"The boy was an avid reader of literature and history, particularly captivated by the poetry of Du Fu," said Chen Qiuying, who taught Chinese President Xi Jinping Chinese in 1965, when Xi was a teenager.

Du, the most revered realist poet of the Tang Dynasty (618-907), was celebrated for his profound empathy and compassion for the common people in his works. This spirit is echoed in Xi's firm commitment to fighting poverty and promoting the wellbeing of the people.

"Xi implored me to recommend more of Du Fu's works," Chen recalled. "He possessed a composed and rational demeanor, immersing himself in extensive reading and profound contemplation."

Four years later, as an educated young student, Xi volunteered to go to Liangjiahe, a secluded and impoverished village nestled in the rugged terrain of northwest China's Shaanxi Province.

With him, Xi carried two suitcases filled with books. During his seven years there, Xi devoured whatever books he could find, from ancient Chinese textbooks to foreign novels such as Stendhal's The Red and the Black and Leo Tolstoy's War and Peace.

"During those days in Liangjiahe, Xi never ceased reading and reflecting," said Dai Ming, who shared a cave dwelling with Xi back then.

Xi's keen interest in different cultures has since continued unabated, whether as a local official or as the top leader of China. When serving as secretary of the CPC Zhejiang Provincial Committee, he invited scholars to deliver lectures on both Chinese and Western philosophies.
In November 2019, during his first state visit to Greece, Xi toured the Acropolis Museum at the foot of the iconic and ancient Acropolis. He took a moment at the sunlit entrance on the museum's third floor, the east and west sides adorned with exquisite pediment sculptures from the Acropolis: the birth of Athena and the fierce contest between her and Poseidon for the title of protector of Athens.

"This is Greece's version of Shan Hai Jing," Xi remarked, alluding to China's own ancient compendium of ancient myths and legends.

"He is not only interested in a single artifact," said Dimitrios Pandermalis, then president of the Acropolis Museum. "He possesses a profound fascination with the civilization of ancient Greece and its history, along with a keen appreciation for ancient Greek art and architecture."

Prime Minister Modi's recent positive remarks on China-India relations are appreciated and China is willing to work with India to fully implement the consensus reached by the leaders of two countries and promote the healthy and stable development of the relationship, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Monday. 

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized the need to strengthen ties with China despite past tensions, advocating dialogue over discord and cooperation over conflict, during an interview with MIT research scientist and podcaster Lex Fridman, which was released on Sunday. Modi also underscored that India and China should engage in healthy and natural competition rather than confrontation.

Experts view Modi's remarks as a pragmatic approach to China-India relations, acknowledging that cooperation and competition can coexist.

Being partners in mutual achievement and realizing "a cooperative pas de deux of the dragon and the elephant is the only right choice for China and India," Mao said on Monday. 

China is willing to work with India to fully implement the consensus reached by their leaders, take the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties as an opportunity to advance exchanges and cooperation across various fields and levels, and promote the healthy and stable development of China-India relations, Mao added. 

During the conversation with Fridman, Modi highlighted the deep historical and cultural ties between China and India, stressing their shared contributions to global civilization. "The relationship between India and China isn't something new. Both nations have ancient cultures and civilizations. Even in the modern world, they play a significant role. If you look at historical records, for centuries, India and China have learned from each other. Together, they have always contributed to the global good in some way," Modi said, according to a report from NDTV.

Noting that two neighboring countries are bound to have occasional arguments, PM Modi said that differences between them are also natural. He drew parallels with the scenario of a family, saying that even within them, not all things are perfect. "But our focus is to ensure that these differences don't turn into disputes. That's what we actively work toward," the PM said, according to The Hindustan Times. 

Modi's remarks underscore the Indian government's current pragmatic approach to advancing China-India relations, building on the positive momentum since the Kazan summit of the leaders. His remarks align with the broader trend of bilateral ties returning to a path of stable and healthy development, Qian Feng, director of the research department at the National Strategy Institute at Tsinghua University, told the Global Times. 

