A team of Chinese experts discovered the world's deepest sandstone-type industrial uranium mineralization at a depth of 1,820 meters in the Tarim Basin in Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, and this breakthrough set a new global record for the deepest discovery of sandstone-type industrial uranium mineralization, marking China's leading position globally in the exploration of deep-earth sandstone-type uranium resource and providing new theoretical support and innovative prospecting approaches for global uranium resource exploration, said the China Atomic Energy Authority (CAEA) on Friday. The uranium exploration aims to discover and confirm deposits with industrial value while evaluating their resource potential and development prospects. Industrial uranium mineralization serves as a direct and reliable indicator for locating industrial-grade uranium deposits, according to the CAEA.
This newly discovered industrial uranium mineralization is the first major thick-bedded mineralization found in the red variegated strata of the uninhabited hinterland of the Tarim Basin, filling a significant prospecting gap in China's largest desert-covered region, according to the CAEA.
"Not only did we discover the uranium, but we also established a technological system for sandstone uranium exploration applicable to desert regions worldwide," Qin Mingkuan, chief scientist at the China National Nuclear Corporation and a leader of a scientific research team for nuclear energy development in the Tarim Basin, told the Global Times.
"In the Tarim Basin, the exploration team faced challenges such as harsh terrain, inherently poor construction conditions, limited technical capabilities of uranium detection equipment, and the absence of successful domestic or international precedents to draw from. Therefore, the key to our success lay in breaking with tradition and adopting an innovative shift in thinking," Qin said.
In 2020, while reviewing 30 years of exploration data, Qin and his team noticed radioactive anomalies in red beds far from the basin's edge. He realized that the widely distributed red variegated strata in the main basin area could indeed form ore deposits under specific conditions, then shifted the focus to the main basin's "variegated red" new strata and the "desert hinterland of the basin" - areas long considered no-go zones for mineral exploration.
Guided by this approach, the team conducted multiple field surveys, innovatively proposed the "exfiltration-infiltration composite genetic regional prediction model," advanced sandstone-type uranium metallogenic theory, and developed efficient deep drilling technology for complex strata in the Tarim Basin, providing strong support for this breakthrough in sandstone-type industrial uranium mineralization prospecting, Qin said.
This signifies that China has overcome the theoretical barriers of sandstone-type uranium metallogeny and, based on "satellite remote sensing - aerial survey - ground detection - deep exploration" 3D detection technologies, has established an integrated green and efficient prospecting system for sandstone-type uranium deposits in desert-covered areas. This achievement represents a breakthrough in new regions, new strata, new types, and new depths, serving as a model for sandstone-type uranium exploration in China, according to the CAEA.
Regarding the next steps, Qin said the Tarim Basin remains a key target for their scientific and technological breakthroughs.
"The current discoveries will help advance the identification of deposits, but there is still a long way to go before actual extraction, which requires detailed exploration and multiple additional steps," Qin said. "Though the path may be winding, the future is undoubtedly bright."
A flash flood triggered by continuous rainfall struck Rasuwa district in northern Nepal in the early hours of Tuesday. According to the Chinese Embassy in Nepal, a Chinese-assisted construction project on the Nepali side of a border facility has reported six Chinese employees and eight Nepali workers missing. The Nepali military and police are currently conducting emergency rescue operations, according to the Xinhua News Agency.
A total of 17 people were reported missing after a mudslide hit the Gyirong Port area along the China-Nepal border on Tuesday morning, according to local authorities, per Xinhua.
Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Thursday that China is ready to work with other countries in building a global network for dialogue and cooperation among civilizations. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, made the statement in a congratulatory letter to the Global Civilizations Dialogue Ministerial Meeting, which opened in Beijing.
He pledged that China will work with other countries to champion equality, mutual learning, dialogue and inclusiveness among civilizations, and implement the Global Civilization Initiative, in a bid to provide fresh impetus for advancing human civilizations and promoting world peace and development.
"The world is, in nature, a place of diverse civilizations," Xi said in the letter. "History has shown us that exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations are essential for civilizations to flourish and human progress to be made."
In a world where transformations and turbulences are interwoven and humanity stands at a new crossroads, there is an ever-pressing need for civilizations to transcend estrangement through exchanges, and to transcend clashes through mutual learning, Xi said.
