General Secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee and Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith concluded his visit to East China's Zhejiang Province and arrived in Beijing on Thursday to continue his state visit in China. 

In the afternoon, he visited the Party School of the CPC Central Committee, where 26 years ago he studied in an exchange program for one month, as well as the China Academy of Space Technology, Xinhua News Agency reported. 

Chinese observers said Thongloun's itinerary - covering innovation, ecology, party-to-party exchanges and aerospace - reflected a comprehensive effort to draw on China's development experience. "By learning from China's governance, green development and technological advances, Laos aims to better develop its agricultural, forestry and mineral resources and support its transformation from a land-locked to a land-linked country."

The Party School of the CPC Central Committee is the Party's highest institution for training officials and a key platform for exchanges and cooperation on governance. Thongloun, who attended a one-month exchange program at the Party School in 2000, made a special visit during this trip. He toured the dormitory where he stayed, and met with Chinese instructors, organizers and Lao participants for exchanges, Xinhua reported.

According to China News Service, during his visit to the Party School, Thongloun returned to the dormitory where he stayed during his studies and remarked that "26 years have passed in the blink of an eye." Looking around, he said, "If I have the opportunity to come again, I would like to stay here."

During the warm interaction with teachers, white-haired educators shook hands with him. One teacher asked, "Do you still remember that time?" Thongloun placed his hand on his chest and replied firmly, "Of course," while expressing gratitude to the teachers for imparting their knowledge, China News Service reported.

On Thursday afternoon, Thongloun also visited the China Academy of Space Technology. This institute is a major force in China's space technology exploration, with spacecraft developed covering fields such as manned spaceflight, deep space exploration, navigation, communications, remote sensing, space science, and technology experiments, per Xinhua.

Gu Xiaosong, dean of the ASEAN Research Institute of Hainan Tropical Ocean University, told the Global Times that returning to the Party School leverages alumni ties to deepen inter-party exchanges, continues sharing governance and grassroots governance experiences, and uses mature cadre exchange mechanisms to solidify bilateral political foundations, ensuring the steady implementation of various cooperation projects. 

The visit to the aerospace research institute builds on existing satellite cooperation to leverage remote sensing and navigation technologies for assisting Laos in resource exploration, land management, and infrastructure development, said Gu.

Combining Thongloun's itinerary over the past two days — from intelligent manufacturing in Hangzhou and ecological development in Anji to visits to the Party School and the China Academy of Space Technology — the trip appears aimed at drawing lessons from China's development experience, Gu said. 

The visits to robotics and digital economy projects in Hangzhou were intended to help Laos advance industrial upgrading, smart logistics and resource processing by leveraging the China-Laos Railway, while the Anji stop highlighted China's green development model and rural revitalization practices, offering references for Laos to better utilize its agricultural, forestry and ecological resources and pursue more sustainable growth, Gu added.

Meanwhile, Xinhua reported Thursday that the expansion and renovation of Boten Station on the Lao section of the China-Laos Railway has officially commenced, marking the first large-scale capacity expansion and renovation project on the railway's Lao section since it began operations in December 2021. The project is expected to enhance the station's train-handling capabilities and improve the efficiency of cross-border freight operations, per the report.

The China-Laos Railway has opened an important land corridor for Laos, which has no sea access, connecting it with China. This means Laos' fruits and minerals can flow continuously into the Chinese market, according to Gu.

According to China's Foreign Ministry, China-Laos economic and trade ties have continued to deepen in recent years, with China now serving as Laos' largest source of foreign investment and second-largest trading partner. 

Bilateral trade reached $9.82 billion in 2025, up 19.3 percent year-on-year. China's exports to Laos totaled $4.32 billion, an increase of 17.6 percent, while imports from Laos rose 20.7 percent to $5.5 billion. China mainly exports machinery and electronic equipment, steel products, transport equipment and components, and chemical products to Laos, while importing potash, rubber, wood pulp and paper products, according to the ministry.

"The steady expansion of China-Laos cooperation could serve as a model for wider regional collaboration, strengthening connectivity and supply-chain integration across the Indochina Peninsula and the Lancang-Mekong region, while providing fresh impetus for multilateral cooperation in Southeast Asia," the expert added.

