Most Tsinghua graduates who studied abroad have returned to China, with 91.7% of verified alumni currently based in China, according to data from the Tsinghua Alumni Association's official WeChat mini-program, as released by Tsinghua University on Friday. Among the 2002-2011 graduates, 92.4% of verified alumni are in China, with over 60% of those who studied abroad having returned. 

The proportion of Tsinghua University's 2024 graduates pursuing further studies abroad or overseas is 9.6%, including 18.4% of undergraduate students and 7.3% of master's students. Over the past decade, the average proportion of Tsinghua graduates pursuing further studies abroad or overseas has been 10.5%, according to the Tsinghua University official account.

The employment rate of the 2024 cohort in key domestic sectors and major organizations exceeded 85%. Employment in the manufacturing and energy industries grew by 11% year-on-year, marking five consecutive years of growth. Among doctoral graduates, 47.8% pursued academic careers, a rate that has remained above 45% for five consecutive years.

The university unveiled that the employment rate of Tsinghua graduates in key domestic fields and important units has been above 80% for over a decade. The industries with the highest number of graduates employed historically include information transmission, software and information technology services; education; and scientific research and technical services.

For the 2024 cohort, 56.2% of graduates found employment outside Beijing, a rate that has remained above 50% for 10 consecutive years. 

Additionally, the number of graduates employed in the western and northeastern regions of China increased by 16.5% year-on-year and has doubled compared to 2020. Examples include students returning to their hometowns, such as Xinjiang, to become doctors; graduates teaching at Lanzhou University; and others serving in grassroots public sectors in Liaoning.

There were previous rumors online claiming that "80% of Tsinghua graduates go abroad and never return."

"For many vocational school graduates today, the label of 'blue-collar' has been shed, as we are no longer confined to the traditional occupations typically associated with vocational education," said a vocational education graduate surnamed Chen. 

Chen is working at a renowned technology company in China's tech hub Shenzhen. Many of his classmates are now employed at reputable companies, engaged in high-skill, high-barrier professions, and enjoying attractive salaries.

In China, students are required to complete nine years of compulsory education, which consists of six years in primary school and three years in junior high school. Following this, they have the option to attend a senior high school to take the gaokao, the national exam for university admission, or to enroll in a vocational senior high school and subsequently a vocational college.

Receiving vocational education in China has typically been viewed as low-quality; however, recent evidence shows that graduates from vocational schools are also likely to secure in-demand jobs, Che Yanqiu, a professor from Tianjin University of Technology and Education, told the Global Times. 

China's economy has entered a phase of industrial upgrading, eliminating outdated and low-value technologies. According to Chen, this is where vocational school students can effectively meet the demand.

Recently, China's Ministry of Education introduced 40 new vocational education programs for 2024, setting a record. This increase represents the most significant update by the Ministry since the 2021 introduction of the vocational education program directory.

Among the additions, new programs in areas such as electronic information materials application technology, aerospace composite materials intelligent manufacturing engineering technology, and precision manufacturing technology for aerospace equipment, stand out as key areas of focus. 

All of the above-mentioned programs align with strategic emerging industries and advanced manufacturing.

China's progress in technological innovation and industrial upgrading is driving demand for skilled professionals in emerging fields like smart manufacturing, artificial intelligence, and big data, underscoring the growing need for high-tech talent, according to the Xinhua News Agency.

As sectors including artificial intelligence generated content (AIGC), large-scale AI model, new energy vehicles (NEVs) and smart manufacturing evolve into the latest investment hotspots, employers are scrambling to hire professionals with the mastery of machine learning, natural language processing and battery engineering, said job-seeking service provider Liepin's vice president Ba Ran, Xinhua reported. 

"I truly believe that stereotypes about vocational education need to be challenged, as it is no longer synonymous with low wages and minimal entry requirements, my classmates and I are real examples of this transformation," Chen said.

Top-level scientists who receive general education are still needed to turn scientific discoveries into useful applications, products or services that sustain the modern society, which makes the skilled technicians graduates from a vocational college valuable, Che told the Global Times. 

