Summary: The article emphasizes the importance of deepening reform in China, particularly following the 20th Third Plenum, highlighting the need for comprehensive and systematic approaches to modernization. Xi Jinping has made multiple trips across China to oversee the reform process including to areas such as Xiamen, Ganxu and Hubei. Xi has stressed the importance of balancing reform with adherence to the law and opening up to the world while maintaining domestic priorities. The article highlights the efforts to promote high-quality development, innovation, and balanced regional growth, as well as efforts to improve people's livelihoods.
Summary: The article discusses China's policy of "investing in people," which was first mentioned in this year's government work report and emphasizes improving people's livelihoods, boosting consumption, and fostering talent. The policy involves measures such as subsidizing vocational skills training, increasing financial aid for students, and promoting urban renewal projects. These investments are intended to empower individuals, stimulate consumption through subsidies and innovative supply strategies, and cultivate a skilled workforce for future development. The initiative aims to improve living standards, encourage personal growth, and enhance national strength. The article does not mention the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: Premier Li Qiang addressed the opening ceremony of the 2025 World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai, emphasizing the need for global consensus on AI governance and its development as a public good. He proposed focusing on inclusive accessibility, innovative cooperation, and joint governance to ensure AI benefits humanity. Li Qiang stated China is willing to share development experience and technology, particularly with developing countries, and contribute Chinese solutions to global AI governance. He also advocated for the establishment of a World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization. Chen Jining and Wu Zhenglong participated in these activities.
Summary: The Wuhan Shuangliu Yangtze River Bridge in Hubei province successfully completed its closure on July 26th and is expected to open for trial operation in March 2026. The bridge, a key component of the Wuhan metropolitan area ring road within the national expressway network, spans 1430 meters and will reduce travel time between Wuhan's Xinzhou district and Ezhou city from 90 minutes to 5 minutes. The bridge has a designed speed of 120km/h and adopts a two-way 8-lane standard. The total length of the road is 35.043 kilometers.
Summary: The article reports on Jilin province's efforts to promote coordinated regional development, focusing on the construction of the Changchun metropolitan area and its integration with other northeastern provinces. Jilin is improving transportation infrastructure like highways and high-speed rail to connect cities and facilitate logistics, including increased China-Europe freight train traffic. The province is also fostering industrial collaboration, particularly in the automotive sector, with Changchun leading and surrounding cities providing supporting industries. The region is working to promote tourism and share public services, with initiatives like joint tourism promotion and "cross-city" government services.
Summary: In the first half of 2024, China approved 43 innovative drugs and 45 innovative medical devices, representing year-on-year increases of 59% and 87% respectively, according to the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA). The NMPA has also shortened review times for drug supplement applications and prioritized the review of clinical trials for key innovative drugs, and newly approved 70 children's medicines and 21 rare disease medicines. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the NMPA have jointly promoted innovation in AI medical devices and biomedical materials. The NMPA released 10 measures to support the innovative development of high-end medical device.
Summary: China Huaneng Group, a major power generation company, is focusing on high-quality development through technological innovation and serving national strategies to ensure energy security. The company is developing core technologies like compressed air energy storage and carbon capture, while also upgrading traditional industries through large-scale equipment updates, such as wind turbine repowering and clean coal technology. Huaneng is also expanding into strategic emerging industries like wind, solar, and hydrogen production, with projects like the Longdong energy base and hydrogen production facilities in Sichuan. Wen Shugang, Party Group Secretary and Chairman of China Huaneng Group, stated that the company is committed to the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries and the cultivation of emerging industries. The company is focused on ensuring energy supply, with record electricity generation, heating, and coal production in 2024.
Summary: German tourists, like Maya, are increasingly visiting the Nanxun district in Zhejiang province, drawn by its traditional water towns and cultural experiences facilitated by high-speed rail. Maya chose a local guesthouse, attracted by its authentic Jiangnan style promoted on Chinese social media. Local businesses are adapting to accommodate foreign tourists, with improvements such as bilingual signage, English-speaking staff, and support for foreign payment methods. Zhejiang province is implementing policies to improve services for foreign visitors, including streamlining reservations and offering multilingual support. While challenges remain, such as difficulties using passports for train entry, Nanxun is actively enhancing its infrastructure to cater to the growing number of international tourists.
Summary: A State Council meeting on July 25th focused on gradually implementing free preschool education, a measure framed as benefiting families and long-term development. Experts interviewed emphasized that this initiative would reduce financial burdens on families, stimulate consumer spending, and alleviate concerns about the costs of raising children. The plan is to expand free education gradually, possibly starting with one year of free preschool, taking into account factors such as birth rates and economic conditions. Experts mentioned that improving education quality is a current challenge, including funding, teacher development, and supervision. This initiative also promotes educational equality, especially for children from low-income families and rural areas.
Summary: This article reports on the year since the Third Plenum of the 20th Party Congress, highlighting the Party's commitment to comprehensively deepening reforms under Xi Jinping's leadership to advance Chinese-style modernization. Xi Jinping emphasized the need for both reform and opening up, and visited several regions to promote coordinated regional development. The central government has focused on economic reforms, innovation, and improving the socialist legal system. The piece stresses the Party's leadership and commitment to serving the people, but does not allude to the U.S. or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: The "Global AI Governance Action Plan" was released at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference, outlining a vision for international cooperation on AI development and governance. The plan emphasizes shared opportunities, innovation, digital infrastructure, and addressing challenges related to energy, safety, and ethics. It calls for global participation in AI development, aiming to promote inclusive, fair, and secure AI for all, particularly focusing on bridging the digital divide for developing countries. The plan also supports the implementation of the UN's Global Digital Compact and proposes establishing international mechanisms for AI governance within the UN framework. There is no mention of the United States or U.S.-China relations in the document.
Summary: A new round of U.S.-China trade talks is set to take place in Sweden, following previous talks in Geneva and London. China is approaching the talks with sincerity, aiming to resolve issues through equal dialogue and consultation. While defending its own legitimate rights against U.S. tariffs and restrictions, China opposes unilateralism and protectionism. China emphasizes that dialogue and cooperation are the only correct way to resolve trade disputes. The goal is to increase consensus, build mutual trust, reduce misjudgment, and strengthen cooperation in U.S.-China relations.
Summary: Spanish Communist Party General Secretary Enrique Santiago, after his first visit to China, stated that China's success provides a new development model for other countries. Santiago was impressed by China's rapid development and effective governance, observing advancements in poverty alleviation, technology, and sustainable development. He highlighted China's commitment to multilateralism and its role in global governance, particularly through initiatives like the Belt and Road, contrasting it with a zero-sum approach. Santiago also noted Western misconceptions about China and its development. He emphasized China's contributions to addressing climate change and promoting global common development.
Summary: The "2025 World Mayor Dialogue·Qingdao" event, marking the start of Qingdao International Sister Cities Exchange Month, featured representatives from cities including Piraeus, Sihanoukville, Minsk, and others, focusing on topics like marine tourism and cultural exchange. Qingdao Mayor Ren Gang highlighted the city's efforts in preserving historical districts while introducing new industries to enhance livability and tourism. Participants shared insights on urban governance, including smart city initiatives such as multi-lingual tourism systems and smart infrastructure. The event also promoted international cooperation through economic and cultural exchanges, exemplified by Qingdao's partnerships within the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and the expansion of its sister city network.
Summary: The Chinese film *My Friend Andrei* competed for the "Golden Ring Award" at the 8th Malaysia International Film Festival. According to Malaysian Chinese Film Association Chairman Zheng Xiongcheng, the increasing presence of Chinese films in Malaysia not only showcases their quality but also bridges Sino-Malaysian cultural exchange. He highlighted the popularity of the animated film *Ne Zha*, noting its cross-cultural appeal through universal themes of justice, courage, and love. Zheng also emphasized the technological advancements in Chinese cinema, enhancing the storytelling. Zheng hopes that China and Malaysia will strengthen cooperation in co-production, distribution and market development.
Summary: Premier Li Qiang addressed the opening ceremony of the 2025 World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai, emphasizing the need for international cooperation in AI development and governance. Li called for balancing development with security and the creation of a global governance framework for AI, suggesting AI should be a public good accessible to all nations, particularly those in the Global South. He proposed the establishment of a World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization. The conference also included remarks from UN Secretary-General Guterres and the release of the "Global AI Governance Action Plan." Chen Jining and Wu Zhenglong were present at the event.
Summary: China has proposed the establishment of a World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization, tentatively headquartered in Shanghai. This initiative aims to strengthen international cooperation in AI, bridge the digital and intelligence divide, and promote the beneficial and inclusive development of AI. China intends to collaborate with willing nations on the organization's arrangements based on principles of shared governance and respect for sovereignty. China also intends for the organization to be complementary to the efforts of the UN. The organization is intended to further the cause of multilateralism.
Summary: Jinjing Town in Changsha County has implemented a "face-scanning" system in its government cafeteria to reduce food waste, as part of a broader effort to promote frugality in accordance with the "Party and Government Organs Practicing Economy and Opposing Waste Regulations." The system tracks dining habits and provides data-driven insights, allowing kitchen staff to adjust food preparation accordingly; Liu Wei, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and Town Mayor of Jinjing Town said that construction of work style must come down to actions. According to cafeteria manager Chen Lei, the system analyzes data to predict popular dishes and adjust quantities, reducing overall food waste by nearly 40%. The system allows for a dynamic feedback loop that helps to inform kitchen staff what and how much to cook. Other local government cafeterias have implemented this system to reduce food waste as well.
Summary: Fujian province's medical assistance program in Luolong County, Tibet, has significantly improved local healthcare capabilities, allowing complex surgeries to be performed locally. Doctors like Zhang Conglin and Zhan Zhiqiang from Fujian are providing critical care and training local doctors, such as Doje Tsering, in advanced techniques, exemplified by successful treatments for endemic diseases like Kashin-Beck disease. Hospital director Gao Yipeng chose to remain in Luolong after his assignment concluded, which ensures the program's sustainability. Modern equipment and standardized management, implemented since 2020, further enhance the hospital's ability to provide better care. The hospital uses telemedicine to access specialists from other major hospitals.
Summary: Li Huiling, director of the Tropical Medicine Department at the PLA General Hospital Hainan Hospital, focuses on serving soldiers' health in the South China Sea. She leads a team on the "Peace Ark" hospital ship to provide medical services to island and reef garrisons. During one such visit, Li diagnosed a soldier with a potentially life-threatening airway obstruction, ensuring his timely treatment at the Hainan Hospital. Li's team developed a portable diagnostic device that identifies pathogens within 15 minutes, improving treatment speed. Li emphasizes the importance of both scientific rigor and compassionate care in serving military personnel.
Summary: The article discusses Jilin Province's efforts to coordinate regional development, focusing on the construction of the Changchun metropolitan area and its integration with other northeastern provinces. It highlights improvements in transportation infrastructure like highways and high-speed rail, facilitating connectivity and logistics as well as industrial collaboration, particularly in the automotive sector, with Changchun leading and surrounding cities providing support. Jilin is promoting cross-city tourism and coordinated development of tourism resources, ecological governance, and public services to enhance the quality of life. Jilin and Changchun are cooperating to address administrative issues and improve the efficiency of local governance. The goal is to build a more competitive and innovative metropolitan area.
Summary: The 12th World Games torch relay began in Guanghan, Sichuan province, at the Sanxingdui Museum. This marks the first torch relay in the history of the World Games. The torch was lit using a "photovoltaic-electricity-fire" method by representatives from the Sanxingdui and Jinsha Site Museums. Olympic champion Huang Zhangjiayang was the first torchbearer. The relay spanned several locations including the Jinsha Site Museum, the Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Research Base, and other sites, involving 120 torchbearers.
Summary: China Huaneng, a major power generation group, focuses on technological innovation and high-quality development to serve national strategies and ensure energy security. The company is upgrading traditional industries by implementing large-scale equipment updates and promoting the integration of digital technologies. Huaneng is also expanding into strategic emerging industries such as new energy, hydrogen production, and energy storage. Huaneng's installed capacity of low-carbon and clean energy has reached 53.7%, with new energy exceeding 100 million kilowatts. Wen Shugang, Party Secretary and Chairman of China Huaneng, emphasized the importance of both upgrading traditional industries and cultivating emerging ones.
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Summary: Under Xi Jinping's leadership, China is promoting nationwide reading as a national development strategy, aiming to enhance innovation, civility, and leadership skills. The article highlights initiatives such as the National Book Fair and policies promoting reading, including incorporating "nationwide reading" into the government work report for the twelfth consecutive year. It also addresses challenges like digital fragmentation and unequal access, emphasizing the need for tailored support and technological solutions to ensure equitable participation. The piece also makes a brief allusion to the U.S. by noting that the U.S. is among countries that have high rates of per capita readership. Ultimately, the article frames nationwide reading as crucial for individual growth and national strength.
Summary: China is implementing a "cultural commissioner" (文化特派员) system to revitalize rural areas by dispatching experts in culture and the arts to local communities. These commissioners are tasked with identifying cultural assets, promoting traditional arts, and fostering cultural innovation tailored to local needs. They also promote economic development via cultural tourism and creative industries. The initiative aims to revitalize rural economies by injecting cultural elements into local industries and leveraging traditional culture for modern markets. However, the effort requires careful planning and support to ensure that the cultural commissioners are able to best use local resources.
Summary: Wu Hengzhi, head of the Jin'an District Local Culture Research Association, returned to Fuzhou in 2013 to study local culture and has focused on Jin'an District since 2016. Wu and his team have conducted extensive surveys in Jin'an, discovering historical sites and materials, and working with villagers to build village history museums and promote cultural tourism. The team of 56 researchers has covered nearly 600 natural villages in Jin'an, helping almost 50 villages connect with their red culture and revolutionary figures. By fostering cultural confidence at the village level, Wu aims to contribute to the overall cultural confidence of the city.
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Summary: On the 88th anniversary of the start of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, over ten Taiwanese political parties and groups, including the Taiwan Unification Alliance, gathered outside the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) headquarters in Taipei, calling on the DPP authorities to recognize the shared history of resistance against Japan by both sides of the Taiwan Strait and the history of Taiwanese people's resistance against Japan. The demonstrators called for a stop to all pro-independence splittist acts and a return to the historical path. They emphasized that the historical achievements of compatriots on both sides of the Strait in jointly resisting foreign aggression should not be erased. They stated that they want to promote the national spirit, oppose Taiwan independence and division, and work to realize national reunification.
Summary: Hong Kong is leveraging its unique position to promote Chinese culture through events like the "Chinese Culture Festival 2025," which features exhibitions like "The Amazing Oracle Bones." These initiatives aim to strengthen national identity and cultural confidence among Hong Kong residents, particularly the youth. Hong Kong's efforts to promote Chinese culture include creative adaptations of traditional art forms and the establishment of dedicated offices and museums. By showcasing Chinese culture to the world, Hong Kong aims to foster cultural exchange and tell China's story on a global stage. The article does not mention the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: The 11th Cross-Strait Youth Science and Technology Innovation Activity, themed "Tides Rise Across the Strait, Building Dreams for Youth," was held in Lianyungang, Jiangsu Province. Over 600 young people from Taiwan and Jiangsu participated in science and technology innovation competitions. The event aimed to enhance understanding and friendship through exchange and interaction. A specific event involved a biomimetic robot competition. The article does not mention the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: This article celebrates the 20th anniversary of the Historic Centre of Macao's inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List, highlighting its unique blend of Chinese and Western architecture. It emphasizes the area's significance as a testament to the exchange and integration of Eastern and Western cultures, showcasing the inclusiveness of Chinese culture. Over the past two decades, Macao has strengthened its cultural heritage protection through legislation, open days, and adaptive reuse of historical buildings. Various events are being held to commemorate the anniversary and promote awareness of heritage protection. The article concludes that Macao's cultural heritage will play an increasingly important role in cultural exchange.
Summary: A modern Cantonese opera, "The Silent Merit," depicting the story of Dr. Ke Lin, has been touring Macau, Guangzhou, Beijing, and Hong Kong, showcasing the collaborative cultural development between Zhuhai and Macau. Jointly created by Zhuhai and Macau organizations, the production is seen as a successful exploration in promoting cultural development in the Greater Bay Area. Zhuhai and Macau have strengthened cooperation in cultural exchange, talent cultivation, and artistic creation through the "Cultural Kin" exchange program. The program facilitates mutual performances and talent exchange between the two cities' artistic groups. Future plans include taking cooperative Zhuhai-Macau productions to a national and international stage, with the goal of expanding the cultural influence of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area.
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Summary: An art exhibition at the China Academy of Art showcased the art of the video game *Black Myth: Wukong*, drawing over 450,000 visitors and generating significant online engagement. The exhibition highlighted the game's deep roots in Chinese traditional culture and the academy's role in fostering talent for the animation and gaming industries, emphasizing the integration of art and technology. It featured the game's character design process and cultural elements, attracting a diverse audience and fostering cultural exchange through public education programs. The exhibition is seen as a reflection of China's ability to innovate and exert cultural influence. A foreign museum director remarked that the exhibition perfectly combined Chinese traditional culture and contemporary technology.
Summary: During a visit to the Hanzhong City Museum in Shaanxi Province on July 29, 2023, Xi Jinping stated that "cultural relics carry a splendid civilization, inherit historical culture, and maintain the national spirit." The "Shimen Thirteen Masterpieces" are significant stone carvings representing the evolution of calligraphy and ancient transportation. The Shaanxi Calligraphers Association has been actively promoting the study and development of Shimen calligraphy, including hosting exhibitions and establishing research institutes. The Shimen stone carvings demonstrate the evolution of Chinese calligraphy styles, serving as a living fossil of "book change" in Chinese calligraphy history. Contemporary calligraphers are drawing inspiration from these carvings, seeking to capture the spirit of different eras and innovate upon tradition.
Summary: An exhibition of楚 culture-themed artwork, "章华流芳," showcased 60 pieces resulting from a collaborative project involving nearly 100 artists who delved into the history and cultural artifacts of the楚 state. Artists drew inspiration from relics like bronze artifacts and historical sites, aiming to capture the essence of楚 culture through visual representation. The project emphasized both historical accuracy and artistic innovation, blending traditional symbols with modern techniques to enhance the regional characteristics of the artwork. The initiative also fostered collaboration across institutions and generations, strengthening the talent pool for thematic art creation in湖北 province. Ultimately, the project sought to promote the unique charm and profound heritage of楚 culture to a wider audience.
Summary: Recent artistic endeavors have focused on Beijing's central axis, with artists from various institutions participating in sketching and creative activities to capture its historical and cultural essence. The creation of the Chinese painting "The Spine of the Capital" (京城之脊) by a team at the Beijing Artists Association sought to highlight the axis's spiritual significance through precise detail and traditional compositional techniques. The artwork has been used as a resource for ideological and political education, integrated into curricula, and displayed in exhibitions to promote understanding of Chinese traditional culture among students. Younger generations are increasingly engaging with the central axis through various art forms, ensuring the continuation of its cultural legacy. The article does not discuss the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: Please provide the article you would like me to summarize. I need the text of the article in order to provide an accurate and concise summary for professional analysts of Chinese politics, as requested.
Summary: This article discusses the depiction of watermelons in Chinese paintings, highlighting its increasing popularity as a subject from the Ming and Qing dynasties onward due to its accessibility to commoners. It examines the unique styles of several painters, including Ju Lian's realistic texture techniques and Miao Jiahui's incorporation of Western perspective. The rise of watermelon paintings reflects the commercialization of art in the late Qing Dynasty, catering to the aesthetic preferences of the merchant class by blending refined artistic taste with relatable, everyday subject matter. The article concludes by inviting readers to experience the coolness of summer through both watermelons and art.
Summary: The newly constructed and renovated cultural spaces in Shaoxing, Zhejiang, including the Jiemin Library, Jiemin Theater, and Cai Yuanpei Square, aim to revitalize the city's northern entrance area. The Jiemin Theater was converted from a cinema, while still maintaining its cultural function. The modern Jiemin Library uses reflective glass and water features to complement the adjacent Cai Yuanpei residence. The design emphasizes a blend of traditional aesthetics with contemporary design principles. The focus is on preserving cultural memory while adapting to modern needs.
Summary: This appears to be a standard masthead for a section of the People's Daily newspaper. It provides the email address for submissions to that section (msfk@peopledaily.cn) and identifies the designer as Cai Huawei. There is no information regarding official statements, actions, or U.S.-China relations in this excerpt.
By: 新华社记者 黄 玥 王 鹏 严赋憬
Reform is a courageous act of a great era and the source of power for development and progress.
In July 2024, the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (党的二十届三中全会) once again sounded the call for reform on the new journey, making systematic arrangements for further comprehensively deepening reform and promoting Chinese-style modernization, and proposing more than 300 reform measures to outline a grand blueprint for reform in the next five years.
The plenary session proposed that we should fully implement Xi Jinping (习近平)'s Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and deeply study and implement General Secretary Xi Jinping's (习近平总书记) series of new thoughts, new viewpoints, and new judgments on comprehensively deepening reform. Taking economic system reform as the guide, and promoting social fairness and justice and increasing people's well-being as the starting point and foothold, we should pay more attention to system integration, more attention to highlighting key points, and more attention to the effectiveness of reform, so as to better adapt the relations of production to the productive forces, the superstructure to the economic base, and national governance to social development, and provide strong impetus and institutional guarantees for Chinese-style modernization.
In the past year, facing the complex and volatile international and domestic situation, facing a new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation, and facing the new expectations of the people, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping (习近平同志) at its core, with great political courage and wisdom, has placed reform in a more prominent position, taken a broad and long-term view, grasped the pulse and direction, made systematic arrangements, and vigorously implemented them, constantly opening up broad prospects for the great cause of Chinese-style modernization.
Showing a New Atmosphere of Reform
——"The connotation of Chinese-style modernization is very rich, and further comprehensively deepening reform must also be all-round."
Xiamen (厦门), Fujian (福建), is a window of reform and a door of opening up. In October 2024, in the upsurge of studying and implementing the spirit of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (党的二十届三中全会) throughout the Party, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平总书记) came to Xiamen (厦门) to declare the determination of reform and draw a new picture of reform.
In the exhibition of the achievements of the construction of the Free Trade Pilot Zone, a blue-covered, more than 300-page book, "Xiamen Economic and Social Development Strategy from 1985 to 2000" (《1985年—2000年厦门经济社会发展战略》), attracted the attention of General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平总书记). This was a blueprint for reform and development formulated under the leadership of Comrade Xi Jinping (习近平同志) more than 30 years ago, who "participated directly in the reform and opening up of the coastal developed areas for the first time."
Looking back on the past and looking forward to the future, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平总书记) said: "We participated in the entrepreneurship here, and the current development is better than we imagined at that time." "Today, grasping reform and opening up, whether in depth or breadth, requires more than in the past."
Further comprehensively deepening reform requires a more grand and clearer roadmap and timetable. After the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (党的二十届三中全会), the Central Deepening Reform Commission (中央深改委) immediately deployed and studied the formulation of an implementation plan for important reform measures of the plenary session, clarifying the form of reform achievements, the year of completion, and the division of tasks, and promoting the planned and step-by-step implementation of reform.
From reform and opening up to comprehensively deepening reform and then to further comprehensively deepening reform, history is writing a new chapter in continuous struggle.
Deeply grasp the general trend of the times, take an overall view, and unite efforts, reform has always followed the right path and been good at breaking new ground——
On August 29, 2024, in Zhongnanhai (中南海), Beijing (北京), the first meeting of the Central Deepening Reform Commission (中央深改委) after the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (党的二十届三中全会) was held.
"We must adhere to the centralized and unified leadership of the Party Central Committee over reform, and strictly implement the reporting system. We must accurately grasp the strategic priorities and priorities of reform, and rationally arrange the order, rhythm, and timing of reform measures. We must combine reform more closely with economic and social development, and promote the accelerated implementation of landmark reform measures. We must strengthen the systematic integration of reform, enhance the consistency of reform policy orientation, actively assess the impact on economic and social development, and form a joint force of reform and development." The meeting put forward clear requirements, providing scientific guidance and action guidelines for further comprehensively deepening reform to go deeper and more solid.
As the director of the Central Deepening Reform Commission (中央深改委主任), General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平总书记) is both the commander and the combatant, making systematic arrangements for the overall layout, major issues, and key links of reform, leading the direction of reform, promoting the process of reform, and urging the implementation of reform.
The more reform advances in depth, the more it is necessary to strengthen the overall planning of reform, the more scientific methods are needed, and the more it is necessary to gather the broadest consensus.
On October 29, 2024, the seminar for leading cadres at the provincial and ministerial level to study and implement the spirit of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (党的二十届三中全会) opened at the Central Party School (National Academy of Governance) (中央党校（国家行政学院）).
General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平总书记) delivered an important speech, emphasizing the major principles that must be firmly grasped and always adhered to in further comprehensively deepening reform: adhere to maintaining integrity and innovation; profoundly expounding the four pairs of relationships that need to be adhered to and handled well: adhere to the unity of reform and the rule of law, adhere to the dialectical unity of breaking and establishing, adhere to the unity of reform and opening up, and handle the relationship between deployment and implementation; clearly requiring leading cadres to "enhance their sense of political responsibility and historical mission," and earnestly achieve "not avoiding contradictions and problems head-on, not being ambiguous in eradicating stubborn maladies, not retreating in the face of risks and challenges, and striving to open up new prospects for reform and development."
Those who are good at planning win, and those who plan far prosper.
Since the convening of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (党的二十届三中全会), General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平总书记) has always paid attention to the progress of reform, whether attending important meetings or going to local inspections and research, and has made a series of important instructions on the major principles, important measures, and scientific paths of reform, guiding the whole Party to unify its thinking and actions with the decisions and deployments of the Party Central Committee, and uniting its efforts to promote reform to move steadily and far.
Closely focusing on the theme of promoting Chinese-style modernization, coordinating and adapting to local conditions, and promoting reform and innovation to achieve new breakthroughs at a new starting point——
Lanzhou (兰州), Gansu (甘肃), the Yellow River (黄河) flows through the city, magnificent.
In September 2024, on his first local inspection after the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (党的二十届三中全会), General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平总书记) came to the Zhongshan Bridge (中山桥), the "First Bridge of the Yellow River" (黄河第一桥), to look out over the surging river.
In Lanzhou (兰州), General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平总书记) presided over a symposium on comprehensively promoting ecological protection and high-quality development in the Yellow River Basin (黄河流域), emphasizing "taking further comprehensively deepening reform as the driving force, adhering to ecological priority and green development, adhering to water conservation and priority, adhering to adapting to local conditions and classifying policies, and adhering to overall planning and coordinated promotion."
The national river strategy is integrated into the grand chapter of Chinese-style modernization. Asking for impetus and vitality from reform, the great practice of further comprehensively deepening reform is unfolding in the Yellow River Basin (黄河流域).
From rivers to coasts, from basins to regions... General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平总书记) lays out a chess game and plans a picture, always taking the goals and tasks and major issues of Chinese-style modernization as the lead, and promoting further comprehensively deepening reform to continuously exert efforts in systematic, holistic, and coordinated ways.
On the new journey of Chinese-style modernization, the weight of coordinating regional development is greater. Since the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (党的二十大), General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平总书记) has successively presided over 9 regional development symposiums, drawing a new picture of coordinated regional development from a strategic overall perspective; established the Central Regional Coordinated Development Leading Group (中央区域协调发展领导小组) to coordinate major regional strategies, plans, and policies; the central government has issued documents, and various regions have released action plans... The Party Central Committee has strengthened top-level design, further improved the system and mechanism, and adhered to the path of leading the integrated high-quality development of the region with reform.
East-west mutual assistance, north-south coordination, and land-sea integration, a higher level of coordinated regional development is connected into a trend on the 9.6 million square kilometers of land, injecting surging power into Chinese-style modernization.
While adhering to the national overall plan, strengthening the overall coordination of reform policies, the overall coordination of progress, and the overall coordination of effects, we also support local areas to adapt to local conditions and carry out work creatively.
"The vast nine tributaries flow through China, and a deep line runs through the north and south." In November 2024, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平总书记) came to Hubei (湖北) for inspection, planning the reform and development of a region from a global strategic perspective:
"You connect the east and the west, and undertake the north and the south. You should strive to be the first in the high-quality development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt (长江经济带) and accelerate the construction of an important strategic fulcrum for the rise of the central region. Deepen cooperation with the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (京津冀), Yangtze River Delta (长三角), Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao (粤港澳), and Chengdu-Chongqing (成渝) regions, and orderly optimize the industrial layout."
Only by finding the positioning in the overall national situation can we anchor the focus of reform.
Since the convening of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (党的二十届三中全会), General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平总书记) has gone to more than 10 provinces for inspection, and has deployed and guided the local reform practice of Chinese-style modernization in light of the actual situation of the local areas.
In Guizhou (贵州), he pointed out that "we should actively integrate into the construction of a unified national market"; in Yunnan (云南), he emphasized that "we should actively promote high-level opening up to the outside world and build a radiation center facing South Asia and Southeast Asia"; he hoped that Shanghai (上海) would "accelerate the construction of a science and technology innovation highland with global influence"; and he required Henan (河南) to "further consolidate the foundation of the real economy"... All localities are striving to be the first based on their own strengths, grasping the strategic initiative in adapting to local conditions, and shouldering their respective reform responsibilities.
Focusing on the characteristics of reform on the new journey, optimizing the path and systematically laying out, so as to realize the mutual linkage and coordinated efficiency of various reforms——
A prominent feature of further comprehensively deepening reform is that it pays more attention to system integration, and the concept of system runs through all fields and aspects of reform and development.
After 10 years, the Party Central Committee convened the highest-level urban work conference again.
On July 14, 2025, at the Jingxi Hotel (京西宾馆) in Beijing (北京), General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平总书记) attended the Central Urban Work Conference (中央城市工作会议) and delivered an important speech, deploying the key tasks of urban work in the new era and on the new journey from "one optimization and six constructions."
From the proposal at the Central Rural Work Conference (中央农村工作会议) at the end of last year to "adhere to the integrated development of urban and rural areas and further deepen rural reform" to the requirement of this Central Urban Work Conference (中央城市工作会议) to "promote the coordinated development of large, medium and small cities and small towns, and promote the integrated development of urban and rural areas," the integrated development of urban and rural areas has always been a matter of reform concern for General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平总书记).
The further reform advances, the deeper it touches the interests, and the higher the requirements for system integration will inevitably be.
General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平总书记) profoundly pointed out: "The connotation of Chinese-style modernization is very rich, and further comprehensively deepening reform must also be all-round. We must comprehensively and coordinately promote reforms in all aspects, and strive to form an overall effectiveness."
With a scientific top-level design, plan a reasonable reform path; with a clear systematic plan, deploy solid reform measures; emphasize that the "Decision" of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (党的二十届三中全会《决定》) "not only highlights the content of economic system reform, but also comprehensively covers the institutional and mechanism innovation in democracy, the rule of law, culture, society, ecological civilization, national security, national defense and army building, as well as the reform of the Party's construction system, and must be fully implemented"; propose "adhering to education, science and technology, and talent together," and coordinate the integrated reform of the education, science and technology, and talent system and mechanism... General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平总书记) plans reform under the framework of comprehensively promoting the "five-in-one" overall layout and coordinately promoting the "four comprehensives" strategic layout, leading further comprehensively deepening reform to be more focused and coordinated and efficient.
