Chinese VP says China ready to work with all parties to advance Global Development Initiative

Chinese Vice President Han Zheng met with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and attended the High-Level Dialogue on the Fifth Anniversary of the Global Development Initiative (GDI) hosted by China at the United Nations headquarters on Friday.

At the meeting with Guterres, Han said China will offer fresh opportunities for world development with new achievements of Chinese modernization.

He said that the current international situation is fraught with turmoil and the international system with the United Nations at its core is facing multiple challenges.

This year marks the 55th anniversary of the restoration of the lawful seat of the People's Republic of China at the UN. Over the past 55 years, China has always adhered to true multilateralism and supported the UN in playing a central role in international affairs, Han said.

Looking to the future, China will continue to play its role as a responsible major country and actively promote the alignment of its own concepts with the UN agenda, Han said.

For his part, Guterres expressed gratitude to China for its firm and strong support for the work of the United Nations. He noted that China plays a crucial role in advancing the UN priority agendas and has made significant contributions to global development. The UN is ready to further deepen its cooperation with China to uphold the shared interests of the international community, Guterres said.

When attending the High-Level Dialogue on the Fifth Anniversary of the GDI, Han read out Chinese President Xi Jinping's congratulatory letter and delivered a speech.

Noting that Xi proposed the GDI at the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly in September 2021, Han said that over the past five years, with Xi's personal commitment and the joint efforts of all parties, the GDI has evolved from a Chinese proposal and concept into a common international endeavor and contributed China's solutions and strength to the implementation of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Han said China stands ready to work with all parties to advance the GDI to achieve deeper and more concrete results, and make greater contributions to building a community with a shared future for humanity.

Participants at the meeting spoke highly of the positive contributions the GDI has made to the cause of global development, and looked forward to strengthening solidarity and coordination, to jointly create a future that is more inclusive, more sustainable and more resilient.

Han also met with Khalilur Rahman, President of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly. He expressed China's support for making sustainable development a priority of the current session, and delivering more inclusive development outcomes in response to the aspirations of people around the world.

Chinese VP says China ready to work with all parties to advance Global Development Initiative

A longstanding Mid-Autumn Festival staple, mooncakes are seeing shifting market trends this year, driven largely by young consumers.

The Mid-Autumn Festival, celebrated annually on the 15th day of the eighth month on the Chinese lunar calendar, fell on Sept. 25 this year. As one of China's most important traditional holidays, it is a joyous time when families come together, appreciate the full moon and share mooncakes, to mark the harvest season.

Among the most iconic foods of the festival, mooncakes traditionally symbolize reunion and togetherness. As the market evolves, elaborate gift boxes are giving way to simpler packaging, while individually sold mooncakes are becoming more common. The focus is shifting from mooncakes as gifts to treats people can enjoy themselves.

"Our customers are mainly between 18 and 35 years old. As we understand it, they are quite self-focused. They tend to be more individualistic and care more about their shopping experience. They're less concerned about product labeling," said Tang Lingyan, a planning manager of Xin Yin 1950.

As consumer preferences shift, brands are responding with eye-catching designs, fresh flavors and more intricate details.

"Young consumers possess a keen sense for new flavors and are highly receptive to them. They also care more about whether the ingredients are healthy. So we're bringing ingredients like matcha and rose into mooncakes. For the packaging, we focus on the idea of reunion and creating a festive atmosphere," said Yang Jieting, founder of T.matata Dessert.

Industry data shows that during the 2026 Mid-Autumn Festival season, 50.4 percent of consumers bought mooncakes for their own consumption, reflecting a growing preference for smaller, lighter products.

Health-conscious choices are also gaining ground. Searches for "low-sugar mooncakes" on JD.com surged 320 percent year on year, prompting traditional brands to rethink their recipes and develop products that better fit changing consumer preferences.

"This year, we launched a reduced-sugar version of our red pastry, known as the low-sugar red pastry. It's been very well received, and it's almost sold out," said Zhang Chao, director of Logistics and Services Center at Guizhou TV.

Young Chinese consumers look for mooncakes with unique designs, fresh flavors