Today, China-Uzbekistan all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership for a new era has reached an unprecedentedly high level, accompanied by an expansion of practical cooperation. One dimension of mutually beneficial ties is interregional cooperation.

The Third Uzbek-Chinese Interregional Forum, which is taking place from May 20 to 22 in the historic city of Xi'an, Northwest China's Shaanxi Province, will undoubtedly become another important milestone in deepening cooperation between the regions of our countries.

The ties between the regions of Uzbekistan and China stretch back centuries, forming a unique historical foundation. The ancient cities of Uzbekistan and China were connected by trade, culture, science, and people-to-people contacts. The ancient Silk Road not only facilitated economic prosperity but also served as a space for the exchange of ideas, technologies, knowledge, and cultural traditions.

In recent years, under the strategic guidance of the heads of state, relations between the two countries have acquired a qualitatively new dimension and our cooperation has entered a "golden period of development."

The close relations between the two heads of state serve as a strong foundation and the most important factor in bilateral cooperation. Regular meetings between the heads of state, a high level of political trust, and alignment of views on a wide range of international and regional issues create favorable conditions for expanding practical interaction across all spheres.

Interregional dialogue is becoming one of the most dynamically developing components of this cooperation.

In January 2024, the First Uzbek-Chinese Interregional Forum was held in the city of Urumqi, marking a new starting point for the development of horizontal ties between the regions of the two countries.

The Second Interregional Forum, held on June 1-2, 2025, in Samarkand, confirmed that regional interaction is gradually turning into one of the key pillars of bilateral partnership. Its scale has grown noticeably. The events were attended by over 2,800 representatives from both countries - from government structures, regional administrations, business circles, educational and scientific institutions.
The Third Interregional Forum, which takes place in Xi'an - the ancient capital of China and the historical starting point of the ancient Silk Road - promises to be the next milestone in its development.

From this city, routes connecting China with Samarkand, Bukhara, Fergana, and other ancient centers of our country once began. For centuries, Xi'an served as a meeting place for civilizations, trade, scientific knowledge, and cultural exchange. Undoubtedly, the forum will raise interregional cooperation between Uzbekistan and China to an even higher level, opening new opportunities for implementing joint initiatives, expanding investment partnerships, and further bringing our peoples closer together.

The dynamics of the relationship are also reflected in economic indicators. A significant part of this dynamic is driven by interregional cooperation. Thanks to investments, new production facilities, industrial capacities, logistics centers, and energy infrastructure projects are being created in the regions. Over the past five years, the total volume of mutual trade has increased threefold. Today, there are 5,400 enterprises with Chinese capital operating in our country.

The continuously improving level of connectivity has laid a solid foundation for facilitating in-depth local cooperation between the two countries. Currently, more than 60 flights per week are operated between Uzbekistan and China on more than ten routes. These routes connect not only capitals but also major regional centers, opening additional opportunities for business, tourism, and investment contacts. From Tashkent, Samarkand, and Fergana, passengers can fly directly to Beijing, Shanghai, Xi'an, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Chengdu, Urumqi, Sanya, and several other Chinese cities.
Against this backdrop, the number of mutual tourist visits is growing. In 2025, over 300,000 Chinese tourists visited Uzbekistan, several times more than in the previous year. This is facilitated by the 30-day visa-free policy established between our countries in June 2025.

In general, in current conditions, regions are increasingly becoming points of economic growth, platforms for technology implementation, attracting investment, developing industrial cooperation, and humanitarian exchanges.

Uzbekistan is willing to work with China to give full play to the role of interregional cooperation mechanisms and platforms, promote the implementation of more practical cooperation results, continuously enrich the connotation of the Uzbekistan-China all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership for a new era, and promote the friendly cooperation between the two countries to move forward.

In response to media inquiry over a recent poll showing that more than 80 percent of Chinese and Russian young respondents believe that China-Russia relations are friendly, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Tuesday that the survey results reflect the friendly public sentiment between the two countries, particularly the positive willingness of the younger generation to further strengthen exchanges. It also demonstrates the high level of China-Russia relations. 

According to media report, the survey was jointly conducted by the Chinese and Russian sides of the Council of Education under the China-Russia Friendship Committee for Peace and Development on the occasion of the launch of the "China-Russia Year of Education".  It was carried out from late April to early May 2026 by the Global Opinion Research Center at Renmin University of China and a Russian partner organization, using an online survey of young people aged 18 to 35 in China and Russia.

Released on Friday at Renmin University of China, the findings noted that 87.5 percent of Russian youth and 85.5 percent of Chinese youth view China-Russia relations as friendly.

