This past week, the legendary Monkey King, Sun Wukong, has re-emerged from ancient scrolls, enchanting the world with his timeless adventures. As Black Myth: Wukong takes the gaming world by storm, conversations are shifting beyond the gameplay to uncover the rich cultural treasures woven into its fabric - like the breathtaking ancient architecture and intricate statues that breathe life into this epic tale.
On Tuesday, the Chinese gaming industry hit a major milestone with the global release of Black Myth: Wukong, a AAA action RPG. Created by Game Science, this epic adventure draws from the legendary Journey to the West, letting players step into the shoes of a destined hero on a wild, perilous journey.
Within just hours of its launch, the game shot to the top of Steam's most-played list for a single-player game, sparking a frenzy of excitement across social media.
But it's not just the game- play that has everyone talking. Black Myth: Wukong stands out for its stunning, lifelike portrayal of ancient Chinese architecture and cultural heritage.
With 36 in-game locations meticulously modeled after real-world sites, including 27 in North China's Shanxi Province - known for its rich historical relics - the game offers players a visually immersive experience like no other, the People's Daily reported.
According to the Xinhua News Agency, to crafta truly immersive, world-class game, the game company Game Science spent years capturing foot- age from historical and cultural sites across China. They used real-world scanning technology to upload digital models of ancient buildings, statues and sculptures into Unreal Engine 5, a real-time 3D creation tool, laying the foundation for an ultra- realistic experience.
The impact of Black Myth: Wukong has gone be- yond the screen, creating a ripple effect in cultural tourism.
The heritages shown in the game have seen a surge in interest. Shanxi's tourism search volume jumped by over 10 percent on launch day, with his- torical sites like Xiao Xi Tian Temple and Yuhuang Temple becoming must-see destinations for fans eager to explore the game's real-world inspirations.
In a savvy move, tourism boards across regions like Shanxi are now rolling out "Follow Wukong" travel campaigns, inviting gam- ers to experience the beauty and history that inspired the game.
With millions of "Monkes" joining the journey, Black Myth: Wukong has unleashed Sun Wukong's legendary power, turning him into a magic force that is propelling China's ancient wonders into the spotlight.
China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) on Friday criticized the European Commission (EC)'s rejection of price offers from Chinese electric vehicle (EV) producers, saying the move shows the EC's lack of sincerity in addressing the dispute through dialogue and stressing China's firm determination to safeguard firms' rights and interests.
"The EC ignored the Chinese industry's sincerity and efforts, and without further communication, said it would reject the Chinese industry's proposal of flexible solution. The Chinese side is deeply disappointed with this," a spokesperson for the MOFCOM said.
The remarks came after the EC, the executive body of the EU, said on Thursday that it had received offers from Chinese EV makers for minimum import prices into the EU market and had rejected all of them, according to Reuters.
The EC's rejection of relevant proposal without thorough evaluation not only undermines the confidence of the Chinese industry in continuing cooperation, but is also inconsistent with the expectations of some EU member states, and is inconsistent with the EC's public statement that it hopes to resolve this case through dialogue, the MOFCOM spokesperson said.
The spokesperson also pointed out that China has made great efforts, including proposing flexible solutions, while the EC lacked sincerity in meeting China halfway.
"If the consultations fail to reach consensus in the end, the responsibility lies entirely with the European side," the spokesperson said. "China has the greatest sincerity to properly resolve differences through dialogue and consultation, as well as the greatest determination to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises."
The MOFCOM has announced that Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao will visit Europe and hold talks with EC Executive Vice President and Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis on September 19 to discuss the EU's anti-subsidy case against China's EVs.
Experts also noted that the Chinese industry's proposal is another example of the Chinese side's commitment to properly resolving the dispute through dialogue and consultation. However, China will firmly safeguard its interests, if the EC refuses to meet China halfway.
The EC should strengthen dialogue and communication with China, show the same sincerity as China in the process, and actively seek solutions that are consistent with WTO rules and acceptable to both parties, Wang Yiwei, a professor at the School of International Relations at Renmin University of China, told the Global Times.
"Both parties are in negotiations, and it would be best if a mutually acceptable outcome can be reached. However, if it touches on China's core interests, no concessions will be made," Wang Yiwei said.
