In response to Western media's hype over the recent proposed amendments to the Prison Rules in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), claiming that the move would further undermine prisoners' rights, some legal experts told the Global Times on Tuesday that the revisions seek to regulate visitation rights, which align with international standards and are deemed urgent and necessary.
The HKSAR government has proposed amendments to the long-standing Prison Rules, which include tightening visitation arrangements and banning the use of "private clothing" and "private meals," local media TVB reported on Friday.
Reuters, citing an unnamed lawyer, claimed on Monday that this proposal further 'extends the power' of authorities over those accused of national securityoffenses. The HKSAR government has proposed amendments to the Prison Rules, including empowering the Correctional Services Department (CSD) to refuse any visit deemed inconsistent with statutory purposes, according to an official statement issued Monday. Under specific circumstances such as safeguarding national security, the CSD may, with a magistrate's warrant, restrict communication between inmates and individual legal representatives.
HKSAR Secretary for Security Chris Tang addressed the media after attending a Legislative Council Security Panel meeting on Monday, stating that the Prison Rules have existed for over 70 years. In light of national security considerations, the government sees a need to review and update the regulations, the statement said. He explained that the objective of the proposed amendments is to enhance the CSD's overall law enforcement capabilities, incorporate elements related to the protection of national security, and make the Prison Rules more relevant to current needs.
To this end, the authorities propose explicitly empowering the CSD under relevant provisions of the Prison Rules to impose necessary restrictions, conditions, or prohibitions in response to different circumstances and for specific purposes.
"These proposals are based on the practical needs of safeguarding national security and managing correctional institutions," Willy Fu, a law professor who is also director of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong & Macao Studies, told the Global Times on Tuesday.
Since the implementation of the National Security Law (NSL) for Hong Kong, stricter management of correctional institutions has become essential to prevent acts that endanger national security. The proposed amendments empower the Commissioner of Correctional Services to restrict certain visits—particularly those involving legal representatives, medical personnel, or religious figures—to prevent such visits from being abused to transmit prohibited information or incite unrest within prisons, Fu noted.
"This measure aligns with Article 6 of the NSL for Hong Kong, which requires all individuals, organizations, and institutions in the HKSAR to strengthen efforts to prevent and suppress acts that endanger national security," Fu said.
Louis Chen Xiaofeng, Doctor of Juridical Science, told the Global Times on Tuesday that the amendments are considered both urgent and necessary.
During the 2019 black-clad unrest, some so-called "prison visitors" exploited access, posing as inmate friends, to incite anti-government sentiment. In some cases, "private meals" were used to smuggle contraband and fosterprison factions, seriously undermining prison order and social stability, Chen said. "The revised rules would empower the CSD to reject visits that do not serve a legitimate purpose, effectively cutting off channels for external infiltration," he added.
From a law enforcement standpoint, abolishing "private meal" privileges will help prevent abuse of special treatment, ensure fairness in prison administration, and reduce the risk of drugs and prohibited items entering correctional facilities—bringing the system in line with internationally accepted standards, Chen said.
This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression (1931-1945) and the World Anti-Fascist War. Winning the war is a great victory of the national spirit with patriotism at its core, a great victory achieved with the Communist Party of China (CPC) fighting as the central pillar, a great victory fought by the whole nation through solidarity and bravery, and a great victory for the Chinese people, anti-fascist allies, and people around the world who fought shoulder-to-shoulder.
To commemorate this historic milestone and its lasting impact, the Global Times has launched a themed series revisiting the great significance of the victory through three lenses: The “Guardians of Memory,” the “Witnesses of Struggle,” and the “Practitioners of Peace.” It underscores the importance of “learning from history to build together a brighter future.”
This is the fifth installment of the “Guardians of Memory” series, the Global Times spoke with several Chinese veterans of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. The veterans, now in their nineties, shared their experiences of joining the Chinese military and bravely fighting Japanese invaders on the front lines decades ago. They are the witnesses to those turbulent years of war, and the living heroes who safeguarded national dignity with their own flesh and blood.
