China is taking concrete steps to introduce free preschool education, as part of broader efforts to ease rising child care costs for young families amid mounting demographic challenges facing the country.

The move follows a commitment China made during its annual legislative session earlier this year to gradually implement free preschool education nationwide.

In its latest directive, which was issued on Friday, the central government has urged local governments to draw detailed implementation plans swiftly, and to allocate necessary subsidies.

It has also emphasized the need to expand preschool infrastructure, raise the salaries and welfare of kindergarten teachers, and improve support for children's physical and mental well-being.

The prospect of free preschool has drawn praise from parents. Ms. Tan, a working mother in Beijing whose 3-year-old daughter is set to enter kindergarten this fall, described the policy as a timely "gift." If fully implemented, she said, it could save her family at least 9,000 yuan (1,260 U.S. dollars) a year.

Kindergarten costs in China vary widely by region and type. In Beijing, public preschools typically charge less than 10,000 yuan a year, though competition for places can be fierce. Tuition at private kindergartens ranges from a few hundred to several thousand U.S. dollars per month.

China currently provides nine years of compulsory education, covering primary and middle school. This system, which has been in place since 1986, ensures that all school-age children receive basic education. The ongoing push to make preschool education free is seen as a meaningful step to extend that guarantee to younger children.

"The policy would reduce the financial burden of childrearing and education further, potentially encouraging more families to have children," said Song Jian, deputy director of the Population Development Studies Center at Renmin University of China.

Beyond easing the financial burden on families, education experts said the policy could help bridge disparities in early childhood education between urban and rural areas, and among children from different socioeconomic backgrounds.

"It gives every child a fairer start in life, laying a stronger foundation for future academic and personal development," said Gao Bingcheng, an associate researcher at the China National Academy of Educational Sciences.

According to the latest data from China's Ministry of Education, there were 253,000 kindergartens nationwide in 2024, at which a total of 35.8 million children were enrolled.

While kindergarten typically begins at the age of 3 in China, authorities are now also turning their attention to infants and toddlers, who have traditionally been cared for at home.

As part of a broader effort to support families, the government is ramping up nursery care services for children under 3, aiming to relieve the pressures on working parents and improve early childhood development.

According to guidelines released in early July which focus on expanding affordable child care, China plans to offer 4.5 child care places per 1,000 people by the end of 2025, adding 660,000 new subsidized places.

For parents like Tan, the availability of affordable day care for children under 3 is a decisive factor in family planning. "It's a key consideration in whether or not I have a second child," she said.

Thanks to increased government investment, more subsidized nursery spaces and programs are now available, offering families like Tan's greater access and affordability.

Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Beijing on Tuesday.

Xi once again congratulated Albanese on his re-election. He said that with the joint efforts of both sides, China-Australia relations have emerged from their low point and achieved a turnaround in recent years, bringing tangible benefits to the people of both countries.

The most important insight this gives us is that treating each other as equals, seeking common ground while shelving differences, and engaging in mutually beneficial cooperation serve the fundamental interests of both China and Australia and the two peoples, Xi said.

Noting that the China-Australia comprehensive strategic partnership has entered its second decade, Xi said China stands ready to work with Australia to further advance their relations for sound development to bring greater benefits to the two peoples. 

In response to an inquiry on that the so-called "mainland affairs council" in the Taiwan island asked the mainland to explain and apologize for Chinese embassy staff in the Czech Republic "attacking" Hsiao Bi-khim during her visit to Czech Republic, Chen Binhua, a spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, said on Wednesday that we have always clearly opposed any form of official exchanges between countries having diplomatic ties with China and the Taiwan region, and firmly opposed relevant country providing a political stage for "Taiwan independence" separatists.

Relevant countries should abide by the one-China principle and not be provoked and exploited by "Taiwan independence" separatist forces, said Chen, noting that Chinese diplomats have always abided by the laws and regulations of the host countries. 

The so-called "attack" incident hyped up by the relevant countries and the DPP authorities is made up and reverses right and wrong. The DPP authorities have once again maliciously hyped up the topic in order to incite hostile confrontation between the two sides of the Taiwan Straits, said Chen.

Chen also warned the DPP authorities that no matter how many times they repeat their lies, they will not come true, and the continuous farce will only bring shame upon themselves.