Wind turbines are installed in Nagqu, Southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, at an altitude of more than 5,200 meters on September 12, 2024. This 100-megawatt facility is the world's highest-altitude wind power project currently under construction. The project will be fully completed and operational by late October. It is expected to generate an additional 223 million kilowatt-hours of clean electricity annually. Photo: VCG
In today's world, where the futures of all countries are closely linked, development, security and civilization play important roles in promoting the modernization process of human society. The Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative and Global Civilization Initiative, proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping, offer profound insights into the issues of our time. The Global Times invites scholars to provide readers both at home and abroad with an in-depth understanding of these three initiatives. This is the first article in the series.
The just-concluded 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) was a significant event dedicated to discussing plans for deepening friendly cooperation between China and Africa in the new era. Since its establishment in 2000, FOCAC has witnessed the enduring and strengthening friendship between China and Africa, promoting mutual achievements and shared development. On September 21, 2021, President Xi Jinping attended the general debate of the 76th session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in Beijing via video link. He delivered an important speech and officially proposed the Global Development Initiative (GDI), to put development high on the global macro policy agenda and speed up the implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Today, as the friendship between China and Africa transcends time and space, overcoming vast distances, both sides are advancing together, marching down the broad path toward the shared dream of modernization.
The joint efforts of China and Africa in promoting an open and win-win modernization are a vivid embodiment of the GDI. From the daily lives of ordinary people to the modernization journeys of nations, it is clear that the GDI represents a significant and tangible achievement that unites international consensus and promotes shared global development.
Advancing together with a focus on development
In my over 40 years of work related to Africa, I have participated in the preparation and hosting of numerous FOCAC-related meetings and have witnessed the continuous strengthening of China-Africa relations through friendly cooperation and mutual benefit. I firmly believe that regardless of how the international landscape changes, China-Africa cooperation will continue to grow stronger and become more robust.
On this journey of cooperation, the pursuit of development, revitalization and the shared dream of modernization serve as guiding milestones. Both China and Africa are united in their aspirations for modernization, their belief in solidarity and cooperation, and their hope for a better future. Joining forces for development is key to achieving these shared goals. China as the world's largest developing country, and Africa, the continent with a high concentration of developing counties, face common challenges. The China-proposed GDI addresses the most urgent issues facing developing countries by focusing on development and emphasizing cooperation. In the broader context of bridging the global development gap and revitalizing international progress, this initiative has infused China-Africa cooperation with strong momentum. Both sides are now working together to build a model for implementing the GDI.
Africa's strong desire for modernization and its long-term focus on peace and prosperity align closely with the GDI. This alignment demonstrates that China-Africa cooperation resonates deeply in terms of shared values and coordinated progress. As a key driver of global development, China offers its wisdom and solutions through the GDI and other international public goods to address global challenges and promote sustainable development. Implementing these Chinese solutions presents unprecedented opportunities for China-Africa cooperation and development, accelerating their shared progress in the new era.
Deepening cooperation: a continuous historical journey
At the 2024 FOCAC summit, leaders from China and Africa gathered to discuss cooperation and future prospects under the theme "Joining Hands to Advance Modernization and Build a High-Level China-Africa Community with a Shared Future." This summit has generated significant momentum for modernization efforts and has accelerated the transition of the GDI from broad concepts to detailed implementation.
In the 1950s and 1960s, the first generation of leaders from the People's Republic of China and early African leaders launched a new era in China-Africa relations. Since then, China and Africa have supported each other and fought together against imperialism, colonialism and hegemony, establishing a deep and lasting friendship. From the 1970s until the end of the century, China and Africa achieved mutual development in trade, investment and other areas.
Since the beginning of the 21st century, especially in the new era, China-Africa cooperation has continuously strengthened in a comprehensive and multi-level manner. Since 2013, President Xi has visited Africa five times, attended two FOCAC summits and frequently met with African leaders. The relationship has evolved from the idea that China and Africa have always been a community with a shared future to joining hands to advance modernization and build a high-level China-Africa community with a shared future, continuously opening new chapters in their cooperative history and expanding the prospects for their relationship.
Injecting new momentum into modernization
During my time working in Africa, I remember that one of the biggest health risks for Africans at the time was malaria. With limited treatment options, many relied almost obsessively on traditional quinine, despite its side effects, which could lead to miscarriages. At that time, China produced a drug called Cotecxin domestically. In a remote village in Kenya, a woman suffering from malaria had lost two opportunities to become a mother due to quinine. She then sought help from a Chinese medical team and switched to the Chinese-made Cotecxin. A miracle happened after just three treatment courses. Not only was the malaria under control, but she also successfully gave birth to a boy. To honor the Chinese medication, she named her child Cotecxin.