Observing through the massive glass window, a giant mechanical claw lifts garbage that has been fermenting for several days from a waste pit dozens of meters deep and steadily feeds it into the inlet - yet the area remains entirely odor-free.

The scene unfolds at a waste-to-energy facility in Suzhou, a city in East China's Jiangsu Province, which was named to the inaugural 20 Cities Towards Zero Waste initiative under the United Nations Secretary-General's Advisory Board on Zero Waste in March.

Suzhou maintains a comprehensive utilization rate of over 98 percent for bulk industrial solid waste. The coverage rate of domestic waste sorting facilities exceeds 99 percent, and all sewage sludge from water treatment is fully disposed of and recycled. These figures paint a full picture of Suzhou's progress in building a Zero-Waste city, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

With these figures in mind, the Global Times reporter visited the waste-to-energy facility operated by Everbright Environment in Suzhou, where most of Suzhou's urban municipal solid waste is processed, ahead of the World Environment Day which falls on June 5.

Shift in industry

At the waste-to-energy facility, real-time emission data is displayed on the large screen in the central control room. All readings covering carbon monoxide, hydrogen chloride, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and particulate matter are synchronized with the national environmental protection platform, with indicators significantly outperforming EU standards.

Through independent technological innovation, the project adopted medium-temperature, ultra-high-pressure reheat technology, enabling power generation per tons of waste incinerated to exceed 700 kWh, the Global Times learned from the company.

The progress in Suzhou epitomizes the wider evolution of the sector in China. A local government official in Suzhou recalled past two decades of operation, noting that when Phase I of the project began operation in 2006, municipal waste in the city was still mainly disposed of through landfill.

With rapid growth in both population and GDP in Suzhou, the project underwent successive capacity expansions and by 2021 had enabled the city to achieve full incineration and zero landfill of raw municipal solid waste, effectively resolving the long-standing waste siege issue.

Fueled by an intensifying environmental consciousness, China has transformed its waste management paradigm over the past two decades by promoting cleaner and more efficient waste incineration technology, according to Xinhua.

China's national emission standards for waste-to-energy plants align with the latest EU benchmarks, positioning them among the world's most stringent. Some regions, including Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Jiangsu and Zhejiang, have implemented even stricter local regulations that surpass EU thresholds, per Xinhua.

Ma Jun, director of the Beijing-based Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs, told the Global Times that China's waste incineration industry has achieved rapid growth over the past decade, with the number of relevant enterprises having risen sharply, effectively alleviating the garbage siege issue.

Although the industry once faced strong resistance from residents of selected sites, environmental authorities mandated disclosure of operational data, Ma said. Under public supervision, enterprises improved pollution control, facility conditions and technical capacity, driving the industry's rapid development, the expert added.

With the advancement of dual-carbon goals and zero-waste city development, waste incineration serves as an indispensable field in the building of a Beautiful China, Ma said.

However, Ma emphasized that waste incineration is only one essential link in the waste management system and must work with recycling and classification to take full effect.

China's Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development said on May 25 that China aims to raise its urban household waste recycling utilization rate to above 76 percent by the end of 2030.

Latest data from the ministry also shows that by the end of 2025, China had 1,137 waste incineration facilities with a daily processing capacity of 1.18 million tons. Fifteen provinces and municipalities including Beijing, Zhejiang and Shandong have achieved zero landfilling of raw domestic garbage, with its control of major pollutant emissions ranking among the world's advanced levels.
'Not enough waste to burn'

Amid the rapid growth of the industry, the situation has transformed from "wastes sieging cities" to a "shortage of garbage for incineration." A staff member from Everbright Environment told the Global Times that this perspective has also triggered widespread discussion across the industry.

"Rather than signaling a crisis, this phenomenon can be understood as a structural turning point in the industry's upgrading process," the staff member said. At present, waste collection is insufficient compared with incineration capacity, with an estimated industry gap of about 20 percent. Regional development is also uneven, with many enterprises concentrated in major cities and developed areas.