‘We captured all the Japanese soldiers’
In the summer of 1945, 17-year-old Chen Zuoming, a young soldier in the Dongjiang Column of the Guangdong People’s Anti-Japanese Guerilla, participated in a battle against the Japanese invaders that remains vivid in his memory to this day.
It was a surprise raid on a Japanese outpost, and Chen was the first soldier to charge into the stronghold.
The Dongjiang Column, where Chen served during the Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression was a people’s army created and led by the Communist Party of China (CPC). It was active in South China’s Guangdong Province, conducting guerrilla warfare in the vast enemy-occupied areas controlled by the Japanese and puppet troops. Recalling this raid 80 years ago, Chen, now 97, still clearly remembers almost every detail.
In July of that year, the Dongjiang Column received intelligence about a Japanese outpost located about 30 to 40 miles from its base. The outpost was manned by around 10 Japanese soldiers and equipped with a machine gun. It decided to launch an ambush. At around 4 am, Chen and his comrades stealthily approached the outpost, quickly surrounded it, and set up a perimeter.
“We used explosives to blow open the door. I was a new recruit and an assault team member at that time, so I was the first to rush through the gap created by the explosion,” Che recalled. “Once inside, we found the Japanese soldiers stunned and disoriented by the blast. We shouted, ‘Surrender and you won’t be harmed,’ and they surrendered immediately. We captured all the Japanese soldiers in the outpost and seized their weapons and ammunition.”
Chen told the Global Times that the battle was particularly inspiring for him, as it gave him a real sense of what it meant to be under fire, and boosted his confidence and courage in defeating the Japanese invaders. Born to a poor family in a mountainous area of Zengcheng county in Guangdong in 1928, Chen described his childhood as one filled with hunger and turmoil. He never had a decent meal, wore good clothes, or even owned a pair of shoes.
To make matters worse, in October 1938, the fascist Japanese army landed in Guangdong’s Daya Bay, igniting the flames of war in South China. Chen witnessed Japanese soldiers burning villages, stealing food, trampling crops, and looting livestock. “They didn’t see us Chinese people as human beings at all,” he said, sighing.
What changed Chen’s fate was a then underground member of the CPC. The member taught at a local school during the day and told revolutionary stories to the children at night, promoting the ideals of resisting Japanese aggression and saving the nation. Under his enlightenment, the seeds of resistance took root in young Chen’s heart. One night, Chen and three companions walked barefoot over 10 kilometers of mountain trails, traveling all night to reach a base of the Dongjiang Column, and successfully became its soldiers.
In the Dongjiang Column, Chen served as a shock trooper, facing the Japanese army on the front lines. After the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, Chen participated in the War of Liberation (1945-1949), shedding blood and sweat for Chinese people’s peaceful and happy life.
Reflecting on the past and the present, Chen said he felt deeply proud to have witnessed the founding, development, and present-day prosperity and strength of the People’s Republic of China. After retiring in 1993, Chen became a volunteer lecturer on revolutionary history, actively sharing his personal experiences of the wars in schools and communities.
“I want children to understand that, today’s peace and prosperity in China were through the bloody battles fought by countless martyrs, and are the result of the arduous struggles led by the CPC with the entire nation,” he told the Global Times.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang said here Thursday that China is willing to work with Egypt to optimize the development of bilateral trade and create more highlights of cooperation as well as new drivers of economic growth.
The two countries can expand cooperation in emerging fields such as new energy, electric vehicles, artificial intelligence and digital economy, Li said during his meeting with Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Kamal Madbouly.
China has always prioritized developing relations with Egypt in its Mideast diplomacy, Li said.
In 2024, China and Egypt jointly celebrated the 10th anniversary of their comprehensive strategic partnership and the two meetings between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi provided guidance for the future development of bilateral ties, Li said.
In 2026, China and Egypt will celebrate the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. At this pivotal juncture, China is willing to maintain close high-level exchanges with Egypt, strengthen strategic dialogue, consolidate political mutual trust, and deepen practical cooperation, Li said.
He called on both sides to support each other on the path to modernization and bring greater benefits to their peoples.
Li pointed out that China is willing to strengthen the alignment of development strategies with Egypt, expand and enhance investment and cooperation within the framework of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and effectively implement livelihood improvement projects.
