Foreign

A Yangtze riverside chemical maker’s decade-long turn toward high-quality, green growth

Published

4 months ago

February 9, 2026

milcah

By Yu Weiliang, Lu Yanan, Tang Luwei

Robots have replaced manual labor on the production line; old workshops and smokestacks are dismantled; pilot-scale testing of nanomaterials are moving forward steadily — New quality productive forces are quietly reshaping the Chinese traditional chemical industry, including Chuyuan High-Tech Group (Chuyuan), a traditional chemical manufacturer located along the Yangtze River in Shishou, Jingzhou, central China’s Hubei province.
Once the world’s largest producer of intermediates for reactive dyes, the company is now chaired by Yang Peng, who succeeded his father and founder, Yang Zhicheng. Its rise, however, was anything but smooth.
A pivotal moment came in 2016 when Chuyuan faced a landmark environmental penalty — a fine exceeding 27 million yuan ($3.87 million) for illegal wastewater discharges. At the time, this constituted the largest environmental fine ever imposed within the Yangtze River basin.
The fine triggered a fundamental shift in mindset for both father and son. Moving from initial frustration and passivity, they embarked on a path of active rectification and development-oriented upgrading over the subsequent decade.
Today, Chuyuan’s manufacturing base spans 1,800 mu (120 hectares). Yet its origins were remarkably humble. It was established in 1982 by 30 farmers, led by Yang Zhicheng. It started with only with five small rooms and modest equipment.
After China joined the WTO, chemical plants sprang up along the Yangtze River. The company’s production capacity of H-acid, para-esters and reactive dyes ranked first in Asia, making it Hubei’s largest private exporter.
Its prominence was underscored on January 10, 2016, when the Jingzhou municipal tax bureau listed it as the city’s third-largest taxpayer, with annual payments exceeding 100 million yuan — a status achieved just before the environmental penalty reshaped its future.
On January 5, 2016, Chinese President Xi Jinping chaired a symposium on boosting the development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt in southwest China’s Chongqing municipality, also a major city along the Yangtze River.
He stressed that the Yangtze River boasts a unique ecological system. Restoring its ecological environment will be an overwhelming task and no large-scale development will be allowed along the river at present and for a rather long period to come.
Chuyuan’s long-standing environmental issues came under security and again drew the attention of environmental authorities. By the end of March that year, the Jingzhou environmental protection bureau imposed the 27-million-yuan fine, aiming to force the closure of heavily polluting and technically unreformable production lines. The scale of the penalty was rare even by national standards.
At the time, Chuyuan was a top-100 private enterprise in Hubei, employing over 4,000 people. Nearly 12 percent of Shishou’s GDP and about 60 percent of its tax revenue came from the company.
“After such contributions, couldn’t there be some leniency?” Yang Zhicheng asked himself.
He pursued legal appeals, publicized the dispute online, and encountered polarized public opinion. Yet a consensus emerged: China was enforcing environmental accountability, rejecting growth-at-all-costs development.
The local leadership made its stance clear. Then Shishou Party secretary Liu Zhongcheng pledged that no enterprise failing rectification would be allowed to resume production, and that development must not come at the expense of future generations.
Chuyuan ceased operations for remediation. After three visits by provincial officials — during which Yang evolved from avoidance to engagement — Liu conveyed a pivotal message: “Ecological priority and green development are the new norms. Clinging to outdated practices is like choosing slow trains in the high-speed rail era — you will fall behind.”
Resistance turned to reflection. “That fine was a wake-up call,” the two later admitted. “It wasn’t meant to crush us, but to awaken us.”
More than ten production lines were permanently shut down. Rainwater collection systems were built. A second-phase wastewater treatment plant was launched. Over nine months of suspension, Chuyuan moved step by step to balance development with safety.
In November 2016, the company withdrew its lawsuit and accepted the penalty. A month later, after passing official inspections, it resumed operations.
From 2016 to 2022, Chuyuan invested about 200 million yuan in environmental upgrades, reducing energy consumption by 59%. The company became one of Hubei’s first participants in the national carbon trading pilot. In May 2025, its plant obtained the highest-level certification for safety risk management.
Tempting offers came along the way. A pesticide intermediate project promised profit margins of nearly 100%. Yang Peng turned it down.
“The environmental risks were unacceptable,” he said. “Stability outweighs short-term gains.”
In Chuyuan’s plant today, reclaimed water flows clearly through on-site ponds, while emissions data are uploaded around the clock.
Still, as the chemical sector faced mounting pressure, Chuyuan no longer enjoyed its former lead. Yang Peng grew uncertain and even considered leaving the industry.
Then, in July 2023, a national conference on ecological and environmental protection was convened. Xi emphasized that “it is crucial not to dismiss traditional industries as uniformly ‘low-end’ or ‘backward’ and simply phase them out, as doing so could lead to a disruption in the transition from old to new growth drivers, cause a loss of momentum, and exacerbate the pains of structural adjustment.”
“That line hit home,” Yang said. “Transformation doesn’t mean quitting the industry. Modern life still depends on chemicals. With the right upgrades, traditional sectors can also foster new quality productive forces.”
Inspired by this, Chuyuan Group invested 50 million yuan to fully utilize waste residues and liquids, entering circular economy practices. It shut down a flagship product with hard-to-treat emissions and invested another 60 million yuan in a new chlorosulfonic acid line, achieving environmental, safety and economic gains simultaneously.
It installed biomass boilers, embraced intelligent manufacturing and put robots on the shop floor, boosting efficiency by 40 percent. Partnerships with Hubei universities helped it build a platform for transforming scientific results into applications. New synthesis processes for two reactive dyes filled gaps in domestic capabilities in related fields. High-performance nano metal materials are now moving toward mass production, with potential applications in semiconductors and other emerging industries.
Since 2024, Chuyuan has been running at full capacity. Revenue in 2025 is expected to reach about 2 billion yuan, with tax payments exceeding 80 million yuan — up 55.4 percent and 53.5 percent respectively from 2022.
Yang Peng recalled, over the past decade, new thinking served as a guiding light, the updated environmental law acted as a binding constraint, and the law on promoting the private economy provided much-needed reassurance. In his words, the rule of law remains the best business environment, and high-quality development is the only viable path forward.