Cotecxin played a crucial role in combating malaria in Africa and it is more widely known as artemisinin. Today, the supply model for artemisinin has shifted from being solely provided by China to local production and supply within Africa. This represents a vivid example of building a China-Africa health community.
After nearly 70 years of diligent efforts, China-Africa relations are now at their most favorable point in history. Today, the intensity of exchanges and the breadth and depth of cooperation between China and Africa are unprecedented. The concept of building a community with a shared future is becoming increasingly rich, and both sides are achieving impressive results through the high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative and the implementation of the GDI.
It is believed that the more than 2.8 billion people of China and Africa, united in solidarity and working together, can harness immense power to jointly promote a peaceful, secure, prosperous and progressive future for the world. The shared dream of modernization between China and Africa is set to ignite a wave of modernization across the Global South and open a new chapter in building a community with a shared future.
China's private space company LandSpace successfully conducted a 10-kilometer vertical takeoff and vertical landing (VTVL) test on Wednesday, marking the country's first in-flight ignition during the descent stage.
The Beijing-based firm shared the achievement with the Global Times, highlighting the significant step toward developing its ZQ-3 reusable rocket.
The test is seen as a key step in the development China's commercial aerospace industry and in particular the mastering of heavy duty, low cost, high launch-frequency reusable rockets, according to analysts.
The flight test was completed with the VTVL-1 test rocket at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Northwest China's Gansu Province on Wednesday.
The total length of the flight took 200.7 seconds and reached a height of 10,002 meters above surface. During its descent, the rocket completed an in-flight engine ignition at a height of 4.64 kilometers, which is the first of its kind in China. The rocket safely achieved vertical soft landing to a recycling pad located 3.2 kilometers away from the launch pad.
The height of the recent test significantly surpasses that of a previous test in January, during which the rocket remained airborne for approximately 60 seconds and reached a height of 320 meters.
After the two successful trial tests, the company said it is planning the maiden launch of ZQ-3 in 2025 and achieving recyclable rocket components in 2026, striving to achieve important breakthroughs in realizing heavy payload, low cost, reusable launches within three years.
VTVL-1 is liquid oxygen, methane-propelled single-stage test rocket designed to develop the vertical takeoff and landing technique for LandSpace's ZQ-3 reusable rocket.
The VTVL-1 has a total length of 18.3 meters and a diameter of 3.35 meters, with a launch weight of 50.3 tons and 68 tons of take-off thrust.
The ZQ-3 carrier rocket is China's first reusable steel rocket. It was unveiled in December 2023.
The first stage of the rocket can be used for a minimum of 20 flights, reducing the launch cost by 80 to 90 percent compared to regular carrier rockets, LandSpace said.
In June,state-owned China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation completed China's first 10-kilometer vertical takeoff and landing flight test of a reusable launch vehicle at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. The rocket, powered by liquid oxygen-methane engine, has a diameter of 3.8 meters.
China unveiled the country's first standard outlining the functional, technical, and performance criteria for fake digital face detection services in the financial field at the 2024 Inclusion Conference on the Bund in Shanghai.
This standard, the first of its kind for artificial intelligence (AI)-powered face-swapping technology in financial services in the country, also incorporates corresponding testing and evaluation methods, according to the China News Services (CNS).
The standard specifies detailed requirements for functionality and performance, according to the report. At the functional level, relevant institutions should possess the capability to detect fake digital faces across different scenarios, including replacement, activation, and deepfakes.
In terms of performance, institutions should also establish a real digital face data set of no less than 5,000 images, along with fake face data sets of various forgery types to address complex real-life scenarios. Key factors include different skin tones, lighting conditions, levels of clarity, and whether or not voice is included.
This marks an important step in advancing AI safety, Qin An, deputy director of the expert committee on counter-terrorism and cyber security governance at the China Society of Police Law, told the Global Times on Sunday. He added that beyond this standard, defined qualification standards for certification bodies in AI technologies are also crucial to ensuring data security.
Recently, several chat rooms suspected of creating and distributing deepfake pornographic material using doctored photos of ordinary women were reportedly discovered on the messaging app Telegram, with many of the victims and perpetrators known to be teenagers, as reported by The Korea Times.
The incident gained attention in China following posts by netizens claiming to be South Korean women, expressing fears of the incident being overlooked in their country, according to thepaper.cn.
A recent trend of exquisite women dedicated to fully enjoy their experience on high-speed trains has gone viral, with related vlogs flooding Chinese social media platforms and sparking heated discussions.