China's first composite wind tunnel dedicated to aerodynamic research of low-altitude aircraft was officially completed and put into operation in Guangzhou, South China's Guangdong Province on Wednesday, filling a critical infrastructure gap between laboratory research and real-world scenario validation for low-altitude aircraft. 

The wind tunnel, developed by the Guangdong Aerospace Research Academy (GARA) in Guangzhou's Nansha district marks a significant breakthrough in building foundational scientific research platforms for the low-altitude economy in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, the Science and Technology Daily reported on Thursday. 

A wind tunnel is a large experimental platform that generates controlled airflow to simulate the flight conditions. Through wind tunnel experiments, researchers can conduct in-depth study of the aerodynamic characteristics of aircraft and optimize their control performance. It is a critical step before an aircraft can fly, according to the China Central Television. 

Compared to outdoor testing, wind tunnel experiments offer shorter testing cycles and lower costs, the Science and Technology Daily reported.  

"Wind tunnel testing works by fixing the aircraft in place and generating airflow to create relative motion, allowing for precise measurement of various technical parameters as if the aircraft were flying in the sky," explained Sun Liangbao, head of wind tunnel technology at the GARA. Sun noted that the new tunnel will play a key role in verifying aircraft wind resistance and safety, according to the Science and Technology Daily.  

This wind tunnel integrates both the traditional aviation wind tunnel and the windshaper for drone testing, making it the first 4.5-meter-class wind tunnel in China dedicated to aerodynamic testing of low-altitude aircraft. It will provide low-altitude aircraft developers with efficient and convenient "on-the-doorstep" testing services, reducing the time from coordination to the completion of experiment to just three to four months. This is expected to significantly cut R&D costs and accelerate the commercialization of technological breakthroughs. 

GARA also plans to establish the "Bay Area No.1" wind tunnel test data sharing platform for aircraft and will continue to work jointly with low-altitude aircraft R&D institutions, universities and enterprises to tackle key technologies and build a standardized wind tunnel testing system for low-altitude aircraft, according to media reports. 

At Guling (Kuliang), a mountain retreat in Fuzhou, East China's Fujian Province, where American and Chinese families once lived as neighbors, the stories shared by the "Kuliang Friends," a group founded by descendants of American families who once lived in Kuliang, and the Sino-American Aviation Heritage Foundation reveal a century-old bond that transcends time and politics. Against the backdrop of today's complex China-US relations, their legacy offers a powerful lesson: Only through dialogue can friendship be nurtured.

Memories of touching stories

Recently, a story-sharing event of the " Kuliang Friends" was held in Kuliang, bringing together people from both sides to share precious historical photographs, books and materials, recounting stories that highlighted the power of cross-cultural understanding, respect and resonance in today's complex world.

Margaret Carmichael, a descendant of Lydia Trimble, shared the story of Trimble at the event. Trimble grew up poor in Canada and decided to become a missionary in China. At 24, she set sail for China, determined to fit in. She promised never to speak English to the Chinese and learned the local dialect, as well as Putonghua. Traveling across villages, she found many girls lacked education, so she taught them five powerful words: "I can and I will."

Within a few years, Trimble helped open many schools and trained local women to become teachers. She founded Hwa Nan College in Fuzhou, one of China's first schools for young women. She spent 50 years working there and later wrote, "I love the Chinese people. I am Chinese."

Thomas Hemenway, also a member of the "Kuliang Friends," visited Minqing county in Fuzhou on July 13 to trace the footsteps of his ancestor, Dr Ruth Hemenway. Touching the weathered bricks at Minqing Liudu Hospital, Thomas said, "I'm so proud and excited to stand where my ancestor once served."

In 1924, 30-year-old Ruth Hemenway traveled from Massachusetts to China, becoming the hospital's second director. She introduced advanced medical techniques, expanded facilities and brought modern amenities like running water, electricity and telephones - a rarity in rural Minqing at the time. Under her leadership, the hospital also pioneered surgical procedures in the region.

A heartfelt moment occurred when Thomas met Huang Yao, the granddaughter of Huaxing, a Chinese girl whom Ruth had adopted. For years, Huang Yao had pieced together fragments of family history, longing to reconnect with Ruth's American relatives. Across the Pacific, Thomas had also been searching. Over a year ago, they found each other online, sharing stories buried by decades. "It's like a dream," Thomas said.

