The escalating crisis in the Middle East has become "a major humanitarian emergency", a senior official of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) told a regular press briefing on Friday.
"UNHCR has declared the escalating crisis in the Middle East and as a major humanitarian emergency requiring an immediate response across the region and into Southwest Asia. The recent escalation of hostility and attacks in the Middle East had triggered significant population movements while the clashes along the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan have also forced many thousand families to flee. The affected regions already host nearly 25 million people as refugees, internally displaced people, or refugees who have recently returned from home," said Ayaki Ito, director of UNHCR's Division of Emergency and Program Support.
According to Ito, authorities reported that about 100,000 people left their homes in the first two days after the United States and Israel launched strikes against Iran, but the figure is likely a significant underestimate.
"UNHCR will coordinate the refugee response on behalf of the United Nations and a broader humanitarian community to support national governments. Efforts underway to provide lifesaving humanitarian assistance in affected countries across the region. It is imperative that all civilians who need to move across borders to find safety," he added.
UNHCR declares Middle East crisis a "major humanitarian emergency"
Institutional opening-up, a key topic at this year's two sessions and in the 15th Five-Year Plan, is fundamentally about establishing long-term effectiveness through systematic, nationwide efforts rather than fragmented, short-term actions, said a deputy to the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) on Friday in Beijing.
The "two sessions", a major event in China's political calendar, refer to the annual meetings of China's top legislature, the National People's Congress (NPC), and the top political advisory body, the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).
Peng Shou, also an academician of Chinese Academy of Engineering, explained that by developing comprehensive pilot frameworks in free trade zones like Shanghai and the Hainan Free Trade Port, China is transforming fragmented policies into cohesive systems, such as addressing processing VAT to boost high-tech industries; and exploring the expansion of models like negative lists and digital infrastructure to create a more transparent and predictable environment for global partners.
"I believe that a system is about long-term effectiveness, it's not a short-term move, and not fragmented. It's not about handling isolated cases, but about involving everyone, the whole society," said Peng.
China has built a series of comprehensive testing grounds for institutional openness.
With 22 free trade zones covering the entire country, a full-scale pilot framework has been established. Especially in free trade zones like Shanghai and the Hainan Free Trade Port, China has launched over 110 innovative, integrated pilot measures.
"Turning previous fragmented small policies into a systematic framework is key. For example, the issue of processing and value-added tax is well addressed. By incorporating processing technologies and adding value, it drives the development of high-tech industries," said Peng.
Such models could also be promoted in other regions.
Peng also said that the Hainan Free Trade Port's special customs operations can be used as a great example.
"We may apply this negative list model to some cities or development zones. Additionally, we can focus on digital infrastructure, using AI and digital technology as a foundation in cities like Beijing and Shanghai," he said.
At its core, institutional opening-up is not just about aligning with global standards; it's about creating a more open, transparent, and predictable environment that attracts global partners, according to Peng.
By embracing this new model, China is not only enhancing its position in the global market but also reshaping its own economic future, he added.
NPC deputy emphasizes long-term, systematic impact of institutional opening-up strategies
