Chinese Premier Li Qiang said here on Wednesday that China supports Arab countries in strengthening strategic autonomy, enhancing unity and self-reliance, and pursuing development paths suited to their own national conditions.
During his meeting with Arab League (AL) Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit, Li said that China has always viewed and developed its relations with Arab nations from a strategic perspective and firmly supports their just cause.
Noting that China and Arab countries are trustworthy friends and good partners, Li said that at present, under the strategic guidance of Chinese President Xi Jinping and the leaders of Arab countries, China-Arab relations have entered their best period in history.
China is willing to strengthen friendly ties with the AL, enhance strategic mutual trust with Arab countries, deepen cooperation across various fields, work together to advance modernization, and build a higher-level China-Arab community with a shared future, he said.
Li said that China is ready to further align its development strategies with Arab countries and proceed with their high-quality Belt and Road cooperation.
He called on the two sides to expand cooperation in energy, economy and trade, investment and financing, as well as aerospace and other fields, and explore cooperation potential in emerging fields such as new energy, artificial intelligence, digital economy and blue economy.
The Chinese side is also ready to work with Arab countries to promote the coordinated development of landmark flagship projects and "small but beautiful" projects to better benefit the people of both sides.
Both sides, Li said, should enhance dialogue among civilizations and people-to-people exchanges, deepen cooperation among youth, think tanks, universities, as well as in culture and tourism, and explore the implementation of more measures to facilitate personnel exchanges, so as to boost people-to-people bonds.
The Chinese side is ready to enhance communication and coordination with Arab countries on platforms such as the United Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the World Trade Organization and the Group of 20, demonstrate the common will and speak in a common voice, so as to promote a more just and equitable global governance system, Li said.
Li also expressed his hope that the AL will continue to play an important role in advancing the development of China-Arab relations and jointly ensure the second China-Arab States Summit next year a success.
For his part, Aboul-Gheit said China is a good friend and good partner of Arab countries, adding that Arab-China relations enjoy a good momentum of development and practical cooperation has achieved fruitful results.
He said the Arab side firmly supports the one-China principle, as well as the Belt and Road Initiative and the three global initiatives proposed by President Xi.
Congratulating China on its remarkable development achievements, Aboul-Gheit said the Arab side is grateful for China's support for the economic and social development of Arab states, and stands ready to work with China to deepen political mutual trust, firmly support each other, and deepen exchanges and cooperation in such aras as trade, investment and people-to-people ties under the framework of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum.
The Arab side stands ready to work with China to continue to implement the outcomes of the first China-Arab States Summit and to jointly make the second summit a success, he said.
Aboul-Gheit said the Arab side highly appreciates China's consistent support for Arab states on multilateral platforms such as the United Nations and is willing to strengthen multilateral coordination with China to jointly safeguard multilateralism and promote world peace and development.
A passenger attempting to smuggle 337.88 grams of cocaine by swallowing wrapped parcels was intercepted by Chinese customs recently. The case has been transferred to anti-smuggling authorities for further investigation and prosecution.
During inspection of an inbound flight, officers from Guangzhou Customs in South China's Guangdong Province noticed a passenger behaving suspiciously with a flustered demeanor.
Following on-site questioning and investigation, the passenger admitted to concealing drugs in his body.
The man was then transferred to the customs' anti-smuggling department and escorted to a designated medical institution for further examination and monitored excretion, during which seven drug pellets were expelled.
Tests conducted by technical institutions confirmed the substance to be cocaine, weighing 337.88 grams.
The case has handed over to anti-smuggling authorities for further investigation and prosecution.
Customs authorities remind the public that under Article 347 of China's Criminal Law, "Whoever smuggles, traffics in, transports, or manufactures narcotic drugs, regardless of the quantity involved, shall be held criminally responsible and subjected to criminal punishment."
Chinese Premier Li Qiang said on Saturday that China is willing to work with Brazil to leverage each other's complementary advantages and expand cooperation in such areas as digital economy, green economy, sci-tech innovation and aerospace.
Li made the remarks during his meeting with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. The Chinese premier arrived in Rio de Janeiro on Saturday to attend the 17th BRICS Summit.