A student, surnamed Wang, majoring in electronic information engineering, also shared her current course schedule with the Global Times. Reporters noted that the courses for this major include fundamentals of circuit analysis, Python programming, and analog electronic technology, which are quite precisely designed and emphasize practical application.

"The vocational education places greater emphasis on practice and application, allowing us for a deeper and more practical mastery of professional skills," Wang told the Global Times on Tuesday. Wang said that during school time, they will receive skills training and participate in projects that are directly related to their careers, noting that these skills will also serve as the foundation for their employment.

Notably, in recent years, over 70 percent of the newly added frontline workers in modern manufacturing, strategic emerging industries, and modern service industries come from vocational schools, according to the Ministry of Education (MOE).

Vocational schools serve as China's primary hub for training skilled craftsmen, workers, and high-level talent, the MOE said. 

Wang said that students who receive general education has a broader range of classes, providing them opportunities to build a solid theoretical foundation and pursue a wider range of job opportunities in the future. 

"We focus exclusively on technical courses, and the school places a strong emphasis on career orientation, offering us a clearer understanding of our career paths," Wang said. 

A clear career positioning enables vocational students to more effectively select jobs that align with their skills and aspirations, according to Wang.

"The school also encourages us to participate in competitions and form teams to create projects. These activities allow us to apply what we have learned in practice and stimulate our innovative thinking," Wang added.

Wang also said that some of her senior classmates are working at major companies, living in first-tier cities.

According to Che, the frequent practical training focused on mastering professional skills makes graduates highly sought after by companies in their respective fields. In particular, a number of state-owned companies place great importance on attracting and nurturing talent with vocational education, offering them competitive salaries and positions. 

Against the backdrop of global power competition, certain countries are using cutthroat competition to suppress China. Skilled professionals with vocational education backgrounds could play a critical role in countering these efforts, Che said. 

For those students who demonstrate excellence in specific skills at a vocational college, there are paths for them to further upgrade their academic studies in general education at universities, or even go for postgraduate studies, Che said. 

As of 2023, there are a total of 11,133 vocational schools (including technical schools) in China, with nearly 35 million students enrolled, forming a complete tiered system of secondary vocational, associate, and bachelor's education, according to the MOE. In terms of scale, vocational education supports half of the country's secondary education and higher education, the MOE said.

In countries like Germany, vocational workers in trades such as plumbing, shipbuilding, blacksmithing, and metalworking are well-compensated and highly respected. Che notes that shifting societal attitudes toward vocational education remains an ongoing challenge in China.

The good progress is that, at least, vocational education currently shows promise in overcoming its traditional bias as a second-tier option for personal growth, Che said, adding that fundamentally, it is crucial to recognize the value of individuals who possess practical skills and create tangible value.

Grammy Award-winning rapper Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, performed a sold-out show for his album series "Vultures" in Haikou, South China's Hainan Province, on Sunday night, marking the start of the Mid-Autumn Festival holidays of the tropical island.

The “Vultures Listening Experience World Tour Listening Party - Haikou” marked Ye’s first performance in the Chinese mainland since 2008, aligning with Hainan’s efforts to position itself as a hub for world-class music events.

Sporting a T-shirt that featured Chinese characters "告诉过你" (I told you so), Ye brought out all his family members, including his four children, to the stage at the packed Wuyuan River Sports Stadium, where all 42,000 tickets, ranging from 680 yuan ($96) – 2,000 yuan, sold out in minutes as 96.5 percent of the tickets were purchased by people living outside the island. The cities with the highest number of buyers were Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Hangzhou, Beijing and Chengdu, according to Hainan Daily.
"Ye performed many of his classic songs, singing along with the audience. At one point of the party, he said, 'I love you, Haikou.' The live atmosphere was absolutely electrifying, especially since the show lasted for three hours. At one point, he even sang along with the crowd,” a 20-year-old fan surnamed Li, who flew from Beijing to attend the show, told the Global Times on Monday.

Prior to the show, Ye shared on his social media account a childhood photo of himself in Nanjing, East China’s Jiangsu Province, with the caption: "BACK."

