West invests heavily in weapons, but very little in global development. Cartoon:Carlos Latuff

Editor's Note:
The US and Ukraine have agreed to launch joint weapons production in a step that will enable Kiev to start producing air defense systems. However, the sluggish economic recovery in the US has only increased the sense of war fatigue across American society. As the Ukraine crisis drags on, the impending US elections are in the shadow. Meanwhile, the White House and some lawmakers are growing increasingly alarmed about the future of US military aid to Ukraine. How will the anti-war sentiment impact voting at the ballot box? How will the Russia-Ukraine conflict end? Global Times (GT) reporters Wang Wenwen and Yu Jincui interviewed three anti-war activists in the US – Sara Flounders (Flounders), a political writer and activist for 50 years in the US, Julie Tang (Tang), a retired judge from the San Francisco Superior Court and co-founder of Pivot to Peace, and Danny Haiphong (Haiphong), an independent journalist in the US and co-editor of Friends of Socialist China as well as a founding member of the No Cold War international campaign – to get their insights on how to address these issues.

GT: Is the anti-war sentiment in the US rising? Do the Republicans tend to attack the Biden administration by using this sentiment? What anti-war activities have been held recently?

Flounders: There are locally coordinated actions planned for the first week of October on US/NATO war in Ukraine. The goal is to organize actions in at least 50 US cities and to reach out to anti-war activists in other NATO countries. Many of the actions are still small or symbolic. But they will have the participation of community organizations, union activists and student groups. The biggest problem is that regardless of where they are held, they receive no media coverage.

Republicans now sound "anti-war" on Russia, because Biden, a Democrat, is in the White House, but in their messaging the Republicans are even more anti-China than the Democrats. 

Both parties vote for endlessly expanding the military budget and for new rounds of sanctions. They bait each other on who can outdo the other in war threats and attacks. The messaging just depends on which of the two political parties is in the White House.

Tang: Americans are getting weary of the billions of dollars sent to Ukraine while the war has no end. They wanted politicians to turn their concerns toward domestic issues.

According to the recent labor market, 187,000 jobs have been added, but unemployment numbers have increased from 3.5 percent to 3.8 percent. This means there are still many more unemployed than there are jobs.

Inflation, the rising default rate in credit card debts, rising interest rates, national deficit at $32.8 trillion, and low personal savings are causing anxiety among American workers. They are much more concerned about their own livelihood and the failed US financial policies than supporting Ukraine or engaging in a war in the Taiwan Straits. As Americans turn more inward to worry about their own livelihood, pro-war fervor is waning.

It is interesting to see how the Republican presidential candidates are running on a platform of getting out of Ukraine. But some of their reasons are befuddling and do nothing to promote peace. They openly discussed shifting the focus from Russia to war with China. To me, it is not anti-war, but jumping from one war to another. There is no commitment to real peace. And the crack in this country on ending the war is more rhetorical to gain votes than to seek global peace.

Haiphong: War fatigue has been increasing since the US invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan, with bloated military budgets and economic instability causing domestic unease. However, rampant misinformation in US mainstream media means that it is difficult for people to coherently oppose war. 

This means that partisanship indeed interferes on the issue of war fatigue. With each election cycle, one side of the two-party system accuses the other of being pro-war. The GOP under Trump's leadership has feigned anti-interventionism despite supporting increased military budgets, sanctions and other forms of aggression. The opposition is based on political opportunism, as the Democrats led by Obama derided "dumb wars" prior to coming into office only to expand the number of wars the US was engaged in from two to seven once in office.

GT: Compared today with more than a year ago when the Russia-Ukraine conflict just started, has there been any change in anti-war sentiment across the US public?

Flounders: Support is sinking dramatically from one year ago. Support for the war will continue to erode. While it is not yet reflected in open opposition in the streets, it will be. There is no money for any of the promised social programs or infrastructure needs. War and militarism are guaranteed profits. 

Tang: Definitely. The anti-war sentiment is much strengthened as we see Ukraine's military incompetence and the failure of US sanctions against Russia. Some American leaders refused to admit Ukraine is losing. The press tweaked the news in Ukraine's favor creating a false impression that Ukraine is doing better than it actually is. That is why the majority of Americans polled believe that currently no one is winning the war. But the truth is Ukraine has been decimated, destroyed and will never be the same again.

