Grandparents did not kill Zhang Zixin

ZHANG ZIXIN, a 9-year-old girl who was taken from her home by a middle-aged couple who had been renting a room in her family's house in Chunan, East China's Zhejiang province on July 8, was confirmed dead by the local police on Saturday. China Daily writer Zhang Zhouxiang comments:

Economy plowing ahead despite strong headwinds

For those who are concerned about China's economic well-being, the first half-year figures released by the National Bureau of Statistics on Monday may not be enough to relieve them of their worries, especially given the ongoing trade conflict with the United States and weakening global demand.

Last chance for effective climate change actions

Editor's note: The 10-day High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development 2019, which started on Tuesday last week in the United Nation's headquarters in New York, is coming to a close. Zhong Sheng, a People's Daily columnist, comments:

Cities in the trillion yuan club are regional support points

ACCORDING TO THE LATEST STATISTICS, the number of Chinese cities whose GDP exceeds 1 trillion yuan ($156.5 billion) is still growing, with Ningbo in Zhejiang province, and Zhengzhou, capital of Henan province, joining the club, increasing the number of members to 16. Beijing Youth Daily comments:

Scheduled military drill, but it still sends a message

Even though the Ministry of Defense announced on Sunday that a People's Liberation Army exercise in the water and air space off the southeast coast should be regarded as a routine arrangement according to the annual plan of the Chinese military, it is understandable that some have interpreted it as a message of deterrence to Taiwan secessionists, given how tense cross-Straits relations have become.

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Industrial relocation won't curb growth

The relocation of some manufacturing enterprises from China to overseas destinations in the past years has raised market concerns, especially due to the trade tensions between the US and China. Indeed, if manufacturing enterprises relocate abroad in large numbers, China's manufacturing sector could suffer a serious blow, which in turn could deprive China of a driver of economic growth.

Toilet revolution to improve farmers' lives

Editor's Note: The central government will spend 7 billion yuan ($1.01 billion) this year to promote the "rural toilet revolution", the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs said, adding that 10 million rural toilets were renovated in 2018. Why is the toilet revolution in the countryside necessary? And what should China focus on to make the process a success? Two experts share their views on the issue with China Daily's Liu Jianna. Excerpts follow:

When it comes to human rights, US barks up the wrong tree

Some Western countries have spared no efforts in smearing China's human rights record in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, alleging that Beijing monitors ethnic groups there and infringes upon their human rights and religious freedom. Some US politicians have even warned American businesses to think twice before doing business in Xinjiang.

Special treatment not necessary for foreign students

Editor's note: Shandong University has attracted criticism because it recruited "study mates" for overseas students, and having listed "making friends with someone of the opposite gender" as a reason for local students to apply in their recruitment form. Beijing News comments:

Fans must not break bounds of decency

"YOU ARE MY NANJING TREATY, and you mark the start of my falling down." A group of fans of entertainment star Cai Xukun followed each other in posting this sentence to show how much they adore their idol. China Daily writer Zhang Zhouxiang comments:

Xinjiang policy in the best interest of local ethnicities

That the United Nations ambassadors of 37 countries, mostly developing ones, released a letter on Friday defending China's policy in its Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region is in striking contrast with the text signed by envoys from some developed countries denouncing China's actions in Xinjiang.