Kindergarten teachers and relevant staff must be registered with educational authorities and undergo background checks and health exams, according to the new preschool education law interpreted by China's Ministry of Education on Monday. The law bans from hiring individuals with backgrounds that could harm children's well-being, including those with criminal records for abuse, sexual assault, drug use, gambling or other crimes, as well as those with a history of alcoholism or serious ethical violations.
China's Ministry of Education held a press conference on Monday to interpret the newly released preschool education law, which focuses on improving the quality of the teaching workforce and specifies the qualification requirements for kindergarten teachers and relevant staff.
The new law requires strengthening staffing and establishing standards for teacher and staff allocation, mandating that kindergartens and their founders adhere to these standards when hiring personnel.
It stipulates that the hiring of kindergarten teachers and staff must be filed with the educational administrative department, along with background checks and health examinations. Individuals whose backgrounds pose a potential risk to children's physical and mental well-being or are unsuitable for preschool education are prohibited from being hired.
Two categories of people are prohibited from employment in preschool education: individuals with criminal records for abuse, sex assault, sex harassment, trafficking, drug use, gambling and other offenses; and those with a history of alcoholism or serious violations of professional ethics, or other behaviors that may harm children's safety.
The law also emphasizes the importance of equitable compensation, requiring kindergartens and their founders to ensure appropriate wages and benefits for staff. It mandates that public kindergarten teachers' salaries be included in fiscal support, and that kindergarten teachers receive comparable treatment to primary and secondary school teachers in terms of job titles, promotions, and other benefits.
Furthermore, the law calls for improved training for preschool education professionals. It stipulates that the government and relevant departments should create comprehensive teacher training plans and offer various forms of professional training.
The law stipulates accountability for actions such as physical punishment, disguised physical punishment, discrimination, and the humiliation of children by kindergarten staff. The law demands that kindergartens or relevant authorities enforce suitable legal actions according to severity of the situation.
Indonesia's President Prabowo Subianto began a state visit to China on Friday, making China his first overseas destination after taking office. Analysts said that the visit underscores Prabowo's commitment to strengthening bilateral relations and the high level of cooperation between China and Indonesia, and will further push the building of a China-Indonesia community with a shared future.
At the invitation of President Xi Jinping, Prabowo will pay a state visit to China from Friday to Sunday. President Xi will hold a welcoming ceremony for him, and the two heads of state will hold talks. Premier Li Qiang and Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, will meet with him respectively, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
Prabowo's decision to make China the first country to visit after his election in March, and again as his first destination after taking office, underscores the high priority he places on China-Indonesia relations. This move highlights the strength of bilateral ties and signals Indonesia's continued commitment to cooperation with China under his administration, Ge Hongliang, vice dean of the ASEAN College at the Guangxi Minzu University, told the Global Times on Friday.
Prabowo shows a strong commitment to building on former president Joko Widodo's policies. With the solid foundation laid by Joko's tenure, China-Indonesia cooperation is expected to remain a focus in Prabowo's foreign policy, said Ge.
The Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a release on Tuesday that Prabowo's first state visit to China "holds significant importance for the commitment to strengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership between Indonesia and China in various fields."
Ge said that how to further promote projects under the Belt and Road Initiative and the building of a China-Indonesia community with a shared future would be central topics during Prabowo's visit.
In addition to ongoing infrastructure projects, including Indonesia's new capital, China-Indonesia cooperation is expected to deepen across economic sectors. With regional supply chains undergoing realignment, both China and Indonesia have a shared interest in strengthening resilience and stability within the regional industry. Moreover, there is vast potential for collaboration in emerging fields, particularly in new energy, said the expert.
Ge said Prabowo has high expectations for deepening cooperation with China and other developing countries, especially those in the Global South, and that Indonesia is pursuing a balanced foreign policy.
China is Prabowo's first stop on a two-week overseas tour that includes the APEC summit in Peru, the G20 meeting in Brazil, and an official visit to the UK. "We will maintain good relations with all parties," Prabowo said on Friday before his departure from Jakarta, Bloomberg reported.
