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Wednesday, August 13, 2025

Polaris of Enlightenment

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https://nordictimes.com/debate/strengthening-china-sweden-scientific-technological-and-innovative-cooperation/

Debate

“Strengthening China-Sweden scientific, technological and innovative cooperation”

The modern China

Sweden and China have a common tradition of scientific and technological innovation and should work together to promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, writes China's Ambassador to Sweden, Cui Aimin.

Published 11 January 2024
Chinese Ambassador to Sweden, Cui Aimin.
6 minute read
This is an opinion piece. The author is responsible for the views expressed in the article.

Recently I read a story about a Nobel laureate introducing a special map of innovation. Each time after he’s done with his scientific research, he’d show gratitude to all the team members from the laboratory, sometimes not only by announcing their names, but also taking out a world map and pinning their birthplaces on it. He exclaims over the spectacular map, which reflects the geographical diversity of the team members who come from Asia, Europe and the Americas, and they’ve also been trying to include more members from Africa and South America.

This story shows that science knows no borders. Scientific research is increasingly relying on big teams, big data, big devices and big collaboration. Major scientific and technological innovations are never created by one country or individual team alone, but are the result of large-scale international cooperation.

China and Sweden have something in common regarding innovation. China has a tradition of innovation since ancient times. The inscription on the bathtub of ancient King Tang of Shang Dynasty from 1600 BC says 苟日新，日日新，又日新, meaning to pursue new development, new changes and strive to innovate every day. Ancient China gave rise to the world-famous Four Great Inventions, including paper-making, the compass, gunpowder and printing, which have propelled the progress of human civilization.

China and Sweden have something in common regarding innovation.

China has an inexhaustible driving force to pursue scientific and technological progress. In recent decades, China has succeded in innovation by “leapfrogging”, entered the ranks of innovative countries and become an important participant of international cutting-edge innovation and a significant contributor to the solutions of global issues. China ranked 12th on the Global Innovation Index in 2023, climbing more than 20 places in the past decade. China published 24.6% of the global total scientific research papers and the number of valid invention patents in China has reached 4.805 million, both ranking the first in the world.

In quantum information, stem cells, brain-like chips and other frontier directions, China has made a number of major original achievements with international influence. A number of major scientific and technological infrastructure facilities with world-class standards, such as the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Telescope (FAST) and the China Spallation Neutron Source have been completed and played an important role. Scientific and technological innovation has injected strong vitality into China’s modern industrial system. China’s domestically-developed large passenger aircraft was put into market operation, and a 600kph maglev test vehicle rolled off the assembly line, setting an international benchmark for high-speed rail construction.

Sweden has always attached importance to innovation and respected innovation and is the world’s leading country in scientific and technological innovation, ranking very high on the Global Innovation Index and the EU innovation Scoreboard for years and leading in sustainable development, life sciences, advanced manufacturing and other fields in the world. Swedish inventions have had a profound impact on the world. Zippers, Celsius thermometers, Bluetooth technology, Tetra Pak packaging are facilitating our lives. Gamma Knife, cardiac pacemaker, artificial kidneys and echocardiography are providing treatments to countless patients.

Swedish inventions have had a profound impact on the world.

Sweden was the first country to carry out environmental protection, and also the first to introduce the concept of sustainable development. Fossil-free steel, hydrogen fuel cell trucks, waste recycling and re-usage, renewable energy and other leading environmental products and technologies contribute to the sustainable development process. Large-scale scientific research infrastructure such as the MAX IV Laboratory and the European Spallation Source, which Sweden has participated in, have provided an important platform for groundbreaking and innovative research across fields and borders.

Over the past decade, scientific and technological innovation cooperation between Sweden and China has grown rapidly, and China has become one of Sweden’s most important partners in scientific research. The practical outcomes can be seen in various fields. At the outbreak of covid-19, 50 experts from both countries quickly formed a joint research and treatment team to conduct international multi-center joint research, and the clinical research results were proved effective. Leading institutes of life sciences of the two countries have continued to deepen cooperation in clinical treatment and disease research, and expressed their willingness to jointly address global health challenges and make greater contributions to the development of global health.

