A Democracy That Works Western democracies have failed to address people’s livelihood concerns while the Chinese practice has made notable achievements

More than 200 scholars,researchers,former government o!cials and party leaders from over 50 countries gathered in the sprawling building of the Chinese Academy of History in Beijing on 20 March for the third International Forum on Democracy:The Shared Human Values.The forum debated the concept of democracy,its trajectories and prospects,and,more importantly,how it can be made to work and deliver tangible results for di"erent countries.

Where Pakistan Stands Among Top Rice Exporting Countries, an Analysis of Competitiveness

Under the umbrella of WTO, the reduction in trade barriers has forced the policy makers to focus on the export competitiveness. Rice is an important source for foreign exchange earnings for the economy of Pakistan, keeping in mind of this fact, the competitiveness of Pakistan＇s rice with other major exporters was examined by applying revealed competitive advantage. The domestic consumption trends of rice among the major rice exporting countries were also analyzed in the current study. The results revealed that as compare to other major exporters of rice in the world, Pakistan had high competitive and comparative advantage in the production of rice. The comparison of the movements in comparative advantage indices for Pakistan with the major world rice competitors/exporters showed that Pakistan possessed relatively high comparative and competitive advantages in rice production. The declining domestic per capita consumption of rice and increasing trends in competitiveness for Pakistan clearly revealed the expected potential of higher growth which meant that rice exports from Pakistan could continue to play an important role for the earnings of foreign exchange. In order to exploit the potential benefits of rice exports, we need to strengthen the competitiveness in rice sector of Pakistan.

Coral reef ecological pump for gathering and retaining nutrients and exporting carbon:a review and perspectives

How coral reefs with high productivity and biodiversity can flourish in oligotrophic tropical oceans has inspired substantial research on coral reef ecosystems.Increasing evidence shows that similar to water in an oasis in the desert,there are stable nutrient supplies to coral reefs in oligotrophic oceans.Here,with emphasis on the fluxes of organic matter,we summarize at the ecosystem level(1)the multiple input pathways of external nutrients,(2)the storage of nutrients in reef organisms,(3)the efficient retaining and recycling of dissolved and particulate organic matter within coral reef ecosystems,(4)the distinctly high phytoplankton productivity and biomass inside and near oceanic coral reefs,and(5)the export of reef-related organic carbon to adjacent open oceans.These properties enable coral reefs to function as ecological“pumps”for gathering nutrients across ecosystems and space,retaining and recycling nutrients within the ecosystem,supporting high phytoplankton productivity,and exporting organic carbon to adjacent open oceans.Particularly,the high phytoplankton productivity and biomass make waters around coral reefs potential hotspots of carbon export to ocean depths via the biological pump.We demonstrate that organic carbon influx is vital for coral reef ecosystems’carbon budget and carbon export.The concept of the coral reef ecological pump provides a framework to improve the understanding of the functioning of the coral reef ecosystem and its responses to disturbance.Prospects of the coral reef ecological pump in coral reef studies are discussed in changing oceans driven by human activities and global change in the Anthropocene.

Development and Outlook of the Four Major LNG Exporting Countries in the World

Overview of global LNG trade development In recent years,the global trade volume of liquefied natural gas(LNG)has maintained a rapid growth trend,breaking the 300 million tons mark for the first time in 2018,with an average annual growth rate of 7.7%in the past five years.In 2020,the trade volume of LNG increased to 487.9 billion m3(356.1 million tons).Due to the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic on LNG supply and demand,the increase of LNG trade in 2020 was quite limited,standing at only 4.1 billion m3,far below the growth level in 2019(50.2 billion m3)(Fig.1).

