Chinese Premier Li Qiang, President of the European Council Antonio Costa, and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen jointly chaired the 25th China-EU Summit in Beijing on Thursday.
The recent outbreak of conflict along the Cambodia-Thailand border, resulting in casualties, is deeply distressing and concerning. The root of this issue lies in the legacy left by Western colonial powers, and it now requires calm and careful handling. China appreciates and supports the active mediation efforts by the ASEAN chair, and encourages dialogue and political resolution through the ASEAN way, said Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi while meeting with Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn in Beijing on Friday.
Wang said as a mutual neighbor and friend to both Cambodia and Thailand, China is committed to maintaining an objective and impartial stance, and stands ready to play a constructive role in helping de-escalate tensions and restore stability, according to a release from China's Foreign Ministry.
Dr. Kao Kim Hourn said that on the Cambodia-Thailand border conflict, we believe the leaders of the countries involved have the political wisdom to resolve the issue. The ASEAN way remains a viable approach, and the ASEAN chair is actively mediating in the spirit of the ASEAN Charter, according to the release.
We also appreciate China's constructive efforts in promoting dialogue and de-escalation, said Kao.
A recall campaign against 24 legislators of the Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) in Taiwan failed on Saturday, with none of the proposals receiving more votes in favor of the recall than against it, according to the local election affairs authority.
Voting took place from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday across the island. As ballots were counted after polls closed, the "no" votes consistently outnumbered the "yes" votes in all 24 recall cases, marking a sweeping victory for the KMT in the first round of the large-scale recall campaign.
A recall vote targeting the suspended mayor of Hsinchu was held the same day and likewise failed to pass.
The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) currently holds 51 seats in the island's 113-seat legislature, making it a minority party. Observers believed that although the recall campaign appeared to be initiated by "civil groups," it was in fact orchestrated by the DPP authorities led by Lai Ching-te, in an attempt to reverse their disadvantage in the legislature through recalls and by-elections.
"The landslide rejection in the voting is a reflection of public anger toward Lai and the DPP authorities," said Hsieh Chih-chuan, a current affairs commentator in Taiwan, adding that since taking office, the Lai authorities have persecuted dissenting voices through judicial and other means, while continuously stirring up tensions across the Taiwan Strait.
The outcome of the votes reflects the latest public sentiment in Taiwan -- a clear rejection of the DPP's attempts to seek "Taiwan independence," Hsieh said, calling it a "total failure" for the party.
The result indicates that peaceful cross-Strait relations represent the mainstream will of the people in Taiwan, said Wang Kun-Yih, president of the Taiwan International Strategic Study Society. If the DPP does not change its cross-Strait policy, it risks being abandoned by the public, he noted.
The second round of recall votes targeting another seven KMT legislators is scheduled to be held on August 23.
According to local election rules, a recall vote will pass if the number of valid votes in agreement exceeds the number of votes in disagreement. The number of votes in agreement must also equal at least a quarter of the total number of eligible voters in the electoral district.
China's Tianzhou-9 cargo spacecraft successfully docked with the rear port of the orbiting Tiangong space station's Tianhe core module at 8:52 am on Tuesday, according to the China Manned Space Agency. The mission delivered a wide array of supplies, including more than 190 types of food and 23 batches of scientific experiment materials.
According to China Central Television (CCTV), citing Liu Wei from the Astronaut Center of China, the Tianzhou-9 cargo vessel brought over 1.5 tons of food for the crew aboard the Tiangong space station. The food manifest includes more than 190 varieties, among which are over 90 types of side dishes—20 more than in previous missions.
New additions to the menu include homestyle Chinese favorites such as mapo tofu, tomato and egg stir-fry, stewed water chestnuts, vegetable medley, lotus root stir-fry, and cumin potatoes. "These dishes may seem ordinary on a typical family dinner table, but incorporating them into an astronaut's space menu requires extensive technological research," Liu said, as reported by CCTV.
"For example, mapo tofu is very delicate and typically breaks apart easily during stir-frying. But through technological upgrades and improvements in preparation techniques, we've now succeeded in bringing this dish to astronauts' dining tables in space," Liu explained.
