China and Malaysia have agreed to build a high-level strategic China-Malaysia community with a shared future to accelerate their modernization efforts and jointly promote regional and global prosperity and stability.
The two countries made the announcement on Thursday in a joint statement released in the context of Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit to Malaysia.
In the statement, China and Malaysia vowed to strengthen strategic coordination, deepen synergy of development, tighten people-to-people bonds, maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea, strengthen regional cooperation, and conduct multilateral cooperation.
Malaysia reiterated its firm commitment to the one-China policy, recognizing the government of the People's Republic of China as the sole legal government of China, Taiwan is an inalienable territory of the People's Republic of China, and in order for China to achieve national reunification, will not support any call for the independence of Taiwan.
The two sides agreed to become a pacesetter for regional cooperation on new quality productive forces and further synergize development strategies.
Focusing on four key areas of digital economy, green economy, blue economy and tourism economy, the two sides pledged to expand future economic cooperation, promote integrated, coordinated and complementary development, achieve deep integration of industrial and supply chains, value chains, data chains and talent chains, so as to further improve the level and quality of China-Malaysia cooperation.
The two countries also agreed to jointly build a safe and stable industrial and supply chain and strengthen cooperation.
According to the statement, the Malaysian side welcomes Chinese enterprises to participate in the construction of Malaysia's 5G network. Both sides look forward to exploring potential cooperation in the semiconductor industrial chain to the extent practicable to maintain the stability of the industrial and supply chains.
The two countries reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening rail transportation and infrastructure cooperation and contributing to the realization of the Pan-Asian Railway vision.
China said it welcomes Malaysia to continue promoting Malaysian products and expanding exports to China through platforms such as the China International Import Expo, the Global Digital Trade Expo and the China-ASEAN Expo.
As a way to tighten people-to-people bonds between the two countries, the two sides agreed to continue to conduct joint research on panda protection and expect to achieve more progress in this field.
In a bid to maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea, the two countries agreed to resolve disputes by peaceful means, through friendly consultations and negotiations, said the statement, noting that both sides recognized that the involvement of parties not directly concerned could be counter-productive.
China will carry out intensive space missions, including Tianwen-2 for asteroid exploration, in 2025, an official of the China National Space Administration (CNSA) said on Thursday.
The Tianwen-2 mission will carry out asteroid flyby and sampling, and the Shenzhou-20 and Shenzhou-21 crewed spacecraft are also scheduled for launch this year, said Liu Yunfeng, deputy director of the CNSA's system engineering department, at a press conference on the upcoming Space Day of China.
In terms of international collaboration, Liu confirmed two major projects: the China-Europe joint space mission -- Solar Wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer (SMILE) -- which aims to uncover how solar wind interacts with Earth's magnetosphere, and an electromagnetic monitoring satellite jointly developed by China and Italy, which will support research into earthquake prediction.
China will deepen space cooperation with countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), BRICS nations, and European partners, Liu said. Efforts will focus on advancing collaboration in lunar and deep space exploration, including jointly promoting the construction of the international lunar research station, he added.
Within the BRICS framework, China will continue advancing the development of the BRICS Remote Sensing Satellite Constellation to enhance disaster emergency data sharing, Liu said.
China will also provide satellite services to BRI partner countries, supporting their space capacity development and fostering sustainable progress in agriculture, disaster prevention, and smart city initiatives, he added.
Liu also outlined the events planned for the 10th Space Day of China, to be held on April 24 in Shanghai, which include the opening ceremony, space science exhibitions, cultural forums, and academic conferences.
In response to a media inquiry regarding the Iranian Foreign Ministry announcement that from April 7 to 8, China, Russia and Iran will have trilateral consultations on the Iranian nuclear issue in Moscow, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Tuesday, "Let me reiterate that China firmly believes that the only right choice for settling the issue is through political and diplomatic means."
We support Russia in hosting this trilateral expert-level consultation, which will further promote the political and diplomatic settlement of the Iranian nuclear issue, Lin told the regular press conference on Tuesday.