Foreign

Sanxingdui Museum transforms ancient relics into interactive experiences

Published

3 days ago

May 31, 2026

Our Reporter

By Song Haoxin, People’s Daily

What if museum visitors could truly interact with cultural relics rather than merely observe them through glass displays? At the Sanxingdui Museum in southwest China’s Sichuan province, a specially designed interactive hall is revolutionizing cultural engagement.

Within this 1,300-square-meter space, nearly every exhibit invites touch, operation, or participation. Visitors immerse themselves in installations inspired by the ancient Shu civilization, blending education with entertainment.

By trying on replicas of headwear on bronze statues discovered in Sanxingdui Ruins, for example, visitors can not only take photos of themselves but also learn about the symbolic meanings behind different headpieces.

Guests can don replicas of bronze statue headwear from the Sanxingdui Ruins, learning their symbolic meanings while capturing photos. Augmented reality allows dancing alongside virtual Sanxingdui figures for social media sharing. A creation zone even enables “time travel” to experience ancient bronze-casting and construction techniques.

These innovations transform traditional museum visits, offering deeper cultural understanding through hands-on interaction. “This hall emerged from extensive brainstorming,” explained Zhu Yarong, deputy director of the management committee of the Sanxingdui Ruins site.

“We’re transitioning from passive relic viewing to interactive engagement, bridging the gap between audiences and history.”

Previously, museum experiences were largely one-directional with limited engagement. Visitors viewed relics through display cases, usually stopping mainly to take photographs, with relatively limited forms of engagement. By liberating artifacts from display cases into interactive settings, Sanxingdui is pioneering a shift from didactic presentation to open cultural dialogue.