This innovation aims to enhance astronauts' dietary experience and allow them to enjoy tastier food while in orbit. "We've moved beyond toothpaste-style food formats to provide staples, side dishes, ready-to-eat items, condiments, and even fresh fruits and vegetables—what we call the 'three staples and four categories' breakthrough," said Liu.
"Many people often ask whether space food consists of things they've never seen or eaten before. But in fact, what we strive for is to ensure astronauts can enjoy the tastes of ordinary life—even in space," Liu added, according to CCTV.
In addition to food supplies, the Tianzhou-9 spacecraft also carried a major batch of scientific experiment materials. CCTV reported that 23 payloads, totaling nearly 780 kilograms, were delivered for various research purposes, including a study aimed at finding new ways to counteract muscle atrophy in space.
Skeletal muscle atrophy observed in space closely resembles age-related muscle loss on Earth. Under microgravity, human muscles tend to shrink. One of the onboard experiments will investigate how skeletal muscle progenitor cells migrate under microgravity conditions, aiming to uncover molecular mechanisms behind muscle loss and identify key regulatory factors that could help prevent or reverse the process, CCTV noted.
The experiment focuses on understanding how skeletal muscle stem cells behave within cell culture units under microgravity, providing insights into maintaining healthy muscle function, CCTV reported.
When skeletal muscle cell homeostasis is disrupted, muscle atrophy occurs, said Ying Hao, a researcher at the Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health under the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Under normal conditions, skeletal muscle contains precursor cells or stem cells that can proliferate and differentiate to repair damaged tissue and maintain healthy muscle function. Understanding this process is key to developing better strategies to combat muscle atrophy, CCTV quoted Ying as saying.
Another major science payload onboard Tianzhou-9 focuses on the effects of spaceflight on the human nervous system. As astronauts often experience dizziness, sleep disorders, and even cognitive impairments during long-duration missions, researchers aim to better understand how space-related factors such as microgravity and radiation affect brain function, CCTV reported.
This neuroscience experiment will use the biotechnology experiment cabinet onboard the Wentian lab module to explore how space environments affect the human blood-brain barrier and brain function using organoid-on-a-chip models derived from human pluripotent stem cells.
According to CCTV, these biomimetic brain chips—about the size of a credit card—contain complex microvascular networks, neurons, immune cells, and structures that simulate the blood-brain barrier. They can replicate the intricate microenvironment of the human brain and its response to external stimuli.
With this kind of model, we can explore how space environments affect the structure and function of the human brain across multiple levels—from cells to tissues to organs—and uncover potential mechanisms, said Qin Jianhua, a researcher at the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. This research will provide tools for risk assessment and intervention strategies to safeguard astronauts' health during long-term missions, CCTV reported.
A restaurant in North China's Shanxi Province has been offering a 1,078-yuan ($150.27) afternoon tea service featuring interactions with African lions, Jiemian News reported on Tuesday. In response, staff from the animal and plant division of the Shanxi Forestry and Grassland Bureau stated that zero-distance contact between animals and humans is prohibited, and the matter is currently being handled urgently.
According to Jiemian News, some recent social media posts showed patrons cuddling lion cubs during afternoon tea sessions at a Cantonese restaurant in Taiyuan, Shanxi Province.
According to online platforms, among the packages offered by the restaurant, there is one called "viral hit leisure afternoon tea set" for four people priced at 1,078 yuan. In addition to regular drinks, dried fruits, and desserts, the listed items in the set include a mascot petting service, marked with an original price of 1,592 yuan.
The restaurant's photo album on the platform includes pictures of lion cubs, while reviews mention there are many pets to interact with, including the chance to cuddle lion cubs, the report said.
Some posts confirmed that petting lion cubs is included in the afternoon tea package, along with interactions with other animals such as alpacas and deer.
"About 20 reservations are available each day, so it's necessary to queue early," one user commented.
Some netizens questioned whether the restaurant's breeding of lions and customers' close interaction comply with regulations. In response, a staff member said the restaurant primarily provides food services and has obtained animal breeding permits and employs professional handlers. "We operate like zoos — why can't lions be used commercially," the staff replied.