The newest edition of the China International Import Expo (CIIE), the world's first national-level exposition dedicated to imports, opened on Tuesday in Shanghai.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang delivered a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the 7th CIIE and the Hongqiao International Economic Forum.
Running from Nov. 5 to 10, the 7th CIIE has attracted 3,496 exhibitors from 129 countries and regions. It also sets a new record with 297 Fortune Global 500 companies and industry leaders attending the event.
More than 400 new products, new technologies and new services are set to be unveiled during the expo, which experts believe is a strong indication of global companies' confidence in the Chinese market and their commitment to further development in China despite a sluggish global economic recovery.
In response to The Wall Street Journal's recent report stating that some Western countries believe that China is conducting espionage activities on an "unprecedented scale" to undermine rival states and bolster the country's economy, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said he doesn't know what factual basis this report has, yet noted that the CIA recently posted on social media in Chinese on how to contact it online, in an attempt to lure Chinese personnel to be their informant, and this seriously infringes on China's national interest.
China strongly protests this, Lin said. China will resolutely crack down on infiltration and sabotage activities by anti-China forces outside China and defend national sovereignty, security and development interest.
The US has never stopped its espionage activities against China, and it has also long been conducting massive surveillance and secret theft against its allies, Lin said, noting that the US on the one hand blatantly carries out spy activities worldwide, yet on the other makes unwarranted accusations of spy threats against other countries, which is a clear misrepresentation of the facts.
As China's Foreign Ministry condemned US espionage activities around the world, China's Ministry of State Security (MSS) on Monday also unveiled well-designed espionage activities by foreign powers disguised as coincidences, calling on the public to raise their awareness and strictly keep their behavior in line with standards and regulations, and promptly report any activities that may threaten state security.
National security agencies have learned from their work findings that foreign espionage agencies typically recruit personnel with access to national secrets by initiating conversations and consultations, with the aim of persuading them to serve foreign spy agencies, according to the MSS on its official WeChat account.
Overseas intelligence agencies commonly target personnel on core security-related duties under various pretexts, such as asking for directions or advice, the MSS said.
Once responses are received, the foreign intelligence agency staff will ask for the basic personal information and contacts of the individuals related to the confidential materials, biding their time to seize the state secrets.
Foreign spies will also deliberately and purposely pose as attendees in exhibitions, talks, seminars, and other events in order to become acquainted with participants with potential links to national secrets. After getting familiar with them, overseas spies will progressively solicit them to commit stealing of national secrets.
A short video released by the MSS in June narrated the story of a researcher involved in national scientific research who, being struck up by a foreign spy at an exhibition, gradually dropped into the other side's secret-stealing trap, and eventually recognized the truth and voluntarily turned himself in to the national security authorities.
Internet-based stealing of nationally critical data is another frequent approach adopted by foreign intelligence agencies, according to the MSS.
Foreign spies will use fake identities and establish relationships with individuals working in vital sectors of the country via online forums, chat rooms or online games. After successfully getting acquainted on the internet, overseas espionage will continue to communicate with them until the right moment arrives for theft of state secrets, which may even be extended to face-to-face persuasion.
The MSS reminds the public to be vigilant if they are unexpectedly greeted by someone without a clear reason. In particular, when it comes to sensitive topics, individuals are advised to avoid sharing personal information and work details, and to avoid in-depth discussions if overseas strangers ask for contact information or invite them alone in private.
The public is encouraged to safeguard their personal information to avoid revealing their work affiliations, positions, contact details, and other sensitive information online. Personnel in key areas should strictly abide by the discipline of confidentiality and work discipline, resolutely refuse any request that involves national secrets or may jeopardize national security, the MSS reminded.
The MSS also urges the public to promptly report any illegal acts or suspicious activities to the relevant authorities.
The development of the China-Russia relations does not target any third party or is subject to interference by any third party, said Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi during a meeting with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko on Wednesday in Beijing.