Qian noted that since the meeting in Kazan, China-India relations made positive strides with both sides implementing the important consensus, strengthening exchanges at all levels and practical cooperation, resulting in a series of positive outcomes, said the expert. 

For example, in December, 2024, China and India held the 32nd meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation & Coordination on China-India Border Affairs (WMCC) in New Delhi, and the two sides agreed to maintain communication through diplomatic and military channels, and safeguard sustainable peace and stability in the border areas, according to a release from Chinese Foreign Ministry.

Modi also mentioned the border disputes when talking with Fridman. He said that "We are now working to restore conditions to how they were before 2020. Slowly but surely, trust, enthusiasm, and energy will return. But of course, it will take some time, since there's been a five-year gap."

Qian said that after years of standoff, the China-India border issue has returned to a stable and manageable state. Moving forward, he said, both sides may enter the next phase of negotiations, although the process could be lengthy.

The key priority is ensuring the effective implementation of existing agreements with full compliance. At the same time, both sides need to explore ways to steadily advance the resolution process beyond the current stage, said Qian.

He also noted that resolving the China-India border issue requires sustained joint efforts and the use of multi-tiered diplomatic mechanisms to achieve a fair and reasonable settlement.

During the conversation, Modi also highlighted the importance of managing competition responsibly. He described cooperation between India and China as essential for global stability and prosperity.

 "And since the 21st century is Asia's century, we want India and China to compete healthily. Competition is not a bad thing, but it should never turn into a conflict," said Modi, according to Hindustan Times. 

"Healthy, natural competition is a normal part of international relations. Every country navigates both cooperation and competition, and China and India, as neighboring major powers, are no exception. The key is to ensure that differences do not escalate into confrontation," Qian said.

At the same time, China and India are at different stages of development, and competition in emerging industries is unavoidable. However, as long as this competition remains fair, constructive, and regulated, it can serve as a catalyst for both countries to strengthen their own growth and development. Competition is not a challenge to avoid but an opportunity to seize, said Qian. 

Meanwhile, Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi on Sunday highlighted the challenges posed by China's rise as a "dominant economic and strategic force," claiming that it "hampers India's ability to position itself as the natural leader of the Global South," according to The Times of India. 

Dwivedi's remarks reflect the trust deficit in China-India relations, despite recent positive momentum. They also highlight the contradictions in India's China policy—while India seeks to expand economic cooperation with China, it remains strategically ambivalent, carefully balancing engagement with geopolitical caution, said Qian, calling for joint efforts in continuing improving ties. 

In response to an inquiry about US President Trump's remarks that the US will supply India with military equipment, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun stated on Friday that in developing relations and conducting cooperation between nations, it is important not to use China as a talking point, nor should it be an opportunity to incite group politics and bloc confrontation.

According to Reuters, the US will increase military sales to India starting in 2025 and will eventually provide F-35 fighter jets, Trump told reporters on Thursday after a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Regarding the remarks, Guo, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, said that the Asia-Pacific region is a hub for peaceful development, not a chessboard for geopolitical maneuvering. Forming exclusive circles and engaging in group politics will not bring security and will only harm regional and global peace and stability.

China is willing to enhance mutually beneficial cooperation with the Czech Republic provided that the Czech side respects China's core interests, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Saturday.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks when meeting with Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference.

The Czech Republic was among the first countries to establish diplomatic ties with the People's Republic of China and the two peoples have maintained good feelings toward each other. Bilateral relations, however, have experienced a downturn in recent years, a situation that China does not wish to see, said Wang.

China pursues an independent foreign policy of peace and is committed to developing relations with all nations on the basis of mutual respect and mutually beneficial cooperation. There are no fundamental conflicts in terms of national interests or geopolitical disputes between China and the Czech Republic. Improving and further developing China-Czech relations are in line with the shared aspirations of the two peoples and the fundamental interests of the two countries, he said.

