In a shocking turn of events, police officers in North China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region accidently found a restaurant adding illegally poppy husk power to food, after two auxiliary police officers who had a breakfast there tested positive for morphine in their urine, but they denied they have taken drugs.

According to China News Service on Monday, during a drug test recently conducted by the local police department in Uxin Banner, Ordos city, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, the two auxiliary police officers were shocked that they tested positive for morphine. But after several retests, the results remained positive. 

Local authorities immediately launched an investigation, leading to a crucial clue coming to light.

It turns out that on the morning of the urine test, the two officers had breakfast together at a popular roujiamo (also known as a Chinese hamburger) restaurant. Subsequently, undercover police officers went to the shop to purchase the same breakfast, but their results came back negative, leaving the investigators puzzled. Could it really be their colleagues breaking the law?

The investigators then revealed their identities and engaged in a conversation with the restaurant owner. Upon inspecting the kitchen, an old chopping board caught their attention. Samples were taken from the board and tested positive for morphine. So, the officers' abnormal urine test results were due to consuming roujiamo containing poppy husk. 

The couple, surnamed Lei and Li, who owned the restaurant, illegally purchased poppy husk as they wrongly believe food with the ingredient would be tastier. They ground the poppy husk into powder and added it to the food before selling it to customers. 

The local public security bureau has taken coercive measures against the two suspects for the crime of producing and selling toxic and harmful food, and the case is under further investigation.

According to China News Service, poppy husk contains substances like morphine that can lead to addiction and have toxic effects on the liver and heart with prolonged consumption. The residual alkaloids in poppy husk can numb the nerves and organs.

It is illegal to add poppy husk to food in China. According to the Criminal Law of the People's Republic of China, those who mix toxic and harmful non-food materials into food during production and sale face imprisonment of up to five years and a fine. 

China's trade deficit with its fourth largest trade partner, South Korea, expanded sevenfold during the first seven months of the year, as imports from the country accelerated, data from China's General Administration of Customs showed on Wednesday.

Trade with South Korea increased by 8 percent during the period to reach 1.32 trillion yuan ($184.07 billion), as the country becomes China's fourth largest trading partner. Trade with the Asian neighbor accounted for 5.3 percent of China's total trade.

China's imports from South Korea shot up by 16.4 percent to reach 720.11 billion yuan, with exports to the country came down by 0.6 percent to reach 600.47 billion yuan, GAC data showed. 

China's trade deficit with South Korea reached 119.64 billion yuan in the first seven months.

The foreign trade growth sped up by 0.4 percentage points from a reading of 7.6 percent during the January-June period, according to GAC. Imports growth also expanded by 0.7 percentage points as Chinese factory owners are purchasing more parts and materials to be turned into finished goods for export.

In July, South Korea, a leading indicator of China's tech imports, saw its China-bound exports leap 14.9 percent to hit a 21-month high of $11.4 billion, according to Reuters, citing data from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Korea International Trade Association.

It made China once again the leading destination for South Korean products in the first seven months this year, the Yonhap news agency reported on Sunday, thanks to rising shipments of semiconductors.

Chinese experts attribute the rapid trade growth to the limitations of the relentless US chip trade restrictions imposed on China.

Li Tianguo, an associate professor at the National Institute of International Strategy, attributed China's widening trade deficit with South Korea to the trade of high-tech and intermediate products such as semiconductors, wireless communication equipment, and display panels.

"Currently, demand in the global semiconductor market is picking up, with inventory levels of related manufacturers continuing to decline and prices returning to normal levels, causing China's imports from South Korea to rise accordingly, ultimately expanding China's trade deficit with South Korea," Li told the Global Times on Wednesday.

Experts forecast that multiple cities in China will experience extended period of extreme heat in August, with authorities proactively taking measures such as turning off display lights to address challenges posed by peak electricity consumption.

With blistering heat set to once again descend over China, Jia Xiaolong, deputy director from China's National Climate Center (NCC), suggested that the relevant authorities should be ready to make preparations for the energy supply during peak period for electricity consumption, Xinhua News Agency reported.

Hangzhou in East China's Zhejiang Province has implemented measures such as pausing non-essential landscape lighting and suspending light shows from Monday to Friday to manage the power load during the ongoing extreme heat wave, local authorities announced on Tuesday.

The West Lake, a famed attraction located in Hangzhou, will temporarily suspend the power-generating musical fountains from August 6 to August 9, the site's management department said on Tuesday.