Li conveyed Chinese President Xi Jinping's warm greetings to Lula, noting that China-Brazil relations are in their best shape ever, with both sides working together to build a China-Brazil community with a shared future for a more just world and a more sustainable planet.
During Lula's visit to China in May, the two heads of state reached important consensus on pushing for building a China-Brazil community with a shared future and upholding multilateralism, Li said.
China stands ready to work with Brazil to continue the efforts in enriching the dimensions of bilateral relations and achieving more concrete results in cooperation so as to deliver more benefits to the two peoples, Li added.
China is willing to work with Brazil to further consolidate and deepen bilateral cooperation in trade, finance and infrastructure development under the framework of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, said the premier.
Li also urged both countries to jointly ensure the success of the China-Brazil Year of Culture in 2026, step up cooperation in education, youth, healthcare and other areas, further facilitate people-to-people exchanges and strengthen public support for China-Brazil friendship and cooperation.
Depicting both countries as staunch supporters of multilateralism and free trade, Li said that China is willing to enhance communication and coordination with Brazil within multilateral frameworks such as the United Nations, BRICS and the G20, work in unity with developing countries to promote an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, and provide more certainty and stability for the world.
China supports Brazil in hosting the UN Climate Change Conference in Belem (COP30) later this year, Li said.
For his part, Lula asked Li to convey his sincere regards to Xi. He noted that the two peoples share a profound friendship.
Brazil attaches great importance to advancing its relations with China, and stands ready to work with China to follow through on the important consensus reached by the two heads of state and further strengthen high-level exchanges, he said.
Brazil is ready to promote exchanges and cooperation with China in such areas as economy and trade, science and technology, finance, and aerospace, he added.
Brazil also seeks to deepen collaboration with China in addressing climate change, said Lula, noting the country welcomes China's participation in the upcoming COP30 in Belem.
He also congratulated China on successfully hosting the fourth ministerial meeting of the China-CELAC (the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) Forum this year.
Lula said Brazil is willing to deepen multilateral communication and coordination with China, jointly oppose unilateralism, and uphold multilateralism and free trade so as to promote world peace and development.
Following the meeting, the two sides witnessed the signing of cooperation documents in such fields as fiscal and financial affairs, artificial intelligence, development strategies alignment and aerospace.
On the evening of July 5 local time in Brazil, officials from China and Brazil signed a series of cooperation documents - including a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the second phase of development strategy alignment and collaboration in artificial intelligence - witnessed by the leaders of both countries. The MoU outlines plans to strengthen pragmatic cooperation in infrastructure, pharmaceuticals, new energy, and other sectors, according to a statement released by China's National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) on its website on Monday.
Rejane Rocha, Executive Secretary (Brazil) of the China-Brazil Center for Climate Change and Innovative Energy Technologies (COPPE-UFRJ/Tsinghua), told the Global Times in a recent interview that climate and environmental issues are high priorities for Brazil. Having visited China frequently, she said she has "witnessed the significant progress China has made in green development over the past 15 years," and hopes the two countries can work together to achieve shared goals.
"Everything I saw - the changes China has made during these 15 years - was impressive. I see how China moves fast with these five-year plans. I could see it in many different areas, but the most tangible one for me was air quality," said Rocha, an energy scholar and frequent visitor to China. She recalled how during the winters of 2016 and 2017 in North China's Beijing Municipality, "when the sky was often gray and dark and flights were occasionally canceled due to poor visibility, but things have greatly improved now." What impressed Rocha even more than the blue skies was the rapid spread of new energy vehicles in China and the country's astonishing pace of technological progress. "From 2023 to 2024, in just one year, the popularity of electric vehicles in Beijing amazed me. I kept asking, 'How can you achieve such transformation in only one year?'" said the scholar, who visits China every three to four months.
She added that China is vigorously developing multiple fields, including artificial intelligence (AI), supported by substantial investment and cross-sector coordination.