Wang expressed the hope that the Czech side would engage in earnest self-reflection, develop the right perspective about China, and take concrete actions to rebuild trust with China.

The key is to respect China's core interests, particularly adherence to the one-China principle, and to safeguard the political foundation of China-Czech relations, so as to bring bilateral ties back to a healthy and stable track as soon as possible. Only on this basis would China be willing to strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields with the Czech side, said Wang.

Lipavsky noted that last year marked the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries. He recalled that during Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to the Czech Republic in 2016, the two sides established a strategic partnership, setting a clear direction for mutually beneficial cooperation.

Lipavsky acknowledged that, in the context of looming trade wars, maintaining dialogue and cooperation between the Czech Republic and China, as well as between the EU and China, is of great importance.

The Czech government pursues a one-China policy and does not support "Taiwan independence." The Czech Republic is willing to work with China to develop sound political relations and advance bilateral cooperation for better results, he said.

The two sides also exchanged views on China-EU relations, the Ukraine crisis, among other issues.

Beijing unveiled new measures on Monday to enhance physical education (PE) in primary and middle schools, introducing increased class hours, expanded sports activities, AI-driven fitness monitoring, and an emphasis on ensuring PE classes are neither reduced nor replaced.

The measures, jointly issued by Beijing Municipal Education Commission and Beijing Municipal Bureau of Sports, seek to address gaps in school sports programs and enhance students' overall physical fitness and well-being.

As part of the measures, PE class frequency has been expanded, with primary and junior middle school students having one class per day and senior middle school students having three to five classes per week. On days without PE classes, students should participate in at least 45 minutes of physical activity, and each PE session must incorporate a minimum of 10 minutes of fitness training.

Schools should monitor exercise intensity to prevent PE classes from becoming overly theoretical and guarantee full implementation of PE without being reduced or substituted by other subjects.

Primary and middle schools should include at least one of the three major ball sports — basketball, football, or volleyball — as a compulsory part of their PE curriculum, while high schools are required to provide training modules for these sports, according to the measures.

Schools are encouraged to organize winter sports activities among students. Schools specializing in winter sports should also include these activities in their PE curriculum and support the development of student clubs for winter sports at the municipal level.

"The release of the measures provides platforms for young students to receive diverse evaluations, while also meeting their individualized skill development needs," Liu Mingyi, chief expert at the China Youth Sports and Physical Education Integration Public Policy Research Center, told the Global Times. 

"The measures also create a supportive environment for sports education, nurturing more promising young talents in football, basketball and winter sports," he added.

The document released by Beijing authorities also requires schools to use breaks and after-school time to facilitate a rotation of at least 10 activities, such as ball games, jump rope and kicking shuttlecock, ensuring that every student in compulsory education acquires proficiency in at least two sports. 

In addition, the document also introduces class-wide competitions with full participation in Beijing's primary and secondary schools. Each semester, at least five class competitions are to be organized in elementary schools, four in junior middle schools and three in senior middle schools, including at least one of the "three big balls" activities.

The measures also include leveraging digital technologies, including big data and artificial intelligence (AI) to establish an AI-powered "health coach" system to enhance collaboration between schools and families to promote effective exercise. For students struggling with fitness, schools should create personalized exercise plans to improve their physical health.

Previously, many regions announced to extend the 10-minute break between classes to 15 minutes for students, and among them, the education bureau in Guangzhou, South China's Guangdong Province, also develop guidelines for physical activities during breaks, tailored to the characteristics and interests of students at different educational stages.

The high-level symposium on the private economy held on Monday, the first of such kind since 2018, sent a warm and encouraging signal to the private sector, and contributed to promoting the high-quality development of the sector. It also garnered widespread attention among Western media, with some highlighting China's strong support for the private sector.    

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, on Monday urged efforts to promote the healthy and high-quality development of the country's private sector.

