China's top leadership is deliberating on a new five-year plan, as economy holds firm amid global headwinds.
Newly elected Ko Ming-chang chair calls for closer cross-street cooperation, encouraging people in Taiwan to proudly and confidently say I'm Chinese.
And Afghanistan and Pakistan hold high-level talks in Doha as ceasefire is extended.
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China's top leadership is charting the country's next phase of development.
At the Communist Party of China's 20th Central Committee convened its fourth plenary session in Beijing on Monday.
General Secretary Xi Jinping of the CPC Central Committee delivered a work report and outlined the draft proposals for the 15th five-year plan, which will guide the country's development through 2030.
Meanwhile, unofficial data shows China's economy expanded by 52 in the first three quarters, remaining on track to meet the annual growth target of around 5.
The National Bureau of Statistics says this figure reflects strong resilience and steady progress despite global headwinds.
To delve into what this new blueprint could mean for China's future trajectory and its role in the global economy, let's bring in Professor Liu Baocheng, Director of the Center for International Business Ethics at University of International Business and Economics, Professor Andy Mock at Beijing Foreign Studies University and a Senior Research Fellow at the Center for China and Globalization.
Gentlemen, the fourth plenary session is being held at a critical stage of China's development.
And how do you describe its historical significance for the country's politics and economy?
Well, it certainly has enormous historical significance.
But I think let me point out what is its role in the future of China.
So this five-year plan, of course, is the latest iteration of the five-year planning process.
But I think what really matters, and it's important to understand, is that it's become a platitude to say that China plans in decades and not years.
But it really does matter here, because there's two years 2035 and 2049 that I think our audience really should better understand.
So 2049 is the 100th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.
And at that date, China intends to be a great socialist country.
And what does that mean in plain English?
So in plain English, it means that China's global stature will match its civilizational weight.
So then let's look at 2035.
In 2035, China intends to achieve what it calls basic modernization.
And what that means is that it will have the complete toolkit for achieving its goal in 2049 for becoming a great socialist country.
So this toolkit includes technology.
It includes economics.
It includes societal transformations.
And this 15th five-year plan, we have to look at in that context because it's 10 years away.
This plan is going to be very, very important as a bridge to achieving the goals of 2035 and 2049.
I think this is one reason, besides the historical significance, that we really should pay attention to what are its future implications?
Professor Liu Baocheng, anything to add?
What unique mission does this session carry? within China's historical context?
China has maintained the continuity of such subtle planning, but it's very different to what we did in the past, before the open-door policy, because right now, this five-year plan is there to chart out the blueprint for Chinese development, but leaving more flexibilities to the local government and different sectors.
And it is important in that it is quite a turning point where the 14th Five Plan can be summarized with more of their achievements and lessons, so that they build a clearer picture of what is lying ahead for the next Five Plan.
So this is also important for another aspect, which is that the party needs to be able to consolidate its bureaucracies, its instruments, behind all the packages of economic, social and also security goals at the time of such elevated external uncertainties and also when China is fighting an uphill battle in upgrading its industrial structure and showing up the confidence on the consumer side.
So a lot has been expected to come out with more certainties and also with more assurances as how we can move ahead for the critical next five-year plan.
Professor, the session is reviewing the 14th five-year plan achievements and to lay out the blueprint for the 15th five-year plan.
Then, from your perspective, what's the most notable success of the 14th five-year plan?
In areas such as innovation, industrial upgrading, green development and social well-being?
It has been very obvious China has really achieved a great deal in fostering the new productive forces by deepening its research and development investment and also to upgrade the industrial policy to support particularly the semiconductors, advanced machineries, biotech and, more obviously, the EVs batteries, etc.
And the improvement in the domestic capacities and accelerating the downstream industrial upgrading to support the resilient supply chain in which China continues to occupy its strategic position is something that's very laudable.
And the indicators can also include the green transition, in which the low carbon investment has been very much stepped up to turn China into more of an environmentally friendly country and also to serve such sort of core objective.