According to update by Russia's TASS gency on Tuesday night, the three countries are currently engaged in consultations in Moscow to consider possible scenarios following the expiration of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which formally governs Iran's nuclear program, as well as UN Security Council Resolution 2231, which approved the plan.
"Various options and scenarios are being considered regarding what will occur after the current Security Council resolution expires on October 18 of this year," Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko has told the media.
According to TASS, he added that the sides will be closely watching what "will happen to the nuclear deal next in the face of the US' current attempts at forceful resolution of the issue."
China will continue to have communication and coordination with relevant parties, and facilitate the settlement to the Iranian nuclear issue that accommodates all parties' legitimate concerns so as to uphold the international non-proliferation regime and keep the Middle East peaceful and stable, said the spokesperson.
In response to an earlier question at the press conference on Tuesday regarding reports that the US and Iran have announced talks over the nature of Iran's nuclear program, Lin said that China noted relevant reports. "China all along believes that the only right choice for settling the issue is through political and diplomatic means."
Against the current backdrop, it's all the more important for parties to the Iranian nuclear issue to work in the same direction, strengthen dialogue and engagement, and avoid any escalation, Lin commented.
In 2015, Iran, along with Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia, and the US, signed the JCPOA, which aimed to resolve a crisis that began in 2002 due to Western accusations of Tehran developing nuclear weapons. However, in 2018, US President Donald Trump announced the withdrawal from the JCPOA and reinstated all US sanctions against Iran.
As the country which unilaterally withdrew from the JCPOA and caused the current situation, the US needs to show political sincerity, act in the spirit of mutual respect, engage in dialogue and consultation, and stop the threat of force and maximum pressure, Lin noted.
China's National Astronomical Observatories (NAOC) under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) on Wednesday announced a major scientific breakthrough in the study of dark energy, one of the greatest unsolved mysteries in modern physics.
The achievement offers a new perspective and key evidence for understanding the physical mechanisms behind the accelerating expansion of the universe, and suggests the possible existence of new physics beyond the standard cosmological model, according to Chinese researchers participating in the program.
According to NAOC, the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) is one of the world's leading dark energy observation programs, involving more than 70 research institutions in a global collaboration. Based on a 4-meter optical telescope, DESI conducts high-precision redshift measurements of tens of millions of celestial objects, creating a detailed 3D map of the large-scale structure of the universe to probe the physical properties of dark energy.
Researchers from NAOC, including teams led by Zhao Gongbo and Zou Hu, have participated in the DESI project for more than a decade.
Zhao's team has led efforts to systematically study the properties of dark energy using proprietary analytical methods, while Zou's team has played a key role in the scientific operations of DESI, contributing enriched star catalogs that have facilitated new scientific discoveries, per the NAOC.
Dark energy remains one of the most challenging topics in modern astronomy and cosmology. Since the discovery of the universe's accelerating expansion in the late 1990s, scientists have recognized that conventional theories of gravity and ordinary matter cannot account for this phenomenon. A mysterious, unknown component of the cosmos - dark energy - must be driving the acceleration. Yet, its true nature remains one of the greatest unsolved mysteries in modern physics.
In the standard cosmological model (ΛCDM), dark energy is typically regarded as a constant vacuum energy. Over the past two decades, this model has successfully explained a wide range of observational data and has been widely regarded as the simplest and most effective theoretical framework. However, as observational technologies and data precision have improved, inconsistencies have emerged between different types of observations within the ΛCDM framework. These tensions pose new challenges to the model and leave room for deeper exploration of dark energy and potential new physics.
Dark energy research led by Zhao's team within the DESI international collaboration has recently achieved a significant breakthrough in the study of dark energy's dynamic properties. Using a newly developed method and analyzing the latest DESI cosmological distance data - combined with observations of supernovae and the cosmic microwave background - the team found evidence that the dark energy equation of state evolves over time.
The result confirms previous findings by the DESI collaboration using alternative analytical approaches and suggests that dark energy likely exhibits dynamical behavior, the Chinese researchers explained to the Global Times on Wednesday. And such result challenges the traditional cosmological constant model and implies that dark energy may not be static vacuum energy, but rather a component with more complex evolution, they further elaborated.