An official from the Shanxi Forestry and Grassland Bureau's animal and plant division said that zero-distance contact between animals and humans is prohibited, and that investigations are currently being implemented.
In June, the local forestry bureau in Southwest China's Chongqing Municipality ordered an immediate halt to "wake-up call service" involving red pandas at a hotel and launched an investigation.
In a statement issued on Wednesday night, the Chinese Embassy in Colombia reminds Chinese citizens not to participate in, and to remain highly vigilant against becoming inadvertently involved in drug-related crimes.
Recently, a Chinese citizen was arrested and detained by Colombian police after cocaine was found in luggage they were carrying on behalf of someone else, the embassy said. It urges all Chinese citizens to remain vigilant and take extra precautions.
Drug trafficking and transportation are serious criminal offenses in all countries. Colombia is one of the world’s major sources of illicit drugs, with consistently high production of cocaine and marijuana, the embassy said. Chinese citizens traveling to Colombia for tourism or family visits must exercise heightened caution and avoid making any missteps that could lead to intentional or unintentional involvement in drug-related crimes, it noted.
The embassy said that criminal groups in Colombia often lure foreign nationals into smuggling drugs by asking them to “help carry luggage” or offering small incentives to have them transport suitcases or receive and forward suspicious parcels. Anyone who takes part in or assists with such activities – knowingly or not – may be treated as an accomplice and face prosecution, including possible imprisonment, it added.
The embassy reminded that if a person encounters such a situation, the person should firmly refuse and report it to the local police immediately.
Editor's Note:
Amid the "China Travel" trend, the number of international travelers visiting China continues to increase. Many international visitors are now turning their attention to China's efficient and distinctive healthcare system. From its advanced modern medical services and the global appeal of traditional Chinese medicine to the growing popularity of medical tourism, "Chinese Hospitals" has become a trending topic online, serving as a new option for many international patients.
In light of this, the Global Times is launching a three-part series titled "Healing in China," which will explore the various aspects of how the country's healthcare system is attracting patients from around the world and gradually transforming into a popular global destination for medical services. This is the third installment in the series.
As the "China Travel" trend continues to draw international attention, a growing number of foreign visitors are discovering a new dimension of the country - its thriving healthcare system.
From the bustling hospitals of Beijing and Shanghai to the tropical "special medical zone" in South China's Hainan Province, foreign patients are becoming an increasingly common sight. While many come for sightseeing and "city walk" tours, a rising segment of international travelers are now seeking out China's efficient and distinctive medical services.
Amid the rapid expansion of the global medical tourism market, which has long been led by countries such as Japan, Thailand and Singapore, China is emerging as a strong new contender.
With policy innovations such as visa-free policies, pilot programs for international hospitals, and dedicated medical tourism zones, the country is building momentum as a destination for high-quality, cross-border healthcare.
Meanwhile, local governments across the country are actively introducing supportive policies to promote medical tourism as a new growth driver within the tourism sector.
"Medical services are a key component of cross-border trade in services, and an important way for people from different countries to experience another society and culture," Liang Huaixin, a researcher at the Institute of National Security and Governance at the University of International Business and Economics, told the Global Times. "This not only allows people in neighboring countries to access China's advanced healthcare, but also promotes industry-level cooperation and fosters mutual understanding between peoples."
'They don't feel like hospitals'
Once known for hosting the Boao Forum for Asia, the coastal town of Boao in eastern Hainan is now gaining global attention for another reason - medical tourism.
Just 15 minutes from the local high-speed railway station, the Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone emerges like a futuristic city, lined with sleek, high-tech hospitals, rehabilitation centers and research institutes. Approved by the State Council in 2013, it is the country's only special medical zone on the southern tropical island of Hainan, according to the Xinhua News Agency.
Today, more than 30 medical institutions have established operations in the pilot zone, including top-tier hospitals from Shanghai and East China's Shandong Province, as well as renowned healthcare providers from China and abroad.
Drawing upon its special policy advantages, the pilot zone has become a key gateway for the entry of global medicines and medical devices not yet approved elsewhere in China, according to the pilot zone.