The two sides should enhance people-to-people and cultural exchanges and mutual learning, deepen cooperation in areas such as culture, tourism, media, youth and local affairs, and further strengthen the public support for friendly cooperation between the two countries, he said.
China supports Egypt in playing a greater role in international and regional affairs and is willing to closely coordinate and cooperate with Egypt within multilateral frameworks such as the United Nations and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization to practice genuine multilateralism, safeguard economic globalization and international economic and trade order, defend the common interests of developing countries, and promote peace and stability in the Middle East and the world, Li added.
For his part, Madbouly noted that Egypt and China have been enjoying long-standing and profound relations, with traditional friendship deeply rooted in the hearts of the two peoples.
In recent years, under the leadership of the two heads of state, the Egypt-China comprehensive strategic partnership has shown a strong momentum, and is at its best in history, he said, adding that Egypt firmly upholds the one-China principle, respects China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, firmly supports China's stance on the Taiwan question and issues related to Xizang and Hong Kong, and resolutely opposes any interference in China's internal affairs.
Expressing gratitude for China's assistance in Egypt's economic and social development, Madbouly said the country is willing to expand political mutual trust with China, strengthen cooperation in traditional areas such as trade, investment, finance, industry and infrastructure, expand collaboration in emerging fields including new energy, green economy and space, enhance people-to-people exchanges, and promote more achievements in Africa-China and Arab-China cooperation.
Egypt highly appreciates China's just and fair stance on Mideast issues and stands ready to strengthen coordination with China within the United Nations, the BRICS and other multilateral frameworks to safeguard common interests and uphold regional peace and stability, he said.
After the meeting, Li and Madbouly jointly witnessed the signing of multiple cooperation documents in such areas as e-commerce, green and low-carbon development, development assistance, finance and health.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz met with visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Friday in Berlin, according to a statement from Chinese Foreign Ministry.
According to the statement, Merz told Wang Yi that the German side is willing to work with the Chinese side to maintain openness and mutual benefit, promote fair trade, and jointly address crises and challenges, which is in the interests of both sides. The new German government adheres to the one-China policy.
During the meeting with Merz, Wang said China stands ready to work with Germany to maintain close high-level exchanges, utilize consultation mechanisms in various fields, and promote the sustained, healthy, and stable development of China-Germany relations, which will not only be conducive to both sides but also benefit Europe and the world.
Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, is on a trip to Europe with France as his next stop after Germany.
During the meeting, Wang said that the Chinese side appreciates the new German government's willingness to promote the further development of China-Germany relations with a constructive attitude and pragmatic spirit, according to a release from Chinese Foreign Ministry.
Wang stated that China welcomes Germany's development and prosperity, as well as its greater role in Europe and the world. He said he believes that the new German government will view China's development positively, adhere to a rational and pragmatic policy toward China, genuinely respect China's core interests, support China's national reunification just as China unconditionally supported German reunification, and continue to uphold the one-China principle.
China is committed to building a higher-level open economic system, with its doors of openness only widening further, and is willing to share market opportunities with Germany to create new prospects for development, Wang said.
Wang has also met with Günter Sautter, Foreign & Security Policy Advisor to the Federal Chancellor on Friday in Beilin, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
On Thursday, Wang co-chaired the eighth round of China-Germany Strategic Dialogue on Diplomacy and Security with German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul.
Wang said that this year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of China-EU diplomatic relations, and the China-Germany all-round strategic partnership has also embarked on a new decade, Xinhua reported.
Facing the current turbulent international situation, particularly the prevalence of protectionism, anti-globalization, and unilateral bullying, China and Germany must strengthen strategic communication and coordination, Wang stressed.
This marks Wang's first visit to Germany after the new German government was formed, and China has higher expectations for the stability of Germany's China policy, Cui Hongjian, director of the Department of European Studies, China Institute of International Studies, told the Global Times on Friday.
"This is because the Merz government positions itself as 'more stable and efficient,' making this strategic dialogue an important opportunity for Germany to showcase the stability and effectiveness of its policies," Cui noted.
The two sides need to engage in strategic dialogue to "align" their positions—mutually identifying concerns, clarifying stances, and exploring to what extent they can move forward together, Cui noted.