And the deployment of many of those renewables, like the wind power, hydropower and not to mention solar panels, etc.
That's there to boost both the efficiency and also the such sort of green industries that can command a lot more respect from all parties.
So the, i think.
Lastly, the social well-being uh has been uh also the uh very much a laudable in their achievements uh in stabilizing employment uh, you know, keep it below six percent and also the to increase the income and spreading the social uh welfare belt uh across the rural area after we have uh completely eliminated the extreme poverty.
And so what is really like next is how we can really continue such sort of momentum and spread better coverage of social welfare, particularly to cater to the elderly people, and provide more of the input into boosting the Chinese education, both in terms of research track and also in terms of technical skills, because that's there to match the China's drive for further modernization.
Andy, what's your take on the achievements of the past five years?
Well, to add to what baltong said, you know, to me what really stands out is the resilience demonstrated uh by the planning process and, of course, the government and the country as a whole.
So if we look at, you know, what really was an unprecedented uh attack against China, from a trade perspective, from a technology perspective, that I think China really demonstrated enormous resilience in the face of this, so able to rebalance trade where, despite these challenges, exports still grew, industrial production still increased this quarter.
And I think this really surprised many people around the world who, at the time, You know expected, you know, in the Western media and some analysts using words like China will be devastated obliterated, by these moves.
And, I think, really surprised many people around the world.
And China, I think, in some ways actually has emerged even stronger, with an even deeper sense of self-confidence to face both domestic and international challenges moving forward.
Speaking of that, Andy, we know the West has long been downplaying China's manufacturing sector.
Now looking back the achievements of the 14th five-year plan, one set of data stands out.
China's manufacturing value-added increased by 8 trillion yuan about 12 trillion US dollars, between 2020 and 2024, contributing over 30 to global manufacturing growth.
And China's sharing of global manufacturing value-added now approaches 30, with the total scale remaining the world's largest for 15 consecutive years.
How do you interpret these figures and what do they imply for both domestic and international markets?
Well, that's such a great point, Yun.
And I think, to add to what you just said, I think China also occupies a leading position in every single manufacturing sector.
So not only, as you mentioned, occupying such an important position, position globally in manufacturing value-add, but in every sector as well.
And I think what this reveals and underscores is one the enormous size of China's talent pool, manufacturing infrastructure.
I think it also demonstrates the creativity and innovation because again, we have to recognize here that, whether we're talking about the domestic market or the global market, No one is forcing people to buy Chinese manufacturing goods.
These are choices made by individuals and businesses, and often governments around the world, who recognize not only the cost competitiveness of Chinese goods, but increasingly their advanced technological content, their design, the high level of design that products like EVs, like smartphones incorporate, and their reliability as well.
So to me, this is one of the biggest takeaways.
Professor Liu, what's your take?
How significant is China's manufacturing sector for the global economy today?
And with such a strong growth momentum, what are the key drivers and which industries are expected to continue leading in the next five years?
I think that's a very important question that can underline several realities we are facing.
Number one is that China remains the backbone of global manufacturing, both in skill and capacity.
And second, it also indicates the Chinese business leaders have been very smart and agile in getting adaptive to the changing, volatile global environment, in dealing with the tariffs, in dealing with the expansion into new markets.
And third, China's growth is pretty much predicted by the continued government support in the RD expenditure, in broadening their export channels and also in streamlining the domestic market, particularly between rural and urban areas, through more of the standards and also quality control.
And then it is also the Chinese education contributes a great deal, because every year we produce more than 10 million college graduates that can also feed into the workforce with a higher skills and broader knowledge.
So this is something that's very commendable.
And now what we need is to address some of the structural vulnerabilities, like how we can really prevent excessive domestic competition.
And among industries.
For example, we have so many car manufacturers and therefore they have to compete very tough with the best price and best quality.
