China on Wednesday successfully launched into preset orbit the Queqiao-2 relay communication satellite as well as Tiandu-1, Tiandu-2 communication and navigation technology experiment satellites, the key constellation supporting the country’s subsequent Chang’e lunar exploration missions. 

Carrying the three satellites, a Long March-8 rocket took off from Wenchang Space Launch Site in South China’s Hainan Province at around 8: 31 am on Wednesday. And after a flight of 24 minutes, the Queqiao-2 satellite separated from the carrier rocket and then its solar wings and communication antennas unfolded normally, marking the complete success of the launch mission, according to the China National Space Administration (CNSA).

Queqiao-2, or Magpie Bridge-2, is a relay satellite for communications between the far side of the moon and Earth in 2024. The satellite will serve as a relay platform for the fourth phase of China's lunar exploration program, providing communications services for Chang'e-4, Chang'e-6, Chang'e-7, and Chang'e-8 missions.

Compared to the Queqiao-1 relay satellite launched with the Chang'e-4 lunar mission in 2018, the Queqiao-2 relay satellite features more technological innovations, a broader range of technical capabilities, enhanced functionalities, more complex interfaces, higher development complexity, and a longer mission time span. Additionally, Queqiao-2 carries multiple scientific payloads and will conduct scientific exploration missions, per the CNSA.

And 120 seconds after the separation of Queqiao-2 relay satellite, the Tiandu satellite combination separated from the relay satellite and entered a direct Earth-moon transfer orbit with a near-point altitude of 200 kilometers and a far-point altitude of 420,000 kilometers, the Tiandu program contractor Deep Space Exploration Lab (DSEL) revealed in a statement it provided to the Global Times on Wednesday. 

The satellite's solar wings unfolded normally, meaning the launch mission was a complete success, the DSEL confirmed. 

Subsequently, with ground control support, Tiandu satellites will undergo mid-course corrections and near-moon braking to enter a capture orbit, the lab confirmed. 

Then, under orbit control, it will enter a 24-hour period elliptical lunar orbit, following which the two satellites will separate, and the relative distance will be adjusted to about 200 kilometers to conduct new technology verifications such as lunar orbit navigation, integrated Ka-band communication ranging, and high-reliability transmission and routing between moon and Earth, the DSEL disclosed.

The twin satellites, weighing 61 kilograms and 15 kilograms, were respectively developed by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology and Harbin Institute of Technology, per the DSEL.

During the short half-hour flight, the Chang'e-8 rocket demonstrated three tailored capabilities for the Queqiao-2 relay satellite mission: enhanced trajectory design, more flexible active roll control technology, and improved thermal protection measures for safety, the rocket model developer China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT) told the Global Times in a statement on Wednesday.

According to the CALT, the Wednesday mission was the third flight of the Chang'e-8 rocket. In 2020, it successfully debuted, filling the gap in China's ability to carry 3-5 tons to Sun-synchronous orbit. In 2022, it adapted to commercial launch missions with "One Rocket, 22 Satellites" without two boosters. 

“Today, the Chang'e-8 rocket embarked on its first journey to the Earth-moon transfer orbit, once again proving its stability, reliability, and adaptability through successful performance，” read the CALT statement. 

Mounting a nose cone with a 4.2-meter-width and 8-meter-height, the rocket that can send payload no less than 1.3 tons to the Earth-moon transfer orbit, is considered as a perfect match for the Queqiao-2 satellite launch mission. 

Compared to the tasks Chang'e-8 rocket excels at executing in Sun-synchronous orbit, the Earth-moon transfer orbit has a lower insertion altitude and faster rocket flight speed, almost reaching the second cosmic velocity. As the rocket rapidly crosses the atmosphere, the temperature generated by friction between the rocket body and the atmosphere is higher, especially affecting the nose cone and front end, CALT explained.

To address this challenge, the rocket development team added an extra layer of thermal protection coating to the rocket. Although it may not be apparent from the exterior, key parts of the rocket have increased thickness, enhancing its ability to withstand the harsh conditions of the Earth-moon transfer orbit, it said. 