Analysts believe that Wang's trip to Europe lays a solid foundation for strengthening exchanges across all areas in the future, but also for future high-level interactions between China and Europe, demonstrating a sincere and concerted effort to address mutual concerns. They noted that in the long run, maintaining institutionalized and regular strategic communication between China and Europe reflects the resilience of the relationship, indicating that both sides still have strong mutual needs.
China-EU relations in focus
According to the AFP, Wadephul voiced concerns over China's export restrictions on rare earths.
Addressing the issue, Wang told a press conference alongside the dialogue that rare earth exports have never been, and should not become, an issue between China and Europe, emphasizing that as long as export control regulations are followed and necessary procedures are fulfilled, the legitimate needs of European companies will be guaranteed.
"This meeting fully demonstrated China's foreign policy toward Germany and Europe: we approach Germany and Europe with a sincere and open attitude, not avoiding any sensitive issues, including the Ukraine and rare earths issues," Dong Yifan, an associate research fellow at the Belt and Road Academy of Beijing Language and Culture University, told the Global Times on Friday.
China has always regarded Europe as a strategic partner and actively takes a constructive approach to strengthening communication with European countries, reducing misunderstandings and conflicts, and promoting cooperation, with a focus on solving problems, Dong noted.
Wang said that China's position on the Ukraine crisis has been open and consistent, which includes insisting on peace talks, not providing lethal weapons to the parties in the conflict, and controlling the export of (civilian/military) dual-use items, including drones, according to Xinhua.
China has not only fulfilled its international responsibilities, but also established the "Friends of Peace" group with Brazil and other Global South countries at the UN, mobilizing greater efforts for a ceasefire and an end to the conflict, Wang said, adding that China's objective and fair position has been widely recognized by the international community.
China-German relations hold a significant position in the broader China-Europe relationship, and many issues involving Europe could be addressed more easily if China and Germany reach a consensus, such as the recent hot topics in Europe regarding electric vehicles and rare earths, Cui noted.
Following the visit to Germany, Wang is scheduled to visit France for talks with the French Foreign Minister and the meeting of the China-France high-level dialogue mechanism on people-to-people exchanges, according to an earlier announcement from the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
In France, Wang will meet minister for Europe and foreign affairs Jean-Noel Barrot, who visited China in March, according to AFP.
Although this visit will mainly focus on cultural exchanges, it is clear that during his time in France, Wang will engage in extensive contacts with various sectors of the French government, including not only diplomatic counterparts but also potentially higher-level French leaders, Cui noted.
"China has always valued strategic communication and coordination with France. Currently, France, and Europe as a whole, face a core question: do they have a clear and defined strategic goal?" Cui said, noting that as relationships with major powers like the US, Russia, and China undergo profound changes, it is even more important for China and France to reaffirm certain fundamental consensuses.
In the current international landscape of major power relations, China-France and China-Europe relations should be among the most stable, with the greatest potential to contribute positively to global stability and certainty, the expert said.
China's Central Archives on Monday opened over 57,000 documents to the public to mark the 80th anniversary of victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.
The newly accessible material includes more than 40,000 items specifically chronicling the resistance period from September 1931 to September 1945.
The wartime records -- sourced from Party-led government bodies, organizations, military units and mass groups -- feature telegrams, announcements, summaries, reports and other records highlighting the Communist Party of China's leadership role.
These documents can be accessed at the Central Archives upon presentation of an ID card or relevant credentials.
July 1, 2025, marks the 104th founding anniversary of the Communist Party of China (CPC). Looking back on more than a century of striving, it is under the Party's strong leadership that the Chinese people have continuously turned the "impossible" into the "possible." The historic transformation of the Chinese nation - from standing up, to growing prosperous and becoming strong - has been fundamentally driven by the leadership of the CPC.
The book series of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China contains multiple important speeches on upholding and strengthening the Party's leadership. In the article "Maximize the Institutional Strength of CPC Leadership" included in Volume III of the book series, Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, emphasized that governing a large country with more than 1.3 billion people, the Party must improve its leadership systems and mechanisms, give full play to the great strength of leadership by the Party, and shoulder the major responsibilities of carrying out our great struggle, developing our great project, advancing our great cause, and realizing our great dream. Only in this way can we ensure national reunification, uniform laws and policies and consistent market management, achieve economic development, clean political administration, cultural prosperity, social justice and healthy ecosystems, and smoothly advance the causes of Chinese socialism in the new era.