According to the State Grid Zhejiang Electric Power Co Ltd, the average household electricity consumption of Hangzhou residents in July totaled 549 kilowatt-hours (kWh), ranking first in the province, with 57 percent of the households doubling their electricity consumption from the previous month.

In July, Shanghai authorities released an electricity proposal, prioritizing household energy consumption, essential projects and business activities which support critical services. 

A district in Southwest China's Chongqing Municipality requested merchants to turn off their electronic advertising billboards from 12 pm to 8 am, suggesting that outdoor digital advertisings should be switched off or keep a low light level, an official from the local government announced in July.

East China's Jiangxi Province urged officials to avoid working with lights turned on during daytime or when offices are unoccupied and leaving the lights on all the time, according to an electricity conservation initiative issued by the local government.

Electricity conservation measures put in place by East China's Anhui Province suggested public institutions to act as standard bearers, such as setting the office air-conditioning higher than 26 C, suspending elevator access to low floors. Also, industrial enterprises are expected to voluntarily carry out staggered schedule for power use to minimize energy consumption and costs.

It is expected that in the first half of August, China will see two periods of extreme heat, of which August 3 to 7 searing heats in southern China will be featured by a wide range and high intensity. Temperatures in cities of East China's provinces, including Anhui, Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Jiangxi will reach 39 C to 42 C, Jia told Xinhua.

US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell stated on Tuesday that the US is "far behind" China in Africa and other "Global South" regions and "has much more work to do" during a hearing about assessing the US' ability to compete with China, the South China Morning Post reported. It is evident why Washington is showing anxiety in this regard. After all, the US has failed to prevent China from gaining increasing recognition and popularity in the Global South.

Currently, America's foreign diplomacy, lacking strategy and consistency, is closely focused on China, which makes its foreign policies short-sighted without a long-term plan. The purpose of Campbell talking about the Global South is clear. American policymakers, such as Campbell, cannot tolerate China's rising influence and power, so the US must confront China in all areas where China asserts its influence. In essence, the US' call for "more work to do" in Global South countries is simply a strategy to manipulate and weaponize these nations, using them as tools against China.

From the perspective of Washington, the Global South is now an integral part of the strategic competition between the US and China. The so-called "more work to do" in the Global South countries means that the US simply treats the Global South as a new frontline to compete with China, at the expense of turning these countries into a crisis-prone area. This is certainly not what the Global South and the international community expect.

The reason why the US lags far behind China's influence in Africa and other "Global South" regions is simple. The American elites have long ignored and paid little attention to Africa and other "Global South" regions. In their eyes, these regions are nothing more than "colonies" only with raw materials and markets to be harvested. America's sudden interest in the Global South comes from its utilitarian purpose to compete with China. The Global South is seen as nothing but a tool. If it were not for China's influence, the US would not pay attention or take it seriously at all.

Fortunately, the Global South is now fully aware of US' geopolitical intentions of creating small cliques and provoking confrontation. They will not easily be fooled by the US. The US hopes to drive a wedge between China and other Global South countries. However, the cooperation achievements made by China and other Global South countries based on equality, mutual benefit, and mutual respect are obvious to all, and such South-South cooperation is unshakable. "Global South" countries are not cargo on the geopolitical train led by any major power, instead, they are the driving force for world peace and development. They are not willing to be pawns and tools for the US to pursue its own geopolitical interests.

Furthermore, consider the way the US treats its own allies. Examples of the US betraying allies and making empty promises abound. In 2022, the US-led G7 announced it would raise $600 billion in support for some countries of the Global South, but this promise is still yet to be met. Such actions by the US have already eroded its influence and credibility significantly in the Global South.

The US' attention on the Global South, driven solely by geopolitical interests, is neither long-lasting nor sincere. As countries in the Global South gain a clearer and more profound understanding of the irresponsibility in US diplomacy, their resistance against US actions will undoubtedly become firmer and stronger. 

Philippine fishermen and environmental groups gathered in Quezon City for a forum to express their concerns about the risks of the Philippines becoming embroiled in a "proxy war" as a result of US military bases in the country. The gathering coincided with reports of joint maritime exercises between the Philippines and US navies in the South China Sea on Wednesday. The participants voiced their strong opposition to this potential escalation of tensions.

These groups condemned the high risks associated with increased militarization, emphasizing the need to focus on "Jobs, Not Wars" and peaceful dialogues to resolve tensions in the South China Sea. They oppose "aggression and wars" in the Philippines and the ASEAN region, saying that territorial tensions should not be used as an excuse for conflict.