Wang, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, said that the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination is grounded in a natural logic of history and driven by strong internal dynamics, no matter how the international situation changes.
Wang said under the leadership of the two heads of state, the China-Russia relations have maintained a sound momentum of development, which serves common interests of the people of both nations and allows them to make their respective contributions to safeguarding the purposes and principles of the UN Charter.
He noted that not long ago, the BRICS Summit was successfully held in Russia's Kazan, making positive progress on the BRICS mechanism, promoting unity and self-strengthening of the Global South, and playing an important and constructive role in world peace and stability.
He urged the two sides to make joint efforts to coordinate cooperation in various fields and exchanges at all levels, and implement the consensus reached by the two heads of state.
China has taken over the rotating presidency of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) and stands ready to work closely with Russia to promote new development of the SCO, Wang added.
For his part, Rudenko said that the head-of-state diplomacy has laid a good foundation for the development of bilateral relations.
Russia is ready to work with China to earnestly implement the arrangements made by the two heads of state, maintain close high-level exchanges, strengthen practical cooperation, continue to maintain coordination on international and regional affairs, and push for new development of the Russia-China relations, Rudenko said.
The 16th BRICS Summit is being held in Kazan, Russia from Tuesday to Thursday, attracting worldwide attention, with the role of Global South countries being highlighted on the international stage. Recently, the Global Times Institute (GTI) conducted a public opinion survey on topics related to the Global South and BRICS. The survey found that over 80 percent of respondents believe that BRICS countries can represent the Global South in voicing concerns on the international stage. Meanwhile, nearly 90 percent of respondents from Global South countries agree that China's development experience has demonstrative and reference significance for other Global South countries.
BRICS attraction
From August 14 to September 19, the GTI conducted a public opinion survey on topics related to Global South countries and BRICS in 11 developing countries, including China, South Africa, Brazil, India, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Kenya, Egypt, Peru, Malaysia, and Thailand, as well as Russia. The survey targeted respondents aged 18 to 70 and utilized various methods of data collection, including online panel, CATI, and face-to-face interviews. A total of 10,334 valid questionnaires were collected.
The survey showed that over 80 percent of respondents in 12 countries believe that BRICS countries can represent the Global South in international discourse. The recognition rates are highest among the three BRICS member countries: China (95 percent), India (93 percent), and South Africa (91 percent). Thailand, Malaysia, Egypt, Kenya, and Brazil also have recognition rates exceeding 80 percent.
The BRICS cooperation mechanism is viewed by many observers as an important platform for emerging market countries and developing nations to strengthen solidarity and cooperation, and to safeguard common interests. In January, BRICS countries expanded, with dozens of other countries having applied or expressed interest in joining BRICS, according to public reports.
Wang Youming, a research fellow at the China Institute of International Studies, told the Global Times that at the beginning of this century, emerging economies represented by BRICS rose to prominence, leading to a shift in the international power structure. However, the existing institutional power framework has not changed accordingly; the over-representation of Western countries in international affairs and the under-representation of Global South countries remain unchanged.
"The Global South seeks to alter the imbalance of international power, and the emergence of BRICS aligns perfectly with this demand. The Global South hopes to ride the 'BRICS Express' to explore a new mechanism for dialogue that corresponds with their scale," Wang said.
Rafael Gontijo, a senior advisor of the Brazilian government, told the Global Times that he believes BRICS has a crucial role in promoting a multipolar order. "The expansion in the number of members demonstrates that the group's mission is being successfully fulfilled," he noted.
As for the five non-BRICS countries in the survey, more than half of the respondents in each country supported their nation's application to join the BRICS mechanism. Among them, Kenya had the highest support rate at 83 percent, while Pakistan's support rate was nearly 80 percent.
Meanwhile, in the survey of the seven BRICS member states, the public generally held an open attitude toward further expansion of BRICS, with more than half of the respondents in each country believing that expansion is necessary. Among them, Chinese respondents had the highest approval rate for expansion at 86 percent, followed by South Africa at 82 percent.
