Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday stressed efforts to advance the building of a unified national market and promote the high-quality development of the marine economy.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks at a meeting of the Central Commission for Financial and Economic Affairs (CCFEA), which he heads.

In his speech at the meeting, Xi emphasized that building a unified national market is essential for creating a new development pattern and promoting high-quality development, urging strengthened coordination and cooperation to build synergy in related work.

Xi stressed that advancing Chinese modernization requires promoting the marine economy's high-quality development and forging a Chinese path of leveraging marine resources to achieve strength.

It was noted at the meeting that the basic requirement for advancing the building of a unified national market is to unify underlying market institutions, market infrastructure, government conduct, regulatory enforcement, and markets of production factors and resources, while continuously expanding opening up both internally and externally.

Efforts must be made to regulate enterprises' disorderly price competition in accordance with laws and regulations, standardize government procurement as well as tendering and bidding processes, regulate local governments' investment attraction practices, and facilitate sales of export-oriented products at domestic market.

It is also imperative to improve fiscal and taxation systems, statistics and accounting systems, and credit systems to foster a unified national market, and to refine evaluation frameworks for high-quality development and system for assessing officials' performance.

To promote the high-quality development of the marine economy, there should be a greater focus on innovation-driven growth, efficient coordination, industrial renewal, harmony between human and the sea, and win-win cooperation, according to the meeting.

It also emphasized increasing policy support and encouraging private capital participation in the marine economy.

China should boost its capacity for marine technological innovation, strengthen, optimize and expand its marine industries, enhance marine ecological protection, and promote global cooperation in marine scientific research, disaster prevention and mitigation, and the blue economy, the meeting said.

Li Qiang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, Chinese premier and deputy director of the CCFEA, Cai Qi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, a member of the CPC Central Committee Secretariat and a member of the CCFEA, and Ding Xuexiang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, Chinese vice premier and a member of the CCFEA, attended the meeting.

China announced at a press conference on Thursday that an evening gala will be held on Sept. 3 in Beijing to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.

The event will be jointly organized by the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the China Media Group, the Political Work Department of the China Military Commission and the Beijing municipal government, according to the State Council Information Office.

China designated Sept. 3 as Victory Day to mark the signing of the Japanese Instrument of Surrender on Sept. 2, 1945.

China and the US should establish a strategic framework for coexistence to avoid falling into the Thucydides's Trap, a concept popularized by Harvard University Professor Graham Allison, which he said is crucial for both countries and the world, Allison said during his meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Wednesday, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry's website on Thursday.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, praised Professor Allison for his efforts in promoting mutual understanding between China and the US and exploring ways for the two countries to coexist. He noted that Chinese people value the concept of "harmony without uniformity," a traditional Eastern philosophy that is fundamentally different from the Western zero-sum mentality of "black or white, you-lose-I-win." 

This philosophy promotes harmonious coexistence through mutual respect and recognition of differences, while expanding common interests. Wang emphasized that China and the US now need to construct a new narrative to guide future interactions between major powers..

Mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation are China's fundamental principles in managing relations with the US. It is hoped that both sides will work together to properly address the fundamental issue of mutual perception, fasten the "first button" of China-US relations correctly, and, in line with the three principles, find the right way for the two major countries to coexist, Wang said.

People of insight from various sectors are also expected to play an active role in fostering an objective and positive understanding of China and in promoting sound interactions between the two countries, Wang added.

Allison observed that the concept of "harmony without uniformity" aligns with the American value of embracing diversity. 

Living on the same planet, deeply interconnected, both sides should pursue a strategic framework for coexistence to avoid falling into the Thucydides's Trap. 

A new principled framework should be established to guide the future development of bilateral relations, with mutual respect as the first principle. Allison also expressed his willingness to continue contributing to enhancing communication and promoting the stable development of relations between the two sides.

On June 26 local time, the National Assembly of Nicaragua unanimously approved a proposal submitted by the Presidential Office to join the International Organization for Mediation (IOMed), officially marking the country's accession to the organization, according to CCTV News. 

To meet the international community's demand for a professional mediation body, China took the lead in promoting the signing of the Convention on the Establishment of the IOMed. The organization aims to fill a longstanding institutional gap in the field of international mediation, according to the report. 