During the journey, the blogger completes various tasks such as disinfection, humidification, and mite elimination. Additionally, they engage in activities like flower arrangement, brewing tea, and cooking instant noodles along the way. Unlike typical chaotic travel scenarios, the women in the videos used their carefully selected items to enhance both comfort and happiness during their train journeys.
Many netizens have shared their thoughts, noting that while the trips may be brief, the tasks undertaken are substantial, with many adding that they were impressed with the girls’ execution. However, there are individuals who have raised doubts regarding the necessity of emphasizing these intricate details during travel experiences.
As of August 26, State Grid Taizhou Power Supply Company has established 21 fully automated UAV nests in the main urban area of Taizhou, covering an area of nearly 400 square kilometers and achieving full coverage of intelligent UAV inspection for power transmission, transformation, and distribution equipment within the main urban area of Taizhou.
Currently, UAVs have become one of the effective means for inspecting power grid equipment. In the past, pilots would typically carry UAVs to the site for operations, but considering factors such as personnel and vehicle arrangements, equipment endurance, and job transfers, the effective working hours of each pilot group were only around 5 hours per day, making it difficult to fully meet the periodic inspection requirements of multiple disciplines.
Since this year, Taizhou Power Supply has leveraged the technical advantages of grid-based autonomous UAV inspection, optimized the location of nests and autonomous flight routes, and built a "radial" mobile UAV inspection network covering approximately 1,166 kilometers of transmission lines, 1,300 kilometers of distribution lines, and 24 substations.
Now, after initiating automatic inspection, UAVs can automatically execute tasks in the pre-set order without any human intervention throughout the flight operation. They can automatically manage the entire process from takeoff from the nest, operation, return, charging, and data transmission, significantly reducing labor costs.
According to Dai Yongdong, the head of the Intelligent Operation and Inspection Center at Taizhou Power Supply Company, after adopting the fully autonomous nest operation mode, the daily effective working hours of UAVs have reached 12 to 15 hours. Fine-grained inspections of transmission and distribution equipment can be increased from once every quarter to four times a month, and fine-grained inspections of substations can be increased from once every quarter to once every three days, significantly improving the quality and efficiency of equipment inspections.
The recent boom in the artificial intelligence (AI) industry has brought increased attention to the computing-related sector, including cloud computing and chips. With the rapid growth of AI applications in various industries, there is a growing demand for more powerful computing systems to support these applications.
Officials and industry leaders attending an ongoing industry expo have expressed confidence in the domestic development of advanced computing capabilities, as Chinese enterprises have made significant advances in the sector, relying on their experience and technology prowess.
The China International Big Data Industry Expo 2024, which opened on Wednesday in Guiyang, Southwest China's Guizhou Province, attracts many Chinese technology companies eager to capture a piece of the booming domestic AI-related industry.
Wang Chenghong, a representative of Henan Kunlun Information Technology Co, told the Global Times that the company has its own high-performance AI servers and self-developed technology for integrating AI with general computing.
In addition to establishing related infrastructure such as data centers, regions across China have rolled out measures to boost computing power infrastructure development.
Xu Lin, Party secretary of Guizhou Province, announced plans to further develop intelligent computing industrial clusters with a primary emphasis on AI technology.
The province aims to cultivate industry-specific large language models, enhance data center infrastructure and broaden the utilization of data elements across various sectors.
The computing power is reshaping global economic landscapes at an unprecedented pace, said Gao Wen, an academician at the Chinese Academy of Engineering, at a forum on Thursday.
To strengthen advanced computing capabilities and foster new quality productive forces, China has invested more than 43.5 billion yuan ($6.12 billion) in a nationwide project to build computing data centers, Liu Liehong, head of the National Data Administration, said at the expo.
China's massive investment in computing comes as it faces increasing restrictions from the US, which has limited exports of some advanced computing products, including those from industry leader Nvidia in recent years, according to Reuters.
As Washington steps up controls on chip exports to China, the US chipmaker is still actively seeking opportunities to collaborate with Chinese enterprises and benefit from their rapid progress.
While China was a "significant contributor" to the data center revenue in the past quarter, "it remains below levels seen prior to the imposition of export controls," Nvidia CFO Colette Kress said during an earnings call on Thursday. "We continue to expect the China market to be very competitive going forward."
China's success in self-reliant semiconductor production hinges on surmounting technological hurdles, navigating geopolitical complexities, and fostering a domestic AI chip supply that is both cutting-edge and economically viable, experts noted.