"Few countries can do this. China's progress in new energy far surpasses ours," Rocha told the Global Times. She believes China's ability to "quickly turn plans into reality" stems from strategic planning. "China not only formulates plans but ensures their implementation through a combination of policy and financial backing. The government facilitates cooperation between enterprises and universities, enabling technology to be applied in real-world settings instead of remaining as academic theory that cannot be implemented."
Brazil, recognizing China's technological capabilities and implementation strengths, is actively seeking to expand its cooperation with China - something the China-Brazil Center exemplifies. Established in April 2010 with the backing of both governments, the China-Brazil Center operates offices at Tsinghua University and the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. It serves as a bridge for bilateral cooperation in climate change and energy technology innovation, conducting related research and enhancing collaboration in these fields.
"Tsinghua University is a world-leading institution with strong engineering capabilities, and the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro is also one of Brazil's top universities with strong expertise in related disciplines. The China-Brazil Center was formed through government consultations and has built academic and research ties that contribute to joint development," Rocha explained.
She said this collaborative platform helps attract enterprises from both countries and allows for shared exploration of challenges and co-development of research topics.
Rocha recalled that in 2013, when Brazil was promoting biodiesel nationwide, Tsinghua University happened to be working on a new biodiesel technology. She spent two to three months at Tsinghua, bringing the technology back to Brazil and adapting it to local conditions.
Her laboratory later became one of the technical support institutions for the Brazilian government's biodiesel program. "This is the result of our joint efforts. Our students and researchers can continue their work in China, and Chinese researchers can do the same in Brazil," she said. Her team regularly sends researchers to China to "study which technologies China has and how we can integrate and apply them."
The 30th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP30) will be held this November in Belém, the capital of Brazil's Pará state. Rocha said Brazilian authorities will invite leaders and experts from multiple universities to attend. "They will join events hosted by the Brazilian government and enterprises to discuss climate change issues." Rocha noted that environmental and climate issues hold "very high priority" in Brazil and are a key focus of the government. One major challenge, she said, is curbing deforestation. She also observed that China is now paying close attention to energy conservation and emissions reduction in factories. "China and Brazil are both developing countries, and we must find a balance between development and environmental protection. Cooperation between us is essential."
Rocha said that she would soon visit China to explore hospitals using AI technology. "We are very curious to see how AI interacts with patients and assists in diagnosis. Hospitals in Brazil are always overcrowded, and there aren't enough doctors to meet the demand. We hope to leverage Chinese equipment, robotics, or integrate AI into our healthcare system to help doctors and nurses work more efficiently," she said.
This marks the first time the China-Brazil Center is engaging in cooperation in the health sector. "In the next two to three years, we will also explore the intersection between healthcare and climate change. Health is part of the climate issue, and this will be a promising area of research."
Rocha also noted the increasing presence of Chinese new energy and tech companies in Brazil. "Take BYD for example - you see it in many places. In the next five years, we expect many more Chinese companies to enter Brazil, not just automakers but also firms like Xiaomi and OPPO. I think this is a good thing. These companies help develop certain regions, create jobs, and improve local income. We can see it as support for our development."
When asked to confirm media report suggesting that the Chinese recently inquired through diplomatic channels whether South Korean President Lee Jae-myung would attend the events commemorating the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Wednesday that China has been maintaining communication with all relevant parties on this matter.
This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. China will hold grand commemorative events, Mao said.
The State Council Information Office held a press conference last week, which introduced the arrangements for inviting foreign leaders to the commemorative events, and China has been maintaining communication with all relevant parties on this matter, the spokesperson noted.
The Shenzhou-20 crew members, who are currently on board China's space station, will conduct a second round of extravehicular activities within the next few days, the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) announced on Wednesday.
Since completing their first spacewalk on May 22, the crew has undertaken a series of tasks, including monitoring the station environment, conducting inspections and maintenance of the space station's equipment, and managing inventory and transfers.
The CMSA noted that the crew has made steady progress in experiments in fields such as space life sciences and human research, microgravity physics, and new space technology.
It also confirmed that after two months in orbit, the three crew members are in good health and the space station is operating smoothly, fully prepared for the upcoming spacewalk.
Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun held separate meetings in Qingdao, East China's Shandong Province on Thursday with Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Secretary-General Nurlan Yermekbayev, Uzbek Defense Minister Shukhrat Kholmukhammedov, Kazakh Defense Minister Dauren Kosanov, Tajik Defense Minister Emomali Sobirzoda and Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, according to a statement released by official WeChat account of China's Ministry of National Defense.
The SCO is an important force in practicing true multilateralism and safeguarding global strategic stability, Dong said. He said this meeting has sent a clear signal to the international community that member states are committed to the "Shanghai Spirit" and to deepening unity and cooperation. Dong expressed the hope that all parties would work together to implement the consensus reached at the meeting, jointly respond to the severe impact of unilateralism, protectionism, and hegemonism and inject more certainty and positive energy into regional prosperity and stability.
China is willing to strengthen coordination with the defense departments and militaries of member states, promote progress in defense and security cooperation and contribute to building a closer SCO community with a shared future, Dong added.
The SCO Defense Ministers' Meeting was held from Wednesday to Thursday. Rajnath Singh attended the event, and Indian media noted that he is the first Indian defense minister to visit China since the 2020 China-India border standoff. His visit "marks a significant diplomatic development as both countries cautiously work to restore functional ties after years of frozen engagement."
The Global Times reporter saw Singh arriving at the Qingdao International Convention Center on Thursday afternoon, where bilateral meetings between Chinese and foreign representatives were held.
According to China's Ministry of National Defense, Singh said that India and China are neighbors that cannot be separated and share a long history of interactions. He was quoted as saying that India does not seek conflict or confrontation with China and is willing to properly manage differences, enhance communication and mutual trust and promote steady development of bilateral relations.
Qian Feng, director of the research department at the National Strategy Institute at Tsinghua University, told the Global Times on Thursday that Singh's participation sends a positive signal. It shows India's recognition of the SCO as a valuable platform for dialogue and reflects respect for the host country, while also signaling India's willingness to continue improving relations with China.
Meanwhile, in response to Indian media reports claiming that "India refused to sign the SCO Defense Ministers' joint statement due to differences over terrorism-related issues," Zhang Xiaogang, a spokesperson at China's Ministry of National Defense, stated at a press briefing on Thursday, "As far as I know, with the concerted efforts of all parties, the SCO Defense Ministers' Meeting concluded successfully."
Commenting on this, Qian said that the SCO, as a regional multilateral cooperation mechanism, has always upheld the "Shanghai Spirit" of equality, consultation and mutual benefit. Its core value lies in providing a platform for member states to build consensus, deepen cooperation, and enhance strategic mutual trust.
"The longstanding differences between India and Pakistan are well known," Qian noted. "China and other SCO members have consistently called for resolving such issues through bilateral channels or existing mechanisms for the benefit of regional peace."
The expert noted that although some Indian media outlets unilaterally claimed that India refused to sign the joint statement due to disagreements over terrorism, they overlooked the fact that the SCO is a platform for building multilateral consensus, not a venue for resolving specific bilateral issues between India and Pakistan.
"China's response once again demonstrates the SCO's ability to transcend bilateral disputes and focus on multilateral cooperation," Qian said.
The "Global Times Overseas China Week and Global South Dialogue: Roundtable Forum of China-Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) countries" were held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on Wednesday local time.
Attendees from the political, academic, media and business sectors of China and LAC countries conducted in-depth discussions on topics including cultural exchange and mutual learning among civilizations, technological advancement and green development, BRICS and the Global South, as well as media transformation and think tank exchanges.
The Global Times Research Institute (GTI) also released the results of the first mutual perception survey between China and LAC countries during the forum.
In recent years, China-LAC cooperation has shown strong momentum. In May, Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the fourth ministerial meeting of the China-CELAC (Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) Forum, where he said that China and Latin America are advancing hand in hand as a community with a shared future and announced that the two sides would jointly launch five programs of solidarity, development, civilization, peace and people-to-people connectivity, which provided clear direction for building a China-Latin America community with a shared future in the new stage.