The signing ceremony of the Convention on the Establishment of the IOMed was held on May 30 in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. About 400 high-level representatives from 85 countries and nearly 20 international organizations attended the signing event. Among them, 33 countries signed the convention on-site, making them the founding members of the IOMed, according to the Xinhua News Agency. 

To celebrate the 28th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland and the Chinese People's Liberation Army's garrisoning in Hong Kong, the PLA Hong Kong Garrison held an open day event from Saturday to Sunday, inviting Hong Kong residents to visit the barracks in Ngong Shuen Chau, Shek Kong and San Wai, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

At Ngong Shuen Chau Barracks, a grand flag-raising ceremony was held at around 10 am on Saturday. As the national anthem played, the guard of honor marched in precise steps. Residents and garrison personnel stood at attention, saluted the national flag and sang the anthem.

Troops performed military demonstrations including bayonet exercises and hunter combat training to showcase their combat capabilities. In the equipment exhibition area, residents experienced handling firearms, observed military vehicles, boarded naval vessels and learned rope-tying techniques and conducted simulated shooting under the soldiers' guidance, according to Xinhua.

A helicopter flight demonstration drew large crowds at Shek Kong Barracks, with pilots expertly performing stunts such as sharp dives and sudden climbs. Still buzzing with excitement after the show, many residents visited the air force equipment display area to take photos in front of the helicopter.

Numerous local families visited the exhibition center to learn about the history and achievements of the Communist Party of China (CPC), the nation, and the military.

Hong Kong resident Jelly Chou took her child Xiaoye (alias) on Saturday to visit the Shek Kong Barracks, where Xiaoye experienced standing at military posture, toured the exhibition center, and listened to the stories of PLA soldiers stationed in Hong Kong.

Under the guidance of soldiers, Xiaoye also experienced simulated shooting. "My kid later told me that she wants to join the PLA after she grows up," Chou said. 

During the open day, the garrison staged themed performances showcasing the troops' loyalty to their mission and the deep bond between soldiers and Hong Kong residents.

Chou told the Global Times on Sunday that she was profoundly impressed and reassured within the barracks. "Children of my kid's generation live in a peaceful and advanced life, lacking practical understanding of those who silently safeguard them," Chou said, adding that the open day effectively helps children understand where peaceful life originates and appreciate the greatness of the PLA and the motherland.

"The sense of pride in the motherland should be instilled in children at an early age," she said. 

This marks the 35th open day held by the garrison, which has received 930,000 visits over the past 28 years. In recent years, the garrison has organized activities such as summer camps and patriotic education programs, and has taken part in tree planting, elderly care and childcare initiatives, according to Xinhua.

A NATO summit is set to be held on Tuesday and Wednesday in the Dutch city of the Hague, as the US pushes its allies to sharply increase their defense spending to 5 percent of their gross domestic product (GDP).

However, the goal has not only faced diverging reactions inside the bloc, but also prompted hundreds of protesters who took to the streets of The Hague on Sunday to show their discontent at NATO's climbing defense spending and a possible war with Iran, European portal euronews.com reported.

Even if the NATO summit agrees on the target as a symbol of unity, it will be difficult to deliver, Chinese observers said, adding that the upcoming summit is likely to once again demonstrate the transatlantic rift as NATO becomes obsolete and irrelevant, and it is no wonder that the leaders of Japan and South Korea have decided to skip it.

According to CNBC, the 5 percent figure is made up of 3.5 percent of GDP that should be spent on "pure" defense, with an extra 1.5 percent of GDP going to security-related infrastructure, such as cyber warfare capabilities and intelligence.

NATO members on Sunday signed off on this budget increase pledge, but Spain has struck a deal to be exempt from it.

Lü Xiang, a research fellow on US studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, doubted if the 5 percent pledge can ever be delivered.

Some NATO members don't even meet the 2 percent threshold that was agreed over a decade ago. While they might pledge to increase defense spending, whether these promises materialize will be the key question, CNBC reported.

The US is the core of NATO, but the incumbent US administration's policy is far from inclined to cooperate with traditional allies, as it makes no commitment to its allies and does not rely on them in international affairs, Lü told the Global Times on Monday.

