"If a kind of philosophy or a piece of literature can be passed down and inspire generations for thousands of years, this philosophy must contain universal value that can nourish people worldwide, just like Chinese philosophies of Taoism, Confucianism and Zen Buddhism," Tsai Chih-chung told the Global Times.

Tsai Chih-chung, born on the island of Taiwan, and spends much of his time in the Chinese mainland, is one of the world's artists with the most best-selling comics. Throughout his lengthy career, he has focused on uncovering the universal values he glimpsed in Chinese philosophy and literature, striving to make them accessible and popular by using plain language and engaging illustrations.

Tsai finally carved out his own literary niche. Nourished by these classics, his comic books have been translated into more than 20 languages and gone on sale in over 50 countries around the world.

The artist's ties with the Chinese mainland grows closer as time goes by. Residing in Hangzhou, East China's Zhejiang Province after becoming addicted to the "cultural atmosphere of the city," Tsai's personal gallery, which houses most of his lifelong manuscripts and masterpieces, opened in May in Gaoping, North China's Shanxi Province, a region historically associated with the ancient deified ruler Shennong, the Yan Emperor, the ancestor of Chinese civilization.

Like Tsai, other cultural luminaries, including Jiang Xun, in Taiwan feel bound to the essence of Chinese civilization and shared cultural roots across the Taiwan Straits, with their own creations and promoted the Chinese cultural essence to a larger number of audiences through comics and other art forms.

'Easy to understand'

Structured around uniform two-page spreads, each left-hand page features a full-height caption box displaying the original Chinese text of the Taoist philosopher Zhuangzi during the Warring States Period (475BC-221BC), which was mirrored by the same format on the right-hand page.

The delicate black lines of the drawings, the English text, the frames, and the ideographs come together in harmonious compositions that align beautifully with the themes of Zhuangzi's writings. The sage advice "Don't draw a boundary around the boundless" is enriched by this visual paradox. Additionally, Tsai established a visual rhythm by placing Zhuangzi's moral-like statements in the unframed white space of a concluding panel, emphasizing their significance.

This is the English version of one of Tsai's comic books, adapted from Zhuangzi's The Way of Nature, an ancient Taoist text. The image of Zhuangzi in the book features a mostly bald head roughly a third the size of his body, amusing readers with characters' exaggerated movements while adding humorous elements in the philosophical literature that is usually considered as abstruse.

Among his more than 200 titles, Tsai turns the ancient Chinese philosophers such as Zhuangzi, Laozi and Confucius into humorous images through his comics and simplifies the interpretations of their thoughts through many interesting stories, lowering the threshold for non-professionals to get access to the sage theories.

"I convey these traditional philosophical ideas to the world through the medium of comics as one of the mediums' advantages is that comics are easy to understand," Tsai told the Global Times. "You need to remember what your readers' demands are all the time."

Born in Changhua county on the island of Taiwan in 1948, Tsai taught himself the art of animation and founded the animation studio. The first full-length animated movie was produced by the studio in 1981.

Then Tsai developed a plan to adapt the major Chinese classics into comic book formats. The first was Zhuangzi Speaks, which immediately shot up the best-sellers list and stayed at the No. 1 spot for 10 months. Tsai's classic series took off since then.

Although Tsai has had excursion into so many sage thoughts in Chinese history, in his eyes, he has special bond with Taoism, the original philosophy created in China. His spiritual idol is Laozi, creator of Taoism, and he thought himself performs deeds as Zhuangzi, who maintained unconstrained mind and life.

Despite having sold over 60 million copies of his books around the world, Tsai has not slowed down in his creative endeavors.

Though settled in Hangzhou, Tsai has also moved his creations to the art gallery in Gaoping, bringing them closer to the source of his inspiration.

New window for exchanges

One important reason why Tsai chose Shanxi Province, one of the origins of Chinese civilization peppered with various relics and a long heritage, is because the Shanxi Province's rich historical atmosphere aligns perfectly with his works. He believes that the essence of Chinese civilization, deeply rooted in the city, offers abundant material and inspiration for his artistic creations.

Since its opening in May, coinciding with the person-to-person cross-Straits cultural activities honoring the Yan Emperor held in Gaoping, the gallery has welcomed over a thousand tourists per day on average to appreciate the artist's works.