The US and the Philippines began joint maritime activities in November to enhance their militaries' ability to operate in tandem amid strained tensions with China in the South China Sea. Experts say this move undoubtedly further militarizes the South China Sea and escalates the risk of conflicts.

During the forum, participants also highlighted the urgent need for the Philippine government to address environmental hazards, citing the recent oil tanker accident and subsequent oil spill in Manila Bay as a critical issue. The spill has adversely affected coastal areas, including Bataan, Bulacan and other nearby regions, posing significant threats to the livelihoods of local fishermen and the environment, according to the organizers.

Fishermen are calling on the government to prioritize solving domestic fishing livelihood and safety issues, rather than focusing on conflicts involving the intervention of external forces.

Pablo Rosales, National Chairperson of PANGISDA Pilipinas (National Federation of Small Fisherfolk), emphasized the disastrous impact of the oil spill on small fisherfolk, criticizing the government's negligence and demanding accountability from both the government and corporations involved.

Edlyn Rosales of PANGISDA Bataan stressed the immediate need for comprehensive environmental protection measures, highlighting the importance of sustainable jobs and a clean environment over wars that destroy resources and futures.

Efren Dominico, representing the United Federation of Fisherfolk in Lamao, Aurora Province of the Philippines, pointed out the long-term ecological damage caused by such spills and the slow response in mitigating these hazards. He asserted that the presence of military bases only heightens the risk of environmental disasters.

The forum also featured some regional leaders who reiterated their opposition to wars and aggression, advocating for a peaceful resolution to disputes in the South China Sea. They condemned the military presence and its implications on national security and local stability.

Veronica Cabe of NFBM (Nuclear Free Bataan Movement) highlighted the broader implications of militarization on national security and environmental sustainability, emphasizing the need to resist becoming pawns in a proxy war.

The groups urged the government to prioritize the welfare of its citizens over geopolitical interests, advocating for transparency and accountability in handling environmental and national security issues.

Since China announced its commitment to gradually raising the retirement age in a flexible and voluntarily manner, which is currently one of the lowest levels globally, many have hailed the policy as it allows people to work for more years in line with longer life expectancy. However, others remain skeptical.

One line of popular speculation online is that individuals born after 1990 may have to retire at the age of 65. Another common belief is that a delayed retirement would mean delayed access to pensions.

Gradually raising the retirement age in a prudent and orderly manner based on the principles of "voluntary participation with appropriate flexibility" was outlined in the Resolution of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) on Further Deepening Reform Comprehensively to Advance Chinese Modernization, which was adopted at the third plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee.

The varied opinions on raising the retirement age are understandable, as each group has their own working status and lifestyle, which explains why the resolution highlights the principles of "voluntary participation with appropriate flexibility", Song Jian, a demographer from the Center for Population and Development Studies of the Renmin University of China told the Global Times on Thursday.

While acknowledging concerns of some people, especially the young, about uncertainties regarding the future, it is important to recognize that increasing the retirement age is not an overnight decision, but was proposed years ago since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012 and included in the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025), Song said.

Over the years, departments across all levels in the country have been considering how best to take small steps to raise the retirement age, while to provide flexibility, tailor policies for different groups, consider all factors, and make comprehensive plans, Song said.

The prediction that "regardless of gender, people born after 1990 will retire after the age of 65" lacks rigorous data support and does not have much reference value, Yuan Xin, deputy head of the China Population Association and a demographer from Nankai University in Tianjin, said, criticizing this point of view.

Yuan told the Global Times the determination of retirement age is a multifaceted socio-economic issue that requires careful consideration and the balancing of numerous factors. "The introduction of social policies should adhere to the basic principle that the smaller the impact and fluctuations on society and individuals, the better."

If the retirement age is suddenly raised from 60 to 62 within a year, it means that the labor market will suddenly increase by 30 to 40 million people. That would place excessive pressure on employment opportunities, he explained.

The same goes for individual retirees. If a person is expected to retire on January 1 next year, and the policy requires a two-month delay in retirement, this person is likely to accept it, but if suddenly the person was informed to delay retirement for two years, he may feel the change is very abrupt, Yuan said.

Currently, the average life expectancy of Chinese people has reached over 78 years, yet the retirement age remains one of the lowest in the world - 60 for men, 55 for women in white-collar jobs, and 50 for working-class women.

