Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday met with US President Joe Biden on the sidelines of the 31st APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Lima, Peru.

Xi told Biden that over the past four years, China-US relations have gone through ups and downs, but the two sides have also been engaged in dialogue and cooperation, adding the relationship has remained stable on the whole.

Under the stewardship of the two presidents, the two teams have worked out through consultations a number of guiding principles for China-US relations, and the two presidents have jointly brought China-US dialogue and cooperation back on track, Xi said.

More than 20 communication mechanisms have been restarted or established, and positive achievements have been made in such areas as diplomacy, security, economy, trade, fiscal affairs, finance, military, counternarcotics, law enforcement, agriculture, climate change, and people-to-people exchange, he said.

Xi stressed that it is worthwhile to review the experiences of the past four years and draw inspirations from them. He listed the following:

First, it is important to have a correct strategic perception. The Thucydides Trap is not a historical inevitability. A new Cold War should not be fought and cannot be won. Containing China is unwise, unacceptable and bound to fail.

Second, it is important to match words with actions. A man cannot establish himself without credibility. China has always honored its words. If the US side always says one thing but does another, it will be detrimental to its own image, and undermine trust between China and the United States.

Third, it is important to treat each other as equals. As two major countries, neither China nor the United States should seek to remodel the other according to one's own will, suppress the other from the so-called "position of strength," or deprive the other of the legitimate right to development so as to maintain its leading status.

Fourth, it is important not to challenge red lines and paramount principles. Contradictions and differences between two major countries like China and the United States are unavoidable. But one side should not undermine the core interests of the other, let alone seek conflict or confrontation. The one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiques are the political foundation of China-US relations. They must be observed. The Taiwan question, democracy and human rights, China's path and system, and China's development right are four red lines for China. They must not be challenged. These are the most important guardrails and safety nets for China-US relations.

Fifth, it is important to conduct more dialogue and cooperation. Under the current circumstances, common interests between China and the United States are expanding rather than shrinking. Their cooperation is crucial not only for the economy, trade, agriculture, counternarcotics, law enforcement and public health, but also for handling global challenges of climate change and artificial intelligence (AI) as well as addressing international hotspot issues. The two sides should expand the list of cooperation and make a bigger pie of cooperation to achieve a win-win result.

Sixth, it is important to respond to the expectations of the people. China-US relations should always advance the well-being of the two peoples and bring them closer together. To facilitate personnel and cultural exchange, the two sides need to build bridges and roads, remove distractions and obstacles, and refrain from making any moves that have a chilling effect.

Seventh, it is important to step forward to shoulder the responsibilities of major countries. China and the United States should always keep in mind humanity's future and their responsibilities for world peace, provide public good for the world, and act in a way conducive to global unity, including carrying out constructive interactions, refraining from mutual attrition, and not coercing other countries into taking sides.

Noting that the trajectory of China-US relations has proved the validity of these experiences and inspirations from the past 45 years of diplomatic ties, Xi said when the two countries treat each other as partners and seek common ground while shelving differences, their relationship will make considerable progress.

But if they regard each other as rivals and pursue vicious competition, they will roil the relationship or even set it back, Xi warned.

Noting that humanity is faced with unprecedented challenges in this turbulent world suffering from frequent conflicts, Xi said major-country competition should not be the underlying logic of the times; only solidarity and cooperation can help humanity overcome current difficulties.

He said neither decoupling nor supply-chain disruption is the solution; common development can only be achieved through mutually beneficial cooperation.

He also said "small yard, high fences" is not what a major country should do; only openness and sharing can advance the well-being of humanity.

A stable China-US relationship is critical not only to the interests of the two peoples, but also to the future and destiny of the entire humanity, Xi said, adding China and the United States should keep exploring the right way for two major countries to get along well with each other, realize long-term, peaceful coexistence on this planet, and inject more certainty and positive energy into the world.