Health Democracy and Storytelling:A Synthesis of Knowledge

Aims:Health democracy requires tools and methodologies to involve non-scientific actors in the development and implementation of health policies.Storytelling could be one of the tools to make health democracy effective.Our aim is to describe how storytelling is used in relation to health democracy,the aims of its use,the methodology adopted and the results obtained.Procedure:We conducted a narrative review of the literature.Our search equation was composed by the keyword“narration”and its variations“récit de vie”,“histoire de vie”and“medécine narrative”and by the keyword“démocratie en santé”/“démocratie sanitaire”.Results:We obtained 135 results and included six articles,published between 2015 and 2022.The interest of storytelling in a health democracy approach concerns six main themes:a)the plurality of experiences;b)empowerment;c)the recognition of different types of knowledge;d)the involvement of all care actors in care;storytelling as a lever for change;e)in the care pathway;f)in health policies.Conclusion:The limited number of articles included in this literature review raises questions about the diffusion of the concept of health democracy associated with that of storytelling.Storytelling can contribute to the dissemination and effectiveness of health democracy:it is a complementary tool to quantitative tools for understanding the experiences of users of the health care system,and its use is particularly relevant to chronic diseases such as cancer.

Exporting to Internationalise： Only a Small Percentage of Emerging SMEs From Developing Countries Succeed When a Large Majority Fail

Small and Medium Enterprises （SMEs）, account for more than 95% of all businesses in many countries. These foster economic development and are significant contributors to employment and wealth generation. An observed phenomenon is the increased momentum of internationalization of SMEs in the developed world. A concern however, is the small percentage of the SMEs from developing countries emulating this trend. Also unexplained are： （1） What makes a small percentage of SMEs in developing countries succeed in internationalizing their businesses when the large majority fail？ （2） What provides the differential advantage to the growth businesses？ Therefore, this paper attempts to address the research question ＂what impacts the owner-managers＇ （OMs＇） perceptions of internal and external barriers have on the internationalization process of the SMEs in a developing country？＂ The data was gathered from OMs of SMEs using a mail survey. Export growth was used as the dependent variable in the study. The differential performance of growth and non-growth SMEs in foreign markets is elucidated in relation to the OMs＇ perception of informational, operational, marketing, and environmental barriers to growth. Significant differences were found between growth and non-growth businesses in relation to the OMs＇ perception of the above barriers investigated.

Does Green Food Certification promote agri-food export quality?Evidence from China

The construction of a food certification system plays a vital role in upgrading export quality, which previous studies have largely overlooked. We match China's industry-level data of Green Food Certification with its HS6-digit export data of agri-food products to quantify the impact of Green Food Certification on export quality. We identify the significant and positive effect of Green Food Certification on export quality. The 2SLS estimation based on instrumental variables and a range of robustness checks confirm the validity and robustness of the benchmark conclusions. Further analysis discloses that Green Food Certification improves export quality by raising agricultural production efficiency and brand premiums. Heterogeneity analysis shows that the effect of Green Food Certification varies across regions, notably improving the quality of agri-food products exported to developed regions and regions with high levels of import supervision. Furthermore, among various product types, Green Food Certification significantly improves the export quality of primary products and products vulnerable to non-tariff measures. The above findings could guide the future development of agri-food quality certification systems, potentially leading to a transformation and promotion of the agri-food trade.

Forecast and analysis of the "roof effect" of world net oil-exporting capacity

Oil is extremely crucial to the development of the modern economy. It is important to forecast the oil supply capacity due to its scarcity and non-renewability. This paper attempts to forecast and analyze thirty-five current and potential net oil-exporting countries. Integrating both qualitative and quantitative methods, the oil production and consumption are predicted based on historical data, so that the world net oil-exporting capacity can be obtained. The results show that the ＂roof effect＂ of the world net oil-exporting capacity may appear before 2030. Unconventional oil will play an important role in the future world oil market. The competition and cooperation relationships between OPEC and non-OPEC will last for a long time.

Impact of BRICS Trade Facilitation on China's Exports Using Cross-Border E-Commerce

With the rapid growth of the global digital economy, cross-border e-commerce, as an emerging form of trade, has gradually become a powerful engine to promote the development of global trade. BRICS is an important force in the global economy, and the progress of the BRICS countries' trade facilitation level has an important impact on the global trade environment. This paper conducts an in-depth study of the dynamic changes in BRICS trade facilitation from 2013 to 2022, and uses an extended gravity model to analyze the specific impact of this change on China's exports using cross-border e-commerce. The results show that although the BRICS countries have made some progress in trade facilitation, the overall level still needs to be improved, and there are obvious differences among member countries. However, the improvement of trade facilitation among BRICS countries has undoubtedly brought significant positive effects to China's exports using cross-border e-commerce.