By the end of 2025, China's installed daily waste-to-energy incineration capacity had reached 1.1 million tons, equivalent to 360 million tons annually, CCTV News reported in April, citing experts. Meanwhile, China's actual annual domestic waste output stands at 320 million tons, leaving many plants running under capacity.

According to CCTV News, experts said waste disposal capacity varies unevenly across China, with disparities within provinces and cities due to differences in economic growth, population density, waste output and collection systems.

"China has advanced household waste sorting nationwide over the past few years, and the increased recycle rate also means less will be incinerated, leading to intensified capacity surplus," Ma added.

The Everbright Environment staff member told the Global Times that "there is not enough waste to burn" reflects a shift in China's waste management from ensuring basic treatment capacity to pursuing higher efficiency and sustainability.

Moderate capacity redundancy is a natural result of forward-looking planning, which once helped ease the "waste siege" and now requires more refined and efficient operations, the staff member added.

Therefore, operational hurdles due to "insufficient wastes" may seem challenging for some waste incineration enterprises for a moment, yet they reflect China's resolve, capacity and achievements in addressing an environmental problem arising alongside the urbanization, which will continue to sustain the building of a Beautiful China, according to analysts.

A recent scandal has exposed yet another crack in the hypocritical veneer of the 14th Dalai Lama clique. Tenzin Taklha, the Dalai Lama's nephew and secretary, has reportedly been engulfed in several allegations involving domestic abuse, sexual exploitation and embezzlement. His misconduct has long been an open secret within the Dalai clique, yet it seemingly has been shielded and tolerated for years.

This is by no means an isolated case. From the Dalai Lama himself to members of his family and inner circle, scandal after scandal has continued to surface. This separatist group, long cloaked in the rhetoric of "human rights" and "democracy" and parasitizing under a religious guise, is now exposing to the world its ugly face through a series of shocking exchanges of power, sex and money: a rotten, hollow entity corrupted to its very core.

A range of unsavory conduct

Tenzin Taklha, reportedly the nephew and personal secretary of the 14th Dalai Lama, has long been regarded as a key figure within the Dalai clique's inner circle of power. Yet behind the pious image he projects before "devotees," several foreign media outlets and investigative websites have unveiled him as a man of deeply questionable character, allegedly involved in a range of unsavory conduct.

One of the most serious scandals about Tenzin Taklha is reportedly a domestic violence case first brought to light by his own wife. On June 10, 2025, the website "Dakini Translations and Publications," which describes itself as an "online resource for new Dharma translations and research on Tibetan Buddhism and Vajrayana," received an anonymous tip claiming that Tenzin Taklha's wife had "allegedly posted on her Facebook page a 'desperate cry for help' as a domestic violence survivor."

According to a screenshot of the post published by the website, she accused her husband of having a violent temper and repeatedly assaulting her physically. "In recent years, whenever displeased, he destroyed items in our home and beat me. I always have bruises on my arms and legs. One incident even left my ribs fractured," the screenshot reads. The source who submitted the tip speculated that the original post had already been deleted by Tenzin Taklha.

If these allegations are true, the abuse would amount to more than a private marital dispute. It would be a stark example of Tenzin Taklha abusing his power, inflicting violence on others and trampling on human dignity, some human rights experts reached by the Global Times commented. Yet, as the screenshot of the post also noted, the Dalai Lama "has urged forgiveness for the sake of 'home stability'" a stance that appears to amount to tolerance, if not indulgence, toward violence.

Sexual exploitation is another major allegation against Tenzin Taklha. According to SNAP Survivors Network - a self-described "community of survivors of clergy and institutional sexual abuse" - he was accused of exploiting young women by "inducing them into explicit online sexual conversations and exchanging nude photos," the organization said on February 12. "He allegedly boasted of having relations with 25 girls," the article added.

A third major accusation against Tenzin Taklha is the embezzlement of "public funds" for personal gain. He was accused of diverting "humanitarian aid funds" to "purchase luxury properties in the US, among other personal expenses," according to the SNAP Survivors Network website.

As a result, 32 members of a separatist foundation linked to the Dalai Lama clique reportedly petitioned in the summer of 2025 for his expulsion from the organization. Tenzin Taklha's extreme corruption and debauchery have offered a glimpse of the broader, ugly reality behind the Dalai clique.