The gallery has been recognized as a new platform for cross-Straits cultural exchanges, in addition to being a venue for appreciating and studying artworks, according to the director of the city's culture and tourism bureau.

These exchanges through artworks have spanned different generations of artists.

Veteran artists in Taiwan brought their exllcellent crafts to share with many young people through various audio and video programs, while cross-Straits younger artists are exchanging their ideas in art exhibitions held in diverse places on both sides of the Taiwan Straits.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Wednesday co-chaired the 29th regular meeting between Chinese and Russian heads of government with Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin in Moscow and said China is ready to work with Russia to strengthen all-round practical cooperation between the two countries, and push the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era to a new level. 

Analysts said that China-Russia ties remain solid and can withstand any impact and interruption from outside, and will continue to benefit the two peoples by boosting trade and comprehensive cooperation, while China's stance for peace on the Ukraine crisis will remain unchanged. 

While co-chairing the meeting between Chinese and Russian heads of government, Li said that China is ready to work with Russia to follow the strategic guidance of the two heads of state and take the opportunity of the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties to uphold mutual respect, mutual trust, everlasting friendship and mutual benefit.

Mishustin said Russia is ready to work with China to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, continue to deepen mutual trust, expand cooperation in investment, energy, economy and trade, culture and sub-national areas, and ensure the success of the Russia-China Years of Culture.

Mishustin pledged Russia will join China in strengthening communication and coordination in international affairs, better safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of the two sides, and pushing forward the bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era.

After the meeting, the two leaders signed a joint communique of the 29th regular meeting between Chinese and Russian heads of government and a new version of the outline of the China-Russia investment cooperation plan.

According to the Kremlin, Putin also met Li in Moscow on Wednesday. "Our countries have large-scale joint plans, projects in the economic and humanitarian areas, we expect them to last for many years," the RIA state news agency quoted Putin as saying.

Wang Xiaoquan, an expert with the Institute of Russian, Eastern European and Central Asian Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said that this is the 29th meeting between the heads of government of the two countries. This is proof that China-Russia relations have set a paradigm for major power relations in a world in turbulence, which is based on long-term and stable win-win cooperation and solid mutual trust and respect.

Comprehensive partnership

A key characteristic of the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for the new era is the comprehensive communication mechanism that covers almost all governmental sectors and departments in all fields, Wang noted.

The two countries will use the communication mechanism to jointly deal with problems that emerge when the two sides develop their relations, and they will constantly strengthen their mutual trust and tacit understanding, experts noted. 

China and Russia are both permanent members of the UN Security Council so they do have reason to maintain frequent and high-level communication to not only handle bilateral issues, but also to undertake diplomatic cooperation to jointly take responsibility to safeguard the multi-polarization process of the world, analysts said. 

"Therefore, the recent frequent exchanges between Chinese and Russian leaders and senior officials are not pushed by any other element or pressure, but are driven by normal demand of the two countries to develop their relations," Wang said.

Yang Jin, an associate research fellow with the Institute of Russian, Eastern European and Central Asian Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Wednesday that the meeting between the heads of government normally focuses on trade and economic issues, as well as implementation of the consensuses reached by the heads of state of the two countries.  

Currently, there are some changes in the battlefields of Russia-Ukraine conflict, but the exchanges between China and Russia have nothing to do with these changes. Normal cooperation between the two countries in all fields can effectively withstand the pressure and impacts from outside, and China's neutrality and stance for peace on the Ukraine crisis will not change, Yang noted.   

Deal with challenges

Mishustin said at the meeting with Li that Moscow and Beijing should jointly defend their interests and the principles of the multipolar world order in the conditions of Western sanctions pressure, Russian news agency Tass reported on Wednesday.

"Western countries are trying to maintain their global dominance and contain the economic and technological potential of Russia and China," Mishustin said.

"That is why it is important to concentrate efforts on protecting our common interests, building a multipolar world order and strengthening coordination on international platforms," Mishustin emphasized, according to Tass.

Cui Heng, a research fellow with the Center for Russian Studies of East China Normal University, said that in the past two years, the US and NATO have tried to stigmatize and interrupt China-Russia relations, but these attempts have failed, as the two countries are just doing what they should and what they must to take care of their people from the harms of Western sanctions. 

"Russian people have the right to live and enjoy economic development, so when Western firms withdraw from Russia, it's very natural that China and other economies from the Global South will come in, so the US and its followers are in no position to appoint blame about that," Cui noted.