Export Competitiveness and Sustainable Development of the Ukrainian Timber Industry

This paper conducts a comprehensive analysis of the export dynamics within the Ukrainian timber industry, emphasizing its pivotal role in the national economy. The study begins by outlining the research objectives, context, and innovative methodologies, setting the stage for a deep dive into the theoretical underpinnings of sustainable and competitive trade. It explores Ukraine’s rich forest biodiversity across varied vegetation zones and its geopolitical significance. Detailed evaluations of forest resource management, policy frameworks, and institutional support form the core of the analysis. Challenges such as imbalanced export structures and legal inconsistencies are critically examined. The research employs trade gravity models and competitive indicators like the Revealed Comparative Advantage (RCA) and Market Share (MS) to assess factors influencing exports and to forecast potential growth areas. The findings inform strategic recommendations aimed at enhancing export capacity through market diversification, brand development, and legal stability. The conclusion highlights the need for strategic interventions to harness Ukraine’s timber resources sustainably, balancing economic gains with environmental stewardship.

Changes in calcium accumulation and utilization efficiency and their impact on recycling,immobilization,and export across the oil palm cycle

Effective calcium(Ca)management is crucial for optimizing oil palm cultivation and enhancing crop yield.This study aimed to gain insights into the dynamics of Ca concentration,accumulation,exportation,immobilization,and recycling in various oil palm organs relative to plant age.The experiment was conducted at the Agropalma enterprise site in the northeastern region of Para State,Brazil,evaluating seven plant age treatments:2,3,4,5,6,7,and 8 years old.Employing a completely randomized design with four replications.The results demonstrated an age-related increase in Ca concentration in petioles,rachis,arrows,male inflorescences,peduncles,and fruits.Furthermore,Ca accumulation exhibited an upward trend in all organs with progressing plant age.Notably,the study revealed an enhanced Ca use efficiency across all plant organs in correlation with the age of oil palm cultivation.These findings underscore the dynamic nutritional demands of oil palm,influencing Ca immobilization,cycling,and export throughout its developmental stages.

Building the ARIMA Model for Forecasting the Production of Vietnam’s Coffee Export

Coffee is a significant industry, accounting for 3% of Vietnam’s GDP, with annual export turnover consistently exceeding USD 3 billion. Despite global economic challenges affecting purchasing power at various times, Vietnam’s coffee exports in December 2023 continued to surge, reaching the highest level in the past 9 months at 190,000 tons, a 59.3% increase compared to November 2023, but still a slight 3.5% decrease from the same period last year. The export turnover reached USD 538 million, a 51% increase from November 2023 and a 26.4% increase from the same period last year. Therefore, forecasting the coffee export volume holds significant importance for coffee producers nationwide. This research employs the Box-Jenkins method to construct an ARIMA model for forecasting Vietnam’s coffee export volume based on annual data published by the General Statistics Office. Results indicate that among the models considered, the ARIMA(1, 1, 2) model is the most suitable. The study also provides short-term forecasts for Vietnam’s coffee export volume. However, the current model is limited to forecasting and is not yet optimized, as the assumed linearity in the model is a simplification.

Analysis of the Impact of Technical Trade Barriers on the Export of Toys-Based on Analysis of Zhejiang,China

Technical barriers to trade,as a non-tariff barrier,have an increasing impact on the international market.As a major province in toy exports,Zhejiang Province’s toy export trade is therefore greatly hindered.This article aims to explore the impact of technical trade barriers on toy exports in Zhejiang Province and analyze countermeasures.Through literature review and some empirical analysis,it is found that technical trade barriers have greatly promoted the development of Zhejiang’s toy industry;however,they have also subjected it to impacts and pressures such as cost and technology.In response to the impact of technical trade barriers on toy exports,this article proposes corresponding countermeasures to avoid such barriers:firstly,establish a quality management system that complies with export product regulations to ensure that the products produced can meet international requirements and standards;secondly,reduce dependence on overseas markets;then enhance one’s own technology,and strengthen product innovation,in order to enhance the international competitiveness of the product and oneself;in addition,we should also explore diversified markets and expand the sales channels and coverage of our products.