Enhancing New Momentum for Development
——"We must comprehensively deepen reform and expand opening up to add impetus to high-quality development."
On July 15, the National Bureau of Statistics (国家统计局) released the "semi-annual report" of China's economy in 2025——
The gross domestic product (GDP) was 66053.6 billion yuan, an increase of 5.3% year-on-year. The main indicators were better than expected, high-quality development was steadily promoted, and the economy maintained a stable and progressive development trend.
In the context of the intertwined changes in the international environment, the accelerated transformation of old and new driving forces in China, and the difficulties faced by some industries and enterprises in their operations, how can the Chinese economy move forward against pressure and overcome difficulties?
Make good use of the key move of reform to continuously inject impetus and vitality into the high-quality development of China's economy.
Responding to risks and challenges with reform and promoting economic stability and improvement——
On September 26, 2024, the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee (中共中央政治局) held a meeting to analyze and study the economic situation. At that time, the Chinese economy had experienced a good start in the first quarter, and the downward pressure on the economy had increased in the second and third quarters. It was at a critical moment to strive to complete the annual economic and social development goals and tasks.
Cutting reserve requirements and interest rates, boosting the property market and the stock market, helping enterprises to overcome difficulties, and introducing measures in the fields of investment, consumption, and employment... The meeting deployed a package of incremental policies, focusing on boosting market confidence and improving the quality and efficiency of development, and promoting a significant rebound in the Chinese economy.
On April 25, 2025, another meeting of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee (中共中央政治局) was held to analyze and study the economic situation and economic work. At that time, the international situation was changing dramatically, the international economic and trade order was severely damaged, and instability and uncertainty were increasing.
The meeting made it clear that "we should focus on stabilizing employment, stabilizing enterprises, stabilizing the market, and stabilizing expectations," adhere to the important magic weapon of reform and opening up to accelerate the construction of a new development pattern, enhance the impetus and vitality of the domestic and international dual circulation, and consolidate the foundation of the Chinese economy.
Improving the macroeconomic governance system is one of the important focuses of economic system reform. The two meetings were key moves to respond to unexpected shocks with scientific and effective macroeconomic regulation and control, fully demonstrating the extraordinary wisdom and ability of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping (习近平同志) at its core to manage the Chinese economy.
In this year, firmly grasping the key task of economic system reform, adhering to the spirit of reform and innovative measures to solve the new situations and new problems in economic operation, the Chinese economy has coordinated the effective improvement of quality and the reasonable growth of quantity in overcoming difficulties.
Increasing the issuance of ultra-long-term special treasury bonds, implementing the "two new" and "two heavy" policies with greater efforts, the implementation of the special action plan to boost consumption, and steadily promoting the integrated development of domestic and foreign trade... Various innovative policies and measures launched in a timely manner have been enriched, improved, and synergistically exerted.
The implementation of the Law on Promoting the Private Economy, the first policy document specifically on improving the market access system issued at the central level, the issuance of the "Guidelines for the Construction of a Unified National Market (Trial)" (《全国统一大市场建设指引（试行）》) to further break down market barriers, and the issuance of the "Action Plan to Effectively Reduce the Logistics Costs of the Whole Society" to improve economic efficiency... Deeper-level obstacle removal and tackling are being promoted simultaneously, and the domestic circulation is further unblocked.
From the statistical data, since the beginning of this year, the flow of people, logistics, and capital have been improving. In the first half of the year, the contribution rate of domestic demand to GDP growth was 68.8%, which has effectively enhanced the confidence and confidence in responding to risks and challenges.
Stimulating innovation vitality with reform and cultivating and strengthening new quality productive forces——
With more than 100 resident enterprises and radiating and driving the surrounding areas to gather nearly 400 large model enterprises, the Shanghai "Model Speed Space" (上海“模速空间”) large model innovation ecological community is depicting a moving picture of policy innovation, ecological collaboration, and scene opening.
On April 29 this year, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平总书记) came here for inspection, pointing out that Shanghai (上海) should summarize the successful experience of incubating the artificial intelligence industry with the large model industry ecosystem, increase exploration efforts, and strive to be at the forefront in all aspects of artificial intelligence development and governance, and generate demonstration effects.
The Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (党的二十届三中全会) put forward the reform topic of improving the system and mechanism for developing new quality productive forces in accordance with local conditions.
"Achieving high-level self-reliance and self-improvement in science and technology and developing new quality productive forces have put forward more urgent needs for the integration of scientific and technological innovation and industrial innovation"; "Encourage universities and scientific research institutes in the region to lay out and build technology transfer and industrialization service mechanisms to improve the coordination level of the industrial chain innovation chain"; "Promote the integration of industry, academia, and research, and cultivate a large number of high-quality talents, so that Chinese-style modernization can be truly realized"...
From research institutes and science cities to manufacturing enterprises and industrial parks, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平总书记) has repeatedly gone deep into the most active places of scientific and technological innovation during his domestic inspections, pointing out the direction for the deep integration of scientific and technological innovation and industrial innovation and its transformation into real productive forces.
Since the beginning of this year, from the sudden emergence of DeepSeek to the world's first "human-machine co-running" half marathon, a series of remarkable innovation achievements have continued to emerge.
In terms of systems and mechanisms, improve the mechanism for collaborative education between science, education, and industry, strengthen the overall planning of innovation resources and the organization of forces, deepen the reform of talent classification and evaluation, and the governance of "hats" in the science and education circles; in terms of innovative layout, clear the bottlenecks between the innovation chain and the industrial chain, and strengthen the dominant position of enterprises in innovation... Continuously improve the overall effectiveness of the national innovation system, and a brand-new atmosphere of reform-driven innovation and innovation-driven development continues to emerge.
Adhere to the unity of reform and opening up, and constantly win the initiative in development—
On February 17, he attended a symposium for private enterprises in Beijing (北京); on March 28, he met with representatives of the international business community in Beijing (北京).
This spring, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) exchanged views with people from the business community at home and abroad, sending a clear signal of "adhering to the unity of reform and opening up."
Domestically, he emphasized that "it is necessary to resolutely remove all obstacles to the equal use of factors of production and fair participation in market competition in accordance with the law, and continue to promote the fair opening of competitive infrastructure fields to various business entities."
Externally, he pointed out that "China (中国) is promoting high-level opening up to the outside world, steadily expanding institutional opening up in terms of rules, regulations, management, standards, etc., and the door to opening up will only open wider and wider."
The deeper the reform, the higher the requirements for the level of opening up; the higher the level of opening up, the greater the promotion of reform.
The Free Trade Zone (自贸试验区), the "experimental field" of reform and opening up, shoulders the historical task of exploring new ways and accumulating new experiences for comprehensively deepening reform and expanding opening up.
The sixth meeting of the Central Committee for Comprehensively Deepening Reform (中央全面深化改革委员会) held in August 2024 reviewed and approved the "Opinions on Implementing the Strategy of Upgrading Free Trade Zones."
More than a month later, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) visited the Xiamen (厦门) Area of the China (Fujian) Free Trade Zone (中国（福建）自由贸易试验区) and emphasized the need to "steadily promote institutional opening up, connect with international high standards, and cultivate deeply and meticulously."
In April 2025, the "Opinions on Implementing the Strategy of Upgrading Free Trade Zones" was released to the public. In July, the State Council (国务院) issued a document to replicate and promote 77 pilot measures of the Shanghai (上海) Free Trade Zone (上海自贸试验区) to other free trade zones or the whole country.
Taking institutional innovation as the core, the accelerated advancement of the strategy of upgrading free trade zones is a microcosm of opening up new horizons for reform and development with high-level opening up to the outside world in the past year.
The implementation of the "Special Administrative Measures for Foreign Investment Access (Negative List) (2024 Edition)" has achieved "zeroing" of foreign investment access restrictions in the manufacturing sector; the introduction of the "Work Plan for Accelerating the Comprehensive Pilot Program for Expanding the Opening Up of the Service Industry" clarifies 155 pilot tasks; allowing the establishment of wholly foreign-owned hospitals in nine places including Beijing (北京), Tianjin (天津), and Shanghai (上海); adding visa-free entry for people from many countries to China (中国); granting 100% tariff-free treatment to products from the least developed countries; and issuing the China (Zhejiang) Free Trade Zone (中国（浙江）自由贸易试验区) Construction Plan for a Hub for the Allocation of Bulk Commodity Resources... A good situation of sharing reform dividends and benefiting from opening up is constantly forming.
In the first half of this year, the number of China's (中国) trading partners with a trade volume of more than 50 billion yuan reached 61, an increase of 5 compared with the same period last year. The latest China (中国) Customs Trade Climate Survey shows that the confidence of both export and import enterprises has rebounded for two consecutive months.
"Believing in China (中国) is believing in tomorrow, and investing in China (中国) is investing in the future." China (中国) is taking the initiative in opening up to win the initiative in reform and development, and is winning the future with a higher level of opening up, constantly providing new opportunities and injecting new impetus into the turbulent world economy.
Opening up a new realm of governance
——"Providing strong impetus and institutional guarantees for Chinese-style modernization"
2025 is the year for the conclusion of the "14th Five-Year Plan" (十四五规划) and the year for planning the "15th Five-Year Plan" (十五五规划).
On April 30, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) presided over a symposium on economic and social development during the "15th Five-Year Plan" (十五五规划) period in some provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities in Shanghai (上海) and delivered an important speech.
"We must unswervingly manage our own affairs well and unswervingly expand high-level opening up to the outside world," "accelerate the construction of a new development pattern and comprehensively promote high-quality development," "promote the virtuous interaction between high-efficiency governance and high-quality development and high-level security, and guarantee the new development pattern with a new security pattern"... Looking at the general trend and examining the national conditions, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) put forward a series of clear requirements focusing on the overall situation of reform and development, and provided guidance for the formulation of the five-year plan.
Scientifically formulating and successively implementing five-year plans is an important experience in our party's governance of the country, and it is also an important political advantage of socialism with Chinese characteristics.
Development raises the questions, and reform provides the answers. The "15th Five-Year Plan" (十五五规划) is not only a development blueprint, but also a reform answer sheet with "higher content and stronger flavor."
**山高水长** (shān gāo shuǐ cháng - "mountains high waters long," a long and arduous journey) **不辞其远** (bù cí qí yuǎn - "not decline its far," not hesitating to travel far), **披荆斩棘** (pī jīng zhǎn jí - "cut thorns chop brambles," overcome obstacles) **不改其志** (bù gǎi qí zhì - "not change its will," not changing one's will).
Over the past year, further comprehensively deepening reform has always adhered to the Party's overall leadership, focusing on continuing to improve and develop the socialist system with Chinese characteristics and promoting the modernization of the national governance system and governance capabilities, adhering to the people-centered approach, and providing strong impetus and institutional guarantees for Chinese-style modernization.
Adhere to and strengthen the Party's leadership, and run the Party's leadership through all aspects and the entire process of reform—
On June 30, 2025, the day before "July 1st" (七一), the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee (中共中央政治局) held a meeting to review the "Regulations on the Work of the Decision-Making and Deliberation Coordination Agencies of the CPC Central Committee" (党中央决策议事协调机构工作条例), further standardizing the establishment, responsibilities, and operation of the decision-making and deliberation coordination agencies of the CPC Central Committee (党中央).
The establishment of decision-making and deliberation coordination agencies of the CPC Central Committee (党中央) is an important institutional arrangement to improve the centralized and unified leadership of the CPC Central Committee (党中央) over major work and promote the implementation of major tasks. By establishing new decision-making and deliberation coordination agencies of the CPC Central Committee (党中央), forming new functional departments and agencies of the CPC Central Committee (党中央), and establishing new dispatched agencies of the CPC Central Committee (党中央) in important fields, the centralized and unified leadership of the CPC Central Committee (党中央) over major work has been strengthened.
The Central Financial Work Commission (中央金融工委) guides and promotes the accelerated improvement of the system and mechanism of Party building work and the Party building system in the financial system; the Central Social Work Department (中央社会工作部) comprehensively promotes the work of Party building leading grassroots governance and grassroots political power construction... Over the past year, through continuously deepening the reform of Party and state institutions, the functional system of Party and state institutions has become more sound, and the establishment and management of deliberation and coordination agencies of the CPC Central Committee (党中央) and the State Council (国务院) have become more strict and standardized, and their roles have been fully and effectively played.
General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) pointed out: "No matter what is reformed or to what extent, we must adhere to the Party's leadership."
Always adhering to and strengthening the Party's leadership is the secret to the success of more than 40 years of reform and opening up, and it is also the fundamental guarantee for further comprehensively deepening reform.
The more arduous the journey, the more the power of navigation is needed.
Over the past year, further comprehensively deepening reform has given full play to the Party's leading core role in commanding the overall situation and coordinating all parties, effectively implementing the Party's leadership in all fields, aspects, and links of reform, and constantly mobilizing the enthusiasm, initiative, and creativity of the entire Party to grasp reform and promote development, ensuring that reform tasks are implemented and effective.
Adhere to the unity of reform and the rule of law, and better transform the results of reform into national governance effectiveness—
On April 27, 2025, the Great Hall of the People (人民大会堂) in Beijing (北京), the meeting hall of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (全国人大常委会).
The "Environmental Protection Code of the People's Republic of China (Draft)" (中华人民共和国生态环境法典（草案）), an important code draft bearing the historical mission of safeguarding the construction of a beautiful China (中国) in the new era, was submitted to the fifteenth meeting of the 14th National People's Congress Standing Committee (十四届全国人大常委会) for its first review.
As the code unfolds, the green mountains come into view. From the clear deployment of compiling the Environmental Protection Code at the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee (党的二十届三中全会) to the "key step" in the compilation of the Environmental Protection Code, the draft summarizes and refines the common pollution prevention and control system stipulated in the current laws into general rules and general provisions, and elevates the mature experience that has proven to be effective in practice to legal system provisions.
Reform and the rule of law are like two wings of a bird and two wheels of a car. As reform enters a period of tackling tough problems and a deep-water zone, it is even more necessary to build a solid foundation of the rule of law and give play to the power of the rule of law to escort the further comprehensively deepening reform through the waves.
Revising the Law on Deputies to the National People's Congress (代表法) to promote the high-quality development of the work of deputies to the National People's Congress on the track of the rule of law; revising the Supervision Law (监察法) to promote the standardization, legalization, and regularization of supervision work... The sword of the rule of law cuts through thorns and brambles, effectively ensuring the implementation of reform.
Strengthening the construction of the system of the people being the masters of the country, implementing and improving the judicial accountability system, further standardizing the application of the leniency system for admitting guilt and accepting punishment, and focusing on promoting the legalization of petition work... The reform of legislation, law enforcement, judiciary, and law-abiding is promoted in coordination, and the legal system is comprehensively improved.
Exercising the power of the rule of law and accumulating the momentum of the rule of law, the cornerstone of "China's (中国) governance" is more consolidated and its effectiveness is more significant, promoting the modernization of the national governance system and governance capabilities to a higher level.
Adhere to the people-centered approach, and use the power of reform to solve problems for the people and seek benefits for the people—
In January 2025, before the Spring Festival, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) went to Liaoning (辽宁) for inspection and came to the Changan Community (长安小区) in Changan Street (长安街道), Dadong District (大东区), Shenyang (沈阳), which had undergone centralized renovation, and visited residents' homes.
The renovation of old residential communities is connected to people's livelihood and well-being on the one hand and urban development on the other. General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) is always concerned about better promoting people-centered new urbanization.
During the inspection, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) pointed out: "To grasp reform, we must further focus on problems, highlight key points, and solve difficulties," and "we must adhere to the integrated development of urban and rural areas and promote the construction of new urbanization with counties as important carriers."
In July 2024, the "Five-Year Action Plan for Deeply Implementing the People-Oriented New Urbanization Strategy" was issued. From further deepening the reform of the household registration system to improving the policy of safeguarding the rights and interests of farmers who move to cities, from improving the efficiency of intercity commuting to promoting the renovation of old urban residential communities... The action plan proposes 4 major actions, 19 key tasks, and relevant policies and measures, which are closely related to the people.
Reform is meaningful for the people; reform has the power to rely on the people.
Over the past year, further comprehensively deepening reform has always taken increasing people's well-being as the starting point and foothold, and planned and promoted reform from the overall interests, fundamental interests, and long-term interests of the people.
Actively respond to the aging of the population, issue and implement the decision to gradually delay the statutory retirement age, grasp the principles of voluntariness and flexibility, and adjust gradually in small steps at a relatively slow pace;
Focusing on promoting educational equity, the "Outline of the Plan for Building a Strong Education Country (2024-2035)" (教育强国建设规划纲要（2024—2035年）) proposes to "strengthen the standardized construction of compulsory education schools" and "deeply carry out the supervision and evaluation of high-quality and balanced compulsory education in counties, and orderly promote the high-quality and balanced development of compulsory education in cities";
Focusing on caring for the "elderly and the young," continue to increase and improve the supply of maternal and child health care, children's medical care, and inclusive childcare services, and the personal pension system is fully implemented;
Closely focusing on the concerns of the masses, the guiding document for promoting employment was issued for the first time from the central level in the new era, deploying 24 measures such as expanding channels for employment and talent development for college graduates and other young people and guaranteeing equal employment rights;
Issuing opinions on further guaranteeing and improving people's livelihood and focusing on solving the urgent, difficult, and worrying problems of the masses, promoting more fair, balanced, inclusive, and accessible people's livelihood construction;
…………
One reform measure after another conforms to the will of the people, respects public opinion, pays attention to people's conditions, and is committed to people's livelihood, effectively responding to the most urgent expectations of the masses and ensuring that the fruits of reform and development benefit all the people more and more fairly.
Reform sets sail with a strong wind, and the drums urge us to start again.
Under the strong leadership of the Party Central Committee (党中央) with Comrade Xi Jinping (习近平) as the core, the most prominent feature and the most magnificent atmosphere of contemporary China (中国) are constantly unfolding new pictures. Facing the future, advancing further comprehensively deepening reform with an indomitable fighting posture will surely inject a steady stream of powerful impetus into Chinese-style modernization.
(Xinhua News Agency (新华社), Beijing (北京), July 26)
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 刘 念 王 观
Recently, some friends and I bought new home appliances. I recently saw data stating that over 100 million old appliances have been traded in for new ones this year. With more subsidies and enthusiastic consumption, is this because the "investment in people" policy is taking effect? In what other ways can it benefit the whole society?
-- Netizen from People's Daily Online (人民网)
Currently, many places have proposed "carrying out vocational skills training," "ensuring childbirth and parenting," and "optimizing medical services," and have introduced policies to boost consumption. The General Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (中办) and the General Office of the State Council (国办) issued opinions emphasizing "further ensuring and improving people's livelihoods, and focusing on solving the urgent and difficult problems that concern the masses," and proposed 10 measures, including "effectively expanding the coverage of social security."
These measures all point to the same concept: "investing in people."
This year, this expression was written into the "Government Work Report" for the first time, attracting widespread attention. In fact, the concept of "investing in people" not only has a long history but is also consistent. Whether it was building dams, roads, and industries in the early years, or building dense high-speed rail networks and developing advanced manufacturing and new quality productive forces in recent years, these practices of investing in infrastructure and key industries are all aimed at driving the improvement of people's livelihoods through economic development, and are essentially "investing in people." Measures such as improving people's living standards and training vocational skills, which directly "invest in people," have also been consistent. In recent years, more than 70% of China's fiscal expenditure has been used for people's livelihoods.
The more it is tested by practice, the clearer we can see the diverse and long-term value of a policy—
"Investing in people" helps to improve people's livelihoods and empower individuals.
Employment, education, medical care, housing, elderly care, childcare, and other issues are related to thousands of households. How can we eliminate worries and free up time and money for everyone to fully develop themselves, participate in consumption, and enjoy life? "Investing in people" is a practical solution.
Starting this year, the country will subsidize vocational skills training for more than 10 million people every year for three consecutive years; this year, more than 80 billion yuan has been arranged for central government subsidies to local student financial assistance; various places have stepped up efforts to implement old housing renovation and urban renewal, promote the expansion and sinking of high-quality medical resources, and introduced childcare subsidy policies... A series of measures to "invest in people" empower hundreds of millions of individuals with vocational skills and consumption potential, which not only "directly give" people a sense of gain, happiness, and security, but also stimulate a higher level of need for a better life.
"Investing in people" helps to boost consumption and develop the economy.
Promoting the increase of residents' income and reducing their burden can release considerable consumption potential. To transform potential into effectiveness and truly drive the economy, "investing in people" is also needed to directly affect the consumption link.
Subsidies boost the market—this year, 300 billion yuan has been arranged to support the trade-in of consumer goods, and "national subsidies" have set off a consumption boom online and offline. From last year to the first half of this year, trade-ins have driven sales of 2.9 trillion yuan, and about 400 million people have enjoyed subsidy benefits.
Supply creates demand—multiple departments have organized the 2025 new energy vehicle promotion to rural areas, deeply exploring the consumption potential of new energy vehicles in rural areas and activating and meeting the car purchase needs of more consumers through model expansion, service sinking, and policy coordination.
Innovation opens up opportunities—various places have invested funds and resources in areas such as the debut economy, ice and snow economy, silver economy, and sports economy, to prosper the consumer market and help regional development.
"Investing in people" helps to cultivate talent and plan for the future.
"People" represent not only residents and consumers, but also manpower and talent. Investing funds and resources, doing a good job in talent cultivation, and improving the quality of the population are not only conducive to individual progress, but also conducive to the country and society accumulating human resources and promoting innovative development, thereby striding towards the future.
In Beijing (北京), Yicheng Science and Technology Innovation Apartments (亦城科创公寓) added 500 new housing units to support internships and job hunting for fresh graduates; in Shanghai (上海), the "Model Speed Space" community is committed to creating a preferred place for youth entrepreneurship, attracting and cultivating artificial intelligence talents; in Shenzhen (深圳), Guangdong (广东) funds and resources continue to be invested to improve the lifelong vocational skills training system. These practical and hard measures of "investing in people" reflect the high consensus of the whole society on "talent is the future."
Benefiting people's livelihoods, promoting consumption, and increasing stamina, the top-level design of "investing in people" works together from the directions of improving life, personal growth, and enhancing national strength, bringing benefits and opportunities to you, me, and him. With the high-quality development of the economy and society and the further improvement of policies and measures, "investing in people" will continue to enrich its connotation, expand its extension, and continuously promote the all-round development of people, so that the fruits of modernization construction can benefit all people more and more fairly.
Return to TopPremier of the State Council Li Qiang (李强) attended the opening ceremony of the 2025 World Artificial Intelligence Conference and the High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance in Shanghai on July 26 and delivered a speech, according to a report on July 26 in Shanghai by our correspondents Chen Shangwen (陈尚文) and Shen Wenmin (沈文敏).
Li Qiang (李强) stated that when President Xi Jinping (习近平) inspected Shanghai in April this year, he emphasized that artificial intelligence technology is accelerating its iteration and is ushering in explosive development; it is necessary to strengthen policy support and talent cultivation, and strive to develop more safe and reliable high-quality products. At present, the global wave of intelligence is surging, and innovation in the field of artificial intelligence is showing a trend of group breakthroughs. Large language models, multi-modal large models, and embodied intelligence are changing with each passing day, promoting the rapid development of artificial intelligence towards more efficient and intelligent directions. The deep integration of artificial intelligence and the real economy is becoming more obvious. It has begun to empower thousands of industries and enter thousands of households, becoming a new engine for economic growth and permeating all aspects of social life. At the same time, the risks and challenges brought by artificial intelligence have aroused widespread concern. How to strike a balance between development and security requires further consensus. No matter how technology changes, it should be utilized and controlled by mankind, and develop in a direction that is benevolent and beneficial to all. Artificial intelligence should also become an international public good that benefits mankind.
Li Qiang (李强) put forward three suggestions on how to grasp the public goods attributes of artificial intelligence and promote the development and governance of artificial intelligence. First, we should pay more attention to popularization and inclusiveness, and make full use of the existing achievements in the development of artificial intelligence. We must adhere to openness and sharing, and intelligent equality, so that more countries and groups can benefit from it. China's "Artificial Intelligence +" action is being promoted in depth. We are willing to share development experience and technological products to help all countries in the world, especially the countries of the Global South, strengthen capacity building, so that the development results of artificial intelligence can better benefit the world. Second, we should pay more attention to innovation and cooperation, and strive for more breakthrough achievements in artificial intelligence technology. We must deepen cooperation in basic science and technology research and development, strengthen exchanges between enterprises and talents, and continuously inject new impetus into the development of artificial intelligence. China is willing to jointly carry out technological breakthroughs with other countries, increase the intensity of open source and openness, and jointly promote the development of artificial intelligence to a higher level. Third, we should pay more attention to common governance to ensure that artificial intelligence will eventually achieve positive results in benefiting mankind. We must adhere to the overall planning of development and security, strengthen coordination and coordination among countries, and promote the early formation of a global artificial intelligence governance framework and rules with broad consensus. China attaches great importance to global artificial intelligence governance, actively participates in promoting multilateral and bilateral cooperation, and is willing to provide the international community with more Chinese solutions and contribute more Chinese wisdom. The Chinese government proposes the establishment of the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization.
United Nations Secretary-General Guterres and others delivered speeches. More than 1,000 domestic and foreign guests and representatives from the artificial intelligence industry, academia, and research fields attended the opening ceremony of the conference.
After the opening ceremony, Li Qiang (李强) visited the exhibition hall with foreign guests and representatives of international organizations, and interacted and exchanged views with heads of relevant scientific research institutions and enterprises.
The conference released the *Global AI Governance Action Plan*.
Chen Jining (陈吉宁) and Wu Zhenglong (吴政隆) participated in the above activities.
Return to TopThis morning, July 26th, Beijing (北京), (Reporter Han Xin (韩鑫)) reported that as the last steel box girders on the north and south banks were simultaneously put in place, the Wuhan Shuangliu Yangtze River Bridge (武汉双柳长江大桥) in Hubei (湖北) successfully closed, officially entering the construction phase of the bridge's ancillary works, and is expected to achieve trial operation in March 2026.
It is understood that the Wuhan Shuangliu Yangtze River Bridge (武汉双柳长江大桥) and connecting line project of the Xin'gang Expressway (新港高速公路) is an important part of the Wuhan Metropolitan Area Ring Road (武汉都市圈环线) of the national expressway network, with a total length of 35.043 kilometers. The main span of the cross-river main bridge is 1430 meters, the design speed is 120 kilometers per hour, and it is constructed according to the two-way 8-lane standard. After the Shuangliu Yangtze River Bridge (双柳长江大桥) is completed and opened to traffic, the travel time from Xinzhou (新洲) in Wuhan (武汉) to Ezhou (鄂州) will be reduced from 90 minutes to 5 minutes.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者
Walking through the Changbai Mountains and Songhua River, the concerto of industrial synergy and cultural integration is pleasing to the ear, and the vigorous vitality of coordinated development surges between cities.
On February 8 this year, when listening to the work report of the Jilin Provincial Party Committee and the Jilin Provincial Government, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) emphasized: "We must coordinate regional coordinated development, promote the construction of the Changchun Modern Metropolitan Area, pay attention to synergistic linkage with other provinces in Northeast China, and form a pattern of integrated development."
From the healthy growth of a city to the coordinated development of a metropolitan area, and then to the comprehensive revitalization of a province or even a region, focusing on improving the comprehensive carrying capacity of cities for population and economic and social development, Jilin is accelerating towards the construction of a modern metropolitan area.
Interconnected Transportation, Building an Efficient and Connected Functional Circle
"I went to Jilin City to ski in winter, and this time I'm going to Changchun for a vacation." After half a year, Wang Yuan, a tourist from Zhejiang Province, came to Jilin Province again, and she was deeply impressed by the convenient access after landing at Longjia Airport (龙嘉机场).
Located between Changchun City (长春市) and Jilin City (吉林市), Longjia Airport is busy with passenger transport in summer. Near the airport is Longjia High-speed Railway Station (龙嘉高铁站). The beautiful arc extending from Longjia High-speed Railway Station to the east and west makes the city connection closer: to the west, it only takes more than ten minutes to Changchun Station (长春站), and to the east, it takes about half an hour to reach Jilin City.
With smooth roads and accelerating infrastructure construction, Jilin Province's location advantages are further transformed into development advantages.
Two satellite images, focusing on the same area, show the strength of interconnected access. Compared with 5 years ago, the lines between cities are denser in Jilin Province under satellite view: the highway connection is closer, and the total mileage of highways open to traffic in Jilin Province has increased from about 4,000 kilometers to more than 5,000 kilometers; the high-speed rail network is more three-dimensional, and the high-speed rail from Changchun to Changbai Mountain (长白山) has been opened, reducing the travel time from 5 hours to about 2 hours.
The multi-directional and multi-modal transport channels to the outside and inside are increasingly improved, and "hard connectivity" injects surging power into logistics exchanges.
With the sound of whistles, the China-Europe train loaded with auto parts departs from Changchun Xinglong Comprehensive Bonded Zone (长春兴隆综合保税区). In 2024, the number of China-Europe trains in Changchun International Land Port (长春国际陆港) increased by 40% year-on-year.
The open Jilin has closer synergistic linkage with other provinces in Northeast China. "Borrowing ports to go to sea," the Changchun-Dalian (大连) rail-sea intermodal transport has achieved "daily shifts"; the "single-list" convenient customs clearance allows Jilin goods to "board" ocean-going ships at their doorstep. "The multi-modal transport system of railway, highway, waterway and air is increasingly improved, developing into 'golden channels' driving economic development," said Hou Yongnan (侯永楠), Secretary of the Party Working Committee of Changchun Xinglong Comprehensive Bonded Zone.
The connection will be closer. The construction of the third phase of the Changchun Metropolitan Area Ring Expressway is in full swing. After completion, it will connect 7 surrounding cities and counties to achieve "1-hour commuting"; the Shenyang-Baishan High-speed Railway (沈白高铁) is accelerating construction and is expected to be completed and open to traffic within the year, which will further smooth the synergistic linkage in Northeast China.
Clustering into Chains, Developing a Synergistic and Prosperous Industrial Circle
In 54 seconds, a new energy vehicle is assembled and successfully rolled off the production line. This is the car-making efficiency of China FAW (中国一汽).
In the final assembly workshop of China FAW Hongqi (红旗) Prosperity Plant, 11 automated production lines operate efficiently and orderly. "Since the plant was built and put into production in 2021, it has been in a state of full production, with an average of about 1,000 cars rolling out from here every day," said Zhang Guolong (张国龙), senior director of final assembly technology at China FAW Engineering Technology Department.
More than 100 kilometers away, in Jilin Shibao Machinery Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (吉林世宝机械制造有限公司) in Siping City (四平市), production is also in full swing. In less than two hours, the parts produced by the company are transported to the China FAW factory.
"The superposition of location advantages and technological innovation has enabled the company to grow rapidly, and the cooperation with China FAW has become increasingly close," said Zhou Yu (周裕), general manager of the company. At present, more than 1.2 million cars equipped with parts manufactured by the company are running on the road.
The automobile industry is the first pillar industry in Jilin Province. In 2020, Jilin first proposed the concept of "Changchun International Automobile City (长春国际汽车城)", clarifying the construction of an automobile industry metropolitan area with Changchun as the core. In the past 5 years, connecting points into chains and gathering chains into momentum, Changchun has taken the lead, and "supporting clusters" such as Siping (四平) and Liaoyuan (辽源) have worked together to promote the automobile industry cluster to a new level. In 2024, the output value of the Changchun automobile industry cluster reached 461.1 billion yuan.