As important members of the Global South, China and the LAC countries have been enhancing mutual understanding and promoting mutual learning, in a bid to deepen and expand cooperation. Ahead of the 17th BRICS Summit to be held in Rio de Janeiro, the Global Times, together with Brasil 247 and the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, jointly organized the event to take concrete actions to implement the Global Civilization Initiative and contribute media strength to building the "five programs" between China and LAC countries.
Fan Zhengwei, President and Editor-in-Chief of the Global Times, said in his welcome speech that China and LAC are writing a new chapter of joint development for the Global South. This event is a vivid embodiment of efforts by academia and media on both sides to deepen cooperation, enhance exchanges, and strengthen friendship.
Against the backdrop of profound changes unseen in a century, the Global South is no longer merely a geographical concept, but embodies a development aspiration, a vision for cooperation, and a historical trend.
The upgrading of China-LAC relations and the development of the Global South require joint fostering from governments, local authorities, friendship associations, and people from all walks of life. As a Chinese media outlet, the Global Times has long committed itself to bridging China and the world and is honored to help build a bridge of people-to-people connectivity between China and Latin America, Fan said.
Leonardo Attuch, Editor-in-Chief of Brasil 247, said in his speech that the world today faces major conflicts, geopolitical tensions, and serious threats to humanity's future. Amid such instability, Brazil and China have become two important pillars of global peace.
Both countries uphold rationality and balance, firmly safeguard national sovereignty, advocate multilateralism, and actively seek to resolve disputes through negotiation in all diplomatic settings. China-Brazil cooperation should be extended to more critical areas, including universities that nurture intellectual capital, think tanks that support long-term strategy, and media platforms that help spread culture and dispel bias and misunderstanding, he said.
Roberto Medronho, president of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, said during his speech that China and Brazil have played important roles in international exchanges over the more than 50 years since they established diplomatic ties. He noted that Brazil has learned a great deal from China and hopes to continue doing so. At the same time, Brazil also has much to contribute to China. "We do this not only for bilateral interests, but also to build a more peaceful world," he said.
Zhu Qingqiao, Chinese Ambassador to Brazil, said via video that both China and Latin America are important members of the Global South. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the official launch of the China-CELAC Forum. Over the past decade, strategic mutual trust has deepened, pragmatic cooperation has expanded, and the bonds of friendship have been steadily strengthened.
As the largest developing countries in their respective hemispheres, China and Brazil, under the strategic guidance of President Xi and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, have entered a "golden period" of building a China-Brazil community with a shared future and aligning development strategies, Zhu said.
Zhu pointed out that China is ready to work with Brazil to expand mutually beneficial cooperation in all areas and further enhance exchanges in culture, education, tourism, media, and local affairs, enriching the bilateral relationship with contemporary significance.
The forum featured in-depth discussions on four key issues of mutual concern. Zhu stated that these exchanges will help further consolidate development consensus within the Global South and contribute intellectual support to the success of the upcoming BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro.
Celso Amorim, special advisor to the president of Brazil, said in a video address that the Brazil-China friendship has remained strong over time. President Lula's visit to China this year for the fourth ministerial meeting of China-CELAC Forum has further deepened bilateral ties. Amid multiple global challenges and increasingly complex regional dynamics, exchanges between China and LAC countries in economic, trade, political, and cultural fields are crucial to the region's overall development and social prosperity, Amorim said.
The forum covered four themes: "Cultural Exchange and Mutual Learning among Civilizations," "Green Development and Scientific Cooperation," "The Global South and Common Interests," and "Media Cooperation and Think Tank Exchange."
The rich and diverse range of topics drew enthusiastic responses from the participating guests, who unanimously agreed that as the Global South becomes an increasingly important force in driving the reform and improvement of the international order, this in-depth conversation, which brings together representatives from across China and Latin America, holds unique significance, and serves as an inspiring platform for promoting the building of a China-LAC community with a shared future and offers a new channel for strengthening unity and cooperation within the Global South.