The zone has developed a full-chain international medical tourism model - offering everything from advanced screening and treatment to wellness, rehabilitation, and cultural experiences.
Services include complex disease management, anti-aging therapies, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), and personalized checkups. High-end patients can also enjoy Chinese cultural experiences such as guqin playing, incense ceremonies, and calligraphy, according to the pilot zone's administration.
Patients come from diverse regions, including Central Asia, Southeast Asia, and North America. Services are offered to both individual visitors and organized medical tourism groups.
"The hospitals here don't feel like hospitals, but they feel more like scenic attractions," said Novi Basuki, an Indonesian vlogger, after visiting a wellness center in June, the China News Agency reported.
Lina Panovkina from Russia experienced TCM diagnosis in Lecheng. "The service was very professional," she told the Global Times. "The integration of traditional and modern medicine is truly impressive."
Romualdo Ballovera Zamora, a foreign employee at a Lecheng-based medical institution, highlighted the strong interest in TCM from international visitors.
"Foreign visitors are especially curious about TCM. They've seen cupping and acupuncture in movies and want to try it themselves as part of the cultural experience," he told the Global Times. "The feedback has been very positive. Many said they felt like VIPs. Some even brought me souvenirs from their country when they left - it really touched me."
"China combines thousands of years of TCM with world-class modern technology. That's what makes it an ideal place for medical tourism," Zamora said.
In December 2024, a medical tourism group from Indonesia visited Lecheng and received a full range of services from checkups to rehabilitation and cosmetic care, with per capita spending exceeding 12,000 yuan ($1,650), Xinhua reported.
A mega medical city
Behind the growing appeal of China's medical tourism is the country's solid clinical expertise and increasingly open attitude toward international cooperation.
For the Lecheng pilot zone, this strength is matched with unique institutional advantages. As a special medical zone, the pilot zone enjoys fast-track access to international medical innovations through special permissions for clinical use, research, and cross-border partnerships. This allows the zone to offer advanced therapies and technologies well ahead of other parts of the country, according to the pilot zone.
So far, the pilot zone has collaborated with over 180 pharmaceutical and device companies from more than 20 countries and regions, bringing in more than 470 drugs and devices not yet approved for general use in China. Many of these offer new options for patients with rare or complex conditions, according to the administration of the pilot zone.
One such patient is Alexander (pseudonym), a Greek engineer who has lived in Haikou, Hainan Province, for years. In August 2024, he was diagnosed with glioma, a rare and dangerous form of brain cancer.
After exploring treatment options in the US and Europe, Alexander ultimately returned to China for surgery at a top hospital in Beijing. The operation removed over 90 percent of the tumor, which he described as "a miracle."
His search for follow-up treatment brought him to Lecheng in Hainan. There, he became one of the first patients in Asia to access Vorasidenib, an experimental drug newly approved in the US for his condition.
"I was afraid of the side effects of radiation and chemotherapy," Alexander said. "But I read about this new drug and felt it could give me a better chance. I'm lucky China made it available so quickly."
Vorasidenib had only recently been allowed into clinical use in the Lecheng pilot zone through a special import policy for urgently needed medicines. For Alexander, this meant access to cutting-edge treatment that wasn't even available in his home country.
"From the moment we arrived, everything was smooth. The staff were kind, the equipment was modern, and it felt hopeful," he said. "And most importantly, my condition has remained stable."
For Hu Lu, deputy general manager of the Hainan Boao Lecheng Cultural Industry Development Co, stories like Alexander's reflect the pilot zone's growing role on the global medical map.
"We aim to make Lecheng a global window into Chinese healthcare," she said. "That means not just bringing in international resources, but building a complete service system that integrates treatment, recovery, wellness and tourism."
With international patient numbers rising, Hu said the pilot zone is expanding its overseas outreach in Southeast Asia, North America and Russian-speaking countries, while also developing multilingual support, custom checkup plans and cross-border medical cooperation platforms.