Universities and research institutions of the two sides have actively carried out cooperation and personnel exchanges in the fields of natural science, engineering and technology, especially green environmental protection, smart cities and clean energy. In recent years, the number of papers jointly published by the two sides has doubled with the impact factor also higher. A number of joint research and development technologies have been among the world’s leading level. New solar energy storage and power generation system jointly developed by China and Sweden can convert solar energy into electricity with a storage time of up to 18 years. China is one of the key partners of Swedish research funding institutions. The science funds of the two countries have actively deepened policy dialogue and exchanges to jointly promote the research and development of high-quality scientific and technological innovation results.

China is one of the key partners of Swedish research funding institutions.

The cooperation in scientific and technological industries between the two countries continues to expand and unleash new vitality, making contributions to the global reduction of carbon emission and promoting sustainable development. Atlas Copco, AstraZeneca, Scania trucks, Sandvik and other large Swedish technological manufacturing enterprises have invested in setting up factories and R&D centers in China. A series of investment and cooperation projects have successfully landed in the fields of automobile manufacturing, energy conservation and environmental protection, smart cities etc. Sweden’s leading enterprises in new energy and new materials have accelerated their convergence with Chinese enterprises. A burgeoning round of scientific and technological cooperation in clean energy has taken place. The first Eco City project of China-Sweden Hammarby Eco City Alliance, covering an area of 670,000 square meters, was established in Yantai, which received wide recognition from the market.

Recently, China has released the Global AI Governance Initiative, proposing a people-centered and “AI for Good” approach, upholding the principles of mutual respect, equality, and mutual benefit in AI development, building consensus through dialogue and cooperation, developing open, fair, and efficient governing mechanisms, in a bid to promote AI technologies to benefit humanity. Not long ago, China proposed the International Science and Technology Cooperation Initiative for the first time, calling for advocating and practicing the concept of open, fair, just and non-discriminatory international cooperation in science and technology, adhering to the principle that “science knows no borders and benefits all mankind”, enhancing international cooperation, openness and sharing, and to jointly build a global science and technology community.

Sweden also attaches great importance to international scientific and technological cooperation, continuously enhancing the level of internationalization of scientific research and encouraging researchers to engage in international exchange, responding to global challenges and economic and social development demands with high-level scientific research outcomes. The wish to expand international cooperation in science and technology and the notion to promote the common well-being of the two peoples and all mankind through scientific and technological innovation of China and Sweden coincide with each other.

Chinese president Xi Jinping (then vice president) visiting Hammarby Sjöstad “eco city” in Stockholm in 2010. Photo: CHINA-SWEDEN Hammarby Eco City Alliance

In my communication with researchers, students, scholars and entrepreneurs from both China and Sweden, I have heard many stories of cooperation, development and friendship. Researchers of the two countries believe that the joint research has complementary advantages and has been pleasant, having raised the level of innovation of the two countries, promoted sustainable economic and social development, and contributed to addressing the common challenges of mankind. In order to thank the Swedish mentors for decades of education and cultivation, Chinese researchers have produced a beautiful commemorative book with photos documenting the efforts of researchers of the two countries to work together to overcome difficulties and jointly develop world-leading technologies.

Partners of scientific and technological enterprises of the two countries said that the two sides are highly complementary in research and development, and the exchange and cooperation would effectively promote the development of industrial technology and enhance the global competitiveness of enterprises. Some Swedish entrepreneurs who have set up factories in China have praised China’s excellent environment for innovation and entrepreneurship and advanced R & D and manufacturing, and are full of confidence in the development of their enterprises in China.

Scientific and technological innovation is an important engine for human development, and international cooperation has become a must to promote it. China is committed to expanding high-level opening-up, promoting international scientific and technological exchanges and cooperation with a more open mind and measures, sharing scientific and technological innovation achievements with other countries, and promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. I hope that more Chinese and Swedish researchers, experts, scholars, businessmen and entrepreneurs will make friends and become partners, promote, participate in and lead the innovation cooperation between the two countries, and jointly develop the rich mine of “innovation”, create more practical results and enhance the common well-being of mankind.

 

Cui Aimin, China’s Ambassador to Sweden

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https://nordictimes.com/world/china-introduces-national-child-allowances-to-reverse-demographic-decline/

World

China introduces national child allowances to reverse demographic decline

The modern China

Published 29 July 2025
– By Editorial Staff
Many local Chinese authorities, such as Hohhot, the capital of Inner Mongolia, have already introduced their own child allowances to encourage childbearing.
3 minute read
Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

China is implementing its largest-ever initiative to increase the country’s declining birth rate by offering all parents national child allowances. Each child under three years old entitles parents to approximately €500 annually in state support.