According to respondents from 12 countries, the main reason for the popularity of the BRICS mechanism is that it can promote economic development, with nearly 60 percent of respondents agreeing with this reason.
In recent years, BRICS countries have been exploring and developing a settlement system that is not controlled by the US, using their own currencies or neutral currencies for transactions.
The poll shows that nearly 70 percent of respondents in the 12 countries believe that BRICS countries need to establish a new settlement system for international trade settlements and payments among themselves. Among them, the agreement rate in China is 84 percent, while India's agreement rate is close to 80 percent. The agreement rates in Kenya, Egypt, Pakistan, Malaysia, and South Africa are all above 70 percent.
Xu Feibiao, director of the Center for BRICS and G20 Studies at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, told the Global Times that the BRICS mechanism provides a multilateral platform for Global South countries to voice their opinions and express their demands, fulfilling their aspirations for a fair and just international environment.
"On specific issues, relevant countries can propose their own solutions through the BRICS mechanism. In terms of development, BRICS countries have put forward multiple 'BRICS solutions' focusing on the digital economy, trade, investment, and infrastructure construction, achieving fruitful results in promoting new industrial revolution partnerships, payment systems, the New Development Bank, and emergency reserve arrangements," Xu introduced.
A fairer global order According to the survey result, nearly 90 percent of respondents believe that the rise in international status of the Global South can or may lead to a more just and reasonable international order.
Regarding the specific role of the Global South in the international order, mainstream public opinion points to promoting an equal and regulated international order, with nearly 60 percent of respondents from 12 countries holding this view.
Xu told the Global Times, "The Global South countries have three major advantages: First, they have scale advantages in terms of the number of countries, population, and economy; second, they possess resource advantages; and third, they have growth prospects, representing the future of the global economy."
The polls revealed that the potential of Global South countries is highly recognized. Specifically, the potential of the Global South to drive global economic growth is the most acknowledged, with 75 percent of respondents believing it has "great potential" or "potential."
The Global South is also recognized for its potential to promote cultural exchanges, develop natural resources, maintain global peace and security, and engage in energy cooperation, with approval rates no less than 70 percent.
In recent years, Western discourse has frequently mentioned the Global South. When asked why the West has suddenly taken an interest in the Global South, a South African Gen Zer interviewee believed that "Western countries want to obtain the natural resources of Global South countries." A Kenyan post-80s interviewee shared a similar view. Additionally, a 70-year-old interviewee from Malaysia stated that this is because the Global South represents a huge market.
Valuable insights Nearly 90 percent of respondents from Global South countries agree that China's experiences offer valuable insights for other Global South countries.
The BRICS development model provides Global South nations with opportunities to choose development paths suited to their own conditions, offering an alternative to the notion that globalization equates to Americanization or modernization equals Westernization.
The survey highlighted eight countries, including China, Russia, India, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Brazil, Turkey, and Indonesia. When asked which countries could most effectively empower the Global South, China ranked first, by a significant margin. Similarly, when asked which countries could unite the Global South the most, China again led by a notable margin.
Xu told the Global Times, "A recognized leader among Global South countries must possess several qualities: Political independence from the West, respect for all countries, the willingness to speak for the Global South in international forums, and a commitment to providing public goods and pursuing shared development. Moreover, this leader must have strong comprehensive capabilities in politics, the economy, and governance, and be able to offer economic opportunities, investments, and resources."
In June, at the 70th anniversary of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, China unveiled the "Beijing Declaration of the Conference Marking the 70th Anniversary of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence," which announced several initiatives to support Global South cooperation. These include establishing a Global South Research Center, providing 1,000 "Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence" scholarships, offering 100,000 training opportunities, and launching a Global South Youth Leaders Program over the next five years.
The survey showed that over half of the respondents from countries other than China expressed a willingness to participate in training at the Global South Research Center, with about 20 percent indicating they would consider it.