The rail equipment industry is running at "high-speed rail speed"; the optoelectronic information industry is climbing to new heights... Nowadays, based on the unique advantages of the region, many cities in Jilin Province complement each other and develop in groups. The advanced manufacturing industry in Changchun City is linked with the chemical industry in Jilin City, the metallurgy in Liaoyuan City, and the equipment manufacturing in Siping City, and other industries, to jointly embark on a road of reasonable division of labor and optimized development.
People-oriented, Creating a Livable and Business-Friendly Living Circle
At night, Xinmin Street (新民大街) in Changchun is brightly lit. Wang Rui (王锐), a tourist from Jilin City who used to study in Changchun, strolled with his parents, "The demolition of fences and the revealing of greenery have been renewed. The old street has been 'reborn' and has a stronger cultural flavor."
Cross-city travel is gradually becoming the norm in Jilin Province. Jilin further expands the effectiveness of tourism resources in various places, strengthens cross-city tourism promotion and product development, and promotes consumption to become more active in exchanges.
Regional coordinated development, the ultimate result is shared by the people, and livability and business-friendliness are inevitable requirements.
Cultural tourism resonates, and tourism resources are coordinated in a complementary manner. In summer, Songhua Lake Resort (松花湖度假区), located in Jilin City, is surrounded by green mountains and colorful flowers, and outdoor activities are wonderful. "The summer of the ski resort is also interesting, and the source of customers from Changchun and other surrounding cities accounts for more than 70%," said Zhao Lanjv (赵兰菊), general manager of Songhua Lake Resort.
Ecological co-governance promotes the coordinated development of green resources. Yitong River (伊通河) is the "mother river" shared by Changchun City and Yitong Manchu Autonomous County (伊通满族自治县) in Siping City. In recent years, the upstream and downstream have been jointly managed and co-governed, and multiple measures such as water source protection, silt removal and dredging, ecological restoration, and landscape construction have been taken. The Yitong River has become an "ecological green corridor" connecting cities, and the people upstream and downstream share the gift of a clear river.
Service sharing promotes the integrated development of basic public services. In the first half of this year, Changchun City and Jilin City joined hands to innovate and launch a new model of "Changji Tongban (长吉通办)" government services. 79 items were included in the first batch of general handling lists, focusing on solving the problem of "running in multiple places, running in multiple places, and running multiple times" for enterprises and the masses in different places.
Baishan Songshui (白山松水) opens a new journey. Jilin Province coordinates regional coordinated development, and simultaneously promotes "hard connectivity" and "soft construction". A modern metropolitan area with greater competitiveness, greater innovation, and greater radiation is accelerating construction, and is striving to write a new chapter in the comprehensive revitalization of Northeast China.
(Reporters Zheng Zhiwen (郑智文), Ge Mengchao (葛孟超), Men Jiewei (门杰伟), and Chang Qin (常钦) of this newspaper)
Return to TopAccording to reports from the National Medical Products Administration (国家药监局), in the first half of this year, China approved 43 innovative drugs and 45 innovative medical devices, representing year-on-year increases of 59% and 87% respectively. The dividends of reform policies are being transformed into industrial development momentum.
Since last year, the National Medical Products Administration (国家药监局) has conducted pilot projects to optimize the reform of drug supplementary applications in 11 provincial-level bureaus. The review period for supplementary applications requiring verification and inspection has been shortened from 200 working days to 60 working days. At the same time, it is exploring completing the review and approval of clinical trials for key innovative drugs within 30 working days. In the first half of the year, 70 new pediatric drugs and 21 drugs for rare diseases were approved.
In the first half of the year, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (工业和信息化部) and the National Medical Products Administration (国家药监局) jointly launched the "Unveiling and Commanding" (揭榜挂帅) initiative for artificial intelligence medical devices and biomedical material innovation tasks. The National Medical Products Administration (国家药监局) introduced 10 measures to optimize the full life cycle supervision and support the innovative development of high-end medical devices, promoting the market launch of innovative medical devices with high technological integration and high R&D difficulty, such as multifocal intraocular lenses and cardiac pulsed field ablation devices.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 丁怡婷 王云杉
Hulunbuir (呼伦贝尔), Inner Mongolia, saw hundreds of pure electric unmanned mining trucks "take up their posts" in the Huaneng Yimin Open-Pit Mine (华能伊敏露天矿区). Powered entirely by photovoltaic green electricity, each truck can haul 90 tons of cargo for about 60 kilometers on a full charge, accelerating the development of intelligent, low-carbon transportation in mines.
In Turpan (吐鲁番), Xinjiang, Huaneng's 1 million-kilowatt wind power project was fully connected to the grid. As a million-kilowatt-level onshore high wind resistance wind power project, all units innovatively adopt "wind-resistant hub" technology, withstanding extreme wind speeds of up to 57 meters per second, effectively coping with the extreme windy environment of the "Gobi and desert" areas.
As the world's second-largest power generation group in terms of installed capacity and the largest domestic enterprise for heating for people's livelihoods, China Huaneng (中国华能) firmly grasps the primary task of high-quality development, leads industrial upgrading with technological innovation, actively serves major national strategies, and helps ensure energy security.
Focusing on National Needs
Tackling Core Technologies
Can air also be transformed into a "super charging treasure"? At the foot of Maoshan (茅山), the second phase of the Huaneng Jintan Salt Cave Compressed Air Energy Storage Power Generation Project (华能金坛盐穴压缩空气储能发电二期项目) is accelerating construction, compressing air during low electricity consumption periods and storing it underground; releasing air during peak electricity consumption periods to generate electricity and supply it to the grid, balancing supply and demand.
China's installed capacity of new energy sources such as wind power and photovoltaics is constantly increasing, but they are greatly affected by weather and time periods, posing challenges to the safety and stability of the power grid, requiring energy storage to act as a "green electricity housekeeper." "After the compressed air energy storage power station is built, it can store 2.8 million kilowatt-hours of electricity per charge, which can meet the charging needs of about 100,000 new energy vehicles," said Chen Hui (陈辉), head of the Engineering and Quality Department of Huaneng Jiangsu Company (华能江苏公司). Compared with traditional oil-based thermal storage solutions, the project innovatively uses water as a new type of thermal storage medium, which can effectively improve the stability and safety of the thermal storage system.
On the coast of the Yellow Sea (黄海), 30 kilometers offshore, the wave-resistant floating photovoltaic platform – "Huanghai No. 1" (黄海一号) has "gained a firm foothold" in waters over 30 meters deep. Six anchor chains, each about 265 meters long and weighing 55 tons, firmly lock the platform to the seabed, resisting waves of 10 meters in height and ensuring power generation efficiency. "We are conducting floating offshore photovoltaic demonstration research work. In the future, the platform can be spliced and combined to explore integrated development with offshore wind power and marine ranching," said Liu Xin (刘鑫), chief design engineer of the Huaneng "Huanghai No. 1" Floating Offshore Photovoltaic Platform.
In Changping (昌平), Beijing (北京), in the laboratory of the Huaneng Clean Energy Technology Research Institute (华能清洁能源技术研究院), staff are busy developing efficient carbon capture solutions. In 2024, Huaneng's independently developed "A Carbon Dioxide Capture Solution to Enhance Regeneration System and Method" won the gold medal at the Geneva International Invention Exhibition. This method is conducive to improving the regeneration degree of the capture solution, reducing energy consumption per unit of carbon dioxide, and reducing the capture cost of carbon dioxide by more than 40%.
Building a national key laboratory for efficient and flexible coal power and carbon capture utilization and storage, a national engineering research center for clean and low-carbon thermal power system integration and operation and maintenance; five innovation platforms including the offshore wind power engineering and operation technology research and development center and the perovskite battery research and development center were selected into the National Energy Administration's (国家能源局) "14th Five-Year Plan" "Horse Racing and Striving for the First" innovation platform...
China Huaneng (中国华能) insists on placing technological innovation in a more prominent position, focusing on national needs and industry trends, strengthening industry-university-research collaboration, and creating an "incubation center" for original technologies. As of the end of 2024, the company's R&D investment intensity reached 3.21%, and the number of patents owned exceeded 32,000.
Adhering to Steady Progress
Promoting Industrial Upgrading
Implementing the innovation-driven development strategy requires not only promoting the vigorous development of strategic emerging industries, but also focusing on comprehensively transforming and upgrading traditional industries with new technologies and new business forms.
"For China Huaneng (中国华能), strategic emerging industries are the direction leading future development, and traditional industries are the foundation on which we depend for survival. We must adhere to steady progress, promote stability through progress, and establish before breaking," said Wen Shugang (温枢刚), Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and Chairman of China Huaneng Group Co., Ltd. (中国华能集团有限公司).
——Focusing on the upgrading of traditional industries, implementing large-scale equipment renewal actions.
Clean and efficient coal power. In April of this year, the 650-degree Celsius million-kilowatt-level efficient ultra-supercritical coal-fired demonstration unit – the Huaneng Yuhuan Phase IV Expansion Project (华能玉环四期扩建项目) was approved. In this unit, the main and reheat steam temperatures reached 650 degrees Celsius for the first time, improving power generation efficiency and significantly reducing coal consumption. "Previously, due to the limitations of high-temperature alloy materials, the steam temperature of conventional thermal power units could only reach a maximum of about 620 degrees Celsius. Huaneng (华能) led the research and development of high-temperature materials, breaking through this key problem," said Chen Feng (陈锋), Deputy General Manager of Huaneng Zhejiang Branch (华能浙江分公司). Compared with conventional units of the same level, this unit can reduce standard coal consumption by more than 190,000 tons per year and reduce carbon emissions by more than 540,000 tons.
Wind turbine capacity expansion and upgrading. On May 23, the "large-for-small" capacity expansion and renovation project of the Huaneng Leting Wind Farm (华能乐亭风电场) was connected to the grid for power generation. "The original 30-plus wind turbines have been in operation for more than 15 years, and the single-unit capacity is only 1.5 megawatts, which limits the full utilization of local wind resources," said Tian Liang (田亮), the project manager. They reinstalled 20 6.25-megawatt units, and the annual power generation of the wind farm is expected to increase by 267%.
China Huaneng (中国华能) deeply implements large-scale equipment renewal actions, promotes the "large-for-small" replacement of existing wind power and the "three transformations linkage" of energy-saving and carbon-reducing transformation, flexibility transformation, and heating transformation of coal-fired power units; promotes new business forms such as molten salt thermal storage to respond to the needs of grid peak shaving, rapid frequency modulation, and industrial steam supply, helping to build a new type of power system. At the same time, it implements the construction of digital and intelligent Huaneng (华能), promoting the deep integration of various industries and digital and intelligent technologies. In the control center of the Huaneng New Energy Intelligent Operation and Maintenance Platform, through intelligent early warning, indicator analysis, etc., the availability of the company's wind power and photovoltaic power stations exceeds 98%, and the failure rate of wind turbines is reduced by about 40%.
——Focusing on cultivating and strengthening strategic emerging industries, new breakthroughs have been achieved in low-carbon transformation.
On the edge of the Mu Us Desert (毛乌素沙地), the Huaneng Longdong Energy Base (华能陇东能源基地), a multi-energy complementary energy base with a capacity of ten million kilowatts, is sprinting to be fully completed and put into operation. "The project is developed in accordance with the 'integration of wind, solar, thermal, storage, and transmission' to improve the reliability and flexibility of project operation. Among them, the planned installed capacity of new energy is 6 million kilowatts. After all are completed, the annual clean power generation will exceed 14 billion kilowatt-hours, which will be sent to Shandong (山东) through ultra-high voltage lines," said Meng Huiliang (孟慧梁), the infrastructure person in charge of the new energy project of the Huaneng Longdong Energy Base.
In the southwest direction, in the Huaneng Sichuan Pengzhou Hydrogen Production Demonstration Station (华能四川彭州制氢示范站), several hydrogen energy long-tube trailers are waiting to be filled. This is the first large-scale hydropower electrolysis hydrogen production project in Sichuan (四川) that has been put into commercial operation, with a designed annual hydrogen production of 1,860 tons, which can meet the hydrogen demand of 500 hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 16,700 tons per year compared with natural gas hydrogen production.
Creating an integrated wind, solar, hydro, storage, and ecological protection base in the Lancang River (澜沧江) basin, and the development pattern of the three major nuclear power bases planned for construction in Shidaowan (石岛湾), Shandong (山东), Changjiang (昌江), Hainan (海南), and Xiapu (霞浦), Fujian (福建) has been fully formed... China Huaneng (中国华能) insists on developing strategic emerging industries focusing on new energy, doing a good job in the demonstration application of new technologies such as molten salt thermal storage, compressed air energy storage, and green electricity hydrogen production, and promoting the "acceleration" of green and low-carbon transformation. As of now, the proportion of Huaneng's (华能) low-carbon and clean energy installed capacity has reached 53.7%, and the installed capacity of new energy has exceeded 100 million kilowatts.
Strengthening Energy Supply
Meeting Energy Needs
In the hundred-meter mine of Inner Mongolia Huaneng Zha Coal Company (内蒙古华能扎煤公司), the sharp cutting teeth on the coal mining machine roll forward, and one cut can "cut" more than 2,500 tons of coal. At the loading site, as soon as the coal chute is opened, a 60-ton train car is filled in 55 seconds, ensuring the supply of coal for transportation during the peak summer season.
At the Anbei Wind Farm (安北风电场) of Huaneng Gansu New Energy Company (华能甘肃新能源公司), staff compare and analyze wind turbine temperature data and carry out inspections of abnormal units. "We conduct advance research and judgment on seasonal defects of equipment, carry out timely maintenance of the cooling system, control the frequency of equipment over-temperature failures, and improve power generation efficiency," said Xie Xinhua (解新华), the station manager of the Anbei Wind Farm.
Faced with strong electricity demand and tests such as extreme weather and earthquake disasters, China Huaneng (中国华能) firmly holds the bottom line of ensuring people's livelihoods, ensuring power generation, and ensuring heating supply. In 2024, China Huaneng's (中国华能) power generation exceeded 850 billion kilowatt-hours; the heating supply exceeded 500 million gigajoules, and the heating area was 1.06 billion square meters; the coal production was 110 million tons, breaking 100 million tons for three consecutive years, and the power generation, heating supply, and coal production all reached record highs.
"China Huaneng (中国华能) will adhere to ensuring national energy security as its primary responsibility, accelerate green and low-carbon transformation as the direction of development, adhere to the simultaneous advancement of traditional industrial transformation and upgrading and the cultivation and strengthening of emerging industries and future industries, promote the new energy security strategy to go deeper and more solid at a higher starting point, and take the lead and set an example in promoting high-level scientific and technological self-reliance, building a modern industrial system, and developing new quality productive forces," said Wen Shugang (温枢刚).
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 窦瀚洋
In less than 50 minutes, German tourist Maya and her partner, traveling by high-speed rail, had already arrived from the bustling Shanghai (上海) to Nanxun District (南浔区), Huzhou (湖州), Zhejiang (浙江), a town of small bridges and flowing water, embarking on a journey to the Jiangnan (江南) water towns.
"I was looking for a homestay on Chinese social media platforms, and many people recommended this one. There were also check-in videos, and it looked great, so I wanted to experience it." Maya, accustomed to chain hotels, specifically chose a residence with a distinct Jiangnan (江南) flavor this time. The homestay is located in a corner of Nanxun Ancient Town (南浔古镇), where white walls and black tiles complement the gurgling water. Opening the door, the aroma of tea wafts in.
Tang Xuesheng (汤学胜), the homestay operator, stepped forward to greet them, offering Maya and her party "Three Courses Tea." "This is a traditional Nanxun (南浔) custom for welcoming guests, consisting of sweet tea, salty tea, and clear tea, each with a special meaning." Tang Xuesheng (汤学胜) introduced and demonstrated in English, while Maya and her partners followed his movements, carefully savoring the aroma of the tea.
In May of this year, Zhejiang Province's (浙江省) "Several Regulations on Promoting the Convenience of Life for Foreign-related Business Travelers" came into effect, requiring the promotion of relevant service standards and guiding accommodation operators such as hotels and homestays to operate honestly and in a standardized manner; public cultural venues, scenic resorts, and tourism enterprises should open online reservations for foreign-related tourism, congestion warnings, multilingual guides, convenient payment, and other services to enhance the tourism experience.
Under the guidance of the policy, Tang Xuesheng (汤学胜), born in the 1970s, "rekindled" his English and upgraded his own homestay.
Looking around the homestay, thoughtful bilingual Chinese and English signs make it easy for foreign tourists to check in without barriers; the front desk displays the homestay's self-made Chinese and English promotional brochures of the ancient town, as well as carefully planned route maps; entering the room, socket converters and charging cables are prepared on the bedside table; staff have been trained to communicate simply with foreign tourists in English... "This summer, we also specially hired college students with fluent English to work as summer interns," said Tang Xuesheng (汤学胜).
In the past two years, Tang Xuesheng (汤学胜) has been promoting his homestay on internet platforms, attracting many foreign tourists. "We hope that foreign tourists will not only stay for one night, but also experience the Jiangnan (江南) style and feel the charm of Chinese traditional culture." To enrich the tourist experience, Tang Xuesheng (汤学胜) has come up with many activities, launching special projects such as lacquer fan making and folk paper cutting.
When Maya checked in, she happened to catch the homestay holding a Chinese calligraphy experience class, and she and her partners quickly signed up. Under the guidance of the teacher, Maya felt the movement of the Huzhou (湖州) brush on the rice paper in a decent manner. Suddenly, she had an inspiration: "I know what gift to buy to take back, the Huzhou (湖州) brush is the most suitable."
Huzhou (湖州) brushes are a popular souvenir in Nanxun Ancient Town (南浔古镇). They can be purchased at six Nanxun (南浔) offshore tax refund stores, such as the Nanxun Ancient Town Silk Industry Guild Hall (南浔古镇丝业会馆), and enjoy tax refund services. The store also provides multilingual guidance to guide foreign tourists to easily handle offshore tax refunds.
"Convenience is the most direct feeling." For Maya, this "China tour" refreshed her understanding of China. She can book high-speed rail tickets on her mobile phone with her passport number, and she can also book homestays with foreign bank cards. More importantly, from the scenic spot to the homestay, she felt the enthusiasm and friendliness of the Chinese people towards foreign tourists throughout the whole process.
"Of course, there are also imperfections." Maya said that it is difficult to directly swipe a passport to enter the station when taking the high-speed rail, and manual verification is required, which takes a long time; the check-in procedures for foreigners in some places are not simple enough; and accommodation resources are relatively tight during the peak tourist season.
Improvements are happening. Strolling through the ancient town, from scenic spots to merchants, they are actively improving their service levels: Nanxun District (南浔区) has fully connected to the "e境通" identity verification system to solve the problem of low efficiency in verifying the documents of foreign personnel. As of now, more than 12,000 identity verifications have been completed, realizing rapid processing of accommodation for foreign personnel; some specialty shops have adjusted the types of goods according to the preferences of foreign tourists and increased "Chinese style" cultural and creative products; in order to facilitate payment for foreign tourists, foreign currency exchange points have been set up, and 87 specialty restaurants, homestays, and shops in the scenic area support foreign bank card payments; "Scenic Area Payment Service Guide Maps" are placed at densely populated locations, marking foreign currency exchange points, change stations, and key merchants in the scenic area in both Chinese and English.
Since the beginning of this year, Tang Xuesheng's (汤学胜) homestay has received about 50 foreign tourists; Nanxun Ancient Town (南浔古镇) has received a total of 60,000 foreign tourists, an increase of 107% year-on-year.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 王 观
On July 25th, the State Council executive meeting arranged measures to gradually implement free preschool education. Gradually implementing free preschool education is an important and beneficial measure for the people, involving thousands of households and concerning long-term development. What positive impacts will the implementation of free preschool education bring? A reporter conducted interviews.
China's preschool education has seen a significant increase in popularization and inclusiveness. In 2024, the gross enrollment rate of preschool education reached 92.00%, and the proportion of children in inclusive kindergartens reached 91.61%.
"Gradually implementing free preschool education is an urgent need to promote the high-quality development of preschool education, and it is also a positive response to people's concerns. This move will not only effectively reduce the economic burden and childcare pressure on families, reduce family spending on preschool education, but also enhance the people's sense of gain and satisfaction with preschool education," said Gao Bingcheng, associate researcher at the Institute of Basic Education, Chinese Academy of Educational Sciences (中国教育科学研究院).
"Education expenses account for a very large proportion of household spending in our country, and high education spending also largely inhibits residents' consumption expenditure. Gradually implementing free preschool education can, to some extent, also promote residents' non-educational consumption, thereby driving the employment and development of more industries," said Li Fengliang, Deputy Dean of the School of Education at Tsinghua University (清华大学).
"Implementing free preschool education directly reduces the cost of raising children for families, and also improves families' expectations for future fertility costs, which helps to alleviate fertility anxiety and create a more friendly social environment for childbearing," said Liang Wenyuan, professor at the Faculty of Education, Beijing Normal University (北京师范大学). She believes that gradually implementing free preschool education, as a measure that combines social benefits and people's livelihood, not only reflects the national policy orientation of prioritizing education development and high-quality population development, but also continuously injects human capital into the construction of Chinese-style modernization.
The "Outline for Building a Strong Education Nation (2024-2035)" (《教育强国建设规划纲要（2024—2035年）》) released in January this year clearly stated "explore gradually expanding the scope of free education," and this year's "Government Work Report" (《政府工作报告》) proposed "gradually implement free preschool education."
Wang Jian, Director of the Institute of Education Finance, Chinese Academy of Educational Sciences (中国教育科学研究院), believes that gradually implementing free preschool education requires basing it on national and educational conditions, learning from foreign experience, and doing a good job in policy design and implementation, so as to truly transform policy dividends into benefits for the people.
"Gradually implementing free preschool education requires considering short-term, medium-term, and long-term changes in birth population, changes in the demand for school places, urbanization trends, and the level of economic and social development. We must adhere to doing our best and acting according to our capabilities, and promote it step by step in an orderly manner. We cannot do it in one step. For example, we can prioritize the promotion of one year of free preschool education, and then cover all age groups when conditions are met. This step-by-step and phased approach not only conforms to the law of educational development, but also takes into account the current national and regional economic and social conditions, and alleviates financial pressure," Wang Jian said.
Preschool education in our country is still a weak link in the national education system. The systems and mechanisms in terms of investment guarantee, teacher team construction, scientific childcare, and standardized supervision are not yet perfect, which restricts the high-quality development of preschool education.
"Educational equity is an important foundation of social equity, and it is also the inherent meaning of high-quality educational development," Gao Bingcheng believes that gradually implementing free preschool education will help reduce the gap in educational opportunities caused by unbalanced economic and social development, so that children of appropriate age, especially children from low-income families, children in rural areas, children of migrant populations, and left-behind children, can equally obtain development opportunities, allow children to enjoy education at the starting stage of life, and lay a solid foundation for future academic and life development.
"Gradually implementing free preschool education is a major measure that benefits the country and the people. The next step is to implement the policy well. Localities need to refine the plan as soon as possible, implement the funding well, ensure timely and full allocation, and further strengthen the supervision and management of kindergartens and standardize the operation of kindergartens," Gao Bingcheng said.
Return to TopBy: 新华社记者 黄 玥 王 鹏 严赋憬
Reform is a courageous act of a great era and the source of power for development and progress.
In July 2024, the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (中国共产党) once again sounded the call for reform on the new journey, making systematic arrangements for further comprehensively deepening reform and promoting Chinese-style modernization, and proposing more than 300 reform measures to outline a grand blueprint for reform in the next five years.
The plenary session proposed that it is necessary to fully implement Xi Jinping (习近平) Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and deeply study and implement General Secretary Xi Jinping's (习近平) series of new thoughts, new viewpoints, and new judgments on comprehensively deepening reform. Taking economic system reform as the traction, and promoting social fairness and justice and enhancing people's well-being as the starting point and foothold, more attention should be paid to system integration, more attention should be paid to highlighting key points, and more attention should be paid to the effectiveness of reform, so as to promote the better adaptation of the relations of production to the productive forces, the superstructure to the economic base, and national governance to social development, and provide strong impetus and institutional guarantees for Chinese-style modernization.
Over the past year, facing the complex and volatile international and domestic situation, facing a new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation, and facing the new expectations of the people, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping (习近平) at its core has placed reform in a more prominent position with great political courage and wisdom, taking a broad and long-term view, grasping the direction, systematically deploying, and vigorously implementing, and constantly opening up broad prospects for the great cause of Chinese-style modernization.
Showing a New Atmosphere of Reform
——"The connotation of Chinese-style modernization is very rich, and further comprehensively deepening reform must also be all-round."
Xiamen (厦门), Fujian (福建), is a window of reform and a door of opening up. In October 2024, in the upsurge of studying and implementing the spirit of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Party throughout the Party, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) came to Xiamen (厦门) to declare the determination of reform and draw a new picture of reform.
In the exhibition of achievements in the construction of the Free Trade Pilot Zone, a blue-covered, more than 300-page book, "Xiamen Economic and Social Development Strategy from 1985 to 2000" (《1985年—2000年厦门经济社会发展战略》), attracted the attention of General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平). This was a blueprint for reform and development formulated under the leadership of Comrade Xi Jinping (习近平) more than 30 years ago, who "participated directly in the reform and opening up of the coastal developed areas for the first time."
Looking back on the past and looking forward to the future, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) said: "We participated in the entrepreneurship here, and the current development is better than we imagined at that time." "Today, grasping reform and opening up, whether in depth or breadth, requires more than in the past."
Further comprehensively deepening reform requires a more grand and clearer roadmap and timetable. After the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Party, the Central Deepening Reform Commission immediately deployed and studied the formulation of an implementation plan for important reform measures of the plenary session, clarifying the form of reform achievements, the year of completion, and the division of tasks, and promoting the planned and step-by-step implementation of reform.
From reform and opening up to comprehensively deepening reform and then to further comprehensively deepening reform, history is writing a new chapter in continuous struggle.
Deeply grasping the general trend of the times, taking an overall view, and uniting efforts, reform has always followed the right path and been good at breaking new ground——
On August 29, 2024, in Zhongnanhai (中南海), Beijing (北京), the first meeting of the Central Deepening Reform Commission after the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Party was held.
"It is necessary to adhere to the centralized and unified leadership of the Party Central Committee over reform, and strictly implement the reporting system. It is necessary to accurately grasp the strategic priorities and priority directions of reform, and rationally arrange the order, rhythm, and timing of reform measures. It is necessary to combine reform more closely with economic and social development, and promote the accelerated implementation of landmark reform measures. It is necessary to strengthen the systematic integration of reform, enhance the consistency of reform policy orientation, actively assess the impact on economic and social development, and form a joint force of reform and development." The meeting put forward clear requirements, providing scientific guidance and action guidelines for further comprehensively deepening reform to go deeper and more solid.
As the director of the Central Deepening Reform Commission, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) is both the commander and the soldier, making systematic arrangements for the overall layout, major issues, and key links of reform, leading the direction of reform, promoting the process of reform, and urging the implementation of reform.
The more reform advances in depth, the more it is necessary to strengthen the overall planning of reform, the more it needs scientific methods, and the more it needs to gather the broadest consensus.
On October 29, 2024, the seminar for leading cadres at the provincial and ministerial level to study and implement the spirit of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Party opened at the Central Party School (National Academy of Governance) (中央党校（国家行政学院）).
General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) delivered an important speech, emphatically emphasizing the major principles that must be firmly grasped and always adhered to in further comprehensively deepening reform: adhering to maintaining integrity and innovation; profoundly clarifying the four pairs of relationships that need to be adhered to and handled well: adhering to the unity of reform and the rule of law, adhering to the dialectical unity of breaking and establishing, adhering to the unity of reform and opening up, and handling the relationship between deployment and implementation; clearly requiring leading cadres to "enhance their sense of political responsibility and historical mission," and earnestly achieve "not evading contradictions and problems, not being ambiguous in eradicating stubborn maladies, not retreating in the face of risks and challenges, and striving to open up a new world for reform and development."
Those who are good at planning win, and those who plan far prosper.
Since the convening of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Party, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) has always paid attention to the progress of reform, whether attending important meetings or going to local inspections and research, and has made a series of important instructions on the major principles, important measures, and scientific paths of reform, guiding the whole Party to unify its thinking and actions with the decision-making and deployment of the Party Central Committee, and uniting efforts to promote reform to move steadily and far.
Closely focusing on the theme of promoting Chinese-style modernization, coordinating and adapting to local conditions, and promoting reform and innovation to achieve new breakthroughs at a new starting point——
Lanzhou (兰州), Gansu (甘肃), the Yellow River (黄河) runs through the city, magnificent.
In September 2024, on the first local inspection after the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Party, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) came to the Zhongshan Bridge (中山桥), the "First Bridge of the Yellow River," to look out over the surging river.
In Lanzhou (兰州), General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) presided over a symposium on comprehensively promoting ecological protection and high-quality development in the Yellow River Basin, emphasizing "taking further comprehensively deepening reform as the driving force, adhering to ecological priority and green development, adhering to acting according to water availability and giving priority to water conservation, adhering to adapting to local conditions and implementing policies according to different categories, and adhering to overall planning and coordinated promotion."
The national river strategy is integrated into the grand chapter of Chinese-style modernization. Asking for impetus and vitality from reform, the great practice of further comprehensively deepening reform is unfolding in the Yellow River Basin.
From rivers to coasts, from basins to regions... General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) lays out a game of chess and plans a picture, always taking the goals and tasks and major issues of Chinese-style modernization as the lead, and promoting further comprehensively deepening reform to continuously exert efforts in systematic, holistic, and coordinated ways.
On the new journey of Chinese-style modernization, the weight of coordinating regional development is heavier. Since the 20th National Congress of the Party, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) has successively presided over 9 regional development symposiums, drawing a new picture of coordinated regional development from a strategic overall perspective; established the Central Regional Coordinated Development Leading Group (中央区域协调发展领导小组) to coordinate major regional strategies, plans, and policies; the central government has issued documents, and various regions have released action plans... The Party Central Committee has strengthened top-level design, further improved the system and mechanism, and insisted on leading the high-quality development of regional integration with reform.
East-west mutual assistance, north-south coordination, and land-sea integration, a higher level of coordinated regional development is connected into a trend on the 9.6 million square kilometers of land, injecting surging power into Chinese-style modernization.
While adhering to the national overall plan, strengthening the overall coordination of reform policies, the overall coordination of progress, and the overall coordination of effects, we also support localities in adapting to local conditions and carrying out work creatively.
"The vast nine tributaries flow into China, and a heavy line runs through the north and south." In November 2024, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) came to Hubei (湖北) to plan the reform and development of a region from a global strategic perspective:
"You connect the east and the west, and undertake the north and the south. It is necessary to strive to be the first in the high-quality development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt (长江经济带) and accelerate the construction of an important strategic support for the rise of the central region. Deepen cooperation with the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (京津冀), Yangtze River Delta (长三角), Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (粤港澳), and Chengdu-Chongqing (成渝) regions, and orderly optimize the industrial layout."
Only by finding the positioning in the overall national situation can we anchor the focus of reform.
Since the convening of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Party, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) has gone to more than 10 provinces for inspection, and has deployed and guided the local reform practice of Chinese-style modernization in light of the actual situation of the localities.