Xi stressed that China's goal of a stable, healthy and sustainable China-US relationship remains unchanged; its commitment to mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation as principles for handling China-US relations remains unchanged; its position of resolutely safeguarding China's sovereignty, security and development interests remains unchanged; and its desire to carry forward the traditional friendship between the Chinese and American peoples remains unchanged.

China is ready to engage in dialogue, expand cooperation, and manage differences with the United States so as to sustain the hard-won momentum toward stability in China-US relations, he said.

Xi also stated China's positions on such issues as Taiwan, economic and trade ties, science and technology, cybersecurity, the South China Sea, the Ukraine crisis, and the Korean Peninsula.

He stressed that cross-Strait peace and stability and "Taiwan independence" separatist activities are as irreconcilable as water and fire. If the US side cares about maintaining peace across the Taiwan Strait, it is crucial that it sees clearly the true nature of Lai Ching-te and the Democratic Progressive Party authorities in seeking "Taiwan independence," handles the Taiwan question with extra prudence, unequivocally opposes "Taiwan independence," and supports China's peaceful reunification, said Xi.

The Chinese people's right to development is not to be deprived of or ignored, Xi noted, saying that while all countries need to safeguard their national security, they should not overstretch the national security concept, still less use it as a pretext for malicious moves to constrain and contain other countries.

There is no evidence that supports the irrational claim of the so-called "cyberattacks from China," said Xi, stressing that China itself is a target of international cyberattacks, and consistently opposes and combats all forms of cyberattacks.

China firmly upholds its territory, sovereignty, and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea, said Xi. Dialogue and consultation between the states concerned is always the best way to manage differences in the South China Sea, and the United States should not get involved in bilateral disputes over the relevant islands and reefs of Nansha Qundao, nor should it aid or abet the impulsion to make provocations, he added.

Xi stressed that China's position and actions on the Ukraine issue have always been fair and square. China conducts shuttle diplomacy and mediation to promote peace talks, makes every effort for peace, and strives for de-escalation.

China does not allow conflict and turmoil to happen on the Korean Peninsula, he said, noting the country will not sit idly by when its strategic security and core interests are under threat.

For his part, Biden stated that the US-China relationship is the most important bilateral relationship in the world, not just for the two peoples, but also for the future of the world. The two governments have a responsibility to the two peoples and the world to see that competition does not veer into conflict.

In the past four years, the two sides worked together to rebuild or establish channels of communication, as the two diplomatic and security teams have often had strategic communications and candid and in-depth dialogue, which helped the two sides to better understand each other, he said.

Particularly since his meeting with Xi in San Francisco a year ago, the two sides have made tangible progress on mil-to-mil relations, counternarcotics, law enforcement, AI, climate change and people-to-people exchange, said Biden.

The two sides support each other's bid for hosting the APEC and G20 meetings respectively in 2026, demonstrating what we can do for the two peoples when we work together, he said.

The United States does not seek a new Cold War, does not seek to change China's system, does not seek to revitalize its alliances against China, does not support "Taiwan independence," has no intention to have a conflict with China, and does not see its Taiwan policy as a way to compete with China, said Biden, noting that the US side will stay committed to the one-China policy.

The United States is prepared to enhance communication and dialogue with China during the transition period to have a better perception of each other and responsibly manage the differences, said Biden.

The two presidents reiterated the seven-point common understandings on the guiding principles for China-US relations, namely treating each other with respect, finding a way to live alongside each other peacefully, maintaining open lines of communication, preventing conflict, upholding the United Nations Charter, cooperating in areas of shared interest, and responsibly managing competitive aspects of the relationship.

The two sides expressed readiness to uphold these principles, continue to stabilize China-US relations, and ensure a smooth transition of the relationship.

The two heads of state spoke positively about the important role of China-US strategic communication, regular contact between the diplomatic and security teams, and dialogue mechanisms on mil-to-mil relations, economic and trade ties, and financial issues. They agreed to maintain the momentum in communication and strengthen macroeconomic policy coordination.

