Global Pulse

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  • Railway port set to expand after setting trade record

    Railway port set to expand after setting trade record

    The Ereenhot Railway Port, a crucial border crossing in China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, is poised for significant expansion following a historic trade achievement. By November 20, 2025, the port had processed an unprecedented 3,500 China-Europe freight train journeys, marking the highest volume since the service’s inception in 2013.

    This milestone was celebrated with the departure of a Russia-bound train carrying 55 containers, highlighting the port’s growing importance in Eurasian trade networks. According to Yang Dongdong, the port’s technical manager, the facility has consistently handled over 3,000 China-Europe freight trains annually for three consecutive years, demonstrating sustained growth in cross-continental rail commerce.

    The port’s expansion strategy includes launching new routes to Russian cities later this year and accelerating construction of the second-line project between Ereenhot and Mongolia’s Zamiin-Uud Station. This infrastructure development aims to support increasing trade flows along the Belt and Road Initiative’s central corridor, where Ereenhot serves as the exclusive border crossing.

    Route connectivity has dramatically expanded from just two paths in 2013 to 74 currently active routes, linking Chinese manufacturing hubs with over 70 logistics centers across more than 10 European nations, including Germany and Poland. Recent additions include routes from Wuhu (Anhui province) and Datong (Shanxi province) to various Russian destinations, creating a denser transportation network.

    A notable development has been the improvement in return freight efficiency, with 1,760 return trains recorded—representing 50.3% of total operations and a 28.7% year-on-year increase. Trade composition remains stable, with exports dominated by automobiles, electronics, home appliances, and general merchandise, while imports primarily consist of timber and paper products.

    The port has implemented significant operational enhancements through digital transformation, including paperless customs clearance and improved coordination with Mongolian counterparts. The ‘two-station integration’ model with Zamiin-Uud Station facilitates real-time information sharing on train flows and inventory management, while optimized inspection processes have reduced customs clearance time by over 5% year-on-year.

    Local businesses report substantial benefits from the rail network’s growth. Meng Xiangyu, a freight company manager, noted that since 2018, the service has provided “a cheaper, more efficient and safe way to transport goods,” enabling expansion of both domestic and international client networks.

    Looking forward, port authorities plan to leverage capacity expansion and efficiency improvements to achieve year-on-year growth in throughput while ensuring smooth operation of international rail transport corridors, further solidifying China’s role in transcontinental trade.

  • Pomelo prospects pull urbanites to the farm

    Pomelo prospects pull urbanites to the farm

    The agricultural landscape of Shangrao in Jiangxi province is undergoing a remarkable transformation, driven by the booming Majia pomelo industry that’s reversing urban migration patterns. Young professionals are abandoning city careers to embrace farming opportunities, creating an unexpected rural revitalization movement.

    Ning Bo and Feng Qiuyan exemplify this trend, having left their positions in Hangzhou to establish a pomelo orchard in Guangfeng district. Their innovative approach combines traditional cultivation with modern entrepreneurship, developing unique products like pomelo-infused coffee and planning agritourism ventures. Their farm features a café nestled among pomelo trees, where the aroma of coffee blends with citrus scents.

    This homecoming movement addresses multiple challenges simultaneously—career satisfaction, family proximity, and rural economic development. “We wanted to solve our employment problem while being close to home,” Feng explained, noting how the pomelo’s excellent qualities presented a business opportunity despite its limited recognition outside the region.

    The technological transformation of pomelo farming is equally impressive. Smart orchards now utilize drones for spraying and automated track systems for transportation. Li Yufu, a transport worker, reported production increases from 500 to 750 metric tons following implementation of these systems. The technological advancements create substantial employment, with 40-50 villagers employed during harvest seasons and year-round workers earning over 30,000 yuan annually.

    Post-harvest processing has evolved significantly with precision grading centers that measure size, weight, and sugar content to ensure consistent quality. Intelligent sorting processed 28,500 tons last year, representing approximately 30% of total output, with graded fruit commanding a 22% price premium.

    The scale of the industry is substantial: 13,333 hectares of planting area, annual output of 250,000 tons, and comprehensive output value exceeding 3 billion yuan. According to Gong Zhenzhou, Party secretary of Guangfeng, the pomelo industry has generated 115,000 jobs and increased incomes for over 50,000 fruit growers.

    The global reach continues expanding through enterprises like Jiangxi Fengguang Biotechnology, which exports to European and Asian markets including Italy, UK, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, and Singapore. Last year’s exports reached nearly 2,500 tons, including 100 tons to the UK alone.