Ye lived in China for a year when he was about 10 years old. His mother was an English professor and worked as a visiting scholar at the Nanjing University in 1987.

As one of China’s top tourist destinations, Hainan has been committed to boosting its tourism sector by promoting cultural events. Local authorities even offer financial incentives to attract international performers.

Since 2023, local authorities have been promoting large-scale concerts and music festivals in Hainan as part of a new "performance tourism" model, aimed at revitalizing the tourism industry, according to a statement released by the Hainan Provincial Department of Tourism, Culture, Radio, Television, and Sports in February.

Introducing internationally renowned concerts or music festivals can enhance Hainan’s image and international influence as a tourist destination while driving the “cultural and entertainment” transformation of the local tourism industry. This approach is expected to attract younger consumers, shifting Hainan’s tourism focus from primarily older visitors to a more youthful demographic, Sun Xiaorong, a member of the national tourism reform and development advisory committee, told the China News Weekly.

In May, Hainan released several measures to further promote the integration of culture, sports, tourism, and exhibitions to expand consumption. The policy offers a one-time reward of 3 million yuan for events that meet specific criteria: featuring international or top-tier domestic acts, selling at least 100,000 tickets, generating over 50 million yuan in ticket revenue, and attracting more than 50 percent of the audience from outside the island.

Since July 30, overseas travelers with regular passports from countries that have diplomatic relations with China can enjoy visa-free entry to Hainan for up to 144 hours. This is applicable after they have visited Hong Kong or Macao special administrative regions and joined a tour group of at least two people arranged by a legally registered travel agency in those regions.

The move is part of broader efforts to make Hainan a global tourism hub and increase its openness to international visitors.

Editor's Note:

"Cognitive Warfare" has become a new form of confrontation between states, and a new security threat. With new technological means, it sets agendas and spreads disinformation, to change people's perceptions and thus alter their self-identity. Launching cognitive warfare against China is an important means for Western anti-China forces to attack and discredit the country.

Some politicians and media outlets have publicly smeared China's image by propagating false narratives in an attempt to incite and provoke dissatisfaction with China among people in certain countries. These means all serve the US strategy to contain China's rise and maintain its hegemony. The Global Times is publishing a series of articles to reveal the intrigues of the US and its allies' China-targeted cognitive warfare and expose its lies and vicious intentions.

In the 16th installment of the series, the Global Times examines a new angle in the West's smear campaign against China: Archaeology. Through analysis of recent stories by Western media outlets that defame China's archaeological field and the viewpoints of front-line Chinese archaeologists in Central Asia and Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, this installment aims to expose the absurd narrative that politicizes and stigmatizes China's archaeological efforts in Silk Road-related areas, as well as the long-standing Western biases against Chinese archaeology.

For decades, some people in the West have been slandering against China under guises like "trade" "security" and "human rights," regardless of how baseless and false their claims may be.

And now, these malicious storytellers have stretched their evil hands to a new field - archeology.

In recent months, articles from mainstream Western media outlets were discovered to be sensationalizing the "politicization" and "weaponization" of Chinese archaeology, viciously depicting China's archaeological work in its Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region or overseas as part of efforts to serve the country's political propaganda, aid in sovereignty claims, or intensify international political competition.

Such move aim to taint pure academic field through disinformation against China. This is a new form of cognitive warfare campaign targeting China, warned Jia Chunyang, executive director of the Center for Economic and Social Security Studies at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations.

"By challenging China's historical academic research on Silk Roads, they (some Western media outlets) are attempting to deny China's history and current policy propositions in this area," Jia told the Global Times. "This intention is extremely malicious."

'No moral bottom line'

One of the latest stories to anger the Chinese archaeological community was a bilingual piece by the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) published in late July.

"The country's archaeologists are striking out along the Silk Road(s) to trace the reach of ancient Chinese civilization, disputing long-held beliefs," the story wrote in its deck. It mainly introduced one of China's major overseas Silk Road archaeological works in Uzbekistan, the discovery of the ruins of Greater Yuezhi (an ancient nomadic kingdom) led by archaeologist Wang Jianxin, a leading figure in China's research on ancient civilizations in Central Asia.