"Russian President Putin will begin his state visit to China today. We believe that under the strategic guidance of two leaders, the friendship between China and Russia across generations will take deeper root in the hearts of the people," Guo said.  

The youth of both countries will also join hands to pool their youthful strength, injecting vitality into the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for the new era, the spokesperson noted. 

The China-Russia relationship has entered a new stage of greater achievements and faster development, said Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday.

Xi made the remarks when holding talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is on a state visit to China, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

Xi pointed out that in recent years, faced with a fluid and turbulent international situation, China and Russia have developed the comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era on the basis of equality, mutual respect, good faith, and win-win cooperation.

Political mutual trust has further deepened, cooperation in various areas such as trade and economy, investment, energy, science and technology, people-to-people and sub-national exchanges continued to advance, and the bonds between the two peoples have grown stronger, he added.

China on Friday launched a Lijian-1 Y13 carrier rocket to send five satellites into space.

The rocket blasted off at 12:33 p.m. (Beijing Time) from the Dongfeng commercial space innovation pilot zone in northwest China. It successfully transported the satellites to their planned orbits.

A heated debate over the boundaries of commercial marketing on public morality and family values has gone viral online in China in recent days, triggered by a Mother's Day advertisement by Chinese smartphone brand OPPO, which issued public apologies twice as it found itself at the center of controversy due to its copywriting featuring the phrase "My mom has two 'husbands.'"

The controversy began on Friday, after OPPO launched a Mother's Day marketing campaign featuring a series of promotional images designed to showcase the camera capabilities of its upcoming Find X9 Ultra smartphone.

One of the campaign images featured the caption: "My mom has two 'husbands.' One is my dad, while the other only shows up twice a year. She barely dresses up when going on dates with my dad, but when meeting the other one, she'd wear a wedding dress if she could."

The accompanying image showed a stylishly dressed woman holding a light board reading "gege" ("elderly brother") — a term commonly used in China's fan culture to refer to male idols or celebrities — while holding up a smartphone. Another line beneath the image read: "Using the lens to write 'my mother' again."

The advertisement quickly sparked controversy among Chinese netizens, with some accusing the slogan of promoting "distorted values" or even "openly glamorizing emotional infidelity," while others argued the original intention of the company may have been to portray mothers as individuals with identities and hobbies beyond family roles.

Facing growing debate, OPPO issued an apology on its official Weibo on Friday, saying it "sincerely apologizes" for the controversy.

The company said the campaign was originally intended to "break stereotypes" and present "more diverse and multidimensional images of contemporary mothers," adding that mothers can enjoy marathons, writing or chase celebrities or idols.

"We have immediately removed all related materials. We will carefully listen to criticism from all sides and comprehensively review our content review mechanisms to ensure such problems do not happen again," the company said in the post.

Yet the initial apology failed to fully ease public anger. On Sunday, the China Advertising Association published a statement, saying advertising creation must distinguish between innovation and "bottomless hype," warning against a "traffic-at-all-costs" mentality and emphasizing that creativity "must never violate mainstream social cognition."

The association urged advertisers to respect traditional Chinese culture, family ethics and public morality, and to firmly resist sensationalist marketing that mocks family relationships or deliberately seeks public stunt.

On Monday, OPPO released a second apology statement, saying that "regarding the problems in our Mother's Day marketing materials, we extend our deepest apologies to the public. We are sorry," the company said.

"Whether it was the offensiveness of the marketing content itself or the perfunctory response afterward, both exposed serious deficiencies in our values and sense of responsibility," the company said, adding that "because of our mistaken understanding, we ignored the bottom line of mainstream social values, causing failures at every stage of the marketing process."

The company later announced punishment against senior executives responsible for the China market and other marketing management staff.

According to Chinese media outlet Jiemian News, which cited informed sources, the punishment represented "a rarely seen level of internal disciplinary action in OPPO's history."

Chinese media outlet 21st Century Business Herald published a commentary article, saying that OPPO has a consumer base that includes university students, white-collar workers and corporate executives. However, its original Mother's Day marketing copy appeared to target only the highly niche "girlfriend fan" segment within idol fandom culture — fans who habitually refer to their favorite celebrities as "husbands."

According to the article, the promotional image was released in an attempt to generate online buzz, while overlooking the fact that such expressions are rarely seen in real-life family relationships by the broader public.

The article said the brand's original intention may have been to convey that people at any age can pursue their own interests and passions. The identity within the family should not be a shackle that restrains women from pursuing their personal hobbies.