"In this study, we developed a new method for reconstructing dark energy and applied it to the latest DESI measurements, cross-validating results with data from supernovae and the cosmic microwave background. This multi-probe approach significantly enhanced the reliability of our analysis and conclusions," Zhao told the Global Times on Wednesday.
The study not only opens a new direction in uncovering the fundamental nature of dark energy but also provides vital clues for building a more comprehensive cosmological theory, he added.
It also injects new momentum into upcoming large-scale projects including the full DESI survey, Subaru's Prime Focus Spectrograph (PFS), the European Space Agency (ESA)'s Euclid mission, and next-generation cosmic microwave background experiments, according to Zhao.
Zhao said that his team will continue to analyze future DESI data with greater precision and collaborate with international peers to conduct more rigorous and comprehensive tests on the dynamic nature of dark energy through high-precision measurements and improved theoretical models.
NAOC also pledged to deepen cooperation with major international astronomical institutions, promote the application of emerging technologies such as big data and deep learning in astronomical research and accelerate the development of next-generation observation platforms and core instruments - further enhancing China's global influence in fundamental cosmological research.
Humanity shares the same sky, which makes international collaboration particularly important for astronomical research, Chang Jin, a Chinese astronomer and the current president of the University of Science and Technology of China, commented on Wednesday.
NAOC places great emphasis on international cooperation in observations. For many years, Zhao's team has participated in the DESI project, using its data to study dark energy. This not only showcases the strength of Chinese scientists, but also enables young Chinese astronomers to take part in large-scale international projects - gaining valuable experience and developing their expertise in the process, said Chang, who is also an academician of the CAS.
Commenting on the new findings led by researchers from the NAOC on Wednesday, Dragan Huterer, a professor of physics at the University of Michigan, said that he found the new findings as an important stepping stone in our understanding of dark energy. "I congratulate these researchers, for really a very, very interesting paper. And I can't wait to see what new results come from the DESI instrument."
The NAOC also pledged to strengthen partnerships with leading global astronomical institutions, actively promote the application of emerging technologies like big data and deep learning in astronomical research, and accelerate the development of next-generation observational platforms and core instruments.
DESI is an international project with more than 900 researchers from over 70 institutions around the world and is managed by the US Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab).
DESI is supported by the DOE Office of Science and by the National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center, a DOE Office of Science national user facility. Additional support for DESI is provided by the U.S. National Science Foundation; the Science and Technology Facilities Council of the United Kingdom; the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation; the Heising-Simons Foundation; the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA); the National Council of Humanities, Sciences, and Technologies of Mexico; the Ministry of Science and Innovation of Spain; and by the DESI member institutions.
The DESI collaboration is honored to be permitted to conduct scientific research on I'oligam Du'ag (Kitt Peak), a mountain with particular significance to the Tohono O'odham Nation.
China's blockbuster animated sequel "Ne Zha 2" has garnered an astonishing 15.5 billion yuan (about 2.16 billion U.S. dollars) globally, including presales, as of Thursday, per ticketing platform Maoyan's data.
Hitting theaters on Jan. 29 during the Chinese New Year, the Enlight Pictures production is currently the fifth highest-grossing film of all time globally, just behind James Cameron's 1997 epic "Titanic" at nearly 2.27 billion dollars.
It has shattered multiple records: It's the first film ever to cross the 1 billion U.S. dollar mark in a single market, the first non-Hollywood title to join the billion-dollar club, and the highest-grossing animated movie of all time worldwide.
Directed by Yang Yu, known as Jiaozi, the fantasy epic delves deeper into Chinese mythology, following the rebellious boy god Nezha and his ally Aobing as they battle to reconstruct their physical forms. With the help of the immortal Taiyi Zhenren, they navigate a journey of self-discovery, fate and defiance.
Q: It is reported that a Chinese research vessel passed the south of the Australian coast in recent days. Some Australian media claimed that the vessel following the underwater cables is a so-called "spy ship" and can be used for dual purposes. What is your response and what are the objectives of the vessel? Why is it on the south of the Australian coast? Is China worried about its consequences for the upcoming Australian federal election?
