One student was killed and several were injured following a traffic accident in Nantong, East China's Jiangsu Province on Friday. Authorities said that initial investigations have shed light on faulty signal and negligent driving as the main cause.

The accident occurred when a bus carrying 45, including 39 students, collided with a dump truck. The students belonged to an elementary school located in Nantong's Chongchuan District and were heading for an art festival exhibition on Friday.

Eight people, including six students, were injured during the accident.

A rapid response effort was initiated following the accident, with local authorities swiftly deploying rescue workers. The injured were transported to a nearby hospital for medical treatment. Unfortunately, one student died  from critical injuries sustained in the crash.

Authorities from Nantong traffic police told media on Saturday that the accident occurred at the intersection of Panxiang Road and Hongjiang Road in Chongchuan District. It was revealed that prior to the collision, both the bus and the dump truck were travelling in their respective lanes. 

However, a faulty traffic signal at the intersection led to the incident. The bus, traveling from north to south at a speed of 30 kilometers per hour, failed to stop at the intersection due to the non-functioning signal and driver's lack of cautious observation. Simultaneously, the dump truck, traveling from west to east at a speed exceeding 50 kilometers per hour, collided with the right front section of the bus. The driver of the dump truck was  placed under control pending further investigation as he drove the vehicle in the restricted area, which violated regulations.

A shop clerk, surnamed Li, told Chinese media outlet thepaper.cn that she passed the intersection every day and the signal had been broken for a while, flashing abnormally. Passer-by and vehicles had been forced to stop and pass slowly after checking if there were vehicles in adjacent lanes.

In response to the incident, local Nantong officials swiftly established an accident investigation team, and conducted an inquiry to ascertain responsibility for the accident. Subsequent actions will entail the rigorous enforcement of relevant laws and regulations to hold accountable those individuals responsible.

Following the incident, authorities in Nantong swiftly moved to repair malfunctioning signals across the city.

The first group of PLA Navy's female carrier-based aircraft pilots successfully completed their first solo flight training at a military airport recently, showing their ability to independently pilot an aircraft.

On the morning of April 25, when the Global Times arrived at the airport, the first phase of solo flight training for the female pilots had already concluded.

Amid a roar of engines, the aircraft landed in batches under the guidance of instructors. In the second phase of training, the pilots began their solo flights, which is the most challenging stage of non-technical command solo flying. It needs to be conducted according to standard visual flight route training.

When aircraft fly at low altitudes, they are significantly influenced by meteorological conditions. Any change requires pilots to quickly correct their course, placing high demands on the technical skills of the trainees and posing a significant psychological challenge.
As the command was issued, the first female trainee swiftly took off in a fighter jet. On the screens inside the control tower, the information and various parameters of the aircraft kept changing, clearly displaying the aircraft's flight status. At the same time, the control tower echoed with the clear commands from the controller and responses from the pilots.

Before long, the first group of female trainees successfully completed their solo flight training according to the schedule, prompting cheers and applause at the scene.

Carrier-based aircraft pilots are the core of an aircraft carrier's combat capability. With the accelerated pace of China's naval development, the demand for talented naval aviators has become more urgent, the Global Times learned.

In recent years, the navy has vigorously promoted the training of carrier-based aircraft pilots, gradually expanding the training model. In 2023, the navy selected the first group of female carrier-based aircraft trainees from local universities for the first time. They are the first female pilots of the naval aviation force, all of whom were born after the year 2000 and were trained by the Naval Aviation University.

The university adheres to the principles of "carrier-based training, real combat teaching, standardized management, and intensive support," the Global Times learned.

The training program focuses on strengthening the trainees' theoretical foundations regarding aviation and enhancing their risk response capabilities, with the goal of minimizing human errors and maximizing their flying potential, thereby laying solid foundations for their rapid growth and technical improvement.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with visiting US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday in Beijing. Wang pointed out that although positive interactions in the bilateral relations have been increasing, negative factors in China-US relations continue to build up as China's core interests are challenged, warning that the US should not cross China's red lines on issues related to its sovereignty, security and development interests.