In Guizhou (贵州), he pointed out that "it is necessary to actively integrate into the construction of a unified national market"; in Yunnan (云南), he emphasized "actively promoting high-level opening up to the outside world and building a radiation center facing South Asia and Southeast Asia"; he hoped that Shanghai (上海) would "accelerate the construction of a science and technology innovation highland with global influence"; he required Henan (河南) to "further consolidate the foundation of the real economy"... All localities are striving to be the first based on their own strengths, grasping the strategic initiative in adapting to local conditions, and shouldering their respective reform responsibilities.
Focusing on the reform characteristics of the new journey, optimizing the path, and systematically laying out, to achieve mutual linkage and efficient coordination of various reforms——
A prominent feature of further comprehensively deepening reform is that it pays more attention to system integration, and the concept of system runs through all fields and aspects of reform and development.
After 10 years, the Party Central Committee convened the highest-level urban work conference again.
On July 14, 2025, at the Jingxi Hotel (京西宾馆) in Beijing (北京), General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) attended the Central Urban Work Conference and delivered an important speech, deploying the key tasks of urban work in the new era and on the new journey from "one optimization and six constructions."
From the proposal at the Central Rural Work Conference at the end of last year to "adhere to the integrated development of urban and rural areas and further deepen rural reform," to the requirement of this Central Urban Work Conference to "promote the coordinated development of large, medium, and small cities and small towns, and promote the integrated development of urban and rural areas," the integrated development of urban and rural areas has always been a matter of reform concern for General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平).
The further reform advances, the deeper it touches the interests, and the higher the requirements for system integration will inevitably be.
General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) profoundly pointed out: "The connotation of Chinese-style modernization is very rich, and further comprehensively deepening reform must also be all-round. It is necessary to comprehensively and coordinately promote reforms in all aspects and strive to form an overall effectiveness."
With a scientific top-level design, plan a reasonable reform path; with a clear system plan, deploy solid reform measures; emphasize that the "Decision" of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Party "not only highlights the content of economic system reform, but also comprehensively covers the institutional and mechanism innovation in democracy, the rule of law, culture, society, ecological civilization, national security, national defense and army building, as well as the reform of the Party's construction system, and must be fully implemented"; propose "adhering to education, science and technology, and talent together," and coordinate the integrated reform of the education, science and technology, and talent system and mechanism... General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) plans reform under the framework of comprehensively promoting the "five-in-one" overall layout and coordinately promoting the "four comprehensives" strategic layout, leading further comprehensively deepening reform to be more focused and coordinated and efficient.
Enhancing New Momentum for Development
——"It is necessary to comprehensively deepen reform and expand opening up to add momentum to high-quality development."
On July 15, the National Bureau of Statistics (国家统计局) released the "semi-annual report" of China's economy in 2025——
The gross domestic product (GDP) was 66053.6 billion yuan, an increase of 5.3% year-on-year, and the main indicators were better than expected. High-quality development was steadily promoted, and the economy maintained a stable and progressive development trend.
In the situation of intertwined changes in the international environment, accelerated transformation of old and new driving forces in China, and difficulties in the operation of some industries and enterprises, how can the Chinese economy move forward against pressure and overcome difficulties?
Make good use of the key move of reform and continuously inject power and vitality into the high-quality development of China's economy.
Responding to risks and challenges with reform and promoting economic stability and improvement——
On September 26, 2024, the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee (中共中央政治局) met to analyze and study the economic situation. At that time, the Chinese economy had experienced a good start in the first quarter, and the downward pressure on the economy in the second and third quarters had increased. It was at a critical moment to strive to complete the annual economic and social development goals and tasks.
Cutting reserve requirements and interest rates, boosting the property market and the stock market, helping enterprises overcome difficulties, and introducing measures in the fields of investment, consumption, and employment... The meeting deployed a package of incremental policies, focusing on boosting market confidence and improving the quality and efficiency of development, and promoted a significant rebound in the Chinese economy.
On April 25, 2025, another meeting of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee (中共中央政治局) was held to analyze and study the economic situation and economic work. At that time, the international situation was changing dramatically, the international economic and trade order was severely damaged, and instability and uncertainty increased.
The meeting made it clear that "efforts should be made to stabilize employment, stabilize enterprises, stabilize the market, and stabilize expectations," and insisted on using reform and opening up as an important magic weapon to accelerate the construction of a new development pattern, enhance the power and vitality of the domestic and international dual circulation, and consolidate the foundation of the Chinese economy.
Improving the macroeconomic governance system is one of the important focuses of economic system reform. The two meetings were key moves to respond to unexpected shocks with scientific and effective macroeconomic regulation and control, fully demonstrating the extraordinary wisdom and ability of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping (习近平) at its core to manage the Chinese economy.
This year, firmly grasping the key task of economic system reform, adhering to the spirit of reform and innovative measures to solve new situations and new problems in economic operation, the Chinese economy has coordinated the effective improvement of quality and the reasonable growth of quantity in overcoming difficulties.
Increasing the issuance of ultra-long-term special treasury bonds, implementing the "two new" and "two heavy" policies with greater efforts, the implementation of the special action plan to boost consumption, and steadily promoting the integrated development of domestic and foreign trade... Various innovative policies and measures launched in a timely manner have been enriched, improved, and synergistically exerted.
The implementation of the Law on Promoting the Private Economy (民营经济促进法), the first policy document specifically on improving the market access system issued at the central level, the release of the "Guidelines for the Construction of a Unified National Market (Trial Implementation)" (《全国统一大市场建设指引（试行）》) to further break down market barriers, and the issuance of the "Action Plan for Effectively Reducing Social Logistics Costs" to improve economic efficiency... A deeper level of obstacle removal and tackling is being promoted simultaneously, and the domestic circulation is further unblocked.
From the statistical data, since the beginning of this year, the flow of people, logistics, and capital have been improving. In the first half of the year, the contribution rate of domestic demand to GDP growth was 68.8%, which has effectively enhanced the confidence and confidence in responding to risks and challenges.
Stimulating innovation vitality with reform and cultivating and strengthening new quality productive forces——
With more than 100 resident enterprises and radiating and driving the surrounding areas to gather nearly 400 large model enterprises, the Shanghai "Model Speed Space" (上海“模速空间”) large model innovation ecological community is drawing a moving picture of policy innovation, ecological collaboration, and scenario opening.
On April 29 this year, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) came here for inspection, pointing out that Shanghai (上海) should summarize the successful experience of incubating the artificial intelligence industry with the large model industry ecosystem, increase exploration efforts, and strive to be at the forefront in all aspects of artificial intelligence development and governance, and generate a demonstration effect.
The Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Party put forward the reform topic of improving the system and mechanism for developing new quality productive forces in accordance with local conditions.
"Realizing high-level scientific and technological self-reliance and self-improvement and developing new quality productive forces have put forward more urgent needs for the integration of scientific and technological innovation and industrial innovation"; "Encourage universities, scientific research institutes, etc. in the region to lay out and build technology transfer and industrialization service mechanisms to improve the coordination level of the industrial chain innovation chain"; "Promote the integration of industry, academia, and research, and cultivate a large number of high-quality talents, so that Chinese-style modernization can be truly realized"...
From research institutes and science cities to manufacturing enterprises and industrial parks, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) has repeatedly gone deep into the most active places of scientific and technological innovation during his domestic inspections, pointing out the direction for the deep integration of scientific and technological innovation and industrial innovation and its transformation into real productive forces.
Since the beginning of this year, from the emergence of DeepSeek (DeepSeek) to the world's first "human-machine co-running" half marathon, a series of remarkable innovative achievements have been continuously launched.
In terms of systems and mechanisms, we will improve the mechanism for collaborative education between science, education, and industry, strengthen the overall planning of innovation resources and the organization of forces, deepen the reform of talent classification and evaluation, and address the "hat" phenomenon in the science and education community. In terms of innovative layout, we will clear the bottlenecks between the innovation chain and the industrial chain, and strengthen the dominant position of enterprises in innovation... We will continue to improve the overall effectiveness of the national innovation system, and a new atmosphere of reform-driven innovation and innovation-driven development will continue to emerge.
Adhering to the unity of reform and opening up, we will continue to win the initiative in development—
On February 17, he attended a symposium for private enterprises in Beijing (北京); on March 28, he met with representatives of the international business community in Beijing (北京).
This spring, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) exchanged views with people from the business community at home and abroad, conveying a clear signal of "adhering to the unity of reform and opening up."
Domestically, he emphasized "We must resolutely remove all obstacles to the equal use of factors of production and fair participation in market competition in accordance with the law, and continue to promote the fair opening of competitive infrastructure fields to various business entities."
Externally, he pointed out that "China (中国) is promoting high-level opening up to the outside world, steadily expanding institutional opening up in terms of rules, regulations, management, standards, etc., and the door to opening up will only open wider and wider."
The deeper the reform, the higher the requirements for the level of opening up; the higher the level of opening up, the greater the promotion of reform.
The Free Trade Zone (自贸试验区), the "experimental field" of reform and opening up, shoulders the historical responsibility of exploring new ways and accumulating new experiences for comprehensively deepening reform and expanding opening up.
The sixth meeting of the Central Commission for Comprehensively Deepening Reform (中央全面深化改革委员会) held in August 2024 reviewed and approved the "Opinions on Implementing the Strategy of Upgrading Free Trade Zones."
More than a month later, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) visited the Xiamen (厦门) Area of the China (Fujian) Free Trade Zone (中国（福建）自由贸易试验区) and emphasized "steadily promoting institutional opening up, and deeply cultivating and refining international high standards."
In April 2025, the "Opinions on Implementing the Strategy of Upgrading Free Trade Zones" was released to the public. In July, the State Council (国务院) issued a document to replicate and promote 77 pilot measures of the Shanghai (上海) Free Trade Zone (上海自贸试验区) to other free trade zones or the whole country.
Taking institutional innovation as the core, the accelerated promotion of the strategy of upgrading free trade zones is a microcosm of opening up new horizons for reform and development with high-level opening up to the outside world in the past year.
The implementation of the "Special Administrative Measures for Foreign Investment Access (Negative List) (2024 Edition)" has achieved "zeroing" of foreign investment access restrictions in the manufacturing sector; the introduction of the "Work Plan for Accelerating the Comprehensive Pilot Program for Expanding the Opening Up of the Service Industry" has clarified 155 pilot tasks; allowing the establishment of wholly foreign-owned hospitals in 9 places including Beijing (北京), Tianjin (天津), and Shanghai (上海); adding visa-free entry for people from many countries to China (中国); granting 100% tariff-free treatment to products from the least developed countries; issuing the China (Zhejiang) Free Trade Zone (中国（浙江）自由贸易试验区) Construction Plan for a Hub for the Allocation of Bulk Commodity Resources... A good situation of sharing reform dividends and benefiting from the fruits of opening up is constantly forming.
In the first half of this year, the number of China's (中国) trading partners with a trade volume of more than 50 billion yuan reached 61, an increase of 5 compared with the same period last year. The latest China (中国) Customs Trade Climate Survey shows that the confidence of both export and import enterprises has rebounded for two consecutive months.
"Believing in China (中国) is believing in tomorrow, and investing in China (中国) is investing in the future." China (中国) is winning the initiative in reform and development with the initiative of opening up, winning the future with a higher level of opening up, and constantly providing new opportunities and injecting new impetus into the turbulent world economy.
Opening up a new realm of governance
——"Providing strong impetus and institutional guarantees for Chinese-style modernization"
2025 is the year for the conclusion of the "14th Five-Year Plan" and the year for planning and laying out the "15th Five-Year Plan."
On April 30, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) presided over a symposium on economic and social development during the "15th Five-Year Plan" period in some provinces and cities in Shanghai (上海) and delivered an important speech.
"We must unswervingly do our own things well and unswervingly expand high-level opening up to the outside world," "Accelerate the construction of a new development pattern and comprehensively promote high-quality development," "Promote the virtuous interaction between high-efficiency governance and high-quality development and high-level security, and guarantee the new development pattern with a new security pattern"... Looking at the general trend and examining the national conditions, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) put forward a series of clear requirements focusing on the overall situation of reform and development, providing guidance for the formulation of the Five-Year Plan.
Scientifically formulating and successively implementing the Five-Year Plan is an important experience in our Party's governance and administration of the country, and also an important political advantage of socialism with Chinese characteristics.
Development raises the questions, and reform provides the answers. The "15th Five-Year Plan" is not only a development blueprint, but also a reform answer sheet with "higher content and stronger flavor."
山高水长 (shān gāo shuǐ cháng - "mountains high waters long," a long and arduous journey) 不辞其远 (bù cí qí yuǎn - "not decline its distance," not to be deterred by the distance), 披荆斩棘 (pī jīng zhǎn jí - "cut through thorns chop brambles," to overcome obstacles) 不改其志 (bù gǎi qí zhì - "not change its ambition," to remain steadfast in one's goals).
Over the past year, further comprehensively deepening reform has always adhered to the Party's overall leadership, focused on continuing to improve and develop the socialist system with Chinese characteristics, and promoted the overall goal of modernizing the national governance system and governance capabilities, adhered to the people-centered approach, and provided strong impetus and institutional guarantees for Chinese-style modernization.
Adhere to and strengthen the Party's leadership, and run the Party's leadership through all aspects and the entire process of reform—
On June 30, 2025, the day before "July 1st," the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee (中共中央政治局) held a meeting to review the "Regulations on the Work of the Decision-Making and Deliberation Coordination Agencies of the CPC Central Committee (党中央决策议事协调机构工作条例)," to further standardize the establishment, responsibilities, and operation of the decision-making and deliberation coordination agencies of the CPC Central Committee (党中央决策议事协调机构).
The establishment of the decision-making and deliberation coordination agencies of the CPC Central Committee (党中央决策议事协调机构) is an important institutional arrangement to improve the centralized and unified leadership of the CPC Central Committee (党中央) over major work and promote the implementation of major tasks. By establishing new decision-making and deliberation coordination agencies of the CPC Central Committee (党中央决策议事协调机构), forming new functional departments and offices of the CPC Central Committee (党中央), and establishing new dispatched agencies of the CPC Central Committee (党中央) in important fields, the centralized and unified leadership of the CPC Central Committee (党中央) over major work has been strengthened.
The Central Financial Work Commission (中央金融工委) guides and promotes the accelerated improvement of the system and mechanism of Party building work and the system of Party building in the financial system; the Ministry of Civil Affairs of the People's Republic of China (中央社会工作部) comprehensively promotes the work of Party building leading grassroots governance and grassroots political power construction... Over the past year, through the continuous deepening of the reform of Party and state institutions, the functional system of Party and state institutions has become more complete, and the establishment and management of the deliberation and coordination agencies of the CPC Central Committee (党中央) and the State Council (国务院) have become more strict and standardized, and their roles have been fully and effectively played.
General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) pointed out: "No matter what we reform or to what extent we reform, we must adhere to the Party's leadership."
Always adhering to and strengthening the Party's leadership is the secret to the success of more than 40 years of reform and opening up, and it is also the fundamental guarantee for further comprehensively deepening reform.
The more difficult the journey, the more the power of navigation is needed.
Over the past year, further comprehensively deepening reform has given full play to the Party's leading core role in commanding the overall situation and coordinating all parties, effectively implemented the Party's leadership in all fields, aspects, and links of reform, and continuously mobilized the enthusiasm, initiative, and creativity of the entire Party in grasping reform and promoting development, ensuring that reform tasks are implemented and effective.
Adhere to the unity of reform and the rule of law, and better transform the results of reform into national governance effectiveness—
April 27, 2025, the Great Hall of the People (人民大会堂) in Beijing (北京), the meeting hall of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (全国人大常委会).
The "Environmental Protection Code of the People's Republic of China (Draft) (中华人民共和国生态环境法典（草案）)," this important code draft bearing the historical mission of safeguarding the construction of a beautiful China (中国) in the new era, was submitted to the fifteenth meeting of the Standing Committee of the Fourteenth National People's Congress (十四届全国人大常委会) for the first review.
As the code unfolds, green mountains come into view. From the clear deployment of compiling the environmental protection code at the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee (党的二十届三中全会) to the "key step" taken in the compilation of the environmental protection code, the draft summarizes and refines the common pollution prevention and control systems stipulated in the current laws into general rules and general provisions, and elevates mature experiences that have proven effective in practice to legal system provisions.
Reform and the rule of law are like two wings of a bird and two wheels of a car. As reform enters a period of tackling tough problems and a deep-water zone, it is even more necessary to build a solid foundation of the rule of law and give play to the power of the rule of law to escort the further comprehensively deepening reform through waves.
Revising the Law on Deputies to the National People's Congress (代表法) to promote the high-quality development of the work of deputies to the National People's Congress (全国人大代表) on the track of the rule of law; revising the Supervision Law (监察法) to promote the standardization, legalization, and regularization of supervision work... The legal sword clears the way, effectively ensuring the implementation of reform.
Strengthening the construction of the system of the people being the masters of the country, implementing and improving the judicial accountability system, further standardizing the application of the leniency system for admitting guilt and accepting punishment, and focusing on promoting the legalization of petition work... The coordinated promotion of reform in all aspects of legislation, law enforcement, justice, and law-abiding has comprehensively improved the legal system.
Exercising the power of the rule of law and accumulating the momentum of the rule of law, the cornerstone of "China's (中国) governance" is more consolidated, the effectiveness is more significant, and the modernization of the national governance system and governance capabilities is moving to a higher level.
Adhere to the people-centered approach, and use the power of reform to solve problems for the people and seek benefits for the people—
In January 2025, before the Spring Festival, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) went to Liaoning (辽宁) for inspection and came to the Changan Community (长安小区) in Changan Street (长安街道), Dadong District (大东区), Shenyang (沈阳), which had undergone centralized renovation, to visit residents' homes.
The renovation of old residential communities is connected to people's well-being on one end and urban development on the other. General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) is always concerned about better promoting people-centered new urbanization.
During the inspection, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) pointed out: "To grasp reform, we must further focus on problems, highlight key points, and solve difficulties," "We must adhere to the integrated development of urban and rural areas and promote the construction of new urbanization with counties as important carriers."
In July 2024, the "Five-Year Action Plan for Deeply Implementing the People-Oriented New Urbanization Strategy" was issued. From further deepening the reform of the household registration system to improving the policy of safeguarding the rights and interests of farmers who have settled in cities, from improving intercity commuting efficiency to promoting the renovation of old urban residential communities... The action plan proposes 4 major actions, 19 key tasks, and relevant policies and measures, which are closely related to the people.
Reform is meaningful for the people; reform has the driving force by relying on the people.
Over the past year, further comprehensively deepening reform has always taken enhancing the people's well-being as the starting point and end result, and planned and promoted from the overall interests, fundamental interests, and long-term interests of the people.
Actively responding to the aging of the population, issuing and implementing the decision to gradually delay the statutory retirement age, grasping the principles of voluntariness and flexibility, and adjusting in small steps at a relatively slow pace overall;
Focusing on promoting educational equity, the "Outline for Building a Strong Education Country (2024-2035) (教育强国建设规划纲要（2024—2035年）)" proposes "strengthening the standardized construction of compulsory education schools" and "conducting in-depth supervision and evaluation of high-quality and balanced compulsory education in counties, and orderly promoting high-quality and balanced development of compulsory education in cities";
Focusing on caring for the "elderly and the young," continuously increasing and improving the supply of maternal and child health care, children's medical care, and inclusive childcare services, and fully implementing the personal pension system;
Closely focusing on the concerns of the masses, issuing guiding documents for promoting employment from the central level for the first time in the new era, deploying 24 measures such as expanding channels for employment and talent development for college graduates and other young people, and ensuring equal employment rights;
Issuing opinions on further guaranteeing and improving people's livelihoods and focusing on solving the urgent, difficult, and worrying problems of the masses, promoting more fair, balanced, inclusive, and accessible people's livelihood construction;
…………
One reform measure after another, conforming to the will of the people, respecting public opinion, paying attention to people's conditions, and striving for people's livelihood, effectively responds to the most urgent expectations of the masses and ensures that the fruits of reform and development benefit all the people more and more fairly.
Reform is setting sail with a strong wind, and the drums are urging us to start again.
Under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee (党中央) with Comrade Xi Jinping (习近平) as the core, the most prominent feature and the most magnificent atmosphere of contemporary China (中国) are constantly unfolding new pictures. Facing the future, by advancing further comprehensively deepening reform with an indomitable fighting spirit, we will surely inject a continuous and powerful impetus into Chinese-style modernization.
(Xinhua News Agency (新华社), Beijing (北京), July 26)
Return to TopOn July 26, the 2025 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (世界人工智能大会) and the High-Level Meeting on Global Governance of Artificial Intelligence released the "Global Governance Action Plan for Artificial Intelligence." The full text is as follows:
Global Governance Action Plan for Artificial Intelligence
Artificial intelligence is a new field of human development, an important driving force for a new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation, and can also be an international public good that benefits mankind. Artificial intelligence brings unprecedented development opportunities, but also unprecedented risks and challenges. In the age of intelligence, only by working together can we fully realize the potential of artificial intelligence while ensuring its safety, reliability, controllability, and fairness, and ultimately implement the commitments of the United Nations "Pact for the Future" and its annex "Global Digital Compact," to create an inclusive, open, sustainable, fair, safe, and reliable digital and intelligent future for all.
To this end, we propose the "Global Governance Action Plan for Artificial Intelligence," calling on all parties to take effective actions and work together to promote the development and governance of global artificial intelligence based on the goals and principles of being good and serving the people, respecting sovereignty, development-oriented, safe and controllable, fair and inclusive, and open cooperation.
I. Jointly seize the opportunities of artificial intelligence. We call on governments, international organizations, enterprises, scientific research institutions, non-governmental organizations, and individual citizens to actively participate and cooperate to accelerate the construction of digital infrastructure, jointly explore cutting-edge innovation in artificial intelligence technology, promote the popularization and application of artificial intelligence globally, and maximize the potential of artificial intelligence in empowering global economic and social development, helping to implement the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and addressing global challenges.
II. Promote the innovative development of artificial intelligence. Upholding the spirit of openness and sharing, we encourage bold attempts and explorations, build various international science and technology cooperation platforms, create an innovation-friendly policy environment, strengthen policy and regulatory coordination, promote technological cooperation and achievement transformation, reduce and eliminate technical barriers, jointly promote technological innovation breakthroughs and sustainable development of artificial intelligence, deeply explore the open application scenarios of "Artificial Intelligence +," and improve the level of global artificial intelligence innovation and development.
III. Promote artificial intelligence to empower thousands of industries. Promote artificial intelligence to empower industrial manufacturing, consumption, commerce and trade circulation, medical care, education, agriculture, poverty reduction, and other fields, promote the deep application of artificial intelligence in scenarios such as autonomous driving and smart cities, and build a rich, diverse, healthy, and virtuous artificial intelligence application ecosystem. Promote the construction and sharing of intelligent infrastructure, carry out cross-border artificial intelligence application cooperation, exchange best practices, and jointly explore the comprehensive empowerment of artificial intelligence to the real economy.
IV. Accelerate the construction of digital infrastructure. Accelerate the construction of global clean power, a new generation of networks, intelligent computing power, data centers, and other infrastructure, improve the layout of interoperable artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure, promote the construction of a unified computing power standard system, support all countries, especially the Global South, to develop artificial intelligence technologies and services in accordance with their own national conditions, help the Global South truly access and apply artificial intelligence, and promote the inclusive and universal development of artificial intelligence.
V. Create a diverse and open innovation ecosystem. Give full play to the role of diverse entities and platform mechanisms such as governments and academia, jointly promote international exchanges and dialogues on artificial intelligence governance, build cross-border open source communities and safe and reliable open source platforms, promote the open sharing of basic resources, lower the threshold for technological innovation and application, avoid redundant investment and waste of resources, and promote the universality and accessibility of artificial intelligence technology services. Promote the construction of an open source compliance system, clarify and implement technical security guidelines for open source communities, promote the open sharing of development resources such as technical documents and interface documents, strengthen the construction of open source ecosystems such as compatibility and interconnection of upstream and downstream products, and realize the open flow of non-sensitive technical resources.
VI. Actively promote the supply of high-quality data. Promote the development of artificial intelligence with high-quality data, cooperate to promote the legal, orderly, and free flow of data, explore the construction of a global mechanism platform for data sharing, and cooperate to create high-quality data sets to inject more nutrients into the development of artificial intelligence. At the same time, actively maintain personal privacy and data security, improve the diversity of artificial intelligence data corpora, eliminate discrimination and bias, and promote, protect, and preserve the diversity of artificial intelligence ecosystems and human civilization.
VII. Effectively address energy and environmental issues. Advocate the concept of "sustainable artificial intelligence," support the continuous exploration and innovation of resource-saving and environmentally friendly artificial intelligence development models, jointly formulate artificial intelligence energy efficiency and water efficiency standards, and promote green computing technologies such as low-power chips and efficient algorithms. Encourage dialogue and cooperation on energy conservation in artificial intelligence development, and jointly find the best solutions. Promote artificial intelligence to empower green transformation and development, climate change response, biodiversity protection, and other fields, expand the application of artificial intelligence technology in related aspects, strengthen international cooperation, and share best practices.
VIII. Promote consensus on standards and norms. Support and promote dialogue among national standards-setting bodies, rely on international standards organizations such as the International Telecommunication Union (国际电信联盟), the International Organization for Standardization (国际标准化组织), and the International Electrotechnical Commission (国际电工委员会), attach importance to the role of industry, accelerate the revision and formulation of technical standards in key areas such as safety, industry, and ethics, and establish a scientific, transparent, and inclusive normative framework in the field of artificial intelligence. Actively eliminate algorithmic bias, balance technological progress, risk prevention, and social ethics, and promote the inclusiveness and interoperability of standard systems.
IX. Public sector takes the lead in deployment and application. The public sectors of various countries should become leaders and demonstrators in the application and governance of artificial intelligence, actively prioritize the deployment of reliable artificial intelligence in public service areas such as medical care, education, and transportation, and strengthen international exchanges and cooperation. At the same time, conduct regular safety assessments of the above-mentioned artificial intelligence systems, and respect intellectual property rights such as patents and software copyrights. Strictly abide by data and privacy protection, actively explore the legal and orderly trading of training data, jointly promote the compliant opening and utilization of data, and improve the level of public management and services.
X. Carry out artificial intelligence safety governance. Conduct timely risk assessment of artificial intelligence, propose targeted prevention and response measures, and build a safety governance framework with broad consensus. Explore classified and graded management, establish an artificial intelligence risk testing and evaluation system, and promote the construction of a threat information sharing and emergency response mechanism. Improve data security and personal information protection norms, and strengthen data security management in links such as training data collection and model generation. Increase investment in technology research and development, implement safe development norms, and improve the interpretability, transparency, and security of artificial intelligence. Explore a traceability management system for artificial intelligence services to prevent misuse and abuse of artificial intelligence technology. Advocate the establishment of an open platform, share best practices, and promote international cooperation in artificial intelligence safety governance on a global scale.
XI. Jointly implement the "Global Digital Compact." Actively implement the relevant commitments of the United Nations "Pact for the Future" and its annex "Global Digital Compact," adhere to the United Nations as the main channel, with the goal of helping developing countries bridge the digital divide and achieve fair and inclusive development, and promote the construction of an inclusive and fair multilateral global digital governance system based on compliance with international law and respect for national sovereignty and development differences. Support the establishment and early operation of two mechanisms under the United Nations framework: the International Artificial Intelligence Science Group and the Global Artificial Intelligence Governance Dialogue, and conduct meaningful discussions on global artificial intelligence governance, especially promoting the safe, fair, and inclusive development of artificial intelligence.
XII. Strengthen international cooperation in artificial intelligence capacity building. Place international cooperation in artificial intelligence capacity building in a prominent position on the global artificial intelligence governance agenda, and encourage leading artificial intelligence countries to support developing countries in strengthening comprehensive capacity building in artificial intelligence innovation, application, and governance through practical actions such as cooperation in artificial intelligence infrastructure construction, joint construction of joint laboratories, joint construction of safety assessment mutual recognition platforms, holding artificial intelligence capacity building education and training, organizing artificial intelligence industry supply and demand docking activities, and jointly carrying out the construction of high-quality artificial intelligence data sets and corpora. Jointly improve public artificial intelligence literacy and skills, especially to protect and strengthen the digital and intelligent rights and interests of women and children, and bridge the intelligent divide.
XIII. Build an inclusive governance model with multi-party participation. Support the construction of an inclusive governance platform based on public interests and the joint participation of various entities. Encourage artificial intelligence companies from various countries to conduct dialogue and exchanges, learn from their respective application practice cases in different fields of artificial intelligence, and promote artificial intelligence innovation, application, and ethical and safety cooperation in specific fields and scenarios. Encourage various research think tanks and international forums to build global and regional exchange and cooperation platforms to ensure that artificial intelligence researchers, developers, and governance departments in various countries maintain technical and policy communication.
(Xinhua News Agency (新华社), Shanghai (上海), July 26)
Return to TopThe new round of Sino-U.S. economic and trade talks is about to be held in Sweden. This is another face-to-face consultation between China and the United States on economic and trade issues after the economic and trade talks in Geneva, Switzerland, reached a series of important consensuses and the economic and trade talks in London, England, established the London framework. At present, the world economy is facing many uncertainties. The international community generally expects China and the United States to earnestly make good use of the existing economic and trade consultation mechanism, take practical actions to maintain and implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state in their phone call, meet each other halfway, and promote the economic and trade relations between the two countries to continue to move in the right direction of resolving economic and trade differences through equal dialogue and consultation.
China is coming to Sweden with sincerity. Although Sino-U.S. economic and trade relations have experienced twists and turns in recent years, China has always adhered to a constructive position and insisted on resolving issues through equal dialogue and consultation. In the new round of Sino-U.S. economic and trade frictions, China has always opened the door to negotiations while firmly defending its legitimate rights and interests. From Geneva to London, China's sincerity is reflected in its practical efforts to promote the consultation process and in its specific actions to implement the consensus reached by both sides, which has effectively enhanced all parties' confidence in China and the United States resolving differences through equal dialogue and consultation. The goal of China in the economic and trade talks in Sweden is still to work with the United States to jointly strive towards a substantial solution to the problems. China's insistence on equal dialogue and consultation stems from a deep understanding of the mutually beneficial and win-win nature of Sino-U.S. economic and trade relations, and also from a clear understanding of the special global responsibilities that the two countries shoulder. Differences between countries are inevitable. The key is to choose how to solve the problems. Dialogue and consultation are not only more efficient, but also avoid unnecessary costs. China's development interests must not be infringed upon, and the two sides should explore possible solutions through equal dialogue on the basis of mutual respect. It is in the common expectation of the people of the two countries and the international community that China and the United States uphold the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation, and continue to consult on economic and trade issues of mutual concern.