He also expressed his hope that participating representatives would engage in in-depth exchanges to build consensus and contribute their wisdom and strength to the goal of promoting understanding and friendship among peoples, and achieving harmonious coexistence among civilizations.
The Global Civilizations Dialogue Ministerial Meeting kicked off in Beijing on Thursday, with a focus on the importance of cultural diversity and mutual learning in advancing human progress, Xinhua News Agency reported.
Themed "Safeguarding Diversity of Human Civilizations for World Peace and Development," the two-day event has attracted over 600 guests from 140 countries and regions.
At parallel sub-forums, participants will explore the crucial role of inter-civilization exchange and mutual learning in building an inclusive world and promoting global development and prosperity, cultural inheritance and innovation, understanding and friendship among peoples, scientific and technological progress, and academic exchange.
The event is hosted by the Publicity Department and the International Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee.
Former Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama said at opening ceremony of this forum that when some countries revert to zero-sum thinking and wars and confrontations continue to repeat endlessly around the world, China has raised the banner of peaceful development.
This year marks the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, Hatoyama said. At this juncture, China and Japan should take history as a lesson and demonstrate to the world a path to break the vicious cycle of division and hatred, he noted.
Beginning Monday, July 7, international delegates have been arriving in Shanghai before proceeding to the capital, media reported.
Participants from various countries told the Global Times that the meeting holds significant value as a platform for cultural exchange and mutual understanding - both of which are essential for eliminating hostility and prejudice in a world increasingly marred by conflict. They added that China's organization of the event, along with its Global Civilization Initiative, offered the world a model for coexistence and conflict resolution in a spirit of harmony and goodwill.
Dialogue replacing conflict
The Global Civilizations Dialogue Ministerial Meeting offers great learning experience "where we're exchanging our views. We're learning from each other's experiences, and we are learning about the different civilization of the world so that our people can benefit from this, and we can make the world a safer, more secure, and a developed place," minister for information and broadcasting Pakistani Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar, told the Global Times.
Tarar said this meeting tells the people about harmony, about peace, about the commonality that we have between different civilizations. "So I think this can go a long way in making the world a more secure, safer place for us."
"For our country, peace is crucial. So we strongly support this dialogue and this initiative, which can lead to peace by providing a platform of dialogue between even conflicting countries," Andrey Tchorbanov, chairman of the Education and Science Committee of the National Assembly of Bulgaria, told the Global Times. He noted that it is important that big countries like China can organize such meetings and provide suggestions to the world "what is best to go on the road."
When talking about the significance of this conference to a world that is mired in conflicts, Gabriel Fischer, European Affairs Advisor to the Chairman of Voice-Social Democracy of Slovak, and representative of the Slovak National Council to the European Union, said conflict usually stemmed from misunderstanding among civilizations.
Taking his trip to China as an example, Fischer refuted some Western media's long biased reports on China. "It is absolutely crucial to see it by your own eyes, coming into the country, experiencing the culture and meeting with the people … We cannot influence the media perception of other countries, but we can become richer by traveling and seeing other cultures. That's why I would recommend to anyone to visit China, and to gain inspiration and go back home more knowledgeable."
In a move seen as China's openness and stimulation of cultural exchange, China in June began implementing a trial policy that unilaterally grants visa-free entry to citizens of Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru and Uruguay. It is the first time that China has extended such access to nations in Latin America and the Caribbean. It also launched a trial policy that grants unilateral visa-free entry to citizens of Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, and Bahrain, expanding its unilateral visa-free access list to 47 countries
David Ferguson, honorary chief English editor of the Foreign Languages Press, and a participant of the meeting, told the Global Times that Ministerial Meeting of the Global Civilizations Dialogue reflects a broader strategy aimed at replacing conflict with dialogue, underscoring China's serious commitment to fostering global understanding and cooperation.
Ferguson noted that the high-level organization of the conference signals China's dedication to promoting peaceful exchanges among civilizations. He also expressed particular interest in cultural innovation, which he believes challenges common misconceptions about culture as static or unchanging.
Path to harmonious coexistence
Raphael Tuju, former Kenyan Cabinet Secretary, told the Global Times that true civilization rests on "the ability to share, live together, and respect each other," and expressed his hope that China could carry out more soft-power connections, including people-to-people exchanges, education, and cultural programs beyond "just infrastructure and business."