China and the US reached five points of consensuses on Friday following the Wang-Blinken meeting.

Both agreed to continue following the guidance of the heads of state of both countries, striving to stabilize and develop China-US relations. The parties affirm the positive progress made in dialogue and cooperation in various fields between China and the US since the meeting in San Francisco, agreeing to accelerate the implementation of important consensuses reached by the heads of state in San Francisco.

Second, both parties agreed to maintain high-level exchanges and contacts at all levels. They will continue to leverage the restored and newly established consultation mechanisms in diplomatic, economic, financial, and business sectors. They will continue military exchanges and further advance cooperation between China and the US in drug prohibition, climate change, and artificial intelligence.

Third, both parties announce that they will hold the first intergovernmental dialogue on artificial intelligence between China and the US, continue to advance consultations on guiding principles of China-US relations, conduct a new round of consultations on Asia-Pacific affairs and maritime affairs between China and the US, and continue China-US consular consultations. The China-US drug prohibition working group will hold a high-level meeting. The US welcomes Chinese Special Envoy for Climate Change Affairs Liu Zhenmin's visit to the country.

Fourth, both sides will take measures to expand cultural exchanges between the two countries, welcome students from each other's countries, and successfully hold the 14th China-US Tourism High-level Dialogue in Xi'an, Northwest China's Shaanxi Province, in May.

Fifth, both parties will continue consultations on international and regional issues of concern, with special envoys from both sides strengthening communication.

Some Chinese experts welcomed the positive comments made by both sides on emphasizing cooperation, effectively managing differences and focusing on the importance of stabilizing bilateral relations, who also hailed the meeting as effective and constructive.

Last November, Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden met in San Francisco, jointly outlining the San Francisco Vision. Under the leadership of the two heads of state, China-US relations have generally stabilized, Wang said.

In the current complex international situation, what are the next steps for China-US relations? A fundamental question needs answering: should China and the US be partners or adversaries? This is the first step toward the stable development of the relationship, Wang told Blinken.

If the US always regards China as its main adversary, China-US relations will only face continuous troubles and problems, Wang said.

Dialogue, cooperation, and positive interactions in various fields have increased, which has been welcomed by both peoples and the international community. However, on the other hand, negative factors in China-US relations continue to rise and accumulate, facing various disruptions and sabotage, with China's legitimate rights to development being unreasonably suppressed and China's core interests continually challenged, the top Chinese diplomat said.

Wang emphasized that whether China-US relations will adhere to the correct path of stability and progress or repeat the cycle of spiraling downward is a significant issue facing both nations, testing their sincerity and capabilities.

It remains to be seen whether both sides will lead in international cooperation to address global issues for mutual and multilateral gains, or oppose and confront each other, even to the point of conflict, leading to losses for all, he noted.

On the Taiwan question, Wang emphasized that it is the first and foremost red line in China-US relations. China demands that the US adhere strictly to the one-China principle and the three US-China joint communiques, not send the wrong signals to "Taiwan independence" separatist forces in any way.

The US side should fulfill President Biden's commitments of not supporting "Taiwan independence," not supportinga two Chinas or "one China, one Taiwan," not using it as a tool to contain China, and stop arming Taiwan island, and support China's peaceful reunification, Wang said.

The US has implemented numerous measures to suppress China's economic and technological advancement, which is not fair competition but containment and encirclement, not risk reduction but risk creation, Wang told Blinken.

The Chinese diplomat said the US should act on its statements of not seeking to contain China's economic development, not seeking to decouple from China, and having no intention of hindering Chinese technological progress, stop promoting the false narrative of China's overcapacity, lift illegal sanctions on Chinese companies, and cease imposing tariffs that violate WTO rules.

Wang also stressed that China's attitude has been consistent, viewing and developing China-US relations from the perspective of building a community with a shared future for mankind, being responsible to the people, the world, and the future.