To meet the future demand for launching large-scale constellations in low Earth orbit, the modified Long March-8 carrier rocket will undertake its maiden flight mission at the Wenchang Space Launch Site in Hainan in the latter half of this year, the Global Times has learned from CALT. 

The Chang'e-6 mission, set to launch in the first half of the year, aims to break new ground in lunar retrograde orbit design and control, intelligent sampling on the moon's far side, and ascent from the lunar surface. It will conduct an automated sample return from the moon's far side, along with scientific exploration of the landing area and international collaboration, according to the CNSA. 

Wu Weiren, chief designer for China's lunar exploration program, had previously revealed that Stage 4 Chang'e lunar probe missions - the Chang'e-6, -7 and -8 - will carry out new planetary exploration missions and further upgrade the country's space launch capabilities in the next 15 years.

Chinese localities have accelerated the roll-out of infrastructure projects with a focus on new infrastructure serving the digital economy in the first two months of this year. 

Analysts said on Monday that the quality of investment further improved, but they called for more support policies to ensure the intensity of investment and keep overall investment steady.

The first quarter is a traditional season in China when the ground is broken for big projects. 

Analysts said there is more room for proactive fiscal policies in 2024, with the issuance of special-purpose bonds and half of the 1 trillion yuan ($138.92 billion) additional government bonds, issued last year, having been transferred for use in 2024. 

They noted that the new round of investment helps improve the country's investment structure but more support policies are needed to ensure the steady growth of investment for the whole year.

Beijing plans to invest 50 billion yuan in local transportation projects this year, up 16 percent year-on-year, the Beijing Daily reported on Monday, citing a municipal official. Investment of 10 billion yuan is set to be completed in the first quarter.

Northeast China's Liaoning Province broke ground on 1,153 infrastructure projects on Monday, with total investment of 316.6 billion yuan, according to a post on the provincial government's website. The projects focus on advanced manufacturing, scientific and technological innovation and clean energy, "as an improvement of Liaoning's investment structure," read the post.

Last week, the city of Shenzhen in South China's Guangdong Province said that it plans to complete investment totaling 140 billion yuan in new infrastructure projects, including the installation and upgrading of 8,000 5G wireless base stations, to boost the development of the digital economy. The pledged investment is markedly higher than the 122.3 billion yuan in new infrastructure investment by the city in 2023.

China's fixed-asset investment rose 4.2 percent year-on-year in the first two months of this year, 1.2 percentage points higher than the full-year growth rate of 2023, data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed on Monday. The investment totaled 5.08 trillion yuan.

Tian Yun, a veteran economist based in Beijing, told the Global Times on Monday that localities have improved their investment structure, which has been helpful in improving China's productivity and efficiency, but he called for speeding up the building of a unified national market as the country cannot rely solely on external demand to beef up investment.

Li Chang'an, a professor at the Academy of China Open Economy Studies of the University of International Business and Economics, told the Global Times on Monday that private-sector investment showed better results than in December, indicating that an economic recovery is in progress.

The investment structure also improved as more projects are new infrastructure projects or in sectors related to new quality productive forces, Li said.

However, Li noted that investment on new projects during the first two months were still low, as low profitability dented investment sentiment, which calls for more attention from the government.

According to NBS data, private investment in fixed assets rose 0.4 percent year-on-year in the first two months, reversing a decline in 2023. Private investment in manufacturing, hotels, catering and transportation all registered double-digit growth.

As policies aimed at boosting effective investment continue to take effect, investment is expected to maintain a steady expansion at the next stage, Liu Aihua, a spokesperson with the NBS, said at a press conference on Monday.

Manufacturing investment rose 9.4 percent year-on-year, accelerating by 2.9 percentage points from 2023. Investment in infrastructure construction rose 6.3 percent, up 0.4 percentage points.

China on Thursday slammed US' petition to probe into China's shipbuilding industry for alleged unfair practices as “trade protectionism” and “lacking factual basis.”

