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Global Times: China’s stability and long-term planning make it a safe harbor from global tempest

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BEIJING, May 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — China is revving up efforts to fulfill the targets set in the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) in the final year of its implementation and to formulate the next five-year plan. While presiding over a symposium on China’s economic and social development in the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-30) on April 30, Chinese President Xi Jinping called for adapting to changing situations, grasping strategic priorities, and making sound plans. What are the highlights of China’s next five-year plan? What is the significance of China’s capacity to focus on long-term objectives in an era marked by unprecedented changes? The Global Times invites three experts to share their views.

Warwick Powell, an adjunct professor at the Queensland University of Technology, a senior fellow at Taihe Institute and a former advisor to Kevin Rudd, former Australian prime minister

In an era increasingly defined by geopolitical turbulence and short-termism, China’s capacity to focus on long-term objectives stands out. This capacity is not accidental and provides clarity for the nation as well as a safe harbor for nations in the current tempest. It emerges from a complex institutional architecture that enables systematic planning, sustained consultation, and the integration of broad societal input into policy. Central to this architecture are China’s five-year plans, strategic documents that reflect not only the will of the state but the contributions of a wide array of societal actors. These plans are not top-down edicts, but are the product of extensive deliberation and engagement across the entire polity.

The upcoming 15th Five-Year Plan is clearly within this tradition of structured and informed deliberation and planning. The plan emphasized the need to continue China’s process of “high-standard opening up” together with a commitment to fostering new quality productive forces, so as to address the uncertainty of drastic changes in the external environment with the certainty of the country’s high-quality development. 

The question of the economic development speaks directly to the contours of the global economy and the institutions that support stability internationally. These are under stress in multiple areas. The message from China, as emphasized in the 15th Five-Year Plan, is that in times of uncertainty and flux, China understands it has a responsibility both to itself and to the rest of the world to ensure its plans are stable and interactions with China at all levels remain dependable. This is what countries need to chart their own courses of action to find safe harbor and maintain sustainable economic and social development.

The ability to plan, consult and coordinate over the long term is not just a domestic virtue. Rather, it is increasingly a global asset. As other great powers struggle with internal polarization and short election cycles that encourage reactive rather than strategic policy, China’s institutional infrastructure allows it to plan long term, and to stay the course. This enables it to function as a fulcrum around which other nations can orient their own development strategies, trade relations, and diplomatic initiatives. In this sense, China can fulfil its role as a great enabling power.

China’s long-term focus is the result of institutional sophistication, rooted in both modern expertise and ancient traditions. The five-year plan system exemplifies an approach to governance that is dialogic, evidence-driven, and anchored in a deep ethic of responsibility. This system reflects a functional polity, where macro-level decision-making is grounded in ethical commitment and societal engagement. In an increasingly fractured world, China does not merely weather the storm; it provides a lighthouse by which others may navigate. That is a role of immense significance and growing global appreciation.

Keith Lamb, an independent international relations analyst who focuses on China’s socialist development and global inequality

China’s five-year plans function as comprehensive blueprints for national social and economic development. They outline goals, strategies, and priorities to address evolving historical challenges. In doing so, they align society toward the common good, chart a course for a better future and function as instruments for strengthening China’s democracy.

China’s five-year plans, when viewed as a continuous series, contribute to a broader national strategy. One such visionary goal is China’s aim to build itself into a great modern socialist country in all respects by 2049. Socialism that works for all is, by definition, democratic. Yet, the implications extend far beyond China, offering a model for humanity. Only through deliberate planning can we create a rational world that aligns humanity with nature, rather than perpetuating short-term profiteering at the expense of our planet.

Recognizing China’s long-term planning as a key instrument in building a democratic reality and a sustainable future, it comes as no surprise that China now leads the world in green technology, electric vehicles, high-speed rail, and desert reclamation.

Such achievements would not have been possible if capital, driven by short-term profit cycles, dominated the state at the cost of democracy and environmental well-being.

Living in China, I’ve witnessed remarkable changes over five years – transformations that might take generations elsewhere. The 14th Five-Year Plan has propelled China to the forefront of numerous technologies, particularly in green innovation.