The Chinese government presented a comprehensive reform on Monday where parents will annually receive about $500 per child under three years old, equivalent to approximately €500. The decision comes as a direct response to the country’s serious demographic crisis where the population has declined for three consecutive years, reports AFP according to France 24.

According to UN population projections, China risks seeing its population drop from today’s 1.4 billion inhabitants to 800 million by 2100. Last year, only 9.54 million children were born in the country – half as many as in 2016, the year when the controversial one-child policy was abolished after more than three decades.

“This is a major nationwide policy aimed at improving public wellbeing”, reported the state television channel CCTV. The support applies retroactively from January 1 this year and is based on a decision from the ruling Communist Party and the State Council.

Parents welcome initiative but want more

In Beijing, parents have received the news positively, but many believe significantly more is needed for them to consider having more children.

— For young couples who just got married and already have a baby, it might actually encourage them to consider having a second child, says Wang Xue, who is mother to a nine-year-old son.

— The subsidy does help ease their burdens… and also offers some psychological comfort, Wang continues.

The 36-year-old mother emphasizes, however, that the new measures are not enough to convince her to have another child.

— Having one child is manageable, but if I had two, I might feel a bit of financial pressure, she says.

Zhang Wei, a 34-year-old father of a daughter and a son, calls the new allowances “a good start” as the costs of raising children continue to rise.

— Compared to our generation, the costs have definitely increased exponentially, he notes.

Analysts: Right direction but insufficient

Economic experts believe the allowances are a step in the right direction but warn that the measures alone will not reverse population decline or stimulate domestic consumption.

— It is encouraging that the government finally moved to use fiscal subsidies to boost fertility, says Zhiwei Zhang, CEO and chief economist at Pinpoint Asset Management.

Zichun Huang, China economist at Capital Economics, describes the policy as a “major milestone” regarding direct payments to households and believes it could lay the foundation for more tax transfers in the future. He notes, however, that the amounts are too small to have “any short-term impact on birth rates or consumption.”

Local initiatives already in place

Many local authorities have already introduced their own child allowances to encourage childbearing. In March, Hohhot, the capital of Inner Mongolia, began offering residents up to 100,000 yuan (€12,000) per newborn child for couples with three or more children. First and second children entitle parents to 10,000 and 50,000 yuan in allowances respectively.

In Shenyang, in northeastern Liaoning province, families who have a third child receive 500 yuan per month until the child turns three. More than 20 provincial authorities now offer various forms of child allowances according to official statistics.

Prime Minister Li Qiang promised to provide national child allowances during the government’s annual work report in March.

Aging population creates concern

China’s shrinking population is also aging rapidly, raising concerns about the country’s future pension system. In 2024, there were nearly 310 million inhabitants who were 60 years or older.

The country also lost its position as the world’s most populous nation to India in 2023, after the population decreased by 1.39 million last year. Low marriage rates and young couples’ concerns about high child-rearing costs and career impact contribute to the continued decline in the number of births.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

https://nordictimes.com/economy/chinas-economy-grows-faster-than-expected-despite-trade-war/

Economy

China’s economy grows faster than expected despite trade war

The modern China

Published 16 July 2025
– By Editorial Staff
The Bund's historic waterfront promenade in Shanghai — once the heart of international trade and finance in Asia — still bears witness today to the city's unique role as China's open port to the world and center for global business exchange along the bustling waters of the Huangpu River.
2 minute read
Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

The world’s second-largest economy grew by 5.2 percent in the second quarter and is on track to meet this year’s growth target. Exports and investments are driving growth while domestic demand remains weak.

China’s economy grew by 5.2 percent in the second quarter compared to the same period last year, which was slightly better than the 5.1 percent that economists had predicted. The growth means the country is on track to meet its full-year target of around 5 percent, despite ongoing trade tensions with the United States, reports Financial Times.

Exports sustain growth

The results show how China has managed to keep its economy on track through strong exports and investments, even though demand in the domestic market is weak. Industrial production increased by 6.8 percent in June, significantly more than analysts’ forecast of 5.7 percent.

– Manufacturing and high-tech industries are leading industrial growth, with standout gains in, for example, robotics, new energy vehicles and equipment, says Yuhan Zhang, chief economist at The Conference Board’s China Center.

Retail sales, however, grew only 4.8 percent in June, which was lower than expected and a decline from the previous month’s 6.5 percent.