Many guests told reporters on-site that they were honored to participate in the event, noting that Brazil and China have much to learn from each other. Elizabete Souza, who works for a Brazilian media outlet, said, "This forum was rich in content and truly impressive. It was one of the most valuable learning experiences I've ever had. I look forward to more opportunities to participate in future China-Latin America exchange activities."
Cultural exchange promotes heartfelt connections The friendship between China and Latin America has deep historical roots. Though separated by great distances, as the saying goes, "Even mountains and seas cannot distance people with common aspirations" — the two regions have maintained sincere exchanges and cooperation.
In recent years, as the Belt and Road Initiative advances, cooperation among Global South countries grows more diverse, and platforms such as the China-CELAC Forum take shape, cultural exchange and mutual learning between civilizations have become key pillars of China-Latin America relations. Amid the complexity of global information flows, both sides are eager to break stereotypes and present authentic and multidimensional images of their civilizations.
Marcio Pochmann, President of the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), stated that we are living through a time of profound change - possibly the most significant transformation in the past 400 years. The center of global gravity is shifting from West to East, and from the Global North to the Global South.
In this context, Global South nations must reflect on their roles, reconstruct their identities, and embark on a new enlightenment. This will help us draw closer, strengthen connections, and challenge the long-standing Western dominance in knowledge, politics, and information, Pochmann said.
Maria Luisa Campos, Honorary President of the Latin American Television Network, noted that in today's world, connections between countries are often measured by metrics like export volumes and infrastructure connectivity. Yet there is another, less visible but longer-lasting dimension: the shared narratives we are building together.
According to Campos, over the past 20 years, ties between China and Latin America have grown closer. A true "Southern perspective" means listening, respecting, and cooperating as equals. We are not merely telling stories - we are reflecting together on how to tell the story of "who we are."
Brazilian actress, director, and producer Lucélia Santos stated that China and Brazil have now become vital trade partners, and culture, as a key driver of bilateral relations, plays an indispensable role.
"Culture is the most fundamental bridge for building trust and emotional connection between people. China and Brazil must make better use of digital platforms and truly step into each other's societies to understand one another's cultures and ways of life," she said.
Qiao Jianzhen, Chinese Director of the Confucius Institute at Fluminense Federal University, emphasized that the essence of civilizational exchange is not one-way transmission, but equal dialogue, mutual appreciation, and shared learning. Against the backdrop of global challenges such as conflict and instability, dialogue between the civilizations of China and Latin America can offer valuable wisdom and diverse solutions.
Leveraging complementary strengths to expand cooperation pathways
As the world confronts climate change and advances sustainable development, green development and technological cooperation are becoming key pillars of strategic alignment between China and Latin American countries.
China has made remarkable progress in new energy, photovoltaics, energy storage, and digitalization, while Latin America possesses abundant renewable resources and vast market potential. Faced with the dual demands of development and climate resilience, both sides are working to tap into and activate their complementary advantages in sustainable development to enable greener, more efficient cooperation.
Daniel Filmus, Director of the Ibero-American Center for Research in Science, Technology, and Innovation of Argentina, stated that scientific cooperation helps build trust, address common challenges, and promote cross-cultural understanding. It is one of the most important forces for uniting nations and peoples. In the field of sustainable development, China and Latin American countries have clearly complementary natural resources and expertise. In this context, it is essential to incorporate collaboration in the social sciences and humanities, so that scientific achievements can be adapted to the specific national conditions and cultural realities of each country and region.
Orlando Silva, Federal Deputy of Brazil, noted that Brazil and Latin America possess advantages and potential in energy transition, but still need progress in technological innovation to develop solutions suited to local conditions. Under these circumstances, strategic cooperation between China and Latin American countries is of immense value and can bring mutual benefits. China's leading position in digital technology and infrastructure provides a solid foundation for such cooperation.
Tereza Campello, Director of Sustainability and Green Transition at the Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES), reflected from a cross-sectoral perspective that the world is undergoing accelerated transformation - from trade disputes to armed conflicts, from the AI revolution to the reshaping of global value chains. "Against this backdrop, we must seriously consider two key themes: the climate crisis and the rise of the Global South. China and Brazil are not only crucial players in tackling the climate crisis, but also leaders in building development models that are more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable," he said.