Under a development plan for Lecheng issued in November 2019, by 2025, medical techniques, medical devices and pharmaceuticals used or developed at the pilot zone will be on a par with international best standards. By 2030, the area will become a world-class medical tourism destination and medical technology innovation center, according to the plan, Xinhua reported.
A new trend
While Lecheng represents a concentrated model of China's international medical tourism ambitions, similar efforts are gaining traction across the country. From top-tier public hospitals to regional pilot zones, more Chinese cities are rolling out their own medical tourism strategies - combining advanced clinical capabilities with localized cultural and tourism resources.
According to Xie Yijiong, a supervisor at the Institute of National Governance at Peking University, international medical tourism is being carefully developed under a "pilot-first" approach.
"It reflects a country's comprehensive strength and global competitiveness in healthcare," Xie told the Global Times. "China's strategy is to expand cross-border services in a planned, orderly way - while always ensuring access for domestic patients."
In recent years, major cities have unveiled targeted medical tourism initiatives.
Beijing, for instance, promoted its "Happy Life, Healthy Travel" campaign. In South China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, the city of Fangchenggang has become a top destination for patients from Vietnam, thanks to streamlined 15-minute customs clearance and full Vietnamese-language services, according to media reports.
Liang Huaixin, an associate professor at the University of International Business and Economics, said that cross-border medical services not only promote trade, but also foster mutual understanding between nations.
"We need to release more institutional momentum," Liang said, "by creating more international exchange platforms, streamlining cross-border procedures, and cultivating global medical talent and multilingual service teams."
Xie added that medical tourism also helps promote talent development within China.
"It encourages Chinese physicians to step onto the international stage," he said. "It also attracts overseas clinical experts to work here, further enhancing the global standing of China's healthcare sector."
China looks forward to building consensus among all parties through the upcoming series of foreign ministers' meetings, with a focus on development and cooperation, and laying the groundwork for this year's East Asia cooperation leaders' meetings, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Tuesday.
The comments were made in response to a media inquiry regarding Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi's attendance at the ASEAN Plus Foreign Ministers' Meetings in Malaysia.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson on Tuesday announced that from July 10 to 11, Foreign Minister Wang Yi will attend the China-ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting, the ASEAN Plus Three Foreign Ministers' Meeting, the East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers' Meeting and the ASEAN Regional Forum Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Commenting on the current East Asia cooperation, spokesperson Mao Ning said that East Asian cooperation has generally maintained a stable and positive trajectory in recent years.
Regional countries, through mutual respect, equality, mutual benefit, openness, and inclusivity, have supported their own development, advanced regional integration, and brought benefits to the people of the region. However, amid growing global turbulence and the rise of unilateralism and protectionism, East Asian cooperation faces unprecedented challenges, Mao said.
China firmly supports ASEAN's centrality and remains committed to steadily advancing the development of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area 3.0, while promoting the building of a closer China-ASEAN community with a shared future, Mao stated.
China looks forward to working with regional countries to uphold true multilateralism and open regionalism, safeguard free trade and the multilateral trading system, implement the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Agreement with high quality, expand cooperation in emerging industries, and jointly promote the Asian values of peace, cooperation, openness, and inclusiveness, Mao added.
The spokesperson also called for building an Asian security model of shared security, seeking common ground while shelving differences, and resolving issues through dialogue and consultation, and jointly building a peaceful, safe and secure, prosperous, beautiful, and amicable home.
Hyped as the longest-ever, the island of Taiwan's annual Han Kuang drills kicked off on Wednesday, local media reported. While seemingly aimed at improving defense for the Taiwan authorities, the exercise only exposes the Taiwan military's lack of confidence and capability against the People's Liberation Army (PLA), and has become merely a political show, according to Chinese mainland military experts.
According to the island's defense authority, the 10-day, nine-night Han Kuang exercises from Wednesday through July 18 are twice as long as previous live-fire segments, which normally lasted five days and four nights, Focus Taiwan, the English-language version of the island's "Central News Agency," said on Wednesday.
The first three days of the drills will focus on how Taiwan's military collectively counters the Chinese mainland's "gray zone" tactics, and after that, the drills will move on to their "full-scale combat" phase from July 13 to 18, which will include joint anti-landing operations on July 13, coastal and beachhead combat on July 14, in-depth defense from July 15 to 16, and protracted warfare from July 17 to 18, according to the report.