Sincerity does not mean unprincipled compromise. There is a bottom line for consultations and principles for cooperation. Any dialogue and negotiation must be conducted on the premise of mutual respect, equal consultation, and mutual benefit. What China is safeguarding is not only its own legitimate rights and interests, but also international fairness and justice. China's development achievements are the result of the Chinese people's hard work, not a gift from others, nor have they ever been achieved at the expense of other countries' interests. China's development achievements must not be infringed upon, and its right to development must not be deprived. In the face of the U.S.'s tariff blackmail, investment restrictions, technological blockade, and other forms of containment and suppression, China's determination to defend its legitimate rights and interests is unwavering, and its ability is obvious to all. The latest released 2025 China Economic Semi-Annual Report shows that in the face of drastic changes in the international situation and a significant increase in external pressure, the Chinese economy has demonstrated strong resilience and vitality: the gross domestic product increased by 5.3% year-on-year, an increase of 0.3 percentage points compared with the same period last year and the whole year of last year; the total value of imports and exports of goods was 21.79 trillion yuan (RMB), an increase of 2.9% year-on-year. This fully proves that the Chinese economy can withstand pressure and achieve stable growth. Looking to the future, no matter how the external environment changes, China has the confidence to maintain a stable and progressive economic trend, continue to promote high-quality development, and inject valuable stability and certainty into the world economy.
China has a clear understanding of the long-term and complex nature of the negotiations. We clearly see that the economic and trade frictions unilaterally provoked by the United States are by no means a temporary dispute over interests, and their essence concerns the fundamental rules of the international economic and trade order. China firmly opposes using unilateralism and protectionism to undermine the multilateral trading system, not only for its own sake, but also to defend the institutional cornerstone of global common development. More and more insightful people in the international community have pointed out that no one can be immune to economic bullying. Only by firmly defending the principled position can we effectively safeguard our legitimate rights and interests in negotiations. Once the principled bottom line is lost, blackmail will inevitably intensify, and ultimately all countries may become victims. The more turbulent the situation, the more necessary it is to maintain strategic clarity and strengthen unity and cooperation. All parties should jointly defend the rules-based multilateral trading system and jointly create an open, inclusive, and non-discriminatory international trade environment. History and reality have repeatedly proved that dialogue and cooperation are the only right way to resolve economic and trade disputes, and blackmail and coercion are doomed to failure.
Uphold the greatest sincerity and adhere to the necessary principles. China is willing to work with the United States to take this economic and trade talk in Sweden as an opportunity to continuously enhance consensus, accumulate mutual trust, reduce misjudgments, and strengthen cooperation, so as to inject more positive momentum into the respective development of the two countries and the prosperity and stability of the world economy.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 颜 欢 许海林
"China's success provides a new development model for other countries to learn from," said Enrique Santiago (恩里克·圣地亚哥), Secretary-General of the Communist Party of Spain, in an interview with this reporter. Not long ago, during his first visit to China, Santiago visited Beijing (北京), Shanghai (上海), Xiong'an New Area (雄安新区), and other places. China's rapid development and efficient governance left a deep impression on him. "This trip to China showed me another possibility for world development, and I am full of confidence in China's future," Santiago said.
"Western society has many misunderstandings and prejudices about China's development, but facts speak louder than words. China has lifted all 800 million impoverished people out of poverty. China's poverty reduction population accounts for more than 70% of the global poverty reduction population during the same period. It has completed the poverty reduction target of the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda ahead of schedule and is the country with the largest poverty reduction population. No other country in the world can achieve such great development achievements in such a short period of time," Santiago said. China strives to promote common prosperity while achieving economic growth, providing a new paradigm for global development.
In Shanghai (上海), Santiago visited several information technology and electric vehicle companies and was impressed by the vitality and creativity of China's young generation of scientific researchers. He said that China attaches great importance to education and talent cultivation, and China's innovation-driven development strategy has achieved fruitful results, which has made China in the forefront of the world in artificial intelligence, clean energy, and high-end manufacturing.
When visiting Xiong'an New Area (雄安新区), Santiago paid special attention to maintaining a balance between ecological protection and urban construction. In his opinion, Xiong'an New Area (雄安新区) is a model of environmentally friendly urban construction. "Xiong'an New Area (雄安新区) has not only achieved a high level of urban planning, but also ensured the effective protection of wetland ecology. Here, urban development and ecological sustainability complement each other," he said. The Chinese government pays attention to the coordinated progress of economic development and environmental protection, and Xiong'an New Area (雄安新区) provides experience that can be used for reference.
"China is already at the forefront of sustainable development," Santiago said. He learned during his visit that China has long been committed to ecological civilization construction and has improved the ecological environment through large-scale afforestation, returning farmland to forests, and desert management. "China has not only not ignored environmental issues in the process of development, but has actively promoted green development, which is worth learning from other countries."
"China has made great development achievements in the economic field in recent years, but China not only focuses on economic growth, but also emphasizes the people-oriented development concept. In China, I have seen people's living standards continue to improve with the development of the country, and ordinary people actively participate in social governance. This development model is a win-win situation. In China, I feel the future of world development." He said that China's legal system has played a huge role in anti-corruption and safeguarding social fairness and justice, and this strong institutional construction ensures the stability and sustainability of national governance.
Santiago believes that in the context of increasing global uncertainty, China has become a stabilizing force in a turbulent world. He specifically mentioned that China adheres to multilateralism, treats all countries equally regardless of their size, and promotes the common development of all countries through international cooperation platforms such as the joint construction of the "Belt and Road" initiative. "China's foreign policy has always been based on peace, cooperation, and win-win results, rather than a zero-sum game logic," he said. "China advocates peace and is committed to promoting global common development. In recent years, China's contributions in the field of global governance have continued to increase, such as providing many solutions in addressing climate change, maintaining international trade rules, and ensuring public health security, showing that China has become an important force in promoting world peace and development."
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 侯琳良
The "2025 World Mayors Dialogue · Qingdao" event was held recently, kicking off the Qingdao International Sister Cities Exchange Month. Representatives from Piraeus (比雷埃夫斯), Greece, Sihanoukville (西哈努克), Cambodia, Minsk (明斯克), Belarus, Regensburg (雷根斯堡), Germany, Lagos (拉各斯), Nigeria, Shimonoseki (下关), Japan, Dunedin (达尼丁), New Zealand, Daegu (大邱), South Korea, as well as Qingdao (青岛), Yantai (烟台), and Weihai (威海) in China, focused on topics such as "Strengthening Unique Advantages and Developing Marine Tourism," "Revitalizing Historical Urban Areas and Opening a New Chapter in Cultural Tourism," and "Developing International Tourism and Promoting Cultural Exchange," engaging in in-depth dialogues to jointly expand new spaces for cultural and tourism exchange and open up new paths for industrial cooperation.
Marine Economy:
Global Collaboration from Resource Development to Sustainable Development
The sea breeze gently blows, and giant ships shuttle back and forth. At the fully automated container terminal of Qingdao Port (青岛港), the business upgrade achieved through the intelligent service platform is remarkable. In 2024, the cargo throughput of Qingdao Port (青岛港) reached 710 million tons, ranking fourth in the world. The automation technology here has improved cargo turnover efficiency by 30%. The Port of Regensburg (雷根斯堡港) in Germany and Qingdao Port (青岛港) are friendly ports. Gertrud Maltz-Schwarzfischer, Mayor of Regensburg (雷根斯堡), said: "Clean energy sources such as wind energy, photovoltaics, and hydrogen energy are widely used in Qingdao Port (青岛港), and the port's achievements in sustainable development are admirable."
On the exhibition board in the Qingdao Marine Group (青岛海洋集团) exhibition hall, a virtual "marine economic industry chain" flows with the gestures of the explainer—from marine aquaculture to marine equipment, from scientific research transformation to tourism development, each node is flashing with the pulse of sustainable development.
In the view of Sandy Graham, Chief Executive Officer of the Dunedin (达尼丁) City Council in New Zealand, Qingdao's (青岛) marine economy is developing rapidly with prominent advantages. She looks forward to strengthening exchanges between Dunedin (达尼丁) and Qingdao (青岛). She suggests that the University of Otago (奥塔哥大学) Marine Science School in New Zealand and the Ocean University of China (中国海洋大学) should make full use of their respective resources to cooperate in scientific research and tourism development, and promote the development of the marine economy.
The city of Piraeus (比雷埃夫斯) in Greece plans to complete an underwater archaeological museum in 2026 to explore a new model of "culture + ocean"; Sihanoukville (西哈努克) Province in Cambodia adheres to the concept of "low impact and high value" to promote the green development of ecological islands; Weihai (威海) City in Shandong (山东) Province, China, promotes "flexible development" to avoid competing with the sea for land and demanding profits from the sea; Yantai (烟台) City adheres to the concept of "coast is tourism," "bay area is tourism," and "life is tourism," connecting the four major business formats of art, food, sports, and leisure, and strives to create new marine tourism scenarios... The reporter learned from the dialogue event that marine sustainable development requires the collaborative protection of global cities, which has become the consensus of the participating guests.
Urban Governance:
Innovative Practices from Historical Revitalization to Digital Empowerment
Located in the old city of Qingdao (青岛), the Dabao Island (大鲍岛) Cultural and Leisure Block has afternoon sunlight shining through the gaps in the leaves, scattering on the stone road. Foreign guests from sister cities strolled through it, feeling the charm of the century-old old city.
"After the renovation of the old city of Qingdao (青岛), more than 1,800 historical buildings have retained their original appearance, and new business formats such as cafes and intangible cultural heritage workshops have been introduced, receiving nearly 90 million tourists last year." The explainer's words brightened everyone's eyes.
In the "Li Yuan Memory Museum" (里院记忆博物馆) in the leisure block, foreign guests from sister cities were attracted by a touchable screen: choose a favorite photo background, stand in the designated position of the camera to take a photo, and an "old photo" that looks like it was taken in China in the 1980s will be automatically generated—the exhibition method that integrates technology and art attracted bursts of laughter, vividly showing the unique charm of historical revitalization.
Qingdao (青岛) scientifically and carefully handles the relationship between "old" and "new" in the protection and development of historical urban areas. Ren Gang (任刚), Mayor of Qingdao (青岛), introduced to the guests that in the process of transforming historical urban areas, Qingdao (青岛) has continuously promoted historical urban areas to be more livable, business-friendly, and tourist-friendly by retaining old neighborhoods, introducing new residents, repairing old buildings, giving new functions, inheriting time-honored brands, and developing new business formats, giving new vitality.
"Qingdao (青岛) is a charming and rapidly developing city. The architectural style, urban planning, and greening measures here have both historical heritage and innovative spirit." Vladimir Kukharev (弗拉基米尔·库哈列夫), Chairman of the Minsk (明斯克) City Executive Committee in Belarus, said that this event is of great significance. Everyone had a warm and in-depth discussion on urban development. "Minsk (明斯克) hopes to establish a closer cooperative relationship with Qingdao (青岛)."
Digital empowerment is another trump card for urban governance. At the opening ceremony, many sister cities shared their achievements and plans in smart city governance. Shimonoseki (下关) City in Japan enhances the experience of international tourists through multilingual guides and foreign language guide systems; Piraeus (比雷埃夫斯) in Greece hopes to create a smart and innovative city, equipped with traffic sensors, smart trash cans, smart lighting, and local weather stations, to provide residents and tourists with real-time service information.
Cultural Exchange:
A World Link from Cultural Tourism as a Bridge to People-to-People Connectivity
In October 1979, Qingdao (青岛) City and Shimonoseki (下关) City in Japan signed an agreement, officially establishing a sister city relationship, opening a new chapter in Qingdao's (青岛) foreign friendly exchanges. Over the years, the interaction between Qingdao (青岛) and its sister cities around the world has been wonderful: continuous in-depth cultivation with Shimonoseki (下关) City in the fields of education, culture, and mutual dispatch of civil servants; opening China-Europe freight trains with Minsk (明斯克) City and jointly participating in the construction of the China-Belarus Industrial Park, building an efficient logistics and industrial collaboration network... The opening of the Qingdao (青岛)—Samarkand "SCO Express" has promoted the interaction and mutual empowerment between the China-Shanghai Cooperation Organization Local Economic and Trade Cooperation Demonstration Zone and many parks in SCO countries. As of now, Qingdao (青岛) has established friendly relations or confirmed intentions to establish friendly relations with 18 cities in 13 Shanghai Cooperation Organization countries.
During the Qingdao International Sister Cities Exchange Month, Qingdao (青岛) and Somogy County (绍莫吉州) in Hungary signed an agreement to establish friendly cooperative city relations, and Qingdao's (青岛) international sister cities "circle of friends" has expanded to 95 cities in 54 countries, spanning five continents around the world.
Festivals and events are becoming carriers of cultural exchange. The "World Mayors Dialogue" event coincided with the Qingdao International Beer Festival (青岛国际啤酒节), and Daegu (大邱) City in South Korea is also known as the "Chicken and Beer City." Park Ki-hwan (朴基焕), Director of the Economic Bureau and representative of the Mayor of Daegu Metropolitan City (大邱广域市) in South Korea, extended an invitation to Qingdao (青岛): He hopes that the two cities will make good use of these cultural symbols to further deepen friendly exchanges.
"Placing connection above isolation, progress above stagnation, and cooperation above competition." Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin, Secretary to the State Government of Lagos (拉各斯) State, Nigeria, said that Lagos (拉各斯) is always ready to cooperate with various cities on green economy ideas, blue economy growth, sustainable culture and tourism development, creative industry development, youth empowerment, and digitalization, making it a continuation of a global dialogue.
Cities are colorful because of exchanges, and the world is enriched by mutual learning. Sister cities are working together with a more open attitude and more pragmatic actions to promote the implementation of the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind and let the tide of cultural exchange and mutual learning continue to surge.
(Liu Yingjie (刘颖婕) participated in the writing)
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 杨 一
The 8th Malaysia International Film Festival, lasting for 9 days, is being held in Kuala Lumpur (吉隆坡). The Chinese film "My Friend Andre" was shortlisted for the main competition unit and premiered at the festival on the 26th, competing with eight other films from other countries for the festival's highest award, the "Golden Globe Award." "More and more Chinese films are appearing in Malaysia, which not only demonstrates the excellent quality of Chinese films to Malaysian audiences, but also builds a bridge for cultural exchanges between Malaysia and China," said Zheng Xiongcheng (郑雄城), chairman of the Malaysian Chinese Film Association, in an interview with this reporter.
The Chinese animated film "Ne Zha (哪吒): Birth of the Demon Child" was released in Malaysia and received widespread attention. Zheng Xiongcheng (郑雄城) believes that Ne Zha (哪吒), as a household name in Chinese mythology, has a certain degree of popularity among the Malaysian Chinese community. "This film provides an excellent opportunity for more Malaysian audiences to understand Chinese culture and promotes mutual understanding between different cultures."
In Zheng Xiongcheng's (郑雄城) view, the film's critical and commercial success stems from its successful cross-cultural narrative. Whether it is "Ne Zha (哪吒): Birth of the Demon Child" or "My Friend Andre," "the justice, courage, and love conveyed in Chinese films transcend cultural and linguistic boundaries. These beautiful qualities are the common pursuit of mankind and resonate widely among Malaysian audiences." Zheng Xiongcheng (郑雄城) said that the content of the films involves topics such as growth, self-awareness, and family emotions. Growth is a subject that everyone will face, so the films can evoke emotional resonance among audiences in different countries around the world.
Zheng Xiongcheng (郑雄城) believes that in recent years, Chinese films have achieved innovation and breakthroughs at the technical level, empowering cultural expression with technology and adding charm to Chinese stories. "Taking 'Ne Zha (哪吒): Birth of the Demon Child' as an example, the top computer graphics technology makes the animated characters lifelike, and the scenes and action sequences are shocking and realistic, bringing audiences an unprecedented sensory experience."
In recent years, film exchanges and cooperation between China and Malaysia have become increasingly close. In June last year, the China-Malaysia co-produced documentary "Our Story" was broadcast in Malaysia, showcasing the friendly history between China and Malaysia and the economic and social vitality of China in the new era from multiple perspectives. In October last year, the Malaysia China Film Festival was held in Kuala Lumpur (吉隆坡). The 2K restored version of "Spring in a Small Town," the 4K restored version of "Red Sorghum," and Chinese films such as "Chang'an (长安)" , "Never Say Never," and "Pegasus 2" met with local audiences. "'The Journey', 'Goodbye Mr. Loser' and other local Malaysian Chinese films are widely recognized; Malaysian director Ke Wenli's (柯汶利) many film and television works have achieved good results in both Malaysia and China." Zheng Xiongcheng (郑雄城) said, "Malaysia and China have a natural connection in culture. In the future, I hope that the two countries will carry out more cooperation, especially in film and television co-production, distribution, and market expansion. I look forward to Malaysia and China working together to create Chinese-language films with international competitiveness."
Return to TopPremier of the State Council Li Qiang (李强) attended the opening ceremony of the 2025 World Artificial Intelligence Conference and the High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance in Shanghai on July 26 and delivered a speech, according to a report on July 26 in Shanghai by our correspondents Chen Shangwen (陈尚文) and Shen Wenmin (沈文敏).
Li Qiang (李强) stated that when President Xi Jinping (习近平) inspected Shanghai in April this year, he emphasized that artificial intelligence technology is accelerating its iteration and is ushering in explosive development; it is necessary to strengthen policy support and talent cultivation, and strive to develop more safe and reliable high-quality products. At present, the global wave of intelligence is surging, and innovation in the field of artificial intelligence is showing a trend of group breakthroughs. Large language models, multi-modal large models, and embodied intelligence are changing with each passing day, promoting the rapid development of artificial intelligence towards more efficient and intelligent directions. The deep integration of artificial intelligence and the real economy is becoming more obvious. It has already begun to empower thousands of industries and enter thousands of households, becoming a new engine for economic growth and permeating all aspects of social life. At the same time, the risks and challenges brought about by artificial intelligence have aroused widespread concern. How to strike a balance between development and security requires further consensus. No matter how technology changes, it should be utilized and controlled by mankind, and develop in a direction that is beneficial and inclusive to mankind. Artificial intelligence should also become an international public good that benefits mankind.
Li Qiang (李强) put forward three suggestions on how to grasp the public goods attributes of artificial intelligence and promote the development and governance of artificial intelligence. First, we should pay more attention to popularization and inclusiveness, and make full use of the existing achievements in the development of artificial intelligence. We must adhere to open sharing and intelligent equality, so that more countries and groups can benefit from it. China's "Artificial Intelligence +" action is being promoted in depth. We are willing to share development experience and technological products to help countries around the world, especially the countries of the Global South, strengthen capacity building, so that the fruits of artificial intelligence development can better benefit the world. Second, we should pay more attention to innovation and cooperation, and strive for more breakthrough achievements in artificial intelligence technology. We must deepen cooperation in basic science and technology research and development, strengthen exchanges between enterprises and talents, and continuously inject new impetus into the development of artificial intelligence. China is willing to jointly carry out technological research with other countries, increase the intensity of open source, and jointly promote the development of artificial intelligence to a higher level. Third, we should pay more attention to common governance to ensure that artificial intelligence will eventually achieve positive results in benefiting mankind. We must adhere to the overall planning of development and security, strengthen coordination and coordination among countries, and promote the early formation of a global artificial intelligence governance framework and rules with broad consensus. China attaches great importance to global artificial intelligence governance, actively participates in promoting multilateral and bilateral cooperation, and is willing to provide the international community with more Chinese solutions and contribute more Chinese wisdom. The Chinese government proposes the establishment of the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization.
United Nations Secretary-General Guterres and others delivered speeches. More than 1,000 domestic and foreign guests and representatives from the artificial intelligence industry, academia, and research fields attended the opening ceremony of the conference.
After the opening ceremony, Li Qiang (李强), together with foreign guests and representatives of international organizations, toured the exhibition hall and interacted with heads of relevant scientific research institutions and enterprises.
The conference issued the *Global AI Governance Action Plan*.
Chen Jining (陈吉宁) and Wu Zhenglong (吴政隆) participated in the above activities.
Return to TopThis newspaper's Shanghai (上海) dispatch on July 26th (Reporter Chen Shangwen (陈尚文)): The Chinese government proposed on the 26th to establish the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization, with preliminary consideration for its headquarters to be located in Shanghai (上海).
The reporter learned that this is an important measure for China to adhere to multilateralism, promote joint consultation, joint construction, and shared global governance, and is also a practical action for China to respond to the call of the Global South, help bridge the digital and intelligent divide, and promote the benevolent and inclusive development of artificial intelligence.
China's proposal to establish the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization aims to strengthen international cooperation in the field of artificial intelligence. China is initially considering locating the organization's headquarters in Shanghai (上海), hoping to leverage China's, especially Shanghai's (上海), first-mover advantage in artificial intelligence, to build international consensus, promote pragmatic cooperation, and truly benefit all mankind with artificial intelligence.
China will uphold the concept of joint consultation, joint construction, and sharing, and jointly explore relevant arrangements with countries willing to join, including respecting the principle of sovereignty, adhering to equal treatment, and supporting countries in carrying out artificial intelligence cooperation in light of their own national conditions. Following the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, supporting the United Nations in playing the main channel role in artificial intelligence governance, and providing useful supplements to the efforts of the United Nations and its related agencies. Taking an open and inclusive attitude, practicing true multilateralism, and further building consensus and promoting cooperation through the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 杨 迅
"Today at noon, there were over 100 people dining. Steam 4 trays of rice, increase the amount of chili fried pork by 15%, and don't need so much boiled fish." In the canteen of the Jinjing Town (金井镇) government in Changsha County (长沙县), Changsha City (长沙市), Hunan Province (湖南省), administrator Chen Lei (陈磊), looking at the dining situation and number of diners reported by the "face recognition dining" system, notified the kitchen to prepare meals as needed.
At 12 noon, the canteen ushered in the peak dining period. Everyone completed identity verification in sequence at the intelligent face recognition terminal at the entrance, and then went to the food cabinet to get their meals. Looking around, dining generally followed the principle of "small amounts, multiple times," taking appropriate portions. After the meal, not only was there basically no food left over from the canteen's preparations, but most diners were also able to achieve a "clean plate."
In the past, there were many instances of taking excessive amounts of food and leaving leftovers. Li Yan (李琰), head of the Party Building Office of Jinjing Town (金井镇), said that the change began with a style "physical examination."
In the "Style and Efficiency Discussion" activity organized by the Jinjing Town (金井镇) Party Committee, many cadres spoke about waste in the canteen. "Style construction cannot remain on paper; the key is action," said Liu Wei (刘威), Deputy Secretary of the Jinjing Town (金井镇) Party Committee and Town Mayor. A refined management focused on "clean plates" and running through the entire dining process quickly unfolded.
In May of this year, Jinjing Town (金井镇) introduced this face recognition system. It can accurately identify the identity of diners and, through big data tracking and analysis, construct a dynamic feedback and intelligent decision-making data loop. The first thing the canteen administrator does every day when coming to work is to check the data analysis report generated by the system and make predictions based on historical trends and daily reservation information.
"The system not only provides real-time statistics on the number of diners that day but also deeply reviews historical data, analyzes the dining preferences of different time periods and different groups of people, frequently selected dishes, remaining situations, etc. This data has become the 'baton' for kitchen meal preparation," said Li Siyun (李斯昀), head of the canteen.
"In the past, meal preparation was like 'opening a blind box,' which easily led to waste. This system is our 'smart brain' for precise meal preparation," said Chen Lei (陈磊). "Based on statistical data, we can make dynamic adjustments during meal preparation and supply. For example, if we find that a certain dish has a high residual rate for several consecutive days, we will significantly reduce its supply in the next meal; conversely, popular dishes will be supplied in increased quantities."
"Today, stir-fried seasonal vegetables are popular, and the serving plate is almost empty, so I'm hurrying to add another serving," said Chen Lei (陈磊). In the canteen, the kitchen can even "cook and watch," flexibly adjusting the subsequent dishes and portions based on the real-time serving speed and data analysis predictions at the front end, maximizing the achievement of "people leave, dishes are cleared."
Changsha County (长沙县) thoroughly implements the "Regulations on Practicing Economy and Opposing Waste by Party and Government Organs" (《党政机关厉行节约反对浪费条例》), integrating the implementation of the requirement to take the lead in living frugally into daily life. Some local government canteens have introduced this system. The effect of technology empowerment is significant. After the face recognition system was connected, the overall amount of kitchen waste in the Jinjing Town (金井镇) government canteen decreased by nearly 40%.
Taking small spoonfuls, adding rice as needed, and taking pride in "clean plates," Li Yan (李琰) exclaimed: "In the past, everyone always wanted to eat more and try everything, but now everyone's concept has changed. Eating well, eating enough, and not wasting is the real 'decency.'"
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 鲜 敢 吕九海 安博文
"Successfully rescued!" At around 5 PM on July 14th, Zhang Conglin (张聪林), a Fujian Quanzhou (福建泉州) doctor aiding Tibet, had been in Luolong County (洛隆县), Changdu (昌都), Tibet (西藏) for less than 24 hours and was still struggling with altitude sickness when he performed an emergency treatment: a local patient with severe injuries from being crushed was in pre-shock. After a tense rescue, the patient was out of danger.
In the past, limited by natural conditions and other factors, Luolong County (洛隆县) had limited capacity to treat severe trauma cases. Many critically ill patients were often quickly transferred from Luolong County People's Hospital (洛隆县人民医院) to Changdu (昌都), or even further to Chengdu (成都), Sichuan (四川).
"Now, not only can minor illnesses be treated within the county, but major surgeries can also be performed here," said Zezhen (泽珍), the vice president of Luolong County People's Hospital (洛隆县人民医院) and the most senior doctor in the hospital, who has witnessed the tremendous changes in local medical service capabilities.
Joint pain, movement disorders... these are the characteristics of Kashin-Beck disease. For many years, this endemic disease has plagued many people in Luolong County (洛隆县).
"My hands and feet are numb and very painful, which greatly affects my life." Zaga (扎嘎), who has been suffering from the disease for nearly 10 years, chose to undergo surgery locally on July 1st. The surgeons were Zhan Zhiqiang (詹志强), a doctor aiding Tibet, and his "local apprentice" Doji Tsering (多吉次仁).
"Thanks to the Party's good policies, my treatment costs are covered by medical insurance and special funds, so I don't have to pay a penny," said Zaga (扎嘎). Under normal circumstances, patients can be discharged 14 days after surgery if there are no signs of infection, and only need to go to the township hospital daily for dressing changes and regular assessment of wound recovery.
Like Zaga (扎嘎), more and more patients are choosing "I'll stay here for treatment." The success of 725 Kashin-Beck disease surgeries at Luolong County People's Hospital (洛隆县人民医院) in the past three years has increased patients' trust in local medical standards. This year, the Luolong County People's Hospital (洛隆县人民医院) Kashin-Beck Disease Treatment Center was officially established, allowing patients to receive full treatment from examination to surgery to post-operative rehabilitation without leaving the county.
In July of this year, after completing the "group-based" medical aid to Tibet mission from Fujian Province (福建省), Gao Yipeng (高艺鹏), the president of Luolong County People's Hospital (洛隆县人民医院), chose to continue working, "Whether it is for the construction of the medical team's echelon or the need for the implementation and effectiveness of various technologies, I cannot leave."
Endoscopic submucosal dissection, thrombolysis for myocardial infarction... Medical experts aiding Tibet have brought a series of mature medical technologies to Luolong (洛隆) and formed partnerships with local medical backbones, allowing the people of Luolong (洛隆) to move from "having access to medical treatment" to "having access to good doctors."
In their interactions, the experts aiding Tibet often hear local doctors say: "Teacher, when you are here, we are not afraid of encountering any patients. When you are not here, we lose our confidence."
How can local doctors be made more confident and truly forge a medical team that cannot be taken away? At the end of June this year, Zhan Zhiqiang (詹志强) took the initiative to "give" the opportunity to be the chief surgeon to Doji Tsering (多吉次仁) and became his assistant. This is not only the "ultimate test" for local medical talents, but also to build their confidence. "When I first started as the chief surgeon, I was nervous every minute and every second of the two-hour surgery. Through continuous practice, my operation has become more skilled," said Doji Tsering (多吉次仁).
Following Gao Yipeng (高艺鹏), the reporter visited the treatment room, dressing change room, ward area, and various departments of Luolong County People's Hospital (洛隆县人民医院). Treatment tables, medicine cabinets, and instrument shelves were neatly arranged according to their functions, and standardized marking lines clearly delineated the material storage area, operating area, and other areas. "The treatment operation flow is more scientific, the risk of cross-infection is reduced, and the efficiency of dispensing and treatment is improved, which can better ensure the safety of patient treatment," said Yang Yang (杨阳), the head nurse of the surgical department.
In December 2024, Luolong County People's Hospital (洛隆县人民医院) launched refined management work to create a clean, orderly, efficient, and safe medical work environment, promote the hospital's management level and service quality to a new level, and provide patients with better medical services.
It is understood that since the new Luolong County People's Hospital (洛隆县人民医院) campus was put into use in December 2020, it has introduced advanced diagnostic and treatment equipment such as high-definition laparoscopes, anesthesia machines, and ultrasonic scalpels, and has gradually acquired the ability to cope with a variety of difficult and complex diseases. The orthopedic rehabilitation and integration center and other "fist" departments are deeply trusted by the local people. In Luolong County People's Hospital (洛隆县人民医院), there are 12 doctors aiding Tibet sitting in consultation, and through the remote medical consultation mechanism established with Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University (中山大学孙逸仙纪念医院), Quanzhou First Hospital (泉州市第一医院), and Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital (上海市第六人民医院), patients with difficult and critical illnesses can enjoy more professional medical services without leaving Luolong (洛隆).
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 李龙伊
Under the scorching sun, the "Peace Ark" hospital ship sailed through the South China Sea. On the deck, Li Huiling, director of the Department of Tropical Medicine at the Hainan Hospital (海南医院) of the People's Liberation Army General Hospital (解放军总医院), carried a bulging satchel filled with test tubes and sampling boxes, her "essential equipment" for mobile medical services in the South China Sea.
For more than a decade since joining the army, Li Huiling has dedicated her youth to Hainan (海南), safeguarding the health of officers and soldiers on the island. She spearheaded the establishment of the first clinical tropical medicine discipline in the entire army, and has long been committed to the prevention and treatment of naval battle injuries, heatstroke, and other conditions, guarding the health defense line for both military personnel and civilians.
At the beginning of the discipline's establishment, she successively investigated more than 50 medical institutions. On the basis of constructing a theoretical system for the discipline, she went on ships, visited outposts, walked on islands and reefs, and drilled into dense forests to provide health services to officers and soldiers.
"Serving the soldiers and serving the war are the duties of the people's military doctors." During each mobile medical service, she would leave her contact information so that officers and soldiers could contact her if they needed anything. At the same time, she would seize every opportunity to teach officers and soldiers first aid skills such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation, cultivating more "first responders."
In early July, Li Huiling had just returned from a mobile medical service on the "Peace Ark" hospital ship and was concerned about a reef-守礁 soldier she had treated during the trip, so she rushed back to the hospital as soon as possible.
During the mobile medical service, Li Huiling led nine medical backbones on a hospital ship to provide medical services to islands and reefs. While chatting with this soldier, she keenly noticed that the soldier's speech had an unusual sound. She took out her stethoscope, held her breath, and listened intently to the soldier's breathing, already having a conclusion in her mind: airway obstruction.
"If this type of condition develops to a severe degree, it may endanger life." Li Huiling quickly communicated with the troops and had the soldier return to Hainan Hospital (海南医院) for treatment as soon as possible. Because of the timely treatment, when Li Huiling returned from the mobile medical service, the soldier's condition had gradually improved.
In the drawer of Li Huiling's desk, there are many thank-you letters treasured from officers, soldiers, and the masses. "'A doctor has a benevolent heart; thank you for healing the cracks in my life with warmth,' 'Thank you for giving me a new life'..." The lines of handwriting are sincere and filled with gratitude.