China's stance has been consistent, always adhering to the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation proposed by President Xi, committed to promoting a stable, healthy and sustainable development of China-US relations, he continued.

China's demands have been consistent, always advocating for respect for each other's core interests. The US should not interfere in China's internal affairs, suppress China's development, or infringe upon China's sovereignty, security, and development interests, Wang said.

From the Chinese side, Wang further clarified that the constructive outcomes and a positive future for US-China relations hinge on respecting China's core interests. China's respect for US interests and legitimate rights has always been consistent, but US policy toward China has been characterized by a discrepancy between positive rhetoric and problematic actions, Li Haidong, a professor from the China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times on Friday.

"Hence,Wang made it clear in his discussions with Blinken that the US must fully understand China's position on core issues such as the Taiwan question and the rights to China's development," Li said.

During the meeting, Wang stressed that the Asia-Pacific region should not become a battlefield for major powers. He hopes the US will make the right choice, move toward China, achieve benign interactions in the Asia-Pacific, abandon exclusionary practices, refrain from coercing regional countries to take sides, stop deploying land-based intermediate-range missiles, and cease undermining China's strategic security interests and the hard-won peace and stability of the region.

Blinken said during the meeting that the US-China relationship is one of the most important bilateral relationships in the world, and responsibly managing it is a common responsibility of both nations. The US continues to follow a one-China policy, does not support "Taiwan independence," seeks no change in China's system, has no intention of conflict with China, seeks no "decoupling" from China, and does not seek to contain China's development. A successfully developed China is good for the world, according to a readout released by the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

The US senior diplomat is willing to move forward based on the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries in San Francisco, enhance dialogue and communication, effectively manage differences, avoid misunderstandings and misjudgments, and promote stable development of US-China relations.

The two sides also exchanged views on issues such as the Ukraine conflict, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and the situations in North Korea and Myanmar.

Both sides agreed that the talks were candid, substantive, and constructive, and agreed to continue following the guidance of their leaders to stabilize and develop US-China relations.

They affirmed the positive progress in dialogue and cooperation in various fields since the San Francisco meeting, agreed to accelerate the implementation of the important consensus reached by the leaders in San Francisco, maintain high-level and various levels of contacts, continue military exchanges and consultations in various fields, further advance US-China cooperation on banning chemical weapons and artificial intelligence, and take measures to expand cultural and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.

"To some extent, this dialogue was a reassurance process, ensuring that both sides mutually align better in handling different issues, guaranteeing an effective relationship with more cooperation and a more positive direction," Li said.

As the US has often made issued verbal assurances in the past but has had many issues in action, this exchange helps the US overcome unfavorable factors and benefit from positive elements, building on a foundation of accumulated consensus and mutual interests to ensure a stable and long-lasting relationship, the expert noted.

It is also evident that both sides have high expectations for a stable, controllable, and constructive China-US relations and the aim of the exchanges was to ensure these expectations are met with actions, as a stable and cooperative bilateral relationship, based on respect for each other's development rights and core interests, nurtures a relationship that serves the common interests and demands of both sides, experts said.

The finals for the second "Beautiful Countryside" basketball league in Southwest China's Guizhou Province kicked off in Taipan village, Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, on Wednesday. The grassroots organization, known as the "Village Basketball Association" or "VBA," has drawn wide cheers from enthusiastic audiences due to its down-to-earth style.

The finals, which will be broadcast live online to audiences across the country, will last until Saturday. The basketball league has organized more than 4,000 amateur basketball teams, with a total of 48,730 participants. A total of 11,455 games have been played, reaching 7.52 million people, according to the Qiandongnan authorities.

The group stages are being held on Wednesday and Thursday, followed by an opening ceremony and semi-finals on Friday. The finals for the championship will take place on Saturday, an official from the Guizhou provincial sports bureau told the Global Times on Wednesday. 