The private sector enjoys broad prospects and great potential on the new journey in the new era. It is a prime time for private enterprises and entrepreneurs to give full play to their capabilities, Xi said when attending a symposium on private enterprises in Beijing.

Huawei's Ren Zhengfei, BYD's Wang Chuanfu, New Hope's Liu Yonghao, Will Semiconductor's Yu Renrong, Unitree Robotics' Wang Xingxing, and Xiaomi's Lei Jun put forward their opinions and advice on the development of the private sector, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

Xi said the Party and the country are committed to unswervingly consolidating and developing the public sector and unswervingly encouraging, supporting and guiding the development of the non-public sector.

US media outlet CNBC reported that the Chinese leader's presence at the symposium sends a "very clear signal of top-level support" to entrepreneurs, citing Peiqian Liu, Asia economist at Fidelity International.

"It could potentially be even more powerful than fiscal stimulus, should policymakers show more decisive support toward the development of the tech sector in China," Liu said.

The meeting with prominent entrepreneurs signals that the private sector is "considered key to reviving the world's No. 2 economy," Bloomberg reported.

CNN reported that the timing of this meeting is "significant" as it signals "renewed effort to support private enterprise, especially in the tech sector, and to restore entrepreneurial confidence," citing an analyst.

VOA reported that the symposium comes as DeepSeek's AI platform has triggered investor speculation about its potential to buoy China's broader tech sector, leading to calls for an upward repricing of Chinese assets.

"We should expect more support to the private sector, especially in areas of strategic importance for the country," Reuters reported, citing Alfredo Montufar-Helu, head of think tank The Conference Board's China Center.

"Despite their flaws, DeepSeek now, and Huawei's Kirin chip before, send a strong message to the West: that China not only has the intention but also resources and capacity to innovate its way out of technology restrictions, no matter how costly," said the expert.

It is not surprising that the meeting has aroused heated discussions overseas. Chinese private enterprises' innovative vitality and immense potential are increasingly evident, and the central government's determination to encourage and support the development of the private economy is also becoming more robust, Li Jin, chief researcher at the China Enterprise Research Institute in Beijing, told the Global Times on Tuesday.

The latest data shows that private enterprises account for over 92 percent of the total number of enterprises in China, and among the country's national high-tech enterprises, private businesses also account for over 92 percent, state broadcaster CCTV reported. 

High-quality development

"Different from the key symposium on the private sector held in 2018, this year's symposium is more focused on new quality productive forces. The attendees indicate that emerging industries, including artificial intelligence (AI), intelligent manufacturing and new energy, have become the focus of the policy tilt," Liu Dian, a deputy research fellow at the Chinese Institute under Fudan University, told the Global Times on Tuesday.

Immediately following the symposium, China's top economic planner pledged on Tuesday greater efforts to promote the development of the private economy, including further removing market access barriers and revising a negative list for market access in a timely manner.

Detailed measures will be introduced to continuously open up competitive infrastructure fields and major national scientific research infrastructure to private enterprises on a level footing, while supporting private enterprises' participation in projects for implementing major national strategies and building security capacity in key areas, as well as large-scale equipment upgrades and consumer goods trade-in programs, said Zheng Bei, deputy head of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), China Central Television reported.

While implementing policies to ease enterprises' difficulties, the NDRC will make preparations for the release and implementation of the private economy promotion law, Zheng said.

China is moving closer to its first basic law specifically focused on the development of the private sector. The Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress will hold its 14th session in Beijing on February 24 and 25, during which lawmakers will review the draft private economy promotion law.

"A series of policy support measures underscores the authorities' clear attitude in effectively promoting the high-quality development of the private economy. Accelerating the formulation of the private economy promotion law will provide solid legal guarantee for private enterprises and help them play a greater role in market competition," Li said.

