President urges mutual trust and proper handling of disagreements President Xi Jinping called for joint efforts to strengthen mutual political trust and properly handle disagreements in a congratulatory message on Wednesday to the newly elected president of the Republic of Korea. Noting that he has always attached great importance to China-ROK relations, Xi wrote Moon Jae-in that the two countries should push forward the healthy and stable development of ties under the basis of mutual understanding and respect. Moon, of the liberal Democratic Party, won the presidential election by a landslide on Tuesday to replace ousted president Park Geun-hye, who was impeached in December on charges of bribery and abuse of power. Analysts said Moon is likely to seek to mend China-ROK relations damaged by the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense anti-missile system led by the United States. In the message, Xi said the development of China-ROK relations has not only brought tangible benefits for the people of both countries, but also made positive contributions to regional peace and stability. Xi pointed out that China and the ROK are important neighbors. Relations have been comprehensively developed in the 25 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties, he said. Xi said he would like to work with Moon to help China-ROK relations better benefit the two countries and their people. Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said at a regular news conference that China's stance on the deployment of THAAD is consistent. He called on the ROK to attach importance to China's concerns and handle the THAAD issue properly. Moon said in his inaugural speech that he will sincerely negotiate with the US and China over the deployment of THAAD. During his campaign, Moon argued for a parliamentary ratification and public consensus for the THAAD installation that can influence the country's society from diplomatic, security and economic perspectives. Part of the US missile-interception system has been transported to the deployment site in the country's southeastern region, causing strong protests from anti-THAAD activists and residents. Huang Youfu, a Korean studies professor at Minzu University of China in Beijing, said it's impossible for the ROK's new government to withdraw the deployment given the current situation of the Korean Peninsula. But Moon is highly likely to take measures to improve the relations with China, and Beijing will welcome such moves, he said. Da Zhigang, director of the Institute of Northeast Asian Studies at the Heilongjiang Academy of Social Sciences, said Moon faces challenges on the THAAD issue as he has to balance domestic public opinions while also coordinating the relations with both China and the US. China and the ROK should create opportunities now to enhance strategic mutual trust and improve relations, he said. black rubber braceletscustom printed wristbandsbulk custom braceletsjordan wristbandcustom silicone bandsmotivational bracelets for athletes
A JD delivery robot draws the attention of passers-by in Beijing on Monday. Dou Yiming / For China Daily Dozens of small robots, driverless vehicles combined with express pickup containers, took to the streets for the first time from the Shangdi delivery station in northwest Beijing's Haidian district on Monday to improve delivery service and reduce costs. The red and white automated delivery robots stood in a shining line at 10 am on Monday around the Shangdi distribution center, one of e-commerce giant JD's main delivery stations. The driverless vehicles delivered 30 boxes of products, their top speed reaching 15 kilometers per hour. The robots, which automatically stop at red traffic lights, can carry up to 300 kilograms of goods. The deliveries covered most of the residential areas near the distribution station, said Yang Jing, general manager of the autonomous vehicle center at JD's artificial intelligence technologies research department. Data on the machines were already on record with the Beijing Commission of Transportation's local transport department before they took to the road, Yang said. The robots, driving in the nonmotor-vehicle lanes, pick up goods left at local distribution centers by couriers. Navigating by radar and sensors, the robots avoid barriers and pedestrians, respond accordingly to traffic signals and make their way to the delivery sites. We are using delivery robots to reduce the human costs of traditional delivery service, Yang said. At the same time, it improves transportation efficiency. A surveillance center monitors the vehicles' whereabouts through data and video the robots transmit. JD has already employed delivery machines in several closed areas, such as college campuses and closed off industrial communities. In June last year, robots delivered packages on the campus of Renmin University. JD plans to put more than 100 delivery robots in use in more than 20 Chinese and foreign cities, such as Shanghai, Tianjin, Xi'an and Bangkok. The company said on Tuesday that delivery efficiency will be greatly improved, but it gave no details on how robots will be integrated in the process. Liu Daizong, China transport program director at the World Resources Institute, said more guidelines are needed on how to operate unmanned vehicles on public streets. Especially if such vehicles are heavily loaded, crashes on the road could have huge consequences for pedestrians and cause damage, Liu said. Liu, an expert member of the Beijing Commission of Transportation, said so far Beijing has only set standards for unmanned vehicle road tests, and detailed guidelines need to be worked out. Standards still need to be tested, and less weight (than the 300 kg maximum) might be the safe option for the delivery robots, he added. Retail giant Amazon has also been using automated delivery robots, starting with drones at the end of 2016 in the UK to improve the transport efficiency.