The remarks come after the United Steelworkers and other unions filed a petition with the US Trade Representative (USTR) on Tuesday outlining alleged “unreasonable and discriminatory acts, policies, and practices” that have helped China dominate global shipbuilding, the Financial Times reported. 

He Yadong, spokesperson for the Chinese Commerce Ministry (MOFCOM) said that the accusations made by some US organizations against China are completely unfounded.

Multiple reports have pointed out that the decline of the US shipbuilding industry is mainly due to overprotection while the development of the Chinese shipbuilding industry has benefited from increasing technological innovation and high-end, intelligent and green development, He said.

“US blaming China for its own industrial development issues lacks factual basis,” He said.

The petition was filed under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974. The USTR office said it will review the allegations from the unions and decide within 45 days whether they merit a probe, according to media reports.

He said that the Section 301 measures are typical examples of unilateralism, which violates the basic principles of the WTO and disregards multilateral trade rules. Previous Section 301 measures taken by the US against China have been ruled to violate WTO rules.

It is hoped that the US will make prudent decisions and avoid making same mistakes. The Chinese side will closely follow how it proceeds and take necessary measures to safeguard its legitimate rights, He added.

The UAE construction market size was $94 billion in 2023 and the market will achieve an average annual growth rate(AAGR) of more than 3% during 2025-2028, according to a report released by GlobalData, a data analytics and consulting company, headquartered in London.

The growth is attributed to the increase in investments in transport and renewable energy infrastructure, with improvements in the electric vehicle market, according to the report.

Residential construction captured the highest share of the UAE's construction market last year, according to the report, which indicated that the real estate sector continued its growth momentum with expectations that the sector will maintain good growth rates during the current year 2024 supported by the launch of qualitative infrastructure projects and investments by the government and the private sector.

Sony said its several businesses including its mobile phone business are operating normally in China, and the company has confidence in staying in the Chinese market.

The comments are in a response to some users on China's Weibo claiming that new mobile phones Xperia 1 VI and Xperia 10 VI will not be launched on the Chinese mainland.

"Our several business sectors including the mobile phone business are operating steadily in China. China is one of Sony's most important overseas markets, and we are full of expectations for our future development in China, the company said in a note sent to the Global Times on Sunday.

Xperia Z1 was first sold in Chinese mainland as early as 2013. Previously, Sony announced its financial results from July to September 2023, which showed that the revenue of the mobile division, which includes Xperia smartphones, fell significantly year-on-year, according to a report by yicai.com on Saturday.

The performance of Sony mobile phones in the Chinese market has always attracted much attention. In recent years, with the rise of local Chinese mobile phone brands, Sony has faced fierce competition in the Chinese market.

Despite this, the Global Times found that Sony is still selling mobile phone products on e-commerce platforms such as JD.com.

In earlier comments shared with the Global Times, Sony said the company has always attached great importance to the personalized and diversified needs of the Chinese market, and actively joins hands with outstanding domestic partners in order to bring high-tech, high-value products and solutions that are more in line with local needs.

China's Government Work Report submitted on Tuesday to the national legislature for deliberation during the annual two sessions has generated strong confidence among Japanese enterprises in China as it shows the Chinese government's determination to keep promoting opening-up and optimizing the business environment for foreign-funded enterprises.

Multiple Japanese enterprises stated in interviews with the Global Times that they are looking forward to further exploring the market as "China cannot do without the world, and the world cannot do without China."

A survey by the Japan External Trade Organization found that 90 percent of Japanese companies hope to expand their business in China or maintain their current status. Another survey conducted by the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry in China among its 1,700 member companies indicated that 88 percent of them still consider China as an important market.

China’s foreign trade in goods in the first two months of 2024 hit a record high of 6.61 trillion yuan ($918.3 billion), rising 8.7 percent year-on-year, signaling a good start of foreign trade in the new year, data from the General Administration of Customs showed on Thursday.

The country’s export volume in the two months recorded year-on-year increase of 10.3 percent to reach 3.75 trillion yuan, and imports reached 2.86 trillion yuan, representing annual growth of 6.7 percent.