    This agricultural success story represents a multifaceted approach to rural development, combining technological innovation, entrepreneurial spirit, and global market access to create sustainable prosperity in China’s countryside.

  • Trump to host signing of peace deal between leaders of DR Congo and Rwanda

    Trump to host signing of peace deal between leaders of DR Congo and Rwanda

    In a significant diplomatic development, the leaders of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda are preparing to formalize a peace agreement during a Washington summit convened by US President Donald Trump. This high-stakes diplomatic initiative unfolds against a backdrop of intensified combat operations in the mineral-rich eastern territories of DR Congo, where government forces continue to engage with Rwanda-backed M23 rebel factions.

    Recent days have witnessed a concerning escalation of hostilities, with Congolese military authorities accusing M23 insurgents of deliberately undermining the peace process through renewed offensive operations. Conversely, rebel leadership contends that government forces initiated violations of existing ceasefire arrangements. The M23 movement, which captured substantial territories including the strategic trading hub of Goma earlier this year, remains absent from the primary negotiation table, instead participating in parallel discussions mediated by Qatari officials.

    The forthcoming agreement addresses core grievances from both nations: Rwanda demands the disarmament of FDLR militia elements linked to the 1994 genocide, while DR Congo insists on the complete withdrawal of Rwandan military presence from its eastern provinces. Historical context reveals this conflict’s complexity, with multiple failed peace initiatives since the 1990s attributed to mutual non-compliance with similar provisions.

    US diplomatic engagement appears driven by substantial economic interests, with President Trump explicitly acknowledging American acquisition of mineral rights as part of the June preliminary agreement. The Democratic Republic of Congo possesses an estimated $25 trillion in mineral reserves, including critical components for electronic devices, renewable energy infrastructure, and military equipment.

    Despite ceremonial preparations in Washington, regional analysts maintain cautious skepticism regarding the agreement’s practical implementation. Security researchers note the absence of an active ceasefire and continued territorial expansion by rebel forces, suggesting the signing ceremony may primarily serve symbolic rather than operational purposes.

    International mediation efforts feature unusual coordination between the United States and Qatar, with each nation leveraging distinct diplomatic relationships—Washington maintaining stronger ties with Kinshasa, while Doha enjoys closer relations with Kigali. The participation of additional African and Arab leaders underscores the agreement’s regional significance, though the path to sustainable peace remains fraught with historical grievances and competing economic interests.

  • Chinese company tests reusable rocket

    Chinese company tests reusable rocket

    In a significant milestone for China’s commercial space sector, Beijing-based LandSpace conducted the inaugural flight of its ZQ 3 reusable rocket on December 3, 2025, from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. The launch demonstrated mixed results as the second-stage booster successfully reached its designated orbit while the first-stage booster failed during recovery attempts.

    The ZQ 3 Y1 rocket, standing 66.1 meters tall with a 4.5-meter diameter, represents a technological leap with its stainless steel construction and methane-powered engines. Weighing approximately 560 tons at launch with 750 tons of thrust capability, the vehicle is designed to deliver heavy payloads to both low-Earth and sun-synchronous orbits.

    Despite the first-stage booster’s destruction over the Minqin county recovery site in Gansu province, the mission provided critical engineering data. LandSpace confirmed the flight validated the rocket’s overall design, system compatibility, and flight procedures while gathering essential information for future recovery optimization.

    The company’s proprietary methane engines—featuring nine TQ 12A engines on the first stage and one TQ 15A on the second—mark a strategic shift toward reusable, environmentally sustainable propulsion technology. The rocket’s design incorporated four grid fins and landing legs specifically for controlled descent and soft landing capabilities.

    This launch follows LandSpace’s previous achievement in July 2023, when the company completed the world’s first orbital mission using methane propulsion with its ZQ 2 rocket. The development of reusable launch technology positions LandSpace to compete for contracts supporting China’s ambitious satellite internet constellation projects, representing a growing market within the global space industry.

  • The Red Sea region: where the rules are changing

    The Red Sea region: where the rules are changing

    The strategic waters of the Red Sea have transformed into a primary theater for 21st-century power competition, where global ambitions intersect with regional conflicts and local political dynamics. Stretching from the Suez Canal to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, this 438,000-square-kilometer region borders the volatile Horn of Africa, Arabian Peninsula, and western Indo-Pacific, creating a complex geopolitical nexus.

    According to international relations expert Federico Donelli, author of ‘Power Competition in the Red Sea,’ the region’s significance stems from its lack of a dominant power capable of imposing order, combined with its immense strategic value as a maritime corridor for global trade and energy transportation. This combination has created an open arena where traditional and emerging powers converge in increasingly assertive competition.

