," China's highest state honor to foreigners, to Rahmon, the first time this prestigious award has been presented outside of China.

Five years ago in 2019, also at the Palace of the Nation in Dushanbe, Xi received the Order of the Crown from Rahmon.

Global Times reporters also observed an interesting phenomenon in Dushanbe that locals greeted Chinese visitors in Chinese while the visitors tried to respond in Tajik language, an epitome of the people-to-people intimacy between the two countries.

For Tajik people, the relationship with China is not abstract, as it has brought about tangible benefits to their daily lives.

A10-minute drive northeast from the Tajik capital leads to the famous Dushanbe No.2 power plant, which was constructed with Chinese assistance. President Xi and President Rahmon attended the completion ceremony of first-phase project of the plant and the groundbreaking ceremony of second-phase project in September 2014.

Before this project, Dushanbe had to rely on unstable power imports when rivers froze and small hydropower plants suffered from outages. Power cuts were common as power supply could sustain lighting, heating, and industrial production.

The China-aided thermal power plant, which entered operation in December 2016, allowed Dushanbe residents to bid farewell to power cuts, darkness, and the cold in winter. Factories could maintain production year around.

"This [place] used to be an empty site but now massive buildings stand here," city councilor Nyyazov Umarali Saforovic told the Global Times, noting that the plant has since created more than 1,000 jobs for local people.

About 300 Chinese technicians come annually to work with us on repair and maintenance, and we have forged a deep and solid friendship in the process, Saforovic said.

Brotherhood more precious than any treasure

Joint ventures and Chinese wholly owned firms in Tajikistan have become a major source of tax revenue for the local government, and made important contributions to the socioeconomic development of Tajikistan.

Tajikistan also has the first Luban Workshop in Central Asia. Named after Lu Ban, a legendary craftsman who lived 2,500 years ago in China, the program combines academic education with vocational training, aiming to help BRI partner countries cultivate professional technical talent. President Xi has given particular care to this program.

The Global Times learned that the Luban Workshop in Dushanbe helps address the large demand for local talent when China and Tajikistan are having active economic interactions - there are about 500 Chinese companies operating in Tajikistan and Chinese investment has accounted for 34 percent of Tajikistan's total foreign investment over the past decade.

Similar workshops are also in operation in other Central Asian countries, including Kazakhstan, with more to be built.

At the first China-Central Asia Summit held in Xi'an, Northwest China's Shaanxi Province in May 2023, Xi, in his keynote speech, quoted a Central Asian saying: "Brotherhood is more precious than any treasure," and emphasized that solidarity, inclusiveness, and harmony are the pursuits of the Central Asian people.

Guided by head-of-state diplomacy, analysts believe the future of China-Central Asia cooperation is promising and full of potential. Following the four principles that hold the key to the success of China-Central Asia cooperation, namely mutual respect, good neighborly friendship, solidarity in trying times, and mutual benefit, China and Central Asian countries will jointly create a brighter future.

The 5th meeting of the Singapore-Shanghai Comprehensive Cooperation Council (SSCCC) was held in Shanghai on Tuesday, aiming to deepen cooperation between Singapore and Shanghai in various fields including finance, technology innovation and the digital economy.

This year marks the 5th anniversary of the establishment of the SSCCC, and the two regions have worked together to deepen cooperation in areas such as the Belt and Road Initiative, financial services, technology innovation, the business environment, urban governance, and people-to-people exchanges. They have implemented 37 cooperation memoranda in the past five years.

A total of 15 memoranda of cooperation between Singapore and Shanghai were signed at the meeting, including a cooperation memorandum between Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine and National University Hospital Singapore, a memorandum between Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce and Enterprise Singapore, and a memorandum between Shanghai International Arbitration Center and Singapore Chamber of Maritime Arbitration.

Gong Zheng, SSCCC Shanghai co-chairman and mayor of Shanghai, and Hua Yuan, SSCCC Shanghai vice co-chairman and vice mayor of Shanghai, attended the meeting. SSCCC Singapore Co-chairman, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth and Second Minister for Law of Singapore Edwin Tong and SSCCC Singapore Vice Co-chairman, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Trade and Industry & Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth of Singapore Low Yen Ling were also at the meeting.

The past five years of collaboration have deepened the cultural exchanges between both sides, which has facilitated a better understanding and advancement of cooperation in various fields.

“In certain medical fields, over the past five years, we have deepened our connections with colleagues in Singapore, developing from initially learning from them to mutually complementing and learning from each other,” Ning Guang, head of Ruijin Hospital in Shanghai, told the Global Times on Tuesday. 

“We are seeking more collaboration in various fields such as smart healthcare, telemedicine, and surgical robotics. These forward-looking partnerships will benefit both parties involved,” Ning said. Ruijin Hospital and National University Hospital Singapore plan to establish a medical innovation center to deepen the communication between the two sides, according to Ning.

Along with medical cooperation, Shanghai and Singapore are also seeking deepened ties in other sectors such as business and people-to-people exchanges.

Shanghai has always been at the forefront of China's development. Shanghai and Singapore have complementary advantages and can achieve effective results through cooperation, Huang Fei, director of Singapore Enterprise Centre, told the Global Times on Tuesday. 

Under cooperation mechanisms such as the SSCCC, more efforts have been made to deepen understanding of Singapore beyond just tourism. Additionally, a short film about Singaporean businesses in China has been produced to provide a deeper insight into the industrial structure, facilitating further communication and development between the two sides, according to Huang. 

The SSCCC can facilitate connections between high-quality companies in Shanghai and firms from Singapore. Additionally, this will provide more market opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises from Singapore, Huang said. 

Wang Weijun, secretary-general of the Shanghai International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission, told the Global Times that she felt the mutual trust and understanding achieved in the field of legal arbitration during the past five years. 

There has been increased familiarity and cooperation between legal professionals in China and Singapore, leading to a more stable dispute resolution process for Chinese companies in international trade negotiations, said Wang.