Chinese golfer Cao Xinyu had a memorable 18th birthday celebration on Friday as the rookie pro defeated amateur Liu Yujie in a second-hole playoff to win her maiden China LPGA Tour title in a wet and wild finale to the Golf Liquor Guangdong Women's Open.

After heavy rain forced the suspension of play for nearly an hour, both Cao and 14-year-old Liu returned to the Zhuhai Lakewood Golf Club composite layout to complete their third round. With each closing with a two-under-par 70, the two players finished deadlocked on seven-under 209.

In the playoff, both players made two putts for par on the 401-yard 18th hole in the first hole of sudden death. Returning to the same hole again, Liu put her tee shot right into the rough. With Cao safely on the green in two, Liu put her approach to within seven yards of the pin after missing the green. She would then miss her par putt. Sitting 60 feet from the pin, Cao made no mistake in getting down in two putts to secure the win.

"I didn't believe in birthday luck until I made it today," said Shanghai native Cao, who earned 60,000 yuan ($8,278.44) for the win. "It's a coming-of-age ceremony for me. It's my maiden win, which boosts my confidence. I believe that I can have good finishes next week in Singapore and Beijing Pine Valley at the end of this month."

Pakin Kawinpakorn (69) finished third at two shots back as the Thai stumbled to a bogey five on the final hole, where she needed a birdie to join the playofsf. Her compatriot, Dolnapa Zukphokinvanich, was two shots further back in fourth after a final round 70.

Cao, who joined the paid ranks earlier this year after posting five top-five finishes against the pros last season as an amateur on the CLPGA Tour, was three shots behind playing partner Liu going into the 15th hole. It was there at the 540-yard hole that she started an amazing run of three consecutive birdies highlighted by a 45-foot birdie putt at the 16th hole.

With the two players even at seven-under going into the final hole of regulation, Cao nearly lost when her approach missed the green landing 45 yards short. After her third shot went over the pin, she then made a dramatic 25-foot downhill putt to force the playoff as Liu two-putted for par from 45 feet.

"The 18th hole was a beast," said Cao. 

"At the second extra hole, I really captured this unreal win. I won plenty of times at junior events but this is different. It's the toughest win for me."

Liu, daughter of table-tennis great Liu Guoliang, the two-time gold medallist at the 1996 Olympics, missed another opportunity to get her maiden win against a professional. Two weeks ago, the teenager was the overnight co-leader going into the final round at the Beijing Women's Challenge where she finished equal 10th.

Her round today included four birdies over the first 11 holes and two bogeys.
"After Beijing, I knew how to play in the final round. I played well today. I can get full marks from the way I played. I made my best efforts, especially in such poor conditions," said Liu, a winner of eight events on the amateur circuit over the past three years.

"I am excited to see my progress. It's my breakthrough. I also saw my deficiencies in this event, which would be good for my future. Hats off to sister Xinyu. She played well and deserved this win."

Pakin, who started the day three shots off the lead, made a move up the leaderboard immediately when she sank a five-foot birdie putt at the 347-yard opening hole. After holding it together in the wet conditions to post three more birdies and get close, the final hole proved her nemesis.

"I didn't look at the leaderboard because I didn't want to put a lot of pressure on myself," said the 32-year-old Kawin, winner of the 2018 Zhuhai Heritage. "My goal was to play my best out there but a bogey [on the final hole] was the best I could do."

Zhuhai Lakewood Golf Club is a 6,460-yard, par-72 composite course featuring nine holes from the Norman Course and nine from the Lakes Course.

The French National Olympic and Sports Committee (CNOSF) recently received four pieces of Chinese blue and white porcelain made by a Chinese artist, which highlighted the ongoing cultural exchange and appreciation between France and China during the Paris Olympic Games.

These artifacts not only showcase China's rich cultural heritage but also symbolize the universal values and global resonance of the Olympic spirit, according to the CNOSF.

In addition to these exquisite artifacts, the Chinese delegation arrived in Paris in style carrying some distinctive cultural icons, such as the Chinese athletes' suitcases featuring Terracotta Warriors, the official medal ceremony uniform featuring the Chinese dragon as well as the red-and-white attire for the opening ceremony.