João Valente, director of digital assets at Ambipar, shared insights on how businesses and governments can work together to advance green development. He stated that in Brazil today, any notion of "development" that is not sustainable is essentially invalid. Brazilian companies no longer speak only of "environmental protection" but of "ecological restoration." "Protection" is becoming a concept of the past, as many ecological changes have reached irreversible stages. In light of this, Brazil is committed to helping every company find its role in the sustainable development agenda, he said.
Huang Yehua, President of CNOOC Brazil emphasized that whether it is forests, freshwater, or biodiversity, these treasures hold immense potential for the future development of our planet. "Only when every individual and enterprise actively participate can green development truly take root and flourish," he said.
South-South cooperation benefits the peoples of China and LAC countries
As important components of the Global South, China and the LAC countries are comprehensive cooperative partners based on equality, mutual benefit, and common development. The two sides share broad common interests in advancing multipolarity, reforming global governance, and addressing development imbalances. According to the speakers, under the new international context, China and the LAC countries should strengthen collaboration within multilateral mechanisms, leverage complementary strengths, promote joint development, and strive for greater rights and interests for developing countries.
Francis Bogossian, president of the Clube de Engenharia do Brasil, stated that only through solidarity and cooperation can the strengths of different countries and sectors truly come together to advance global development. Today's Brazil urgently needs to integrate into global high-quality supply chains. "As long as we uphold the principle of mutual benefit and win-win results, and work together in technological innovation, job creation, and international cooperation, we will certainly achieve tangible benefits for local communities."
Patricio Conejero Ortiz, director of Latin America-China Observatory (OLAC) at University of Buenos Aires, pointed out that unlike other forms of international alliances defined by territorial attributes or geographic proximity, the Global South is fundamentally built upon aligned development goals. In essence, the creation of the Global South is a necessary process to grant voice and representation to peoples historically excluded from the core of global decision-making. This space must be constructed through multiple dimensions, including politics, economy, culture, education, communication, and knowledge production.
Monica Bruckmann, Professor at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, remarked that the world today is undergoing a profound and decisive geopolitical transformation. Emerging nations of the Global South are rising rapidly. Many countries, including China, are gradually reshaping the global power structure. In the face of numerous challenges, the importance of South-South cooperation is becoming increasingly evident. It is a key driving force in the construction of a new global economic order, signifying new development paths and a redefinition of the global system.
Xu Wenhong, deputy secretary general of the Belt and Road Research Center at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), stated that countries of the Global South share three major common interests: first, the aspiration for greater political discourse power and equal status; second, the desire to free themselves from Western constraints in economic and technological fields, to achieve economic growth and improve people's livelihoods; and third, the hope of jointly addressing global challenges. At the same time, the Global South faces unprecedented historic opportunities: first, the international landscape is trending in a favorable direction for the Global South; second, digital technologies and green transformation offer an opportunity to leapfrog development; and third, the practice of Chinese modernization has broken the Western mold, providing a new reference for the Global South to explore modernization paths suited to their national conditions.
Media and think tanks facilitate deeper integration Against the backdrop of a rapidly evolving global landscape and deepening South-South cooperation, media collaboration and think tank exchanges between China and Latin America are playing an increasingly irreplaceable role. In an era of rampant misinformation and intensifying cognitive divisions, how to help people overcome information barriers, foster deep integration, and accurately share stories of cooperation to dispel long-standing stereotypes became a shared concern among the speakers.
Leonardo Attuch, Editor-in-Chief of Brasil 247, believes that without convergence in ideas, values, and worldviews, it is difficult to maintain strong and lasting economic and trade relations. Therefore, strengthening connections on the ideological and cultural levels is essential - and this requires joint efforts by universities, research institutions, think tanks, and a group of active Brazilian Sinologists.
He emphasized that China's public communication is not driven by clickbait or emotional engagement, but rather aims at social stability and shared progress. The values promoted by China include poverty eradication, social cohesion, sustainable development, and international peace. Guided by these principles, China has built one of the most efficient and stable governance systems in the world today.