GT: Will the protracted Ukraine crisis and the intensified anti-war sentiment caused by the US government's long-term involvement in Ukraine intensify the domestic confrontation in the US, and what impact will this have on next year's US elections?

Flounders: The impact on the US elections is not yet known. The problem in US electoral politics is that both major political parties in the US receive many millions of dollars in donations from the major military corporations and defense contractors. This ensures that regardless of who is in the White House and who is elected to the US Congress there is still firm support for US wars. 

Tang: I think the Russia-Ukraine war can potentially exacerbate the domestic strife in the US. The rhetoric used by Republican candidates is clearly to attack the war as it is Biden's war. They waste no time pointing out Biden is wrong to take the war as far as it has gone. Therefore, to peace activists, it is in itself a good thing. And if the Ukraine war becomes an issue in contention in the presidential race, it could be the decisive factor for who wins the US presidency, because the anti-war movement is a solid bloc of votes and that could steer the campaign in the direction of the anti-war candidate.

Haiphong: At the moment, anti-war forces are not strong enough to have a major impact on establishment politics. However, the Ukraine crisis is causing economic and political instability which could very well influence politics in the US as more and more become unhappy with endless expenditures worth tens of billions going to Ukraine while standard of living declines. 

How this will alter the course of politics in the US remains to be seen. Trump, if allowed to run, may be able to take advantage of Biden's self-inflicted quagmire in Ukraine and promote an isolationist position on economic grounds that may find more support than in 2020 when Trump reigned over a contracting US economy. A lot can change in a short period of time, but the fact is the Ukraine crisis is not going in the US' favor and Biden now has a track record of failure on this as well as many other issues that could make it difficult for him to win in 2024.

GT: How to you view China's efforts in promoting peace talks and resolve the Ukraine crisis?

Flounders: China's 12-point plan to negotiate peace and for a ceasefire and have received no serious media coverage or discussion in the US corporate media. At this time China's proposals, in the major corporate media, have received only warning to not be "fooled" by the proposals and to "dismiss" them as not serious. 

The major corporate media functions as the public relations arm of the military corporations. They work hand in hand. They are interlocked, even sharing board members. The media is used to promote militarism and war as the only option. This is a relentless message.  

Tang: China's efforts to promote peace between Russia and Ukraine bring hope for peace. As a friend of both countries, China is uniquely positioned to help forge peace agreements for both countries. But the response from the current US administration was negative. It did not want China to score more points or wield more power on international issues.

China has also demonstrated its diplomatic prowess by bringing Iran and Saudi Arabia together. Except for a few skirmishes with Vietnam and India, China has managed to maintain peace with its neighbors for the last 50 years. China has entered into hundreds of diplomatic agreements with Vietnam, the Philippines and other neighboring islands in the South China Sea. China is uniquely situated to help create a peaceful and prosperous multilateral world.

Haiphong: China should be commended for its efforts given the unique position it currently holds in the growing multipolar world. China has a responsibility to uphold the UN Charter, but it also has the right to sovereign development and an independent position on world affairs. China has been clear that peaceful settlement is the only path forward and has maintained neutrality on the Ukraine conflict. However, it has pointed out NATO's role in instigating and prolonging the conflict and at the same time strengthened its ties to all sides. China has made real efforts to facilitate dialogue as well. China has demonstrated that sovereignty and independence does not need to be sacrificed in matters of global stability. In fact, they go hand in hand, and China is the only major power in the world in the position to set this example at this time. It is a big responsibility, but it's one that China has shown time and time again that it is prepared to undertake.

GT: How do you predict the Russia-Ukraine conflict will end?

Flounders: This war will end as every US war in three generations has ended - Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan, and etc. in a setback for the great plans and imperialist promises, in trillions spent, enormous super-profits for the military corporations, massive destruction, millions of deaths, then on to the next enemy, the next war. There is no accountability, no evaluation.

But this war has another ending. A growing number of countries have lost all confidence in the US and are now seeking a path of cooperation rather than confrontation. This is a new juncture.

Editor's Note:

China and Italy are representative of Eastern and Western civilizations. In the eyes of 75-year-old Italian sinologist Pier Francesco Fumagalli (Fumagalli), who has dedicated decades to promoting cultural exchanges between China and Italy, the Global Civilization Initiative proposed by China holds great vision for constructing a new global civilization and mobilizing a worldwide renaissance. In a recent interview with the Global Times (GT), Fumagalli shared his story of learning Chinese, his understanding of the Belt and Road Initiative, and the prospects of China-Italy relations.