    The United States and China maintain military facilities in Djibouti, while Russia has sought access to Port Sudan. Gulf powers including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar have expanded their presence through port investments, infrastructure projects, and military cooperation across Sudan, Somalia, and Ethiopia. Turkey, Iran, and Israel have also established significant political, economic, and security ties, linking the Red Sea to the eastern Mediterranean and Persian Gulf.

    Local actors have become active participants rather than passive recipients in this power competition. Governments and non-state entities from Ethiopia to Sudan, Eritrea, Egypt, and Somalia are strategically exploiting global rivalries to advance their objectives—trading military access for security guarantees, seeking infrastructure investments, and leveraging diplomatic alignments to strengthen domestic and regional positions.

    This dynamic has created a system of ‘multi-alignment’ where regional players maintain relationships with multiple external powers simultaneously, gaining leverage while increasing overall volatility. The ongoing Sudanese civil war has transformed into a proxy battlefield with rival factions seeking support from competing external players. In Somalia, local authorities negotiate directly with foreign powers like Turkey and Gulf states, often bypassing weak central institutions.

    The Red Sea region exemplifies the broader transformation from the liberal international order—characterized by multilateralism, free markets, and liberal democracy—toward a post-liberal order defined by selective engagement, bilateral bargains, and flexible alignments. Here, order emerges from competition rather than consensus, with military presence, infrastructure investment, and political alliances serving as primary instruments of influence.

    This arena serves as a microcosm of emerging global politics: fragmented, transactional, and deeply interconnected. The region demonstrates that the future international order will be shaped not only in traditional power centers like Washington, Beijing, Brussels, or Moscow, but equally in strategic locations like Port Sudan, Aden, and Djibouti, where global competition interacts directly with local conflicts and new governance models emerge.

  • Envoy praises ROK-China bilateral ties

    Envoy praises ROK-China bilateral ties

    The Republic of Korea’s Ambassador to China, Ro Jae-hun, has characterized bilateral relations as entering a transformative phase following President Xi Jinping’s landmark visit to South Korea last month—his first in over a decade. In an exclusive interview with China Daily, the ambassador revealed that both nations are actively engaged in diplomatic communications regarding an anticipated visit to China by ROK President Lee Jae-myung, following an official invitation extended by Xi.

    The historic meeting between the two leaders in Gyeongju has been described as a pivotal moment for advancing mutual development and contributing to regional and global stability. Ambassador Ro emphasized that despite evolving global dynamics and domestic changes, the fundamental principle of mutually beneficial cooperation continues to drive economic growth in both countries.

    Economic ties remain exceptionally strong, with bilateral trade reaching $328.08 billion in 2024, representing a 5.6% year-on-year increase. China has maintained its position as South Korea’s largest trading partner for 21 consecutive years, while South Korea remains China’s second-largest trading partner.

    This year marks the tenth anniversary of the bilateral free trade agreement, with both parties agreeing to accelerate second-phase negotiations that will expand into service sectors including culture and tourism. While acknowledging challenges such as trade protectionism and global supply chain restructuring that have affected some Korean exports to China, Ro framed these as opportunities for deeper collaboration.

    The ambassador advocated for a strategic shift from vertical economic division to horizontal partnership, highlighting emerging sectors for cooperation including artificial intelligence, robotics, biomedicine, and new energy technologies.

    Ro brings a unique personal perspective to his diplomatic role. His father, former ROK President Ro Tae-woo, established diplomatic relations between the two nations in 1992 and became the first Korean president to officially visit China later that same year. The ambassador described continuing this legacy as both a personal mission and responsibility.

    People-to-people connections remain central to bilateral relations, with Ro citing the phenomenon of giant panda Fu Bao—born in South Korea and returned to China—as emblematic of transnational affection that transcends borders. Recent reciprocal visa-free policies for tourists and business travelers have further facilitated cross-border exchanges.

    The ambassador called for intensified interactions between local governments, media organizations, academic institutions, and especially youth programs to deepen mutual understanding and strengthen the foundation of ROK-China relations.

  • Indian scientists find galaxy like Milky Way from 12 billion years ago

    Indian scientists find galaxy like Milky Way from 12 billion years ago

    A groundbreaking discovery by Indian astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has revealed a fully-formed spiral galaxy dating back to when the universe was merely 1.5 billion years old, fundamentally challenging existing models of early galactic evolution. This cosmic structure, named Alaknanda after a Himalayan river, exhibits symmetrical arms and a distinct central bulge remarkably similar to modern spiral galaxies like our Milky Way, despite existing during the universe’s infancy.