Elias Jabbour, associate professor at the Faculty of Economic Sciences of the State University of Rio de Janeiro stated that the most important tool of communication today is discourse power, which is also a key instrument of governance.
Jabbour noted that China and Brazil share common interests and goals, which should extend beyond the economic and trade fields to encompass deeper cooperation in cultural, academic, and think tank domains.
Evandro Menezes de Carvalho, professor at Fluminense Federal University in Brazil, shared insights from the book Stories about Not Being Afraid of Ghosts, exploring how to confront the unknown and fear with calmness and courage. He believes these stories remind us to view reality with objectivity, scientific understanding, and fearlessness—rather than through illusions, misconceptions, or fear rooted in ignorance. He called on media and think tanks to play an active role in dispelling misunderstandings and promoting international understanding and cooperation.
Song Yiran, People's Daily journalist in Brazil shared three stories with the audience to convey the China-Latin America friendship, warmth of cooperation, and media responsibility she witnessed in the region. "When media professionals and think tank members of the Global South unite, we transmit not merely information, but the power of mutual empowerment; we create not just written accounts, but narratives of a shared destiny," she said.
José Reinaldo Carvalho, international editor of Brasil 247, stated that as media professionals, our responsibility is to debunk fake news, expose lies, reduce wars and conflicts, and oppose armed oppression, dictatorship, monopoly, and terrorism.
During the forum, the GTI released the results of the mutual perception survey between China and Latin America, which notably fills a gap in understanding how Chinese people view Latin America.
The survey was conducted from April to June this year in Chinese, Portuguese, and Spanish across China and six Latin American and Caribbean countries: Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Mexico, Cuba, and Panama. Respondents were permanent residents aged 18 to 70, and demographic quota controls were applied in each country. As of June 2, a total of 5,472 valid responses were collected - more than 2,000 from China and over 3,300 from the six countries in Latin America and the Caribbean.
The questionnaire mainly covered topics such as mutual impressions and perceptions, China-Latin America relations, future development and cooperation, and the concept of a China-Latin America community with a shared future.
Chinese taikonauts have made steady progress in multiple experiments over the past week, including a vertical visual field study, and have also conducted research related to microbiota and nutrient metabolism, CCTV News reported on Monday.
In the field of space medicine, multiple studies — including the upward and downward visual field study — have progressed smoothly. Using specialized equipment and testing software, the crew completed behavioral assessments, according to the report.
The data collected will help examine how microgravity and shifts in attentional focus affect the asymmetry of taikonauts' vertical visual fields and the associated neural mechanisms, providing valuable references for future mission planning and human-machine interface design.
The crew also conducted microbiota and nutrient metabolism research using a Raman spectrometer. By analyzing metabolic components in urine samples, they further refined the indicator system and evaluation criteria for key metabolites. Downlinked samples will support multiple experiments, including studies on bone metabolism and regulatory interactions, according to CCTV News.
Additionally, the taikonauts continued collaborative research with the onboard intelligent flying robot, focusing on spatial human-robot interaction, robot behavior modeling, and multimodal interaction technologies, to explore efficient cooperation methods with the smart assistant "Xiao Hang."
Last week, the crew completed scheduled tasks such as deep maintenance of the microgravity resistance exercise device, inspection of regenerative life support systems, and thermal control equipment maintenance.
When asked to comment on a recent report released by the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security claiming that the hacker attacks targeting Canadian telecommunications companies were almost certainly conducted by the Chinese state-sponsored cyber actor Salt Typhoon, a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Canada stated on Tuesday that China firmly opposes and rejects such accusations. The spokesperson said that despite China’s repeated solemn representations, the relevant Canadian authorities once again distorted facts and hyped up disinformation to smear China.
China is one of the major victims of cyberattacks and consistently opposes and combats all forms of cyberattacks in accordance with the law, the spokesperson said, noting that China is firmly committed to safeguarding cybersecurity.
We urge the Canadian side to act responsibly, immediately cease its groundless accusations and smears against China, and stop the wrong practice of politicizing and stigmatizing cybersecurity issues, said the spokesperson.
