China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) on Thursday urged the EU to make decisions based on facts and rules regarding its anti-subsidy investigation of Chinese electric vehicles (EVs). 

The remarks come in response to foreign media reports that the EU is conducting an anti-subsidy investigation on Chinese EVs because Chinese car companies have received subsidies from the Chinese government, which has resulted in unfair price competition for European car companies.

He Yongqian, the newly appointed MOFCOM spokesperson, emphasized the importance of the EU recognizing mutually agreed-upon facts and rules, rather than making unilateral assertions.

Europe should acknowledge the facts that China's competitive advantages in EVs does not stem from subsidies, and that cooperation between China and the EU benefits both parties, while European automakers are against trade protectionism too, the spokesperson said.

Currently, China and the EU are engaged in negotiations regarding the anti-subsidy investigations, and facts and rules should be the "two main pillars of the negotiations," He noted.

It shows that the basis for the anti-subsidy investigation proposed by the European side is not sufficient, and they are actually exaggerating or misleading parties in certain aspects. To resolve the dispute, starting from an incorrect point will only lead the situation further astray, Cui Hongjian, a professor from Beijing Foreign Studies University's Academy of Regional and Global Governance, told the Global Times on Thursday. 

At the same time, the European side should consider the negotiations in the context of overall EU-China relations, as cooperation in the EV sector and other green industries can reflect common interests between China and the EU, Cui said.

After the European Commission in June revealed a list of protectionist duties it would levy on EV imports from China, it has sparked opposition and concerns from governments and businesses across the continent.

US EV giant Tesla on Wednesday raised prices of its Model 3 cars in European countries including Germany, the Netherlands and Spain by about 1,500 euros ($1,622) after the EU imposed tariffs on EVs made in China, Reuters reported on Thursday.

Hungary on Wednesday voiced its opposition against the EU's decision to impose extra tariffs on China-made EVs, as European officials and businesspeople continued to express their dissatisfaction of the EU actions. 

Major German carmakers including BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen also criticized the planned tariff and voiced their support for fair competition and free world trade.

China's success in the EV sector is primarily driven by technological innovation, the country's strong supply chain, and the highly competitive domestic market, rather than relying on subsidies. The EU's assertion that China's affordable EVs are heavily subsidized and disrupt the market is untrue, experts said.

The decision to impose additional tariff on Chinese EVs is a protectionist move to protect its traditional industry and is politically motivated, Zhang Xiang, secretary general of the International Intelligent Vehicle Engineering Association, told the Global Times on Thursday.

In reality, it is the EU's protectionist measures targeting Chinese companies that are causing market disruption and creating barriers for Chinese companies, experts said.

On Wednesday, MOFCOM launched a trade and investment barrier investigation into the relevant practices under EU's foreign subsidy investigations in response to requests from Chinese industry groups.

The Chinese ministry also said on Thursday that its anti-dumping investigation linked to brandy imported from the EU was already under way. A hearing will be held on July 18 to allow stakeholders to present their opinions and provide evidence.

"Europe should meet China in the half way and jointly manage differences, rather than provoke and escalate disputes. Both sides should strive to avoid the lose-lose situation and seek practical solutions," Cui said.

Chinese experts said on Saturday that Germany's expected abstention would inject uncertainty into the European Union's vote on imposing provisional tariffs on China-made electric vehicles (EVs) as the move of the bloc's biggest economy is expected to sway undecided member states. Experts also urged the bloc to engage in consultations with China in a pragmatic way, avoiding politicizing trade and potential backlash on its industrial development.

Germany is set to abstain in Monday's vote, which marks the first test of support for the EU's landmark trade case, Reuters reported on Saturday citing sources.

The European Commission (EC), the EU's executive arm, has confirmed provisional tariffs on Chinese EV makers starting July 5, despite strong opposition within the bloc. However, a final decision on definitive duties will require a vote by EU member countries.