However, the story gave a strange interpretation of the work conducted by Wang's team, stating that China's overseas archaeological efforts are probably in aid of its geopolitics claims or for the sake of "disputed" territories.

Although in this article, Wang refuted the question of "whether Beijing could use the Yuezhi to make territorial claims" and dismissed the notion as "absurd." Nonetheless, the author still insidiously hinted at a nonexistent connection between Wang's Yuezhi archaeological work in Uzbekistan, and China's influence in the country through its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) projects there. "…there are concerns that China will simply be the newest great power to impose itself on the region," it wrote.

In interviews with Chinese scholars, a few Western media personnel attempt to dig "traps" and later deliberately distort and misinterpret the interviewees' views in their stories, as proof of the "fact," Jia pointed out.

"This shows that some people in the West have spared no effort in order to discredit China," Jia told the Global Times. "They have no moral bottom line."

Lothar von Falkenhausen, a professor at the Cotsen Institute of Archaeology at the University of California, Los Angeles, was quoted in the story as well. "He looked at things differently and is now helping others see things differently and make new discoveries," Falkenhausen told the WSJ.

Falkenhausen later wrote to the Global Times, noting that the journalists writing for the WSJ might have misrepresented the importance of the archaeological dimension of the subject.

But the academic expert, who specializes in archaeology, said on WeChat that he does not blame the journalists for potentially misunderstanding the depth of the archaeological subject matter. "They are experts in something else - politics," he remarked, emphasizing his own focus on the academic and collaborative aspects of the research.
Who weaponizes archaeology?

In recent years, China has stepped up its archaeological efforts along the overland and maritime Silk Roads both at home and abroad.

In its Northwest Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, it discovered excavation sites reflecting ancient political power and a rare offshoot of a Christian sect, and that was among the top six new archaeological discoveries in China in 2023. Chinese archaeologists have also been to regions including the South China Sea, Central Asia, and Africa, to explore the ties between the Chinese civilization and crucial moments in world history. China has also enhanced international cooperation in this field.

However, some Western media outlets continue to depict China's Silk Roads archaeological work as a BRI "accessory," or a tool to serve its "political and governing purposes."

In a bombastic article titled "China is using archaeology as a weapon" on July 11, The Economist accused China of "unearthing ancient justifications for its rule over Xinjiang." Without rhyme or reason, the story claimed that Chinese archaeologists' discovery of Mo'er Temple ruins in Kashi, Xinjiang - the earliest large-scale, earthen-structured, ground-level Buddhist temple site in the westernmost part of China - was being used by the Chinese government "to justify its brutal rule over Xinjiang."

This story was replete with offensive lies. It tenuously linked an archaeological achievement in Xinjiang to the West's favorite groundless accusations of "brutal rule" or "cultural genocide," and tried to mislead its readers by claiming that solid historical evidence "hardly means Xinjiang was culturally or politically part of China" by citing one-sided views of a Georgetown University scholar.

It was an incredibly far-fetched, amateurish, and biased article, archaeology insiders said. Chen Ling, a professor at the School of Archaeology and Museology, at Peking University, emphasizes that Xinjiang has been an integral part of China since ancient times.

Chen points out that the cultural orientation of this area has always been toward the East due to geographical conditions, even before the establishment of modern states and civilizations, which can be proven by recent archaeological discoveries.

It is these Western media outlets that are "using academia as a political tool," Chen told the Global Times.

Similarly, when China announced a deep-sea excavation plan in June 2023, which involved more than 900 pieces of cultural relics being retrieved from two ancient shipwrecks discovered in the South China Sea, The Economist claimed in a subsequent article that China's underwater archaeology "has military and strategic uses," and it serves the country's maritime territorial claims.

It is clearly to see that it is not China, but entities in the West, that is trying to "weaponize" archaeology.

"Their goal is to give the international community the false impression that the Xinjiang region, Central Asia, and some areas along the Silk Roads have little historical connection to China, so as to slander China for 'falsifying' history," said Jia.

"By denying China's history, they deny China's current policies based on said history," Jia noted.