GT: When did you start learning Chinese? We know that you have also studied various other Eastern languages. In comparison, do you find Chinese difficult to learn? What makes it unique?

Fumagalli: I wanted to learn Chinese when I was studying at the University of Milan in the 1970s, but there weren't as many opportunities to learn Chinese back then. I remember that the Israeli government provided me with a scholarship, so I went to Jerusalem to study Hebrew and Arabic. After a year, I returned to Milan and studied Eastern languages and ancient Indian languages at the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart. After graduating, I pursued a doctoral degree at the Biblioteca?Ambrosiana. The librarian at the time hoped I could engage in Sinology research. He not only introduced the library's collection of ancient Chinese books to me but also gave me a Chinese dictionary that was over a hundred years old. I truly began learning Chinese in 1994 at the Istituto Italo Cinese Vittorino Colombo and went to China for the first time in 1995 to study Chinese at the School of International Cultural Exchange (predecessor of the School of International Education) of Northwest University in Xi'an.

Since I have dabbled in many languages in the Eastern region, I find learning Chinese not too difficult, but mastering it requires a great deal of effort. In my opinion, each language has its own difficulties. For example, Chinese characters and pronunciation are relatively challenging, so one needs to practice writing and speaking more. However, the grammar is relatively easy. Most other Eastern languages are spelled using alphabets, which makes writing easier, but the grammar is more difficult.

GT: Besides Chinese, what else do you need to study and understand to become a sinologist?

Fumagalli: As a sinologist from a European country, I believe that besides learning Chinese, one should also understand various fields such as China's history, art, technology, culture, economy, politics, etc. If conditions permit, one should also learn Go and calligraphy. Of course, it is also important to understand the culture of ethnic minority regions in China and neighboring countries. As Confucius said, "Isn't it a pleasure to study and practice what you have learned"?

GT: From your first visit to China until now, what changes in China have impressed you the most?

Fumagalli: The scene of my first visit to China is still fresh in my memory. I flew from Milan to Beijing and then to Xi'an. The plane was brand new, with few passengers, and the flight attendants were very friendly. After arriving in Xi'an, I was picked up by a special car from Northwest University to the campus. The teachers and classmates at the International Cultural Exchange School were very polite to me, and the learning atmosphere was relaxed and pleasant. I also made many friends. This experience left a good impression on me. I am still in contact with many teachers and classmates, and in 2003, Professor Zhou Jiaxiang from Northwest University published a monograph on ancient Chinese literature at the Braidense National Library. Every time I go to Xi'an, I visit them.

From 1995 to 2019, I visited China more than 30 times, sometimes three times in a year. I think China has changed a lot! In 1995, there were many bicycles on the streets of Xi'an, but few cars. I remember some villages in Shaanxi were still using oxen to plow the fields. On Wangfujing Avenue in Beijing, I experienced riding a "huangbaoche" (a type of traditional Chinese taxi) for the first time. When I visited a friend's house, they lived in a 60-square-meter house with four people, but now it is 160 square meters!

GT: Has your interest and research in Chinese culture also influenced your family? 

Fumagalli: My family also loves Chinese culture. My nephew also studied in China. Every time my Chinese friends come to Italy, I invite them to my home. My family is very happy, and both sides are very enthusiastic when they meet.

GT: You have published Biblioteca Ambrosiana with Sino-Western Cultural Exchange, could you talk about the original intention of publishing this book? What kind of cooperation does Biblioteca Ambrosiana, the oldest library in Milan, have with China? What Chinese books or artworks are collected?

Fumagalli: This book was published in 2008 and was a 60th birthday gift from Zhejiang University and Zhejiang International Cultural Exchange Association. It brings together my speeches and papers from Northwest University, Zhejiang University, Chongqing University, and the University of Hong Kong over the years. The purpose is to let Chinese students understand Western culture and carry out exchanges and cooperation with Biblioteca Ambrosiana in Milan.

The Biblioteca Ambrosiana was established in the early 17th century and includes academies, library, art gallery, and museum, all of which are closely related to the Renaissance. The academy collaborates with universities around the world to study global cultures, technologies, arts, religions, and philosophy. The library is open to students and professors from all over the world, providing free access to classical and modern materials. The art gallery and museum collect artworks and manuscripts from many Renaissance masters such as Raphael, Leonardo da Vinci, and Caravaggio.