Experts noted that Germany's potential move signifies support for further tariff consultations with China to seek solutions accepted by both sides, as the final imposition of the tariff will greatly harm EU automakers' global competitiveness and hinder its overall effort toward a green transition.

"Germany, a key EU member, could significantly influence other member states' decisions with its stance and policy choices," Zhang Jian, a vice president of the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, told the Global Times on Saturday, saying that Germany's stance could sway undecided countries towards either adopting similar measures or opposing the tariffs.

According to an informal poll conducted by Reuters among EU governments, a majority of countries are currently deliberating on the pros and cons of the escalating trade dispute.

Since the EU announced plans to impose tariffs on Chinese EVs, the protectionist move has faced widespread opposition. Recently, European leaders and businesses have criticized the tariff hike, emphasizing its significant harm to the European auto industry, consumers, and progress toward carbon neutrality.

In stark contrast to the EU's unilateral actions, China's Ministry of Commerce said on July 8 that China has consistently advocated resolving frictions through dialogue and consultation to prevent the escalation of trade tensions, and urged Europe to show good faith and accelerate the negotiation process to achieve a mutually acceptable solution as soon as possible.

Zhang noted the strong voices within the EU calling for prompt negotiations with China, as the bloc is grappling with a range of economic challenges, which require seeking external market support and maintaining normal economic and trade relations with China.

"Therefore, there remains a significant potential of both sides reaching a certain degree of compromise to help avoid the worst-case scenario," Zhang said.

After the recent advisory vote, EU members will also vote in October on whether the Commission should propose multi-year tariffs after its investigation. These tariffs would be blocked if a "qualified majority" of at least 15 countries, representing 65 percent of the EU population, vote against them, according to media report.

Experts warned the EU over politicizing economic issues, or risk declining industrial competitiveness and rising economic stagnation, urging it to re-examine its trade policy towards China by pushing pragmatic bilateral dialogues in the coming months.

Mustafa Hyder Sayed, executive director of the Pakistan-China Institute, told the Global Times on Friday that Western countries' hegemonic actions are yet another attempt to contain China's peaceful rise, which he said will not succeed but rather harm global economic growth.

Farmers in Guodian township, Shangqiu city in Central China's Henan Province, feed newly hatched ducks on July 14, 2024. In recent years, Guodian has accelerated its agricultural industrialization. The town has established 31 farming zones, raising 1.2 million egg-laying ducks, with annual sales revenue exceeding 2 billion yuan ($280 million). Photo: VCG

The 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) started its third plenary session in Beijing on Monday morning, where top Party officials will set the direction for China's further comprehensively deepening reform that will carry significant importance for China's economic and social development for years to come.  

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, delivered a work report on behalf of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and expounded on a draft decision of the CPC Central Committee on further comprehensively deepening reform and advancing Chinese modernization, according to the Xinhua News Agency. 

The session will run from Monday to Thursday.

The meeting, often referred to as the third plenum and is held roughly once every five years, played a critical role in China's reform and opening-up that started in 1978 and underpinned China's economic miracle over the past four decades or so. This year's session is expected to focus on further deepening reform and expanding high-level opening-up, in order to promote high-quality development and advance Chinese modernization, experts said. 

Given China's increasingly important role on the global stage as the biggest contributor to global growth, the third plenum has also drawn widespread attention from around the world, as many are looking to major reform measures in the world's second-largest economy that could create greater opportunities. Coming as the world is faced with rising geo-economic tension, the third plenum will offer a sense of continuity and certainty, as it will highlight China's unwavering commitment to reform and opening-up, even as some advanced economies have turned inward and become protectionist, experts noted. 

Setting the direction

While there was not much information about the closed-door meeting on Monday, recent top meetings have offered a window into the top agenda of the session. 

Among the top items on the agenda, top Party officials will deliberate on a draft of The CPC Central Committee's Decision on Further Comprehensively Deepening Reform and Advancing Chinese Modernization, according to a meeting of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee held on June 27, where the date for the third plenary session was announced, Xinhua reported. 