The current retirement age was set more than 70 years ago, when the average life expectancy of Chinese people was only about 45 years. Now it has reached 78.2 years. An unchanged retirement age cannot catch up with the current demographic and economic situations in an era of longevity, demographers said.

"People need actively adapt the fact we are already in a moderately ageing society. There is no going back to a young or maturing society," Yuan said.

From the perspective of aging speed, from 2000 to the present, the population of people aged 60 and above in China has increased from 130 million to nearly 300 million, with their proportion rising from 10 percent to over 21 percent, marking China's entry into a moderately aged society.

It is estimated that by 2035, when modernization is basically achieved, the elderly population will exceed 400 million, making up more than 30 percent of the population, entering the stage of a heavily aged society. By the middle of this century, the elderly population is expected to peak at 520 million, with the proportion surpassing 40 percent, marking the transition to a super-aged society, according to data provided by Yuan.

"It is necessary to recognize that elderly people are not a burden to society, but a potential social wealth. Delaying their retirement in a voluntarily basis would enable some who would like to choose longer period of time to create wealth," the demographer said.

As an individual nears retirement age, you may find yourself reaching a career ceiling, with limited opportunities for advancement and no potential for increased income. The fear of retirement tends to increase for those on the cusp of retirement, Song added.

Some voices also explained that the country is seeking to raise the retirement age because the current level pension cannot make ends meet. Yuan explained that delaying retirement or not, this pension issue will come eventually. This is caused by the contradiction between system design and changes in population structure.

Following the same pattern globally, the country's pension insurance system is also built on the basis of a young and adult society, but as aging becomes more and more severe, there are more and more people receiving pension and fewer and fewer people contribute to the pool, a reform on pension system is necessary, Yuan noted.

In recent years, China has been continuously reforming its pension system, focusing on urban-rural integration and ensuring that a wider population can enjoy a decent quality of life in retirement, Song told the Global Times.

Yuan described the current pension system in China as being supported by three pillars: the government provides basic pension insurance, enterprise annuities and occupational annuities form supplementary pension funds, and individual pension accounts, savings, and commercial insurance serve as the main pillar.

"We individuals are primarily responsible for taking care of our own retirement. One should have a full understanding and mental preparation for this," Yuan noted.

Currently, some observers assert that China's economic growth has peaked, drawing parallels to Japan's situation in the 1990s. This implies that China may face a 30-year stagnation, potentially missing the opportunity to surpass the size of the US economy. However, this perspective is a misconception, as it interprets China's cyclical adjustments as indicative of a long-term economic downturn.

In reality, the Chinese government is working toward multiple objectives simultaneously, with economic growth rate being just one of them. While China has set lower goal of economic growth compared with the past, this shift has also created more opportunities to advance other goals. China's economic growth continues to hold significant potential.

China's potential economic growth rate is still estimated to be around 5.5 percent, if not higher. This is attributed to China's high current savings rate, which stands at 45 percent of its GDP. In essence, this substantial savings volume, equivalent to 45 percent of its GDP, will stimulate investment and subsequently fuel growth.

While there is ample opportunity for infrastructure investment in China, domestic investment focus extends beyond just infrastructure. The need for infrastructure improvement in cities located in the central and western regions highlights the room and potential for further infrastructure investments growth.

China is currently increasing its investments in labor productivity. A new concept known as "new quality productive forces" has emerged in China. By fostering these new quality productive forces, there is potential to enhance total factor productivity and enhance the efficiency of overall economic development. This trend partly accounts for the decrease in foreign investment in China, as the country's capital is currently abundant.

In terms of China's savings and consumption, there are also misconceptions. A pivotal moment occurred in 2010. Prior to this year, China experienced a rapid increase in its savings rate, partially attributed to rising incomes. Additionally, excessive exports contributed to significant savings accumulation among the residents, resulting in a higher savings rate and a decline in the consumption ratio.

However, since 2010, the proportion of consumption has actually increased significantly, driven by a strong preference for spending among the population. In fact, between 2010 and 2019, consumption growth in China surpassed income growth over the nine-year period, resulting in a notable increase in the contribution of consumption to the Chinese economy.

Throughout the three-year span of the COVID-19 pandemic, economic growth has slowed, at the same time, the pace of consumer spending growth also slowed. Nevertheless, in 2023, consumption growth contributed to 82 percent of the total GDP growth, marking a notably high proportion. It is imperative to remain patient concerning the expansion of consumption in China.