A: We have noted relevant reports and maintained close communication with the Australia side through diplomatic channels on this issue. The reports covered by some Australian media outlets are nothing but smearing the research activities of the Chinese vessel. We are strongly against that and hereby would like to elaborate three points as follows.
First and foremost, the recent activities are parts of routine scientific research of the Chinese vessel. As science knows no borders, over recent years China has conducted joint scientific expeditions with multiple countries, making positive contribution to global marine biodiversity protection and sustainable development. Politicizing or stigmatizing of the research activities is disrespectful to global scientific development.
Secondly, the route of the Chinese vessel was set accordance with the international waterway and taken into consideration of the coastal weather forecast. The vessel has all along carried out normal activities at sea and has performed no operation in the Australian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), which fully comply with the international laws, including UNCLOS.
Thirdly, these activities are not directed at any third party and have nothing to do with China-Australia relations, let alone the Australian federal election. The Australian federal election is Australia's internal affairs. China always upholds the principle of non-interference in other countries' internal affairs, and does not want to participate in, interfere with, or comment on Australia's election. China and Australia are comprehensive strategic partners, and deepening friendly cooperation serves the common interests of our two countries and peoples. China is willing to join hands with Australia and develop our bilateral relations from a strategic height and long-term perspective, deepen political trust and mutually beneficial cooperation, so as to achieve common development.
We hope that relevant Australian media outlets cover China in a comprehensive, objective and faithful manner, stop the groundless suspicion and speculations, and provide sound atmosphere for bilateral relations.
Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission, on Sunday met with representatives from seven Japan-China friendship groups, highlighting the importance of bilateral cooperation amid global uncertainties.
Noting the increasing instability in the international situation, Wang emphasized that China is determined to shoulder its responsibilities as a major power, work together with other nations to safeguard peace and security in Asia, and promote human development and progress.
As close neighbors and two major global economies, China and Japan must reassess the value of their relationship, reaffirm the significance of their friendship, strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation, and consolidate the strength of friendly people-to-people ties to promote the sustained, healthy, and stable development of China-Japan relations, Wang said.
While acknowledging the long-term dedication of the seven friendship groups in advancing bilateral friendship, Wang urged them to press forward in the direction of peaceful and friendly cooperation to make new contributions to safeguarding the fundamental interests of both peoples.
He outlined three key areas for strengthening ties, including maintaining the political foundation, enhancing dialogue and exchanges across various sectors, and cultivating successors for China-Japan friendship.
The China-Japan Joint Statement must be strictly observed, with particular emphasis on properly handling historical issues and the Taiwan question, and resisting any distortions, falsifications, or actions that undermine the foundation, Wang stressed.
He also called for encouraging the younger generation to participate actively in friendship initiatives, ensuring the legacy of bilateral cooperation is carried forward.
Attending the meeting were Hiroshi Moriyama, chairman of the Japan-China Friendship Parliamentarians' Union and secretary-general of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party, President of the Japanese Association for the Promotion of International Trade Yohei Kono, as well as leaders of other friendship groups.
Representatives from the groups emphasized the critical importance of China-Japan friendship for both nations and their peoples, pledging efforts to continue fostering exchanges at local and youth levels and further strengthen the bond between the peoples of China and Japan.
Chinese President Xi Jinping extended on Thursday congratulations to Konstantinos Tasoulas on assuming the Greek presidency.
In his congratulatory message, Xi pointed out that both China and Greece share a long history and splendid culture.
The two countries have maintained a time-honored friendship and are comprehensive strategic partners of mutual understanding and win-win cooperation, Xi said.
In recent years, he added, the two sides have continuously advanced the Piraeus Port project, promoted high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and collaborated in establishing the Center of Chinese and Greek Ancient Civilizations and the Chinese School of Classical Studies at Athens.
Such joint efforts have showcased the harmony of the two ancient civilizations and their sense of responsibility in today's world, Xi said.
Noting that the world is undergoing major changes unseen in a century with all countries closely interconnected and facing a shared future, he emphasized win-win cooperation as the only way to address global challenges.