The "Kuliang Friends" was founded in 2016 by Elyn MacInnis, a tireless advocate for China-US people-to-people ties. Over the years, MacInnis has collected more than 200 historical photographs, over 100,000 words of archival materials, and built the first English-language website dedicated to Kuliang. She also helped identify people in old photographs using artificial intelligence (AI) technology, and reconnected descendants of families who once lived in the village, media reported.

In recognition of her contributions, MacInnis was honored with the Friendship Envoy Award of the 2025 Orchid Awards in Beijing. Upon receiving the award, she said, "I have spent much of my life building bridges of friendship between China and the US. The bridges are not made of steel or stone — they are built from warm, kindhearted people," reported China.org.cn.  

At the event in Kuliang, MacInnis reflected on China-US exchanges, saying "I think it's a wonderful continuation of a long story. It's only when we have dialogue that we can be friends."

'Together, the Americans and the Chinese win'

Upon the gathering of Chinese and US delegates in Fuzhou, Global Times reporters spoke with Jeffrey Greene, chairman of the Sino-American Aviation Heritage Foundation, who shared touching stories of the Flying Tigers who helped the Chinese people fight the invading Japanese troops in the 1940s. 

On December 20, 1941, the American Volunteer Group of the Chinese Air Force, led by US General Claire Lee Chennault, successfully defended Kunming, Southwest China's Yunnan Province, downing several Japanese bombers and halting further attacks there for a year and a half. Greene, also a descendant of Flying Tigers veteran, recalled. "The Chinese named them Flying Tigers, inspired by folklore symbolizing their invincibility," he told the Global Times. 

Greene highlighted the profound sacrifices made by Chinese civilians to support the American airmen. "You talk to American pilots who were here with the ground crew, and they all talk about the eggs. They remember the eggs 80 years ago. Those were the Chinese villagers who gave up their eggs, even cutting back on the eggs they gave to their children so the American pilots could have them. That's extraordinary," Greene said.

Beyond food, Chinese civilians risked their lives to rescue downed American airmen. Greene noted that over 93 percent of American airmen who landed in China after being shot down were rescued by Chinese locals, despite the threat of Japanese retaliation. These acts of courage and sacrifice forged a deep bond between the Chinese people and the Flying Tigers, making them a symbol of hope and resistance.

"It's a message of great courage. It's a message of sacrifice, and it's a message of love," Greene said. "That remarkable relationship shows that together, the Americans and the Chinese won. It's a voice from history speaking to us, saying that America and China, when they fight for something together, they're going to win. That's what history has taught us."

The Sino-American Aviation Heritage Foundation continues to honor this legacy through educational programs and exhibitions. The Flying Tiger Friendship School Program, launched last year, brought 70 American students to China in 2024 and plans to bring 200 more in 2025. It also engages Chinese students from 100 top schools through cultural exchanges, video conferencing and historical education. 

"American media often doesn't know much about China, and that has led to misunderstandings," Greene said, noting that the foundation's work aims to share true historical narratives to encourage mutual respect and curiosity. 

"Our [American] kids who come here are very interested in learning and meeting Chinese kids their own age. Once they do that, once they make a friend, they'll say, 'he's not my enemy. I had a good time with him. We drank soda and played computer games together, and we found out how much we're alike.' We have more commonalities than differences," Greene noted. 

When asked to comment on reports that a growing number of foreign vessels have recently flown the Chinese national flag while transiting the Strait of Hormuz to avoid being targeted, and on analysts' views that China's consistent adherence to fairness, justice and win-win cooperation has contributed to the safety of Chinese ships in the Middle East, Jiang Bin, a spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense, said that justice resides in people's hearts. 

China will continue to stand on the side of peace, justice and the right course of history, contributing stability and positive energy to the safeguarding of regional and global peace, he said.

In a heartfelt journey bridging the past and the future, Nauruan President David Adeang returned to his ancestral roots in South China's Guangdong Province from Sunday to Wednesday, reconnecting with long-lost relatives and reaffirming the deep cultural and historical bonds between Nauru and the Pearl River Delta.

According to the China News Service on Wednesday, the four-day visit saw Adeang tracing his family lineage to Zhonggu village in Jiangmen, where his great-grandfather surnamed Situ embarked on a journey over a century ago that would eventually lead his descendants to the Pacific island nation of Nauru. The emotional homecoming, marked by tearful reunions, ancestral worship, and pledges for closer cooperation, underscores the enduring ties between China and Nauru, a Chinese expert said on Wednesday.