"On the battlefield, every second counts, and medical diagnosis must also be done as quickly as possible. Diagnosing the cause of the disease one minute earlier may save one more comrade." Li Huiling led the team to continuously tackle rapid detection technology and successfully developed a portable diagnostic instrument that can detect pathogens in as little as 15 minutes, winning valuable time for treatment.
When soldier Ma Yu'ao (马玉奥) was admitted to the hospital, his finger was swollen, painful, and oozing pus. The doctor Ma Yu'ao (马玉奥) had consulted before said that his finger infection was very serious, but the cause could not be found, and he should be prepared for amputation. Anxious, Ma Yu'ao (马玉奥) came to Hainan Hospital (海南医院) to seek Li Huiling's help.
In order to accurately find and eradicate the lesion, Li Huiling used a portable diagnostic instrument for rapid assessment, while also using deep broad-spectrum sequencing and traditional methods to find the cause. Ultimately, it was discovered that the infection was caused by a training injury wound. Affected by blood circulation, the degree of infection at the lesion was not as severe as the point of onset, which is why the cause had not been identified.
After identifying the cause, Li Huiling felt much more relieved. She prescribed the right medicine and, through intravenous injection plus oral medication, helped Ma Yu'ao (马玉奥) eliminate the risk of amputation without surgery. When he was discharged from the hospital, Ma Yu'ao (马玉奥) had a bright smile on his face, waved goodbye to Li Huiling, and kept saying "thank you."
"Seeing my comrades recover to health makes me feel that all the efforts I have made are worthwhile," Li Huiling said with emotion.
After more than a decade of hard work, the discipline construction has gotten on the right track. In the department office, there is a handwritten slogan posted by medical staff: "Tropical Medicine Research Institute of Hainan Hospital (海南医院) of the People's Liberation Army General Hospital (解放军总医院), a discipline with warmth." The two words "warmth" are even written in a different font.
"Science is rigorous, but doctors have warmth. We must use warm treatment to guard the line of defense for the life and health of officers, soldiers, and the masses," said Li Huiling.
(Zhang Yanxin (张彦昕) participated in the writing)
Return to TopBy: 本报记者
Walking through the mountains and rivers of Baishan and Songhua, the concerto of industrial synergy and cultural integration is pleasing to the ear, and the vigorous vitality of coordinated development surges between cities.
On February 8 this year, when listening to the work reports of the Jilin Provincial Party Committee and the Jilin Provincial Government, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) emphasized: "We must coordinate regional coordinated development, promote the construction of the Changchun Modern Metropolitan Area, pay attention to synergistic linkage with other provinces in Northeast China, and form a pattern of integrated development."
From the healthy growth of a city, to the coordinated development of a metropolitan area, and then to the comprehensive revitalization of a province or even a region, focusing on improving the city's comprehensive carrying capacity for population and economic and social development, Jilin is accelerating its progress towards building a modern metropolitan area.
Interconnected Transportation: Building an Efficient and Connected Functional Circle
"I went to Jilin City (吉林市) to ski in winter, and this time I'm taking a vacation in Changchun (长春)." After half a year, Wang Yuan, a tourist from Zhejiang Province, came to Jilin Province again, and she was deeply impressed by the convenient access after landing at Longjia Airport (龙嘉机场).
Located between Changchun City and Jilin City, Longjia Airport is busy with passenger transport in summer. Near the airport is Longjia High-speed Railway Station (龙嘉高铁站). The beautiful arc extending from Longjia High-speed Railway Station to the east and west makes the city connection closer: to the west, it only takes more than ten minutes to Changchun Station (长春站), and to the east, it takes about half an hour to reach Jilin City.
The thoroughfare is singing all the way, and the accelerated construction of infrastructure further transforms Jilin Province's location advantages into development advantages.
Two satellite images, focusing on the same area, show the strength of interconnected access. Compared with 5 years ago, the lines between cities are denser under the satellite's overlooking of Jilin Province: the highway connection is closer, and the total mileage of highways open to traffic in Jilin Province has increased from about 4,000 kilometers to more than 5,000 kilometers; the high-speed rail network is more three-dimensional, and the high-speed rail from Changchun to Changbai Mountain (长白山) has been opened, reducing the travel time from 5 hours to about 2 hours.
The multi-directional and multi-modal transport channels to the outside and inside are increasingly improved, and "hard connectivity" injects surging power into logistics exchanges.
With the sound of whistles, the China-Europe train loaded with auto parts departs from Changchun Xinglong Comprehensive Bonded Zone (长春兴隆综合保税区). In 2024, the number of China-Europe trains departing from Changchun International Land Port (长春国际陆港) increased by 40% year-on-year.
The open Jilin has closer synergy with other provinces in Northeast China. "Borrowing ports to go to sea," the Changchun-Dalian (大连) railway-sea intermodal transport has achieved "daily shifts"; the "single bill system" facilitates customs clearance, allowing Jilin goods to "board" ocean-going vessels at their doorstep. "The multi-modal transport system of railway, highway, waterway and air is increasingly improved, developing into 'golden channels' driving economic development," said Hou Yongnan, Secretary of the Party Working Committee of Changchun Xinglong Comprehensive Bonded Zone.
The connection will be closer. The construction of the third phase of the Changchun Metropolitan Area Ring Expressway (长春都市圈环线高速公路) is in full swing, and after completion, it will connect 7 surrounding cities and counties, realizing "1-hour commuting"; the Shenyang-Baishan High-speed Railway (沈白高铁) is accelerating construction and is expected to be completed and open to traffic within the year, which will further smooth the synergistic linkage in Northeast China.
Clustering into Chains: Developing a Synergistic and Prosperous Industrial Circle
In 54 seconds, a new energy vehicle is assembled and successfully rolls off the production line. This is the car-making efficiency of China FAW (中国一汽).
In the general assembly workshop of China FAW Hongqi (红旗) Prosperity Plant, 11 automated production lines operate efficiently and orderly. "Since the plant was built and put into operation in 2021, it has been in a state of full production, with an average of about 1,000 cars leaving here every day," said Zhang Guolong, senior director of general assembly technology at China FAW Engineering Technology Department.
More than 100 kilometers away, in Jilin Shibao Machinery Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (吉林世宝机械制造有限公司) in Siping City (四平市), production is equally hot. In less than two hours, the parts produced by the company are transported to the factory of China FAW.
"The superposition of location advantages and technological innovation has led to the rapid growth of the company, and the cooperation with China FAW has become increasingly close," said Zhou Yu, general manager of the company. At present, more than 1.2 million cars equipped with parts manufactured by the company are running on the road.
The automobile industry is the first pillar industry in Jilin Province. In 2020, Jilin first proposed the concept of "Changchun International Automobile City (长春国际汽车城)", clarifying the construction of an automobile industry metropolitan area with Changchun as the core. In the past 5 years, connecting points into chains and gathering chains into momentum, Changchun has taken the lead, and "supporting clusters" in Siping, Liaoyuan (辽源) and other regions have worked together to promote the automobile industry cluster to a new level. In 2024, the output value of the Changchun automobile industry cluster reached 461.1 billion yuan.
The rail equipment industry is running at "high-speed rail speed"; the optoelectronic information industry is climbing to new heights... Nowadays, based on the unique advantages of the region, many cities in Jilin Province complement each other and develop in groups. The advanced manufacturing industry in Changchun City is linked with the chemical industry in Jilin City, the metallurgy in Liaoyuan City, and the equipment manufacturing in Siping City, and other industries, jointly embarking on a path of reasonable division of labor and optimized development.
People-Oriented: Creating a Livable and Business-Friendly Living Circle
At night, Xinmin Street (新民大街) in Changchun is brightly lit. Wang Rui, a tourist from Jilin City who used to study at a university in Changchun, strolled with her parents, "The demolition of fences and the revealing of greenery have given it a new look. The old street has been 'reborn' and has a stronger cultural flavor."
Cross-city tours are gradually becoming the norm in Jilin Province. Jilin further expands the effectiveness of tourism resources in various places, strengthens cross-city tourism promotion and product development, and promotes consumption to become more active in exchanges.
Regional coordinated development, the ultimate result is shared by the people, and livability and business-friendliness are inevitable requirements.
Cultural and tourism resonance, coordinating the complementary development of tourism resources. In summer, Songhua Lake Resort (松花湖度假区), located in Jilin City, is surrounded by green mountains and colorful flowers, and outdoor activities are wonderful. "The summer of the ski resort is also interesting, and customers from Changchun and other surrounding cities account for more than 70%," said Zhao L菊, general manager of Songhua Lake Resort.
Ecological co-governance, promoting the coordinated development of green resources. The Yitong River (伊通河) is the "mother river" shared by Changchun City and Yitong Manchu Autonomous County (伊通满族自治县) in Siping City. In recent years, the upper and lower reaches have been jointly managed and co-governed, and multiple measures such as water source protection, silt removal and dredging, ecological restoration, and landscape construction have been taken. The Yitong River has become an "ecological green corridor" connecting cities, and the people in the upper and lower reaches share the gift of a clear river.
Service sharing, promoting the integrated development of basic public services. In the first half of this year, Changchun City and Jilin City joined hands to innovatively launch the new model of "Changji Tongban (长吉通办)" government services, and 79 items were included in the first batch of co-handling lists, focusing on solving the problem of "running to multiple places, running to multiple departments, and running multiple times" for enterprises and the masses in different places.
Baishan and Songhua rivers open a new journey. Jilin Province coordinates regional coordinated development, simultaneously promotes "hard connectivity" and "soft construction," and a modern metropolitan area with greater competitiveness, more innovation, and greater radiation is accelerating its construction, striving to write a new chapter in the comprehensive revitalization of Northeast China.
(Reporters Zheng Zhiwen, Ge Mengchao, Men Jiewei, Chang Qin from this newspaper)
Return to TopThis newspaper Chengdu (成都) July 26th (Reporter Song Haoxin (宋豪新)) On July 26th, in Guanghan (广汉) City, Sichuan (四川) Province, the 12th World Games flame collection and torch relay launch ceremony was held at the sacrificial platform square of the Sanxingdui Museum (三星堆博物馆). This is the first torch relay in the history of the World Games.
At 8:30, eight flag bearers escorted the flag of the People's Republic of China (中华人民共和国国旗) and the flag of the International World Games Association into the venue. The audience stood in solemn silence and sang the national anthem.
The 12th World Games will be held in Chengdu (成都) from August 7th to 17th. The World Games flame is collected using the "photovoltaic-electricity-fire" method. Xiao Xianjin (肖先进), representing the Sanxingdui Museum (三星堆博物馆), and Zhu Zhangyi (朱章义), representing the Jinsha Site Museum (金沙遗址博物馆), jointly collected the flame, and three flame guards introduced the flame into the flame lamp.
After the flame cauldron and torch were lit, at about 8:55, the torch relay officially began. Amidst warm applause from the audience, the first torchbearer, Olympic champion and rhythmic gymnast Huang Zhangjiayang (黄张嘉洋), held the torch high and started the World Games torch relay at the Sanxingdui Museum (三星堆博物馆). Afterwards, the torch was relayed in segments at the Jinsha Site Museum (金沙遗址博物馆), the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding (成都大熊猫繁育研究基地), the Wuhou Temple (武侯祠), the Meishan (眉山) Three Su Ancestral Hall (三苏祠), and the Xinglong Lake Wetland Park (兴隆湖湿地公园) in Tianfu New Area (天府新区), with a total of 120 torchbearers participating.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 丁怡婷 王云杉
Hulunbuir (呼伦贝尔), Inner Mongolia, saw hundreds of pure electric unmanned mining trucks "take up their posts" in the Huaneng Yimin Open-pit Mine (华能伊敏露天矿区). Powered entirely by photovoltaic green electricity, each truck can haul 90 tons of cargo for approximately 60 kilometers on a full charge, accelerating the development of intelligent and low-carbon mining transportation.
In Turpan (吐鲁番), Xinjiang, Huaneng's 1 million-kilowatt wind power project was fully connected to the grid. As a million-kilowatt-level onshore high-wind-resistance wind power project, all units innovatively adopt "wind-resistant hub" technology, withstanding extreme wind speeds of up to 57 meters per second, effectively coping with the extreme high-wind environment of the "Gobi Desert" area.
As the world's second-largest power generation group in terms of installed capacity and the largest domestic provider of heating for people's livelihoods, China Huaneng (中国华能) firmly grasps the primary task of high-quality development, leads industrial upgrading with technological innovation, actively serves major national strategies, and helps ensure energy security.
Focusing on National Needs
Overcoming Core Technologies
Can air also transform into a "super charging treasure"? At the foot of Maoshan (茅山), the second phase of the Huaneng Jintan Salt Cave Compressed Air Energy Storage Power Generation Project (华能金坛盐穴压缩空气储能发电二期项目) is accelerating construction, compressing air during low electricity consumption periods and storing it underground; releasing air during peak electricity consumption periods to generate electricity and supply it to the grid, balancing supply and demand.
China's installed capacity of new energy sources such as wind power and photovoltaics is continuously increasing, but they are greatly affected by weather and time periods, posing challenges to the safety and stability of the power grid, requiring energy storage to act as a "green electricity housekeeper." "After the compressed air energy storage power station is built, it can store 2.8 million kilowatt-hours of electricity per charge, which can meet the charging needs of approximately 100,000 new energy vehicles," said Chen Hui (陈辉), head of the Engineering and Quality Department of Huaneng Jiangsu Company (华能江苏公司). Compared to traditional oil-based thermal storage solutions, this project innovatively uses water as a new type of thermal storage medium, which can effectively improve the stability and safety of the thermal storage system.
On the coast of the Yellow Sea (黄海), 30 kilometers offshore, the wave-resistant floating photovoltaic platform – "Huanghai No. 1 (黄海一号)" – has "gained a firm foothold" in waters over 30 meters deep. Six anchor chains, each approximately 265 meters long and weighing 55 tons, firmly lock the platform to the seabed, withstanding waves of 10 meters in height and ensuring power generation efficiency. "We are conducting demonstration research on floating offshore photovoltaics. In the future, the platform can be spliced and combined to explore integrated development with offshore wind power and marine ranching," said Liu Xin (刘鑫), chief design engineer of the Huaneng "Huanghai No. 1 (华能“黄海一号”)" floating offshore photovoltaic platform.
In Changping (昌平), Beijing, staff at the Huaneng Clean Energy Technology Research Institute (华能清洁能源技术研究院) are busy developing efficient carbon capture solutions. In 2024, Huaneng's independently developed "A Carbon Dioxide Capture Solution Enhanced Regeneration System and Method" won the Gold Medal at the Geneva International Invention Exhibition. This method is conducive to improving the regeneration degree of the capture solution, reducing energy consumption per unit of carbon dioxide, and reducing the capture cost of carbon dioxide by more than 40%.
Construction of a national key laboratory for efficient and flexible coal power and carbon capture utilization and storage, a national engineering research center for clean and low-carbon thermal power generation system integration and operation and maintenance; five innovation platforms, including an offshore wind power engineering and operation technology research and development center and a perovskite battery research and development center, were selected for the National Energy Administration's "14th Five-Year Plan" "Horse Racing to Be the First" innovation platform...
China Huaneng (中国华能) insists on placing technological innovation in a more prominent position, focusing on national needs and industry trends, strengthening synergy between industry, academia, and research, and creating an "originating place" for original technologies. By the end of 2024, the company's R&D investment intensity reached 3.21%, and the number of patents owned exceeded 32,000.
Adhering to Steady Progress
Promoting Industrial Upgrading
Implementing the innovation-driven development strategy requires not only promoting the vigorous development of strategic emerging industries but also focusing on comprehensively transforming and upgrading traditional industries with new technologies and new business forms.
"For China Huaneng (中国华能), strategic emerging industries are the direction leading future development, and traditional industries are the foundation on which we depend for survival. We must adhere to steady progress, promote stability through progress, and establish before breaking," said Wen Shugang (温枢刚), Party Group Secretary and Chairman of China Huaneng Group Co., Ltd. (中国华能集团有限公司).
——Focusing on the upgrading of traditional industries, implementing large-scale equipment renewal actions.
Clean and efficient coal power. In April of this year, the 650-degree Celsius million-kilowatt-level efficient ultra-supercritical coal-fired demonstration unit – the Huaneng Yuhuan Phase IV Expansion Project (华能玉环四期扩建项目) – was approved. In this unit, the main and reheat steam temperatures reached 650 degrees Celsius for the first time, improving power generation efficiency and significantly reducing coal consumption. "Previously, due to the limitations of high-temperature alloy materials, the steam temperature of conventional thermal power units could only reach a maximum of about 620 degrees Celsius. Huaneng (华能) led the research and development of high-temperature materials, breaking through this key problem," said Chen Feng (陈锋), Deputy General Manager of Huaneng Zhejiang Branch (华能浙江分公司). Compared with conventional units of the same level, this unit can reduce standard coal consumption by more than 190,000 tons and reduce carbon emissions by more than 540,000 tons per year.
Wind turbine capacity expansion and upgrading. On May 23, the "large-for-small" capacity expansion and renovation project of Huaneng Leting Wind Farm (华能乐亭风电场) was connected to the grid for power generation. "The original 30-plus wind turbines have been in operation for more than 15 years, with a single unit capacity of only 1.5 megawatts, which limits the full utilization of local wind resources," said Tian Liang (田亮), project manager. They reinstalled 20 6.25-megawatt units, and the wind farm's annual power generation is expected to increase by 267%.
China Huaneng (中国华能) is deeply implementing large-scale equipment renewal actions, promoting the "large-for-small" replacement of existing wind power and the "three reforms linkage" of energy-saving and carbon-reducing renovation, flexibility renovation, and heating renovation of coal-fired power units; promoting new business forms such as molten salt thermal storage to respond to the needs of grid peak regulation, rapid frequency regulation, and industrial steam supply, and helping the construction of new power systems. At the same time, it is implementing the construction of Digital Huaneng (数智华能), promoting the deep integration of various industries and digital intelligence technologies. In the control center of the Huaneng New Energy Intelligent Operation and Maintenance Platform (华能新能源智慧运维平台), through intelligent early warning, indicator analysis, etc., the availability of the company's wind power and photovoltaic power stations exceeds 98%, and the failure rate of wind turbine units is reduced by about 40%.
——Focusing on cultivating and strengthening strategic emerging industries, new breakthroughs have been made in low-carbon transformation.
On the edge of the Mu Us Desert (毛乌素沙地), the Huaneng Longdong Energy Base (华能陇东能源基地), a multi-energy complementary energy base with a capacity of ten million kilowatts, is sprinting towards full completion and commissioning. "The project is developed in accordance with the 'integration of wind, solar, thermal, storage, and transmission' to improve the reliability and flexibility of project operation. Among them, the planned installed capacity of new energy is 6 million kilowatts. After all are completed, the annual clean power generation will exceed 14 billion kilowatt-hours, which will be sent to Shandong (山东) through ultra-high-voltage lines," said Meng Huiliang (孟慧梁), infrastructure manager of the new energy project of Huaneng Longdong Energy Base (华能陇东能源基地).
In the southwest direction, several hydrogen energy long-tube trailers are waiting to be filled at the Huaneng Sichuan Pengzhou Hydrogen Production Demonstration Station (华能四川彭州制氢示范站). This is the first large-scale hydropower electrolysis hydrogen production project in Sichuan (四川) to be put into commercial operation, with a designed annual hydrogen production of 1,860 tons, which can meet the hydrogen demand of 500 hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 16,700 tons per year compared with natural gas hydrogen production.
Building an integrated wind-solar-hydro-storage ecological protection base in the Lancang River (澜沧江) Basin, and the development pattern of the three major nuclear power bases planned for construction in Shidaowan (石岛湾), Shandong, Changjiang (昌江), Hainan, and Xiapu (霞浦), Fujian, has been fully formed... China Huaneng (中国华能) insists on developing strategic emerging industries focusing on new energy, doing a good job in the demonstration application of new technologies such as molten salt thermal storage, compressed air energy storage, and green electricity hydrogen production, and promoting green and low-carbon transformation to run out of "acceleration." As of now, Huaneng's installed capacity of low-carbon and clean energy accounts for 53.7%, and the installed capacity of new energy has exceeded 100 million kilowatts.
Strengthening Energy Supply
Meeting Energy Needs
In the hundred-meter mine shaft of Inner Mongolia Huaneng Zha Coal Company (内蒙古华能扎煤公司), the sharp cutting teeth on the coal mining machine roll forward, and one cut can "cut" more than 2,500 tons of coal. At the loading and unloading site, once the coal chute is opened, a 60-ton train car is filled in 55 seconds, ensuring the supply of coal for transportation to other regions during the peak summer season.
At the Anbei Wind Farm (安北风电场) of Huaneng Gansu New Energy Company (华能甘肃新能源公司), staff compare and analyze wind turbine temperature data and conduct inspections of abnormal units. "We conduct advance research and judgment on seasonal defects of equipment, carry out timely maintenance of the cooling system, control the frequency of equipment over-temperature faults, and improve power generation efficiency," said Xie Xinhua (解新华), station manager of Anbei Wind Farm (安北风电场).
Faced with strong electricity demand and tests such as extreme weather and earthquake disasters, China Huaneng (中国华能) firmly holds the bottom line of ensuring people's livelihoods, ensuring power generation, and ensuring heating supply. In 2024, China Huaneng's (中国华能) power generation exceeded 850 billion kilowatt-hours; the heating supply exceeded 500 million gigajoules, with a heating area of 1.06 billion square meters; and coal production was 110 million tons, breaking 100 million tons for three consecutive years. Power generation, heating supply, and coal production all hit record highs.
"China Huaneng (中国华能) will adhere to ensuring national energy security as its primary responsibility, accelerate green and low-carbon transformation as its development direction, adhere to the simultaneous advancement of traditional industrial transformation and upgrading and the cultivation and strengthening of emerging and future industries, promote the new energy security strategy to go deeper and more solid at a higher starting point, and take the lead and set an example in promoting high-level scientific and technological self-reliance, building a modern industrial system, and developing new quality productive forces," said Wen Shugang (温枢刚).
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 李卓尔
Books are the carriers of civilization, and reading is the continuation of cultural heritage.
Since the new era, under the personal care and advocacy of General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平), nationwide reading has become a prevailing trend. The Chinese civilization, which has never been interrupted for thousands of years, has been rejuvenated in the new era.
From July 25th to 28th, the 33rd National Book Fair was held in Chongqing (重庆), with more than 1 million kinds of publications exhibited both online and offline, and a strong fragrance of books filled the mountain city.
The fragrance of books can lead to a distant future. The fragrance of books has never been just the ink rhyme between the pages, but also the spiritual breath and civilization echo of a nation. How can this heart-warming fragrance of books be spread to every corner? Behind the word "nationwide," what kind of era proposition does it carry?
Why should reading be elevated from personal interest to a national development strategy?
During this year's National People's Congress (全国两会), General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) spoke of his expectations, from the scholarly families of the past to the current advocacy for building scholarly campuses and a scholarly society: "The fragrance of books is an atmosphere."
In his congratulatory letter to the first National Reading Conference, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) pointed out, "I hope that the whole society will participate in reading and form a strong atmosphere of loving to read, reading good books, and being good at reading."
The "14th Five-Year Plan" (十四五规划) outlines the need to "deeply promote nationwide reading and build a 'Scholarly China'"; the report of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (党的二十大) proposes to "deepen nationwide reading activities."
Why is reading so important?
From Confucius's (孔子) **韦编三绝** (wéi biān sān jué - "wear through the leather cords three times," to study diligently) to the prosperity of academies in the Song Dynasty (宋代), and then to the Ming Dynasty (明代) book collectors' saying "Good books in the world should be shared by all scholars in the world"... Looking back at history, the Chinese nation's "reading gene" has never been broken. However, with the rapid pace of economic development, consumerism and fragmented information continue to encroach on the space for in-depth reading. Reading has begun to rise from a personal hobby to a public issue of great concern.
Reading is related to the improvement of national innovation capabilities. At present, China's demographic dividend is still continuing. How can the advantage of population size be continuously transformed into a quality advantage? Reading is an important way. The "National Innovation Index Report 2024" shows that China's comprehensive ranking of innovation capabilities ranks tenth in the world. The United States, Switzerland, Japan (日本), and other countries with high rankings also have per capita paper book reading volumes among the highest in the world. "Knowledge is power" and "Knowledge changes destiny" are behind the future of a country.
Reading is related to the improvement of people's civilization and literacy. Civilization is a significant symbol of a modern country. A nation that loves reading often has higher cultural literacy, stronger moral concepts, and broader thinking horizons. From 2012 to 2024, the comprehensive reading rate of adult citizens in China increased from 76.3% to 82.1%. The steadily increasing reading rate has laid a more solid foundation for improving national quality.
Reading is related to the work style and capacity building of leading cadres. Leading cadres should read more, draw wisdom from classic works, learn from historical classics, and increase knowledge, wisdom, and skills through reading and learning. Cultural prosperity, national strength, and national rejuvenation are inseparable from the cultural accumulation and spiritual strength brought about by reading.
Therefore, the country attaches great importance to nationwide reading work.
This year's National People's Congress (全国两会) saw "nationwide reading" written into the "Government Work Report" for the twelfth consecutive year. In May, the "Formulation of Regulations on the Promotion of Nationwide Reading" was included in the "State Council's 2025 Legislative Work Plan" (《国务院2025年度立法工作计划》). Since the new era, laws and regulations such as the Public Cultural Service Guarantee Law and the Public Library Law have been successively promulgated, and more than 20 provinces (autonomous regions, and municipalities) have successively formulated local regulations such as decisions to promote nationwide reading, forming a "national legislation + local supporting" system network. Reading is being given a more grand meaning by the times and is becoming an important pillar of national development strategy.
"Research shows that nationwide reading policies effectively stimulate adult residents who originally did not have the habit of reading to come into contact with books and start a reading journey through measures such as improving facilities, creating an atmosphere, and carrying out activities," said Li Wu (李武), a professor at the School of Media and Communication, Shanghai Jiao Tong University (上海交通大学).
Driven by policies, various reading activities are blooming like繁花. From the National Reading Conference to the Book Fair and the Beijing International Book Fair (图博会), from reading months and reading festivals in various places to reading competition activities and reading lecture activities, hundreds of millions of people participate in various reading activities every year... The results of the 22nd National Reading Survey show that in 2024, the participation of adult citizens in China in nationwide reading brand activities is nearly 70%, which effectively promotes residents' reading.
When reading becomes a habit for most people, what kind of changes will it bring to the whole society?
The Hanfenlou Bookstore (涵芬楼书店) of the Commercial Press (商务印书馆), located on Wangfujing Street (王府井大街) in Beijing (北京), hangs two pairs of couplets, one of which reads "For hundreds of years, the old family has only accumulated virtue, and the first good thing is still reading," and the other reads "Contains great wisdom within the universe, and shares fragrance with our country." Cultivating the fragrance of books is to cultivate a person's morality, a nation's character, and the temperament of an era.
General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) pointed out that the Chinese nation has advocated reading since ancient times, emphasizing **格物致知** (gé wù zhì zhī - "investigate things to attain knowledge," thorough study of things is the basis of genuine knowledge) and **诚意正心** (chéng yì zhèng xīn - "sincere intentions and rectify the heart," to be sincere in one's thoughts and cultivate one's moral character), inheriting the continuous spirit of the Chinese nation and shaping the confident and self-reliant character of the Chinese people.
Not long ago, the fifth session of the fourth season of the "Peking University Red Building Reading Club" (《北大红楼读书会》) began, and Li Guorong (李国荣), the former deputy director of the First Historical Archives of China (中国第一历史档案馆), told the legendary story behind the secret preservation of the early archives of the Communist Party of China. Since April 2022, the Peking University Red Building Reading Club has made full use of red resources to lead readers to re-read red publications such as "New Youth" (《新青年》) and "Weekly Review" (《每周评论》) in the Peking University Red Building (北大红楼), and invited authoritative experts in various fields to conduct a new era interpretation of red classics from a new perspective.
Wang Jun (王俊), a doctoral student at the School of Marxism, Peking University (北京大学), was deeply moved: "We young people must inherit these spirits and let the fire of faith never be extinguished."
Reading is an important way to enhance the people's spiritual strength and build the spiritual edifice of the nation.
"'My and the Temple of Earth' (《我与地坛》) cured my mental exhaustion," "Every sentence is written into my heart"... In recent years, a large number of young people have re-read Su Shi (苏轼), Lu Xun (鲁迅), Shi Tiesheng (史铁生), and others. As the pace of life accelerates and competitive pressure increases, reading provides a spiritual buffer. Shi Tiesheng (史铁生) wrote: "The meaning of life lies in your ability to create the beauty and splendor of this process, and the value of life lies in your ability to calmly and excitedly appreciate the beauty and magnificence of this process." A reader shared his feelings on social platforms: "I read a kind of open-mindedness that transcends life after a great disaster, and I also want to give it a try."
From a broader perspective, reading is not only a ladder for personal growth, but also provides spiritual impetus for urban development and regional revitalization.
On the subway on weekdays, the screens of mobile phones are lit with various electronic reading materials; during lunch breaks, white-collar workers walk into audiobook bars to scan codes and listen to books; on weekends, the aroma of coffee in the book bars flies with the turning of pages, and famous works reading sessions are held in the activity area... This kind of scene is the daily life of Shenzhen (深圳) people.
In 2024, the annual reading volume of adult residents in Shenzhen (深圳) reached 22 books, and the number of library technology books borrowed continued to rise. "Through the promotion of nationwide reading, the cultural level and innovation ability of Shenzhen (深圳) citizens have been comprehensively improved, and the effectiveness of urban reading and learning directly affects urban construction, which is fully reflected in the rapid development of the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone (深圳经济特区) over the past 40 years," said Wang Jingsheng (王京生), the chief consultant of the Shenzhen Reading Month Organizing Committee (深圳读书月组委会).
A society with a strong reading atmosphere often has more rational public discussions, a more inclusive cultural mentality, and more sustainable innovation capabilities. When reading becomes a social consensus, it can be transformed into "social soft power."
In the Sanzhu Village (三朱村) Farmhouse Bookstore (农家书屋) in Changjiang Road Street (长江路街道), Huaiyin District (淮阴区), Huai'an (淮安), Jiangsu (江苏), the bookstore slowly becomes lively every evening, and activities such as "Red Storytelling Sessions" and "Xiangfeng Civilization Three-and-a-Half Rhymes" performances have become a paradise for the elderly. Everyone adapts and performs literary and artistic programs based on the stories they read in the books, which often win a full house of applause. Zhang Jianrui (张建瑞), the secretary of the Sanzhu Village (三朱村) Party General Branch, said with a smile: "The bookstore has radiated and driven the development of 24 specialized planting households in the surrounding area, and the success rate of mediating family conflicts has increased to more than 90%."
How far are we from achieving true nationwide reading?
At dawn, Hursi (胡尔西), the curator of the Hoboksar Mongol Autonomous County Library (和布克赛尔蒙古自治县图书馆) in Tacheng Prefecture (塔城地区), Xinjiang (新疆), and his colleagues have moved four boxes of books onto horseback. They are going to ride horses to deliver the books to the herders who are busy in the summer pasture.