Xi said he attaches great importance to the development of China-Greece relations and stands ready to work with President Tasoulas to continue strengthening their traditional friendship, enhance their mutually beneficial cooperation and cultural exchanges, continuously enrich the connotation of China-Greece comprehensive strategic partnership, promote the sustained and sound development of China-EU relations, and contribute wisdom and strength to global peace, stability, development and prosperity.
China, Russia and Iran issued a joint statement on Friday, reaffirming that political and diplomatic engagement and dialogue remains the only viable and practical option for the Iranian nuclear issue after deputy foreign ministers of the three nations held a meeting in Beijing on Friday.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, met with the heads of delegations to the meeting and put forward China's five-point proposal on the Iranian nuclear issue, including staying committed to peaceful settlement of disputes through political and diplomatic means, and opposing the use of force and illegal sanctions.
Ma Zhaoxu, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister, told reporters after the meeting that the three sides emphasized the necessity of terminating all illegal unilateral sanctions. Relevant parties should work to eliminate the root causes of the current situation and abandon sanctions, pressure, and threats of the use of force.
We stress the importance of UN Security Council Resolution 2231 and its timeline, urging all relevant parties to refrain from actions that could escalate tensions and to jointly create a favorable atmosphere and conditions for diplomatic efforts, Ma said.
The trilateral meeting was held against the backdrop of the US withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal in 2018 and the continued maximum pressure on Iran by the Trump administration.
Amid the US' unilateral actions and extreme pressure, the original framework under the UN reached between Iran and other permanent members of the UN Security Council (UNSC) plus Germany has been unable to function effectively. Therefore, China, Russia, and Iran are exploring new mechanisms to prevent further deterioration of the Iranian nuclear issue and to seek a diplomatic resolution, according to experts.
China's efforts
Among the five-point proposal on the Iranian nuclear issue, China stays committed to balancing rights and responsibilities, and takes a holistic approach to the goals of nuclear non-proliferation and peaceful uses of nuclear energy, said Wang.
China stays committed to the framework of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) as the basis for new consensus. China hopes that all parties will work toward the same direction and resume dialogue and negotiation as early as possible. The US should demonstrate political sincerity and return to talks at an early date, Wang said.
Wang noted that China stays committed to a step-by-step and reciprocal approach, and seeks consensus through consultation. History has proven that acting from a position of strength would not lead to the key to resolving difficult issues.
Upholding the principle of mutual respect is the only viable path to finding the greatest common ground that accommodates the legitimate concerns of all parties and reaching a solution that meets the expectation of the international community, Wang said.
The trilateral meeting came days after Tehran spurned US "orders" to resume dialogue over the nuclear program, Reuters reported on Friday.
Last week, US President Donald Trump said he had sent a letter to Iran's Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei proposing nuclear talks, adding that "there are two ways Iran can be handled: militarily, or you make a deal," according to Reuters.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian responded that he would not negotiate with the US while being "threatened", and Iran would not bow to US "orders" to talk, the media report said.
The Trump administration also downplayed the China-Russia-Iran meeting, Fox News said on Thursday while Trump suggested "perhaps Beijing, Moscow and Tehran will be having their own discussions on de-escalation."
The Trump administration imposed a "maximum pressure" policy on Iran in February that includes efforts to drive its oil exports to zero in order to stop Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and funding militant groups, Reuters said.
Liu Zhongmin, a professor from the Middle East Studies Institute of Shanghai International Studies University, told the Global Times on Friday that the latest China-Russia-Iran dialogue is currently just the beginning, noting that the meeting could be seen as part of damage-control measures, aimed at preventing the Iranian nuclear issue from escalating further.
The Iran nuclear deal was signed ten years ago, and the issue has once again reached a critical crossroads. There are essentially two approaches to resolving it, Sun Degang, director of the Center for Middle Eastern Studies at Fudan University, told the Global Times on Friday.
One approach is the US strategy, which relies on extreme pressure, as seen during the Trump administration following the US withdrawal from the agreement. This led Iran to accelerate its uranium enrichment process, increasing the risk of nuclear proliferation, Sun noted.