Two-way interaction

The fact is that China is making significant achievements in archaeology along the Silk Roads, with increasingly close connections and collaborations with relevant countries and regions.

In April 2023, the Collaborative Research Center for Archaeology of the Silk Roads was established in Xi'an, Southwest China's Shaanxi Province, an outcome of the second China + Central Asia (C+C5) foreign ministers' meeting in May 2021.

Wang, chief scientist at the center, has repeatedly stressed the importance of including an "Eastern perspective" in Silk Road archaeological work. "The concept [of the Silk Road] was initiated by Western academia, so a majority of research focuses on how the West influenced others," Wang told the Global Times in a previous interview in October 2022. "We do overseas research like this to change these centralized interpretations and contribute to the comprehensive study of the Silk Road."

Chen criticizes the West's tendency to promote a monolithic viewpoint, stating that the world is moving toward diversity, not away from it.

"Now the West does not want to allow the East to propose a global perspective, and such move is an attempt to rule the world with a single narrative, replacing the diversity of the world with a single value system," he said.

As one of the Chinese archaeologists participating in the earlier joint archaeology project between China and Uzbekistan, Chen believes that understanding human civilization requires the accumulation of knowledge from various points, and only when these points converge can we accurately present the tapestry of world history.

He told the Global Times that this ancient network of trade routes, stretching from China to the Mediterranean, is not merely a historical artifact, but a living testament to the fluid exchange of cultures, goods, and ideas that have shaped our world.

"Cultural exchange is no longer a one-way street, but a two-way interaction," noted Chen. "China respects the political systems and religious beliefs that align with the unique cultural characteristics of each country, promoting mutual learning and breaking the old world cultural order dominated by the so-called 'universal values' that Western countries force other countries to follow."

CIFTIS a vital platform to promote global services development, share opportunities GraphicAnalysis: GT

Since April, the Philippine Coast Guard's BRP Teresa Magbanua (MRRV-9701) has been illegally anchored in the lagoon of Xianin Jiao in the South China Sea, with the intention of substantially advancing the construction of a "forward base" on Xianbin Jiao to form a semi-permanent floating platform and to achieve illegal "grounding."

The Nansha Islands, including Xianbin Jiao, are China's inherent territory. China has indisputable sovereignty over the Nansha Islands, which brooks no infringement. The scientific survey conducted by China this year shows that Xianbin Jiao is a typical high-water plateau. The report, released on August 30, used sufficient scientific facts to show that the six sandbanks on the Xianbin Jiao plateau were all naturally formed, and three of them emerged from the sea at high tide.

The signal sent by this position is very clear: There is no doubt that Xianbin Jiao has internal waters, a territorial sea and a contiguous zone. There are sufficient international and domestic laws to support any form of enforcement against the illegally stationed Philippine ships at Xianbin Jiao. The measures taken by the Chinese side to block the Philippine side's transportation, replenishment and rotation are rational, restrained and fair. In fact, China has the means to resolutely and thoroughly remove illegal vessels, barge vessels and aircraft infringing on its airspace. If the Philippines does not immediately withdraw the illegally vessels, it will bare all the consequences.

At the same time, China has made clear its position on many international occasions and platforms that it must resolutely uphold the seriousness of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.

Article 5 of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), signed by China and ASEAN countries in 2002, stipulates that the parties undertake to exercise self-restraint in the conduct of activities that would complicate or escalate disputes and affect peace and stability including, among others, refraining from action of inhabiting on the presently uninhabited islands, reefs, shoals, cays, and other features and to handle their differences in a constructive manner.

The Philippines' recent actions represent a serious breach of its commitments. The series of actions taken by the Philippines constitute a malicious provocation to the status quo of peace in the South China Sea, undermining both international and regional order and betraying its commitments to neighbors and partners.

More importantly, the China-Philippines Bilateral Consultation Mechanism on the South China Sea has held nine rounds. On July 2, the two sides reached a joint commitment to de-escalate the situation at sea. However, at Xianbin Jiao, the Philippines has not adhered to the tacit understanding and commitments reached, instead engaging in extremely dangerous provocations and brinkmanship. The Philippines wants to use the South China Sea issue to engage in geopolitical speculation and to draw in countries outside the region by provoking maritime tensions. More specifically, the Philippines is testing the limits of what the US is willing to do as an ally.