The two presidents reviewed the important progress in dialogue and cooperation on counternarcotics, climate change, AI, and people-to-people exchanges since their San Francisco meeting.

The two presidents believed that the two sides have had candid and constructive dialogue on AI. The two sides co-sponsored each other's resolutions at the UN General Assembly on AI. They also affirmed the need to enhance international cooperation and promote AI for good and for all. They stressed the need to maintain human control over the decision to use nuclear weapons.

The two heads of state agreed that their meeting had been candid, profound, and constructive, expressing their willingness to stay in contact.

China's newly announced space cargo shuttle, the Haolong, has become a highlight of the ongoing Airshow China 2024. Its chief designer Fang Yuanpeng told the Global Times that the spacecraft has entered the engineering development phase, and the public can expect to see it soon.

The Haolong space cargo shuttle is developed by the Chengdu Aircraft Design and Research Institute under the state-owned Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC). The institute developed several types of Chinese fighter jets, including the J-20, the J-10 and the FC-1, all featuring "long," meaning dragon in Chinese, in their nicknames.

Fang said that if an aircraft needs to enter space orbit, it needs to take into account all the effects of the space environment on the vehicle, so many design concepts of a space shuttle needs to consider both aeronautics and spaceflight. But the main challenge is still the aerodynamic design, he said.

The Haolong features a large wingspan design with high lift-to-drag ratio. It is about 10 meters long and eight meters wide. This design means that the spacecraft has relatively high maneuverability within the atmosphere, and that it has more reentry opportunities, according to Fang.

According to Fang, the space shuttle Haolong can be launched into orbit via a commercial carrier rocket once loaded with cargo. After entering orbit, the Haolong will unfold its solar panels and open its docking shield. After maneuvers to close in on the space station, the rear of the Haolong will dock with the space station, and astronauts can access Haolong's cargo bay to pick up and store goods. After completing the mission, the Haolong will leave the space station, depart from the orbit and reenter the atmosphere, before landing on an airport horizontally.

The Haolong can receive maintenance similar to an aircraft after landing, so it can conduct another mission, according to Fang. Its reusability means that the full life cycle cost is significantly lowered, he said.

The development of the spacecraft is divided into design, engineering development, and cargo mission phases. Fang revealed that the design phase is already complete, and the engineering development phase is underway. "I believe that the public will see it soon," he said.

Media reports that Taiwan is considering a massive $15 billion military package to show the incoming Donald Trump administration that it is serious about strengthening its own defense have sparked controversy on the island. 

Some people on the island have expressed concerns that Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities are trading the interests of the Taiwan people to curry US support, which cannot guarantee security but instead will heighten tensions across the Taiwan Straits.

In an article titled "Taiwan considers big US defence purchases as overture to Donald Trump," the Financial Times, citing several people familiar with the matter, reported on Monday that Taiwan "would probably" request Lockheed Martin vessels and Northrop Grumman's E-2D Advanced Hawkeye, an airborne radar system. It also wants more Patriot missiles and may request F-35 fighter jets, which could be controversial in Washington. 

The DPP authorities of Taiwan said that "There has been a period of consolidation and discussion between it and the US on military needs, but there is no new stage of discussion at this time," Reuters reported. 

Financial Times report has sparked heated discussions within the island. Some media outlets in Taiwan, such as ET Today, likened such an arms deal to paying "protection fee" to the US.

Eric Chu Li-luan, chairman of the Kuomintang (KMT) Party was cited by Taiwan media United Daily News as saying that arms procurement requires a consensus across political parties. If the DPP is solely focused on confrontation, no amount of defense budget can guarantee security.

Although the DPP authorities claim there is no "new stage" for the arms deal, they are anxious that the new US administration might treat the Taiwan question as a "bargaining chip," so they are eager to show the US its "allegiance" regardless of the interests of the Taiwan people, Wang Wu-lang, secretary-general of the Labor Rights Association in Taiwan, told the Global Times. 