From January to February, ASEAN remained China’s largest trade partner, with their bilateral trade totaling 993.24 billion yuan, up 8.1 percent on a yearly basis, accounting for 15 percent of China’s total imports and exports.

The EU becomes China’s second largest trade partner, and the total trade between the two sides stood at 832.39 billion yuan, dropping by 1.3 percent. The US was the third largest trade partner, with their trade volume increasing 3.7 percent to 707.7 billion yuan.

In the first two months, China’s foreign trade with its BRI partners reached 3.13 trillion yuan, registering a year-on-year growth of 9 percent. 

The country’s private enterprises had a good performance in the first two month’s import and export. Trade volume of private firms reached 3.61 trillion yuan, an increase of 17.7 percent, accounting for 54.6 percent of the total value of China’s foreign trade, an increase of 4.2 percentage points over the same period last year.

In terms of the export structure, electromechanical products accounted for nearly 60 percent of Chinese exports, of which automatic data processing equipment, integrated circuits and automobile export recorded significant growth rates. 

In the first two months of the year, China's exports of automatic data processing equipment reached 195.45 billion yuan, up 7.3 percent with exports of integrated circuits soaring 28.6 percent and auto vehicle up 15.8 percent on a yearly basis.

China’s exports likely to grow 10% y-o-y in the first two months: NDRC head

China officially kicked off the two sessions this week, and the highly-anticipated Government Work Report, which contains a cluster of key economic goals, will be delivered. What we most look forward to is the formulation of some economic development indicators this year. Ultimately, it's about how the central government sets economic growth targets, especially regarding how to focus on the transformation of China's economy, while tackling with downward pressure and external uncertainties.

In fact, everyone is looking forward to what kind of signals the two sessions will bring to China's social development and how it will properly guide social expectations. The tone-setting political gathering is also a timely, clear response to certain pessimism voices on Chinese economy, especially from the international society. I think this is also the most important aspect of this conference.

There have been a lot of hypes on Chinese economy in recent days, ranging from rhetoric such as the collapse of the Chinese economy, economy hitting a ceiling, to economy recession claim. But all of them are groundless and those Chinese economy doomsayers basically don't understand the governing mechanism of Chinese economy and the course of its development. They interpret Chinese economy through the lens of basic theories and values derived from modern Western economics, as well as Western market economy theories.

But the reality of Chinese economy requires the international community to understand it from China's own perspective. For example, in the field of economics what the US scholars and politicians have experienced is only the scenarios involving marketization and modernization of a 300-million population. And obviously when it comes to the Chinese modernization involving a country with 1.4 billion people, it's very challenging for them to understand the development vigor and potential the economy could release, with their limited tools and methodologies in hands. China's uniqueness is undeniable, and it is essential to recognize the special characteristics of the Chinese economy.

Also, many people who study Chinese economy tend to amplify negative data they see, and this is how rumors are being spread internationally.

We've been hearing bearish views on Chinese economy not just today, but since the 1990s. It has been approximately 30 years, yet China is still standing firm here. Even though we currently face downward pressure, including insufficient demand and weakened expectations, if you look at the fundamentals of China's economic development, it's still very robust - no matter from the aspects of people's improving livelihood, stable consumer price, rising residents' incomes or better corporate profits.

The smearing against Chinese economy is clearly inconsistent with the positivity it has been released. Last year, our residents' incomes - both urban and rural - outpaced GDP growth, and rural residents' incomes even surpassed those of urban residents. This actually contributes to social stability and the sense of security and happiness of Chinese people.

There's more potential to be tapped into with China's gradual expansion of middle-income group in the years to come. We currently have only around 400 million middle-income population, and when China achieves the income levels of a moderately developed country in the future, there will likely be 700 to 800 million middle-income population. And that will bring a multiplier effect of China's demand and investment, which may even surpass the readings that a moderately developed country could achieve.
Rebutting 'Chinese economy Japanization'
Some foreign media outlets have also peddled the so-called "Chinese economy Japanization" since last year, with sensational headlines claiming that China's economic slowdown bears resembles to that of Japan three decades ago, and concluded that the world's second-largest economy could risk facing "lost decades" in the near future.