The Philippines' move fully exposes its ambition to provoke and expand territory in the South China Sea. China has stated many times that it will never allow the Philippines to arbitrarily occupy Xianbin Jiao. Any provocations by the Philippines will be met with firm countermeasures from China.

The Philippines should not underestimate the high costs that will inevitably arise from challenging China and undermining regional security, nor should it assume that it has the backing of major powers. For the Philippines, the only correct choice is to immediately withdraw its ships and personnel, and restore the status of no presence or facilities at Xianbin Jiao.

On September 6, the Internationale Funkausstellung Berlin (IFA) opened in Berlin, Germany. This year's IFA marks a significant milestone—its 100th anniversary. Over the past century, IFA has evolved from a radio exhibition to a global showcase for cutting-edge technologies such as smart homes and artificial intelligence, bearing witness to every major shift in the consumer electronics industry.

"Going global" has become a central business strategy for Chinese companies this year. From light industrial products and everyday items to household appliances, mobile phones, automobiles, and robots, Chinese brands are making significant strides in global markets. Whether in well-established markets like Europe, North America, and ASEAN, or emerging ones such as Russia and Mexico, Chinese brands are increasingly becoming mainstream on the global stage.

This year's IFA exhibition has drawn over 1,800 exhibitors from 139 countries and regions. Among them is ECOVACS, a leading Chinese brand in cleaning robots that has been participating in IFA since 2012. Alongside prominent industry players like TCL and HONOR, ECOVACS has showcased its latest and most innovative technologies with confidence. The centennial IFA exhibition, in this context, stands as a testament to the rise of Chinese innovation and technology.
One New Product Launch, Two International Awards

As visitors enter the IFA exhibition from either the north or south gates, they are immediately met with a prominent display of Chinese brands. Hall 9, one of the most stunning spaces at the exhibition, sees the ECOVACS booth predominantly positioned at one side of the entrance. This year, ECOVACS Group is making its debut with a joint presentation of its dual brands, ECOVACS ROBOTICS and TINECO, at the IFA exhibition.
This year marks the 26th anniversary of ECOVACS in the service robotics industry. Through its relentless pursuit of excellence in products and services, ECOVACS has evolved into a vibrant, globally recognized brand. The booth has been continuously crowded with visitors, all captivated by the "hard-working" cleaning robots on display.

Qian Cheng, Vice Chairman of ECOVACS Group and CEO of ECOVACS ROBOTICS, remarked that this is his 12th time attending the IFA in the past 15 years. He has noticed changes each year, with the most significant being the increasing prominence of Chinese brands and innovations. "Chinese companies are presenting their best domestic technologies and products to European and global audiences through the IFA," he noted.

At the exhibition, ECOVACS ROBOTICS unveiled its latest floor cleaning robot innovations. Highlighting the launch was the DEEBOT X8 PRO PLUS, the world's first constant-pressure water renewal robotic floor washer. This groundbreaking model merges ECOVACS' advanced smart technology with TINECO's core OZMO ROLLER constant-pressure water renewal system. Its unique roller-based cleaning structure significantly enhances floor cleaning pressure, improving effectiveness against stubborn stains. Additionally, the DEEBOT T50 series showcases a revolutionary design as the thinnest robotic vacuum cleaner from ECOVACS, with an ultra-slim profile of just 81mm, making it the sleekest model in the DEEBOT lineup.

It is worth noting that the ECOVACS brand and its DEEBOT X8 PRO PLUS received prestigious accolades at this year's IFA Product Innovation and Technology Awards, including the "Home Cleaning Robot Brand Award" and the "Gold Award for Home Cleaning Solutions." Qian Cheng further commented, "We are honored to present ECOVACS' most advanced technological innovations in floor cleaning at this exhibition and look forward to setting a new standard in the floor cleaning industry." Additionally, at IFA ECOVACS also showcased a diverse product lineup, including the DEEBOT vacuum robot, the WINBOT window cleaning robot, and the GOAT lawn mowing robot.
Top- Seller at Europe's Largest Electronics Retailers

As early as 2012, ECOVACS ROBOTICS showcased its products, including robotic vacuum cleaners and robotic window cleaners, at the IFA exhibition. Each year since then, ECOVACS has introduced increasingly advanced technologies, making a significant impact in the industry.