Nine representative teams from Guizhou will participate in the competition, which is divided into two stages. Meanwhile, the participating athletes must be local residents aged between 22 and 45 years old, said the authorities.

The VBA has not only "boosted the growth of sports in the area" but has also contributed to "advancing rural revitalization, tourism, and local economic development," the official said. The local authorities hope to provide the public with excellent and diverse services that cater to the people's needs, encouraging more people to participate in sports and contributing to building a healthy China, he noted.

Distinctive Miao cultural performances are also being staged during intermissions.

The VBA may not have professional players, referees, or large-scale venues like the NBA, but the enthusiasm of spectators for basketball is very strong. Since July 2022, the grassroots basketball league gained popularity due to its lively atmosphere and videos that went viral online.

A three-day VBA in 2023 also attracted more than 180,000  tourist trips to Taijiang county in Qiandongnan, generating tourism revenue of 55.16 million yuan ($7.59 million).

A staff member surnamed Yang from the local Taijiang tourism bureau told the Global Times on Wednesday that the event has helped boost the number of tourists traveling to the region. 

"The level of enthusiasm for and attention paid to basketball is high among the general public. Thanks to local grassroots initiatives, there is a high level of cooperation and participation in village basketball games," Yang said.

The VBA was originated in Taipan village in Taijiang county. A traditional rural basketball event in the village, it is held as part of the annual celebration of the Chixin Festival on the sixth day of the sixth month of the traditional Chinese calendar.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said here on Saturday that China's assistance to Pacific island countries has always been free of political conditions and impositions, and China has never issued "blank checks".

Wang, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks at a joint press conference after he met with Papua New Guinea's Foreign Minister Justin Tkatchenko.

He called on the international community to pay more attention to the special situation and legitimate concerns of the Pacific island countries, to focus on issues of the greatest concerns to them, such as climate change and improvement of people's livelihoods, and to come up with more ideas, more solutions, more practical work and more good deeds.

Amid media reports on possible US intervention, the Solomon Islands on Wednesday held its pivotal general elections, which are under close watch beyond the South Pacific as it is believed the election results could have an impact on regional dynamics. 

The results could take weeks to come out due to the country's landscape: The ballots must be collected from scattered islands and then wait for the country's 50 members of parliament (MPs) to form a government before they choose the next prime minister, according to media reports. 

Chinese analysts said that no matter who wins the election, the country should be cautious of foreign intervention, as the US might orchestrate unrest of a "color revolution" nature to prevent incumbent Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare from being reelected. 

Sogavare was elected as prime minister in 2019 and has pledged to deepen cooperation with China further if he gets reelected, according to a report from France 24. 

Chen Hong, executive director at the Asia Pacific Studies Center of East China Normal University, told the Global Times on Wednesday that Solomon Islands voters prioritize domestic affairs such as education, health and people's livelihoods rather than power politics. 

The Pacific Island country, through close cooperation with China, has realized tangible progress in those areas, as well as better infrastructure and greater social stability, Chen said. 

No matter who is elected, the Solomon Islands should be cautious of foreign intervention in the weeks of vote counting and government forming, particularly of instigation by the US directly or its agent Australia, Chen warned.    

The West has been cultivating local agency under the guise of "democracy promotion," and the US has a variety of conventional methods to tighten control in Pacific Island countries, namely to deploy its military stationed in the region, mobilize local people to carry out subversion, impose economic sanctions, or use the Pacific Islands Forum to besiege the so-called disobedient countries, Yu Lei, chief research fellow at the Research Center for Pacific Island Countries of Liaocheng University, told the Global Times on Wednesday.

Anti-government riots took place in the Solomon Islands in 2021 with the US and the island of Taiwan being found to lurk behind.  

But the Solomon Islands' domestic law enforcement has improved over the past few years, Chen said, citing the successful hosting of the Pacific Games in 2023 as evidence of enhanced police capability. 