In addition, we also collect ancient books and cultural artifacts from around the world, such as ancient Indian artifacts, feather cloaks made by the Tupinambá people in South America, and the Arabic Koran. The collection related to China includes classic works on the Ming Dynasty's bureaucracy, the Map of the Ten Thousand Countries of the Earth during the Ming Dynasty, and a table said to be brought back from China by Italian voyager Marco Polo.

GT: One time you saw the painting Taipingtu created by Chinese freehand flower and bird painter He Shuifa in 2010. The painting's juicy and vibrant apples quickly inspired you to invite him to speak at an academic festival in Italy. What attempts have you made to promote communication between contemporary art fields in Italy and China? What special feelings do you have? What is the perception of Italian audiences or readers toward art and artists from the East?

FumagalliIn May 2008, I went to Hangzhou and Beijing and invited scholars such as Ren Yanli, Chen Cunfu, Huang Shijian, who study Western religion, philosophy, and engage in cultural communication between China and the West, as well as painter He Shuifa, to join the newly established Chinese Cultural Research Center in the Ambrosiana Academy under the Biblioteca Ambrosiana. The center has become a new bridge for cultural communication and cooperation between Italy and China, serving the peoples of both countries. We introduce our cooperation in the Biblioteca Ambrosiana Yearbook "Asiatica Ambrosiana" every year.

Currently, our Academy has established cooperative relationships with 500 professors, scholars, and artists from around the world, including Wang Meixiu, who studies world religions, Wang Xiaochao, who studies foreign philosophy and religion, and artist Cui Ruzhuo. In 2022, we invited Professor Zhao Tingyang from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences to introduce his "Tianxia System" in Milan, which I believe is a very important event.

GT: China and Italy are outstanding representatives of Eastern and Western civilizations. China has held many exhibitions of Chinese-Italian cultural exchanges in recent years, such as the "Tota Italia - Origins of a Nation," held at the National Museum of China in 2022, which was well received by the audience. The leaders of both countries also attach great importance to such communication. What is your opinion on the Global Civilization Initiative proposed by China?

Fumagalli: The Global Civilization Initiative proposed by China is an important initiative and shows great foresight in building a new global civilization. This initiative will help realize the Chinese Dream and promote world peace and human development, leading to a new renaissance in the world.

GT: China and Italy are respectively the starting point and endpoint of the ancient Silk Road. Over the years, you have been studying the cultural heritage cooperation and exchanges under the BRI. Since China proposed the BRI 10 years ago, it has not only made significant contributions to the world economy and the development of participating countries but also promoted cultural and people-to-people exchanges with relevant countries and regions. How do you view the cooperation between China and Italy, as well as China and Europe, over the past 10 years?

Fumagalli: The BRI involves numerous countries and regions as well as various aspects, including culture, economy and trade, infrastructure construction, art, science and technology, and politics, among others. From the collection of the Map of the Ten Thousand Countries of the Earth at the Biblioteca Ambrosiana, I can see that the China-proposed BRI can also be called the "Ten Thousand Belts and Roads of the Ten Thousand Countries" (or "Multiple Belts and Roads of the World)". In addition to the trade-oriented "Belt and Road," the high-speed rail construction-oriented "Belt and Road," there are also the education-oriented "Belt and Road," the culture-oriented "Belt and Road," the science and technology-oriented "Belt and Road," the art-oriented "Belt and Road," and so on.

Both China and Europe have rich and ancient cultures and histories. China has 56 ethnic groups, while EU has nearly 30 countries. In terms of the prospects for cooperation between Europe and China under the BRI, I believe our cooperation is very significant!

GT: Like you, many senior Italian sinologists mostly have the experience of studying in China in the 1980s and 1990s. What advice do you have for the new generation of sinologists emerging in Italy or Europe, or for young people who are particularly interested in Chinese culture?

Fumagalli: My dream is for young Italian and European sinologists to collaborate more with young Asian sinologists and young scholars from China to promote sinological research worldwide. These collaborations can take place through various research institutions, such as universities, technology companies, and medical institutes.

I hope that Italian sinologists can work together with Chinese experts to translate and publish Leonardo da Vinci's Codex Atlanticus, a manuscript consisting of 12 volumes and 1,119 pages. This would be a collaboration that could last for many years.