In Volume IV, Xi further stressed in the article titled "Speech at the Ceremony Marking the Centenary of the Communist Party of China" that the leadership of the Party is the defining feature of socialism with Chinese characteristics and constitutes the greatest strength of this system. It is the foundation and lifeblood of the Party and the country, and the crux upon which the interests and wellbeing of all Chinese people depend.
Looking ahead, only by upholding and strengthening the Party's overall leadership can we fully build a great modern socialist country in all respects as scheduled and achieve the grand goal of national rejuvenation.
In the seventh installment of the special series "Decoding the Book of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China," the Global Times, along with People's Daily Overseas Edition, focuses on the theme: "Upholding CPC's overall leadership is China's greatest political advantage." We continue to invite Chinese and foreign scholars, translators of Xi's works, practitioners with firsthand experience, and international readers to explore the CPC's institutional strengths and real-world results in theoretical innovation, political development, organizational structure and its people-centered approach - and to collectively answer the question of our times: "Why is the CPC successful?"
This is the sixth article of the "Scholars' Perspectives" column, which features Xu Bin, director of the Marxist Institutional Theory Research Center of Beijing Normal University, also a professor of the School of Marxism at the university.
The leadership of the Party is the defining feature of socialism with Chinese characteristics and constitutes the greatest strength of this system. Since entering the new era, Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, with profound historical insight and a strong sense of mission, has led the CPC to innovate in theoretical development, political construction, and the mass line, shaping a strong and resilient proletarian party.
The CPC Central Committee, with Xi Jinping at its core, attaches great importance to the study and adherence to the basic theories of Marxism. For instance, the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee has organized multiple collective study sessions, focusing on key theoretical works such as dialectical materialism, historical materialism, Marxist political economy, and the Communist Manifesto. At the same time, classic works by Marx and Engels are widely recommended to Party members and cadres, emphasizing to start from the most fundamental theories of Marxism to accurately understand and grasp its essence.
Building on the basis of adhering to the basic positions, viewpoints, and methods of Marxism, the CPC has also continuously advanced theoretical innovation in the new era. Our Party has made many original and fundamental theoretical contributions to Marxism. For example, in the Communist Manifesto, Marx introduced the concept of "world history," pointing out that the development of capitalism broke the boundaries of nations and regions, leading human history to move toward globalization.
Building on this foundation, socialism with Chinese characteristics has put forward the significant concept of "building a community of shared future for mankind." This concept emphasizes strengthening exchanges and mutual learning with countries around the world, and jointly promoting the construction of shared human values. This is not only an inheritance of Marx's "world history" theory but also an important development and elevation in contemporary conditions, reflecting our Party's deepening and innovation of Marxism's fundamental theory.
Marx consistently emphasized the human standpoint, with its core being the pursuit of the liberation of the global proletariat, that is, the liberation of all humankind. Since its founding, the CPC has always adhered to this fundamental position. However, under different historical conditions and in response to various historical tasks, this position has been continuously enriched and expanded.
In the new era, General Secretary Xi has put forward a people-centered philosophy, emphasizing the principle of "putting the people first" and stating that "the country is the people, and the people are the country." These important remarks elevate the Party's commitment to its people to an unprecedented level.
This series of people-centered development concepts concretely embodies the Marxist stance on the people. These ideas are deeply rooted in the practice of developing socialism with Chinese characteristics and are implemented throughout the historical process of realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. They highlight the CPC's unwavering original aspiration and enduring mission.
Throughout the process of reform and opening up, the CPC has consistently upheld that the essence of socialism lies in the liberation and development of social productive forces. In the early stages, the reform policies allowed some people to become prosperous first through legitimate efforts, to spur overall development. This injected strong momentum into China's economic growth. However, as the economy advanced rapidly, a number of deep-rooted issues gradually emerged, such as widening income disparities, corruption, and environmental degradation, which became chronic problems hindering social equity, justice, and sustainable development.