Also, police from countries including Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea are on the ground to help with logistics and keep the peace, ABC reported Wednesday. 

Chen also said locals are not easily deceived by Western slander against China after having seen and enjoyed the fruitful benefits from cooperation with China. Candidates who care for the country and the people will not ignore those benefits, and agenda wants to force a U-turn of Solomon Islands' relations with China is unlikely to success.

Purchasers were seen carrying luggage, exchanging name cards when passing by each other, and rushing through the exhibition halls of the Canton Fair on Monday morning, the first day of the 135th session of China's landmark trade fair, which will run until May 5.

On the first day of the 135th session of the China Import and Export Fair, commonly known as the Canton Fair, over 60,000 global purchasers visited the physical exhibition halls.

By Sunday, more than 149,000 purchasers from 215 countries and regions had registered to visit the 135th session of Canton Fair, up 17.4 percent from the 134th session held in October and November 2023, the Global Times learned from the fair organizer.

With an exhibition area of 1.55 million square meters, the fair accommodates 28,600 enterprises attending the export exhibition and 680 firms attending the import exhibition.

One buyer from Brazil,bringing a huge suitcase with him, was rushing to the exhibition hall for new-energy vehicles (NEVs).

"The suitcase is used to hold exhibitors' brochures and business cards. I'm planning to take about 80 booklets today, which is a heavy burden if I carry them by hand," the buyer, who was in too much of a hurry to share his name, told the Global Times on Monday.

While experienced purchasers from all over the world attending the Canton Fair are trying to improve their efficiency, David Beschaftigt, a first-time Canton Fair participant from Germany, and his peers, were dazzled by the millions of products on display.

"We're looking for products that are great for selling to customers in Germany," Beschaftigt, a representative of an e-commerce platform, told the Global Times on Monday.

"It's very big here. We first look with our eyes, touch the things and check the quality. And then we can do some research if the products are interesting to sell and whether we can make profit," Beschaftigt said.

They are among the global purchasers at the Canton Fair hoping to explore the latest high-quality products for global customers.

Helpful, open to all

Exhibitors said that attending the 135th Canton Fair helps enterprises grab global orders, expand the market and help consolidate China's foreign trade and foreign investment.

"We export about $30-50 million worth of electric bicycles to the world every year, mainly to Europe and North America," Eddie Xu, sales manager at Jinhua-based Yongkang Lohas Vehicle Co, told the Global Times on Monday at the Canton Fair.

Xu said the company attends many exhibitions domestically and overseas, but the Canton Fair is the most effective one as it targets the largest customer group.

Lu Aohua, sales manager at Ji'nan-based Gweike Tech Co, echoed Xu by saying that the exhibition halls of some expos overseas are relatively small, as are the number of visitors. 

"But the Canton Fair is different. It is large, and the categories of products on display are comprehensive. It's easy to set up contacts with upstream and downstream enterprises, which makes potential customer exploration easier," Lu told the Global Times on Monday at the fair.

Gweike, a manufacturer of laser cutting machines, exports about 1.2 billion yuan ($166 million) worth of products annually, mainly to the US, Turkey, Russia, Italy and some South American countries, according to Lu.

Lu also said that he feels a larger crowd of overseas purchasers have come to this edition of the Canton Fair than at the 134th session held in October and November in 2023.

Many other exhibitors shared the same feeling. One salesperson at Supcon Chemical Industry Indonesia told the Global Times that she is already exhausted from having received some 60 batches of customers by 2 pm on Monday.

The Canton Fair, often dubbed the No.1 expo in the world in terms of scale, is seen as a symbol of foreign trade that gives confidence to international commerce dealers. The fair's popularity tells of the vitality of China's foreign trade and attractiveness to global participants.

The fair is now open to all, so global exporters and importers can enjoy the dividends of China's opening-up.

More than 9.3 million overseas merchants have participated in the Canton Fair since the first session held in 1957, the Global Times learned from the Canton Fair organizer. The number of global cooperation partners comes to 195, which has strongly promoted trade and people-to-people exchanges between China and other countries and regions in the world.