Lü cited the example of the US' handling of the Israel-Iran conflict. As Germany, the UK and France engaged with Iran on Friday in a bid to avoid further escalation, and saying Iran is fundamentally willing to continue talks, per Deutsche Welle, the US launched strikes against the country's nuclear facilities the following day - "very likely without communication with its transatlantic allies," the expert said.

Without security commitments or strategic coordination, "the remaining value of NATO for the US is as a buyer of US arms," and the increase in defense budget will highly likely flow into the US given Europe's less than complete defense industry, Lü said.

"Hopefully, Trump is not going to leave early like he did from the recent G7 meeting in Canada," Jamie Shea, a former NATO official, told Deutsche Welle.

In the Hague, as was the case in Canada, there will be no lengthy communique, only short statements about new commitments, Politico reported.

There is widely existing anxiety within NATO as the alliance is becoming obsolete and irrelevant, Lü said, using the term "zombification" to describe this alliance born in the Cold War that is no longer compatible with the current global landscape.

Sources related to NATO earlier revealed to Nikkei that Trump wants to hold a meeting with leaders from Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand, the so-called four Indo-Pacific nations (IP4), during the NATO summit in the Netherlands.

But that IP4 meeting is unlikely and leaders of Japan and South Korea may not show up at the summit.

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has cancelled plans to attend the NATO summit in The Hague this week, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Monday. The ministry said only that "various circumstances" had led to the cancellation.

Japan has also scrapped the planned July 1 meeting in Washington of foreign and defense ministers (known as "2+2") with the US, media reported Sunday, citing an unofficial overture from Washington requesting that Tokyo increase its defense spending to 3.5 percent of GDP.

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung ultimately determined that "it was simply not feasible" to attend in person, citing "a confluence of urgent domestic issues and growing instability in the Middle East," the Chosun Daily reported Monday.

Da Zhigang, director of the Institute of Northeast Asian Studies at the Heilongjiang Provincial Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times that the US has been exploiting both its allies' security dependence on Washington and their psychological need for greater security assurances in this volatile landscape full of tensions and disputes.

However, with "America first" on its mind, the current administration is not interested in providing substantial benefits, nor will it respond to Japan and South Korea's needs to communicate on other topics such as tariffs, the expert said.

Chinese Ambassador Jiang Zaidong met with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday local time and exchanged views on the current Pakistan-India situation, according to a press release published by the Chinese Embassy in Pakistan on its WeChat account on Friday.

Prime Minister Sharif briefed the ambassador on recent tensions between India and Pakistan, which were triggered by a sudden incident in the Kashmir region. He expressed appreciation for China's constructive efforts to promote peace and stability in South Asia and to help de-escalate the situation, according to the release.

Sharif reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to safeguarding its national sovereignty, security, and dignity, and expressed a willingness to continue communication and coordination with all parties to jointly prevent further escalation and uphold peace and stability in South Asia, the press release stated.

Jiang thanked Prime Minister Sharif and stated that China understands Pakistan's legitimate security concerns and supports its efforts to safeguard national sovereignty and security interests. Jiang expressed China's support for a prompt and impartial investigation into the incident and called on both India and Pakistan to exercise restraint, meet each other halfway, properly manage differences, and jointly safeguard regional peace and stability.

Tensions between the two South Asian neighbors escalated following a deadly attack on tourists in Pahalgam, in Indian-controlled Kashmir, earlier this month, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

Fears of a broader conflict intensified earlier this week when Pakistani Information Minister Attaullah Tarar posted on X on April 30 that his country had "credible intelligence that India intends carrying out military action against Pakistan in the next 24-36 hours." CNN later reported that the timeframe had passed without incident. 

Pakistani and Indian fighter jets were involved in a brief standoff around the airspace over the Line of Control late Tuesday night, Pakistani security sources said on Wednesday, Xinhua reported on Wednesday. 

Four Rafale fighter jets of the Indian Air Force conducted a high-altitude patrol in the airspace over the Indian-controlled Kashmir along the Line of Control, prompting an immediate and vigilant response from Pakistan's Air Force, the sources told Xinhua.

Indian local media such as the Hindu also reported on Wednesday that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that the Indian armed forces have his full confidence and "complete operational freedom to decide on the mode, targets and timing" of India's response in the aftermath of Pahalgam attack.