We must acknowledge that the slowdown of the Chinese economy is an inevitable trend for all economies as they progress, as development always involves the core issue of economic structure transition. And also, GDP won't always fly high as development quality improves.

But it is important to note that the Chinese economy is fundamentally different from that of the Japanese economy back then. Firstly, the scale is different. The Japanese economy didn't have a vast domestic market like China and because of a narrow domestic market space, a large amount of Japanese capital had to fleet into the world. On the contrary, China has a huge domestic demand. Even though many Chinese companies now seek opportunities internationally, the reality is that with the expansion of domestic demand and the development of the domestic economy, the space we provide for Chinese companies to develop domestically is also enormous.

Second, Japan has a population of 200 million, while we have 1.4 billion people, which carries ramification for abundant labor supply despite aging issues. Our incremental labor force is decreasing, but China's existing stock of labor force is still significant. The quality of China's existing labor force, along with the cultivation of our own Chinese entrepreneurs through decades of marketization and internationalization, also presents an overwhelming edge in human capital. And potential labor shortage issue could be gradually resolved through structural optimization and policy adjustments.

The Western distortion narrative against Chinese economy, which has persisted for years, is also fueled by their ideological biases. They always seated nervously with China's rise.

However, regardless of how external situation evolve, China needs to focus our efforts on doing our own things well. Chinese policymakers are sober and their approach to economic development - as shed light by the Central Economic Work Conference and the Government Work Report - is very clear. As long as we improve our economy, enhance people's livelihoods, and ensure employment, it is probably the most effective way to deal with all challenges. And the Chinese doomsayers could do nothing but sit there uneasily.

The opinion is based on an interview with Han Baojiang, a member of the National Committee of Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and a professor at Party School of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (National Academy of Governance).

Chinese Vice President Han Zheng on Friday called on the business communities in China and the US to consolidate the foundation of their friendship and mutual trust and expand cooperation scope.

Han made the remarks when attending the annual appreciation dinner of the American Chamber of Commerce in China (AmCham China) in Beijing at invitation. Approximately 500 representatives from Chinese and American businesses attended the event.

Noting that this year marks the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and US, Han remarked that the business circles of the two countries are participants, witnesses and contributors to the bilateral cooperation, and will be pioneers in the future, Xinhua News Agency reported on Saturday.

Han said the Chinese economy has strong resilience, potential and vast room to grow. China will unswervingly expand opening up at a high level, continue to reduce the negative list for foreign investment access, effectively guarantee the national treatment for foreign enterprises, and foster a market-oriented, law-based and international business environment to provide more opportunities for foreign companies to develop in China, Han said.

Han welcomed more US companies to invest and develop in China, calling on AmCham China to keep in mind its original intention and forge ahead, strengthen communication with the Chinese organizations, and jointly push for more results in China-US economic and trade cooperation.

US Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns said in a speech at the event that "China remains the number two source of imports to the US of any countries in the world, and the number three destination point for exports from the US."

"As President Biden, Secretary of the Treasury Yellen, Secretary of State Blinken, Secretary of Commerce Raimondo and I have all made clear publically, the US wants to keep trade going forward with China. We are not seeking the decoupling of these two major global economies," Burns said.

There are increasing signs of improved engagement between the Chinese and US business communities, sending positive signals for economic ties between the two countries. One of the latest examples was the visit by the delegation led by the US Chamber of Commerce. During the visit from Tuesday to Thursday, the delegation held discussions with US enterprises operating in China and relevant industry associations as well as government officials.

China's continuous improvement of domestic business environment has also injected more confidence for foreign companies including the US to put more weight on Chinese booming market.

About half of US companies surveyed view China as a top three global priority despite challenges such as tense China-US relations, the AmCham in Beijing said on February 1.