Some netizens in Taiwan expressed concerns on social media. For example, a netizen said that the DPP authorities would sacrifice the welfare of Taiwan people to cater to the US. Another netizen commented that buying weapons is useless and peace is the only way out. 

In response to the US Department of Defense's approval of arms sales worth nearly $2 billion to Taiwan, Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense said at a press conference on October 31 that China strongly condemns and firmly opposes the US move.

The US has reneged on its own promise and is intensifying efforts to arm Taiwan, emboldening "Taiwan independence" separatist forces and pushing Taiwan closer toward the "abyss of military conflict," the spokesperson said.

China unveiled a scale model of two-seat variant of the J-20 stealth fighter jet, the J-20S, at the exhibition hall of Airshow China 2024, which will be held in Zhuhai, South China's Guangdong Province from November 12 to 17.

Military expert Zhang Xuefeng told the Global Times on Sunday that the J-20S has potential as a command aircraft for coordinating loyal wingman drones.

A scale model of the J-20S has been put on display at the exhibition hall of the state-owned Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC). The J-20S is the first two-seat fifth-generation fighter jet made known to the world.

The J-20S is a new generation, medium-to-long range, two-seat heavy multirole stealth fighter jet developed independently by China. It is equipped for medium-to-long range air superiority missions and precision strikes on land and maritime targets, the Global Times learned from the AVIC at the airshow.

Developed from the J-20, the J-20S has enhanced capabilities in terms of situational awareness, electronic disruption as well as tactical command and control. It can carry out manned and unmanned collaborative combat, the Global Times learned.

Previous generations of fighter jets have seen precedence in which single-seat versions developed into two-seat variants, and this was because two-seat warplanes enable senior pilots to train new pilots on the same aircraft, allowing a second pilot to manage complex operations such as radar detection and missile attack, Zhang said.

When it comes to fifth-generation fighter jets, which have rich information and network systems, automatic data processing systems and AI technologies, adding a second pilot to command other aircraft offers significant tactical advantages, Zhang said, noting that the additional pilot could contribute to the command and collaboration between the manned fighter jet and loyal wingman drones.

For example, some loyal wingman drones could act as external sensors for the fighter jet, others could function as weapon launch platforms, Zhang said.

China has displayed loyal wingman drones such as the FH-97A at the Airshow China 2022.

The loyal wingman drone is not only a sensor, but also an ammunition depot, and an intelligent assistant for pilots. It can extend a pilot's situational awareness and scope of attack, and by using the drones in large numbers, each drone serves as an intelligent node in the air combat network, obtain local combat information, and filter and integrate to form a wider battlefield situation, assist pilots to make decisions, and liberate people from dangerous and highly tense combat environments, so that in addition to being traditional pilots, the pilots can become more of commanders of a flight formation, the drone's developer told the Global Times at that time.

At the invitation of Peruvian and Brazilian presidents, President Xi Jinping will travel to the two countries to attend the 31st APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Lima and the 19th G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro and pay state visits to the two countries respectively, the Chinese Foreign Ministry announced on Friday.

Elaborating on Xi's visits, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a press briefing Friday that President Xi's attendance at the APEC meeting and G20 summit fully shows the great importance China attaches to Asia-Pacific economic cooperation and its staunch support for multilateralism.

Mao said Xi's state visits to Peru and Brazil will further consolidate political mutual trust and deepen practical cooperation with the two countries.

Chinese experts said the visits highlight a strategic leading role of the head-of-state diplomacy in terms of deepening ties between China and Latin America and pursuit of Global South solidarity, given that the visits coincide with the 50th anniversary of the establishment of China-Brazil ties, and also the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the China-CELAC (Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) Forum.

Moreover, as the world faces complex challenges including geopolitical conflicts, economic downturn, and uncertainties brought by geopolitics, China's position and roles on improving global governance, promoting Asia-Pacific economic and trade cooperation, and sustainable and high-quality development will undoubtedly be in the center of the spotlight in the upcoming multilateral stages, experts said.