And then we also need to be prepared against more of the headwinds that to come due to geopolitical tensions and also due to the continued evolvement of the global supply chain.
Professor Liu, many see this session as a sign of where China's economy is headed.
The latest numbers show GDP grew 52 in the first three quarters, despite a tough global environment.
Then, what's your take on China's economic performance so far, and how ready is it to march into the next five years?
Well, it's really a continuation of the Chinese growth momentum.
Since last year's 53 and now, Over the last nine months, we achieved 52, which is not really the task we have really fulfilled.
And now the World Bank has predicted 4.8% growth for this whole year.
I think we are going to be able to beat the prediction of the global institutions based on a number of the supports.
One is that...
China remains rather resilient in its manufacturing drive and it seems that the diversion to more of the market other than the United States has been very successful so far.
And now more of the recovery is already very visible in the expansion of the Chinese manufacturing business and particularly with the inclusion of artificial intelligence and big data and those technologies.
And then the government has also provided more of the investment in the social goods, in terms of the elderly care, in terms of the Medicare and also the spread out of social welfare belt to cover almost all corner of the world, particularly in those rural areas.
And then There are also problems that need to be addressed with the uneven development between different regions, between different sectors, and also how policy support, including fiscal and monetary ones, how they can really be more targeted to support the strategic pillars while also giving more of the comfortable environment to those smaller private businesses.
So this is something I think the government needs to address.
And then the real estate industry still remains rather lackluster.
So hopefully with the new transition that can really be able to show some silver lining in boosting the Chinese overall growth rate.
Lastly, I think, the local government.
Certain local governments are also facing mounting debt burdens.
So that needs to be addressed together between the central government, local government and also their business communities.
Andy, how do you assess China's economic performance this year as it marches ahead? well i think that certainly as balchung pointed out you know there are strap uh challenges some cyclical some structural that need to be addressed um but for me i see uh enormous potential and a lot of excitement uh domestically and globally around a couple of areas uh so one obviously uh new energy uh products electric vehicles solar panels uh is probably the clearest and the most mature Robotics, I think, is another area that will certainly play to China's strengths.
It's not just the ability to innovate in terms of algorithms, as we've seen with DeepSeq, but when we combine that with China's deep engineering pool and its manufacturing capability, I think this is going to be something that's going to be a very important growth driver as a sector in and of itself, but also powering manufacturing and maybe even healthcare agriculture, other sectors as well.
And then finally, this sector, I think, doesn't get enough attention, but will certainly get more global attention in the years to come.
And this is China's agriculture sector.
And one policy that China has emphasized is becoming an agricultural powerhouse.
And that involves really three things.
It involves technology to make farmers more productive, whether this is mechanization or digitization, more advanced farming equipment, but also seeds, soil preservation.
These more technological advances, but also organizational reform as well, to unlock the potential of China's farmers and farmland by allowing farmers to aggregate and achieve economies of scale.
And finally, to liberate farmers by raising their incomes through larger societal type initiatives.
And I think this is something that is a little bit under the radar screen at this point, but I think we'll be certainly getting a lot more attention, as these achievements are increasingly better understood in China as well as around the world.
Andy, one last question.
Looking ahead, given the sluggish global economic recovery and rising geopolitical tensions and intensified technological competition, how do you think these external challenges will shape the planning and implementation of the 15th Five-Year Plan?
And how will China seek certainty amid such uncertainties?
Again, I would go back to my opening comment that we have to look at this from a longer term perspective and in particular the objective of 2035, when China intends to achieve what it calls basic modernization, and then 2049.
And here, I think China, again, is building out and completing the toolkit.
So of course, this would be artificial intelligence, AI-powered robotics, smart manufacturing, as well as healthcare reform.
I mentioned its goal of becoming an agricultural powerhouse, reforming the education sector, et cetera, that all of these things really should be seen in the context of a long-term vision.
And here it's very important to point out too, that many countries can talk about long-term vision, but I think China brings, certainly for such a large country, a unique ability to integrate vision, bureaucracy and legitimacy.