By prioritizing the common good, China’s five-year plans are democratic, delivering material, social, and increasingly cultural improvements for the majority, not just a select elite.

Anthony Moretti, an associate professor at the Department of Communication and Organizational Leadership at Robert Morris University

We can anticipate that China will maintain its commitment to long-term thinking, ensuring, among other things, that high-quality development is fundamental to all decisions.

In effect, goals are set. Overarching everything is the requirement that the overall well-being of the Chinese people is central to every action.

The following words, uttered by President Xi in 2013, are as relevant now as they were then: “The Chinese Dream of the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation means that we will make China prosperous and strong, rejuvenate the nation, and bring happiness to the Chinese people.”

Other nations and their citizens understand that China’s emphasis on peaceful coexistence, mutual respect and win-win cooperation is essential to how China positions itself on the global stage.

China is poised to embark on its 15th Five-Year Plan – and it should do so with confidence.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/global-times-chinas-stability-and-long-term-planning-make-it-a-safe-harbor-from-global-tempest-302447094.html

SOURCE Global Times

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Japan’s first DJI and Hasselblad Dual-Concept Flagship Store: “DJI | Hasselblad Authorized Concept Store Tokyo Omotesando” to Grand Open in Late October 2026!

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Offering an unprecedented creative experience with hands-on latest drones and medium-format cameras, an indoor drone flight cage, and 1-on-1 support from multilingual dedicated specialists

TOKYO, Oct. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — DJI, the global leader in innovative aerial and imaging technology, will announce that SEKIDO Co., Ltd., an authorized domestic distributor, will hold the grand opening of the “DJI | Hasselblad Authorized Concept Store Tokyo Omotesando” in the Omotesando area of Tokyo on Saturday, October 31, 2026. This dual-concept store allows visitors to experience the combined worlds of DJI and Hasselblad, the Swedish premium camera brand boasting over 180 years of history as the pinnacle of medium-format photography.

The store consists of two floors, the first and second floors above ground, bringing together the world’s finest imaging technologies, from DJI’s latest drones, handheld gimbals, and action cameras to Hasselblad’s flagship medium-format digital camera systems. The store features a permanent indoor “Drone Flight Cage” for actual flight and operational experiences. It also offers 1-on-1 personalized consulting by expert staff and a multilingual support system (Japanese, English, and Chinese), strongly backing the expressive activities of all creators from Japan and abroad.

Background and Aim of Opening: A Permanent Flagship Hub to Meet the Growing Demand for “Real-World Experience and Expert Consultation”

The use of DJI products has been rapidly expanding in the Japanese market across a wide range of fields, including aerial photography, film and commercial production, still photography, and even industrial applications such as surveying and infrastructure inspection.

In recent years, while the demand for high-performance imaging equipment for creators has further increased, many customers have voiced their desire for real-world experiential value, stating, “I want to check the actual operational feel, image quality, and holding grip before purchasing,” and “I want to consult professionals to select the optimal equipment for my specific production needs and shooting environments.” For highly advanced equipment like drones in particular, it is extremely crucial to verify the intuitive operability and shooting sensation, which are difficult to convey solely through spec sheets and online information.

In response to these changing market dynamics, we decided to open a store in “Tokyo Omotesando,” an epicenter of trends and culture. This permanent flagship hub integrates “product experience,” “expert consulting,” and “experiencing the brand’s world view,” which cannot be fully covered by online sales and short-term events alone. We aim to create an open creative community space for all visual expressers, from highly sensitive top creators domestically and internationally to entry-level enthusiasts aspiring to begin serious content creation.

4 Key Highlights of “DJI Hasselblad Authorized Concept Store Tokyo Omotesando”

1. [Brand Convergence] A Dual-Concept Store to Experience the Worlds of DJI and Hasselblad

“DJI,” which develops innovative imaging technologies, and “Hasselblad,” which continues to support photographic expression as a historic medium-format camera brand. This is a new, dual-concept official store where the craftsmanship and cutting-edge technology of both brands intersect in a single space. From still images to motion pictures, and from the ground to the sky, we offer an equipment lineup that supports diverse creative activities.