However, true understanding means respecting women, as independent individuals, in the complexity of their emotions and the diversity of their choices, rather than forcing all female behavior into the mold of so-called "fandom culture," it said.

Accompanying with the advertisement controversy, on Sunday, Wuhan University's official Weibo account reposted a statement from its School of Chinese Language and Literature, saying the university "strongly disapproves" of the content and value orientation of the Mother's Day advertisement by "a certain smartphone manufacturer."

The university said the campaign was "seriously inconsistent" with its educational philosophy of fostering virtue and moral integrity, adding that it hoped the alumnus involved would sincerely face criticism and shoulder social responsibility together with the company.

The literature school's statement said it was "astonished and shocked" by the controversy surrounding the marketing team reportedly led by a former student surnamed Yu.

It noted that Yu had been valued positively by teachers and classmates while he was studying at the school. However, the statement said the copywriting planned by Yu's team this time "seriously contradicted" the school's long-standing educational principles.

"We strongly disagree with the content, especially the sensationalist wordplay, discourse rendering and value orientation reflected in it," the statement said.

"We deeply hope alumnus Yu can face public criticism with sincerity and courage, correct mistakes without hesitation, and shoulder social responsibility together with the company," the statement said.

The university's intervention quickly triggered another round of debate on Chinese social media platforms.

Zhejiang Daily commented on Monday via its official Weibo account that Wuhan University had "overreacted to public pressure."

The outlet argued that the OPPO controversy had already begun to cool down online, but the university's statement unexpectedly pushed the issue back into the spotlight while placing the university itself "at the center of the storm."

According to the article, the response lacked the composure expected of a prestigious institution and instead gave the impression of "distancing itself from a former student at a difficult moment."

Yet, the university's response also drew some support online. The most-liked comment beneath the outlet's post read, "I think the response was quite appropriate."

"For educational institutions, value orientation is fundamental to their existence," some netizen wrote, adding that universities "must be accountable to both the country and society."

Regardless of which university the students are from, making such jokes or displaying distorted values is inappropriate. Wuhan University was simply being too straightforward in issuing a statement, a Weibo user wrote.

Meanwhile, The Beijing News commented on Monday via its official Weibo account that Wuhan University "did not need to implicate itself" in the controversy involving an alumnus.

It argued that for matters within a university's scope of responsibility — such as allegations of academic misconduct involving teachers or students — the institution should respond to public concerns and carry out investigations and disciplinary measures where necessary. For issues beyond the university's responsibilities, if others invoke the school in ways that may damage its reputation, the university may safeguard its rights in accordance with the law; if its reputation is not substantially harmed, however, the school may choose to respond with greater tolerance and composure.

Safeguarding peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait is the biggest common denominator between China and the United States, Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Thursday when holding talks with US President Donald Trump in Beijing.

Noting that the Taiwan question is the most important issue in China-US relations, Xi told Trump that if it is handled properly, the bilateral relationship will enjoy overall stability.

Otherwise, the two countries will have clashes and even conflicts, putting the entire relationship in great jeopardy, Xi said, emphasizing that "Taiwan independence" and cross-Strait peace are as irreconcilable as fire and water.

China's first domestically developed "ternary mixed gas" shield tunneling pressurized operation system has officially been put into use in the 16.18-kilometer Jintang undersea tunnel, the world's longest undersea high-speed rail tunnel, across the waterway between Ningbo and Zhoushan in East China's Zhejiang Province, Science and Technology Daily reported on Friday.

The new equipment is capable of scientifically mixing helium, nitrogen and oxygen gases for pressurized operations during cutter inspection and replacement work on the shield machine, helping the mega-project overcome ultra-high-pressure construction challenges, per the report.

Ultra-high-pressure chamber operations are widely regarded as a world-class challenge in the shield tunneling industry. Traditional compressed-air operations have a safety pressure limit of 0.5 megapascals. However, the deepest section of the Jintang undersea tunnel lies 78 meters below sea level, where the maximum water and soil pressure reaches 0.85 megapascals, equivalent to about 30 kilograms of weight pressing on the area of a one-yuan coin.

Facing such extreme conditions, the construction team, which is responsible for the 6,270-meter shield tunneling section on the Zhoushan side, drew on deep-sea diving technologies and successfully developed the helium-nitrogen-oxygen "ternary mixed gas" shield tunneling pressurized operation system tailored for tunnel construction.

The ternary mixed gas consists of helium, nitrogen and oxygen. Helium, which is characterized by low density, rapid diffusion and high safety performance, can effectively reduce risks such as nitrogen narcosis and oxygen toxicity under ultra-high-pressure environments, providing workers with safer breathing conditions during deep-sea-like operations.