Tuju views China's Global Civilization Initiative as a "mutually beneficial" model respecting diversity, unlike Western "domination." He cited Africa's "Ubuntu" philosophy, which can be translated as "I am because we are," as aligning with China's win-win cooperation vision, stressing that sustainable partnerships require equitable business frameworks.
Those meetings help countries, no matter big or small, whether in Europe, Asia or Africa, to forge better understanding among each other, Stephen Cachia, a lecturer at University of Malta in Chinese history and culture, told the Global Times. He said that "the world we are living in is not easy and has many problems, such as climate change and conflicts. So we should learn how to talk to each other. I think that China has consistently shown other countries how to do this in a friendly atmosphere, and so that we can get all our ideas."
Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, entrusted leading officials of the CPC Central Committee's Organization Department to convey his encouragement and regards to renowned actor You Benchang, who recently joined the Party at the age of 92.
Xi, also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, said he was pleased to hear the news and described You's faith in the Party as truly heartwarming.
Xi encouraged You to play an exemplary role as a CPC member and inspire more artists and cultural sector professionals to contribute to the development and prosperity of socialist culture and the building of China into a leading country in culture.
You, born in 1933, is a first-class actor with the National Theatre of China who has spent decades bringing beloved characters to life on stage and screen. In 2024, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award of China Federation of Literary and Art Circles at the 32nd China TV Golden Eagle Awards, one of the country's top honors for television.
In early 2024, You submitted his application to join the CPC, and was accepted as a probationary member in May 2025.
The 17th BRICS Summit convenes in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from July 6-7, 2025 - a pivotal moment for Global South cooperation. Before the summit, the "Global Times Overseas China Week and Global South Dialogue" series arrived in the Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) from June 22-28 local time, setting the stage for meaningful engagement. In partnership with local institutions, the series included key events including the "Seminar on Relations between China and LAC Countries, and the Mutual Perception of Public Opinion" in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and the "Roundtable Forum of China-LAC Countries" at the BRICS Summit hosted city Rio de Janeiro. These gatherings brought together dozens of eminent figures from politics, academic, media, and business across China and the LAC, fostering candid dialogues and profound exchanges.
Notably in Buenos Aires, the Global Times (GT) gained insights from Pablo Vommaro (Vommaro), general director of the Latin American Council of Social Sciences (CLACSO), who articulated compelling perspectives on the evolving role of Global South nations - particularly BRICS members - in reshaping multilateral frameworks and the significance of deepening cooperation with China.
GT: You always highlight the value of "Global South cooperation." Why do you place particular emphasis on this cooperation?
Vommaro: I believe the world today is undergoing profound changes. Many parts of the Northern Hemisphere are experiencing tense situations - Europe is mired in war, while violence, racism, and hatred are spreading in several countries. In contrast, the Global South - which includes vast regions of Asia, Africa, and the LAC - is demonstrating unique potential and a rich diversity of social realities that can provide the world with multiple solutions. For instance, in the LAC region, the survival and development of indigenous communities vividly exemplify social diversity.
Historically, the Global South has had limited opportunities to speak out on the international stage, with relatively few exchanges with other regions. But looking ahead, I believe the Global South has the potential to engage in deep cooperation across political, cultural, and economic fields, working together to resolve current conflicts and address global challenges. This would help move the world toward a more harmonious, inclusive, and sustainable future.
GT: How can knowledge cooperation among Global South countries proceed more smoothly, and what role can it play in global communication?
Vommaro: I think dialogue is the key mechanism for solving problems. We need not only spaces for dialogue but also mechanisms that enable such cooperation. We should reject unilateralism, opt for multilateral approaches, and enhance mutual understanding - rather than resort to contradictory rhetoric. Communication among countries is crucial; it is an effective way to prevent wars. Only through dialogue can we seek common ground while reserving differences.
Take China-LAC relations, for example. We firmly believe that many shared interests exist, which can serve as the basis for cooperation. CLACSO has long been committed to building bridges of understanding and cooperation among different cultures and countries. We are willing to play the role of a communication bridge, helping coordinate and facilitate better cooperation agreements between China and the LAC.