2. [Real Experience] Indoor Drone Flight Cage & Product Touch & Try

On the 1st floor, a dedicated “Drone Flight Cage” is permanently installed, allowing visitors to safely fly and pilot drones. Without worrying about weather conditions or restricted flight areas, you can directly experience the hovering stability, camera operation, and control responsiveness of the latest drones on the spot. In addition, handheld cameras and gimbals such as the Osmo series led by the latest Osmo 360 II and Osmo Pocket 4P, as well as the Hasselblad medium-format cameras on the 2nd floor, are all displayed fully powered on, allowing you to freely pick them up and experience shooting.

3. [Expert Consultation] 1-on-1 Personalized Support System by Dedicated Specialists

Expert staff who are thoroughly familiar with product knowledge and on-site shooting know-how are permanently stationed at the store. We propose the optimal equipment configuration and peripheral accessories tailored to each customer’s shooting style, application, and business implementation goals. From comparing products to lectures on initial setup and consultation after introduction, we politely address all questions before and after purchase on a 1-on-1 basis.

4. [Global] Trilingual Support (Japanese, English, Chinese) to Fully Accommodate Inbound Demand

Tailored to the internationally diverse location of Omotesando, not only Japanese but also English and Chinese communication will be supported at the store. We have established a hospitable environment where international tourists and overseas business visitors can experience, purchase, and process tax exemptions for high-end equipment with peace of mind, without feeling any language barriers.

Floor Guide and Overview of Each Area

Each of the two floors offers independent themes and experiential value.

Floor

Main Exhibits and Services

1F
DJI Area

[DJI Touch & Try, Sales, and Flight Cage]
Latest aerial drones (Mavic series, Air series, Mini series, etc.)
Handheld gimbals and action cameras (Osmo Pocket, Osmo 360, Osmo Action, etc.)
Indoor drone flight cage (Actual piloting experience)
Product consultation by dedicated staff

2F
Hasselblad Area

[Hasselblad Touch & Try, Sales, and Gallery]
Medium-format mirrorless digital cameras (X2D II 100C, 907X series, etc.) and XCD lenses
Hasselblad art gallery (Exhibiting the overwhelming gradation and details captured by medium-format cameras)
Premium lounge and consulting booths for in-depth discussions in a relaxed atmosphere

Future Outlook: Regular Events and Workshops to Foster a Creator Community

This store will play a role not merely as an equipment sales hub, but as a communication hub where creators can connect, learn, and collaborate.

Following the grand opening, we plan to regularly host shooting workshops led by front-line professional photographers and video creators, drone flight experience seminars, and advance hands-on preview events for new products. Through the enthusiasm and learning opportunities unique to a physical store, we will contribute to the advancement of Japan’s creative culture.

Store Overview

Item

Store Basic Information

Store Name (Japanese)

DJI | Hasselblad Authorized Concept Store 東京表参道

Store Name (English)

DJI | Hasselblad Authorized Concept Store Tokyo Omotesando

Scheduled Opening Date & Time

Saturday, October 31, 2026 (Grand Opening)

Location

1F & 2F, La Porte Aoyama, 5-51-8 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0001

Access

4-minute walk from Exit B2 of Omotesando Station on the Tokyo Metro Ginza, Chiyoda,
and Hanzomon Lines

Business Hours / Holidays

11:00 – 20:00 (Planned) / Irregular holidays

Phone Number

03-6803-8400

Official Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/djihasselblad_tokyo_omotesando/

For details regarding the opening day and related campaigns, please check the store’s official Instagram or DJI’s official social media accounts.
We sincerely look forward to welcoming you to our store.

*Please note that all store images featured in this press release are computer-generated (CG) conceptual renderings. The actual design, layout, and specifications are subject to change without prior notice.