Birds of a feather

The scandal involving Tenzin Taklha is merely a microcosm of the broader dysfunctional elements within the Dalai clique. From the Dalai Lama himself to members of his family and close confidants, many figures in this core network have been tainted by misconduct.

Tenzin Dhonden, for instance, is another infamous name associated with the Dalai Lama's camp. Tenzin Dhonden was reportedly appointed the Dalai Lama's "personal emissary of peace," tasked with organizing various events and initiatives on his behalf. Yet the misconduct later exposed in connection with him stood in stark contrast to the image implied by that title.

As early as 2017, Tenzin Dhonden was accused of bullying, celebrity worship and corruption. One allegation came from a Seattle-based technology entrepreneur, who said Tenzin Dhonden "extracted unjustified payments from him between 2005 and 2008, in return for setting up an event with the Dalai Lama," the Guardian reported in November 2017. A letter sent to the Dalai Lama's private office, as quoted by the newspaper, said: "His (Tenzin Dhonden's) questionable values, arrogant disposition and objectionable behavior have generated confusion, anxiety and extensive unhappiness for many years."

Tenzin Dhonden also came under criticism for organizing a 2009 event in Albany in the US hosted by Nxivm, "a controversial self-help organization that has been compared to a cult," according to the Guardian. The event was initially canceled after public outcry, but later went ahead, the report said.

In addition, Tenzin Dhonden was accused of having affairs with multiple women. A November 23, 2017 report by the US-based Niagara Reporter revealed that Tenzin Dhonden was "involved in a personal relationship with Seagram heiress Sara Bronfman that started around 2009." The report described him as Bronfman's "lover."

Faced with multiple allegations and scandals, nonetheless, in July 2019, after more than a year of what was described as a thorough investigation, the Dalai Lama's side claimed the embezzlement allegations against Tenzin Dhonden were unsubstantiated due to a "lack of evidence," according to media reports.

"They are not ignorant of evil; rather, they choose to collectively conceal it, tolerate it and shield it," commented an opinion piece published by China Tibet Online on April 10.

Surrounded for years by figures accused of misconduct and moral hypocrisy, the Dalai Lama himself has also become embroiled in repeated controversies that have drawn criticism and condemnation worldwide. Far from maintaining the untouchable image often portrayed in Western media, he has faced growing scrutiny over both his personal behavior and his associations.

One of the most controversial issues concerns his connection to the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. A search of the Jeffrey Epstein files released on the US Department of Justice website shows 157 results for the "Dalai Lama."

American journalist and consultant Michael Wolff, who acted as an advisor to Epstein, recalled in a podcast with host Joanna Coles for The Daily Beast last July that he met the Dalai Lama at Epstein's Manhattan residence, according to Turkey's state-run Anadolu Agency on February 4.

Although the official X account of the Dalai Lama claimed on February 8 that he "has never met Jeffrey Epstein," many of the more prominent comments among the post's more than 2,000 replies mocked the statement by linking it to the earlier controversy in 2023.

In March 2023, a video showed the Dalai Lama asking a young boy to "suck my tongue" during a public event. The footage has sparked widespread criticism, with many social media users saying it was inappropriate and disturbing, BBC News reported in April 2023.

Illegitimate and corrupt

The controversial reputation of the Dalai Lama stems not only from his long-standing separatist rhetoric and political activities, but also from a series of personal controversies and public incidents that have repeatedly drawn criticism internationally.

Yet well before the "suck my tongue" controversy, several public incidents had already generated criticism over his behavior and remarks.

In 2016, during a public appearance with Lady Gaga, footage circulated online showing the Dalai Lama repeatedly touching the singer's leg while she appeared uncomfortable.

In 2019, during an interview with BBC News, the Dalai Lama claimed that if a future Dalai Lama were female, she "should be more attractive." His comments immediately sparked outrage online, reported CBS News.

This isn't the first time the Dalai Lama has brought up the physical beauty of a potential successor. In a 2015 BBC interview, he made similar comments, claiming that a "female Dalai Lama" should be attractive, otherwise she would be of "not much use," the report said.