China vows to pursue higher-level opening-up and to promote mutual benefits, as was announced in this year's Government Work Report.

"We will promote coordinated development of domestic and foreign trade. Major trade events will be hosted, such as the China International Import Expo, the China Import and Export Fair, the China International Fair for Trade in Services, the Global Digital Trade Expo, and the China International Consumer Products Expo," read the report. 

The Canton Fair, together with other events, demonstrates China's determination to expand high-level opening-up and promotes an open world economy and mutually beneficial cooperation.

Behind these major events is the transformation and upgrading of China's economic structure.

Transformation and upgrading

The Canton Fair, for example, used to mainly showcase consumer goods, but in recent years, the proportion of intermediate and capital goods on display has increased to 12 percent.

In the machinery exhibition area where capital goods are concentrated, the number of booths has increased by more than 50 percent in the past five years.

Capital goods and intermediate goods are becoming more and more important in the Canton Fair, through which China provides the world with a large number of high-quality products with strong competitiveness and stable supply.

This has helped all countries and regions, especially developing countries, achieve industrialization and enhanced the resilience and stability of industrial and supply chains in the world.

The Canton Fair released on Friday a survey of exhibitors, which showed that more than 80 percent of them know more suppliers through the Canton Fair, 64 percent of exhibitors found more suitable supporting services providers, and 62 percent of exhibitors obtained more efficient production alternatives.

Consumer goods displayed at the Canton Fair are also smarter and greener, showcasing the country's advanced manufacturing level. 

The number of exhibitors for sectors such as NEVs, smart transportation, industrial automation, intelligent manufacturing and new-energy materials increased during the current Canton Fair.

There are more than 90,000 intelligent products such as brain-computer interface bionic hands, automatic navigation and transportation equipment, and artificial intelligence (AI) translation machines. More than 50 percent of exhibitors are actively applying digital technologies such as AI and big data analysis to transform production and operation.

Over 1 million new products are expected to be showcased at the first phase of the 135th session of Canton Fair, from Monday to Friday, themed "advanced manufacturing." Of these, 450,000 are green and low-carbon items and more than 250,000 are products with independent intellectual properties, the Global Times learned from the Canton Fair organizer.

The spring Canton Fair is divided into three phases, with the second phase themed "quality home furnishings" from April 23 to 27, and the third phase themed "better life" from May 1 to 5.

A cross-border e-commerce pilot zone and overseas warehouse zone were set up for the first time, with a total exhibition area of 3,000 square meters. A total of 165 e-commerce comprehensive pilot zones are promoted on the Canton Fair online platform.

More overseas universities and educational institutions are seeking cooperation with China. At the China Study Abroad Forum in Beijing on Friday, officials and scholars from China and overseas pointed out that global education is facing challenges amid the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI), and more cultural and educational exchanges are needed.

With a theme of "embracing challenges, creating a shared future for a new landscape of studying abroad," the forum is intended as a platform for discussion of the crucial role of cultural and educational exchanges.

Ren Youqun, a professor of Education at Shandong University, highlighted the widening gap in higher education due to the rapid proliferation of AI. He emphasized at the forum the imperative of redefining education through comprehensive digital transformation, as well as systemic reforms in teaching methodologies, institutional governance, and quality assurance mechanisms.

During the event, universities and educational institutions from Australia and Canada signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on further deepening education cooperation with Chinese educational institutions.

Wang Daquan, director of the Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange (CSCSE), a public institution affiliated to China's Ministry of Education, reiterated the institution's commitment to fostering international collaboration and facilitating the global talent development agenda of higher education institutions.

He offered the example that the China-US youth innovation contest has attracted nearly 10,000 young people from China and the US, further solidifying the foundation of friendship between the peoples of the two countries.