GT: What are your expectations and suggestions for strengthening people-to-people exchanges between China and Italy?

Fumagalli: I hope that communication among the public becomes more diversified, for example, by strengthening communication through news media, sports, music, and art. Even in Italy, clubs can be established for traditional Chinese culture and activities such as Go and Tai Chi. 

In recent years, we have collaborated with the Italy-China Association to organize exhibitions of Leonardo da Vinci in Beijing, Hong Kong, and other places. This December, thanks to the cooperation with the Italo-Chinese Institute of Milan, an exhibition about Leonardo da Vinci is planned to be held in Shanghai, while an exhibition featuring contemporary Chinese painter Zeng Fanzhi will be held in Milan.

GT: Finally, I'd like to ask you about China-Italy relations. How do you evaluate the cooperation between China and Italy in recent years in politics, economics, and other fields? What are your expectations for the future of the relationship between the two countries?

Fumagalli: My new book, Estetica, Scienza e Fede: 400 anni dell 'esplorazione della Biblioteca Ambrosiana (Aesthetics, Science and Faith: 400 Years of Exploration of the Ambrosian Library), has just been published by Zhejiang University Press, and it contains my suggestions and expectations. In short, I hope that the friendship between Italy and China will deepen as major cities of both countries and friendly organizations continue to exchange in various fields. The Biblioteca Ambrosiana in Milan and the Italy-China Association will also be involved. Although the road ahead is long, I would like to use Chairman Mao Zedong's poem, "when the mountain flowers are in full bloom, she will smile mingling in their midst," to express my optimism about the further development of the relationship between the two countries.

The Fuling shale gas field in Southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, has produced over 60 billion cubic meters of natural gas, according to its operator China Sinopec, Xinhua reported on Sunday, adding the attainments have helped shore up China's energy security.

The Fuling shale gas field, an important gas source in West-to-East Gas Transmission pipeline project, was first established in December 2012 and started operation in March 2014, distributing natural gas to more than 70 cities along Yangtze River Economic Belt.

The shale gas field has a proved reserve of 900 billion cubic meters. In 2022, Fuling shale gas field produced 7.2 billion cubic meters of natural gas and 6,998 tons of shale oil, according to Xinhua.

The low-carbon-emission feature of the shale gas made it as an important energy source to promote China's green transformation too.

China first discovered domestic shale gas reserves in the 90's, but lacked the necessary technology and expertise to exploit it.

After decades of technology research and development, operators like Sinopec have achieved to grasp core technologies.

Apart from breakthroughs in shale gas and oil exploration technology, the complicated geometric structure of shale gas field and the high costs on new drills represent new challenges.

The United Nations said that shale gas remains a traditional energy source that also produces carbon dioxide, but it is much less than coal and gasoline, which makes it a bridge from traditional energy to solar energy, wind power and hydropower.

On Sep. 21st, in the hometown of Confucius, Qufu, Jining, Shandong Province, the staff workers from State Grid Jining Power Supply Company are inspecting the power operation data of the scenic spot through the smart power preservation application in front of the computer, to ensure safe and reliable power supply.

With the Mid-Autumn Festival and the National Day rapidly approaching, the 19th Nishan World Civilization Forum and 2023 China (Qufu) International Confucius Culture Festival are about to be held, and Qufu "Three holes", Nishan Holy Land and other scenic spots have an endless stream of tourists, ushering in the peak of electricity consumption. State Grid Jining Power Supply Company applies multiple means such as unmanned aerial vehicle autonomous inspection, remote camera monitoring, infrared temperature measurement, etc., to carry out inspections of power facilities, do a good job in the operation and maintenance of electric vehicle charging piles, and ensure reliable power supply in scenic spots and comfortable power consumption for tourists.

China's first sea-spanning high-speed railway capable of a top speed of 350 kilometers per hour is expected to start service in East China's Fujian Province on Thursday. The line shortens the travel time between Fuzhou and Xiamen to at most 55 minutes in a bid to enhance the connectivity between the two major cities in the province, the Xinhua News Agency reported on Wednesday. 

With a total length of 277 kilometers, the railway starts from Fuzhou, passes through Putian, Quanzhou and Xiamen and ends in Zhangzhou.    