Tacheng Prefecture (塔城地区) has a vast area, and the herders live relatively scattered, making it difficult to conveniently enjoy basic cultural and living resources. In order to open up the "last mile" of nationwide reading, in 2024, the Tacheng Prefecture Library (塔城地区图书馆) launched the "Horseback Library" project, using the strength of libraries in various counties and cities to deliver books to herders based on actual needs.
At present, China has more than 580,000 farmhouse bookstores, 177,000 employee bookstores, more than 100,000 physical bookstores, and more than 3,000 public libraries. New spaces such as urban study rooms, community bookstores, and shared bookshelves are constantly emerging, making reading more convenient for all people.
We are moving forward in big strides, but there is still a long way to go.
In 2024, the book reading rate of adult citizens in China was 59.9%, the per capita paper book reading volume of adult citizens was 4.79 books, and only 30% of adult citizens expressed satisfaction with their overall reading situation.
"In the digital age, the pace of society is fast, and it is not easy to calm down and patiently sit down and read a book." During this year's National People's Congress (全国两会), General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) pointed out, "Digital reading should be combined with traditional reading to preserve our core and literacy."
Digital reading is reshaping the reading habits of adult citizens in China, with nearly 80% of people reading through mobile phones. "Fragmentation" is unavoidable, but what remains unchanged is people's pursuit of high-quality cultural content.
Every night at 8 o'clock, Zou Zetao (邹赜韬), a doctoral student in the Department of History at Shanghai University (上海大学), updates the "Tianyi Night Reading" (天一夜读) video account on time. The video is only one or two minutes long, but the content is carefully selected. From cultural celebrities, professors and scholars, to master craftsmen and express delivery brothers, anyone can become a reading leader. What impressed Zou Zetao (邹赜韬) the most was the "express delivery brother" Li Yang (李洋), who shared the strong state of life of the elderly and old cows in "To Live" (《活着》) when they entered their twilight years. "That simple voice carried the fatigue after running around the streets and alleys all day, and there was a sense of picture in an instant."
"In one or two minutes, the most touching part of a good book is presented, which is to read the book 'thinly'. After being aroused by reading interest, many people go to read the whole book carefully, and go to a deeper reading world, which makes the book read 'thickly' again!" Zou Zetao (邹赜韬) said.
To achieve nationwide reading, no one can be left behind. "In practice, different groups of people face different reading barriers, such as minors lacking autonomy, the elderly facing digital difficulties, and visually impaired groups facing literacy problems," Li Wu (李武) said. Therefore, we must focus more on "precise support."
The iteration of technology has driven the prevalence of new reading methods, while also releasing more fairness and convenience in reading.
In Shenyang (沈阳), Liaoning (辽宁), in the Chinese class of Hunnan No. 9 Middle School (浑南九中), students use AI software to "dialogue" with the protagonists of famous works to deepen their understanding of the text; the China Braille Publishing House (中国盲文出版社) has developed a braille smart audiobook player, and visually impaired people can obtain online reading resources through voice interaction; Yiqi Town (奕棋镇) in Huangshan (黄山), Anhui (安徽) has created an "audio library", with more than 2,000 hours of audio covering literature, health, and other themes that the elderly like, which can be scanned and listened to for free, improving the reading experience of elderly readers.
Technology empowers reading and brings happiness to more people. In the future, every reader will be able to feel the charm of reading from visual, auditory, tactile, and even more dimensions.
Standing at the dimension of civilization inheritance and looking back, from the inscriptions on oracle bones to the ink fragrance of movable type printing, from the elegance of thread-bound books to the convenience of e-books, the carriers of reading are changing, but people's exploration of the spiritual world has never stopped. The profound meaning of nationwide reading lies in allowing each individual to meet a better version of themselves in words, and allowing the entire nation to accumulate the power to move forward in reading.
Return to TopBy: 王 珏
In Tanghui Subdistrict, Jiaxing Economic and Technological Development Zone, Zhejiang (浙江嘉兴经开区塘汇街道), cultural special commissioner Jiang Liping (蒋莉萍) conducts activities such as intangible cultural heritage paper-cutting and rubbing through exchange seminars and field visits. She is one of the cultural special commissioners in Zhejiang (浙江). In Zhejiang (浙江), professional talents from universities, media, and art institutions serve as cultural special commissioners, and have now held more than 10,000 cultural events and formed thousands of village-level cultural teams. In the vast countryside, a practice of nourishing the countryside with culture and empowering rural revitalization is flourishing.
In 2022, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism (文化和旅游部) and other departments issued the "Opinions on Promoting Cultural Industry to Empower Rural Revitalization" (《关于推动文化产业赋能乡村振兴的意见》), pointing out that the cultural industry should empower rural economic and social development, and for the first time proposed exploring the implementation of a cultural industry special commissioner system. Various regions have actively promoted the implementation of the cultural special commissioner system. Cultural special commissioners conduct in-depth research to understand the cultural heritage of the countryside, determine key areas for assistance, enhance the humanistic value of the countryside, enhance the aesthetic charm of the countryside, and enrich people's spiritual and cultural lives.
Combining local aesthetic needs and lifestyles, cultural special commissioners also delve into the connotation of outstanding traditional Chinese culture, realize the organic integration of tradition and modernity, and explore the path of cultural innovation. In Dongyue Village (东岳村), Guangshan County, Xinyang (信阳光山县), Henan (河南), cultural special commissioners have revitalized intangible cultural heritage and the center's weekend traffic has exceeded 10,000 people by designing mascots and creating interactive experience spaces. The "Yue Opera Cultural Special Commissioner" of Shengzhou (嵊州市), Zhejiang (浙江), integrates contemporary themes such as changing customs, anti-fraud publicity, and civilized travel into traditional Yue Opera, singing the new trend of civilization into the hearts of the people. These successful cases show that cultural special commissioners can flexibly innovate according to the characteristics of rural cultural resources and local social needs, so that the genes of outstanding traditional Chinese culture can be effectively "expressed" and "grown" in the contemporary social body, so as to play a greater role in serving the people and nourishing the mind.
Industrial revitalization is an important part of the comprehensive revitalization of the countryside, and cultural special commissioners have a lot to offer in this regard. The industrial foundation and development potential of rural areas vary from place to place, and cultural special commissioners need to tailor their measures to inject vitality into rural industries. Cultural village instructors in Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture (湘西土家族苗族自治州), Hunan (湖南) have launched a series of products such as Miao embroidery clothing, with annual sales exceeding 10 million yuan, driving the employment of many left-behind women. Cultural special commissioners in Danzao Town (丹灶镇), Foshan City (佛山市), Guangdong (广东) have revitalized 17 idle spaces to develop online celebrity homestays and trendy camping sites. These characteristic projects promoted by cultural special commissioners either rely on ancient buildings, ancient ruins and other resources to plan characteristic cultural tourism routes and create immersive cultural experience projects; or help craft innovation and brand building to promote products to the market; or combine local folk culture to develop research projects and cultural and creative products, so that rural industries can achieve diversified development under the empowerment of culture, which not only retains the personality of rural culture, but also injects modern industrial genes. When traditional crafts are connected to the modern market, and when historical sites are transformed into cultural hotspots, rural development will gain a continuous source of endogenous power.
It should also be seen that countless cultural treasures are scattered in the countryside, but the types and current situation of cultural resources vary greatly from place to place. Some rural cultural teams are weak and lack professional artistic talents and organizers; some rural areas have rich cultural resources, but are unknown due to lack of promotion; and some rural areas have intangible cultural heritage projects, but face the dilemma of inheritance. To give full play to its role, it is necessary to accurately connect with the resource endowments of the countryside.
Adapting to local conditions and focusing on precise efforts requires the government to strengthen top-level design, respect local characteristics, avoid 一刀切 (yī dāo qiē - "one knife cut," a one-size-fits-all approach) assessment standards, and encourage cultural special commissioners to cultivate deeply and meticulously. Cultural special commissioners also need to continuously broaden their horizons, enhance their cross-domain integration capabilities, market connection capabilities, and continuous innovation capabilities in order to better respond to the needs of the times and the countryside. The government, society, and cultural special commissioners should work together to enable this new era of "cultural light cavalry" to gallop on the vast rural fertile land, and let the sparks of culture converge into bright lights illuminating the countryside.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 施 钰
In Jiantian Lake Park (涧田湖公园), Jin'an District (晋安区), Fuzhou (福州) City, Fujian Province (福建省), winding paths surround the lake, and a gentle breeze ripples across its surface. Not far from the park, the exhibition in the Jiantian Village (涧田村) History Museum is nearing completion. When discussing the history of Jiantian Village, Wang Jian (王坚), the village Party branch secretary, speaks with familiarity and pride, "Jiantian Village was originally called 'Tiantian' (炭田). It is recorded in the earliest existing local chronicle of Fujian, *San Shan Zhi* (《三山志》). This is the birthplace and ancestral home of Lin Xu (林旭), one of the 'Six Gentlemen of the Reform Movement of 1898' (戊戌六君子)."
"If it weren't for Mr. Shijiu (十九先生), we wouldn't have known that Jiantian Village has such a long history," Wang Jian said.
The "Mr. Shijiu" in Wang Jian's words is Wu Hengzhi (吴恒之), the 38-year-old president of the Jin'an District Local Culture Research Association (晋安区地方文化研究会). In 2013, Wu Hengzhi resigned from his job in another province and returned to Fuzhou to engage in the study of local culture. Starting in 2016, he focused on Jin'an District as a key area for investigation and research.
Choosing Jin'an District as a research area was not easy. Wu Hengzhi explained that before the establishment of the current Jin'an District, administrative divisions were frequently adjusted, and archival materials were severely scattered. In addition, the area of Jin'an District is larger than 15 Gulou Districts (鼓楼区) of Fuzhou City, and different regions such as mountainous areas and plains have formed diverse regional cultures, requiring more time and energy to conduct field surveys.
"Young scholars must have the determination to face challenges." More importantly, Wu Hengzhi hopes to break the outside world's "stereotypical impression" of Jin'an District. "In earlier years, everyone felt that Jin'an District was a 'cultural desert' and lacked carriers of historical culture. In fact, Jin'an District retains important historical sites from the Neolithic period to modern times, with a strong historical continuity and integrity."
In 2018, Wu Hengzhi formed a team and began a carpet-like survey of Jin'an District. "We often say that we are 'locals' rather than literati," Wu Hengzhi said. Team members often have to hold machetes and walk through overgrown dirt roads to find ancient sites and historical materials in the countryside. "Ancient chronicles and classics may also have errors, and to draw conclusions, it is necessary to conduct on-the-spot investigations and research."
During the demolition process in Jiantian Village, Wu Hengzhi and his team came here. "At this time, the villagers' nostalgia is the strongest." The elderly villagers actively provided historical materials and clues such as genealogies, old photos, and village chronicles. Wang Jian said that the village is now building a village history museum to let all new and old Jiantian people understand the history and culture of the village and pass on the simple and honest rural customs of Jiantian Village from generation to generation.
In Wu Hengzhi's view, engaging in the study of local culture requires establishing an emotional bond between villagers and cultural relics and history. "Our villagers found a site on a mountain in the village area. Can you check its origin?" "Teacher, what is this? It was found on the construction site." Gradually, Wu Hengzhi and his team members became cultural and historical experts that villagers could contact at any time. Wu Hengzhi said that this historical closeness to life is the villagers' inherent motivation to inherit history.
Local culture permeates people's hearts and empowers the comprehensive revitalization of the countryside with its unique local cultural charm. In Lingtou Village (岭头村), Shoushan Township (寿山乡), Jin'an District, Zheng Yong (郑勇), the owner of a restaurant, is busy greeting guests. "Farmhouse dishes sell well. On holidays, people have to wait for a table!" In 2023, after the renovation and upgrading of Lingtou Market Town (岭头集镇) in Lingtou Village, the local popularity increased, and Zheng Yong opened a restaurant, and the business is booming.
Lingtou Village is an important node on the ancient Xiaobeiling Post Road (小北岭古驿道), which connected Fuzhou to the Central Plains in ancient times. In 2021, the environmental improvement project of Lingtou Market Town began planning. Wu Hengzhi led the team to deeply explore the historical context and origin of the local ancient post road culture, drew and displayed the ancient post road route, and sorted out more than 200 related poems, essays, and couplets into the landscape decoration of trails and parks, allowing culture to empower the rural tourism industry. "With improved infrastructure and a strong cultural flavor, there are more tourists, and many villagers have opened restaurants and homestays," said Xue Qiang (薛强), the propaganda officer of the Shoushan Township Party Committee.
Currently, Wu Hengzhi's team has 56 researchers and has traveled to nearly 600 natural villages in Jin'an District, helping nearly 50 villages connect with red culture and revolutionary figures, and compiling village history into relevant manuscripts. "If every village, every township, and every district and county achieves cultural self-confidence, then a city's cultural self-confidence will be formed," Wu Hengzhi said. "I will work with the villagers to tell the story of Min Du (闽都)."
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 程 龙
The summer in Taipei (台北) is hot and humid, with unpredictable weather.
On July 7th, the 88th anniversary of the Marco Polo Bridge Incident (七七事变), a rally calling for "respecting the historical facts of the War of Resistance against Japan and opposing the pro-Japanese historical perspective" was held in the rain. More than 10 political parties and groups, including the Taiwan Unification Alliance (台湾统一联盟党), gathered outside the Democratic Progressive Party (民进党) headquarters, demanding that the Democratic Progressive Party authorities face up to the historical facts of the joint resistance against Japan by both sides of the Taiwan Strait and the resistance against Japan by the people of Taiwan.
The vicissitudes of history record the suffering of the Chinese nation from the aggression and bullying of imperialist powers. In 1895, the Qing government was forced to sign the Treaty of Shimonoseki (马关条约), ceding Taiwan (台湾) and the Penghu Islands (澎湖列岛) to Japan. When the bad news came, the whole country was filled with righteous indignation. The compatriots in Taiwan, with a glorious tradition of patriotism, with the patriotic passion of "rather die as righteous people than live as subjugated slaves," defied brute force, stepped forward one after another, and rose up to resist, launching a vigorous armed struggle against Japan.
Forgetting history means betrayal, and remembering history is to better create the future.
This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, and also the 80th anniversary of the Retrocession of Taiwan (台湾光复). The Retrocession of Taiwan was a great victory achieved by all the Chinese people, including the compatriots in Taiwan, who stepped forward one after another and fought bloody battles. It irrefutably proves that Taiwan is an inseparable part of Chinese territory, which is worthy of joint commemoration by compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.
Let us brush away the dust of the years, trace the footsteps of the compatriots in Taiwan in their resistance against Japan, look back at the heroic deeds that straightened the unyielding spine of the Chinese nation, and feel the national righteousness and deep patriotic feelings of the compatriots in Taiwan who refused to be subjects of the Japanese and defended Taiwan with their blood.
"Rather everyone die in battle and lose Taiwan, than surrender Taiwan with folded hands."
Changhua (彰化), located in central Taiwan, is a vital transportation hub connecting the north and south. On Bagua Mountain (八卦山) here, the Yihwei Defense of Taiwan Peace Memorial Park (乙未保台和平纪念公园) stands silently in the greenery, with two ancient cannons telling the story of the flames of war 130 years ago.
After the defeat in the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895 (甲午战败), Taiwan was ceded to Japan in the Treaty of Shimonoseki (乙未割台). The people of Taiwan "ran around telling each other, gathering to cry in the city, day and night, the sound of crying reaching the four fields." From the day the Japanese army landed on Taiwan, resistance movements arose one after another. However, due to the disparity in combat power, the volunteer army composed of Taiwan compatriots moved from north to south and defended Bagua Mountain. At the end of August 1895, the Battle of Bagua Mountain (八卦山战役), in which Taiwan compatriots resisted the Japanese invaders, broke out here.
The mottled Yihwei Anti-Japanese Martyrs Monument (八卦山乙未抗日烈士纪念碑) in the park is engraved with the tragic events of that year: "Fighting a desperate battle with the enemy, braving a hail of bullets, stepping forward one after another, fighting fiercely for three days and nights, finally running out of ammunition and reinforcements, about four to five thousand people died heroically..." In this battle, the volunteer army severely damaged the Japanese army.
In 1965, the people of Changhua accidentally unearthed 679 skeletons, which were found to be the martyrs of this battle. The remains of these heroes were later buried in the park for future generations to pay their respects. The monument also expresses respect for the martyrs: "In this battle, our compatriots, based on national righteousness, defended the territory and resisted foreign aggression, relying only on their flesh and blood, and defeated the enemy's well-equipped soldiers, who were three times our number. Their bravery and heroism, though defeated, were glorious, and their mighty and unyielding national spirit is especially worthy of admiration by future generations."
From Changhua all the way south to Jiadong Township (佳冬乡), Pingtung County (屏东县). The bullet marks on the outer wall of the Buyuelou (步月楼) next to the Xiao Family Old House (萧家古厝) still remain, witnessing the loyalty and martyrdom of the Hakka people in the Kaohsiung (高雄) and Pingtung area who defended their homeland with blood.
On October 11, 1895, the 2nd Division of the Japanese Army landed at Fangliao (枋寮), Pingtung, with 18,000 soldiers. Facing the powerful enemy, Xiao Guangming (萧光明), one of the Hakka leaders in Kaohsiung and Pingtung, led the villagers and some soldiers of the "Black Flag Army" (黑旗军) to face the enemy in front of Buyuelou, resisting desperately.
"Brave men and righteous men guarded the city wall, and heroic souls shed blood on Buyuelou." Through this inscription hanging in the Xiao Family Old House, the tragic scene of that year can still be vaguely seen. The volunteer army had crude weapons, and many people even used wooden sticks tied with kitchen knives. Even the women and children in the village joined the battle. The Battle of Buyuelou lasted from 8 a.m. to midnight. The Japanese army suffered 72 casualties, and the volunteer army suffered more than 100 casualties. Xiao Guangming's second son, Xiao Shengxiang (萧升祥), and third son, Xiao Yuexiang (萧月祥), died heroically.
After this battle, Xiao Guangming led his troops all the way back to Huoshaozhuang (火烧庄), Changzhi Township (长治乡), more than 30 kilometers away, where he fought a decisive battle with the Japanese army under the command of another Hakka leader, Qiu Fengyang (邱凤扬). Facing the desperate resistance of the volunteer army, the Japanese army bombarded and set fire to the houses, and the village was almost reduced to scorched earth. The Huoshaozhuang Battle Memorial碑 reads: "The Battle of Huoshaozhuang broke out in November. After several days of bloody battles, the Liudui (六堆) volunteer army and the young men and women of Huoshaozhuang fought against foreign guns with earthen guns, suffering heavy casualties, and the bloodiness was tragic..."
The former Huoshaozhuang battlefield is now an Anti-Japanese War Memorial Park. The memorial碑 and martyrs' shrine stand silently and solemnly. The碑 is inscribed with a eulogy poem by calligrapher Yu Youren (于右任): "The spirit is as strong as the rivers and mountains, and the name competes with the sun and moon for light. The brilliant history of the nation shines on Huoshaozhuang."
These heroic struggles, from south to north, all over the island, are the roar of the people of Taiwan, who used their flesh and blood to express "Rather everyone die in battle and lose Taiwan, than surrender Taiwan with folded hands," which made the invaders have to admire "The people are soldiers, and their number is unknown."
In the years that followed, the flames of uprisings on the island continued, and there emerged volunteer army leaders known as the "Three Fierce Ones," such as Jian Dashi (简大狮) in the north, Ke Tie (柯铁) in the central region, and Lin Shao Mao (林少猫) in the south. The Miaoli Incident (苗栗事件), the Jiaoba年 Incident (噍吧哖事件), and the Wushe Incident (雾社起义) and other struggles stained the history books with blood.
"Only with a country can there be a home, and to love the home, one must first love the country."
In Luzhou District (芦洲区), New Taipei City (新北市), at the end of an alley called "Allies," a three-section, four-in-one red brick ancient house is simple and quiet. The lintel of the house is inscribed with "Longxi Hall (陇西堂)," which reveals the family origin of the owner - this is the former residence of the anti-Japanese general Li Youbang (李友邦).
Outside the courtyard, the relief statue of "烽火侠侣" Li Youbang and his wife Yan Xiufeng (严秀峰) is engraved with the words "复疆" (fù jiāng). "'复' refers to the restoration, and '疆' refers to Taiwan," Li Liqun (李力群), the son of General Li Youbang, who is now 80 years old, said emotionally, "My father's greatest wish in his life of resisting Japan was to return Taiwan to the motherland."
"My father's ancestral home is Tong'an (同安), Fujian (福建), and he was born in Taiwan. He had a strong sense of national identity since he was a child." Walking into the central hall of the ancient house, Li Liqun introduced, "Right next to this long table, my father heard that the Japanese treated the people of Taiwan as second-class citizens, and he was filled with righteous indignation. He and his classmates attacked the Japanese police station, and from then on, he embarked on the road of resisting Japan."
In 1924, Li Youbang went to the Whampoa Military Academy (黄埔军校) on the mainland to study. In 1937, when the all-out War of Resistance against Japan broke out, Li Youbang judged that "to save Taiwan, we must first save the motherland; to devote ourselves to the success of the Taiwan revolution, we must first devote ourselves to the victory of China's War of Resistance." Therefore, he put forward the slogan of "Defending the motherland and recovering Taiwan," calling on Taiwan compatriots from all over the world to join the national liberation and national salvation movement against Japanese militarism.
In 1939, Li Youbang organized the Taiwan compatriots living in the Minzhe (闽浙) area and established the Taiwan Volunteer Corps (台湾义勇队) in Jinhua (金华), Zhejiang (浙江), and formed the Taiwan Youth Corps (台湾少年团), which was active on the front line of the War of Resistance against Japan, engaged in production, intelligence, propaganda, and medical work. The Taiwan Volunteer Corps developed from the initial 42 people to 381 people in 1945, becoming the anti-Japanese group with the largest number of Taiwan compatriots participating in the motherland's War of Resistance against Japan, the widest range of activities, and the greatest influence.
In the arduous and unyielding War of Resistance against Japan, many passionate young people from Taiwan, like Li Youbang, risked their lives, traveled thousands of miles, broke through blockades, and sneaked back to the mainland of the motherland, merging into the raging flames of the all-out War of Resistance against Japan.
In Wufeng (雾峰), Taichung (台中), a group of century-old ancient buildings witnessed the history of generations of the Lin family in Wufeng stepping forward one after another and bravely resisting Japan.
"Lin Chaodong (林朝栋), Lin Zumi (林祖密), Lin Youchun (林幼春), Lin Zhengheng (林正亨), Lin Gang (林冈)... From armed resistance against Japan to non-armed resistance against Japan, from resisting Japan in Taiwan to going to the mainland to resist Japan, during the 50 years of Japanese colonial rule, our family also resisted for a full 50 years." In front of a densely packed genealogy, Lin Guanghui (林光辉), a descendant of the Lin family and the founding president of the Taiwan Anti-Japanese Patriots Relatives Association (台湾抗日志士亲属协进会), said.
In 1913, Lin Zumi, unwilling to suffer the "humiliation of being a Japanese slave," gave up his family property and applied to the Japanese colonial authorities to withdraw from his nationality, becoming the first Taiwan compatriot to restore Chinese nationality after 1911; after the July 7th Incident (卢沟桥事变) broke out in 1937, Lin Zhengheng, the son of Lin Zumi, resolutely abandoned his pen and joined the army, participating in the Battle of Kunlun Pass (昆仑关战役) in Guangxi (广西), and later went to Myanmar (缅甸) with the Chinese Expeditionary Force (中国远征军) to fight; Lin Gang, the daughter of Lin Zumi, rushed to Yan'an (延安) and joined the anti-Japanese torrent...
"My grandfather Lin Zumi often taught his children 'Only with a country can there be a home, and to love the home, one must first love the country.'" Standing in the courtyard of the ancient house of the Lin family in Wufeng, Lin Guanghui said with genuine emotion when talking about his family's ancestors, "The Lin family's patriotism and national feelings were forged by the lives of our ancestors, and we, as descendants, need to continue them."
"This historical truth must not be forgotten, let alone distorted."
During the 50 years of Japanese occupation, the compatriots in Taiwan, together with the compatriots in the mainland of the motherland, unyieldingly and bravely resisted the Japanese invaders. More than 650,000 Taiwan compatriots generously went to their deaths, writing earth-shattering heroic deeds with their lives, and making indelible contributions to safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
However, this history written in blood and tears is facing a severe challenge of being diluted or even distorted in today's Taiwan. In recent years, the Democratic Progressive Party authorities have been advocating a "Taiwan independence" historical perspective, promoting a "de-Sinicization" policy, deliberately distorting history, and even embellishing and beautifying Japanese colonial rule, with the intention of severing the historical connection and spiritual bond between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait.
History cannot be tampered with, and the historical achievements and patriotic and love-for-hometown traditions of compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait in jointly resisting foreign enemies cannot be erased.
At the "Respect the Historical Facts of the War of Resistance against Japan and Oppose the Pro-Japanese Historical Perspective" rally on July 7, Qi Jialin (戚嘉林), honorary chairman of the Taiwan Unification Alliance, painfully stated at the scene: "After the July 7th Incident broke out, the Japanese colonial authorities in Taiwan found in a survey that more than 70 anti-Japanese incidents broke out in Taiwan within a month, and many young people from Taiwan rushed to the mainland of the motherland to participate in the War of Resistance. Today, we commemorate the 88th anniversary of the outbreak of the all-out War of Resistance against Japan to promote the national spirit, oppose 'Taiwan independence' separatism, and strive to achieve national reunification."
Ji Xin (纪欣), publisher of Taiwan's "Observation" magazine, said righteously: "We have come to the Democratic Progressive Party headquarters today to remind the Democratic Progressive Party authorities that Taiwan compatriots have always had a tradition of patriotism. We hope that the authorities will stop all 'Taiwan independence' separatist acts, return to the right track of history, and safeguard the overall situation of peaceful development across the Taiwan Strait."
People of insight on the island have been continuously working for this. As early as 2007, Lin Guanghui initiated the establishment of the Taiwan Anti-Japanese Patriots Relatives Association, whose members include 30 anti-Japanese families. Over the years, Lin Guanghui and other descendants of anti-Japanese patriots have been traveling between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait, organizing picture and text exhibitions, memorial services, seminars and other activities to tell the heroic anti-Japanese deeds of Taiwan compatriots and restore the truth of history.
At a symposium commemorating the 80th anniversary of the victory of the War of Resistance against Japan and the Retrocession of Taiwan, Sun Ruoyi (孙若怡), a professor at National Chung Hsing University (台湾中兴大学), carefully sorted out the anti-Japanese deeds of Taiwan compatriots. She said that the Taiwan volunteer army, in the case of disparity in equipment, held large knives and spears, and engaged in close combat with the advanced enemy in the grass, swamps, mountains and ravines, sacrificing tragically, and a large number of heroic predecessors who "swore not to be slaves of a conquered country" emerged. "Their sacrifices witnessed the eternal existence of the noble spirit of the Chinese nation."
Speaking emotionally, Sun Ruoyi choked up several times, but her voice was sonorous and powerful, "The anti-Japanese movement of the people of Taiwan was a struggle to resist foreign aggression. This historical truth must not be forgotten, let alone distorted."
Return to TopBy: 禾 立
"Oracle Bones Through a Millennium: Seeing Characters Face-to-Face" – In the exhibition hall of the Hong Kong Central Library (香港中央图书馆), as people's gazes meet the oracle bone inscriptions from over 3,000 years ago, a cultural resonance that transcends time and space arises spontaneously. "Oracle bone script makes me understand more deeply that I am a descendant of the Yan and Huang emperors," "Oracle bone script is amazing, great Chinese characters"... The simple and sincere words of the audience in the guestbook are a vivid footnote to Hong Kong's "Chinese Culture Festival 2025."
Recently, an exhibition tracing the past and present of Chinese characters, "The Amazing Oracle Bone Script," sparked a cultural craze in Hong Kong (香港). The exhibition is one of the important activities of the "Chinese Culture Festival 2025" in Hong Kong. From June to September, the "Chinese Culture Festival 2025" in Hong Kong is expected to hold more than 280 events, aiming to promote Chinese culture, enhance Hong Kong citizens' national identity and cultural confidence, and also attract top artists and art groups from the Mainland and the world to Hong Kong for exchanges.
Chinese culture has always been Hong Kong's "root" and "soul," and its deepest spiritual foundation. This profound foundation is being creatively transformed and innovatively developed, blossoming with the style of the times on the banks of the Fragrant Harbour. The modern dance poetic drama "Remembering Su Dongpo," dances out the world of poetry and the realm of life of the Northern Song Dynasty literary giant Su Dongpo (苏东坡); the concert "Museum Series: Voices from Cultural Relics" uses music to interpret the murals of Dunhuang and the cultural relics of the Palace Museum; the Qinqiang Youth Experimental Troupe of the Xi'an Performing Arts Group performed the classic drama "Zhou Ren Returns Home," singing the spirit of loyalty and righteousness with a loud voice... One after another, cultural feasts for which tickets are **一票难求** (yī piào nán qiú - "one ticket difficult to obtain," tickets are in great demand) not only demonstrate the breadth, depth, and unique charm of Chinese culture, but also confirm Hong Kong citizens' deep-seated recognition and love for Chinese culture. This further enhances the cultural confidence of Hong Kong citizens, especially the youth, tightens the spiritual bond for Hong Kong to accelerate its integration into the overall national development, and injects new strength into the creative transformation and innovative development of outstanding traditional Chinese culture.
To promote Chinese culture and tell Chinese stories well, Hong Kong is taking action and planning for the long term. In April 2024, the Hong Kong Office for Promoting Chinese Culture was officially established, responsible for planning and holding activities to promote Chinese culture and history; the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Culture and Arts Festival, which has been held for four sessions, has led to the emergence of a large number of high-quality works with Bay Area characteristics and Lingnan charm; the Hong Kong Palace Museum (香港故宫文化博物馆) has attracted approximately 3.2 million visitors in the three years since its opening... As the "Asia's Events Capital," Hong Kong has abundant resources and experience to present the breadth, depth, and splendor of Chinese culture to the world in innovative ways. The deeper the roots of Chinese culture are planted, the more wonderful, diverse, and charming the city of Hong Kong becomes.
Backed by the motherland and connected to the world, Hong Kong has unique and significant advantages. As an international metropolis, Hong Kong is rooted in Chinese culture and inherits it in one continuous line, while also benefiting from openness to all directions and inclusiveness. To develop a center for cultural and artistic exchange between China and foreign countries, Hong Kong must fuse the world's cultural trends and the spirit of Chinese civilization into one, creating a unique and charming cultural brand. Cultural brand activities such as the "Chinese Culture Festival" are excellent platforms for Hong Kong to leverage its role in connecting internally and externally, telling the world the stories of China and Chinese culture, allowing ancient cultures to collide and dialogue with the world here, and bursting with new vitality of the times.
Rooted in Chinese culture and polishing its cultural brand, it is believed that the "Pearl of the Orient" will surely radiate even more brilliant light, and will also tell the world a more real, three-dimensional, and comprehensive China.
Return to TopThe 11th Cross-Strait Youth Science and Technology Creativity Innovation Activity, themed "Tides Rise Across the Strait, Building Dreams for Youth," was recently held in Lianyungang (连云港) City, Jiangsu (江苏) Province. More than 600 young people from Taiwan (台湾) and Jiangsu (江苏) gathered to participate in science and technology creativity innovation competitions, enhancing understanding and friendship through exchanges.
The picture shows young people participating in a biomimetic robot competition.