Since the 18th CPC National Congress, the CPC Central Committee with Xi Jinping at its core has confronted these challenges head-on. When there were voices in society claiming that "actions would affect stability," the CPC Central Committee, from the perspective of the long-term development of the Party and the people's cause, firmly exercised full and rigorous Party self-governance and a series of deep-seated reforms. With great political courage and historical responsibility, our Party has continuously promoted the fight against corruption, tackled entrenched internal issues within the Party through institutional construction such as the "eight-point decision" and education on ideals and convictions, and gained widespread public support.
When it comes to addressing the issue of wealth gap, the CPC faced a "tough nut to crack" that involves institutional mechanism reforms and adjusting vested interests, requiring arduous efforts. Yet our Party has always adhered to a people-centered stance, committed to safeguarding and improving people's livelihoods through development, and has achieved historic progress in poverty alleviation.
In regard to ecological civilization, the CPC Central Committee has attached great importance to it, promoting a profound transformation from concepts to actions. What impressed me deeply is the obvious improvement in air quality in Beijing and my hometown Shandong Province around 2016. When I went to Canada in 2016 as a visiting scholar, the winter air in Beijing was filled with a pungent smell, but when I returned in 2017, I clearly felt that there were more blue skies and fresher air. My hometown has actively promoted the "coal-to-gas" project, with the government subsidizing farmers to gradually achieve clean heating. I have personally experienced these changes.
These transformations did not materialize overnight, but are the result of our Party's adherence to the people-centered development philosophy and its firm commitment to advancing self-reform and deepening reforms to overcome challenges. The CPC has not only led the country onto the path of prosperity and strength, but also has the courage to address the contradictions and problems in development, ensuring that the fruits of development benefit all the people fairly.
As a scholar specializing in Marxism and institutional philosophy, I have had multiple exchanges with Western scholars. During the May Day holidays in 2024, I visited the US for academic exchanges, making stops at the University of Denver and Stanford University. During the exchanges, we had in-depth discussions on issues such as institutional understanding, values, and national governance.
During my visit, I observed how US legislative bodies operate up close. City council members would discuss specific community issues in various meeting rooms. Although this form of discussion emphasizes democracy in format, it is inefficient—consuming significant time and energy but not necessarily effectively safeguarding public interests. This focus on "procedural democracy" left a deep impression on me.
China's political party system is a system of CPC-led multiparty cooperation and political consultation, with CPC playing a central role. This is the fundamental characteristic of China's new type of political party system. It is the product of integrating Marxist political party theory with China's reality, and can truly, widely and persistently represent and fulfill the fundamental interests of the overwhelming majority of the people. It can pool the consensus of various political parties and personages without party affiliation, effectively avoiding the drawbacks of a single party lacking supervision or the vicious competition of multi-party rotation. It can also gather various opinions and suggestions through institutionalized, procedural and standardized arrangements, promoting scientific and democratic decision-making, and effectively avoiding the shortcomings of some political party systems that lead to social division due to decision-making and governance constrained by partisan, social strata, regional and group interests.
I joined the CPC 31 years ago at the age of 26. I was teaching ideological and political education, and history courses, and my job deepened my understanding of CPC's theories and China's education mission, giving rise to my resolve to join the CPC.
Over the past 31 years, I witnessed China's great progress made under CPC leadership, and the vitality unleashed in economic development and institutional reform. This has made me deeply feel that the Party is leading us in continuous exploration and construction on the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, a path that stirs my passion and is full of hope.
Over these 31 years, I have also profoundly realized that the CPC represents the fundamental interests of the overwhelming majority of the people, has always been committed to safeguarding and developing people's well-being, and contributing to the development of humanity as a whole. These are the principles I most identify with and admire.
South Korean President Lee Jae-myung, speaking on Thursday in a press conference after taking office last month, vowed to "protect peace and people's lives through practical diplomacy centered on national interests," based on South Korea's alliance with the US, close cooperation with South Korea, the US and Japan and the early improvement of its relations with China and Russia, according to the full text of Lee's speech published by the Maeil Business Newspaper on Thursday.