The high-speed railway is yet another intelligent railway route to enter commercial service following the Beijing-Zhangjiakou high-speed railway and Beijing-Xiong'an high-speed railway, demonstrating new progress in the intelligentization of China's high-speed railway technology. 

The railway was designed using the latest modeling technology based on digital information, which realized the integrated management of high-speed railway's design, construction and operation. 

The BeiDou Navigation Satellite System, intelligent robots and environmentally friendly materials were adopted to facilitate the construction of cross-sea bridges. An intelligent command and dispatch system is used to ensure trains stay on schedule and operate efficiently. A big data analysts system can monitor and report all potential weather disasters, ensuring the safe operation of each train on the route. 

The opening of the railway connects multiple cities along Southeast China's coast and forms a belt full of tourism sites. It will also form a high-quality traffic channel connecting Ningbo in East China's Zhejiang Province and Guangzhou in South China's Guangdong Province with other high-speed railway routes that have already been completed or are still under construction. 

Wang Jianmin, a senior cross-Straits expert at Minnan Normal University in Fujian Province, told the Global Times that the opening of the Fuzhou-Xiamen high-speed railway shows China has the technological ability to build a cross-Straits railway. 

"What's more, it also offers expectations for people on the both sides of the Straits that the railway will be the foundation of a cross-Straits railway in the future," said Wang.

The China International Import Expo (CIIE) is a "perfect platform" for exchanging ideas within the global fashion and textile industry, a senior representative of the Spanish fashion giant Inditex told Xinhua in an interview on Thursday.

It will be the fourth time that Inditex, which owns popular brands such as Zara, Bershka, Massimo Dutti and Stradivarius, will take part in the trade fair. CIIE is aimed at economic globalization, and opening the Chinese market to the world.

"The CIIE is a perfect platform for us to keep learning and exchanging ideas with the most inspiring and also relevant industry players, stakeholders and partners," Amy Yu, Inditex's Greater China Head of Communication, told Xinhua.

"This is an international platform that welcomes both domestic and international stakeholders, so it's definitely an opportunity for us to connect both at home and abroad," Yu added.

This year will be the sixth time that the CIIE, which is hosted by China's Ministry of Commerce and the Shanghai Municipal People's Government, will be held in Shanghai's National Exhibition and Convention Center. The trade fair runs from Nov. 5 to 10.

Some 150,000 business professionals from over 100 countries and regions around the world are expected to participate, say the expo's organizers. Events at the fair include networking meetings, seminars and workshops, and new product releases.

Zara opened its first store in China's Hong Kong in 2004, followed by another in Shanghai in 2006, where Inditex's Asia regional HQ is also based. The company now operates 50 stores around China for four of its brands (Zara, Zara Home, Massimo Dutti and Oysho).

"China is not only a retail market where we operate stores and different brands, but also a talent center, and a place where we continuously get inspired," said Yu. "Our business activities started in China as early as the nineties, when we started cooperation with the local textile suppliers."

The Spanish company's involvement in China extends beyond business concerns to social engagement, Yu underlined.

The company worked with the China Youth Development Foundation and 33 schools for the benefit of more than 5,000 students in China, and with the China Environmental Protection Foundation for clothes donation and recycling projects, she said.

The number of China-Europe Chang'an freight train, connecting Xi'an in Northwest China's Shaanxi Province, with Moscow, Russia, has exceeded 20,000 trips since entering service on November 11, 2013, Xi'an International Trade & Logistics Park, the operator of the train service told the Global Times on Saturday. 

The 20,000th Chang'an freight train carrying 165 vehicles departed from Xi'an on September 28, which was also the 3,947th freight train departing from the city in 2023. As of September 28 this year, the number of departures by Chang'an train saw a 29.7 percent increase year-on-year. The freight volume hit 3.5 million tons, up by 34.7 percent year-on-year. 

2023 marked the 10th anniversary of the Chang'an freight train's launch as well as the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). In the past decade, the number of the transport routes has grown from one to 17, as the China-Europe freight train service covers the entire Eurasia continent. 

In addition, the category of the Chang'an train service has increased from merely drilling equipment in the beginning to now include textile products, machinery equipment, electronic products, rubber products, auto vehicles and other products. Grain, wood and minerals from the countries joining the Belt and Road Initiative are among the goods being imported to China. 