In the draft, the new situation and new problems faced in advancing Chinese modernization were thoroughly analyzed, the overall arrangements for further comprehensively deepening reform centering around advancing Chinese modernization were scientifically planned, and the draft will serve as a guiding document for further comprehensively deepening reform on the new journey, according to the Political Bureau meeting. 

A communique is expected to be released after the conclusion of the session. For example, the communique of the Third Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee in 2013 stated that we must pay more attention to implementing systematic, integrated and coordinated reforms, promoting the development of a socialist market economy, democratic politics, advanced culture, a harmonious society and ecological progress. 

The communique of the Third Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee in 2018 said that the plenary session reviewed and adopted a decision by the CPC Central Committee on deepening reform of Party and state institutions as well as a plan for the reform, which is a profound evolution in modernizing China's system and capacity for governance.

Economists and experts interviewed by the Global Times on Monday said that in line with decades of tradition, the ongoing third plenary session will focus on mapping out new reform measures that are aimed at further improving governance efficiency, promoting high-quality development and advancing Chinese modernization, while coping with new domestic and global situations.  

Zhang Yansheng, chief researcher of China Center for International Economic Exchanges, said that the third plenum will focus on three key themes: Chinese modernization, new quality productive forces, and high-quality development. 

"High-quality development is an unyielding principle in the new era, as well as a key theme and main task of comprehensively building China into a great modern socialist country," Zhang told the Global Times on Monday, noting that the key themes of China's high-quality development are innovation, coordination, green, openness and sharing. 

In line with recent top policy documents, the third plenum is expected to roll out major reform measures, so as to continue improving and developing the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and modernize China's system and capacity for governance, the overarching goal of further comprehensively deepening reform, experts said.  Specifically, measures are expected to further boost China's technological innovation capabilities and further improve the business environment, so as to foster new growth drivers to power sustainable high-quality development, according to experts. 

"As the Chinese economy is undergoing a transition from old growth drivers to new growth drivers, further comprehensively deepening reform is critical in ensuring the transition will be stable and smooth," Su Wei, a professor from the Party School of the CPC Chongqing Municipal Committee, told the Global Times on Monday.  

Su said that reform and opening-up and innovation are two main sources for China's robust, sustainable development, even though the world is witnessing changes unseen in a century, including a new round of technological revolution.

Global significance  

Also, in line with China's long-standing policy of further opening its door to the world, the third plenary session will focus on further expanding high-standard opening-up, which will inject greater impetus to global development, as the world is facing growing risks and challenges amid a rapidly shifting global geo-economic situation marked by rising geopolitical tension and protectionism, experts said. 

In recent years, the US and some other Western countries have turned inward and increased protectionism, which has created huge obstacles for global development. Against this backdrop, the ongoing third plenary session's focus on deepening reform, including opening-up, "will play a critical role in pushing back against the anti-globalization trend, and offer profound significance in promoting global economic development," Su said. 

In stark contrast to chaotic situations in certain countries, the CPC's unwavering commitment to continuously deepening reform and expanding high-standard opening-up will also offer a much-needed sense of stability and certainty for the international community, experts said. 

"As the world is experiencing profound changes, the international community can clearly see which major power can offer consistency and stability, which one is more unpredictable and is full of risks," Li Haidong, a professor from the China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times on Monday, noting that when China is holding the significant plenum about modernization and reform, there is serious internal political struggle, polarization and instability in some countries including the US.

China's reform and opening-up policies in pursuit of Chinese modernization will also offer a great example for many developing countries around the world, especially those from the Global South, which are seeking their own modernization, experts said. 

As a national model craftsman and technical expert, Zhu Shijie has significantly contributed to Ningbo-Zhoushan Port's success. His self-developed crane operation method and leadership in innovation have propelled the port to new heights, setting a world record of lifting 185 containers per hour.

Currently, the port's cargo throughput of 1.26 billion tons and container throughput of 33.35 million TEUs make it ranking first and third globally. This stems from the indispensable contribution of Zhu and his team.

During President Xi Jinping's visit to the port in March 2020, Zhu demonstrated his unique bridge crane operation method to the president, who later encouraged him to continue fostering exemplary talent and leveraging the role of a model worker.

Recently, the Global Times interviewed Zhu, getting a closer insight into the craftsman's creative spirit and his team's relentless pursuit of excellence. Their dedication to innovation and efficiency has played a pivotal role in transforming the country's ports into the world's leading green and intelligent ports, showcasing new productive forces and global leadership.
From challenging youth to crane operation expert

For Zhu Shijie, a crane operator at Ningbo-Zhoushan Port, his personal aspirations are deeply intertwined with the port's development.

Born in 1980 to a family in Ningbo, East China's Zhejiang Province, known for its strong technical background, Zhu spent his childhood surrounded by the sound of ship whistles.

From a young age, Zhu had a deep interest in large machinery. His dream was to become a truck driver, navigating the world with large vehicles carrying goods. Driven by his admiration for technical worker, Zhu entered a technical school to study port machinery operation in 1995.

Suffering from severe obstructive sleep apnea, he faced significant challenges in his studies. Sports thus became his stage for self-expression and building confidence. On campus, he was a core member of the track and field team, excelling in shot put, discus, and middle-distance running. Sports not only enhanced his physical capability, but also shaped his steadfast character.

Joining Ningbo Port in December 1998, Zhu started his career in high-altitude crane operations, a task often described as "threading the needle in sky." This involves maneuvering a swinging spreader to align with a container's lock hole, requiring precision within two centimeters amid the challenging conditions of sea winds and waves. Despite battling respiratory issues in his youth, Zhu leveraged his background as an athlete to overcome physical challenges and excel in his demanding role.

"Our highest equipment reaches 49 meters," Zhu told the Global Times. "Operators work in confined spaces, using hand controls to perform precise tasks while maintaining intense focus for hours. This job is demanding, requiring continuous operation 24 hours for a week in rotating shifts."

Working in the challenging environment of crane operations, Zhu was not content with just performing his duties. He constantly sought ways to improve efficiency and safety. However, he and his team met a problem: it seems impossible to achieve both speed and stability in bridge crane operations.

"Speed and stability seemed mutually exclusive," Zhu recalled. "Whenever I pushed the controls too far, the spreader would swing uncontrollably, increasing the risk of accidents."

Zhu realized that to handle bridge cranes from various manufacturers with differing characteristics, he needed a standardized method to achieve precise control. This was no easy task. However, a serendipitous observation of a pendulum on his desk sparked an idea. He noticed the pendulum's motion mirrored the swinging of the crane's spreader.

Inspired by this, Zhu began experimenting with the principles of pendulum movement, aiming to stabilize the crane's spreader. By adjusting the speed and acceleration of the crane's platform, he felt more and more effective in controlling the swinging of the crane's spreader. This finally led to the development of a systematic approach to crane operations, significantly enhancing both efficiency and safety.

Over the years, driven by a deep sense of responsibility and a desire to improve working conditions for his colleague, he continued developing this technique which he later upgraded to "version 3.0."

Championing innovation with a human touch

On June 26, the State Council Information Office held a press conference, using port and shipping operations as a case study to showcase China's transformation toward intelligent waterway upgrades.

Zhu and his team's commitment to innovation is an epitome of the country's constant efforts. The Meishan Port Area of Zhoushan Port, where Zhu works, began its transition from traditional operations to an intelligent port since 2016, by introducing remotely controlled cranes and automated gantry cranes, which could enable operators to avoid working in high altitudes at the risk of their health.

"The remote-control simulation system allows operators to manage crane operations from a comfortable office environment, significantly reducing physical strain while maintaining high efficiency," Zhu explained.

Zhu's innovative approach was driven by his belief in creating a more humane and intelligent working environment. "I always wanted to improve productivity and liberate myself and my fellow workers, allowing us to work in a more comfortable and intelligent environment," Zhu said.

So far, the system's accuracy had reached approximately 95 percent of on-site operations, the Global Times has learned.

Zhu's dedication to innovation and efficiency has had a lasting impact on Ningbo-Zhoushan Port. His pioneering techniques have significantly increased the port's productivity. One notable achievement of Zhu's methods is the ability of a single shift of 40 cranes to handle an additional 1 million containers annually, equivalent to the capacity of an entirely new berth.

His relentless pursuit of excellence in crane operation has also earned him numerous national honors, transforming him from an ordinary crane operator into a pivotal figure influencing industry development.

Maintaining his initial commitment from a decade ago -- to create better working conditions for his fellow workers and liberate productivity, Zhu's journey of exploration and innovation continues.

"We are entering the era of AI. I hope that the insights I've gathered over the years can be translated into AI learning, enabling automation of repetitive tasks. We are always embracing the future with optimism," he said.

China firmly opposes US' baseless allegations of China supporting Russia's defense industry, as Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian on Thursday highlighted the lack of evidence and the hypocrisy of US actions, calling for real efforts toward peace instead of endless blame-shifting.

While participating in a public forum at the NATO summit on Wednesday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken claimed that there had been massive buildup of Russian weaponry over the last year and a half, which is the product of the country's defense industrial base "being fueled by China."

In response, Lin said at a regular press conference on Thursday that China has made its position clear many times. "We resolutely oppose the US, in the absence of any evidence, continuing to circulate the disinformation of the so-called Chinese support for Russia's defense industry."

Lin said that at the beginning of the Ukraine crisis, the US spread rumors that China was providing military support to Russia, without presenting any substantial evidence, but US military leaders later admitted that China had not sent military aid to Russia during the conflict.

In fact, some figures show that more than 60 percent of Russia's imported weapon components and dual-use items are from the US and the West, while 95 percent of key components in the Russian equipment destroyed by the Ukrainian troops came from the Russian-made weapons, and 72 percent of Western components used in Russian weapons were from US companies, Lin said.

China has also noted that the US and its allies have so far not halted trade with Russia, with the trade volume amounting to more than $130 billion last year, accounting for 18 percent of Russia's foreign trade, according to Lin.

Most countries are not involved in sanctions or attempts at disruptions targeting Russia, and China cannot be blamed for issues relating to US trade with Russia, Lin added.
The US continues to provide massive volumes of aid to Ukraine while unjustifiably accusing China and Russia of normal economic and trade exchanges, which is a blatantly hypocritical double standard, the spokesperson said.

The US habitually disguises itself as the so-called messenger of justice, the guardian of human rights and the world's policeman, but all it does is adding fuel to fires, provoking chaos and triggering war and confrontation, Lin said.

Lin reiterated that China is neither a creator of nor a party to the Ukraine crisis, while adding that China has not stood by and watched with folded arms, having proactively called for peace and advanced talks to facilitate a political resolution.

Lin voiced that China has never added fuel to fires to take advantage of the situation, and that China will never provide weapons to any party to the conflict.

Chinese companies, in accordance with World Trade Organization (WTO) rules and market principles, carry out reasonable economic and trade cooperation with all countries in the world, including Russia and Ukraine, and it is not the role of some countries to dictate what is right and proper, Lin said.

Instead of pulling the strings in the conflict, the US should reflect on the root causes of the crisis and do practical work for the genuine peace, he said.

Lin stressed that China will not be bullied by the US into paying bill for Washington's own wrongdoings, and that China will never accept the US abdicating responsibility for its own actions. 

China will continue to take resolute and firm measures to safeguard its legitimate and lawful rights, Lin said.

Police in Southwest China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region seized a batch of suspected smuggled live lobsters in a cornfield within the border jurisdiction on July 4, Baise border management detachment in Guangxi said, according to media reports.

While patrolling a section of the border, local police noticed a white car parked in a cornfield with the door open and the rear tail lights on. The police then inspected the vehicle and discovered it was unoccupied, except for a batch of foam boxes wrapped in green woven bags on the back seat, emitting strange sounds.

After opening the box, the police found that the foam boxes loaded with live lobsters, with some individual lobsters being as thick as an adult man's arm. Upon counting, there were a total of 88 live lobsters in nine foam boxes, weighing approximately 130 kilograms.

Due to the location of the incident near the border, with no individuals present at the scene or in the surrounding area, and lacking any legally valid documentation for the batch of lobsters, the police preliminarily determined that the live lobsters belonged to goods being smuggled into the country.

The batch of live lobsters has been transferred to the relevant departments in accordance with the regulations, and the case is under further investigation.

On May 17, on Jianban Road in Lijia town, Wujin district, Changzhou city, Jiangsu Province, the State Grid Changzhou Power Supply Company is working to support the "gas-to-electricity" transformation for the catering businesses along Old Street. The plan involves installing two distribution transformers to increase the power capacity by 800 kVA, meeting the electricity demands of 20 catering businesses.

Many street-side catering businesses in Changzhou rely on bottled liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). The aging and frequent malfunctions of these steel cylinders pose significant safety issues. "Particularly for many small establishments, their kitchens lack natural ventilation, presenting fire safety risks. Replacing gas with electricity can reduce safety risks at the source," said Bian Mingcheng, Assistant Engineer of the Jintan District Fire and Rescue Brigade in Changzhou City.

The State Grid Changzhou Power Supply Company has introduced several measures to benefit the public, including streamlining the application process, funding the construction of external power line facilities, providing technical support for internal equipment upgrades, and offering new catering businesses assistance and agency services for safe electricity use. Additionally, efforts have been made to advocate for government policies and subsidies to expedite the replacement of bottled LPG and gas with pipeline natural gas and electricity in non-residential areas across the city, in line with local conditions.
"We are constructing supporting grid projects at a faster pace to meet the demand for the 'gas-to-electricity' transformation, while ensuring that low-voltage customers with power needs of 200 kW or less incur no costs for external connections. During on-site inspections, technicians can help catering businesses identify the power supply entity, calculate the necessary power capacity, and guide them through the relevant application processes," said Zhuang Yufeng, Deputy Director of the Marketing Service Center of the State Grid Changzhou Power Supply Company. To date, the company has assisted approximately 1,300 businesses in replacing gas with electricity, including 623 low-voltage capacity expansion requests, with each power capacity increasing on average threefold.

Chinese officials announced on Tuesday that the six provinces in Central China will each host a targeted industry supply chain investment promotion event during the 13th Expo Central China, which will be held in Changsha, the capital of Central China's Hunan Province, from May 31 to June 2. Experts anticipate the event will inject new momentum for the region's rise.

The move marks the first innovative endeavor since the critical investment event's inception in 2006, adding to China's robust drive to build the region into favorable destinations for industrial transfers from coastal areas amid economic restructuring.

Vice Minister of Commerce Ling Ji introduced the key highlights of the upcoming event during a press conference on Tuesday, which include industrial chain investment promotion sessions led by central provinces, focusing on advanced manufacturing sectors such as modern petrochemicals, new materials, electronic information and new-energy vehicles, aiming to attract foreign investment.

The six localities are Hunan, Hubei and Henan in Central China, Anhui and Jiangxi in East China, and Shanxi in North China.

Experts believe that the innovative sessions will highlight collaborative endeavors across regions aimed at fostering integrated economic development and attracting external investors to strengthen ties with the global economy amid the country's pursuit of high-quality development and high-level opening-up.

The six central provinces so far have hosted a total of 55 state-level economic and technological development zones, serving as vital platforms for industrial transfer. In 2023, these zones achieved a regional GDP of nearly 3 trillion yuan ($414.65 billion), with total trade exceeding 1 trillion yuan and actual foreign investment reaching $2.4 billion, according to official data that Ling cited.

Ling also unveiled the ministry's forthcoming measures to accelerate the rise of Central China. Focus areas include strengthening foreign investment and trade, enhancing domestic trade circulation, and expediting the establishment of trade cooperation pilot zones and free trade zones, in a bid to elevate regional integration that is in line with the plan of high-quality development.

The plan aligns with China's ongoing push for the rise of the central region. China's leadership at a top-level symposium in March called for solid efforts to further energize the central region at a higher starting point, due to its pivotal role as important bases for grain production, energy and raw materials, modern equipment manufacturing and high-tech industries, and as a comprehensive transportation hub.

The central region holds strategic importance and is an ideal destination for industrial relocation from coastal areas due to its geographical, labor and infrastructure advantages. The phased industrial transfer plan will aid the country's high-quality development and help avoid industrial relocation to other countries, Tian Yun, a veteran economist based in Beijing, told the Global Times on Tuesday.

"Central provinces such as Hunan and Hubei have unveiled plans to transition toward middle-to-high-end industries, positioning themselves as leaders in industrial upgrades," Tian added, noting that with the ramping-up of policy support from the central government, the region's economy will gain new development momentum.

During an investigation and research tour in Anhui on Friday, Chinese Premier Li Qiang called for greater efforts to foster emerging industries and future industries, make breakthroughs in core technologies in key areas, and create new engines for sustained economic growth, which experts said showed the central government's firm stance in promoting the rise of the region.

The region's industrial relocation and growth are pivotal for China's industrial chain security. The central provinces, with their solid manufacturing base and research capabilities, can serve as key nodes in China's industrial chain development, further promoting the country's industrial chain security and long-term sustainable development, Bian Yongzu, a senior industry research fellow and visiting scholar at Yale University, told the Global Times on Tuesday.

Bian stressed that amid the global green economy trend, China has made remarkable accomplishments in a series of high-tech sectors by cultivating leading enterprises and industrial zones, which "offer favorable conditions and set models for the central region's development in related fields."

The region is vigorously advancing its high-quality development driven by the new quality productive forces - a key focus of this year's expo. 

In 2023, the central region's combined GDP reached nearly 27 trillion yuan, more than one-fifth of the national total, highlighting its crucial role in the economy, according to official data.

Hunan's high-tech industry investment rose by 7.9 percent, with high-tech manufacturing's value added up by 14.7 percent and information services up 13.1 percent.

The initiative to promote the rise of the central region was initially introduced two decades ago. Over the past decades, the momentum of the central region's advance has been robust. Official data indicates that during China's 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016-20), the economy of the region grew at an average annual rate of 8.6 percent.

The Chinese and French heads of state have reaffirmed the vital role of the agricultural sector in the bilateral relationship, vowing that both countries will strengthen cooperation in various areas, including boosting certain French agricultural exports to China.

On Monday, the two countries issued a joint statement on agricultural exchanges and cooperation, covering a wide range of areas from agricultural education and scientific and technological innovation to exports. 

Notably, the two countries pledged to continue to actively explore ways to completely lift the export ban on bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE)-free beef products on the basis of ensuring safety, according to the joint statement. 

BSE is a transmissible and fatal neurodegenerative disease that affects cattle.

The joint statement also said that the two countries will work to expand French pork exports to China, and provide guarantees for market access and safety of poultry products. They will also work to expand cooperation in the wine industry, including jointly improving the development level of grapes and wine-making.

The agriculture and food industry has become an increasingly important highlight of China-France cooperation in recent years, which also focuses on aviation, aerospace, nuclear energy and green development. 

China has gradually expanded market access for a growing number of French agricultural produce. 

As of mid-2023, more than 200 types of French agricultural and food products, including aquatic products, dairy products, meat products, breeding livestock, breeding poultry, and fruits, were allowed to be exported to China, according to the Xinhua News Agency. In total, nearly 7,000 agricultural and food product production companies from France are currently registered in China.

Within the EU, France is the biggest source of agricultural imports for China, and is China's second largest partner in agricultural trading, according to China's General Administration of Customs.