Mysterious Exporter for Brassinosteroid First Identified

It is impossible for plants to grow and reproduce without being regulated by phytohormones.One of the phytohormones is the brassinosteroid(BR)hormones,also named as the sixth phytohormone.

China:In the fourth quarter of 2023,exports of yarn and fabric to ASEAN ceased declining and rebounded

On January 8th,the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Textiles released data showing that in the fourth quarter,China’s textile and clothing exports gradually stabilised.The proportion of intermediate exports in textile and clothing exports continued to rise,providing a new impetus for the substantial expansion of exports to traditional markets and international supply chain cooperation.

China's rare earth import and export analysis in the 1st half of 2024

1.Export situation from January to June 20241.1 Overall export situation of rare earth products Export value of rare earth products showed a wholistic down trend affected by the continuousdecline in rare earth prices in the first half year,however,export volume increased.According to statistics from the General Administration of Customs,from January to June 2024,China's cumulative export of rare earth products was 29,095 tons,an increase of 11%year-on-year,with a cumulative export value of 256 million US dollars,a decrease of 43% year-on-year,Figure 1.

Research on the Threshold Effect of China’s Pharmaceutical Export Trade on Internal and External R&D Investment

Objective To study the threshold effect of export trade on internal and external R&D investment in China’s pharmaceutical industry,and to provide reference for some pharmaceutical enterprises to improve the investment.Methods The panel data of pharmaceutical industry in 25 provinces and cities in China from 2009 to 2019 were selected to conduct empirical analysis by establishing a threshold regression model,and a better export trade interval was obtained.Results and Conclusion There is a threshold value for the effect of new product export on both internal and external R&D expenditures,and the threshold values are 845.2788 million yuan and 318.4198 million yuan,respectively.There is a single threshold effect of export trade on both internal and external R&D investment in China’s pharmaceutical industry,and the effect of export trade on internal and external R&D investment changes from negative to positive as the export trade develops from low to high.

大型过程建模的Import/Export解决方案

文章分析了大型复杂过程的建模需求，基于已研发的企事业过程建模系统EPMS，提出了将Import／Export技术用于大型过程建模的解决方案，通过过程模型的拆分和组装，从而支持过程模型的多人员、异地并行建模模式和过程重用。

民主的多重面向:杜威Democracy and Education中文译名的世纪流变

百年来,中国学者在译介杜威名著Democracy and Education时,对其书名翻译多有不同,前后有近十种译名之别,致使杜威民主教育思想在中国传播过程中呈现出多重面向。从20世纪10-20年代流行的"平民主义与教育"译介到30年代流行的"民本主义与教育"译介再到40年代起流行的"民主主义与教育"译介,杜威Democracy and Education在不同的时代背景下总是受社会思潮的影响发生着某种转译嬗变,以契合时代发展需要。总的来说,该书在中国长达百年的译介传播并非只是一次比一次更逼真复现杜威文本思想的过程,而是在时空交错的历史长河中伴随转变着的社会情境一次又一次不断被重新阐释的过程。在新时期,还需注重结合当前社会情境对Democracy and Education进行转化性阐释,以适应时代变革图新需要进而揭示其当代意涵。

Status quo and Countermeasures of Tea Export Trade of China

The research analyzed status quo of Chinese tea export, including export scale, exporting countries and regions, product structure, explored factors affecting tea export, and detailed international trade development of Chinese teas. On basis of global politics and economic situations, the research proposed new thoughts and of global trades of Chinese teas with application of the Belt and Road Initiative strategy.