There is a misconception that China lacks consumption at present. In my opinion, the current issue in China is more related to investment rather than consumption. Examining China's economic performance last year, weak exports have had a certain impact, but another contributing factor is the insufficient investment. The government is implementing measures to boost investment, which is expected to spur economic growth.

China's impressive progress in technology is noteworthy. Advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), electric vehicles (EV), and renewable energy are moving forward rapidly. During a recent visit to iFlytek in Hefei, East China's Anhui Province, I observed their highly advanced AI model development, which is nearing the level of the ChatGPT model introduced just six months ago.

In the realm of AI applications, China has surged ahead of many countries and even outpaced the US in certain domains. Intelligent connected vehicles serve as a prime example of this advancement. This year, China plans to expand real world testing for autonomous driving systems. Currently, these systems are limited to specific areas. While some regions in the US are just beginning road trials, China is poised to expand its autonomous driving testing this year. This signifies a crucial year for China's intelligent connected vehicles and for the worldwide advancement of this technology.

In addition to strengthening its advantages in the aforementioned technological fields, China is also at the forefront in various areas. When it comes to cutting-edge technologies for the future, China leads in fields like quantum computing, quantum communication, fusion technology, and more.

I anticipate that the next three decades will be the most exhilarating period in China's history. The last time China held a prominent position as a global technology leader was during the Song Dynasty about a thousand years ago. I am confident that in the next thirty years, China will once again ascend to the peak of global technological advancement.

The article was compiled from a speech of Yao Yang, economist and Boya chair professor at Peking University, at the Ambassador Round Table Dialogue on "China's Economic Outlook" in Beijing on Friday.

China plans to systematically address funding shortages facing some major projects in the course of advancing the national rejuvenation, and it will issue ultra-long special treasury bonds starting this year and over each of the next several years, Chinese Premier Li Qiang said in his Government Work Report delivered to the annual session of the National People's Congress (NPC) on Tuesday.

The proceeds from the bond issuance will be used to implement major national strategies and build up security capacity in key areas. One trillion yuan ($139 billion) of such bonds will be issued in 2024, read the report.

“Additional government investment is needed in many sectors this year. This means that we should further improve the structure of government spending, ensure sufficient funding for major national strategic tasks and efforts to meet the people’s basic living needs, and strictly control general expenditures,” Li said.

“We should appropriately enhance the intensity of our proactive fiscal policy and improve its quality and effectiveness,” Li stressed.

China will set the deficit-to-GDP ratio in 2024 at 3 percent and the government deficit at 4.06 trillion yuan, an increase of 180 billion yuan over the 2023 budget figure.

“It is projected that fiscal revenue will continue to grow in 2024 and we will also have funds transferred from other sources; on this basis, general public expenditures in the government budget are projected to reach 28.5 trillion yuan, an increase of 1.1 trillion yuan over last year,” Li said.

This year, 3.9 trillion yuan of special-purpose bonds for local governments will be issued, an increase of 100 billion yuan over last year, according to the Government Work Report.

Ultra-long special treasury bonds are a fiscal policy instrument geared towards the long haul. Given their extended maturity, the bonds are predominantly directed towards foundational, large-scale infrastructure projects that address deficiencies and reinforce long-term capabilities, experts said.

This year’s fiscal policy, including the issuance of the ultra-long special treasury bonds, is poised to play a crucial role in supporting stable economic operations and will provide financial backing for some of the key projects in the process of national rejuvenation and the construction of a great country, Yang Chang, chief analyst of Zhongtai Securities, told the Global Times on Tuesday.

Issuing the long-term treasury bonds can help avoid large fluctuations in fiscal expenditures. This is particularly important given the current challenges faced by some local governments, which lack stable financial means to promote economic development, especially amid the structural adjustment in local debt and the real estate sector, Tian Yun, an economist based in Beijing told the Global Times on Tuesday.

Moreover, China's long-term government bonds are relatively popular among investors. China should take advantage of the current low inflation and low financing costs to ramp up their issuance, Tian said.

“Considering the current risks domestically and internationally, we should be comprehensively prepared. The government could expedite the issuance of the one-trillion-yuan ultra-long special treasury bonds,” Tian said.

In 2023, an additional one trillion yuan of special treasury bonds was issued to support post-disaster recovery and reconstruction and build up capacity for disaster prevention, mitigation and relief.