The political nature of separatism is often closely intertwined with corrupt practices in personal life, Zhu Weiqun, former head of the Committee on Ethnic and Religious Affairs of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, told the Global Times. Cloaked in the "sacred" guise of religion, the Dalai clique parasitically feeds off the world, spiritually manipulating its followers while politically orchestrating various separatist activities and urging Western forces to sanction China. At the same time, it engages behind the scenes in shady dealings involving power, money, and sex.

As long as the Dalai clique continues to exist, the various forms of corruption within it will not cease, but will only intensify. In essence, the Dalai clique has long become a fundamentally rotten, irredeemably corrupt criminal organization with no future whatsoever, Zhu said.

Xiao Jie, a senior fellow of China Tibetology Research Center, also told the Global Times that the "Tibetan government-in-exile" is, in essence, an illegitimate and corrupt political organization.

Although it has long attempted to project an image of a "democratic and autonomous" institution for overseas Tibetans, it is far removed from any genuine form of political autonomy. Instead, it serves merely as a tool for the Dalai clique to mislead international public opinion externally and to distribute benefits internally, Xiao explained.

According to Xiao, since the establishment of the so-called "Tibetan People's Parliament" in the 1960s, the Dalai clique has engaged in performative democratization. In 2011, it even staged acts of "political retirement" by the Dalai Lama and "constitutional amendments." However, this performance of democratization cannot conceal the underlying reality of family-based politics and theocracy. The Dalai clique strives to maintain a theocratic system fundamentally to ensure control over Tibetan exiles, sustain its separatist agenda, and safeguard the interests of the Dalai Lama and those around him.

"It is not only a smokescreen used to deceive international public opinion and obscure its controversial past, but also a means of soliciting aid from Western countries," Xiao said.

Ignoring its historical identity as a former serf-owning class and avoiding any discussion of past actions against the Tibetan people, the Dalai clique instead promotes narratives of freedom, democracy and human rights. This is aimed at gaining favor from anti-China forces in the West by demonstrating rhetorical alignment, and thereby securing the international assistance on which it depends for survival through the role of a frontline anti-China actor, Xiao added.

When asked to comment on the claim made by Solomon Islands' Prime Minister Matthew Wale on June 3 that he would be "reviewing" his country's 2022 security pact with China, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Wednesday that China and the Solomon Islands have a comprehensive strategic partnership for the new era, based on mutual respect and common development. "We are willing to expand practical cooperation across various fields with the new Solomon Islands government to better benefit the peoples of both countries," Mao said.

China's Shenzhou-21 and Shenzhou-23 astronaut crews held a handover ceremony on Thursday, during which the Shenzhou-21 crew transferred the keys of the country's space station to the latter.

The Shenzhou-21 crew has now completed all planned tasks. The three astronauts will take the Shenzhou-22 spacecraft and return to the Dongfeng landing site in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in the coming few days, according to the China Manned Space Agency.

At present, final preparations are in full swing across all participating systems and the landing site in readiness to welcome the trio back.

A total of 82 people have been confirmed dead while two others remained missing after a coal mine gas explosion in north China's Shanxi Province on Friday, according to a press conference on Saturday.

The gas explosion hit the Liushenyu coal mine in Qinyuan County at 7:29 p.m. on Friday. A total of 128 people are receiving treatment at hospitals.

Fifty-six years ago on April 28, four days after the successful launch of Dongfanghong-1, China's first man-made satellite, the spacecraft flew across the night sky over the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions (SARs). Crowds of Hong Kong residents flocked to the banks of Victoria Harbour, Victoria Peak, and numerous highlands across the New Territories with radios in hand. They eagerly watched the satellite streak across the firmament and listened to the melody of The East Is Red transmitted from space, brimming with pride over this satellite independently developed by Chinese people. This memorable scene was vividly recorded by Hong Kong's Ta Kung Pao in its April 29 issue that year.
On Sunday, the Shenzhou-23 crewed spaceship, atop a Long March-2F carrier rocket, blasted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China. Hong Kong compatriots who traveled long distances to witness the moment were filled with excitement as they watched the rocket's orange-red plume pierce the night sky. Meanwhile, countless local residents tuned in to the spectacular launch via televisions and mobile devices.