GT: Could you share about your personal connection with China? What are your impressions of China's development and society?
Vommaro: I have a long-standing connection with China. Many years ago, I developed a strong interest in the country. As a history major in university, I was fascinated by China's ancient history and culture. At the same time, I have closely followed China's contributions to the world. Unfortunately, for a long time, these contributions were not fully recognized or acknowledged by the West. Only recently has the West begun to take China more seriously, but it's undeniable that Chinese civilization, thought, and philosophy have profound historical depth.
Since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, the country has achieved remarkable accomplishments in many areas, including in infrastructure and public welfare projects. Take transportation, for example - the rapid development of the high-speed rail network has not only facilitated mobility but also boosted economic growth and improved the convenience of people's lives. In academia, the government has invested heavily in public resources. This collective spirit strongly supports the development of public services and embodies a philosophy centered on the well-being of all people - something LAC countries can certainly learn from.
China pursues a peaceful foreign policy and respects differences. Jointly pursuing the Belt and Road Initiative, for instance, has strengthened historical ties between China and the LAC region. Although geographically distant, the two sides are engaging in increasingly frequent exchanges and have great potential for cooperation. There are cultural differences between China and LAC countries, but China does not insist that LAC countries replicate its development model. Instead, it takes an open and inclusive approach, working together with the region to tackle global challenges and achieve shared development.
In summary, I have a very strong impression of China: first, its ancient culture is deeply rooted; second, it prioritizes collective interests; third, its development has been rapid and fruitful; and fourth, it plays an active role in maintaining global peace. I believe China and the LAC will continue to deepen their cooperation and jointly create a better future.
GT: In your view, what aspects of China's development experience are most worth learning from for LAC countries as well as other developing countries?
Vommaro: I believe there are three main lessons worth sharing. First is China's experience in poverty alleviation, which is both valuable and highly meaningful. Second is innovation. China places great emphasis on innovation, education, and the dissemination of knowledge. It invests heavily in research and development, and its education and knowledge systems are always geared toward serving the interests of the entire population. Third is China's global development commitment. Take the BRICS cooperation mechanism as an example - China's participation is not merely for its own benefit, but to contribute to development efforts across the globe.
GT: China has a number of scholars focused on Latin American studies, and in the LAC region, a growing group of experts is researching China. How can these two groups engage in more effective exchanges and cooperation?
Vommaro: I think we should continuously deepen academic cooperation and exchanges between China and the LAC. CLACSO currently has more than 80 research groups, including one focused on China, called "China and the World Power Map." We have signed cooperation agreements with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and have already achieved some results in joint research. In the future, we plan to carry out more cooperative research and call for papers on issues such as environmental change, development, and poverty reduction - areas of mutual interest that can integrate the perspectives of both Latin American and Chinese scholars.
We also plan to cooperate on academic publishing, such as mutual translation of scholarly works and building dialogue platforms to organize activities around topics of mutual concern. CLACSO collaborates with more than 1,000 academic and educational institutions across Central America, the Caribbean, and beyond, and we are willing to leverage these academic resources to promote China-LAC scholarly exchange. GT: If we were to build an expert network for cooperation among Global South countries, how should it be designed and operated efficiently?
Vommaro: I believe the key lies in building and continuously consolidating academic exchange platforms. Specifically, we can achieve this by hosting academic conferences, launching research projects, and forming collaborative working groups. We hope to establish a network that has long-term sustainability, not one that only functions around an annual conference. Instead, it should remain active year-round.
GT: Some countries have been spreading disinformation to slander China-LAC cooperation. Some people have claimed that the LAC "takes sides between China and the US." What's your take?
Vommaro: I believe that today's China is clearly demonstrating to the world that it is taking a development path of complementarity, mutual understanding, and win-win cooperation. The misunderstandings of China by Western public opinion stem from the misleading information deliberately spread by the US or other Western countries to damage China's reputation. But the truth is that China is actively pursuing cooperation that benefits not only itself but also LAC countries - a truly mutually beneficial form of collaboration.
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday stressed efforts to advance the building of a unified national market and promote the high-quality development of the marine economy.
Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks at a meeting of the Central Commission for Financial and Economic Affairs (CCFEA), which he heads.