And this is, of course, delivering results domestically but, I think, increasingly being recognized around the world as a very viable and very, very successful alternative to traditional Western-based models of development.
And I think this is really demonstrating what China often talks about that modernization is not necessarily equal to westernization.
And this is, I think, again one of the through lines to understand China's recent five-year plans and its plans for the future.
Professor Liu, anything you'd like to add regarding your expectations for the 15th five-year plan?
Well, I've been actually involved in creating a portion to that 15th five-year plan, in which I emphasize on a delicate balance between the strategic security consideration versus the high quality development, because My conclusion is that only when you have the economic and technological might you get better safety, rather than closing the door.
And hence I think the central government is very clear and we continue to implement the institutional opening towards the outside world, because we are so much so interdependent, both on the supply side and also on the demand side, to grow the Chinese economy towards this new wave of modernization so uh, to calibrate the chinese supply chain resilience, we do need to keep an open mind.
While uh, we uh have a focus on the security consideration, the other is uh, you know, we need to uh better integration uh, if not on the whole world, but on a regional basis, and that is why China has been playing an instrumental role in the regional comprehensive economic partnership.
We're also seeking membership with CPTPP and also the digital economic partnership, etc.
So this is something that we need to be very clear about.
And lastly, I think the We need to have more of a targeted fiscal and monetary policy in order to support the growth of certain sectors that can play more of the spillover over the larger part of the economy, instead of a blanket type of support.
So I think all this will be able to help China to seek better certainty among those uncertain environments.
Thanks, gentlemen, for those valuable insights.
Professor Liu Baocheng, Director of the Center for International Business Ethics at University of International Business and Economics.
Professor Andy Mock at Beijing Foreign Studies University and a Senior Research Fellow at the Center for China and Globalization.
This is World Today.
We'll be back after a short break.
This is Road Today with Miike Anna in Beijing.
General Secretary Xi Jinping of the Communist Party of China Central Committee has congratulated Chen Liwen on her election as chairperson of the Chinese Kuomintang Party.
Xi Jinping called on the two parties to strengthen their shared political foundation, deepen exchanges and cooperation and work together toward national reunification.
He also urged joint efforts to safeguard the shared home of the Chinese nation and advance the well-being of people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.
In her reply, Chen Liwen expressed gratitude and said that people across the strait belong to the same Chinese nation, calling for closer cooperation to promote peace and stability.
So for more on this, let's have Liu Kuangyu, a researcher at Institute of Taiwan Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.
Thanks for joining us, Kuangyu.
Hello.
First, how do you interpret President Xi's congratulatory letter?
What expectations does he have for the Kuomintang Party under Chen Lihuan?
And what message does this letter convey to the both sides of the Taiwan Strait?
We see that this letter is concise yet profound, and it sends many significant signals worthy of attention.
On one hand, it reflects assessments and position of the current situation.
We know that, as Xi said, that the world is undergoing accelerated changes unseen in a century, while the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is unstoppable.
So this serves as a so-called strategic synchronization for both sides of the Taiwan Strait regarding the current global and regional landscape.
So this ensures we have a common foundation for understanding and simultaneously it offers a very positive assessment of the role of the Kuomintang in cross-relations from the Chinese mainland's perspective.
And, on the other hand, based on these assessments, extends to three expectations for compatriots on both sides of the straits, including figures like 21 and the KMT.
The first is that the continued upholding of the common political foundation between the two parties, which is the 1992 consensus and opposing Taiwan independence, to unite the broad masses of Taiwan compatriots.
This has been a consistent emphasis on CPC and KMT exchanges.
And second, a significant new emphasis at this time is on strengthening the spirit, the backbone and confidence.
I believe this strongly resonates with the clear identification of Chinese by enlightened individuals on this island, such as Ms.
Cheng Liwen.