On Tuesday, Adeang, accompanied by his children and grandchildren, sat beneath a sprawling banyan tree in Zhonggu village, sharing lychees and longans with his 81-year-old relative, Tan Huixia.

"It is a tremendous honor to be warmly welcomed in my ancestral hometown alongside my aunt, children, and grandchildren. I sincerely hope to return frequently to visit the land of my roots," Adeang said, according to the media report.

Tan, still remarkably spry, handed him a handful of longans, a simple yet profound gesture of familial affection. "I'm overjoyed to see him," she said warmly, "and hope he can visit more often."

Earlier that day, Adeang and his family visited Su'an Julu, a historic ancestral hall blending Chinese and Western architectural styles, where generations of the Situ clan have gathered for worship and reunions. Climbing the newly restored stone steps, the Nauruan president led his family in traditional rites according to hometown customs - paying solemn tribute to their forebears with profound gratitude - before planting a banyan tree opposite the hall as a living testament to his family's enduring roots, China News Service reported.

At the Situ Clan Library, Adeang looked through the genealogical records and pointed excitedly at his own name upon discovering it.

While touring his hometown, the presidential delegation was greeted by enthusiastic crowds waving and shouting, "Welcome to Jiangmen!" Adeang warmly waved back and captured the town's scenery with his phone as mementos.
A highlight of the visit was Adeang's tour of the China Qiaodu Museum of Overseas Chinese in Jiangmen, where exhibits chronicled the struggles and triumphs of generations of emigrants from Guangdong.

Nauru, often called the "Paradise Island" of the Pacific, lies just 42 kilometers south of the equator. This coral atoll nation has become home to many Chinese immigrants, predominantly from Jiangmen in Guangdong Province and from Fujian Province, who have since become integral to Nauruan society, nfnews.com reported Tuesday.

"As president, I've visited many countries and tasted numerous cuisines, but this journey is truly unique and unforgettable," Adeang said. "I hope to return often and witness my ancestral hometown's continued prosperity."

On Monday, Huang Kunming, secretary of the Guangdong Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China, met with Adeang in Guangzhou.

Huang said that the formal reestablishment of diplomatic relations between China and Nauru last year opened a new chapter in bilateral ties.

"Guangdong and Nauru enjoy close people-to-people bonds and a time-honored history of exchanges. Most Chinese descendants in Nauru, including President Adeang's ancestors, trace their roots to Guangdong," Huang said.

He remarked that Adeang's roots-seeking visit serves as a vivid testament to the blood ties between the peoples and will surely deepen bilateral exchanges and cooperation.

"Within the framework of China-Nauru friendship, we will further facilitate personnel exchanges, consolidate and expand cooperation in infrastructure, healthcare, cultural tourism and other fields, make good use of our abundant marine resources, and explore various forms of cooperation such as joint marine ranching, deep-sea fishing, mariculture, and advanced fishery processing," Huang added.

Adeang reaffirmed Nauru's commitment to the one-China principle and praised China's global initiatives, which he said have garnered strong support across the Pacific. "Enhancing cultural exchanges is vital to our bilateral relationship," Adeang noted.

As Adeang's journey concluded, a Chinese analyst highlighted its broader significance. "This visit is about rekindling kinship and fostering grassroots exchanges," Chen Hong, director of the Asia Pacific Studies Centre at East China Normal University, told the Global Times on Wednesday. "Shared heritage can be the foundation for sustainable cooperation," Chen said.

According to Chen, historically, many Pacific Islanders maintained close ties with China's Guangdong, Fujian and Taiwan regions. Early waves of Chinese migrants settled across Pacific Island nations, followed by generations of entrepreneurs establishing businesses. "These historical connections have created a community with a shared future between China and Pacific Island countries, forging enduring bonds," Chen said.

Chen remarked that such down-to-earth exchanges hold irreplaceable value in improving Pacific Islanders' understanding of China, noting that future initiatives like ancestral hall restorations and genealogical archives could foster youth exchanges.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi meets with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on the sidelines of the ASEAN foreign ministerial events: CCTV news

French President Emmanuel Macron met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Friday, pledging to jointly promote multilateralism and strengthen coordination against hegemonic conflicts and bloc confrontation.