Traditional exhibition spaces remain popular, while digital innovations attract growing interest. A VR project employs digital twin technology to recreate 1:1 scale excavation sites — complete with protective shelters and cabins — placing visitors at the archaeological forefront.

Another project, Heaven and Earth Echoes — Sanxingdui Panoramic Sound and Vision Digital Art Theater, features an interactive panoramic LED dome with a diameter of 20 meters and a resolution approaching 16K. The massive dome creates a deeply immersive atmosphere. By waving digital torches in their hands, visitors can trigger sacred birds to circle above them across the dome, experiencing the ancient Shu civilization through an interplay of sound and imagery.

“The digital technology made me feel as if I were racing across the Mamu River. That sense of traveling through time was incredible,” said Hao Yong, a tourist from southwest China’s Chongqing municipality who came specifically to experience a virtual reality program.

From passive observation to active participation, Sanxingdui Museum continues introducing new interactive experiences that transform cultural relics into living carriers of dialogue and engagement, helping keep the sparks of Chinese civilization alive for new generations.

Foreign

A living testimony about MKA: The Aondoakaa that I know Written By Brahms Tor-Ikuan

Published

2 weeks ago

May 19, 2026

milcah

My people of Benue State,

I am not speaking to you today as a politician. I am speaking as a brother whose family was held up by Chief Mike Kaase Aondoakaa, MKA, when we had no one else to hold onto.

My elder brother, Verem Ukaa-Ikuan, was not just my blood. He was a very dear and close friend to Chief MKA. When my brother fell ill and was diagnosed with liver damage caused by poisoning, MKA didn’t treat it as someone else’s problem. He took it on as his own.

He worked closely with Verem during his time as Attorney General of the Federation, and when the sickness came, he moved immediately. Searches were conducted, and Apollo Hospital in India was earmarked for a liver transplant. Every travel arrangement was made personally by Chief MKA.

But we hit a wall. Verem was too weak to fly a long commercial flight. Only an air ambulance could get him to India alive. At that time, there was only one functional air ambulance in the entire country, owned by Julius Berger. It was completely out of reach for even the most high-profile citizens.

Chief MKA went all out. He did not give excuses. He did not delay. He used every connection and every ounce of influence he had to secure that air ambulance for my brother.

On the day it was secured, Barr. Terna Yaji, his Senior Special Assistant, called me a few minutes after 6pm. He told us to prepare Verem for departure and take him to Makurdi airport very early the following morning. I informed him, my brother passed on at exactly 6 o’clock a few minutes ago. I told Barr. Terna Yaji, and I saw a devastated MKA.

During the burial, Chief MKA was out of the country on national assignment. He was pained that he could not be there physically. His entire team, led by the late Onov Tyuulugh, represented him fully. And his message to us at the burial has never left me:

“If death were law, as the Attorney General, a law would have been made no matter what to ensure Verem will just not die but live forever.”

That is who Mike Kaase Aondoakaa is when nobody is watching. He does not abandon his people. He does not forget. He stood with our family then, and he has stood with us till date.

Now he is asking for the chance to govern Benue State.

Benue needs a governor with a heart like that. A governor who fights for you even when there’s no political gain. A governor who sees you as family, not as a vote.

I am standing with Chief Mike Kaase Aondoakaa for Governor of Benue State.
For compassion that moves to action.
For loyalty that does not fade.
For leadership that proves itself in the darkest hour.

Join me. Let us give Benue a leader who has already shown what he will do for us.

God bless Chief Mike Kaase Aondoakaa.
God bless Benue State.

Brahms Tor-Ikuan, a beneficiary of MKA’s benevolence writes from Makurdi

Foreign

China-U.S. relations cannot return to past, but can move toward better future

Published

3 weeks ago

May 16, 2026

Our Reporter

By Guo Jiping

At the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, U.S. President Donald Trump will pay a state visit to China from May 13 to 15.