American companies in China have recognized the improvement in China's economy and the continuous improvement of the business environment, which reflects the confidence of those investing in China and deepening their roots here, China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) spokesperson He Yadong said at a regular press conference on Thursday, referring to the results of the latest report from the AmCham China.

Increased engagement between China and the US is offering vital reassurance to businesses in both nations and the global community, particularly in the face of escalating global challenges, analysts said.

Chinese chip producer Fujian Jinhua Integrated Circuit Co on Wednesday said that it welcomed a US court ruling, as the company was cleared of economic espionage and other criminal charges after being blacklisted by the US Commerce Department for more than five years.

Analysts said that many accusations made by the US against Chinese enterprises have been fabricated and were based on inferences, as political accusations have no bottom line. They said that the ruling was made based on facts and laws, while urging Chinese companies to take legal measures to protect their legitimate rights.

Fujian Jinhua was put on the US Entity List in 2018 amid former US president Donald Trump's trade war with China, with the US Commerce Department citing "a significant risk of becoming involved in activities that are contrary to the national security interests of the US."

On Tuesday, US District Judge Maxine M. Chesney in San Francisco found the company not guilty following a non-jury trial. The ruling may temper the Biden administration's pursuit of aggressive prosecutions to protect American technology, Bloomberg reported on Wednesday.

Chesney concluded that US prosecutors failed to prove that Fujian Jinhua misappropriated proprietary data from Micron Technology - America's largest memory chip producer.

In 2017, Micron sued Fujian Jinhua and Taiwan island-based United Microelectronics Corp in the US courts, accusing the two of stealing the company's memory chip trade secrets.

In December 2023, Micron said that it had reached a global settlement agreement with Fujian Jinhua, according to media reports.

The US Justice Department in 2018 announced an indictment against Fujian Jinhua regarding the trade secrets issue, and later the US Commerce Department added the firm to a list of entities that cannot buy components, software or technology goods from US firms.

Many allegations raised by the US against China might be overturned if they were actually heard in the US court system, as a lot of allegations have been fabricated and based on inference, He Weiwen, senior fellow from the Center for China and Globalization, told the Global Times on Wednesday.

Political accusations have no bottom line, said Li Yong, a senior research fellow at the China Association of International Trade.

Stamping rising Chinese enterprises with a bad name like 'spies' showed the how the US political ecosystem is like, and the smearing of Chinese companies demonstrated the bigotry driven by US politicians," Li told the Global Times on Wednesday.

According to the Bloomberg report, the verdict is significant because while the US has pursued and won numerous convictions of individuals for unlawfully transferring intellectual property to China, the Justice Department has rarely prosecuted Chinese companies in US courts.

The report noted that the case against Fujian Jinhua, filed in 2018 amid Trump's trade war with China, was touted as a high-profile effort to crack down on Chinese spying at US companies and research universities. The case was still in the courts when the Justice Department under the Biden administration ended Trump's "China Initiative" in 2022.

This ruling has a significant meaning as it can provide references for similar cases, Gao Lingyun, an expert at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences who closely follows China-US trade issues, told the Global Times on Wednesday.

All three experts stressed the significance for Chinese enterprises to actively take measures to protect their legitimate rights in response to unwarranted sanctions and smears.

Chinese enterprises operate in accordance with regulations while advancing their technology and complying with legal requirements, Li said, adding that Chinese firms should utilize the law in response to politically driven smears.

Chinese experts and officials have repeatedly slammed the unreasonable US crackdown on Chinese enterprises, as such suppression will only harm normal trade and economic exchanges and interrupt global industry and supply chains.

Having a "small yard and high fence" will not stop China's innovation-driven development, nor will it do any good to US companies or the entire semiconductor industry, Mao Ning, Foreign Ministry spokesperson, told a press conference on Tuesday, commenting after Nvidia included Huawei among its current competitors in artificial intelligence, chips and various areas for the first time, which showed that its competitive position may be harmed if there are further changes in the US government's export controls.

The US needs to follow the principles of the market economy and fair competition, and support companies around the world in advancing science and technology through healthy competition, Mao said.