Challenges ahead

Economists warn that the second half of the year could be more challenging. Shuang Ding, chief economist for China at Standard Chartered, points out that first-half growth has benefited from companies rushing to export ahead of potential US tariffs.

– Higher tariffs will take a toll on China’s exports, says Ding.

The real estate sector continues to drag down growth, with new housing prices falling 3.7 percent compared to the previous year. Economists are also concerned that overproduction combined with weak demand is driving deflationary pressure.

– China is likely to need more policy stimulus as well as structural reform measures in the second half of 2025 to bolster the economy’s performance and make growth more balanced, says Eswar Prasad, economics professor at Cornell University.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

https://nordictimes.com/debate/strengthening-dialogue-among-civilizations-and-creating-a-better-future-together/

Debate

“Strengthening dialogue among civilizations and creating a better future together”

The modern China

History has repeatedly shown that openness fosters mutual understanding, and exchanges deepen mutual trust. The Chinese and Swedish peoples share a deep consensus on this, writes China's Ambassador to Sweden, Cui Aimin.

Published 19 June 2025
For Aimin, dialogue is the key to advancing human civilization and building a shared future.
4 minute read
This is an opinion piece. The author is responsible for the views expressed in the article.

On June 10, we celebrated the first International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations of the United Nations. This commemorative day, jointly initiated by China and over 80 countries, carries the common expectations of the international community for peace, development and friendship. It also marks a new starting point for different civilizations in the world to jointly meet challenges and embrace a better future. Dialogue among civilizations is a good way to resolve differences, mutual learning among civilizations is the source of human progress, and inter-civilizational exchanges can provide a continuous flow of fresh ideas and strong impetus for China-Sweden friendly cooperation.

Dialogue among civilizations: The “golden key” to meeting the challenges of the times

At present, the international landscape is undergoing profound changes, marked by intertwined crises and risks, along with increasing deficit in peace, development, security and governance. Against this backdrop, Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed the Global Civilization Initiative in 2023, which has received broad support from many countries and injected strong momentum into the modernization of human society and the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. In 2024, the 78th UN General Assembly unanimously adopted the resolution to establish the International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations, which reflects the universal aspiration of people of all countries to foster dialogue among civilizations and advance human progress. It also makes important contributions to enhancing equal exchanges and dialogues among different civilizations and promoting world peace and development.

History has repeatedly shown that openness fosters mutual understanding, and exchanges deepen mutual trust. The Chinese and Swedish peoples share a deep consensus on this. Nobel’s belief of serving humanity as a citizen of the world and the statement from China’s Book of Rites, “A just cause should be pursued for the common good,” both embody the philosophy of transcending civilizational barriers and striving for harmonious coexistence. As we mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War and the founding of the United Nations, dialogue among civilizations holds even greater significance. Barriers and prejudices only exacerbate conflicts; only through inter-civilizational dialogue can we build a solid foundation for mutual trust and ensure common security.

Mutual learning among civilizations: The anchor of promoting China-Sweden cooperation

Human history is an epic of encounters, mutual learning, and symbiosis among different civilizations. Although China and Sweden are located at the opposite ends of the Eurasian continent, the two countries share a long history of friendly exchanges. More than 280 years ago, the merchant ship Götheborg established the bond of exchanges between China and Sweden. Seventy-five years ago, Sweden became the first Western country to establish diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations, the two countries have maintained active exchanges and cooperation in the fields of economy and trade, science and technology, culture, and education. In the digital age, people-to-people exchanges have been further invigorated, depicting a vibrant picture of mutual learning among civilizations in the new era.

Sweden became the first Western country to establish diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China.

Civilizations have become richer and more colorful with exchanges and mutual learning. The complementary strengths of China and Sweden in the fields of scientific and technological innovation, green development and cultural exchanges have not only promoted the steady development of bilateral relations, but also contributed Eastern wisdom and Nordic experience to global sustainable development. This kind of mutual learning among civilizations, based on mutual respect, openness and inclusiveness, transcends geographical and cultural differences. It builds a bridge of win-win cooperation, and stands as a vivid practice of mutual success and shared progress of countries with different civilizations, different systems and different stages of development.