And third is deepening exchanges and corporations to promote common development and safeguarding the shared homeland of Chinese nation.
Here, compared to the past congratulatory letters, the phrasing emphasized advancing reunification rather than merely seeking reunification.
So this reflects the reunification, this ongoing process that evolves with times and placing even higher expectations on enlightened individuals, including those within the Kuomintang.
Guangyu.
The letter reiterates adhering to the 1992 consensus and opposition to the so-called Taiwan independence at the common political foundation of the two parties.
So, as a new political cycle begins, how can the two parties further solidify and enrich the contemporary significance of this 1992 consensus through concrete actions?
I think the core of this consensus is the one China principle and the recognition that both sides of Taiwan Strip belong to one China.
We know that since 2008, based on this foundation, based on this consensus, Kuomintang and the CPC have driven the historical shift in cross-relations, moving from tension and turbulence towards peaceful development.
We see the The 23 agreements signed by the two bodies of the cross-strait, achieving breakthroughs such as direct flights and tourists, and also in the implementation of the ACFA.
We see, economic integration has grown very increasingly close and cultural identity has continued to deepen.
So the history has demonstrated that 92 consensus is the political foundation of cross-relations, and upholding this foundation enables cross-relations to overcome difficulties and move forward in providing the foundational guarantee for peace across the strait.
So also we can see.
Currently the DPP authority has been refusing to acknowledge this 1992 consensus and this has severely undermined the peaceful development of current cross relations.
So against this backdrop, I think the Kuomintang should strengthen efforts in several areas.
First, it must continue to reinforce mutual trust with the Chinese mainland regarding adherence to these consensus.
And second, it should advance institutional cooperation based on this consensus, enhancing this contemporary relevance, so that more people on the island can recognize the importance of, and experience the tangible benefits from the peaceful developments.
And third, the KMT must courageously counter the DPP's attempts to discredit, to distort and to define the 1992 consensus by clarifying its core essence and also unifying internal party consensus.
Then building on that, how do you interpret Zhang Liyuan's response to the letter?
And we know actually, before the election, while attending an event, she said under her leadership, the Kuomintang aims for all people in Taiwan to proudly and confidently say I'm Chinese.
As you earlier pointed out, she emphasized that the party must have a clear sense of Chinese identity and avoid falling into the traps set by the DPP.
So what does this reveal about her political stance?
Yes uh, i think two things we can see.
The first, that she referred to the 1992 consensus uh, upholding the one china principle.
So so this directly echoed president xi's letter.
And so we can see uh, miss chang elaborated on the historical origins of the 1992 consensus and clarify her fundamental position that the Chinese mainland and Taiwan belong to one China.
The cross relations are not between two separate countries.
So this clearly defines the fundamental nature of cultural relations, according to Ms.
Cheng Li Wen's recognition.
And second, she further elaborated that both sides across the straits belong to the Chinese nation and the two parties should build upon existing existing foundations to strengthen cross-strait exchanges and cooperation especially, she said, paving a grand future for national reunification.
So this likely indicates the historical vision and the goal of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, which is proposed by the CPC, has gained significant resonance within the Kuomintang.
So I think this is a movement with the worst notice.
One last question.
Reports say Chen Liwen's election has demonstrated high expectations within her party.
What new qualities and possibilities do you believe her election brings to the Kuomintang party?
I'd like to raise three points.
The first is that I think her top priority must be the main rifts within the party.
We know the recent elections. election were marked by fierce competition and stark divisions.
So there is a lot of work of consolidation to do so that they can work as a united party to face the upcoming 2026 local elections.
And second is the current fine relations between the KMT and the TPP the two parties because we see that TPP retains considerable strength within the opposition camp, so they must work together to face the upcoming 2026 and 2028 Taiwan so-called presidential elections.
And the third challenge lies in rebuilding the consensus on cross-strait policy.
While the KMT has long championed peaceful exchanges, we can see if Chiang can revive the spirit of mutual trust between KMT and CPC and formulate new narratives and even visit China by herself.