Lou Qinjian, spokesperson for the second session of the 14th NPC, told at a press conference on Monday that the one-trillion-yuan treasury bond issuance for 2023 has been fully allocated, supporting over 15,000 projects. It will effectively ensure and improve the livelihoods of the people in disaster-affected areas.

Gansu's emergency management bureau said at a press conference on Thursday that the province's earthquake relief work has achieved a phased victory. Behind the victory is the wide use of a range of high-tech equipment to support search and rescue efforts.

Chinese Y-20 military aircraft are being used to transport large rescue vehicles, while the Wing Loong unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is being operated to assist with emergency telecommunication support and disaster reconnaissance tasks.

Public communication networks in the affected areas has been largely restored to normal.

Global Times reporters on the scene witnessed a Y-20 aircraft carrying an emergency command group under PLA Western Theater Command to a disaster site. Military expert Zhang Xuefeng told the Global Times that the Y-20 has a large payload, long range, and a larger cargo hold, making it suitable for transporting larger rescue vehicles.

Zhang noted that setting up the emergency command group on the front line can provide a more accurate and rapid understanding of the situation on the ground, including the terrain, weather, and extent of the disaster in the affected areas, and coordinate and command rescue forces to launch targeted rescue operations on short notice.

On the afternoon of December 19, two helicopters from the PLA 76th Group Army landed on a temporary helipad at a middle school in Jishishan county, the epicenter of the earthquake, carrying out tasks such as aerial reconnaissance, material delivery, and medical evacuation.

Global Times reporters witnessed the wide use of the UAV for lighting at the temporary resettlement sites, which support to ensure all operations could be carried out in an orderly and efficient manner even in the dark.

Several hovering lights are installed in the air. These lighting UAVs are connected to the ground power supply equipment through a cable, allowing them to stay in the air for a long time and provide emergency lighting for large areas at night, making them the "brightest stars in the night sky."

According to the Ministry of Emergency Management, China's tethered UAVs are relatively advanced and are being used for emergency communication.

After a major disaster, especially an earthquake, if conventional communication facilities in the affected areas are destroyed or damaged, these tethered UAVs can be used to establish an emergency communication system, overcoming signal blockage caused by tall buildings, and achieving network communication over distances of 10 to 100 kilometers or more. This enables real-time communication between the rescue site and emergency responders.

The Global Times learned that the UAVs employed in the disaster relief mission this time have a lighting range of up to 8,000 square meters. They can withstand wind speeds of up to level 7, heavy rain of up to level 10, and temperatures as low as -20 C, providing a wide range, high brightness, and uninterrupted lighting support for emergency rescue in the earthquake-stricken area.

Italian Ambassador to China Massimo Ambrosetti recently visited South China's Guangdong Province and met with Chen Jianwen, a member of the Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Guangdong Provincial Committee and director of the Publicity Department of the Guangdong Provincial Committee.

Ambassador Ambrosetti recalled Italy's long history of cooperative relations with Guangdong. This relationship is rooted in history and has matured over the centuries through the efforts of important historical figures such as Matteo Ricci, he said. 

During the meeting, Ambrosetti and Chen discussed deepening trade and cultural exchanges, and strengthening of people-to-people contacts between the two countries. Meanwhile, Ambassador Ambrosetti also met with Sun zhiyang, acting mayor of the Guangzhou, capital city of Guangdong . The ambassador recalled the excellent cooperation that has always existed between Italy and Guangzhou, which builds on the friendship that the capital of Guangdong Province has with the Italian cities of Bari, Genoa, Milan, Padua, and Turin.

The ambassador also visited Shenzhen and experienced the rapid development of the city compared to his first visit in 1992. Shenzhen Vice Mayor Wang Shourui introduced its economic and social development situation to the ambassador, while Ambrosetti pointed out that Italy has unrivaled advantages in the fields of industry and fashion, and that there is huge cooperation between Italy and Shenzhen in these fields. 

"Italy is the world's fashion capital and has had a positive impact on the design sector in Shenzhen, where the creativity of Italian designers is particularly appreciated. This year, the relation links between Shenzhen and Italy have also been gradually strengthened due to increased direct flights," he alleged. 

The ambassador also awarded the Knight of the Order of the Star of Italy to Sun Qijie, who is responsible for the Sea World Culture and Arts Center. This is a great honor in Italy, and was awarded to Sun to recognize his contribution to the dissemination of Italian culture in South China.