Boosting confidence

Multiple entrepreneurs who attended the symposium expressed their confidence for development prospects, stressing their confidence and resolve to step up sci-tech innovations and strengthen their businesses to contribute to building socialism with Chinese characteristics and advancing Chinese modernization.

"The meeting will further ignite entrepreneurs' passion for contributing to the country through entrepreneurship," Liu Qingfeng, chairman of iFlytek, who attended the symposium, told the Global Times on Tuesday.

He said the company will step up efforts in several aspects, including focusing on developing large language models trained on a home-grown computing platform, actively developing multi-language technologies and constantly improving the company's management and governance structure by keeping up with the times.

"Our goal is to set benchmarks that match or exceed global standards, leading in key areas and fostering a self-driven industry ecosystem," Liu said.

"As an entrepreneur who has started, grown, and developed a private high-tech manufacturing business in Shenzhen from scratch, I will remain steadfast in my confidence for industrial development, keep the original aspiration of entrepreneurship, maintain a strong sense of national responsibility, and dedicate myself to strengthening the real economy, refining our core business," Chen Zhilie, chairman of Evoc Intelligent Technology Co, who attended the symposium, told the Global Times on Tuesday.

"General Secretary Xi said in 2014 that the path to becoming a strong automaking nation lies in developing new energy vehicles (NEVs). Today, 10 years on, the NEV industry has seen tremendous changes. BYD can truly appreciate the foresight of the central government in this decade. During this symposium, General Secretary Xi presented many requirements. Various policies must be implemented as directed by the General Secretary. With confidence, we can make our enterprises better and better," Wang Chuanfu said, according to a CCTV report. 

"I have profoundly sensed the care and support that the General Secretary and the CPC Central Committee have shown toward private enterprises and entrepreneurs, which has significantly strengthened our confidence," Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun said in an interview with CCTV. Lei said the company is determined to use cutting-edge technologies such as AI in Xiaomi terminal products so as to bring better experience for consumers while efforts will be made to enhance the global influence of Chinese products.

"Here come the opportunities. Thanks to sound policies and improving market and legal environment, as well as gradually improving the medical system, the market development prospects are very promising," said Liu Changyun, chairman of Jointown Pharmaceutical Group Co, who attended the symposium.

Liu Changyun said the company will remain steadfast in its core business, and will fully adopt new quality productive forces such as modern logistics information technology, large language models and artificial intelligence (AI) to explore new opportunities, new forms and new models while making contributions to the high-quality development of the health industry, according to a statement on the company's WeChat account.

As two major time-honored civilizations, developing countries and emerging economies, China and India need to focus on development and engage in cooperation. This serves the fundamental interests of over 2.8 billion people of the two countries, meets the common aspiration of regional countries and peoples, goes along with the historical trend of the Global South growing stronger, and is conducive to peace and prosperity of the region and the wider world, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Tuesday.

Guo made the remarks in response to Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar's remarks on Saturday that the India-China relationship is trying to disentangle itself from the complications arising from the post-2020 border situation.

Mutual trust, mutual respect and mutual sensitivity should remain the basis of the relationship between the two sides, said Jaishankar at the Nani Palkhivala memorial lecture in Mumbai on Saturday, adding more thought needs to be given to the longer-term evolution of ties, according to India's Business Standard.

Guo said that the two sides need to earnestly deliver on the important common understandings reached between President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in their meeting in Kazan, including that China and India are each other's development opportunity rather than threat, and cooperation partner rather than competitor. 

"We need to view and handle the bilateral relations from a strategic height and long-term perspective, bring the relations back to the track of healthy and stable development, and find the right path for big, neighboring countries to live in harmony and develop side by side," Guo told a routine press conference.

In global affairs, the two sides need to remain committed to the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, practice true multilateralism, advocate an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, and make greater contribution to world peace, stability, development and prosperity, the spokesperson said.