"However, another approach is the multilateral diplomatic resolution, which proved effective in the original Iran nuclear agreement a decade ago," Sun said, noting that China played a key role in that process, where all parties engaged in dialogue, sought common ground while setting aside differences, and ultimately reached a consensus on the nuclear deal.
In response to a question on the impact of the meeting on the resumption of dialogue and negotiation and the prospect of a political and diplomatic resolution to the Iranian nuclear issue, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Friday that the Iranian nuclear issue is facing a serious situation and once again at a crossroads. The Beijing meeting is a useful effort by China, Russia and Iran in seeking to advance the settlement of the Iranian nuclear issue.
Role of multilateral platforms
In the joint statement issued after the China-Russia-Iran meeting on Friday, the three countries agreed to continue their close consultation and cooperation in the future.
The three countries also exchanged views on regional and international issues of common interest, and agreed to maintain and strengthen their coordination in international organizations and multilateral arrangements such as BRICS and Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
On the Iranian nuclear issue, China stays committed to promoting cooperation through dialogue, and opposes pressing for intervention by the UNSC, said Chinese Foreign Minister Wang.
Under the current situation, hasty intervention by the UNSC will not help build confidence or bridge differences among the relevant parties. Initiating the snapback mechanism would undo years of diplomatic efforts, and must be handled with caution, Wang said.
Iran's foreign ministry on Thursday summoned the envoys of Britain, France and Germany over what it called a "misuse of the UNSC to hold a closed-door meeting," Reuters reported citing Iranian state media.
The UNSC met behind closed doors on Wednesday over Tehran's nuclear program. The meeting called by six of the council's 15 members - the US, France, Greece, Panama, South Korea and Britain, came at Washington's request, according to the report.
China's envoy to the UN Fu Cong was quoted as saying ahead of the UNSC meeting in the media report that China still hopes that "we can seize the limited time we have before the termination date in October this year, in order to have a deal, a new deal so that the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, known as the Iran nuclear deal, can be maintained.
"Putting maximum pressure on a certain country is not going to achieve the goal," Fu said, according to Reuters.
The US has made some very unrealistic demands, completely driven by its own interests, regarding global hotspot issues including the Iranian nuclear issue, which has led to the destruction of the original consensus, foundation, and mechanisms surrounding these already complex international hotspot issues, Liu noted.
"In this context, the international community faces the challenge of seeking new solutions and approaches, and must not allow the US' unilateral actions to undermine all the consensus and mechanisms regarding international hotspot issues," Liu said.
If the other parties, aside from the US, can maintain consensus, this will, in turn, exert some pressure on the US, Liu added.
Since the publication of the first volume of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China in 2014, the book has garnered widespread recognition globally, becoming a key resource for political figures, scholars, and experts in many countries. It stands as the leader's work with the most published languages, the widest coverage, and the greatest global influence, opening a "window of thought" for understanding China in the new era.
To offer global audiences deeper insights into Xi Jinping: The Governance of China and the key concepts it contains, including perspectives on development, civilization, security, human rights, ecology, international order, and global governance, the Global Times is launching the "Decoding the Book of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China" series. Through themed columns such as "Scholars' Perspectives," "Translators' Voices," "Practitioners' Insights," and "Readers' Reflections," this series will feature perspectives from Chinese and international scholars, translators of the work, practitioners of its concepts, and overseas readers. It aims to share what they have seen and understood about China's philosophy, values, and wisdom through the book.
This is the first installment of the "Practitioners' Insights" column, which narrates how a grassroots legislative outreach office in Shanghai channels the voices of ordinary citizens to the nation's highest legislative body, acting as a vital mechanism for advancing whole-process people's democracy. One day in late 2014 near Gubei Civic Center in Hongqiao subdistrict of downtown Shanghai, then 30-year-old Wu Xinhui met for the first time lady Wang (pseudonym). Wang, in her 90s, had multiple bruises on her body with eyes filled with helplessness and exhaustion. She told lawyer Wu that these injuries resulted from abuse by her daughter, who had taken her mobile phone and bank cards. Wang's request was simple: to change her guardianship and free herself from her daughter's "torment."
Wu is a director at the Shanghai Kangming Law Firm. On the day she met Wang a decade ago, she was unaware that, besides being a lawyer, she would assume another role as a legislative coordinator for the Hongqiao subdistrict legislative outreach office under the Legislative Affairs Commission of the National People's Congress (NPC).
Wu then spent several months taking legal means to change the guardianship for the elderly woman and helping her reclaim her property. The lawsuit was won, but Wu still felt a heavy burden in her heart, as she knew there might be many more elderly like Wang who needed legal protection.
In July 2015, when the legislative outreach office was established at Hongqiao, Wu was invited to become a legislative coordinator of this outreach office. About two months later, when the China's law on domestic violence was soliciting public opinions for an amendment, Wu was reminded of Wang's story and many similar cases she had encountered as a lawyer over the years. At the legislative opinion solicitation meetings, Wu sincerely proposed suggestions to include the elderly in the protection of the anti-domestic violence law.
When Wu knew that the later promulgated law on domestic violence includes the elderly in the protected category, she realized that even the weakest voices can be heard and illuminate the legislative process.
The whole-process people's democracy ensures the broadest and most genuine participation of the people. In Volume 4 of the book Xi Jinping: The Governance of China, Xi said, "If the people are only addressed in order to solicit votes and then are left out in the cold, if they must listen to grandiose election slogans but have no voice when the elections are over, or if they are wooed by candidates during election campaigns only to be cast aside afterwards, this is not true democracy."
In July this year, the Hongqiao subdistrict legislative outreach office will mark its 10th anniversary. Over the past decade, it has functioned like a "big pocket" for gathering public opinions, thanks to the efforts of Wu and other legislative coordinators who have walked the streets and alleys over years listening to local residents.
In the last decade, they have solicited opinions for 103 draft laws, submitting a total of 3,771 suggestions to the NPC. These suggestions include ideas from community elders on resolving neighborhood disputes and expectations from office workers on labor rights protection. Each suggestion reflects people's longing for a better life. In the end, 337 suggestions have been adopted after research, and the voices of 46,586 people were collaborated, becoming a force for promoting the progress of the rule of law.
These numbers are dynamically recorded with red magnets on a wall in the Hongqiao legislative outreach office. After this year's national two sessions, the numbers will be further be updated.
Yu Yiqing, a staff member at the Hongqiao legislative outreach office, told the Global Times that these numbers are more than just statistics. They reflect people's expectations for a better life, and show the extensive and effective nature of the whole-process people's democracy.
'Direct express' for democratic legislation
The system of grassroots legislative outreach offices was introduced at the fourth plenary session of the 18th Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee in October 2014. In July 2015, the first four grassroots legislative outreach offices across the country were set up in Shanghai's Hongqiao, Jingdezhen in East China's Jiangxi Province, Xiangyang in Central China's Hubei Province, and Lintao in Northwest China's Gansu Province.
Since then, over 90 percent of the legal drafts formulated or amended by the NPC and its standing committee has sought opinions from these grassroots legislative outreach offices, which serve as a "direct express" for democratic legislation in the new era, connecting the highest national legislative body with ordinary citizens, and becoming an important platform for developing the whole-process people's democracy.
In November 2019, Chinese President Xi Jinping visited the Gubei Civic Center while a consultation meeting on a draft law was underway. Xi talked to both the Chinese and foreign residents attending the meeting, and for the first time made the remark that "people's democracy is a type of whole-process democracy."
In the Volume 4 of the book Xi Jinping: The Governance of China, Xi also stressed that whole-process people's democracy in China is a complete system with supporting mechanism and procedures, and fully-fledged civil participation. "Democracy is not an ornament to be put on display, but an instrument for addressing the issues that concern the people. Whether a country is democratic depends on whether its people are truly the masters of the country."
The legislative outreach office at Hongqiao stands as one of the best illustrations of this remark. Over the years, local residents have contributed suggestions on China's major laws such as the Civil Code, the anti-domestic violence law, and Maritime Law. Through the small outreach office where Wu worked, ordinary citizens' opinions flowed into the "vast ocean" of national legislation.