Fan Yifeng, dean of the school of design at Dalian Minzu University, told the Global Times on Wednesday that integrating Chinese cultural icons with sports is a great way to promote the Chinese culture at international sports events.

"What impressed me most is the medal ceremony uniform, as the Chinese dragon element has been used for years in its design. The dragon-themed outfit is visually striking," said Fan.

"Sports transcend national boundaries. To promote the athletic spirit, it's important to work on how to better combine the Chinese culture with key sport-related words such as passion, vigor and vitality so as to reach a broader global audience," Fan noted.

On Tuesday, a Chinese sports culture exhibition themed on "Vigor and Sportsmanship" opened at the Bastille Design Center in Paris. Boasting 139 collections, the exhibition was designed to show the culture and spirit of Chinese sports, and introduce visitors to the practice of sports in ancient China.

The exhibition is also part of the celebrations for the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and France, showcasing the historical exchanges and mutual influence between China and France in various sports, including racing, cycling, tennis, soccer, and dragon boat racing. It highlights the shared human values embedded in the sports philosophies of both countries, reflecting a harmonious blend of Chinese and French sport cultures.
Auspicious uniform

On July 20, the renowned Chinese women volleyball team arrived in Paris. When they stepped out of the airport, a line of black suitcases drew public attention. Unlike their usual luggage, the new suitcases feature Chinese traditional motifs on and the wheels, sparkling golden light, and look like ancient chariot wheels.

The red and black suitcase, named "Yingyong"(bravery), is inspired by the scale armor of ancient Terracotta Warriors and is ornated with a bowtie similar to that of a general figure at the top. The golden wheels at the bottom draw inspiration from ancient chariot wheels, while the zipper heads are designed to resemble shields. The suitcase also has a metal plate on the front with the Chinese national flag, symbolizing the valor of leading an army into battle.

Bai Jianfeng, a member of the design team said that they sought inspiration from China's splendid civilization and world cultural heritage. The armor design signifies better protection for the athletes and also indicates that the Chinese sports delegation are our heroes, hoping they will return victorious, according to China Central Television News.

Olympic podium outfits from around the world have always garnered attention, and China's outfit lives up to expectations with its dragon-themed design elements.

Officially called the "Champions Dragon Outfit," the outfit is inspired by traditional Chinese aesthetics, featuring classic tailoring and white as its primary color.The design incorporates elements like dragon scales through embossing, patchwork, and embroidery, highlighting China's rich cultural heritage and the energetic spirit of its modern athletes.

Li Qian, a two-time Olympic medalist in women's middleweight boxing, highlighted the outfit's cultural significance. "The Year of the Dragon is very auspicious for Chinese people. This dragon-themed outfit is unique, and I hope to wear it on the Paris Olympic podium," Li told reporters.

In addition to their cultural symbolism, these uniforms utilize green technology, with the production process using eco-friendly materials like recycled nylon and recycled polyester, achieving over 50 percent carbon reduction.

Distinctive patterns

Many netizens have shared the view online that although aesthetic preferences may vary, the red and white outfit is simple and elegant.

"The dragon patterns on the arms and the dragon heads on the zippers reflect Chinese cultural characteristics and complement each other well," a netizen, surnamed Luo, told the Global Times.

"The combination of red and white is stunning. The cuffs and patterns look like superhero armor, very imposing," Paul Marfinetz, a sports fan from the US, told the Global Times.

The opening ceremony attire is named "Chasing Dreams" and incorporates rich elements of traditional Chinese culture. Both the men's and women's jackets feature patterns derived from the bricks of the Great Wall. This pattern, with its horizontal and vertical lines, conveys a sense of integrity and rigor.

The women's attire combines elements of the Chinese qipao and the traditional Song Dynasty (960-1279) costume, featuring bamboo patterns - a significant symbol in traditional Chinese culture representing harmony, unity, resilience, and continuous growth.

The men's shirts have a small standing collar with Chinese-style buttons, showcasing the Chinese spirit of perseverance and striving for excellence in the world.

Shining on the stage of Paris Olympic Games, these cultural icons provide an opportunity for global athletes to gain a better understanding of Chinese culture, promoting cultural exchanges between China and other countries.