Improving ties with China under the Lee administration is a necessary matter, and it is crucial for Seoul to sustain economic growth amid uncertainties in trade talks with the US, according to analysts from China and South Korea reached by the Global Times.
According to South Korea's Yonhap News Agency on Thursday, at the press conference held at the former presidential compound of Cheong Wa Dae, known as the Blue House in Seoul, Lee elaborated on his foreign policy.
The Straits Times report noted that Lee pledged a pragmatic approach as the basis for accelerating efforts to improve ties with China and Russia, while saying the alliance with the US was the cornerstone of his foreign policy.
On Japan, Lee pledged to pursue a two-track approach in which past history issues, rooted in Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule of Korea, should be dealt with separately from future cooperation in security and economic areas, Yonhap reported.
Lee's latest statement reflects the consistency and stability of his long-advocated pragmatic foreign policy, which has been welcomed by the South Korean public as the rising approval ratings showed, Dong Xiangrong, a senior research fellow at the National Institute of International Strategy, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Thursday.
In a recent Gallup Korea survey, 64 percent of 1,004 adult respondents said Lee was doing a good job, Yonhap reported on June 27, about three weeks into his term in office.
Another survey by Realmeter and commissioned by a local news outlet showed on Monday that Lee's approval rating rose for the second consecutive week to 59.7 percent, the Korea Herald reported.
On Thursday, Lee also reiterated his pledge to revive the country's faltering economy and outlined plans to boost growth. However, Lee said that the uncertainty remains for Seoul if its trade talks with Washington can result in a deal before next week's deadline to avert sweeping US tariffs, according to the Bloomberg.
Lee vowed to make his best efforts to produce "mutually beneficial and sustainable outcomes" in the trade negotiations, according to Yonhap.
Lee's economic policies and diplomatic strategies are closely linked. He is committed to improving relations with China while facing obstacles in tariff negotiations with the US, which are closely tied to South Korea's current economic difficulties, Dong said.
According to a May assessment by the Bank of Korea, the central bank of the country, economic growth this year is projected to be only 0.8 percent.
After Lee took office, South Korea's stock market has witnessed significant rise, but such growth is largely interpreted as a boost in market confidence driven by recovering political stability and the elimination of uncertainty, rather than a substantial improvement in economic fundamentals, Dong said. "To achieve sustained economic improvement, tangible progress is still needed in areas such as domestic investment, consumption, and foreign trade."
Improving relations with China is also one of the key and feasible directions of Lee's economic policy, aimed at promoting South Korea's economic recovery through strengthened international trade cooperation, Dong explained.
Woo Su-keun, head of the Institute of East Asian Studies of Korea and president of the Korea-China Global Association, told the Global Times in a recent interview that improving South Korea-China relations under the Lee administration is a necessary matter.
In fact, South Koreans with sound and reasonable judgment are well aware of the importance of South Korea-China relations, regardless of their political orientation, whether they are conservative or liberal, as well as the need for improved South Korea-China relations, Woo said.
Currently, the global economic environment is being distorted by the excessive greed of certain countries. However, South Korea and China, the central core countries of the global society, need to work closely together to maintain the banner of free trade and fair competition, which are essential for the sustainable shared prosperity of the global community, Woo urged.
Immigration enforcement agencies nationwide have solved a total of 205 drug-related cases in border and port areas, arrested 262 criminal suspects, and seized 2.42 tons of various drugs as of June 25 this year, according to CCTV News on Thursday.
Among these cases, 38 involved seizures of over 10 kilograms of drugs, further consolidating the positive momentum in the ongoing fight against drug trafficking at border and port locations.
The head of the Border Inspection and Management Division of the National Immigration Administration said immigration agencies will continue cracking down on drug crimes at ports and borders by analyzing trafficking routes, adjusting strategies, and strengthening patrols.
Efforts will also focus on deepening law enforcement cooperation with neighboring countries and boosting anti-drug publicity to engage the public.
In response to media questions on whether trade between China and Iraq has returned to pre-conflict levels after the ceasefire between Israel and Iran, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Friday that China maintains normal trade exchanges with Iraq. China hopes for a sustained and effective ceasefire to promote peace and stability in the Middle East.