Also, the director general of the Pakistani military's media wing on Tuesday accused India of being directly involved in orchestrating acts of terrorism within Pakistan, presenting "irrefutable evidence" of "state-sponsored terrorism," Xinhua reported in another report on Wednesday. 

China is displaying a selection of its top aviation products including the J-10CE and FC-31 fighter jets at an international defense expo that kicked off on Tuesday in Malaysia, with a Chinese expert saying that Chinese military aircraft and their associated systems could become good choices for potential international buyers.

The 17th edition of the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA 2025) kicked off in Langkawi, Malaysia on Tuesday, with defense and associated companies from around the globe eyeing a higher profile in Asia's defense sector, the Xinhua News Agency reported on Tuesday.

China National Aero-Technology Import & Export Corporation (CATIC) brought models of the J-10CE fighter jet and the FC-31 fighter jet to the expo, the military channel of China Central Television (CCTV) reported on Tuesday.

Many visitors gathered at the CATIC booth to see these two models, according to the CCTV report.

Recently, China's made-for-export J-10CE fighter jet has been under the spotlight, with major media outlets having focused on the news that the J-10CE has recently achieved its first real combat success.

Fu Qianshao, a Chinese military affairs expert, told the Global Times that the J-10CE is a combat-proven warplane. With advanced avionics and radar systems plus the PL-15E missile, the aircraft has strong beyond-visual-range combat capabilities.

Displaying a model of the J-10CE at the LIMA 2025 showed China's willingness to promote the export of the aircraft. With the J-10CE being a top-class fighter jet, many countries could consider procuring to modernize their warplane fleet, Fu said.

Wang Ya'nan, chief editor of Beijing-based Aerospace Knowledge magazine, told the Global Times that the J-10 series fighter jet has also been widely deployed by the Chinese military, which adds to the aircraft's reliability.

Besides the fourth-generation fighter jet J-10, China is also offering the fifth-generation fighter jet FC-31. It is more and more likely that Chinese defense products will gain a greater share in the international market in the future, Wang said.

In addition to the J-10CE and the FC-31 fighter jets, the Chinese booth also displayed models of the Y-20 strategic transport aircraft, the Y-9 tactical transport aircraft, the Z-10 attack helicopter and the Z-9 multirole helicopter, the CCTV report showed.

Fu said that China is exhibiting complete systems of aviation equipment, including different genres of aircraft of different sizes and purposes. They can meet the different demands of potential international buyers, who can choose from the Chinese products based on their needs.

It also showed that China's aviation industry is developing in all directions, offering all types of products, Fu said.

The LIMA 2025 is scheduled to last until Saturday. Organized biennially, the exhibition features 860 exhibitors representing various sectors in maritime and aerospace. They will be joined by 140 delegates from 46 countries and regions, including heads of military, enforcement agencies and other government officials, according to the organizer, Xinhua reported.

May 22 marked the fourth anniversary of the passing of two of China's most revered scientists: Yuan Longping, known as the "father of hybrid rice," and Wu Mengchao, the country's top hepatobiliary surgeon. Chinese netizens expressed their respect and remembrance online, honoring the legacy and scientific spirit of the two great figures.

Hashtags such as "Grandpa Yuan and Grandpa Wu have left us for four years," "Missing two stars who have left us" and "Tribute to Wu and Yuan" garnered more than 150 million views on social media platform Sina Weibo as of press time. Many netizens left heartfelt messages to commemorate the contributions of the two scientists.

Yuan, a pioneer in hybrid rice research, was the first scientist in the world to successfully harness the heterosis of rice. He died of illness in Changsha, Hunan Province, at 1:07 p.m. on May 22, 2021, at the age of 91, according to the Xinhua News Agency.

According to media outlet Jimu News, on Thursday morning, flower baskets and bouquets were placed at Yuan's memorial site in Changsha, with many visitors leaving notes. "Deeply cherish the memory of academician Yuan Longping!" read one message. One bouquet carried the note: "Studying agriculture at university, great achievements await! Grandpa Yuan, I've fulfilled my dream to study crop science — I will strive to achieve great things. Rest in peace."