Rebecca Needham, a political counsellor with the New Zealand Embassy in China, shared her experience of studying in China in the 1980s, and spoke of transformation through cross-cultural interactions as well as the pivotal role of education exchanges in bridging cultural divides.

In reaffirming the strong bilateral ties between China and New Zealand, she highlighted recent diplomatic engagements between the two nations, including visits by foreign ministers and trade officials.

Many experts told the Global Times that with China's growing national strength, more international students are showing interest in studying in China.

Cary Anderson, executive vice chancellor at Wenzhou-Kane University, outlined the university's efforts to attract students through diverse programs, emphasizing the value of experiential learning through interactions with Chinese businesses.

"Just last month, we had students who are MBA students come, and they did a couple of courses at our university and visited Chinese businesses. After the tour, they showed a strong interest and they want to come back," he told the Global Times.

Tim Hubbard, head of East Asia Recruitment and Partnerships at the University of East Anglia, expressed optimism about the renewed demand for studying in China, citing his own positive experiences. He emphasized the potential for students to leverage their skills gained in China to forge connections with their home countries, fostering greater global engagement.

"I have some very good friends, one from Argentina, one from Macedonia, one from the Czech Republic. And they're all back in their home countries now, working for organizations connected with China," he told the Global Times.

On Friday afternoon, an event themed "My Beautiful Encounter with China" was held, where outstanding international students shared their experiences through speeches, alongside the launch of an overseas social media competition promoting essays and short videos on the theme.

Wang said the seventh edition of the My Beautiful Encounter with China book and short video contest for international students studying in China garnered over 800 stories about China from students from more than 80 countries who came to study in China.

Rhett Miller, senior trade and investment commissioner for Greater China Trade and Investment, Queensland China Office, told the Global Times that as China continues to position itself as a hub for global education, partnerships forged through initiatives like the China Study Abroad Forum are poised to shape the future of education, fostering greater cross-cultural understanding and collaboration on a global scale.

Changsha, the capital city of Central China's Hunan Province, has captured hearts of Hong Kong residents, following the introduction of direct trains, making travel to the mainland city more convenient.

"When I strolled through Wuyi Square, one of the prominent landmarks of Changsha, I couldn't help but feel like I was in Hong Kong," joked a netizen as the influx of Hong Kong tourists were evident in every corner of the city during the just past Qingming Festival, also known as Tomb-Sweeping Day.

The restart of the cross-provincial trains that connect Hong Kong to Beijing, Changsha, Hangzhou, Shanghai, Wuhan and other cities on April 1, 2023 allows Hong Kong residents to travel to mainland cities more conveniently.

All Hong Kong high-speed rail tickets to Guangzhou, Changsha and other places have been sold out since mid-March. On the first day of the holiday, the Mass Transit Railway (MTR) was already crowded from 6 am, according to media reports.

Data showed that from March 28 to April 4, more than 7.8 million people have entered and left Hong Kong, an average of about 980,000 daily arrivals and departures, a 46 percent increase over the same period last year. On April 4, the Qingming Festival, there were more than 1.01 million arrivals and departures via various border crossings to and from Hong Kong, an increase of about 52 percent over last year's Qingming Festival, of which about 70 percent were Hong Kong residents, China Central Television reported.

"A round trip of just over three hours is perfect for a short holiday to experience a new city, which is also said to be very low cost comparing to Hong Kong. Changsha is just such a place," Jason, a resident from Hong Kong who had travelled to Changsha told the Global Times.

Hong Kong people's understanding of the mainland is still limited to Shenzhen and Guangzhou, in fact, the mainland is very big, there is a lot more to see in the north, Jason added.

In addition to the convenient high-speed train journey, Hong Kong tourists were drawn to the distinctive Hunan cuisine and stinky tofu, known for its spicy and robust flavors, as well as Chayan Yuese, a well-known local milk tea brand. Many were prepared to endure long lines just to savor the local cuisine.