The DPP authorities of the Taiwan island have stubbornly clung to their separatist stance on "Taiwan independence," recklessly inciting cross-Straits confrontation and wasting public resources to promote the notion of arming all civilians, forcibly tying Taiwan residents to the chariot of separatism, said Chen Binhua, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, in response to media inquiries about Taiwan's Han Kuang drills.
Such moves, aimed at "seeking independence through military means" and "preparing for war to pursue independence," will only further undermine peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits and jeopardize the safety and well-being of people on the island, Chen said.
"'Taiwan independence' is a dead end, and reunification is unstoppable," he stressed. "No matter how much the DPP authorities bluff or indulge in military theatrics, their efforts are nothing but futile posturing. No amount of drills can change the doomed fate of 'Taiwan independence,' nor can they stand in the way of the inevitable trend of national reunification."
This year's Han Kuang drills include some slight changes, such as practices against the so-called "gray zone" tactics. Another change is the shift from coastal combat to in-depth defense and protracted warfare, which could also include practicing for the Taiwan regional leader's evacuation, said Wang Yunfei, a Chinese mainland military affairs expert. He indicated that this means the "Taiwan independence" forces are admitting that they cannot stop the PLA from landing and eventually taking control of the island.
Zhang Junshe, another Chinese mainland military affairs expert, told the Global Times that the scenario settings of the Han Kuang exercise show that the DPP authorities have a clear understanding of the outcome of "resisting reunification by force."
It also shows the "Taiwan independence" forces' plan for a last-ditch fight, attempting to prolong the combat and wait for external forces to come to their aid, Zhang said, adding that the DPP authorities also know well that the island of Taiwan heavily relies on maritime transport lanes, and in the event of a military conflict, these lanes would be cut off by the PLA.
The island's drills do not demonstrate any substantial capability to stand up against the PLA, while the PLA has displayed and honed its capabilities in multiple joint exercises around the island of Taiwan over the past few years. For instance, the PLA Eastern Theater Command conducted joint exercises from April 1 to 2 this year, organizing its army, navy, air and rocket forces to close in on Taiwan island from multiple directions. These drills mainly focused on sea-air combat-readiness patrols, joint seizure of comprehensive superiority, assault on maritime and ground targets, and blockade on key areas and sea lanes so as to test the joint operations capabilities of its troops, Senior Colonel Shi Yi, spokesperson of the PLA Eastern Theater Command, announced at the time.
It is a stern warning and forceful deterrent against "Taiwan Independence" separatist forces, and it is a legitimate and necessary action to safeguard China's sovereignty and national unity, Shi said.
During the PLA's drills, an H-6K bomber carried a YJ-21 air-launched ballistic missile. Zhang said that the "Taiwan independence" separatist forces' current air defense systems have no means of countering the hypersonic YJ-21 - in fact, there are hardly any forces in the world capable of effectively intercepting it.
So, exercises like Han Kuang are nothing more than a political theatre trying to boost the "Taiwan independence" forces' own courage, deceive people on the island, and mislead international public opinion, Wang said.
In response to reports on the Han Kuang drills, which are scheduled to feature many US weapons, Jiang Bin, a spokesperson at China's Ministry of National Defense, said on Tuesday that the Han Kuang exercise is nothing but a bluff and self-deceiving stunt by the DPP authorities to hijack Taiwan compatriots onto its "Taiwan independence" war chariot. The DPP authorities are harming Taiwan out of its selfish interests.
"We solemnly warn the DPP authorities that 'seeking independence by force' is a dead end. No matter what subjects they drill or what weapons they use, the PLA's resolute countermeasures against 'Taiwan Independence' will not be deterred, nor would the overwhelming and irresistible trend of China's national reunification be halted," Jiang said.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has called on people working in the country's film industry to create more fine cinematic works that reflect the spirit of the times and express the people's aspirations.
Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks in a recent reply letter to eight veteran Chinese film artists, including 97-year-old famed actress Tian Hua.