Wu Mengchao, known as the "father of Chinese hepatobiliary surgery" and academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, also passed away on May 22, 2021, at the age of 99. He established a unique system of liver surgery in China and dedicated his life to saving patients, continuing to operate and treat patients well into his 90s.

Media in China also released articles to pay tribute to the deceased scientists. An article published by Fujian Daily described Wu's hands, calloused and curved from decades of gripping surgical tools, as the legendary "Hands of God" in China's hepatobiliary medical community. Yuan's hands, by contrast, sowed seeds of hope in fields across the nation, tirelessly pursuing his dream that "no one would ever go hungry again."

Wu dreamed of a future without liver cancer. Yuan once said: "I have always had two dreams: the first is to pursue higher and higher yields of rice; the second is to see hybrid rice planted across the globe. I've worked hard to realize these dreams and hope to inspire others to join me."

"Two pairs of hands, three dreams—as long as we remember them, they never truly leave us," wrote the article.

The Japan-China Friendship Parliamentarians' Union concluded its three-day visit to Beijing on Tuesday, which an expert said reflects their desire to contribute positively to the stabilization and improvement of China-Japan relations. The visit came shortly after a trip to China by a delegation from Japan's Komeito Party, led by its leader Tetsuo Saito, from April 22 to 24.

China's top legislator Zhao Leji met with Hiroshi Moriyama, chairman of the Japan-China Friendship Parliamentarians' Union and secretary-general of Japan's Liberal Democratic Party, in Beijing on Tuesday, Xinhua News Agency reported.

Zhao, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, said that China stands ready to work with Japan to implement the important outcomes reached by the leaders of the two countries, abide by the principles and consensus of the four political documents between China and Japan, adhere to win-win cooperation, and promote the steady and long-term development of bilateral ties along the right track, according to Xinhua.

Moriyama said that promoting the comprehensive advancement of the Japan-China strategic relationship of mutual benefit is the main direction for the development of bilateral ties, Xinhua reported.

The parliamentarians' union is ready to work with the Chinese side to enhance economic and trade cooperation and cultural exchanges, properly address differences, and foster mutual understanding, Moriyama said.

In response to an inquiry about the Japan-China Friendship Parliamentarians' Union expressing their hope that China will lease giant pandas to Japan again during their talk with the Chinese side in Beijing during their recent visit to China, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Tuesday that giant pandas living in Japan are loved by people there. When giant panda Xiang Xiang was about to return to China in 2023, many locals were reluctant to see Xiang Xiang leave, and waited in long lines to say goodbye to her, said Guo.

Over the years, China and Japan have achieved good results in giant panda breeding, scientific research, technical exchanges and raising public awareness, said Guo.

"We welcome Japan's continuous interest in international cooperation on giant panda conservation and support for China's giant panda conservation endeavor to jointly protect this special species. As far as I know, the two countries maintain close communication on relevant cooperation," said Guo.

On Monday, Liu Jianchao, minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee (IDCPC), also met with the delegation in Beijing, according to a statement published by the IDCPC on Tuesday.

Unilateralism and protectionism harm the common interests of all countries. As major economies in the world, China and Japan should uphold openness and inclusiveness, and jointly safeguard the global free trade system, Liu said during the meeting.

Yang Wanming, president of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), on Monday welcomed the delegation and praised the parliamentarians' union for its efforts to improve and develop relations between the two countries, saying that the current situation of China-Japan relations is at a critical period for improvement and development, according to the CPAFFC.

"The parliamentarians' union is an influential group within Japan's political circles, representing pro-China forces in the country. The visit reflects their desire to play a role and exert influence in the current situation, contributing positively to the stabilization and improvement of China-Japan relations," Xiang Haoyu, a research fellow at the China Institute of International Studies, told the Global Times on Tuesday.

Since last year, through joint efforts, China-Japan relations have shown signs of steady improvement. Under US pressure, Japan sees improving ties with China as expanding its diplomatic flexibility, reflecting the Ishiba administration's pragmatic approach to foreign policy, Xiang said.

The delegation's visit will also create a certain "model effect," encouraging more individuals in Japanese political circles to visit China and understand its latest developments and changes. This will be beneficial for establishing a relatively positive, objective, and rational perception of China within Japan, Xiang noted.