The return of Donald Trump to the White House has sparked a sharp debate among experts over the future of China-US relations. Speaking at Davos, a prominent American scholar suggested that Trump's unconventional approach to diplomacy could bring about a surprising improvement in US-China ties, arguing that Trump might not fit the typical mold of a "China hawk." However, this optimistic view was met with opposition from another scholar, who warned that a Trump presidency could instead exacerbate tensions, predicting that bilateral ties could be "materially worse" within a year. This divide underscores the uncertainty and high stakes surrounding the trajectory of one of the world's most critical relationships, an expert says. 

Instead of the widely discussed possible trade war between the two countries, Graham Allison, a professor with the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, said during a panel discussion at the World Economic Forum on Tuesday that ties between the two superpowers could tick up, according to the South China Morning Post. 

"I'm betting this time next year… we'll be surprised on the upside in the relationship," said Allison, best known for his 2017 book, Destined for War: Can America and China Escape Thucydides's Trap?

"I have a piece, it'll be published next week, that asks: 'Is Trump a China hawk?' I think, if you look at what he said and did, you'll find it difficult to classify him in those terms."

"I think it is not possible, but likely that President Trump will surprise us in building a more constructive, productive relationship with China," Allison said in an email on Tuesday. 

Allison, who is known for his concept of the "Thucydides Trap," said on a visit to China in December last year that the US and China should avoid falling into the trap and that finding the right way for them to get along with each other is important for both countries and the world at large.

But Ian Bremmer, founder of the Eurasia Group consultancy, another panelist at Tuesday's discussion, sharply disagreed and said ties could be "materially worse" in 12 months.

"China is convinced Americans want to contain it," Bremmer said. "They have ample evidence… Even though Trump is going to make a deal, the ability and the willingness of China are not propitious.

"I would make a fairly strong bet that US-China relations will be in materially worse condition."

The China-US relationship has long been characterized by complexity and significance. Li Haidong, a professor at China Foreign Affairs University, shared his insights with the Global Times. Pessimists often overlook the shared interests and intricacies that define bilateral ties between Beijing and Washington, and that Trump's focus on addressing practical issues, rather than fixating on ideological divides, could pave the way for more constructive engagement. Li highlighted that the perspective offered by Allison acknowledges the mutual benefits that can arise from cooperation between the two nations.

Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said that competition between the US and China will grow, although the risk of a "full decoupling" is unlikely at this stage. "We are in a new environment, a more dangerous, more turbulent environment," Wong told university students on Tuesday in comments posted by the Straits Times newspaper. He flagged the risk of new trade barriers or accidents and miscalculations around hotspots like the South China Sea or Taiwan Strait.

In response to Trump's remarks that he would order federal agencies to conduct a study of trade issues while holding off on immediately imposing new tariffs on trade with China, Guo Jiakun, a spokesperson from China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Tuesday that economic cooperation and trade between China and the US benefit both sides. Keeping business ties sound and stable serves the fundamental interests of both countries and both peoples, and it is also conducive to global economic growth. 

China stands ready to follow the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation, strengthen dialogue and communication with the US, properly manage differences, and expand mutually beneficial cooperation. We hope the US will work with us to promote the steady, sound and sustainable growth of bilateral trade and economic ties, Guo said.

In response to the warning from Friedrich Merz, German Christian Democratic candidate for chancellor, who warned of "great risks" for companies investing in China, Mao Ning, spokesperson from China's Foreign Ministry, said Germany should objectively and rationally view China's development, uphold the tradition of China-Germany friendship, recognize the mutually beneficial nature of China-Germany cooperation, and do more that align with the interests of both countries and peoples.
 
Merz, whose party is currently leading in the polls for next month's elections, stated "I say to all representatives of the German economy that the decision to invest in China is a decision involving great risk," after a policy speech in which he advocated for Berlin to take a more active role on the global stage, according to Financial Times. 
 