According to the report, the system integrates two major modules - gas mixing and gas supply - and combines 113 submodules, including gas distribution hubs, supply hubs and breathing apparatus. It can precisely support operations within a pressure range of 0.5 to 1 megapascals, meeting the demands of ultra-high-pressure work in undersea tunnel construction.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee and Vietnamese President To Lam, departed Beijing by high-speed train for Southwest China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region on Thursday morning, continuing his China visit, according to the Xinhua News Agency. After around 10 hours, To Lam arrived in Nanning of Guangxi at around 19:15, per Xinhua.

To Lam is paying a state visit to China from April 14 to 17. Upon his arrival in Beijing, he took a high-speed train to visit Xiong'an New Area of North China's Hebei Province on April 14. 

After taking a Fuxing high-speed train to visit Xiong'an New Area, To Lam once again chose to take high-speed train for his trip to Guangxi. His two rides on China's high-speed trains during this visit fully demonstrate his keen interest in China's high-speed rail development, a Xinhua report noted. 

During the trip to Guangxi, To Lam described his China visit this time as "particularly special," noting that he traveled by high-speed train from north to south. He said he kept the curtains open throughout the journey to observe the scenery, and noticed China's high level of urbanization. Although he only passed through several provinces, he said he could still feel the relatively balanced development across regions, which reflects China's strong performance in coordinated regional development, according to Xinhua.

He also praised China's railway technology, saying that few countries in the world are capable of operating railways at an altitude of 4,000 meters, and described China's railway achievements as deeply impressive, per Xinhua.

The high-speed train from Beijing to Guangxi travels through several provinces, covering a distance of more than 2,400 kilometers in about 10 hours. The trip offers a firsthand view of China's vast territory and the momentum of its modernization drive, per Xinhua.

It is relatively rare for a foreign leader to take the high-speed train twice during a single visit to China, with the total journey lasting more than 10 hours. Passing through multiple provinces, the arrangement offered a broad view of China's infrastructure development and broader economic and social achievements, providing a useful reference for Vietnam's own development, Ge Hongliang, vice dean of the ASEAN College at Guangxi Minzu University, told the Global Times.

The itinerary also closely aligned with To Lam's focus on connectivity and his willingness to prioritize rail cooperation as part of practical cooperation during this visit. It could provide a reference for Vietnam's domestic infrastructure development, China-Vietnam cross-border rail links, and the long-term planning of the Pan-Asia Railway, said Ge. 

Footage released by Xinhua showed To Lam learning about the development and operation of China's high-speed rail system during the ride on Thursday.  

A Vietnamese youth who was waiting to welcome To Lam in Guangxi was cited by China News Service as saying that China's high-speed train is very comfortable and fast. She also expressed hope to take such high-speed train in Vietnam one day.

As China's only provincial-level region linked to Vietnam by both land and sea, Guangxi serves as a key frontier for exchanges and cooperation between China and Vietnam, as well as between China and ASEAN, per Xinhua. 

Guangxi occupies a unique position in deepening ties between the two countries, while also promoting cross-border economic development. Citing the example of Pinglu Canal, Ge said that it further underscores Guangxi's role as an important corridor in the area of infrastructure connectivity. 

Initiated in August 2022 and scheduled to start operation by the end of 2026, the Pinglu Canal is a flagship project on the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor, an important trade and logistics passage jointly built by provincial-level regions in western China and ASEAN members, per Xinhua. 

As Guangxi advances development in emerging sectors such as artificial intelligence, including through ASEAN cooperation, Vietnam also has an urgent need for greater alignment in these fields. By deepening sub-national cooperation with Vietnam's northern provinces and beyond, Guangxi is poised to play an important role, said Ge. 

Ge also noted that the current cross-border exchanges between China's Guangxi and Vietnam are extensive, with frequent personnel movements and a large number of Vietnamese students studying in Guangxi. People-to-people exchanges, including the "Red Study Tours" initiative, play a vital role in bilateral ties.

Launched in May 2025, the "Red Study Tours" initiative seeks to facilitate exchanges between young people in China and Vietnam. From May 2025 to March 2026, a total of eight themed camps across 10 provincial-level regions in China were organized under the initiative, providing more than 1,000 Vietnamese youths with the opportunity to experience China firsthand, according to Xinhua. 

To Lam's visit to China and his exchanges with Chinese leader show that China-Vietnam relations are entering a more multidimensional and substantive stage,Pan Jin'e, a research fellow with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times. 