I think that will be very much expected.
Thanks, Kuang-Yu, for your insightful analysis.
That was Liu Kuang-Yu, researcher at Institute of Taiwan Studies at Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.
The 138th Canton Fair is underway in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou.
This year is not just about trade deals or export orders.
It's about robots, artificial intelligence, and a glimpse into the lifestyle of tomorrow.
To delve deeper into this, my colleague Zhao Yang spoke with Dr Zhou Mi, a senior researcher fellow with the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation.
So Dr. Zhongmi, when you look at this year's Canton Fair, what stood out most to you?
Well, you know, I was there just last weekend and I have seen so many new products.
I think that innovation would be one of the keywords that I have to mention for this.
You know Canton Fair and a lot of very new products are exhibited there.
I mean, it's not a brand new, i mean uh, maybe in china they have been used quite a while.
But as for the export, i think there are so many new things and many people from around the world they are going there to surprise, to be surprised by those products.
I think it's a really are very impressive and many of these visitors are holding their cameras to take photos on those new products and they have made so many connections commercially with the exhibitors.
And what do the surge of robots, AI tools and other intelligent manufacturing highlights at this year's Canton Fair?
Well, I mean, that is a kind of collectively effort.
I think that you know, for the first term of this cotton fair they are just exhibiting, mostly for the intelligent related manufacturing.
So they are manufacturing for the homes, for the you know the businesses and also for the government.
You know usage in the social management.
I think it's really widespread.
If you are looking at, for example, the air conditioner, I noticed that there is our air conditioner.
They are supported by the AI.
So they told me that use this kind of technology, that people can use the air conditioner even wiser than before.
They can just use their voice to control the temperature change and also to identify their you know personalized customs and also the parameters.
So, you know, the innovation, I mean, it's not only happened in just one exhibition.
It's happening everywhere in the exhibitions.
I think that's really very interesting for us to observe.
And many foreign buyers reportedly came not to just to you know place orders, but to witness the lifestyles of tomorrow.
So what does it tell us about how Made in China is being perceived globally today?
Yes, you know, the world is under a lot of changes.
One of the most important ones is artificial intelligence.
I think that from this fear, the cartoon of fear, many people came here not just by themselves.
Some of them are taking their children, you know, the next generation of them.
They want to pass by, you know, this kind of collaboration with Chinese counterparts.
So the ideas of the Chinese enterprises are just trying to give the possibilities.
Like for the innovation in different areas, I think that they are providing many new ideas about how can they use the new technology to deal with the currently many challenges and difficulties.
I think that is a kind of idea, because China is one of the most important manufacturing country in the world.
So we are providing solutions and at the same time, we are introducing more technology.
We are absorbing the ideas from around the world.
So we are.
You know, a lot of connections between different parts are really making it possible for us to develop a better way, you know, to the future.
And China now holds roughly two thirds of global robotics patents and has become the world's number two industrial robot exporter.
So what do you think is behind this rapid growth?
I think that first of all, we have very firm promises about the development.
So that is kind of a very important ideas and the environment for the people to do the things in the longer term.
I think China is a very huge country and the domestic market is also very important.
So in the past, many of these demands coming from outside of us, but now we are seeing that the two sides of domestically and the foreign market are both helping us to form our ideas and trying to have a better support for the development.
So I think that is really important forces for us to discover about the possibilities.
Well, the second reason, I think coming from the manufacturing.
As you can find from this Cartoon Affairs, there are so many exhibitors that are coming from, some of them from the big companies, but many of them are coming from the small and medium-sized enterprises.
So they are collectively doing a lot of efforts to strengthen the abilities and trying to reduce the cost of doing businesses.
I think that's really helpful for us to deal with a different situation in different countries.
And that is also helpful for us to help them to reduce the cost.
That's very important.
And we are seeing robots, AI and innovative drugs is developing quite rapidly.
So what's behind it?
And what does it signal about China's industrial priorities?
Do you think this new focus will help China move up the global value chain?
Well, we have to notice that there are two parts.
The first one is that the new item, as you mentioned, I think that is because that Chinese companies are really trying to address the challenges.
You know the difficulties about the.
You know the AI-related demands from the market are there, and also something to do with new drugs are there, but people are not able to deal with that.
But Chinese companies, they are going to deal with that, with their innovative ways.
I think that is kind of very important force for us to move on further or higher in the global value chain.
But on the other hand, I have to mention China, always committed to our efforts to providing a sustainable support in the traditional way or that brand new areas.
So the collaboration between our partners are trying to give them more support.
If we are going to maintain the stability and the strength of the global value chain, we have to take care of different demands of the market.
I think both are really important.
And do you think this will reshape China's export structure over the next few years?
Yeah definitely, because when we are providing the possibilities, our partners will find it and they will accept that, because that is really a good thing to meet their demands.
So, both on the win-win cooperation, our experts are trying to give the possibilities to support the global demand, and that's what we can expect.
So if you are looking back in the past several years, you know the exported lithium batteries, the solar panels and a lot of things are really increasing very quickly.
So we can expect that if we are able to provide better products in the coming future, they will also be significant in the export growth rate.
And many of these innovations, from surgical robots to AI companions, have clear global applications.
So do you see this technological momentum helping China build a more open innovation ecosystem?
I am sure that we are seeing more openness, because these new exports of these products do need more standards or requirements or mechanism.
And that is what we haven't seen in the past decades.
But if we are going to support the export or international trade, we have to provide them with this mechanism.
So we need to discuss about the possibilities with our trading partners as a intergovernmental discussion, and the mechanism and the environment will be better and even more open.
Well, if you look at this from a long-term perspective, what does this transition from made in China to creating China and now to intelligently made in China mean for global manufacturing and innovation?
Manufacturing do need new ideas and they do need better.
You know different kind of competition direction, as in the past, most of the competition happened because of the cost control, because of the scale economy, but in the future i think that the ideas or technology are even more important as a most important involvement to support the manufacturing.
The manufacturing do need a lot of, you know, confidence and trust.
I think that china is going to play are even more important role in the global market, trying to support the market demand and trying to reduce the gaps on the digital transitions or other kind of cooperation.
So that is a really big improvement and so many diversity and the possibilities we can expect from the cooperation with our trading partners in the global value chain and industrial chains.
That was Dr Zhou Mi, a senior research fellow with the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation.
Pakistan and Afghanistan have reached a ceasefire agreement to immediately halt cross-border attacks following talks in Doha.
Pakistan said the two sides' delegations will meet again in Istanbul this week to discuss details for implementing the ceasefire and enhancing security cooperation.
An Afghan government spokesperson says both sides have reaffirmed their commitment to peace and mutual respect.
The two countries have also pledged to resolve disputes through dialogue and avoid targeting each other's security forces, civilians or critical infrastructure.
So for more on this, my colleague Ding Heng spoke with Dr Zhang Chuchu, Deputy Director of the Center for Middle East Studies at Fudan University.
So thank you very much for joining us today, Dr. Zhang.
First of all, do you think this ceasefire agreement signed in Doha will really lead to lasting peace and stability between the two sides?
Okay.
I think that the recent ceasefire agreement between Pakistan and Afghanistan, which has recently been mediated in Doha, actually offers a temporary respite from the intense border clashes that erupted earlier this month.
But my understanding is that this does not necessarily mean there are no challenges, because if you look at history, then historical patterns show that similar choices have often been very short-lived due to deep rooted issues like border disputes, accusations of harboring militants and mutual distrust.
So, for instance, despite the agreement, some key border crossings remain closed, which indicates the ongoing tensions.
So, in general, without addressing the core grievances, such as Pakistan's claims that the Afghan Taliban harbors groups like the TTP, then the ceasefire risks collapsing under renewed violence.
So, exactly regarding one point you mentioned earlier, this accusation from Pakistan towards Taliban regarding its harboring, the alleged harboring of Taliban Pakistan, better known as the Akronian, as TTP.
Of course, we know Taliban denies this particular accusation.
So in your observation of the region, to what extent is the TTP really linked to the Taliban?
Well, the Pakistani Taliban is reported to have significant historical and operational links to the Afghan Taliban.
Formed in 2007 as an alliance of militant groups, the TTP shares a lot of ideological roots with the Afghan Taliban, as both drew from the Diobandi last Islamist traditions and Pashtun networks across the border.
So right now, some reports indicate that since the Afghan Taliban's return to power in 2021, they have provided increased support to the TTP.
And this alliance is shown in shared fighters training and propaganda, with the TTP pledging allegiance to the Afghan Taliban's leadership in the past.
So right now, Islamabad accuses the Afghan Taliban of harboring the TTP militants responsible for cross-border attacks, while Kabul denies this, claiming that the TTP operates independently.
Now, according to figures compiled by some third party or nonprofit organizations, the TTP has conducted more than 600 attacks against militants.
Pakistani forces in the past year and the first three quarters of this year have seen a 46 surge in terms of violence compared to last year's situation.
Why do you think the TTP is re-emerging as one of Pakistan's biggest national security threats?
Well indeed, the TTP-free emergence of one of Pakistan's biggest national security threats, as is claimed by Pakistani side, can be attributed to several interconnected factors, because reports on terrorism trends show a surge in TTP activities.
For example, the group has been linked to hundreds of attacks on Pakistani forces, with violence increasing by around 46 percent in the first three quarters of 2025 compared to the previous year, which is aligning with claims of over 600 incidents in the past year.
And key reasons include safe havens in Afghanistan, where the TTP has regrouped and recruited, also Pakistani's internal political instability and military distractions, as well as the TTP's access to weapons left behind post-United States exit.
And, in addition, it's important to note that TTP has exploited ethnic Pashtun grievances along the border and is trying to use sophisticated tactics, which contributes to a steadily resurgence.
And this has challenged Pakistani state control in border regions.
After the Taliban was ousted from power.
Following the 2001 US invasion of Afghanistan, Pakistan actually became a prime supporter of Taliban.
So fast forward to today, do you think they still have shared regional security interests?
Well, in the past, actually, Pakistan provided some support to the Afghan government.
Taliban, both overtly before 2001 and probably afterwards, viewing them as a strategic asset to counter Indian influence in Afghanistan and ensure a friendly government in Kabul.
But after the 2001 United States entrance, which ousted the Taliban, Pakistan officially allied with the United States-led coalition.
I think the relationship has deteriorated significantly due to the TTP issue.
So right now, Pakistan faces blowback from its past support.
And overall, I would say shared interests exist in countering external threats and fostering trade.
But trust deficits make cooperation very fragile.
Between Pakistan, Afghanistan and China, there is a mechanism for regular foreign ministers' dialogue.
What can China do to contribute to peace between Islamabad and Kabul?
Well, as you pointed out, the China-Pakistan-Afghanistan bilateral foreign minister's dialogue established a mechanism for regular consultations, which provides a platform for addressing a lot of shared challenges in terms of security, economic connectivity and counterterrorism.
So China, as a neutral mediator with strong ties to both Pakistan and Afghanistan, can contribute to a certain extent to peace by facilitating dialogue on border security, urging joint anti-terrorism measures and promoting economic integration, such as extending the Belt and Road Initiative projects into Afghanistan.
But at the same time also, China might also be able to host future talks to build on the Doha ceasefire, in order to further contribute to facilitate dialogue and peace talks between the two sides.
That was Zhang Chuchu from Fudan University.
That's all the time for this edition of World Today.
I'm Keanna in Beijing.
Thank you so much for listening.
Bye for now.