During their meeting at the Elysee Palace, Macron asked Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, to convey his best wishes and friendly regards to Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Macron noted that France and China share a broad consensus on numerous important issues, including advocating multilateralism and adhering to international laws. France and China, both permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, bear even greater responsibilities as today's world is facing challenges of growing uncertainty and unpredictability.

The French side looks forward to strengthening policy coordination with China on international economic, financial, and global governance issues, jointly addressing global challenges, injecting more vitality into multilateralism, and preventing the world from falling into hegemonic conflicts and bloc confrontations, Macron said.

He said the European Union and China should make strategic choices to become each other's predictable and trustworthy friends and partners on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. The French side places great importance on developing France-China relations and welcomes more Chinese investment to France to develop a more balanced economic and trade relationship.

He expressed hope to visit China again at an appropriate time.

Wang conveyed President Xi's warm regards to Macron, stating that China is willing to work with France to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, prepare for high-level exchanges in the next phase, and deepen cooperation in all fields.

China and France are comprehensive strategic partners and two major stabilizing forces in the world, Wang noted, stressing that the more turbulent the international situation becomes, the more the strategic value of China-France relations is highlighted.

China believes that the trend of multi-polarization is unstoppable, and the trend of globalization is irreversible, Wang said, emphasizing that the 80th anniversary of the United Nations should be taken as an opportunity to further strengthen the UN's core role and ensure it plays its due role.

He said China is willing to strengthen strategic communication and united cooperation with France, jointly practice multilateralism, oppose unilateral bullying, and resist bloc confrontations, so as to inject more certainty and predictability into a world of change and turmoil, promote equal and orderly multi-polarization and universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, and work together to build a community with a shared future for mankind.

He stated that China is advancing toward high-quality development, committed to building a new, higher-level open economic system, creating a world-class business environment that is market-oriented, law-based, and internationalized, while actively advancing the strategy of expanding domestic demand.

China is willing to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation with France and hopes that the French side will provide a more favorable and fair environment for Chinese enterprises to invest and operate in France, he said.

China and the EU have resolved the brandy issue through friendly consultations, noted Wang, expressing the hope that France, as a core major power in the EU, will urge the EU side to properly address China-EU trade and economic disputes and actively respond to China's concerns.

The two sides also exchanged views on the Ukraine crisis, the Gaza situation, the Iranian nuclear issue, and other topics.

China on Monday held a ceremony in Beijing to mark the 88th anniversary of the start of the entire nation's resistance against Japanese aggression.

An exhibition themed "For National Liberation and World Peace" was also launched to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.

Both the ceremony and the exhibition were held at the Museum of the War of Chinese People's Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, located near the Lugou Bridge -- also known as the Marco Polo Bridge -- where Japanese troops attacked Chinese forces on July 7, 1937.

Cai Qi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and a member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, delivered a speech at the event and announced the opening of the exhibition.

When Japanese militarists staged the Lugou Bridge Incident and launched their full-scale invasion of China 88 years ago, the Chinese military and people rose up in resistance, initiating a whole-of-nation war effort that opened the main Eastern battlefield in the global war against fascism, said Cai.

Cai stressed that the CPC fought bravely on the front lines of the resistance and set the direction of the national effort, serving as the pillar of the entire nation throughout the war.

United in purpose, the Chinese people fought with unwavering resolve -- for the country's survival, national rejuvenation, and the cause of justice for all humanity, Cai said, adding that they eventually won the war and made a significant contribution to the victory in the global war against fascism.

The exhibition presents a panoramic view of the glorious course of the Chinese people's 14-year hard war of resistance, said Cai, who emphasized the need to carry forward the spirit of the resistance war, strengthen confidence and forge ahead to build China into a strong country and rejuvenate the Chinese nation on all fronts by pursuing Chinese modernization.

He also stressed the significance of making new and greater contributions to the noble cause of peace and development for humanity.

Cai and other leaders joined representatives from all walks of life to present flowers to martyrs of the resistance war. They also visited the exhibition. Around 600 people attended the events.

The exhibition, divided into eight parts with a total area of 12,200 square meters, displays 1,525 photos and 3,237 artifacts.

The Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression was the first to break out and lasted the longest in the World Anti-Fascist War, resulting in over 35 million Chinese military and civilian casualties.

In the main Eastern battlefield in the global fight against fascism, China's resistance effort was decisive in defeating Japanese fascism and supporting other fronts in Europe and Asia, profoundly contributing to the final victory and world peace.