The visit also reflects the elevation of bilateral cooperation to a higher strategic level, with stronger political mutual trust, deeper practical cooperation in areas such as the economy and technology, and firmer people-to-people ties. It also sends a strong strategic signal for the future development of bilateral relations, said Pan.

A worker sorts freshly harvested roses in Hai'an, East China's Jiangsu Province on May 6, 2026. The local government has vigorously developed a rose cultivation industry and promoted agrotourism. A flower-themed tourist site in the area, which opened on February 15 this year, had received more than 30,000 visitors as of March 9, according to local media reports. Photo: VCG

The ongoing 2026 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition (Auto China 2026) offers a telling glimpse into the evolving trajectory of Chinese automakers' global expansion, as they shift their focus from traditional vehicle exports to a more integrated international strategy. According to the Shanghai Securities News, the concept of supply chain exports was a frequent topic at this year's event. Several leading automakers are moving away from the simple export of products, opting instead for a more comprehensive approach, with the export of entire supply chains or ecosystems emerging as a clear trend.

If traditional vehicle exports represented stage 1.0, then expanding the supply chain abroad marks stage 2.0 of Chinese automakers' internationalization. This shift is attracting growing attention, as noted in a report by CCTV News. The report underscores how Chinese automakers are moving beyond the export of finished vehicles, instead adopting a more comprehensive approach to operations in overseas markets. Some are accelerating efforts to establish components of the supply chain overseas, including design and research and development (R&D) centers, manufacturing plants, marketing networks, and logistics infrastructure.

This new trend in international expansion involves not just automakers, but also players throughout the auto supply chain. Companies in the ecosystem, including battery manufacturers, charging infrastructure providers, and financial and consulting services, are all playing a role. These suppliers are collaborating closely with automakers to ensure the seamless integration of their products and services.

In terms of major overseas destinations, Chinese electric vehicle (EV) companies are accelerating their expansion into markets in Europe, Latin America, Southeast Asia, and other regions. Backed by a well-established supply chain ecosystem in China, cross-border collaboration within the supply chain is producing mutually beneficial results for parties involved. These efforts are delivering tangible benefits to host countries, including job creation and economic growth through investment. They are also supporting the development of the local automotive and EV industries, while advancing the broader transition toward electrification in the transportation sector.

Thailand, an important automotive producer in Southeast Asia, offers a prime example. According to a Xinhua News Agency report on April 8, seven Chinese automakers have invested in manufacturing plants in the Southeast Asian country, with cumulative investment exceeding $3 billion.

In Thailand, as operations deepen, Chinese automakers are expanding local production and securing component supplies, driving mutually beneficial growth with local businesses and industries through greater localization. This integration of industrial chains is contributing to the continued development of Thailand's manufacturing sector.

Moreover, deepening industrial cooperation has generated strong demand for skilled labor. Media reports indicate that, in addition to expanding local recruitment to alleviate employment pressures, some Chinese automakers have formed partnerships with Thai universities to establish training centers, strengthening the connection between industry and education.

Beyond Thailand, Chinese investment is also bringing fresh momentum, growth, and innovation to vehicle industries in other countries. According to media reports, some Chinese automakers have set up intelligent production facilities in Brazil, equipped with industrial robots. With an annual production capacity surpassing the local average, these facilities are contributing to the development of Brazil's automotive sector through China's advanced manufacturing technology.

As Chinese automakers deepen international cooperation and upgrade their collaboration models, this mutually beneficial approach is generating positive momentum in host countries. From this perspective, fostering such supply chain cooperation is clearly advantageous for these economies. 

In recent years, China's automotive sector, particularly the EV industry, has experienced rapid growth. This has sometimes drawn mixed reactions, especially in certain developed economies, where some have sought to slow the progress of Chinese EV companies through various attempts. In some instances, these actions have been seen as veering into trade protectionism. However, such approaches risk disrupting normal supply chain cooperation and missing the opportunities that Chinese investment can bring.

The internationalization of Chinese automotive brands is gaining increasing acceptance in the business world, as a growing number of overseas dealers have reportedly flocked to Auto China 2026. This influx of international distributors creates a productive interaction with the global expansion of Chinese car brands, reflecting mutually beneficial cooperation.

Cross-border collaboration within the EV industry is advancing as a multi-dimensional process. Multinational companies are also investing in China, leveraging China's supply chain and market. This cooperation is driven by market forces, with clear momentum behind it. It is hoped that the new trends emerging from Auto China 2026 will further strengthen this mutually beneficial collaboration.