After many twists and turns, China-U.S. relations have arrived at a new historical juncture. The year 2026 carries special significance for both countries. China is embarking on its 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030), while the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary.

Amidst increasing global uncertainty and volatility, the international community looks to Beijing, hopeful that this high-level engagement will offer clarity and stability for the future trajectory of China-U.S. relations.

Observers note that over the past decade, the relationship has weathered two significant periods of strain. The first began in 2018 with the U.S. initiation of trade tariffs against China. Stabilization was achieved only after extensive dialogue and complex interactions spanning several years. The second period of tension occurred more recently in 2025. Remarkably, the cycle from rising friction to renewed stability unfolded within just a few months this time.

The progression from years-long to months-long stabilization cycles, and from repetitive friction-dialogue patterns towards clearer strategic direction and consensus-building, reflects China’s consistent approach: readiness to negotiate combined with firm adherence to principles and clear boundaries. China’s demonstrated resilience has garnered international respect and created conditions conducive to resolving differences through dialogue.

Today, China-U.S. dialogue occurs on a more equitable basis. Communication is increasingly pragmatic, with clearer articulation of respective bottom lines. This resilience suggests the potential for a new, more stable chapter in the relationship.

Head-of-state diplomacy plays an irreplaceable strategic guiding role. Last year, when a wave of tariff tensions rattled the world, the two presidents steered China-U.S. economic and trade ties back on course.

Under the guidance of the consensus reached by the two presidents, the teams from both sides have so far held six rounds of consultations and are currently engaged in a new round of talks.

Since the meeting between the two heads of state in Busan last October, China-U.S. relations have generally maintained a stable and improving momentum — a trend widely welcomed by both peoples and the international community.

The strategic guidance provided by the two heads of state helps identify “dangerous reefs” ahead in China-U.S. relations. The Taiwan question is the most important and most sensitive issue at the very core of China-U.S. relations, and it concerns the political foundation of bilateral ties.

Xi has repeatedly elaborated China’s principled position on the Taiwan question to Trump, emphasizing that Taiwan is China’s territory, and China must safeguard its own sovereignty and territorial integrity, and will never allow Taiwan to be separated. Clearly defining principles and bottom lines is precisely the responsible approach needed to prevent serious risks in China-U.S. relations.

The aspiration of the Chinese and American business communities to deepen ties and cooperation has never changed. At present, more than 7,000 Chinese-funded enterprises operate in the United States, while about 80,000 American-invested enterprises are active in China.

These firm choices made at the forefront of the market clearly and powerfully demonstrate the true nature of China-U.S. economic and trade relations: mutual benefit and win-win cooperation.

As China enters the 15th Five-Year Plan period, its commitment to high-quality development and high-standard opening up will create broader incremental space for China-U.S. cooperation.

The will of the people stands as a profound and enduring force shaping the trajectory of China-U.S. relations. Whether at those pivotal moments when China and the United States seized every moment to break the ice, or when bilateral relations slid to a low ebb, the sincere aspiration of the two peoples for mutual understanding and friendship has never changed.

As exchanges deepen and produce tangible results, perceptions are improving positively. More Americans are actively participating in fostering people-to-people friendship, contributing greater rationality and constructive perspectives to the relationship.

In the face of profound changes unseen in a century, China and the United States, as permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and the world’s two largest economies, shoulder even greater responsibilities. Promoting global development, safeguarding peace and security, and improving global governance all require cooperation between the two countries.

This year, China will host the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting and the U.S. will host the G20 Summit. Whether the two sides can demonstrate the vision and responsibility expected of major countries, and deliver more tangible benefits to the world, bears directly on the well-being of both peoples and the future of humanity.

China-U.S. relations cannot return to the past, but they can move toward a better future. Both sides should proceed from a sense of responsibility to history, to the people, and to the world, and explore ways to build a strategic, constructive, and stable China-U.S. relationship featuring mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation.