Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for pooling strength in the building of a Beautiful China and making the country even greener through afforestation efforts.
Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks when attending a voluntary tree planting activity in Beijing on Thursday.
Xi and other Party and state leaders, including Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, Li Xi, and Han Zheng, arrived at the tree planting site on the bank of a river in Fengtai District in the morning and planted trees with officials and local people.
At the planting site, Xi waved to the crowd to extend his greetings before picking up a shovel to join the activity. He planted saplings of multiple types of trees.
While planting the trees, he also asked the children at the site about their studies, life and participation in labor and sports. He stressed that a good life comes from hard work, encouraging young children to develop a love for labor and nature, and to actively participate in afforestation and other public welfare activities.
During the event, Xi also talked with officials and local people on site. He noted that the current forest coverage rate in China has surpassed 25 percent, and the country contributes about a quarter of the world's newly increased afforestation areas.
The ecological environment keeps improving, a fact that has been directly and tangibly felt by the people, he said.
Xi noted that in the meantime, the total forest and grassland resources in China are still insufficient, urging efforts to effectively address prominent issues and to do even better year on year in this regard.
Xi emphasized the importance of forest management and improvement of the ecological quality of grasslands, and called for efforts to boost the forestry and grassland-related industries.
Afforestation should deliver more benefits to the people, he stressed.
He added that voluntary tree planting is a nationwide initiative that must be carried on for generations.
The ground force of the theater command conducted long-range live-fire drills in waters of the East China Sea according to training plans of the "Strait Thunder-2025A" exercise on Wednesday, Senior Colonel Shi Yi, spokesperson of the PLA Eastern Theater Command, announced on Wednesday.
The drills involve precision strikes on simulated targets of key ports and energy facilities, and have achieved desired effects, Shi said
The WeChat account of the PLA Eastern Theater Command further elaborated on the desired effects of the live-fire shooting: controlling energy lanes, cutting off supply routes, and blocking escape paths, as thunderous strikes as seen in the live-fire shooting will firmly slash the “green terror” path of “independence.”
“The biggest highlight of today’s drills is the long-range live-fire drills, which served as a powerful deterrence against the ‘Taiwan independence’ forces. After years of development, the PLA’s comprehensive capabilities kept on rising, as its ability to fight and win continues to increase, sufficient enough to smash the ‘Taiwan independence’ forces into pieces,” Fu Zhengnan, an expert at the PLA’s Academy of Military Science, told the Global Times on Wednesday.
A video released by the PLA Eastern Theater Command showed that a brigade affiliated with the army of the theater command received orders to advance, as multiple modular rocket launcher systems rapidly mobilized to preset positions.
The unit responsible for the mission has participated in multiple military operations against “Taiwan independence” secessionist forces. It was given the honor of being a model rocket artillery company by the Central Military Commission in July last year.
The modular rocket launcher system is dubbed a “cross-Straits killing machine”, and it has six significant advantages, according to Fu.
First, it has a long range, capable of reaching hundreds of kilometers and covering the entire island of Taiwan. Second, it offers high precision, achieved through advanced guidance technologies that enable a margin of error of less than one meter within in 300 kilometers, making it fully capable of accurately targeting key locations on the island and leaving “Taiwan independence” forces with nowhere to run or hide. Third, it possesses strong firepower, as a single barrage can deliver dozens of munitions of different types, creating powerful fire coverage and destructive effects, deterring “Taiwan independence” forces on the island, Fu said.
Fourth, it has high mobility due to its relatively small size, making it easy to hide and leading to strong survivability on the battlefield. Fifth, it is multipurpose, capable of conducting missions against both sea and land targets simultaneously. Sixth, it offers high cost-efficiency, as its cost is lower than that of conventional missiles, allowing for deployment in large numbers, the expert said.
With the long-range modular rocket launcher systems, the “Strait Thunder-2025A” exercises are characterized by high levels of actual combat orientation, precision strike efficiency and deterrent effect, Fu said, noting that they demonstrate the PLA’s constant preparedness for combat, just like a sharp sword or heavy hammer hovering over the heads of the “Taiwan independence” secessionist forces. This move clearly tells Lai Ching-te and alike that “Taiwan independence” means war, and those who play with fire will get themselves burned.
A sharp temperature drop of up to 18 C is forecast in parts of China this week, while some southern regions may see highs above 30 C, the National Meteorological Centre (NMC) said Monday.
In recent days, temperatures across central and eastern China have steadily climbed. During the weekend, many regions recorded daily maximum temperatures around 25 C, with the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, South China and other regions, reaching highs of 28 to 30 C, National Meteorological Centre said on Monday.
According to the NMC, temperatures in northern China are expected to gradually decline through Wednesday, while southern areas will continue to warm, with some regions potentially hitting temperatures above 30 C.
In Haidian district of Beijing, the temperature on Saturday set a record for the highest temperature in March locally. It reached 30 C, the first time since 1959 that the district has hit this mark in March, local authorities said Monday. This also became the earliest recorded date for a temperature of 30 C, surpassing the previous record of April 8, 2004 in the region, according to Beijing local authorities on Monday.
However, this warming trend is expected to reverse starting March 25, as a strong cold wave moves west to east across most of China. The northern region will experience widespread strong winds and dust storms, according to National Meteorological Centre.
Residents are advised to stay updated on forecasts and take precautions as conditions shift rapidly across different regions.
China's banks are accelerating efforts to deploy DeepSeek artificial intelligence (AI) models in multiple business scenarios, with major state-owned and joint-stock banks integrating them into intelligent customer service, operational efficiency and credit approval.
The country's biggest commercial lender, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), recently completed the localized deployment of the latest open-source DeepSeek AI model, the bank announced on Saturday. The model has been integrated into ICBC's large model matrix framework to enhance intelligence across financial business scenarios.
According to the bank's statement, ICBC has built a multi-layered framework with multi-modal perception and multi-task collaboration, forming a collaborative application matrix of over 10 large models and more than 2,000 traditional models, enabling optimized coordination among different models.
The bank has already implemented large language models to empower over 20 major business areas, with more than 200 real-world applications, showcasing the strong driving force of AI technology in promoting high-quality development of the financial industry.
In terms of product innovation, ICBC has developed the ChatDealing intelligent dialogue system, reshaping the trading process and significantly increasing transaction volumes.
Centered on the whole credit process, ICBC has developed a dedicated credit approval risk control assistant, which integrates credit policy inquiries, report writing, risk assessment, data analyses and loan approval recommendations.
Also, in February, the Postal Savings Bank of China announced that, leveraging its own large model, the bank has deployed and integrated the DeepSeek-V3 model and the lightweight DeepSeek-R1 inference model, as reported by the Xinhua Net.
The bank has applied the DeepSeek into its AI Assistant, adding logical reasoning capabilities to enhance service precision. Through functions such as deep analyses, it accurately identifies user's needs and provides personalized and scenario-based service solutions. Leveraging efficient reasoning performance, the bank has accelerated response time and task processing efficiency.
Among joint-stock banks, the Shanghai Pudong Development Bank has also deployed the DeepSeek-R1 671B large model, which is embedded in digital assistant applications, enhancing scenarios like intelligent Q&A, financial analyses and report writing, as reported by CNR.
The move by multiple banks to deploy DeepSeek AI models has positive effects on banking operations and digital transformation, such as improving business efficiency and service quality, Wang Peng, an associate research fellow at the Beijing Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Thursday.
Wang added that the introduction of DeepSeek models can enhance risk management capabilities and drive business innovation by improving the efficiency of decision-making.
However, given the high sensitivity of bank customers' information and DeepSeek's reliance on large volumes of data for training, the risk of data leakage increases, Wang said. As AI technologies are widely adopted, banks should ensure that the development, training and application of DeepSeek models comply with relevant laws, regulations and supervisory requirements.
Additionally, in order to enhance the model's interpretability, banks should develop visualization tools to present the decision-making process and rationale of the model in an intuitive way, Wang said.
He also noted that banks need to strengthen internal talent training by developing systematic programs to improve staff's technical capabilities to keep pace with the speed and efficiency of model iteration.
China's Ministry of Public Security said on Friday that an additional 2,255 Chinese nationals suspected of involvement in telecom fraud recently were repatriated to China by Chinese public security authorities through Thailand from Myanmar's Myawaddy region.
Since the joint operation of repatriating and escorting suspects involved in telecom fraud in Myawaddy, Myanmar, was launched by China, Myanmar and Thailand on February 20, a total of 2,876 Chinese suspects involved in telecom fraud have been escorted back to China, said the ministry on its official Wechat account.
Currently, the ministry has directed public security authorities in East China's Jiangsu Province and Shanghai to fully engage in case investigation operations.
A chartered flight repatriating the first batch of 200 Chinese nationals suspected of being involved in fraud crimes from Myanmar landed in Nanjing, East China's Jiangsu Province, via Thailand on February 20. This marks a milestone and remarkable achievement in multinational law-enforcement efforts between China, Thailand and Myanmar to crack down on telecom and cyber fraud, according to the ministry.
Since the beginning of this year, in response to the severe situation of telecom and cyber fraud crimes involving Chinese nationals in Myanmar's Myawaddy region, police forces from China, Myanmar, and Thailand have continuously deepened pragmatic law enforcement cooperation by establishing mechanisms, severing criminal channels and dismantling operation hubs, drastically reducing the operational space for such crimes in the region, said the ministry.
An official from the ministry said that public security authorities will intensify efforts with greater determination to deepen international law enforcement cooperation, further advance joint crackdown operations, resolutely eradicate criminal hubs, spare no effort in apprehending suspects, and safeguard the lives and property of Chinese citizens.
The public security authorities also warn Chinese telecom and cyber fraud criminals that overseas locations are not beyond the reach of the law, urging them to return to China to surrender at the earliest opportunity and seek lenient treatment.
A delegation of the Communist Party of China (CPC), led by Ma Hui, vice minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, visited Panama from Friday to Saturday, during which they met with leaders of major political parties in Panama and scholars of think tank, CCTV News reported on Sunday.
During the visit, Ma said that China is willing to strengthen exchanges with Panamanian political parties and think tanks to deepen mutual understanding and trust, thereby consolidating public support for China-Panama friendly relations, according to the report.
The Panamanian side expressed its commitment to deepening friendly exchanges, building consensus on cooperation, and promoting the sustained development of Panama-China friendly cause, CCTV reported.
Recent reports of a potential asteroid impact have sparked widespread concern on Chinese social media, with many voicing safety worries. Amid the discussions, public attention has turned to China's recruitment of planetary defense experts. On Thursday, media reported that Shan Zhongde, head of the China National Space Administration (CNSA), visited the Earth Observation and Data Center - a move expert says highlights China's growing focus on this critical field.
Shan said during a symposium held at the center that recent efforts in asteroid monitoring and early warning have shown promising progress. He emphasized the need to strengthen technological innovation, actively explore new models of digital and intelligent supervision, and enhance capabilities in identifying, assessing, warning against and responding to safety risks, according to the official WeChat account of Chinese Lunar Exploration Program.
The visit follows mounting worries from the public, after news broke out that an asteroid that could be as big as a football field could strike Earth in December 2032. According to an ABC News report on Wednesday, the chances of the asteroid named 2024 YR4 impacting Earth within the next decade have doubled within weeks, according to NASA astronomers.
When the detection of the asteroid was announced last month, NASA predicted just a 1.3 percent probability of it hitting Earth. The likelihood has now increased to 2.1 percent, per the report. On Friday, the European Space Agency (ESA) updated the likelihood of 2024 YR4 hitting Earth to 2.2 percent, making it the highest-ranked threat on ESA's risk list.
Scientists around the world are continuing observations to track its trajectory. "By April, additional data will be available, and by 2028, during the next observation window, we can better assess its probability of hitting Earth," Li Mingtao, a professor at the National Space Science Center of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, told the Global Times.
If it does happen, Li said the asteroid is unlikely to directly hit Earth's surface but would disintegrate in the atmosphere. Even if it hits the surface, the asteroid would most likely land in the ocean. "A distant ocean impact would have minimal effects, while a near-shore impact might generate tsunamis impacting coastal areas. A land impact could generate shockwaves, thermal radiation, and light radiation, potentially devastating an area the size of a medium-sized city," Li noted.
A most viable solution at present is launching a spacecraft to collide with the asteroid at high speed, altering its orbit to avoid Earth. In 2022, NASA's Double Asteroid Redirection Test mission successfully demonstrated humanity's ability to change an asteroid's trajectory, China Science Daily reported.
Amid the public's heated discussions, netizens recently uncovered a 2025 public recruitment notice issued by the Major Project Center of China's State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense. Released on January 14, 2025, the notice revealed plans to hire three planetary defense specialists, whose responsibilities will include research on near-Earth asteroid monitoring and early warning.
"The visit by the CNSA head to the Earth Observation and Data Center, along with the recent recruitment of talents in this field, indicates that China has placed heightened attention on asteroid impact monitoring," Kang Guohua, a senior member of the Chinese Society of Astronautics and professor of Aerospace Engineering at Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, told the Global Times on Thursday.
The establishment of this position is likely more focused on management coordination, Kang said. Planetary defense primarily refers to a systematic engineering effort aimed at preventing near-Earth asteroids or comets from colliding with Earth through technologies such as monitoring, early warning, interception, or deflection. As such, it involves multiple units and various technical approaches, necessitating unified management and coordination.
China unveiled its first near-Earth asteroid defense mission NEA in September 2024, aimed at closely observing an asteroid before executing a kinetic impact to alter its trajectory around 2030, according to Tang Yuhua, a deputy chief designer of Chang'e-7 Mission, Xinhua News Agency reported.
The blueprint for the country's asteroid defense involves two spacecraft - an impactor and an observer - launched into space with one rocket. The observer will first move around the small asteroid to be targeted, for the purposes of detection, before guiding the impactor from afar to strike it. After the kinetic impact, the observer will further have an accompanying flight with the very asteroid that changes its orbit, according to Tang.
China is pleased to see all efforts toward peace, including the consensus reached by the US and Russia on peace talks, said Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Friday at an event on China at the Munich Security Conference (MSC) in Germany in response to inquiries about China's position on the Ukraine crisis.
The endpoint of any conflict is the negotiating table, and history will ultimately be just, Wang said.
At the same time, China expects all parties and stakeholders to engage in the process of peace talks in due course, Wang noted. "As the war is taking place in Europe, it is all the more necessary for Europe to play its part for peace, to jointly address the root causes of the crisis and to find a balanced, effective and sustainable security framework for the lasting peace and stability in Europe," Wang said.
On Wednesday, US President Donald Trump spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in separate phone calls and said both men expressed a desire for peace, Reuters reported.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said that he and Putin agreed "to stop the millions of deaths taking place" in the conflict, stressing Washington and Moscow will "immediately" engage in direct negotiations aimed at ending the crisis. "We agreed to work together, very closely, including visiting each other's Nations. We have also agreed to have our respective teams start negotiations immediately," Trump said.
According to Reuters, Trump ordered top US officials, including US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency John Ratcliffe, National Security Advisor Michael Waltz and Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, to begin talks on ending the conflict in Ukraine.
As the conflict is about to enter its fourth year on February 24, Ukraine and its supporters including Japan and France are preparing to submit to the UN General Assembly a resolution on February 24 that would urge a cease-fire in Ukraine, Kyodo News reported on Thursday.
Wang also said on Friday at MSC that since the day after the conflict started, China has consistently advocated for a resolution through dialogue and consultation. "President Xi Jinping has put forward a four-point proposal, which is the most authoritative interpretation of China's position, stating that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries should be respected, that the purposes and principles of the UN Charter should be adhered to, that the legitimate security concerns of all parties should be taken into account, and that all efforts toward peace should be supported," Wang said.
"We have actively engaged in mediation based on these principles and have launched the 'Friends for Peace' Group with Brazil and other countries of the Global South. Development of situation has demonstrated that China's views are objective, fair, rational and pragmatic, reflecting the broad consensus of the international community," Wang said.
When questioned about the so-called China supporting Russia through oil and gas trade, Wang said that China and Russia, two major neighbors with long borders, have drawn lessons from past challenges and developed a comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for the new era that is non-alliance, non-confrontation and not targeting any third party.
"China and Russia have normal economic and trade exchanges. If China does not import oil and gas from Russia, how could it meet its demands and ensure the need of more than 1.4 billion Chinese people?" Wang said.
The Chinese Embassy in Myanmar on Sunday evening issued a statement, saying that China and Myanmar had an in-depth exchange of views on further strengthening China-Myanmar law enforcement and security cooperation and jointly combating cross-border crimes such as telecom and online fraud and human trafficking.
The Myanmar side expressed that it attaches great importance to severely cracking down on illegal and criminal acts such as online gambling and telecom fraud, the statement said.
According to the statement, Chinese Ambassador to Myanmar Ma Jia and Chinese Assistant Minister of Public Security Liu Zhongyi on Feb. 14 held talks with Myanmar's Deputy Prime Minister and Union Minister for Foreign Affairs U Than Swe and Union Minister for Home Affairs Lt-Gen Tun Tun Naung, respectively.
During the talks, the Myanmar side introduced the specific measures taken by the Myanmar government to combat online gambling and telecom fraud in the near future, and said that it will strengthen coordination with China and other relevant neighboring countries to promote bilateral and multilateral cooperation, and explore the establishment of a regular cooperation mechanism to jointly combat cross-border crimes such as online gambling and telecom fraud, the statement said.
The Chinese side positively evaluated Myanmar's determination and efforts in protecting the safety of Chinese citizens, and stated that online gambling and telecom fraud seriously infringe upon the safety of people's lives and property.
China is willing to actively carry out bilateral and multilateral cooperation with neighboring countries such as Myanmar and Thailand, adopt comprehensive measures, and address both the symptoms and root causes, to jointly stop criminals from committing crimes in relevant countries, eradicate the "tumor" of online gambling and telecom fraud, and maintain the normal order of exchanges and cooperation among regional countries, the statement said.
China is pleased to see all efforts that have been made toward peace, including the consensus reached by the US and Russia regarding peace talks and looks forward to the timely participation of all parties and stakeholders in the peace talk process, said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun on Tuesday at a regular press conference.
Guo's remarks were made in response to a question about China's view on talks between US and Russia on Russia-Ukraine conflict on Tuesday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said earlier Ukraine will "never accept any decisions between the US and Russia" regarding the outcome of peace negotiation without Ukraine's participation. Concerned about being sidelined by Washington in the peace talks, European leaders on Monday held an emergency summit on Ukraine in Paris.
"China has always held that dialogue and negotiation are the only way out for resolving the crisis. We have consistently been committed to promoting peace talks," Guo said.