About DJI
Since its founding in 2006, DJI has pioneered the civilian drone industry, driving innovation while empowering individuals to take flight for the first time, turning imagination into reality, and continuously revolutionizing professional video production. Today, DJI strives every day with the goal of promoting human advancement and building a better world. With a solution-oriented mindset and genuine curiosity, DJI has expanded its business into fields such as renewable energy, agriculture, public safety, surveying and mapping, and infrastructure inspection. In each of these areas, DJI products create new value and bring unprecedented, fundamental changes to the lives of people around the world.

www.dji.com/jp  |  facebook.com/dji.jp  |  twitter.com/djijapan  |  youtube.com/DJIJapan  |  instagram.com/dji_japan  |  www.linkedin.com/company/dji

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SOURCE DJI JAPAN

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Shareholder Proposal Support Nudges Up as Proposal Volume Falls, Broadridge ProxyPulse™ Report Finds

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2026 proxy season sees a sharp decline in environmental and social proposals, a 10-year high in say-on-pay support and expanded opportunities for investor participation

NEW YORK, Oct. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Shareholder support for proposals increased in the 2026 proxy season even as the number of proposals continued to decline, according to the latest ProxyPulse™ report from global Fintech leader Broadridge (NYSE: BR).  Average support for shareholder proposals rose to 27.9% from 24.3% in 2025 with increases in both retail and institutional investor segments.

“The number of environmental and social proposals that were voted on declined by 47% between the 2025 and 2026 proxy seasons,” said Chuck Callan, Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs at Broadridge. “At the same time, shareholder support for proposals on disclosing political spending, at 42% on average, rose to a new high. Backing for directors and say-on-pay remained strong, with say-on-pay support hitting a 10-year high.”

Retail Investors Vote More Shares as Participation Options Expand

Retail investors owned 6 billion more shares this season than last and voted 2 billion more of the shares they own. The report also highlights the continued expansion of “voting choice” and digital governance capabilities to expand the options that shareholders have to make their voices heard. More than 900 funds offered pass-through voting in the 12 months ended June 30, 2026, up from approximately 400 a year earlier, with more than 400,000 shareholders enrolled. Companies held a record 2,542 virtual shareholder meetings between July 2025 and June 2026, including more than 200 first-time adopters.

About ProxyPulse™

The 2026 Broadridge ProxyPulse report examines ownership and voting trends across the past five proxy seasons and explores developments shaping corporate governance, including standing voting instructions, voting choice and support for tokenized equities.

ProxyPulse™ is based on Broadridge’s processing of shares held in street name at the 1,000+ broker-dealers and custodian banks it services. Accounts are classified as either “retail” or “institutional” based on the delivery channels and voting platforms they utilize. All data is reported in the aggregate. Comparative information covers annual meetings between January 1 and June 30 in each of the past five years.

About Broadridge

Broadridge (NYSE: BR) is a global technology leader with trusted expertise and transformative technology, helping clients and the financial services industry operate, innovate, and grow. We power investing, governance, and communications for our clients – driving operational resiliency, elevating business performance, and transforming investor experiences.

Broadridge’s technology and operations platforms process and generate over 8 billion communications annually and underpin the daily average trading of over $18 trillion in tokenized and traditional securities globally. A certified Great Place to Work®, Broadridge is part of the S&P 500® Index, employing approximately 16,000 associates in 28 countries. For more information about us, please visit www.broadridge.com.

Broadridge Contacts:

Investors: broadridgeir@broadridge.com

Media: Gregg.Rosenberg@broadridge.com

 

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SOURCE Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc.

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UMC and AP Memory Collaborate to Enable Advanced Power Delivery Solutions for AI and HPC Systems

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HSINCHU, Oct. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — United Microelectronics Corporation (NYSE: UMC; TWSE: 2303) (“UMC”) and AP Memory (TWSE: 6531) today announced a technology and manufacturing collaboration to advance power delivery solutions for AI and high-performance computing (HPC) systems. This partnership combines UMC’s deep trench capacitor (DTC) foundry technology and scalable wafer manufacturing with AP Memory’s silicon capacitor designs and system-level integration to address the power efficiency challenges of next-generation data centers.