In response, Mao stated during Friday's press briefing that China and Germany are comprehensive strategic partners. Over the past 53 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, the two countries have developed bilateral relations based on the principles of mutual respect, seeking common ground while reserving differences, mutual learning, and win-win cooperation. This has fostered a story of pragmatic cooperation that has delivered tangible benefits to the people of both countries. 
 
Mao further stated that China hopes Germany to objectively and rationally view China's development, uphold the tradition of China-Germany friendship, recognize the mutually beneficial nature of China-Germany cooperation, and do more that align with the interests of both countries and peoples.
 
We also welcome German politicians to come to China, take a look, and experience the real China, as well as the vitality and dynamism of China in the new era, said Mao.

During the 2025 Ministry of National Defense (MND) New Year Reception for Chinese and International Press held on Friday, when asked whether "the special arrangement of a US piece for the concert signifies a positive expectation for US-China military relations," Wu Qian, spokesperson for the ministry, told the Global Times that the key to developing stable military relations between the two countries is mutual respect for each other's core interests, which is a necessary prerequisite for the stable development of military relations.

This year's media reception for the MND was held for the first time at the headquarters of the Military Band of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA), featuring a speech by Ye Jiang, major general and deputy director of the Office for International Military Cooperation of the Central Military Commission.

This media reception was notable for its unique and innovative arrangements, from the invitation card to the event setup. In addition to activities like simulated shooting at the venue, there was also a tour of the dormitories. Upon entering the dormitory, the first thing that caught the eye was the neatly folded quilts on the beds, shaped into standard "tofu blocks" — square, tidy, and wrinkle-free. 

Inside the wardrobes, military hats and uniforms were arranged in an orderly manner. The level of cleanliness made a strong impression on journalists from both China and abroad. What stood out even more was the sound of a piano coming from the far end of the long dormitory corridor. In a room around the corner, a member of the military band, with his back to the door, was playing "Jasmine Flower", a traditional Chinese folk song, on the piano. 

In addition, the media reception also featured a New Year concert themed "Horn of Peace and Friendship." Wu told the Global Times that the concert's arrangements emphasized both a "military flavor" and "soldier spirit," incorporating Chinese military songs. At the same time, it also highlighted internationalism, featuring songs from other countries and regions including a Russian song and a Tanzanian song.

Wu said that the selected pieces for the concert were highly representative, noting "We chose songs from a range of representative countries, including Russia, classic compositions by renowned composers like Beethoven, and pieces from developing countries, such as those from Africa." The world is a vast garden, and a single flower does not make spring, while one hundred flowers in full bloom bring spring to the garden, Wu said.

We hope to use this broad representation to convey a belief to the outside world that the Chinese military is working hard to build a community with a shared future for mankind, Wu said.

For a long time, China-US military relations have been a focal point of global attention. The concert also featured a US song. In response to a question from the Global Times about whether this special arrangement reflected a hopeful expectation for China-US military relations, Wu said that in the new year, China hopes that China-US military relations can develop in a healthy and stable manner, following the guidance of the heads of state of both countries, on the path of mutual respect for each other's core interests and major concerns. 

Wu added that the development of stable military relations requires not only the efforts of one side, but also the joint efforts of both sides. Most importantly, it is essential to mutually respect each other's core interests, as this is a necessary prerequisite for the stable development of military relations, he noted. 

In the background footage of the military band's performance, previous exchanges between the Chinese military and countries such as Russia and Brazil were highlighted. When asked whether the Chinese PLA would engage in more overseas cooperation with the militaries of other countries in the future, Wu responded that in 2024, many Chinese military delegations traveled abroad to engage in exchanges with militaries from various countries. 

Such exchanges will become even deeper and more extensive in the new year, Wu said, adding that the Chinese military looks forward to developing friendships with the armed forces of all countries, fostering cooperation, and contributing to a more harmonious global community. 

The Chinese military is committed to building a world-class military and needs to increase global engagement, convey friendship and goodwill, and promote exchanges and cooperation, Wu added.