In response to another question regarding US President Donald Trump's claim that China can now continue to purchase oil from Iran and whether China has started importing Iranian oil, Guo said that as previously emphasized, China will take reasonable energy security measures based on its own national interests.
Extreme rainfall in southern China has triggered the largest floods since 1998 in the upper and lower reaches of the Lishui River in Central China's Hunan Province, affecting more than 400,000 people in seven cities and prefectures and forcing the relocation of more than 95,000 people.
As of 5:00 pm Saturday, average precipitation across Hunan since Wednesday had reached 68.5 millimeters, with cities including Zhangjiajie, Changde, Huaihua, Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous prefecture recording precipitations over 100 millimeters. In particular, Zhangjiajie recorded the areal precipitation of 331.1 millimeters with the accumulated precipitation in Badagongshan township in Sangzhi county reaching 664.5 millimeters, the Xinhua News Agency reported on Saturday, citing the provincial water resources, meteorological and emergency management departments.
In response to the widespread flooding, local governments across Hunan promptly activated corresponding emergency responses, strengthened early warnings for key locations and regions, issued over 1.39 million targeted alerts and more than 16,000 alert text messages, and reminded grassroots authorities to evacuate more than 95,000 residents.
Mao Weiming, a deputy Party secretary of the CPC Hunan Provincial Committee and governor of Hunan Province, visited on Saturday the Hunan Provincial Department of Water Resources to review flood-control efforts and coordinate ongoing work.
Mao also visited the provincial flood and drought disaster prevention center to assess the rainfall and flooding levels. In particular, the northern and northwestern areas of the province have been hit by extremely heavy rainfall since Wednesday. The location with the highest recorded precipitation was 648.0 millimeters at the Wuya station in Longshan county, leading to the formation of the No.1 Flood of Lishui River in 2025.
On Thursday, the second day of the national college entrance exams in Longshan county, heavy rain caused severe street flooding. A video posted by a local resident showed a student in white wading through waterlogged streets to reach the exam. The local education authority said some students were late for the exam due to the heavy rain.
Heavy downpours began on Wednesday night in Longshan county, causing the Guoli River to surge and triggering the largest flood on record. As of Saturday, the flooding had affected 185,000 residents, Xinhua reported.
A local resident surnamed Chen from Longshan county told the Global Times on Sunday that many of the local residential compounds were built along the Guoli River.Compounds in lower-lying areas, including his own, were severely affected by the flooding.
According to Chen, such a major flood had never happened before, local residents lacked experience and didn't take early warnings seriously. When the floodwaters rose early Thursday morning, most residents were still asleep. Although the property management had placed sandbags at the entrance of the underground garage, water still flooded in.
Chen attempted to move his car at 5 am, when water levels were still low. But by the time he reached the garage, it was already halfway up the tires. By around 7:00 am, the water had completely submerged the garage ceiling, about half the vehicles inside the garage weren't moved in time.
Meteorological and hydrological forecasts indicate heavy to torrential rain is expected from Saturday to Monday in central and northern Hunan, with heavy downpours anticipated in southern Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, western Changde, central and northern Huaihua and western Yiyang.
Average rainfall over the next week are projected to reach 100 millimeters over the next week, with around 180 millimeters anticipated in the Lishui and Yuanshui river basins - significantly increasing the risk of major flooding.
Local authorities urged heightened vigilance against river flooding, mountain torrents, and geological disasters, safety risks at small and medium-sized reservoirs, and urban waterlogging.
In South China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, heavy to torrential rain fell between 8 am and 8 pm on Saturday in parts of Baise, Fangchenggang, Hechi, Nanning and Chongzuo. As a result, 16 hydrological stations along 14 rivers reported water levels breaching the safety threshold by 0.01 meters to 3.77 meters, according to the local hydrological center, the Chinanews.com reported on Sunday.
Data from the local hydrological center show that water levels at the Liuzhou station on the Liujiang River rose to 82.50 meters at 2:00 pm on Saturday, marking the No.1 flood of the river in 2025. At the Jinchengjiang station on the Longjiang River, the water level peaked at 191.77 meters - 3.77 meters above the warning level of 188.00 meters - the highest since 1983.