Reaching a new height

Global attention will be on Latin America in the coming weeks as Peru will host the 31st APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting and Brazil will host the 19th G20 Summit. China is not only the largest trading partner of both countries, but also maintains a stable and mutually beneficial comprehensive strategic partnership with them, as well as close high-level interactions.

Prior to Xi's upcoming state visit to Peru, the Chinese president has met with Peruvian President Dina Ercilia Boluarte Zegarra in Beijing on June 28, during which Xi said that China stands ready to work with Peru to advance the comprehensive strategic partnership to new heights.

After the talks, the two heads of state jointly witnessed the signing of the Joint Action Plan (2024-2029) of the two countries, and multiple bilateral cooperation documents regarding economic and trade relations, digital economy, scientific and technological innovation, inspection and quarantine, and news media, among others. The two sides announced the completion of negotiations on upgrading their free-trade agreement.

The flagship project between Beijing and Lima, the Chancay Port, is also expected to be inaugurated soon. Once completed, it will significantly reduce the costs and time of the transportation from South America to China.

Zhou Zhiwei, an expert on Latin American studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said the Chancay port will further narrow the distance between China and Peru, and will act as an acceleration engine for future economic and trade cooperation between China and Peru as well as the whole region.

Data show that China is Peru's largest trading partner, number one export market and number one source of imports.

Meanwhile, China and Brazil have maintained a comprehensive strategic partnership. Data show that China has been Brazil's top trading partner for 15 consecutive years, while Brazil is China's largest trading partner and direct investment destination in Latin America, with bilateral trade exceeded $100 billion for six consecutive years.

On August 15, 2024, Xi exchanged congratulatory messages with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

The comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Brazil is likely to be further upgraded, and the cooperation between the two sides in terms of economic and trade, green transformation, digital economy, people-to-people exchanges, and political trust, will all reach a new height, said Wang Youming, director of the Institute of Developing Countries at the China Institute of International Studies in Beijing, noting China and Brazil will strengthen the substantive alignment of their development strategies .

Ten years ago on July 17, 2014, President Xi attended the China-Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) Countries Leaders' Meeting in Brasilia and made the proposition of building a China-LAC community with a shared future. Some experts also mentioned that the upcoming visit by President Xi is not just about bilateral relations; it also signifies a broader commitment to strengthening China-LAC cooperation.

Zhou said Peru and Brazil are China's two most important investment destinations in South America. China will further strengthen its relations with these two countries through the new round of head-of-state diplomacy, and boost the economic cooperation between China and the whole Latin America.

Despite the turbulent and volatile international and regional situation, the fact that China and Latin America offer opportunities for each other has not changed, Wang added.

According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, China has signed Belt and Road cooperation MOUs with 22 LAC countries. Annual trade volume between China and LAC countries amounts to nearly US$500 billion. China and Peru signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with China on the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in 2019.

Currently, Brazil is one of the few countries in Latin America that has not yet participated in the BRI. Since Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva took office again last year, there have been continuous reports about Brazil actively advancing related efforts. In October this year, Brazil's Agriculture Minister Carlos Favaro said the country should join BRI, noting it would provide Brazil with an "opportunity to overcome trade barriers."

Collective rise

According to Zhou, the high level of convergence of interests between China and countries like Peru and Brazil is reflected not only in the economic and trade spheres, but also in mutual political trust, as well as in the understanding of many international issues and collaboration in the globe arena.

APEC Peru 2024, scheduled to be held between November 10 and 16, is centered around the theme "Empower. Include. Grow," which reflects Peru's commitment to fostering inclusive growth and sustainable development across the Asia-Pacific region. Brazil will host the G20 Leaders' Summit on November 18 and 19, with the slogan "Building a Just World and a Sustainable Planet."