When meeting with Philippine Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo in Vientiane, Laos on Friday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi warned the Philippine side over the deployment of a US intermediate missile system, and called on the Philippines to fulfill its commitments and refrain from changing its position as China has recently reached a temporary arrangement with the Southeast Asian country on the transportation and replenishment of humanitarian supplies to Ren'ai Jiao (Ren'ai Reef).

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that China and the Philippines are close neighbors across the sea, and good neighborliness, mutually beneficial cooperation and common development are in the fundamental interests of the two countries, according to the Xinhua News Agency. 

He noted that the positive and negative lessons of China-Philippines relations in recent years have proved time and again that it is not easy to build good relations, but it is easy to destroy them.

At present, Wang said, China-Philippines relations are facing serious difficulties and challenges, are rooted in the fact that the Philippine side has repeatedly violated the consensus of the two sides and its own commitments, continuously pushed the infringement of rights at sea and magnified  negative aspects of public opinion.

China is gravely concerned about and firmly opposes recent developments, Wang said.

He added that if the Philippines introduces a US intermediate missile system, it will create regional tension and confrontation, triggering an arms race, which is totally not in line with the interests and aspirations of the Filipino people.

Wang said that China has recently reached a temporary arrangement with the Philippines on the transportation and replenishment of humanitarian supplies to Ren'ai Jiao in order to maintain the stability of the maritime situation. The key is for the Philippine side to fulfill its commitments and refrain from changing its position. Otherwise, he noted, China will respond resolutely.

Wang pointed out that bilateral relations are now at a crossroads and there is no way out of conflict and confrontation, except for dialogue and consultation.

He expressed the hope that the Philippine side will seriously think about the future of China-Philippines relations and work with China to push bilateral relations back on the right track at an early date.

Manalo, for his part, said the Philippines and China have a long history of traditional friendship and have established a comprehensive strategic cooperative relationship based on equal treatment and mutual benefit, Xinhua reported.

Despite the difficulties and challenges faced by the two sides due to maritime issues, the Philippines is committed to easing the situation through dialogue and consultation, and dealing with differences constructively, Manalo said.

He noted that the recent meeting of the bilateral consultative mechanism on the South China Sea, during which both sides agreed to manage the maritime situation, reflects the goodwill of both sides without compromising on their respective positions.

The Philippines is willing to implement this consensus, Manalo said, noting that next year is the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and China, and the Philippines is willing to strengthen communication with China in a sincere and pragmatic manner to enhance mutual trust and improve bilateral relations.

The 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) will be held in Beijing from Sept. 4 to 6, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying announced on Tuesday.

The theme of the summit is "Joining Hands to Advance Modernization and Build a High-Level China-Africa Community with a Shared Future," Hua said, adding that leaders of FOCAC's African members will attend the summit at the invitation of the forum.

Representatives of relevant African regional organizations and international organizations will attend relevant forum events, she added.

China's major securities brokerage CSC Financial Co, an affiliate of China CITIC Group, on Saturday refuted any assistance of financial frauds in a recent intern incident, stating that the company is ready to accept supervision to ensure compliance. 

Regarding the companies that are potentially applying for getting listed revealed in the incident, CSC Financial said it will strive to minimize the impact on its clients and protect their rights and interests, said a statement seen on the company's social media account.

Industry insiders pointed out that the incident sent a warning that Chinese securities firms should enhance internal management, which will benefit the healthy development of the overall industry. 

CSC Financial Co made the announcement on Saturday following a social media post a day ago, about one of the company's interns flaunting a luxury car and leaking three investment banking projects, which went viral in Chinese social media on Friday.

According to the posting, the intern drove a luxury sports car to the office, played golf after work, and disclosed details of three companies that are potentially applying for IPOs, including warehouse automation company Hai Robotics, robot maker WYBOTICS Co, and China Energy Xinkong Technology Co. 

In a response, CSC Financial immediately formed a working group to conduct investigation and found out the intern was recruited abnormally, violating company rule, noting that the person in charge of the intern's recruitment was fired, and the company will seek accountability of the head of the department.

The case could produce ripple effects on brokerages' IPO business, Dong Shaopeng, a senior research fellow with the Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies at the Renmin University of China, told the Global Times on Sunday.

Dong said that the rush to increase IPOs may lead to companies' falsification, and fraudulent auditing work, and he called for more efforts from Chinese securities firms to refine their business operations and assets management.

