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Chinese autonomous-driving leader Pony.ai on Wednesday (local time) launched commercial robotaxi services in Zagreb, Croatia, in partnership with local mobility firm Verne and global ride-hailing platform Uber, becoming Europe's first fully commercial robotaxi service open to the public, the Global Times learned from the company on Thursday.

The launch comes as Europe emerges as a new key market for autonomous driving, with Chinese and European giants advancing competing yet complementary strategies to capture the region's fast-growing market.

The service officially began operations in the Croatian capital on Wednesday (local time). Customers can now book rides through Verne's app, with integration into the Uber app planned for a later stage, Pony.ai said in a statement sent to the Global Times on Thursday.

Pony.ai's expansion into Europe comes as Chinese autonomous-driving companies are making splashes across the continent, which has emerged as the next key market for autonomous driving following years of intensive testing and development in the US and China.

On March 19, Chinese autonomous-driving technology company WeRide announced a national-level strategic partnership with ELEVATE Slovakia, officially launching Slovakia's first autonomous-driving project. With the project, Slovakia becomes WeRide's fourth European market after France, Belgium and Switzerland, the Securities Daily reported.

Chinese autonomous-driving firm Momenta last year announced plans to test Level 4 autonomous vehicles in Germany in 2026, aiming to deliver safe, scalable, and efficient robotaxi services in Europe and beyond, Momenta said in a release on its official website in September 2025.

In December, Apollo Go, the autonomous-driving ride-hailing platform under Baidu, announced plans to launch autonomous-driving testing and ride services in London in 2026. This will support London in building a more digital and green future transportation system, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

Some European giants have also announced timelines for the autonomous-driving sector. Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles' Hanover plant is ramping up pre-series production of the fully autonomous ID. Buzz AD, which is intended for use as a robotaxi or roboshuttle.

Before the end of this year, the first 500 vehicles for projects in Europe and the US are scheduled to be manufactured. Series production of the ID. Buzz AD is set to begin in 2027, Volkswagen said in a release on its website in March.

As Europe ramps up its push into autonomous driving, Chinese and European players are largely operating in a complementary way, Zhang Xiang, a visiting professor in the engineering department of Huanghe Science and Technology University, told the Global Times on Thursday.

Zhang explained that the two sides hold distinct core strengths that underpin this complementary relationship. Chinese companies boast mature autonomous-driving technology, robust iteration capabilities, and extensive hands-on experience operating in complex traffic scenarios, while European companies hold an edge in advanced vehicle manufacturing technologies.

Even as local carmakers including Volkswagen develop their own robotaxi services, they are still in a catch-up position in core autonomous-driving technology, with a notable gap between their capabilities and those of leaders in China and the US, Zhang noted. For Chinese firms looking to operate in compliance with local regulations in the European market, local partnerships - particularly with established automakers - are essential to meet the region's strict regulations, data compliance rules and operational standards, Zhang added.

By 2035, about 120,000 robotaxis will be on the streets of European cities, according to an analysis by Boston Consulting Group. 

"We expect that the US and China will dominate initial growth, due to supportive regulations, infrastructure investments, and market conditions. In our base scenario, we estimate that the US robotaxi fleet will grow to about 350,000 vehicles by 2035, while China will have about 850,000 vehicles. Under a more optimistic scenario in which adoption is high, these numbers can go up to about 3 million vehicles globally," read the analysis.

Workers hoist a mascot of the sixth China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE) at the Hainan International Convention and Exhibition Center, the main venue for the upcoming sixth CICPE, in Haikou, south China's Hainan Province, April 10, 2026. Scheduled to take place in south China's Hainan Province from April 13 to 18, this expo will see the participation of more than 3,400 brands from over 60 countries and regions. Photo: Xinhua

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Friday paid tribute to the graves of the martyrs of the Chinese People's Volunteers located in Kangdong County.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, is currently visiting the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

The first and second volumes of a compilation of discourses by Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, on adhering to deepening reform comprehensively have been published.

Compiled by the Institute of Party History and Literature of the CPC Central Committee, the two volumes published by the Central Party Literature Press are available nationwide.

The first volume features a collection of 73 important works by Xi expounding on deepening reform comprehensively between December 2012 and December 2018. The second volume contains a compilation of 92 pieces from January 2019 to April 2025, some of which were published for the first time.

Xi's new thoughts, viewpoints and conclusions have provided clear answers to major questions such as why reform should be comprehensively deepened in the new era and how to advance such reform.

They serve as important guidance for further deepening reform comprehensively and for advancing the building of a great country and the great cause of national rejuvenation on all fronts through Chinese modernization. 

The fourth volume of a compilation of Xi Jinping's views on strengthening and revitalizing the Chinese armed forces has been published, according to an official statement.

The Central Military Commission recently issued a circular, calling on the entire armed forces to earnestly organize the study and use of the book.

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday called on China and the European Union (EU) to provide more stability and certainty for the world through steady and sound China-EU relations.

Xi made the remarks when meeting with President of the European Council Antonio Costa and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, who are here for the 25th China-EU Summit in Beijing.

Noting that this year marks the 50th anniversary of China-EU diplomatic ties, and the 80th anniversary of the United Nations, Xi said China-EU relations have come to another critical juncture in history.

He said over the past 50 years, China and the EU have achieved fruitful outcomes in exchanges and cooperation, delivering mutual success and worldwide benefits, and an important understanding and insight is that the two sides should respect each other, seek commonality while reserving differences, uphold openness and cooperation, and pursue mutual benefit.

These are also important principles and the right direction for China-EU relations in the future, Xi said. Faced with accelerating global transformation not seen in a century and a changing and turbulent world, Chinese and EU leaders should once again demonstrate vision and leadership, and make the right strategic choices that will meet people's expectations and stand the scrutiny of history, he added.

Xi underscored the importance for China and the EU, both constructive forces for multilateralism and openness and cooperation, to strengthen communication, enhance trust and deepen cooperation in a more challenging and complex international situation, in order to provide more stability and certainty for the world through steady and sound China-EU relations.

Both as "big guys" in the international community, China and the EU should keep their bilateral relationship growing in the right direction, and work together to usher it into an even brighter next 50 years, he said.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Friday presided over a State Council executive meeting, where attendees were briefed on the current progress of flood and drought prevention and control efforts, as well as the work plan for the next stage.

The executive meeting also reviewed and approved interim measures for natural disaster investigation and evaluation, while announcing steps to gradually implement free pre-school education.

As China enters a key phase of flood prevention, the meeting urged all relevant departments to strengthen coordination and collaboration to help the country safely navigate the flood season.

Ensuring people's safety should remain the top priority of all work, the meeting emphasized, calling for efforts to enhance monitoring and warning systems for emergencies and improve risk management in key areas, projects and vulnerable points.

For drought-affected areas, it is important to guarantee adequate irrigation for crops and secure drinking water supplies, the meeting emphasized.

While emphasizing the importance of investigating and evaluating natural disasters, the meeting stressed the need to enhance capabilities in disaster prevention, reduction, and relief.

The meeting underscored the gradual implementation of free pre-school education as an important initiative that would benefit the public, urging local governments to develop specific plans and prepare related subsidies.

For children whose families face economic difficulties, who are orphans, or who have physical challenges, relevant departments should ensure the alignment of supportive measures and guarantee that their bottom-line needs are met, according to the meeting.

It is also important to accelerate the construction of related infrastructure, improve wages for kindergarten teachers, and safeguard both the physical and psychological wellbeing of kindergarten children, the meeting noted.

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.