Liu Chenyang, director of the APEC Study Center of Nankai University in Tianjin, believes the APEC meeting and G20 summit to be held in South America have strong intrinsic links in terms of themes.

This reflects the core demand of the Global South in participating in regional and multilateral cooperation as they generally hope to stick with a development perspective, or hope that the current system could become more favorable to less developed economies, so that they are not left behind by the pace of regional cooperation, said Liu.

China, Peru, and Brazil and other Global South countries share common interests in upholding a multipolar world, promoting sustainable development, reducing poverty, improving the unjust aspects of the existing system and addressing global challenges, Wang said.

"They are expected to utilize the two consecutive multilateral events to speak out for developing countries," he said, noting that President Xi's trip would further inject impetus for the Global South solidarity.

Against the backdrop of a highly complex geopolitical environment, the participation of the Chinese leader in the two events demonstrates China's open and inclusive stance and its high support for multilateralism, Zhou said.

In addition, the APEC meeting and G20 summit are significant platforms for global economic governance, and the participation of the Chinese leader shows China's policy stance favors a more open international economic environment to achieve more efficient integration and shared development, the expert noted.

The collective rise of the Global South is a clear sign of the great changes in the world, President Xi said while attending the BRICS Plus leaders' dialogue on October 24 in Russia.

Experts also agreed that platforms like BRICS, SCO and APEC reflect the "collective rise of the Global South" and a world evolving faster toward multipolarity.

Latin America has long faced suppression and unfair treatment by the big powers of the Global North, and their sense of strategic autonomy has been growing, said Zhou, noting that China-LAC cooperation has a role to play in enhancing the voice of the countries of the Global South in global governance.

China supports the integration construction of the entire LAC, and this position is consistent and clear, as it is not only important for the overall cooperation between China and LAC, but also crucial for the LAC countries to maintain the strategic autonomy of the region and common development in the global pattern, Zhou said.

China released an annual climate action report on Wednesday, outlining the country's new initiatives for tackling climate change, and stating China's position and proposals regarding the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29), according to the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE).

The report of China's policies and actions for addressing climate change has been compiled each year since 2008. This year's report comprehensively showcases the progress and achievements in policies, measures and key initiatives across various sectors in response to climate change since 2023, demonstrating China's responsible attitude, Xia Yingxian, an official with the MEE, said at Wednesday's press briefing.

China called on all parties to implement the objectives, principles and arrangements outlined in the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and its Paris Agreement, to promote positive outcomes at COP29, Xia said.

COP29 is scheduled to take place at the Baku Olympic Stadium from November 11 to 22, and is expected to be the largest event organized by Azerbaijan to date, according to the Xinhua News Agency.

China is promoting the adjustment of industrial and energy structures by implementing a series of measures, including energy conservation and efficiency improvement, according to the official.

China upholds multilateralism and the principles of common but differentiated responsibilities, actively and constructively participating in the global governance process for addressing climate change, Xia said. China is deeply engaged in South-South cooperation on climate change, helping developing countries enhance their capacity to respond to climate change.

China has signed 53 memorandums of understanding on South-South climate cooperation with 42 developing countries. The cooperation includes building low-carbon demonstration zones and organizing exchange seminars, Xia added.

Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy issued an article on social media on Monday, alerting officers and soldiers to emerging internet risks, such as online gambling and dating traps.

Soldiers from the post-90s and post-00s generations become the core of the military, and are significantly influenced by the internet. A naval aviation unit affiliated with the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Northern Theater Command is closely monitoring the new risks and challenges brought by the internet, and has created comics illustrating online "traps" to enhance network risk management and improve soldiers' awareness of online scams, Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy posted an article on its official WeChat account on Monday.

The article noted that some platforms offer game accelerators and resource-sharing software, which come with built-in "VPN" functions. Many "mirror" servers, although they are "domestic" software, relay information and content from overseas sources, making them highly covert and unpredictable. All personnel should remain vigilant and be aware of the risks associated with "VPN" usage, said the article.