China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) announced on April 9, 2024, to strengthen inspections on companies seeking IPOs in 2024 by increasing the intensity of inspections, the Xinhua News Agency reported. Inspections will be carried out on at least 25 percent of the applicants planning IPOs this year, up from about 5 percent in 2023.

There has been a notable surge in Chinese tourists booking flights and hotels in France and other European destinations, according to reports from multiple domestic travel platforms on Thursday. The Paris 2024 Olympic Games, set to open on July 26, have significantly increased interest in the city among Chinese tourists.

In the first week of the Olympics, flight bookings from major Chinese cities to Paris increased by over 150 percent year-on-year, and hotel bookings in central Paris surged more than fourfold, according to Tongcheng Travel. In terms of bookings, Paris is the second most popular European destination this summer, trailing only London, as reported by Qunar.

During the Olympics, average airfares from major Chinese cities to Paris have increased by over 10 percent compared to June. The most popular departure cities for travel to Paris and other major French destinations include Shanghai, Beijing, and Guangzhou, according to Tongcheng Travel.

In addition to traditional domestic group tours to Europe, destination group tours and customized tours are also popular. "Many Chinese tourists, while attending Olympic events, are opting for local tours in France, with in-depth tours of Paris or multi-day tours of nearby regions being particularly favored,"a representative from Tongcheng Travel told the Global Times on Thursday.

"I bought tickets for the Paris Olympic Games a year ago and booked the flights and hotel six months ago. The hotel costs 2,500 yuan ($350) per night, which is a bit expensive, but it's worth it to see the Chinese athletes in the table tennis finals!" a tourist from Beijing told the Global Times on Thursday.

"This time I'm traveling with my family and we've opted for a self-guided trip. Once we arrive in Paris, we'll decide whether to visit other countries since European destinations are close and flights are convenient," he added.

"Chinese people have always had a strong passion and interest in sporting events, especially the Olympics," Wang Jinwei, a professor from the School of Tourism Sciences at Beijing International Studies University told the Global Times on Thursday.

Paris has a deep connection with Olympic culture, hosting the Summer Olympic Games for the third time, following London. Also, as the "fashion capital," Paris has infused its local cultural flair into the event, such as the lavender-colored track. This unique blend of culture and history is a major draw for tourists, according to Wang.

"Additionally, because of the China's summer break, many students and families are heading to France for educational and cultural tours. The ease and speed of obtaining French visas, due to warming China-France relations, also play a significant role in facilitating these trips," Wang added.

The Paris Olympics, following the European Championship and coinciding with the summer holidays, has further boosted European travel interest. According to Qunar's data, from July 27 to the end of August, hotel bookings increased by 1.6 times in Italy, 1.5 times in Germany, and 1.67 times in both Spain and Switzerland compared to the same period last year. Average summer hotel prices in popular European destinations, such as Italy, Germany, and Spain, are 30 percent to 50 percent lower than those in France.

Aircraft manufacturer Boeing updated its market outlook, raising the demand for civil aircraft in the next 20 years from 42,595 in 2023 to nearly 44,000, an increase of approximately 3.24 percent, and China will lead all markets, being the largest single country market.

Air travel demand continues to outpace economic growth in an increasingly connected world. Four years after the pandemic grounded most of the global fleet, air traffic growth has returned to the long-term trend Boeing forecast 20 years ago.

Compared to 2023, passenger air traffic will rise an average of 4.7 percent annually over the next two decades, according to the forecast.

Boeing said South Asia passenger traffic will increase 7.4 percent, followed by Southeast Asia (7.2 percent) and Africa (6.4 percent), as emerging markets return to historical growth trends through the forecast period.

Eurasia is projected to lead all markets in airplane deliveries, accounting for 22 percent of the total, with North America and China each close behind at 20 percent, it said.

In terms of aircraft types, single-aisle aircraft will account for 71 percent of the fleet in 2043, while the growth of twin-aisle aircraft is mainly in the Middle East, which will account for 44 percent of the Middle East fleet in the future.

Boeing's rival Airbus also forecast in July that 45 percent of newly delivered aircraft will be used for replacements. Airbus predicts that the number of aircraft in its global fleet will double to 48,320 by 2043, while the number of aircraft in its global fleet in service in 2023 was 24,260.

Corresponding to the doubling of transport capacity, Airbus believes that passenger volume will more than double in the next 20 years.