Additionally, nearly 90 percent of respondents from Global South countries recognize that China's development experience serves as a model and offers valuable lessons for other Global South nations. Among them, Kenya had the highest recognition rate at 95 percent, followed by South Africa and India at 91 percent. In Egypt and Malaysia, the recognition rate was close to 90 percent, while the support rates in other surveyed countries were also near or above 80 percent.
"Global South countries are looking to learn from China's economic development model, and many are also keen to understand China's governance practices. As a large multi-ethnic country, China's ability to achieve harmony and stability is of great interest to others," Xu further noted.
A report from the International Finance Forum revealed that China's contribution to global economic growth in 2023 was 32 percent, making it the world's largest growth engine. When asked if China's rapid development presents more opportunities for Global South countries, nearly 90 percent of respondents expressed a positive view, with 42 percent seeing "many opportunities" and 45 percent seeing "some opportunities."
Kenya had the highest percentage of positive responses at 96 percent, while the figures in South Africa, India, Egypt, and Malaysia were also around 90 percent, and in Thailand, Pakistan, Brazil, and Peru, the figure exceeded 80 percent.
"The 'Chinese Path to Modernization' has become an inspiration for Global South countries. They admire that China has avoided the colonial expansion path of the West and is working to modernize while addressing poverty for over a billion people. They are also curious about how China has achieved such high-tech advancements despite Western containment," Wang said.
"Many Global South countries aspire to join the BRICS family to learn from China's experiences, attract Chinese investments, adopt Chinese technology and standards, and expand into BRICS markets to ultimately reduce their dependency on the West," he said.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged more efforts to achieve marine sci-tech breakthroughs in a reply letter to faculty and students of the Ocean University of China.
Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, congratulated the university's faculty, students and alumni on its centenary.
Chinese President Xi Jinping said Tuesday that China-US ties are one of the world's most important bilateral relations, which bear on the well-being of the two peoples and the future of mankind.
Xi made the remarks in a congratulatory message to the annual Gala Dinner of the National Committee on US-China Relations.
The 15th Media Forum China-Germany hosted by the Global Times was held in Berlin, Germany, from Monday to Wednesday.
The event brought together key figures from leading media outlets, renowned journalists, scholars, and youth representatives from both China and Germany for in-depth discussions on issues concerning media in both countries.
The topics discussed included jointly facing global security issues, jointly tackling "deglobalization" and "decoupling," the development of the electric vehicle industry, climate change and global governance, and artificial intelligence.
The Media Forum China-Germany aims to promote mutual understanding, tolerance and cooperation between media outlets and the people of both countries, providing a valuable platform for media exchanges and collaboration.
Fan Zhengwei, secretary of the Party committee, president, and editor-in-chief of the Global Times, noted in his opening remarks that this year marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Germany. Since its first event in Shanghai in 2010, the Media Forum China-Germany has become a vivid symbol of the steady development of China-Germany relations. To further enhance cultural exchanges and foster mutual understanding between the peoples of the two countries, media in China and Germany should meet each other halfway to contribute to a more objective and comprehensive understanding of each other, Fan noted.
During the exchange sessions, participants from both sides engaged in in-depth discussions on issues of mutual concern, freely expressing their views and engaging in open exchanges. They shared vivid and emotional stories, while also engaging in candid and heated debates, deepening their mutual understanding.
During the discussions on global security issues, the German representatives expressed concerns about regional instability and security challenges, expressing hopes that China and Germany could work together to play a larger role.
On issues such as the EU's imposition of tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, both sides engaged in frank and positive exchanges. Some German participants noted that the automotive industry holds special significance for Germany, and Germany should approach competition with a positive mindset, viewing the rapid growth and progress of China's auto industry as an incentive for Germany's automotive sector, giving play to complementary advantages and achieving win-win cooperation with Chinese companies.
The event also received support from the United Nations. Melissa Fleming, UN Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications, and Siddharth Chatterjee, UN Resident Coordinator in China, addressed the participants through video messages.