The article also cautioned that unfamiliar push notifications are often a "phishing email," "trojan app," or "gambling website," which may contain hidden dangers and carry viruses. It is easy to fall into traps carefully set by criminals, potentially resulting in the theft of personal information, bank card passwords, verification codes, and more.

Due to the sensitive nature of their roles, military personnel should not reveal their identities online. They should always be vigilant against online behaviors that seek to extract sensitive information from soldiers, the article warned.

The article from the PLA Navy also warned that online gambling and illegal online lending can trap individuals, including military personnel, in serious debt.

Young military personnel, motivated by a desire for companionship, might reveal their military identity to gain attention. This exposure can make them vulnerable to illegal exploitation. The article noted that it is important for military personnel to cultivate good online social habits, avoid harmful social apps, and be discerning when engaging in online relationship.

A video made by a creator on the social media platform Douyin which recreates Dujiangyan's topography and protective structures within 193 seconds using a simulation game has gone viral, amassing over 1 million likes, with its clear explanations and detailed visualizations receiving widespread praises.

Dujiangyan, situated in Chengdu, Southwest China's Sichuan Province, has been serving the role of flood control and irrigation for more than 2,000 years, according to the Xinhua News Agency.

Unlike modern dams, Dujiangyan has no moving parts like sluices. It is the world's oldest and only surviving water intake project that diverts water directly from natural courses without a dam structure. Many people, even when visiting the site, don't understand how it works, according to Xinhua.

Many netizens on the social media platform praised the video for its simple and accessible explanation of Dujiangyan's function. Some remarked that they hadn't understood this information in high school, but noted they grasped the concept in just three minutes.

According to the report, the blogger Liu Yong works in e-commerce. However, he usually enjoys simulation games.

Carrying three taikonauts, the Long March-2F Y19 carrier rocket lifted off from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Northwest China early Wednesday morning, embarking on its journey to the China Space Station.

After a flight of around 10 minutes, Shenzhou-19 manned spacecraft separated from the rocket and entered its designated orbit, marking a success of the launch mission.

China Space Station is expected to welcome the new Shenzhou-19 crew led by veteran taikonaut Cai Xuzhe and new taikonauts Song Lingdong and female astronaut Wang Haoze around 6.5 hours after takeoff, according to the CMSA.

Commander Cai is set to return to the China Space Station on the Shenzhou-19 manned mission 22 months after his last flight on Shenzhou-14, setting a record for the shortest interval between missions in the history of Chinese astronauts. Song and Wang were both born in 1990 and members of the country's third batch astronauts. The Shenzhou-19 mission is their debut in space. Wang is also the country's first female spaceflight engineer, according to the China Manned Space Agency on Tuesday.

This mission marks the fourth crewed flight in the application and development phase of the space station and the 33rd flight of China's manned space program. Its primary goals are to complete an in-orbit crew rotation with the Shenzhou-18 crew, reside on the space station for about six months, conduct space science and application experiments, perform extravehicular activities (EVAs), manage cargo entry and exit, install and recover space debris protection devices and other external equipment on the space station, Lin Xiqiang, a CMSA spokesperson revealed in a press conference on Tuesday.

The mission will also involve public outreach, space education, and payload experiments to further enhance space station operational efficiency and maximize its overall utility, Lin said.

Following the launch, Shenzhou-19 will dock autonomously with the forward port of the Tianhe core module about 6.5 hours after the launch to form a three-ship, three-module complex. During their stay in orbit, the Shenzhou-19 crew will receive visits from the Tianzhou-8 cargo spacecraft and the Shenzhou-20 crewed spacecraft, with their return to the Dongfeng landing site scheduled in late April or early May, per the spokesperson.

After the in-orbit crew rotation with the Shenzhou-19 crew, the Shenzhou 18 crew is set to return to the Dongfeng landing site on November 4, he said.