In his speech at the meeting, Xi emphasized that building a unified national market is essential for creating a new development pattern and promoting high-quality development, urging strengthened coordination and cooperation to build synergy in related work.
Xi stressed that advancing Chinese modernization requires promoting the marine economy's high-quality development and forging a Chinese path of leveraging marine resources to achieve strength.
It was noted at the meeting that the basic requirement for advancing the building of a unified national market is to unify underlying market institutions, market infrastructure, government conduct, regulatory enforcement, and markets of production factors and resources, while continuously expanding opening up both internally and externally.
Efforts must be made to regulate enterprises' disorderly price competition in accordance with laws and regulations, standardize government procurement as well as tendering and bidding processes, regulate local governments' investment attraction practices, and facilitate sales of export-oriented products at domestic market.
It is also imperative to improve fiscal and taxation systems, statistics and accounting systems, and credit systems to foster a unified national market, and to refine evaluation frameworks for high-quality development and system for assessing officials' performance.
To promote the high-quality development of the marine economy, there should be a greater focus on innovation-driven growth, efficient coordination, industrial renewal, harmony between human and the sea, and win-win cooperation, according to the meeting.
It also emphasized increasing policy support and encouraging private capital participation in the marine economy.
China should boost its capacity for marine technological innovation, strengthen, optimize and expand its marine industries, enhance marine ecological protection, and promote global cooperation in marine scientific research, disaster prevention and mitigation, and the blue economy, the meeting said.
Li Qiang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, Chinese premier and deputy director of the CCFEA, Cai Qi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, a member of the CPC Central Committee Secretariat and a member of the CCFEA, and Ding Xuexiang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, Chinese vice premier and a member of the CCFEA, attended the meeting.
China announced at a press conference on Thursday that an evening gala will be held on Sept. 3 in Beijing to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.
The event will be jointly organized by the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the China Media Group, the Political Work Department of the China Military Commission and the Beijing municipal government, according to the State Council Information Office.
China designated Sept. 3 as Victory Day to mark the signing of the Japanese Instrument of Surrender on Sept. 2, 1945.
China and the US should establish a strategic framework for coexistence to avoid falling into the Thucydides's Trap, a concept popularized by Harvard University Professor Graham Allison, which he said is crucial for both countries and the world, Allison said during his meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Wednesday, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry's website on Thursday.
Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, praised Professor Allison for his efforts in promoting mutual understanding between China and the US and exploring ways for the two countries to coexist. He noted that Chinese people value the concept of "harmony without uniformity," a traditional Eastern philosophy that is fundamentally different from the Western zero-sum mentality of "black or white, you-lose-I-win."
This philosophy promotes harmonious coexistence through mutual respect and recognition of differences, while expanding common interests. Wang emphasized that China and the US now need to construct a new narrative to guide future interactions between major powers..
Mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation are China's fundamental principles in managing relations with the US. It is hoped that both sides will work together to properly address the fundamental issue of mutual perception, fasten the "first button" of China-US relations correctly, and, in line with the three principles, find the right way for the two major countries to coexist, Wang said.
People of insight from various sectors are also expected to play an active role in fostering an objective and positive understanding of China and in promoting sound interactions between the two countries, Wang added.
Allison observed that the concept of "harmony without uniformity" aligns with the American value of embracing diversity.
Living on the same planet, deeply interconnected, both sides should pursue a strategic framework for coexistence to avoid falling into the Thucydides's Trap.
A new principled framework should be established to guide the future development of bilateral relations, with mutual respect as the first principle. Allison also expressed his willingness to continue contributing to enhancing communication and promoting the stable development of relations between the two sides.
On June 26 local time, the National Assembly of Nicaragua unanimously approved a proposal submitted by the Presidential Office to join the International Organization for Mediation (IOMed), officially marking the country's accession to the organization, according to CCTV News.
To meet the international community's demand for a professional mediation body, China took the lead in promoting the signing of the Convention on the Establishment of the IOMed. The organization aims to fill a longstanding institutional gap in the field of international mediation, according to the report.
The signing ceremony of the Convention on the Establishment of the IOMed was held on May 30 in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. About 400 high-level representatives from 85 countries and nearly 20 international organizations attended the signing event. Among them, 33 countries signed the convention on-site, making them the founding members of the IOMed, according to the Xinhua News Agency.