Journey of 'co-governance' in Gubei community
At the end of 2024, something "new" happened in Hongqiao subdistrict's Gubei community. The bell, silent for over two decades, rang out once again in the revitalized Vanke Plaza at the community. Smart streetlights there illuminated the ground brightly, permeable paving bricks lay smooth and even, and children laughed and played on the wide circular running track.
However, this ordinary scene was "new" to local residents, as not long before, the plaza and its surroundings had looked entirely different: the pavement was pothole-ridden, with pedestrians occasionally tripping. Streetlights flickered intermittently, and compared to the vibrant bustle of surrounding skyscrapers, the area appeared dilapidated.
How to address these issues?
The Hongqiao subdistrict authority did not resort to making arbitrary decisions. Instead, it placed the key to solving problems in the hands of the people there. A "co-governance committee" was then formed, composed of local residents, merchants, property managers, and experts in legal and some other fields.
Wu, as a "legal advisor" of the committee, was fully involved in this "co-governance" initiative.
Wu and other members combed through each issue one by one and solved them one by one. There was a lively exchange of ideas, with repeated discussions and consultations. Eventually, they brought together opinions from all sides and found the "greatest common divisor" among the diverse demands -- to create a brand-new, landmark area that meets the needs of residents and tourists for leisure, shopping, sports, and etc.
This "co-governance committee," with no government participation, has incorporated democratic procedures into every aspect: full consultation first, then voting, and finally extensively soliciting opinions. Nowadays, the committee has evolved from its initial role as a "renovation task force" to a "standing governance body," frequently organizing community activities and turning the square into a beloved "living salon" for all residents there.
The transformation of Vanke Plaza from a shabby landmark to a space brimming with happiness has witnessed the steps of Hongqiao subdistrict in practicing whole-process people's democracy.
International resonance of democratic practices
As one of the first grassroots legislative outreach offices in China, the Hongqiao office has a unique "secret weapon" - a "one-body and two-wings" structure. The 420 legislative coordinators, like feelers, reach into every nook and cranny of the streets and alleys to collect the thoughts of the people; the 15 advisory units and the 15 expert talent pools provide strong backing with their professional support. Through this structure, the Hongqiao office conveys public opinion from the streets directly to the national legislative body.
The "no-threshold participation" mechanism also breaks geographical and identity barriers. Wu recalled that in the winter of 2022, when the renovation project of Huangjincheng block in Hongqiao subdistrict was seeking opinion, residents from different countries actively participated in contributing their wisdom.
Now, the grassroots legislative outreach office in Hongqiao subdistrict has become a window for international friends to further learn about Chinese democracy. In recent months, it received visitors from many countries including South Korea, Cambodia, Japan, Peru, and Spain.
According to Yu, many foreign visitors were deeply attracted by the operational model of the Hongqiao office and, were particularly curious about the mechanism for Chinese citizens to directly participate in national legislation.
They expressed admiration after learning about its operational model, Yu said. "They told me that it fully demonstrates the openness and democratic nature of Chinese legislation, and it also reflects China's institutional confidence in its democracy."
In Wu's view, over the years, an increasing number of people are willing to share their thoughts on legislation at the small office. At the same time, the legal and democratic consciousness of local residents is growing, who are becoming more adept at using the law to protect their rights and interests.
"Has the renovation of residential community been carried out according to legal procedures? Are the elevator installations compliant, and will they affect the building structure or the interests of other residents? Are the procedures of tree transplants in the neighborhood appropriate and complete? These details, which were not widely concerned about before, have now become the focus of attention for the residents. For the local government, this is both a challenge and a great opportunity to improve its governance capacity," Wu told the Global Times.
This year, under integrated development of Yangtze River Delta, the Hongqiao office aims to expand its "legislative friendship circle" by collaborating with other grassroots legislative offices in this region. And the outreach office, as well as those who contribute their efforts in it, will always remain true to their original aspiration, just like the eight-character phrase on a wall of the Hongqiao office that reads, "Open the door for the legislation, consult people on the governance."