This scene bore a striking resemblance to that historic moment, except that this time, Hong Kong compatriots found themselves closer to the motherland, closer to space, and therefore closer to their dreams. Aboard the spaceship is Li Jiaying, or Lai Ka-ying in Cantonese, the first astronaut from China's HKSAR, as well as the nation's first female payload specialist. The vision of the HKSAR integrating into the overall national development and sharing the motherland's developmental achievements has gained profound and tangible significance the moment Li fulfilled her space dream.

'A full affirmation from the nation of the HKSAR's technological innovation development'

As a member of the HKSAR delegation, Undersecretary for Security Michael Cheuk Hau-yip witnessed the rocket liftoff at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center alongside local scholars, scientists and young people. He was deeply moved by the spectacular scene.

"On one hand, I truly felt the development and technological strength of our nation in aerospace. On the other hand, I feel proud of Li, who was once a police officer and is now, as a payload specialist from HKSAR, participating in a space mission for the first time and travelling aboard the Shenzhou-23 crewed spaceship to work on the space station," Cheuk told the Global Times. He believes this demonstrates the nation's recognition and trust in the HKSAR's level of science and technology, scientific research, and talent. "Thanks to the nation's generous support, we have been given this opportunity," Cheuk said.

Following Li's journey into space, the HKSAR has become one of the world's few regions that have an astronaut. Sun Dong, secretary for innovation, technology and industry of the HKSAR government, who also watched the launch on site, expressed great excitement. "This is an invaluable opportunity granted by the motherland, and we sincerely appreciate the profound care and strong support the country has extended to the HKSAR," Sun said.

In an interview with the Global Times, Sun said the HKSAR government has spared no effort to integrate into and serve the country's overall development strategy over the years. Local research teams have long participated in multiple national aerospace projects and yielded fruitful outcomes. "I believe this is also a full affirmation from the nation of the HKSAR's technological innovation development over the past few years," Sun added.

Aerospace has long served as a vital bond connecting the mainland and the HKSAR. Public records show that Hong Kong professionals have taken part in major national space programs over the past decade, including the Chang'e lunar missions and the Tianwen Mars missions. China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) has maintained frequent cooperation with research teams from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), enabling HKSAR expertise to fuel the country's journey into deep space.

The Global Times has learned that in previous lunar and Mars missions, a research team led by Professor Yung Kai-leung from the PolyU collaborated with the China Academy of Space Technology (CAST) under CASC. The joint team developed lightweight compact camera pan-tilt assemblies for the camera-pointing systems aboard the landers of Chang'e-3 and Chang'e-4. They also created the surface sampling manipulator sampler, close-range camera and primary surface sample encapsulation device deployed on Chang'e-5, as well as the Mars landing monitoring camera carried by Tianwen-1.

Another team headed by Professor Bo Wu from the PolyU assisted CAST in analyzing the topography and landforms of landing zones for Chang'e-3, Chang'e-4 and Tianwen-1. Their research provided crucial support for landing site selection and safety assessment. For the Tianwen-1 mission, the team specially developed an AI-based landform feature recognition method. In less than one and a half months, the technology completed 3D terrain modeling of the targeted landing area, identified and analyzed over 2 million rocks, more than 600,000 impact craters and numerous other landform features, offering vital reference for the final determination of the landing site.

Li's journey into space as China's first female payload specialist undoubtedly marks another historic milestone for the HKSAR.

"I believe Li's safe return from this space mission will deliver a strong boost to HKSAR's development. We will continue to forge ahead and contribute our part to national advancement during the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-30)," said Cheuk.

'Leverage the HKSAR's strengths to meet the country's development needs'

Looking back on history, Hong Kong compatriots have long lent firm support to the advancement of China's aerospace industry. Before and after the founding of the People's Republic of China, numerous distinguished overseas scholars engaged in cutting-edge research at foreign institutions chose resolutely to return home, braving untold hardships without hesitation. Public reports show that amid the special historical backdrop, Hong Kong served as the first stop for many of these returning scientists.