The Global Times learned from the spacecraft developer China Academy of Spacecraft Technology under the country's leading space contractor CASC, on Wednesday that for this Shenzhou-19 mission, the development team optimized the orbital module's design and layout to enhance payload transportation capacity, increasing storage space by 20 percent.

This improvement enables astronauts and related systems to carry more time-sensitive and ad-hoc supplies. Not only does this advancement support the ongoing improvement of the Shenzhou-19 crewed spacecraft and future new-generation spacecraft, gradually enhancing payload transport capabilities, but it also provides more efficient and stable in-orbit support for the long-term operation of China Space Station, the academy said in a statement it provided to the Global Times.

Further optimizing the launch mission on the rocket part, the Long March-2F Y19 rocket had implemented a 30-day testing and launch preparation process for the first time, its developer China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology revealed to the Global Times.

Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Northwest China's Gansu Province organized over the weekend the whole-process exercise for the upcoming Shenzhou-19 manned spaceflight mission to China Space Station, testing and verifying the reliability and safety for the launch mission, according to the launch center on Sunday. 

The China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) announced on October 22 that the combination of Shenzhou-19 manned spacecraft and the Long March-2F Y19 rocket has been transferred to the launch pad. It is reported that the mission would be launched at an appropriate time in the near future, the CMSA said.

The joint rehearsal was conducted according to formal launch procedures. Under the centralized coordination of the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center system, subsystems such as the launch tower, rocket, and spacecraft completed functional checks, simulating the entire process from flight preparation and ignition to rocket-spacecraft separation, according to a press release provided by the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on Sunday. 

The Shenzhou-19 crew also simulated flight tasks following procedural protocols. After entering the return module, they initiated comprehensive tests and checks between the personnel, spacecraft, rocket, and ground systems, completing all critical operations for the pre-launch and launch phases during the simulated rocket liftoff, said the Jiuquan center.

A thorough inspection and evaluation were conducted to ensure the proper functioning of launch site facilities and equipment. In line with mission review planning, relevant personnel carried out a comprehensive review, covering facility and equipment checks, document and software checks, technical status reviews of participating equipment, and verification of test and launch procedures, ensuring a complete understanding of the status of each system involved in the mission, the center revealed.

People's Daily on Sunday morning posted a 100-second video paying tribute to the Shenzhou-18 crew on social media platform Sina Weibo, reviewing highlights of the mission, as the crew's space journey approaches its conclusion.

The Shenzhou-18 manned spacecraft blasted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, atop the Long March-2F Y18 carrier rocket on April 25, carrying taikonauts Ye Guangfu, Li Cong and Li Guangsu, who were all born in the 1980s, as well as nearly 100 experimental projects to the Tiangong space station.

During their six-month stay in the China Space Station, the crew led by the mission commander Ye Guangfu, have completed two successful extravehicular missions  or spacewalks. During the May 28 spacewalk, Ye Guangfu, Li Cong and Li Guangsu worked for about eight-and-a-half hours in completing multiple tasks, including the installation of space debris protection devices, and were assisted by the space station's robotic arm and a team on Earth. The task has set a new record for the longest single spacewalk by Chinese astronauts. 

The Shenzhou-18 crew also established China's first-ever in-orbit aquatic ecosystem using zebrafish and algae to study how the space environment affects their growth and system balance, according to the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

The crew also sent their heavenly blessings for the motherland on October 1 to mark the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. 

Anticipating the Shenzhou-19 mission, Kang Guohua, a professor of Aerospace Engineering at Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, highlighted the crew's exposure experiment on the bricks made from simulated lunar soil - a potential material for constructing habitats on the Moon.

The bricks are expected to be sent to the China Space Station for experiment via next Tianzhou-8 cargo spacecraft and anticipated to return to Earth by the end of 2025, according to China Central Television (CCTV).

This exposure experiment in space will pave the way for China's future construction of habitats on the moon, marking a significant step in China's manned space program toward space habitation and exploration of the wider universe, Kang told the Global Times on Sunday.