GX Foundation, a Hong Kong-based Chinese medical humanitarian organization, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on dengue fever prevention and control and a letter of intent for cooperation on clean water project with the health ministry of Timor-Leste in Dili, capital of Timor-Leste, on Friday.
The signing of the agreements were witnessed by Leung Chun-ying, vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and chairman of GX foundation, and Timor-Leste's Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao.
Under the agreements, the GX Foundation will intensify its partnership with Timor-Leste's health authorities to combat dengue fever and address the country's drinking water shortages.
Earlier this year, the foundation launched its first global pilot project in the southeast Asian country, donating a range of mosquito control products to the country's health ministry, including mosquito killer lamps, fly traps, mosquito nets and rapid test kits. The efforts, covering early diagnosis, prevention, protection and education, have significantly mitigated the risk of dengue outbreaks in the country.
Despite a global surge in dengue cases, the first half of this year saw Timor-Leste reporting a 10 percent decrease in confirmed cases compared to the same period of last year. Notably, dengue infections in May and June dropped by 76.5 percent.
"We have installed the mosquito killer lamps provided by the GX Foundation in all hospital departments, from emergency rooms to server rooms. We have noticed almost no mosquitoes in the hospital now. Moreover, we no longer have concerns about dengue fever," said Pereira, director of the infectious disease prevention and control department of the Guido Valadares National Hospital.
"The results of this pilot project are crucial for our future initiatives, as they help identify high-risk areas. We hope this project will serve as a model for other regions and developing countries affected by dengue fever," said Chan Yingyang, CEO of the GX Foundation.
In addition, to combat waterborne diseases caused by contaminated drinking water, the foundation will launch its first "Clean Water Project" in the country. The initiative includes the donation of 100 water purification machines to the institutions such as hospitals and schools. Qualified technicians will be mobilized to manage the installation.
Founded in Hong Kong in 2018, the GX Foundation is a non-governmental and non-profit medical humanitarian organization dedicated to providing international medical and public health humanitarian assistance in the Belt and Road countries.
Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne viral infection and mostly occurs in the rainy season from June to October in Southeast Asia. It usually causes severe flu-like symptoms, including high fever, headache, vomiting, muscle and joint pain, and a characteristic skin rash.
Chinese NGO signs cooperation deals with Timor-Leste on dengue fever prevention, clean water project
China is accelerating efforts to build low-altitude infrastructure, with new takeoff and landing facilities, communication networks, and digital systems being constructed in key cities to facilitate the development of this rapidly growing sector.
Low-altitude economy refers to the economic activities and industries centered around manned and unmanned aerial vehicles operating in the airspace usually within 1,000 meters above the ground.
In southern tech hub of Shenzhen, a newly operational rooftop helipad is a key part of the city's push to expand its low-altitude economy. Originally built for fire safety, the helipad has been repurposed with plans for a new aerial sightseeing route in the surrounding area.
"We've estimated the investment, and it's relatively modest since the foundational infrastructure is already in place. The costs will likely be in the range of a few million yuan. If rooftop helipads are connected, it could create an aerial transportation network that links different buildings together," said Kuang Hu, vice chairman of Guangdong Yuehai Land Group.
Shenzhen aims to complete over 1,200 low-altitude facilities by 2026, with the local government offering subsidies of up to 2 million yuan (over 270,000 U.S. dollars) per project. These efforts are part of a broader strategy to create a seamless low-altitude infrastructure ecosystem that integrates airspace management, flight paths, and services.
"By the end of 2026, the district aims to complete 100 low-altitude infrastructure projects," said Chen Wenlei, deputy director of the Development and Reform Bureau of Luohu District, Shenzhen.
"We are in the process of establishing a comprehensive network that includes infrastructure, airspace management, flight paths, and services. By integrating these four key networks into a unified low-altitude standard system, we aim to promote the seamless opening and integration of low-altitude airspace infrastructure and systems," said Cheng Tao, executive secretary of the Shenzhen Low-altitude Economy Industry Association.
In Shanghai, the East China UAV Base has been approved for testing new drones, technologies, and services within a 1,370-square-kilometer airspace. A newly deployed 5G base station at the base offers both communication and radar-like sensing capabilities, essential for managing low-altitude airspace.
"Currently, the station covers a radius of several kilometers, offering crucial data such as the aircraft's latitude, longitude, altitude, speed, and other key metrics. Once airborne, all types of aircraft require communication. For those flying below 300 meters, we can provide tailored coverage for their flight paths," said Du Yanyan, deputy general manager of the Planning and Technology Department at China Mobile Shanghai.
Experts say that technologies like 5G and the BeiDou navigation system are essential to supporting China's low-altitude infrastructure. However, they emphasize the need for network interoperability to address challenges as drones and aircraft transition between regions.
"The low-altitude communication and sensing networks being developed in various regions each follow different technical approaches. For example, when a drone travels from Area A to Area B, it must switch networks, and addressing these challenges promptly is crucial," said Du Jiadong, head of the network and application group at the Low-altitude Economy Research Center, China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT).
The Civil Aviation Administration of China estimates that the country's low-altitude market will soar from 500 billion yuan in 2023 to 1.5 trillion yuan in 2025 and as much as 3.5 trillion yuan in 2035.
This year, for the first time, the term "low-altitude economy" was included in the Chinese government's work report, signifying an official endorsement that has emboldened numerous cities.
Infrastructure networks rapidly taking shape to boost low-altitude economy