    The research team led by PhD candidate Rashi Jain and Professor Yogesh Wadadekar from Pune’s National Centre for Radio Astrophysics identified the galaxy while analyzing approximately 70,000 celestial objects in JWST data. Alaknanda spans approximately 30,000 light-years in diameter and contains an estimated 10 billion solar masses of stars, representing approximately one-third the size of our Milky Way but with a star formation rate 20-30 times greater.

    Published in the prestigious journal Astronomy and Astrophysics, these findings contradict prevailing astronomical theories suggesting the early universe was predominantly populated by irregular, chaotic galactic structures. The presence of such a sophisticated spiral formation merely 1.5 billion years after the Big Bang indicates the universe achieved structural maturity much earlier than previously believed.

    ‘This galaxy had to assemble tremendous stellar mass and develop complex spiral architecture within just a few hundred million years—an incredibly rapid timeline by cosmic standards,’ Professor Wadadekar explained. The discovery suggests current models may significantly underestimate the speed and complexity of galactic evolution in the universe’s formative epochs.

    The researchers plan to conduct follow-up observations using both JWST and the ALMA observatory in Chile to investigate the mechanisms enabling such rapid spiral arm formation. As light from Alaknanda has traveled 12 billion years to reach Earth, astronomers are essentially observing the galaxy’s ancient state, with its current condition remaining unknown until future light arrives.

    This discovery adds to growing evidence from JWST observations that the early universe contained more sophisticated structures than previously theorized, prompting potential revisions to our understanding of cosmic dawn and galactic development processes.

  • China’s Xi and France’s Macron pledge cooperation on global crises and trade

    China’s Xi and France’s Macron pledge cooperation on global crises and trade

    In a significant diplomatic engagement, Chinese President Xi Jinping and French President Emmanuel Macron convened in Beijing on Thursday, emphasizing strengthened bilateral cooperation amidst global geopolitical challenges. The high-level discussions, part of Macron’s three-day state visit, centered on two primary agendas: resolving the Ukraine conflict and rebalancing economic relations.

    President Macron articulated the urgency of Sino-French collaboration in preserving international order, explicitly requesting China’s support for achieving an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine. “We confront the potential disintegration of the international order that maintained global peace for decades,” Macron stated. “In this context, Franco-Chinese dialogue becomes critically essential.” He specifically urged Beijing to endorse a moratorium on strikes targeting critical infrastructure in Ukraine.

    While President Xi refrained from directly committing to France’s ceasefire appeal, he affirmed that “China endorses all peace-seeking endeavors” and advocated for a universally acceptable peace agreement. China maintains its position of providing substantial diplomatic and economic support to Russia since the invasion commenced.

    Beyond Ukraine, the leaders announced concrete cooperation measures. President Xi pledged $100 million in humanitarian assistance for Gaza’s recovery and reconstruction. The nations signed twelve bilateral agreements spanning aerospace, nuclear energy, green industries, and artificial intelligence. Notably, the agreements included panda conservation initiatives and enhanced academic exchanges between higher education institutions.

    The economic dimension revealed underlying tensions, with the European Union recording a €300 billion trade deficit with China last year. Despite the EU’s characterization of China as simultaneously “partner, competitor and systemic rival,” France secured exemptions for most cognac producers from recent trade investigations. President Xi committed to further market liberalization, stating China would “expand market access and open investment areas” to facilitate rational industrial and supply chain布局.

    Analysts observed that China potentially seeks to strengthen bilateral ties with individual EU members like France, potentially at the expense of EU unity. The leaders emphasized strategic independence and multilateralism, with Xi noting that major powers should “demonstrate independence and strategic vision… on core matters and major critical issues.”

    The French presidential delegation subsequently traveled to Chengdu, home to China’s premier panda conservation facility, symbolizing the cultural exchange dimension of the relationship.

  • Turkey’s energy minister warns of threat to oil and gas supplies after tankers targeted

    Turkey’s energy minister warns of threat to oil and gas supplies after tankers targeted

    ISTANBUL — Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar has issued an urgent appeal for safeguarding critical energy infrastructure in the Black Sea following a series of naval drone strikes targeting Russian oil tankers near Turkey’s coastline. The recent attacks, claimed by Ukrainian forces, have raised significant concerns about the security of energy transportation routes and underwater pipelines in the region.

    Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, Minister Bayraktar emphasized the dual vulnerability of maritime shipping and two crucial subsea pipelines—Blue Stream and Turk Stream—that transport natural gas from Russia to Turkey. Drawing parallels to the 2022 Nord Stream pipeline sabotage incident, Bayraktar highlighted Turkey’s substantial dependence on imported energy resources.

    “We implore all involved parties to exempt energy infrastructure from military conflicts, as these facilities directly impact civilian daily life,” Bayraktar stated. “Maintaining uninterrupted energy flows through the Black Sea and the strategic Bosphorus and Dardanelles straits remains imperative for regional stability.”

    Ukrainian authorities confirmed targeting two tankers on November 28, with a third vessel struck Tuesday en route to the Turkish port of Sinop. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemned these incidents as serious threats to “navigation safety, human life, and environmental protection” within Turkey’s exclusive economic zone.

    The situation presents complex geopolitical challenges for Turkey, a NATO member that relies on Russian hydrocarbons for nearly half its total energy consumption. This dependency has drawn pressure from Washington, including during President Erdogan’s September meeting with Donald Trump, where the former U.S. president encouraged reduced Turkish energy ties with Moscow.

    Despite these pressures, Bayraktar defended Turkey’s energy relationship with Russia, noting Moscow’s historical reliability as a supplier since Turkey’s gas transition in the 1980s. However, he acknowledged the necessity of diversifying Turkey’s energy portfolio: “While Russia has proven dependable, maintaining a balanced supply framework remains crucial. We are actively pursuing competitive gas from multiple sources to avoid overreliance on any single nation.”

    Concurrently, Turkey continues expanding energy cooperation with Russia beyond hydrocarbons. The Russian state corporation Rosatom is constructing the Akkuyu nuclear power plant on Turkey’s Mediterranean coast, projected to generate approximately 10% of Turkey’s electricity upon completion. However, the project faces significant challenges including Western sanctions-related delays and a reported $2 billion financing obstruction at JP Morgan due to frozen Russian assets.

    Bayraktar revealed that project administrators have sought Chinese components to replace unavailable Western technology and are now seeking mediation to release frozen funds for project continuation. The minister anticipates the first electricity generation from Akkuyu by next year, despite ongoing complications arising from geopolitical tensions.

  • Hong Kong residents and experts defend bamboo scaffolding after deadly fire

    Hong Kong residents and experts defend bamboo scaffolding after deadly fire

    A contentious debate has emerged in Hong Kong regarding the role of traditional bamboo scaffolding in the city’s deadliest fire in decades, which claimed 159 lives at the Wang Fuk Court complex on November 26. While authorities quickly identified the bamboo structures and their green netting as primary factors in the rapid spread of flames, construction experts, residents, and former officials are challenging this assessment, arguing that systemic regulatory failures rather than the material itself deserve scrutiny.

    The tragic incident occurred during ongoing building renovations, where preliminary investigations revealed the use of substandard fire netting and flammable foam boards for window sealing. Despite officials including Chief Secretary Eric Chan characterizing bamboo’s fire resistance as ‘inferior’ to metal alternatives, architectural specialists caution against simplistic conclusions.

    Professor Kristof Crolla from the University of Hong Kong emphasized that ‘when properly used with certified fire-retardant netting, bamboo is comparatively hard to ignite.’ His colleague Raffaella Endrizzi from Chinese University of Hong Kong noted that focusing solely on bamboo risks obscuring broader safety issues, adding that the material isn’t easily ignited under proper conditions.

    The defense of bamboo scaffolding highlights its unique advantages in Hong Kong’s dense urban environment. Generations of skilled workers have mastered this centuries-old technique, which offers unparalleled flexibility, light weight, and adaptability to irregular building facades. Hong Kong and Kowloon Bamboo Scaffolding Workers Union chairman Ho Ping-tak noted that bamboo costs half or less than metal alternatives, raising questions about affordability for aging buildings requiring renovations.

    Former government officials have joined the critique, with security chief Regina Ip describing the bamboo focus as ‘lazy scapegoating’ and ex-financial secretary John Tsang warning against hasty bans of the flexible material. Public sentiment echoes these concerns, with memorial notes at the disaster site calling for systemic review rather than material replacement.

    Meanwhile, authorities have arrested 15 individuals for suspected corruption and negligence in the renovation project, revealing deeper issues of bid-rigging and substandard materials. The government has ordered removal of scaffolding nets at hundreds of buildings for testing, while Chief Executive John Lee pledged systemic industry reforms and an independent investigation to ‘uncover the truth and ensure justice.’