The maximum capacity of the Xi'an International Trade & Logistics Park can reach 5.4 million standard containers and 66 million tons of freight per year, and can facilitate 15 trains each day. A representative from the park pledged to further improve cargo transport facilities, attract investment and build domestic currencies settlement system, in order to facilitate the development of the BRI.

Nature, one of the most pioneering scientific journals, published a list of the most anticipated science events around the world in 2023, which included the China-developed world's largest steerable telescope in Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and the Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory in southern China.

According to the list published on Monday, one of the key developments to watch for in the coming year in the field of advanced stargazing is the Xinjiang Qitai Radio Telescope (QTT) which will be switched on for the first time.

The QTT will become the world's most powerful steerable radio telescope spanning 110 meters by 2028, capable of observing radio waves from meter-level to millimeter with a high degree of precision, and can also observe 75 percent of the stars in the sky at any given time, the Global Times learned from the project builder and future operator, the Xinjiang Astronomical Observatory under the Chinese Academy of Sciences in an exclusive interview in September.

According to the mission plan, the construction of QTT will be completed in six years. Upon completion, it is expected to become the world's largest and most accurate omnidirectional radio telescope, which can carry out scientific research in the frontier fields of Nanohertz gravitational waves, fast radio bursts, black holes, dark matter, celestial bodies and the origin of life, providing strong technical support for future space activities in China.

It is believed the installation will represent another major breakthrough in the country's development in astronomy following the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope (FAST), Science and Technology Daily reported.

Another science event to look for next year in search for physics beyond the limits of current understanding is the Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory in southern China, using a detector located 700 meters underground to precisely measure the oscillation of neutrinos — electrically neutral subatomic particles.

Neutrinos are the "hermits" in the world of elementary particles, known as "ghost particles." With small masses and no electricity, they pass through the human body and the Earth and hardly interact with any matter.

The mass order of neutrinos is the basis for the study of neutrino and the evolution of the universe, and is also the core issue in international neutrino research, according to media reports.

Other fields including Moon landings, mRNA vaccines and climate finance are among the developments set to shape research in the coming year, according to Nature's list.

Chinese scientists and their international partners have learned more about the moon after studies and research into lunar soil samples from the Chang'e-5 (CE-5) mission. In the two latest discoveries, researchers found hints of a new source of water on the moon for future explorers and revealed the activities of young basalt on the moon.   

The Chang'e-5 mission brought 1,731 grams of lunar minerals back to Earth. The landing site in the Northeastern Oceanus Procellarum basin of the moon was considered to have one of the youngest basalt units on the lunar surface with rich heat-generating elements such as uranium, thorium and potassium.

In a report published in Nature on Monday, Chinese researchers and their partners in the UK report the abundance, hydrogen isotope composition and core-to-rim variations of water measured in 32 impact glass beads extracted from lunar soil returned by the Chang'e-5 mission. 

Impact glass beads are major components of lunar soil. But the water inventory of impact glass beads has not yet been investigated in detail, despite these glassy beads being potential candidates for playing a significant role in a lunar surface water cycle. To investigate this possibility, scientists carried out a systematic characterization of the petrography, major element composition, Raman characteristics, water abundance and hydrogen isotope composition on the impact glass beads returned by the CE5 mission, aiming to identify and characterize the missing water reservoir on the moon's surface.

Scientists estimate that the amount of water hosted by impact glass beads in lunar soils may reach up to 270 trillion kilograms. "Our direct measurements of this surface reservoir of lunar water show that impact glass beads can store substantial quantities of solar wind-derived water on the moon and suggest that impact glass beads may be water reservoirs on other airless bodies," according to the report.

Hui Hejiu, a professor at Nanjing University, told the media that in the future deep space exploration by human beings, impact glass beads may be used as a candidate water source to provide supplies when the efficiency of collecting glass beads and extracting water is high.

In another report published by Astrophysical Journal Letters in early March, Chinese scientists said they combined Fe and Mg isotope analyses with a comprehensive study of petrology and mineralogy on two CE-5 basalt clasts, the Global Times learned from the Nanjing-based Purple Mountain Observatory under the Chinese Academy of Sciences.  

CE-5 basalts are the most evolved basalts to date on the moon. 

"Our new Fe-Mg isotope data indicate that the young CE-5 mare basalts possess a hybrid mantle cumulate source that incorporates both early- and late-stage LMO cumulates, which may play an important role in the generation of the late lunar volcanism," read the article.