Mutual advancement of civilizations: The compass for creating a better future

President Xi Jinping has pointed out that countries are not riding separately in some 190 small boats, but are rather all in a giant ship on which our shared destiny hinges. It is the cherished vision of the Chinese people that a noble cause is never a lonely pursuit and the whole world is one family. Promoting human progress and world harmony has been a relentless pursuit of the Communist Party of China. China and Sweden should take the International Day of Dialogue among Civilizations as an opportunity to draw on historical wisdom, seize the opportunities of the times, carry forward traditional friendship, and strengthen exchanges and cooperation. We should actively promote international free trade, jointly oppose unilateralism and the law of the jungle, firmly safeguard their legitimate rights and interests as well as the common interests of the international community, and contribute greater stability and certainty to the world.

Dialogue among different civilizations has always been a timeless theme in the progress of humanity. China is ready to work with Sweden and other partners around the world to uphold equality among civilizations, promote exchanges among civilizations, advance the progress of civilizations, move toward the inspiring vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind, and join hands to create a better tomorrow.

 

Cui Aimin, China’s Ambassador to Sweden

https://nordictimes.com/culture/mike-offers-a-unique-glimpse-into-everyday-life-in-china/

Culture

Mike offers a unique glimpse into everyday life in China

The modern China

Published 24 March 2025
– By Editorial Staff
Mike at a stop on the highway between Jiayuguan in Gansu province in northwest China to Beijing, a journey that is over 2000 kilometers long.
3 minute read
Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

Is it dangerous to travel in China? Is it forbidden to move freely, take photos and investigate what life is really like? Have international geopolitics and propaganda in our media at home in the Western bloc affected our view of the populous country to the east? British video blogger Mike Okay, 28, is hitchhiking 2,000km across the country to investigate, document and hopefully get answers to his questions.

Mike Okay is embarking on an audacious 2,000km journey across China, with the ambition of challenging conventional wisdom about the country. With a daily target of 500 km, he plans to reach Beijing in just four days – a plan marked by both courage and a sense of adventure. The journey begins with him presenting a small piece of paper, written in Chinese, which clearly explains the purpose of his journey. As he puts it:

– I have this piece of paper in Chinese. It basically says: who I am and what I’m trying to do, and it’s really fucking helpful.

The journey quickly picks up speed as he gets his first ride within the first few minutes. Although the drivers are traveling at high speeds and at some risk, he is met with unexpected hospitality – they happily share eggs and a red Chinese soda, which Mike says may even be illegal in the UK. As he makes his way through the changing itineraries, with drivers altering their route to drop him off closer to Beijing, he is sometimes forced to walk along the side of the highway – a risky but necessary part of the adventure.

Along the way, he encounters everything from mysterious tombs with ancient stone patterns to encounters with the local police. In one incident where he is asked to disembark at a service facility, he is met with unexpected kindness: the police offer him lunch and directions. This unexpected humanity is a recurring theme throughout the journey and contrasts strongly with the otherwise cold and unpredictable landscape.

Spending the night in a wind turbine factory

One night, Mike finds himself in an uncomfortable situation when, after being misdirected, he is forced to spend the night in an abandoned wind turbine factory. Despite the eeriness of the place, he finds a gas station nearby, where he buys beer and snacks to keep his spirits up until morning. As he travels through China’s varied landscapes – from deserts to lush green areas – the language barriers also become apparent. Misunderstandings and misinterpretations marked several encounters with local drivers, where he sometimes had to wait a long time for the next ride or even take a taxi out of the city center.

In one of the most memorable encounters of the trip, he bonds with Mr. Chen, a British-speaking truck driver who soon becomes an unexpected friend. Mike describes how meeting Mr. Chen opens up a new dimension of the trip – one where the helpfulness and genuine friendliness of everyday people takes centre stage. He notes:

– His name is Mr. Chen, which I feel bad about because he said, ‘I’ve been driving with you for ten hours and you don’t even know my name’.

The journey ends with Mr. Chen, after helping him through both linguistic mishaps and unexpected detours, taking him towards Beijing where Mike plans to end the adventure with a train ride into the city. Despite all the challenges – from dangerous highways to feeling isolated – Mike highlights how meeting ordinary people, from customs officers to friendly police officers, revives his faith in humanity.

With a mixture of laughter, frustration and wonder, Mike Okay gives us a unique insight into everyday China – far from the touristy facade and with a humane side rarely seen in the Western bloc’s establishment media.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

Mike O'Kennedy, known as “Mike Okay” on YouTube, is a British travel blogger with over half a million followers. He is best known for his documentaries on travel to remote and controversial places, including North Korea and Xinjiang in China. His content focuses on providing a personal and uncensored insight into these areas, often with humor and a sense of adventure.

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