Changsha also stands as a revered cradle of Chinese revolution. The Orange Isle, Yuelu Academy, and Aiwan Pavilion bear witness to the revolutionary legacy of China's great man, Mao Zedong, and are must visits sites in the city.

Night life in Changsha is also famous, and was described by Hong Kong tourists as even more fun than the city's famous Lan Kwai Fong. "I hang out with my friends late when we were in Changsha. Bars, food street, live houses… there are just too many options to have fun," Jason said.

Hong Kong has been a shopping paradise, and every year countless mainland tourists flock to Hong Kong to snap up hot items. But the trend has begun to reverse after the pandemic. Hong Kong tourists' northbound scope is constantly expanding. On social platforms, more Hong Kong people share travel tips in Beijing, Guizhou, Guangxi, Chongqing, Sichuan and other destinations.

Liang Haiming, President of Belt and Road Research Institute of Hainan University, told the Global Times that a growing number of Hong Kong residents are choosing to travel north and expand their consumption range in the mainland, which will bring a positive pulling effect on the economy of the destination region.

It will not only stimulate the development of local tourism, catering, retail, entertainment and other related industries, but will also give rise to more cultural exchange and understanding with the mainland, Liang noted.

Pakistan has taken a series of actions to enhance the safety of Chinese nationals and property following a suicide bombing in late March as Chinese observers urged comprehensive plans and effective implementation amid the country's complicated security situation.

After the attack on March 26 killed five Chinese engineers and a local driver working for Dasu hydropower project in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif decided to personally review monthly meetings on the overall security of the country, particularly that of Chinese working on development projects.

Pakistan will upgrade security procedures for Chinese constructors to "foolproof" and will step up efforts to eliminate terrorism, Pakistani newspaper Dawn reported.

The Pakistani military killed 12 militants in separate operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan on Friday night and Saturday and recovered weapons, ammunition and explosives, Dawn reported Sunday.

Sharif also ordered the punishment of at least five officials, including a regional official, three district officials and the security director at the Dasu project for negligence in performing their duties, according to local media.

The Chinese engineers were attacked in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province during their commute. A similar attack on staff at the Dasu project happened in July 2021, which killed nine Chinese nationals and four Pakistanis.

Pakistan's Information Minister Attaullah Tarar told a press briefing on Saturday that security matters regarding Chinese citizens would be "treated with utmost seriousness and any lapses will not be tolerated."

After the attack, Pakistani police have arrested more than 12 people, including Afghan nationals, in connection with the bombing.

The Pakistani Taliban, also known as the TTP, was reportedly behind the incident, per Pakistan's Express Tribune newspaper, but the TTP has not claimed responsibility.

The car used in the terrorist attack was non-custom paid and smuggled into Pakistan through the Chaman border with Afghanistan, the Express Tribune reported.

Qian Feng, director of the research department at the National Strategy Institute at Tsinghua University, told the Global Times on Sunday that the series of actions shows the Pakistani government attaches great importance to the safety of Chinese nationals and property.

However, the country faces a complicated security reality and the government has relatively weak hold of certain areas where separatist groups are active and terrorist attacks are frequent, Qian said.

In April 2022, three Chinese teachers were killed in an attack carried out by the Baloch Liberation Army. The flagship project of Gwardar Port is also frequently the targets of attacks by Pakistan separatist groups.

Security efforts have been enhanced for the Dasu project after the 2021 attack, however, the long commutes in mountainous regions are a weak point in the mechanism, Li Wei, an expert on national security at the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations, told the Global Times.

The upgrade of security mechanisms should be comprehensive without a blind spot, and must be carried out effectively, analysts stressed, noting that Pakistan needs cooperation with China in its difficult battle against terrorism.

Punjab province chief minister Maryam Nawaz expressed her resolve to provide foolproof security to the Chinese nationals working on development projects in Punjab, the Hindu reported Sunday.

Nawaz noted the digitalization of terrorists, their US weapons sourced from Afghanistan and social media brainwashing youth as major challenges in the war against terrorism.