Rapid scaling of AI workloads is placing unprecedented demands on power delivery within computing systems, driving an architecture shift in data center design from placing power stabilization components on the circuit board to embedding capacitors directly in the interposer or substrate. This innovative approach shortens the power delivery path, improves power integrity, and supports more efficient voltage regulation within advanced packages.

The collaboration reached a significant milestone in the third quarter of 2026, with AP Memory’s S-SiCap™ Gen2D discrete silicon capacitor designs completing tape-out and initial functional validation. The next step is to proceed to comprehensive system-level performance and reliability testing of capacitors in substrate packages, targeting support for a range of capacitance and operating voltage requirements. UMC and AP Memory are also exploring opportunities to extend the collaboration to other product lines including capacitor-embedded interposers and landside capacitors to address diverse system designs.

GC Hung, Senior Vice President of UMC, said: “The growth of AI and HPC is driving a fundamental shift in power delivery – from board-level towards increasingly vertical power integration on the chip-level. UMC is offering robust power delivery solutions, including our DTC technology, which enables high-density capacitance to be placed closer to the computing die for more stable power delivery. By partnering with AP Memory, we are helping to bring scalable solutions to the market to solve the critical power bottleneck challenges as AI infrastructure continues to evolve.”

Ivan Hong, President of AP Memory, said: “The successful tape-out and initial wafer validation of our customized S-SiCap™ products using DTC technology represents an important milestone in demonstrating the flexibility and manufacturability of AP Memory’s S-SiCap™ design. By working with UMC, we are providing our customers a total solution, from product design to wafer manufacturing.”

UMC’s power delivery solutions roadmap covers both discrete and embedded silicon capacitors that can be applied to different system architectures, and extends to active components such as internal voltage regulators. UMC is also leveraging its advanced packaging capabilities to enable higher-density integration of power components to meet the higher voltage and capacitance requirements of next-generation data centers. In parallel, UMC is further investing in new manufacturing capacity to support both power delivery and heterogeneous integration solutions.

About UMC

UMC (NYSE: UMC, TWSE: 2303) is a leading global semiconductor foundry company. The company provides high-quality IC fabrication services, focusing on logic and various specialty technologies to serve all major sectors of the electronics industry. UMC’s comprehensive IC processing technologies and manufacturing solutions include Logic/Mixed-Signal, embedded High-Voltage, embedded Non-Volatile-Memory, RFSOI, BCD etc. Most of UMC’s 12-in and 8-in fabs with its core R&D are located in Taiwan, with additional ones throughout Asia. UMC has a total of 12 fabs in production with combined capacity of more than 400,000 wafers per month (12-in equivalent), and all of them are certified with IATF 16949 automotive quality standard. UMC is headquartered in Hsinchu, Taiwan, plus local offices in United States, Europe, China, Japan, Korea & Singapore, with a worldwide total of 20,000 employees. For more information, please visit: http://www.umc.com.

Note from UMC Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

Some of the statements in the foregoing announcement are forward-looking within the meaning of the U.S. Federal Securities laws, including statements about introduction of new services and technologies, future outsourcing, competition, wafer capacity, business relationships and market conditions. Investors are cautioned that actual events and results could differ materially from these statements as a result of a variety of factors, including conditions in the overall semiconductor market and economy; acceptance and demand for products from UMC; and technological and development risks. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in UMC’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. UMC does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required under applicable law.

About AP Memory

AP Memory (TWSE: 6531) is a global fabless design semiconductor company specializing in customized memory design and IP solutions. Products include IoT memory (IoTRAM™), AI memory solutions (VHM™), and silicon capacitors (S-SiCap™). With strong R&D capabilities, AP Memory is committed to providing high performance, low-power and innovative customized products and solutions for applications such as mobile communication, wearable, IoT, high-end mobile application, high-performance computing, and edge computing.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/umc-and-ap-memory-collaborate-to-enable-advanced-power-delivery-solutions-for-ai-and-hpc-systems-302916408.html

SOURCE United Microelectronics Corporation; AP Memory Technology Corp.

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