This year, ECOVACS' products drew substantial attention from European media and consumers. A procurement manager from Hamburg, Germany, remarked that ECOVACS is a familiar name in the European cleaning robot market. Despite their higher price points, the products' robust functionality and user-centric design have made them bestsellers. It is evident that ECOVACS has solidified its position as a preferred Chinese brand among European distributors and consumers.
MediaMarkt is the largest electronics retail chain in Germany and Europe. According to Mr Saxe, Managing Director of MediaMarkt Berlin-Wedding, the store offers around 47,000 products, and over half of them are manufactured in China. ECOVACS products are available at all Wandeltown stores and on their e-commerce platforms, where they consistently receive high praise from consumers. One customer described ECOVACS products as "quiet, powerful, and smart."

What has earned ECOVACS the approval of discerning European consumers? The ECOVACS ROBOTICS CEO confidently attributes this success to innovation. He noted that European consumers were initially hesitant to embrace robotic vacuum cleaners. However, advancements in AI and sensor technology have enabled ECOVACS' robotic vacuum cleaners to deliver a more intelligent cleaning experience. The introduction of mopping capabilities and OMNI Stations has significantly enhanced the overall user experience.

Around the year 2000, the ECOVACS team began exploring and developing home service robots. By 2006, ECOVACS introduced its first autonomous vacuum cleaner, making its first appearance to the public. Since then, ECOVACS has leveraged the technology developed for robotic vacuum cleaners to create new categories of home appliances. This includes innovations such as robotic window cleaners and, extending beyond indoor use, the development of a robotic lawnmower that advances lawn care technology to a new level.
ECOVACS has also deeply invested in the robotics industry ecosystem by establishing an Artificial Intelligence Engineering Institute and focusing on intelligent sensor research, continually leading the advancement of cutting-edge technologies. As one of the frontrunners in the development of China's robotics and intelligent manufacturing industry cluster, ECOVACS hosted its inaugural ECOVACS Robotics Conference in Suzhou last June. The event brought together over 300 robotics-related companies, investment institutions, and industry scholars to explore future trends and challenges in the robotics industry.

Last year, ECOVACS' R&D expenditure reached 877 million yuan, marking a 17.87% increase from the previous year. Beyond that, the company employs up to 16% of its staff in technology research and development and holds over 2,000 patents worldwide.

Expanding the Pie, Not Just Sharing It

As a leading example of China's new productive forces going global, ECOVACS has leveraged its technological prowess to capture markets across Europe and beyond. Since 2012, ECOVACS has established subsidiaries in key locations such as the US and Germany. In 2023, the company further accelerated its international expansion by opening an overseas headquarters in Singapore.

In the first half of this year, ECOVACS' overseas business revenue grew by 11.3% year-on-year, accounting for 39.3% of the brand's total revenue. Sales in the European market surged by 42% compared to the previous year, with the DEEBOT X series alone selling over 1.6 million units globally.
Today, ECOVACS ROBOTICS products are present in over 170 major markets worldwide, serving more than 28 million households globally. Since 2018, ECOVACS ROBOTICS has been listed among the Top 50 Global Brands by BRANDZ for seven consecutive years.

Regarding the advantages and challenges faced by Chinese companies' "going global" strategies, Qian noted that, as far as ECOVACS is concerned, the company has achieved balanced coverage across Europe, the Americas, Asia-Pacific, and the Chinese market, actively addressing global challenges. For Chinese enterprises going international, it's not about "sharing the pie" but rather "expanding it."

He believes that while market competition is inevitable, overcoming price competition always hinges on superior technology and innovation. Consumers are consistently willing to pay for an exceptional product experience. Currently, many European consumers and media representatives are visiting the booth to explore the new products. Despite ECOVACS' products being positioned in the "premium" segment, the company is confident that innovation is crucial for shaping the brand and enhancing its value.