In the first three years, passenger traffic will grow at an annual rate of about 8 percent to make up for growth lost during the epidemic. Starting in 2027, this indicator will return to about 3.6 percent. Airbus also believes that market growth in China and India will further shift the focus of aviation industry development to Asia.

However, contrary to optimistic market forecasts, the aircraft manufacturing chain is still "stuck" due to the loss of skilled technicians after the epidemic, shortage of raw materials, geopolitics and other factors, market insiders said.

Caixin reported that it will probably take 1-2 years for the supply chain to be fully restored.

Boeing is in the spotlight due to the door blowout incident earlier this year. In order to improve production quality, it lowered production speed. As of the first half of this year, Boeing has delivered 175 aircraft, 91 fewer than last year.

Data from Boeing's official website showed that it delivered 44 aircraft in June, making it Boeing's best month this year.

The Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC), the manufacturer of the home-made large aircraft C919 is also trying to grab a share of the aircraft manufacturing market. Up to now, COMAC has delivered six passenger aircraft to China Eastern Airlines.

COMAC has brought 1:20 scale C919 and C929 aircraft models to the public at the ongoing Farnborough International Air Show in the UK, according to information it shared with the Global Times.

Recent US solar sector bankruptcies have revealed a significant decline in its industrial competitiveness due to trade barriers, Chinese experts said on Sunday, noting that Chinese solar firms, with reduced dependence on the US market and driven by continuous technological innovation and supply chain advantages, will remain unaffected and continue to expand globally.

US investment bank Roth Capital Partners reported that over 100 US residential solar companies collapsed in 2023, six times the total of the previous three years. The firm predicts that more than 100 additional US solar companies are at risk of collapse.

Shares of SunPower, one of the largest solar equipment firms in the US, plunged 42 percent on Friday after Guggenheim Securities cut its price target to zero and warned of a potential delisting, following a 20 percent stock plummet on Thursday when the company announced it would pause some operations, according to media reports.

The bankruptcy wave among US solar companies is primarily attributed to their lack of competitiveness in the global supply chain, exacerbated by protectionist measures against advanced Chinese photovoltaic (PV) products, Lin Boqiang, director of the China Center for Energy Economics Research at Xiamen University, told the Global Times on Sunday.

"These measures have led to rising production and consumption costs for US businesses and consumers, as well as severely disrupting the global supply chain and global market," Lin said.

The US has employed WTO anti-dumping and anti-subsidy rules, along with domestic trade laws such as Sections 201 and 301, to restrict imports of Chinese PV products, resulting in minimal direct solar product exports from China to the US market.

In 2023, China's exports of PV cells to the US totaled $3.35 million, representing only 0.1 percent of its total exports, while PV modules totaled $13.15 million, making up a mere 0.03 percent of the overall export volume.

Recent years have seen a surge in global demand for PV products, and Chinese solar companies are reducing their dependence on the US market, with emerging markets such as the Middle East and Africa showing strong growth potential.

In recent months, major Chinese companies have unveiled plans to set up factories in the Middle East. On Tuesday, three leading Chinese solar firms, including JinkoSolar Co, TCL Zhonghuan Renewable Energy Technology Co and Sungrow, reached PV manufacturing agreements with Saudi Arabia, according to media reports.

US' protectionist measures, aimed at boosting the domestic industry by sanctioning Chinese PV companies, are proving ineffective and may backfire, Li Yong, a senior research fellow at the China Association of International Trade, told the Global Times on Sunday.

On May 14, the US announced tariff hikes on imports from China, including electric vehicles, lithium batteries and PV cells, adding to the existing Section 301 tariffs, according to media reports.

On June 7, the US issued a preliminary ruling in its investigation into solar products from four Southeast Asian countries, aiming to limit the entry of Chinese solar products into the US market.

"Global demand for renewable energy is surging amid the global green transition, providing Chinese solar manufacturers with significant opportunities to explore emerging markets. This expansion is expected to boost their global market share and competitiveness while also contributing positively to the global energy transition," Li said.

Experts noted that China's ramped-up efforts to increase its innovation capacity and competitive advantages will drive ongoing advancements in solar technology and cost reductions, which will enable it to explore broader markets.

Moreover, Chinese solar companies must adapt flexibly to the complex international trade environment, innovate their cooperation models, and develop diverse international partnerships to ensure long-term healthy development, they noted.