A great number of researchers crossed oceans and overcame numerous hardships before safely reaching the Chinese mainland via Hong Kong. Renowned trailblazers who made monumental contributions to China's aerospace development, including Qian Xuesen, Wang Xiji and Yang Jiachi —founding fathers of China's "Two Bombs, One Satellite" — were outstanding representatives among them.

Endowed with its unique geographical advantage of linking the Chinese motherland with the rest of the world, the HKSAR has long engaged in fruitful commercial cooperation with Chinese aerospace institutions, particularly in the field of communication satellites. APT Satellite Company Limited (APT Satellite) is a major user of Dongfanghong-series satellites developed by the CAST.

According to previously released reports, the AsiaSat 9 communications satellite, developed by CAST on the Dongfanghong-4 satellite platform, was successfully launched in October 2015. It marked China's first export of a complete satellite to established international operators, breaking the long-term monopoly held by European and American aerospace firms in the high-end market.

CAST has since designed and delivered other satellites such as AsiaSat 6C and AsiaSat 6D. Among them, AsiaSat 6D is China's inaugural satellite carrying a Ku-band high-throughput broadband satellite communication system, boasting dozens of times greater capacity than conventional communication satellites. Satellites developed by CASC play a pivotal role in the in-orbit fleet operated by APT Satellite, delivering cost-effective high-speed broadband communication services covering the HKSAR and extensive regions across Southeast Asia.

In recent years, the HKSAR government has actively encouraged, guided and supported local research bodies to take part in major national aerospace projects.

"To motivate more local research teams to join national scientific undertakings, the HKSAR government has previously launched dedicated calls for aerospace research proposals and funded multiple projects, some of which have already been incorporated into national scientific and technological missions," Sun said.

He added that under the InnoHK, the government has set up specialized research centers undertaking diverse aerospace tasks, including the development of lunar surface operation robots. These efforts provide solid technological backing for the country's future lunar exploration programs, Sun said.

"I am confident that the HKSAR government will keep scaling up investment to encourage local research teams to further participate in national aerospace initiatives, and leverage the HKSAR's strengths to meet the country's development needs," Sun said.

'This will bring great excitement to everyone'

Li has made history as the first astronaut hailing from the HKSAR, blasting off aboard the Shenzhou-23 crewed spaceship bound for the country's space station. Her journey has sparked widespread discussions across the city. The Global Times reporters witnessed numerous Hong Kong media outlets, including the Hong Kong Commercial Daily and Ming Pao, covering the landmark launch in diverse forms at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center.

According to the Hong Kong Commercial Daily, shopping malls across Hong Kong aired live footage of the liftoff, allowing locals to jointly behold this historic milestone. Many Hong Kong residents interviewed expressed their excitement and agreed that the emergence of the HKSAR's first astronaut carries great significance, hoping it marks the beginning of a journey that will inspire more children to pursue their space dreams.

"As a Hong Kong resident, I feel extremely privileged and thrilled to witness our fellow Hong Kong compatriots taking part in such a monumental aerospace mission right here," Anderson Ho Cheung SHUM, vice president of City University of Hong Kong and president of the Hong Kong Young Academy of Sciences, said in an interview with the Global Times. Watching the rocket soar skyward, he said that when he saw the rocket lift off, he realized that children in HKSAR can now not only watch rocket launches on television but also see someone from their city sitting atop the rocket. "I think this will bring great excitement to everyone, and it is also an affirmation of HKSAR," he added.

Previously, numerous chief designers of China's space program, including Qi Faren, the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE) academician, visited various universities, secondary schools, and primary schools in the HKSAR to engage with local youth. The insightful lectures delivered by these aerospace experts and academicians have inspired Hong Kong's young people to cultivate scientific dreams, further strengthened their sense of national identity, and enhanced their affection for the motherland, allowing the spirit of China's space endeavor to take root in the HKSAR.

Now, Li's space mission will undoubtedly further nurture the public's fascination with aerospace, especially among the younger generation in HKSAR.

"Hong Kong youth can feel they garner nationwide attention, which encourages them to strive to make the world a better place," Shum said. He said that Li's experience proves HKSAR residents, particularly young residents, can break through perceived limitations. "We need not be overly constrained by local boundaries when pursuing goals. We can set our sights higher, and with collective efforts and strong support from the motherland, those lofty dreams are well within reach," he added.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi's visit will be the first visit to Canada by a Chinese foreign minister at the invitation of the Canadian side in 10 years, and is of great significance for consolidating the positive momentum in China-Canada relations, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Friday in response to a media inquiry on the background, main activities and China's expectations regarding Foreign Minister Wang Yi's visit to Canada.

Chinese Foreign Ministry announced on Friday that at the invitation of Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs Anita Anand, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will visit Canada from May 28 to 30.

Guo said that at present, China-Canada relations have achieved a turnaround and continue to develop in a positive direction. The two sides are working to build a new type of strategic partnership.

During the visit, Foreign Minister Wang will have in-depth exchanges with the Canadian side on advancing the implementation of the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries and the outcomes of Prime Minister Carney's visit to China in January, promoting the building of a truly productive new type of China-Canada strategic partnership, as well as international and regional issues of common concern, Guo said.

China looks forward to using this visit to enhance political mutual trust with Canada, expand mutually beneficial cooperation, properly manage differences, and continue to move China-Canada relations forward on a healthy, stable and sustainable track, so as to better benefit the two peoples, said the spokesperson. 

In light of last week's visit to China by US President Donald Trump and the upcoming visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun, when asked about the considerations behind the visits and what message China hopes to convey to the world through this series of diplomatic activities, said on Tuesday that China welcomes President Putin's state visit to China. 

China and Russia are comprehensive strategic partners of coordination for a new era. During President Putin's visit, the two heads of state will exchange views on bilateral cooperation in various fields and on international and regional issues of mutual interest, Guo said. 

Guo added that China has already released information regarding the visit by the US president.

Regarding cross-Straits ties related contents in Taiwan regional leader Lai Ching-te's May 20 speech and media briefing, Chen Binhua, a spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, said on Wednesday that Lai’s speech is rife with lies and deception, hostility and confrontation.

Stubbornly clinging to the erroneous stance of “Taiwan independence”, he peddles fallacies such as so called “sovereign independence” and “mutual non subordination”, hypes up the “mainland threat”, escalates cross Straits confrontation, and deliberately pursues “Taiwan independence through military means” and “relying on external forces for separatist gains,” undermining peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits. 

This once again confirms that he is nothing short of a saboteur of cross Straits peace and a creator of crises in the Taiwan Straits, Chen said.

While continuing to advocate “Taiwan independence” separatism and manipulate anti mainland sentiments, he hypocritically claims to promote cross Straits dialogue and exchanges, attempting to mislead public in Taiwan and deceive international public opinion. These habitual tricks have been seen through by a growing number of Taiwan people, Chen said.

“His deceptive and provocative acts are bound to meet firm opposition from compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Straits and the international community, and are doomed to failure,” Chen added.

Taiwan is China’s Taiwan and has never been a country — not in the past, and will never be one in the future. The Taiwan question is a leftover issue from China’s civil war in the 1940s. No matter how elections are held or who is elected in the Taiwan region after 1949, none can change Taiwan’s status as an inalienable part of China, sever the historical and legal bond that both sides of the Taiwan Straits belong to one China, or break the iron clad rule that the future of Taiwan can only be decided by all Chinese people, including Taiwan compatriots, Chen added.

Safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity is the unwavering will of all the sons and daughters of the Chinese nation. “We will never allow any individual or force to pursue separatist schemes for ‘Taiwan independence’ under any pretext,” Chen said.

The spokesperson added that "Taiwan independence" and cross-Straits peace are irreconcilable as fire and water, and is the chief culprit undermining cross Straits peace and stability. 

“We will uphold the one China principle and the 1992 Consensus, extensively unite Taiwan compatriots, resolutely combat ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist activities, and safeguard peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits. The irresistible tide of the motherland’s eventual and inevitable reunification surges forward relentlessly,” Chen said.