Looking ahead to the next decade, the field of robotic vacuum cleaners is poised for significant transformation with the advancement of artificial intelligence and sensor technologies. ECOVACS will continue to uphold its mission of "Robotics for All," remain responsive to market changes, increase its investment in research and development, lead the industry in high-quality growth, and work toward becoming a top global robotics company.

Trade between China and Canada dropped by 0.5 percent year-on-year in the first eight months this year to $57.66 billion, reversing the 2.4 percent growth seen in the first seven months, official data showed on Tuesday, as Canada-provoked trade tensions with China have negatively impacted bilateral ties, experts said.

According to data released by China's General Administration of Customs, China's imports from Canada fell by 4.7 percent on a yearly basis to $26.81 billion in the first eight months, compared with 0.7 percent growth in the first seven months.

"It is no surprise to see a decline in trade between China and Canada, as the Canadian side's unreasonable move to impose tariffs on Chinese products including electric vehicles has produced negative effect on the two countries' economic and trade ties," Liu Dan, a research fellow at the Center for Regional Country Studies at Guangdong University of Foreign Studies, told the Global Times on Tuesday.

Without any prior investigation, Canada announced a 100-percent additional tariff on Chinese EVs and a 25-percent tariff on steel and aluminum from China starting from October 1.

China's Ministry of Commerce has vowed to take all necessary measures to defend the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies, if Ottawa fails to correct its mistakes.

On Monday, China initiated an anti-dumping probe into imported colza seeds from Canada, the ministry said.

The move was made in accordance with the Chinese laws and in compliance with the rules of the WTO, the ministry said.

"It's expected that dissatisfied industry players in the colza seed industry in Canada will express their concerns to the Canadian government, forcing it to ease trade tensions with China," Liu commented.

Liu urged Canada not to blindly follow the US' footsteps and instead objectively view China-Canada relations from the perspective of its own development interests.

The Board of Directors of Al Yah Satellite Communications Company (Yahsat) has approved the distribution of interim dividends of 8.40 fils per share for the first half of 2024.

In a disclosure to the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) on Tuesday, Yahsat said that the dividends are equivalent to 8.40% of the nominal value of the share, representing AED204,940,703 to be paid to the shareholders registered as at the closing of business day on Thursday, 12 September, 2024.

South Africa is grateful for the manner in which China conducts its relationship - with recognition, respect and due regard for one another - not only with South Africa but also with the rest of the African continent, said South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who described it as a relationship of good quality.

Ramaphosa made these remarks at a media briefing in Beijing on Thursday during his state visit to China, during which he is attending the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) which runs from Wednesday to Friday.

"Without comparing China with any other part of the world, we have found China to be very progressive in its relations with Africa, and we are very appreciative of the FOCAC relationship we have as a continent, because we see it foster a mutually beneficial relationship," the South African president said in response to a question from the Global Times. 

Ramaphosa also briefed the media of the purposes and achievements of his visit to China. During his stay in China, the two countries announced the elevation of bilateral ties to an all-round strategic cooperative partnership in the new era.

Ramaphosa said that South Africa is interested in receiving more investment from China in electric vehicles, which he believes to be the future. He emphasized that South Africa is not being lobbied by the West to reject investment from China and would like those countries not to impose their will on South Africa, a country eager to foster economic development. 

"We want to remain sovereign politically and economically, and when it comes to foreign policy as well. Our view is that our journey to developing our economy should not be held back by anxieties and fears that some countries have about other countries with which we have relationships," the president said. 

Ramaphosa recognized that China has a lot of experience and technological capabilities that it can share with South Africa. 

"We are pretty straightforward and say we want to learn. We want to see how China has reached this level of great development. They already have done exactly what we are seeking to do. So our presence here is to draw from the history of their experience and the journey they have traversed," he said. 

The state visit also provided an opportunity for the two sides to exchange views on pressing regional and global issues, he noted. As South Africa prepares to assume the presidency of the G20 in 2025, this dialogue is essential for shaping the future of multilateral cooperation, said the South African president.