Photo by Geng Yuhe (耿玉和) (People's Vision)
Return to TopBy: 江 琳
At the corner of the Ruins of St. Paul's (大三巴牌坊), one encounters the Na Tcha Temple (哪吒庙); not far from the Lou Kau Mansion (卢家大屋) is the St. Dominic's Church (玫瑰圣母堂); on the St. Augustine's Square (岗顶前地), both the Dom Pedro V Theatre (岗顶剧院) and the Sir Robert Ho Tung Library (何东图书馆) stand... Strolling through the Historic Centre of Macao (澳门历史城区), one finds a blend of Chinese and Western cultures, a fusion of ancient and modern times, complementing each other perfectly.
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the successful inscription of the Historic Centre of Macao (澳门历史城区) on the World Heritage List. In July 2005, the 29th session of the World Heritage Committee decided to include the Historic Centre of Macao (澳门历史城区) on the UNESCO World Heritage List, making it China's thirty-first World Heritage site.
The Historic Centre of Macao (澳门历史城区) is China's oldest, largest, best-preserved, and most concentrated historic district where Chinese and Western architectural features coexist. Comprising 22 historical buildings and 8 squares, the core area of the Historic Centre of Macao (澳门历史城区) is not only a historical imprint of the more than 400 years of cultural exchange and integration between China and the West in Macao, but also a testament to the exchange and collision of Eastern and Western cultures, showcasing the spirit of Chinese culture's inclusiveness and openness to all.
Successful inscription is not the end, but a new starting point for protection and inheritance. Over the past 20 years, Macao has continuously strengthened the protection of cultural heritage through the formulation of laws and regulations, the holding of World Heritage Open Days, and the promotion of the revitalization and reuse of cultural heritage buildings. This year, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the successful inscription of the Historic Centre of Macao (澳门历史城区), Macao is holding events such as the International Cultural Forum on Intercivilizational Dialogue, "I am a World Heritage Monitor," and the "World Heritage Stamp Tour." These measures allow citizens and tourists to better experience the unique charm of World Heritage, understand the methods and importance of World Heritage protection from multiple perspectives, help protect and share cultural heritage, and continuously enhance the international communication of Chinese culture.
With profound heritage, the future is promising. Macao, with its advantages of gathering Chinese and Western cultures, helps to better build a base for exchange and cooperation with Chinese culture as the mainstream and the coexistence of diverse cultures by continuously strengthening the protection and utilization of cultural heritage, promoting international people-to-people exchanges, and playing a greater role in promoting mutual learning between Chinese and Western civilizations.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 贺林平
On stage, the actors passionately performed the story of Dr. Ke Lin (柯麟) controlling the plague, advocating for medical rights, and establishing a medical school, moving the audience with the selfless, fearless, and indomitable spirit of the Communists.
Below the stage, the seats were fully occupied, and the audience was engrossed. At the curtain call, the applause lasted for a long time, and many teachers and students had tears in their eyes...
This modern Cantonese opera, "The Silent Merit" (《无声的功勋》), was created by the Publicity Department of the Zhuhai Municipal Committee of Guangdong Province (广东省珠海市委宣传部) in conjunction with the宣文部 of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in Macao (澳门中联办宣文部) and the Macau Chinese Culture Association (澳门中华文化联谊会). It invited artists from Zhuhai (珠海) and Macao (澳门) to participate and toured nearly 40 performances in Macao, Guangzhou (广州), Beijing (北京), Hong Kong (香港), and other places within a year. It vividly interprets the innovative vitality of Zhuhai-Macao cultural synergy and has become an important achievement of the Zhuhai-Macao "cultural exchange" activities.
"Using artistic methods to tell the story of Macao is a successful exploration in promoting the construction of a cultural Greater Bay Area," praised Leong Wai Man (梁惠敏), Director of the Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macao SAR Government (澳门特区政府文化局局长).
"Watching Zhuhai's artistic performances is like opening a cultural window to a neighbor's house," said Zhong Yi (钟怡), Vice Chairman of the Administrative Committee of the Macao Foundation (澳门基金会行政委员会副主席) and Director of the Sino-Portuguese Cultural Exchange Committee of the Macau Cultural Industries Fund (澳门文化界联合总会中葡文化交流专委会主任). "Zhuhai and Macao have broken down barriers and innovated mechanisms in the development of cultural undertakings, promoting the integrated development of the Zhuhai-Macao artistic ecology through resource sharing, talent exchange, and joint creation of theatrical productions."
From "separate performances" to "collaborative creation," from "one-way introduction" to "two-way curation," from "attraction check-ins" to "in-depth cultural tours"... Over the past three years of carrying out Zhuhai-Macao "cultural exchange" activities, the two places have focused on cooperation in cultural exchange, talent cultivation, creation of artistic masterpieces, and building cultural brands, leading to an increasingly solid bridge of culture between the two places.
Today, exchanges between artistic groups in Zhuhai and Macao are becoming increasingly close: the Macao "Hau Kong Spring" Grand Carnival (澳门“濠江之春”大联欢) has invited the Zhuhai Cantonese Opera Troupe (珠海粤剧团) to perform the modern Cantonese opera "Dawn in Southern Guangdong" (《南粤破晓》) and Zhuhai's first original national opera "Qiaopi" (《侨批》) in Macao for three consecutive years; the Zhuhai Performing Arts Group (珠海演艺集团) has been invited to participate in hosting the Macao "Singing for the Motherland" National Day Gala (澳门“同声歌祖国”国庆文艺晚会) for many times; the Macau Experimental Creation Theatre's (澳门霜冰雪创作实验剧团) stage play "Butterfly Lovers" (《蝶恋·梁祝》) and the Macau Xiaojiao Drama Research Advancement Society's (澳门晓角话剧研进社) play "February 29th" (《二月廿九》) have entered the Zhuhai Arts Festival (珠海艺术节)... Cultural exchanges between the two places are "resonating at the same frequency."
Zhuhai-Macao "cultural exchange" adheres to the combination of producing results and cultivating talents, respecting artistic talents and artistic creation, and accelerating the formation of a good situation in which artistic masterpieces and artistic talents continue to emerge.
Relying on the Zhuhai-Macao "cultural exchange," many Macao artists have come to the mainland for the first time to carry out cultural exchanges. Currently, the two places are focusing on promoting the integration of artistic talents from exchange to integration, and plan to select Zhuhai's backbone artistic talents to participate in special work in Macao artistic organizations such as the Macau Cultural Industries Fund (澳门文化界联合总会); explore the employment of outstanding Macao artistic talents in Zhuhai as specially invited actors and performers in artistic units in the form of projects, further enriching the channels and platforms for talent cultivation, exchange, and display.
"'Cultural exchange' has built a bridge for in-depth exchanges between Zhuhai and Macao artists, where everyone shares inspiration, collides with creativity, and works together to create," said Zou Jianhong (邹建红), General Manager of Zhuhai Performing Arts Group (珠海演艺集团总经理). Leong Kim Tan (梁剑丹), Chairman of the Macau Chinese Culture and Art Development Association (澳门中华文化艺术发展协会理事长), said that the Zhuhai-Macao "cultural exchange" brings together young friends and artists from Macao and the mainland to jointly promote the construction of a cultural Greater Bay Area.
The fruitful results of the "cultural exchange" activities are gradually moving from the stages of the two places to a broader world. At the end of last year, the Macau Cultural Industries Fund (澳门文化界联合总会) and the Zhuhai Performing Arts Group (珠海演艺集团) signed a cooperation agreement. The two sides will focus on the Zhuhai-Macao "cultural exchange" to further cultivate cultural and artistic projects in Zhuhai and Macao, jointly create more fine works with connected cultural veins, promote performance cooperation between the two places, and allow Zhuhai-Macao performing arts masterpieces to go to the whole country and the world.
"In the future, we will strive to bring more high-quality Zhuhai-Macao cooperative plays to the audience, and help further expand the cultural influence of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area," said Zou Jianhong (邹建红).
Return to TopBy: 余旭红
Twenty years ago, Xi Jinping (习近平), then Secretary of the Zhejiang Provincial Party Committee, presided over a plenary session of the Provincial Party Committee to comprehensively deploy cultural construction. He proposed enhancing the cohesion of advanced culture, liberating and developing productive forces, improving social public service capabilities, and implementing the "Eight Projects" of cultural construction. This year, the "Black Myth Forging – Black Myth: Wukong Art Exhibition" held at the Art Museum of the China Academy of Art wrote a vivid footnote to the "Eight Projects" of Zhejiang's cultural construction with its cross-circle communication.
With over 450,000 offline visitors, more than 1,000 guided tours and public education activities, and over 600 million views across the internet, the "Black Myth Forging – Black Myth: Wukong Art Exhibition" was not accidental in sparking a cultural craze that crossed circles. The inextricable link between the game "Black Myth: Wukong" and the China Academy of Art is an important internal factor for this exhibition to become a "phenomenal" event.
Over the years, the China Academy of Art has formed a unique educational system in the construction of animation and game disciplines, and has delivered a large number of talents to the domestic animation and game creation, education, scientific research and other fields. The teachers and students of the school have deeply participated in the development of China's contemporary animation and game industry. Taking the game "Black Myth: Wukong" as an example, from Yang Qi (杨奇), who served as the art director, to Wang Yixin (王怡新) and Wang Yu (王宇), who created murals for the game, to many young talents who participated in game scene design, animation production, and cultural and creative development, all reflect the fruitful results achieved by the China Academy of Art in cultivating young art talents in the new era.
Over the years, the growth of animation and game majors at the China Academy of Art has always been in line with the general trend of industrial development. In 2010, the "China Academy of Art National University Science and Technology Park" was officially recognized by the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Education, becoming the only national-level university science and technology park with art and creativity as its feature, and cultivating fertile ground for cultural innovation. In 2018, Game Science Company registered in the Science and Technology Park and launched its first domestic 3A game "Black Myth: Wukong" last year, which became popular around the world with its exquisite production and unique oriental cultural expression. Today, more and more vibrant cultural enterprises are settling in the Science and Technology Park, and the cultural and creative industry belt around the Academy of Fine Arts is gradually forming economies of scale, building a good ecology of coordinated development of "education chain - innovation chain - industrial chain" and joint linkage of "government - universities - platforms - enterprises - industries", injecting new impetus into the integration of art and science.
The "Black Myth Forging – Black Myth: Wukong Art Exhibition" is the first time that a domestic art museum has presented game art in the form of an exhibition. Stepping into the exhibition hall, from the magnificent artistic conception of facing destiny to the delicate shaping of people, gods, demons, and monsters, the deep excavation of Chinese traditional culture by the game and exhibition team can be seen. This is not only an exhibition about game art, but also a cultural experiment in the digital age.
Through multi-dimensional display methods, the exhibition transforms the digital game world into a physical aesthetic education space in the art museum. On the one hand, the impactful giant character sculptures and classic game scenes transform the virtual game visual spectacle into a tangible physical reality, bringing a strong sense of immersion to the audience; a batch of high-precision models and original concept drafts that are unveiled for the first time have also become valuable witnesses to the "forging" process of game art design. On the other hand, the exhibition deeply analyzes the main context of game creation. The whole process display of the protagonist "Destined One" from concept sketches, image iteration, equipment evolution to the final draft directly states the creative team's deep thinking and aesthetic pursuit of game character shaping, and reveals the hardship and craftsmanship of "how the game 'Black Myth: Wukong' was forged".
The unique value of this exhibition lies in breaking the boundaries of art, dissolving the barriers between "entertainment" and "high art", and attracting national participation; allowing the spiritual core of "Journey to the West" to be manifested through digital art, activating the genes of traditional culture; promoting the integration of culture and tourism and serving social aesthetic education by replicating dozens of ancient building relics based on real-world scanning in the game to create an immersive "touchable cultural classroom"; reconstructing oriental aesthetics with digital media and promoting the globalization of Chinese stories... In short, the exhibition is like a digital-age "Ruyi Jingu Bang (如意金箍棒)" (rú yì jīn gū bàng - "As-you-wish Golden-hooped staff," a magical staff that can change size at will), breaking the barriers between virtuality and reality, ancient and modern, Chinese and Western, and witnessing the innovative dissemination of traditional culture in contemporary media. As a foreign museum director said after visiting the exhibition: "The exhibition presents the perfect integration and innovation of excellent Chinese traditional culture and contemporary technological power."
During the exhibition, the museum also planned a series of public education activities that were both academically in-depth and geared towards the public. Dai Dunbang (戴敦邦), an 87-year-old painter who created illustrations for "Journey to the West," had an online dialogue with the public; Gan Lifei (甘立夫), a Sanskrit scholar at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom, explained the different characteristics of Chinese and Indian culture from the Chinese novel "Journey to the West" and the Indian epic "Ramayana"... These activities promoted the transformation of cultural dissemination from one-way output to two-way interaction, becoming a vivid practice of cultural exchange and social aesthetic education in the digital age. In this exhibition, more than half of the audience stepped into public cultural venues such as art museums for the first time. This data reflects the broad space for the integration of game art, traditional culture and cutting-edge technology.
The thinking triggered by the exhibition is still fermenting. "Black Myth: Wukong" was born at the historical node where traditional culture and digital civilization converge. Its success is not only a game's breaking out of its cocoon, but also a declaration of the times on cultural subjectivity - true inheritance is not to treat tradition as a specimen, but to reactivate the genes of civilization with contemporary creativity.
Such academic thinking precisely reflects the direction of academic governance of the China Academy of Art. Ninety-seven years ago, Cai Yuanpei (蔡元培) clearly mentioned at the opening ceremony of the National Academy of Art (the predecessor of the China Academy of Art): "The Academy of Art does not lie in the number of students, but in the ability to create." The birth of the game "Black Myth: Wukong" and the "Black Myth Forging" exhibition is an echo of the school's founding purpose 97 years ago: to master the ability of "forging" on the world art map in order to have cultural influence.
(The author is the President of the China Academy of Art)
Return to TopBy: 张红春
On July 29, 2023, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) pointed out during his visit to the Hanzhong Museum (汉中市博物馆) in Shaanxi Province (陕西省) that "cultural relics carry splendid civilization, inherit historical culture, and maintain national spirit." As one of the most profound collections of the Hanzhong Museum (汉中市博物馆), the Shimen Grottoes (石门石刻), represented by the "Thirteen Treasures of Shimen (石门十三品)," are not only important materials for studying ancient transportation and water conservancy projects, but also a gene pool for the evolution of calligraphy art and a condensation of the spirit of oriental aesthetics.
In recent years, in order to deeply study and interpret the rich connotations of the Shimen Grottoes (石门石刻) and promote the prosperity and development of contemporary calligraphy art, the Shaanxi Provincial Calligraphers Association (陕西省书法家协会) has given full play to its professional and organizational coordination advantages, from participating in co-sponsoring the "Shimen Cliff Inscription Calligraphy Creation and Research Series Activities" to establishing the Shimen Calligraphy Research Institute (石门书法研究院), and then to promoting the "Inquiring the Dao at Shimen - Shaanxi Hanzhong Shimen Han and Wei Calligraphy Style Creation Research Exhibition" at the National Art Museum of China (中国美术馆). A series of activities have made the academic community's research on the Shimen Grottoes (石门石刻) more in-depth and multi-dimensional, and have made research results reach a wider range of people and a broader space.
"The difficulty of the Shu Road is like ascending to the blue sky (蜀道之难，难于上青天)," the north-south transportation in ancient western China was blocked by the Qinling (秦岭) and Bashan (巴山) Mountains. The ancestors, undeterred by difficulties and dangers, opened up several roads across the natural barriers. Among them, the Baoxie Road (褒斜道) was particularly famous. During the reign of Emperor Ming of the Han Dynasty (汉明帝), this road was rebuilt, and Shimen (石门), the earliest artificial tunnel in China, was constructed. In later generations, while enjoying the scenic spots, people carved inscriptions on the rocks along the mountains. According to statistics, there are more than 100 Shimen Grottoes (石门石刻), ranging from the Han and Wei Dynasties (汉魏) to the Ming and Qing Dynasties (明清). Among them, 13 kinds of cliff inscriptions mainly from the Han and Wei Dynasties (汉魏) occupy an important position in the history of calligraphy art, and are known as the "Thirteen Treasures of Shimen (石门十三品)," which have been admired by calligraphers of all dynasties.
The Shimen Grottoes (石门石刻) are the crystallization of "writing" and "carving," and their artistic vitality and aesthetic characteristics lie in "change." Taking the Shimen Grottoes (石门石刻) of the Eastern Han Dynasty (东汉) as an example, the strokes of "Chujun's Opening of the Baoxie Road (鄐君开通褒斜道)" are straight, without undulation, and have the characteristics of early official script; "Ode to Shimen (石门颂)" is "like a wild crane and a leisurely gull, floating like an immortal (如野鹤闲鸥，飘飘欲仙)," and is a must-learn model for those who practice official script; "Yang Huai and Yang Bi's Memorial (杨淮杨弼表记)" inherits the elegant and simple style of "Ode to Shimen (石门颂)," and has unique ideas in composition and structure... The Shimen Grottoes (石门石刻) witness the "qualitative change" of the development of Chinese calligraphy styles and the "evolution" of calligraphy styles, and are a living fossil of "writing change" in the history of Chinese calligraphy.
On the road of thousands of years of inheritance, the Shimen Grottoes (石门石刻) have always provided innovative inspiration for calligraphy creators, nourishing the brush and ink that pursues the spirit of the times. At the "Inquiring the Dao at Shimen - Shaanxi Hanzhong Shimen Han and Wei Calligraphy Style Creation Research Exhibition," 50 calligraphy works created by calligraphers from various places based on the Shimen Grottoes (石门石刻) reflect the inheritance and innovation of the Han and Wei calligraphy style in the contemporary era. How to further promote the essence of the Shimen Grottoes (石门石刻)? On the one hand, we must pay attention to highlighting the atmosphere of the times. The calligraphy and painting of "Shimen (石门)" in the Eastern Han Dynasty (东汉) are ancient, vigorous, simple and profound, and the long strokes of "Shimen Inscription (石门铭)" in the Northern Wei Dynasty (北魏) are free and easy, open and magnificent, all of which vividly reflect the aesthetic of the times and reflect the style of the times. On the other hand, we must uphold the spirit of innovation. Whether it is "Chujun's Opening of the Baoxie Road (鄐君开通褒斜道)" in the Eastern Han Dynasty (东汉), which uses seal script as official script, or "Completion Record of Shanhe Dam (山河堰落成记)" in the Southern Song Dynasty (南宋), which implicitly contains the meaning of seal script and slightly participates in the brushwork of running script, all of them provide a source of innovative support for later generations.
Inquiring the Dao at Shimen (问道石门) is both tracing the source and expanding the territory. When we stand in front of the Shimen Grottoes (石门石刻), feeling the cultural pulse that spans thousands of years, we may suddenly realize that so-called "innovation" is not the dissolution of tradition, but the transformation of deep accumulation into energy for the future. Every chisel mark on the cliffs of the ancient Qin-Shu Road (秦蜀古道) is a mark of an era, and the Han and Wei style in the brush and ink of today's people should also add new brilliance to the long river of civilization.
(The author is the chairman of the Shaanxi Provincial Calligraphers Association (陕西省书法家协会))
Return to TopBy: 李乃蔚
Stepping into the "Eternal Glory of Zhanghua—Exhibition of Fine Art Works on the Theme of Chu Culture," hosted by the Hubei Provincial Federation of Literary and Art Circles (湖北省文学艺术界联合会), 60 works of art melt the 800 years of ups and downs and cultural essence of the State of Chu (楚国) into brush and ink. As the director of the expert committee for this creative project, I have come to deeply realize during the project's advancement that realizing the regional expression of thematic art creation is a long journey of cultural root-seeking.
The visual transformation of Chu (楚) culture begins with the rigorous salvage and poetic interpretation of historical fragments. After three years of hard work, nearly a hundred creators delved into the heart of Jingchu (荆楚) like archaeologists. The bronze treasures of the Hubei Provincial Museum (湖北省博物馆), the broken walls and ruins of the ancient city of Jinan (纪南故城) in Chu, and the chime-bell echoes of Leigudun (擂鼓墩) have all become cultural codes for them to repeatedly study. Huang Shaomu's (黄少牧) "High Mountain Flowing Water (高山流水)" uses green and blue heavy colors to depict the landscape of Chu, with Boya (伯牙) and Ziqi (子期) sitting opposite each other in the vast expanse of clouds and water. Before creating, he went to places like Guqin Terrace (古琴台) many times to investigate and consult a large amount of information, just to accurately present the shapes, costumes, and utensils that conform to history and the temperament of the characters. Tan Chongzheng (谭崇正) and Zheng Hua's (郑华) "Bronze Civilization (青铜文明)" mainly involves a batch of bronze treasures such as the Marquis Yi of Zeng (曾侯乙) Zunpan and the Goujian Sword of Yue (越王勾践剑). In order to accurately depict their complex patterns, the creators went to the Provincial Museum several times to carefully observe and record in front of the display cabinets, and finally rendered the splendid beauty of bronze with calm brushstrokes. The profound traditional culture not only provides rich inspiration for art creation, but also the spirit of "**上下求索**" (shàng xià qiú suǒ - "seeking up and down," to explore in every possible way) contained in it brings profound nourishment to the creators.
The activation and reconstruction of local classic artistic vocabulary further strengthens the regional characteristics of the art works. Zhang Xiuhua (张秀华), Chen Delan (陈德兰), Zhang Chunhan (张春汉), and Liu Hanjin's (刘汉锦) "Ode to the Orange (橘颂)" presents Qu Yuan's (屈原) noble poetic soul and patriotic spirit with Chu bamboo slip characters and historical scenes as the warp and weft. In "The Rise of Chu and Han (楚汉兴起)," Fang Zheng (方正) uses montage techniques to superimpose historical scenes: the thread-bound "Historical Records (史记)" is the base, and Xiang Yu's (项羽) figure with his arms raised and the battlefield of golden horses and iron horses are juxtaposed, showing the rhythm of image narration through meticulous depiction in meticulous brushwork. When traditional symbols meet modern brush and ink, the audience can deeply feel the unique charm of Chu culture and the innovative spirit of the artists.
In the "Eternal Glory of Zhanghua—Exhibition of Fine Art Works on the Theme of Chu Culture," the creators pay tribute to the wisdom of the sages and explore artistic innovation. The related paintings are not only a review of history, but also a deep tribute to Chinese civilization. This creative project also reflects the organizational advantages of cross-institutional collaboration. The participating creators come from all over Hubei (湖北), ranging in age from their 20s to their 90s. Among them are professional art workers, university teachers, young art students, and new literary and art groups. Through sketching from life and expert guidance, the talent echelon construction of Hubei's thematic art creation has been further strengthened. At the same time, the creative project has established a transformation chain of "cultural relics archaeology - artistic translation - mass communication" to a certain extent, so that the unique charm and profound heritage of Chu culture can be more widely disseminated.
When painters boldly explore between bronze patterns and Chu Ci (楚辞) rhythms, what is completed is not only art creation, but also a cultural relay. In the exhibition hall, you can see that 96-year-old Mr. Lu Muxun (鲁慕迅) bid farewell to the world with a painting "Nine-Headed Bird Soaring in the Sky (九头神鸟骋长空)" (see picture)—the nine-headed bird flapping its wings and soaring seems to remind us: only by salvaging history with awe and promoting tradition with pioneering spirit can the essence of regional culture be preserved forever in the long scroll of painting.
(The author is the chairman of the Hubei Provincial Artists Association (湖北省美术家协会).)
Return to TopBy: 黄华三 高 毅
In recent years, art sketching and creation activities focusing on the Beijing Central Axis have been numerous. From the 2019 "Spine of the Capital, Continuous Lineage" Beijing Central Axis World Heritage Application-themed creation activity to the "Chinese Painting · Painting Cultural Relics - 2023 Beijing Central Axis-themed Field Sketching Activity," art workers from institutions such as the China Artists Association (美协), painting academies, and universities have participated, touching the historical context and experiencing the changes of the times through sketching and creation. Works such as Bai Yuping's (白羽平) oil painting "Dongjiaomin Lane (东交民巷)," which depicts the historical and cultural block, and Xu Xiaodong's (徐小东) oil painting "A City's Certain Year," which depicts the representative architecture of the Central Axis, vividly demonstrate the architectural beauty, historical charm, cultural essence, and modern vitality of the Beijing Central Axis through unique perspectives and artistic languages.
In order to artistically present the full picture of the Beijing Central Axis, the Beijing Artists Association (北京美协) specifically formed the Chinese Painting "Spine of the Capital (京城之脊)" creation team in 2022, with us serving as the main creators. Based on multiple field investigations and extensive research of literature, the creation team chose the ruled-line painting (界画) form, which has a meticulous and precise style suitable for expressing pavilions and towers, revised the draft numerous times, and finally completed this masterpiece (partial view shown in the picture) after nearly two years.
Highlighting the spiritual connotation of the Central Axis is the focus of the "Spine of the Capital (京城之脊)" creation. To this end, the creation team simplified the content, emphasizing the spiritual expression of the Central Axis and strengthening its uprightness and symmetry; in terms of composition, it followed the traditional cultural idea of "respecting the center and respecting uprightness" (尚中、尚正), using the character "中" (zhōng - "center") to build the main structure of the picture, indicating the important role of "center" in the construction of ancient Chinese capitals. Whether it is painted patterns or glazed ridge beasts, all are meticulously depicted, allowing the audience to deeply feel the unique Chinese aesthetics. The work also restores the splendid colors of the ancient buildings in the Forbidden City (紫禁城) with traditional heavy colors, while the buildings outside the city are mainly gray brick, with black tile green trim and red column heads, elegant yet dignified, fully reflecting the traditional Chinese humanistic thought and aesthetic characteristics.
Artistic creations with the Beijing Central Axis as the theme guide the audience to feel the magnificent order and long-standing cultural context of the Central Axis, and become an important resource for ideological and political education. For example, the Chinese painting "Spine of the Capital (京城之脊)" has not only entered the ideological and political classrooms of primary and secondary schools and universities, but has also appeared in academic exchange activities in various places. Some schools have explored and carried out curriculum practice teaching with it as the main body, and held the "'Spine of the Capital' - Beijing Central Axis Humanistic Theme Aesthetic Education Immersion Works Exhibition" this year, helping young students deeply understand the essence of outstanding traditional Chinese culture in a 润物细无声 (rùn wù xì wú shēng - "moisten things silently," to influence or educate people subtly and imperceptibly) manner.
Today, more and more young people are falling in love with the Beijing Central Axis, and are carrying out innovative expressions around the Beijing Central Axis culture through various forms such as stained glass, paper-cutting art, and digital cultural creation. The increasingly rich artistic creations form a symphony of painting on the Central Axis, allowing the sound of cultural heritage to resonate for a long time.
(The authors are both professors at the School of Arts, Renmin University of China (中国人民大学))
Return to TopBy: 陈志云
In ancient times, without air conditioning, how did people survive the sweltering summer? For painters, a watermelon painting could offer some relief from the heat.
The history of including watermelons in paintings is not very long. It is said that the Yuan Dynasty painter Qian Xuan (钱选) once painted watermelons, but at that time, watermelons were still a summer fruit for the upper aristocracy, and ordinary people could not easily obtain them. During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, with the continuous progress of cultivation techniques, watermelons gradually entered ordinary people's homes. Jin Nong (金农), a painter of the Qing Dynasty, included a painting of two slices of watermelon in his "Flowers, Fruits, and Vegetables" album, with a poem that reads: "Travelers are hot at noon, what can quench their thirst? Thinking of the road outside Qingmen (青门), beside the cool pavilion, the melon is freshly cut, and one coin can buy it." It can be seen that in the Qing Dynasty, watermelons were an affordable fruit for ordinary people and gradually became a popular painting subject. Famous artists such as Bada Shanren (八大山人), Shi Tao (石涛), Luo Ping (罗聘), and Wu Changshuo (吴昌硕) all painted watermelons, and their works had different styles.
Among the many watermelon paintings, "Watermelon and Lotus Root" (瓜藕图) by Ju Lian (居廉), a painter of the Lingnan (岭南) School in the Qing Dynasty (see picture), is particularly resonant. The watermelon in the painting looks like it is just beginning to "sand," an artistic effect derived from the painter's clever use of the "colliding water and powder" technique—injecting a little water when the color is half-dry to create rich changes in the shades of color and ink; applying a thin layer of powder on the paper and then injecting a little water, tilting the paper slightly to make the powder thicker on one side and thinner on the other, creating a sense of unevenness, thus making the texture of the watermelon more realistic. In addition to the watermelon, there are also lotus leaves and lotus root slices in the painting. These common summer delicacies of the Lingnan people are combined together, which easily makes the viewer feel intimate, as if it is a portrayal of their own life.
Miao Jiahui (缪嘉惠), a female painter from the Qing Dynasty court, was known for her meticulous brushwork and freehand brushwork. One of her "Landscape, Flowers, Fruits, and Vegetables" (山水花卉蔬果图) album features watermelons as the main subject, with clear and beautiful colors. The painter's treatment of the watermelon texture incorporates the perspective techniques of Western painting, which may be related to the influence of Western painters' works she received in the court.
Xu Gu (虚谷), a famous Shanghai School (海派) painter of the Qing Dynasty, was solitary and indifferent. His "Watermelon" (西瓜) from the "Flowers and Fruits" (花果) album presents a different style. The watermelon on the screen seems to have been casually split open, and the uneven pulp is only expressed with a few strokes, but he is unambiguous about the treatment of the rind, not only using the technique of color and ink breaking each other to present the transition of the rind color, but even delicately expressing the texture of the rind.
Painters from Lingnan, Beijing (北京), and Shanghai (上海) all meticulously express the texture of objects, and there is already a little "showing off" in their minds, which is different from the traditional literati painting's pursuit of "careless brushstrokes, not seeking likeness" (逸笔草草，不求形似) concept, reflecting the trend of art commercialization in the late Qing Dynasty. In order to cater to the aesthetic needs of the emerging urban class dominated by merchants, painters must not only maintain the elegant artistic taste of literati, but also express their concern for real life and their recognition of secular tastes. Although the three painters used different techniques, they all achieved the artistic effect of being appreciated by both refined and popular tastes.
In the hot summer, why not have a piece of watermelon to cool off, and then open a picture album to find a cool place in the art world.
(The author is a researcher at the Guangzhou Museum of Art (广州艺术博物院))
Return to TopWhite walls and black tiles, flowing clouds and fragmented rocks, wooden latticed windows... In Shaoxing (绍兴), Zhejiang (浙江), the newly built Jiemin Library (孑民图书馆), the renovated Jiemin Theater (孑民剧院), and the improved Cai Yuanpei Square (蔡元培广场), with the overall construction concept of "interpreting tradition and reconstructing the present," have become the vibrant center of the northern entrance area of the ancient city.
The design of Cai Yuanpei Square (蔡元培广场) further enhances openness while retaining the original layout. Jiemin Theater (孑民剧院) was transformed from a cinema. In addition to the renovation of the facade, the interior space has also been updated and upgraded, but it still retains the functions of performance and screening, in order to continue the cultural memory of the citizens. The Jiemin Library (孑民图书馆), with its simple and modern design, uses highly reflective one-way mirror glass and waterscapes to reflect the beauty of Cai Yuanpei's Former Residence (蔡元培故居).
The picture shows a corner of the Jiemin Library (孑民图书馆).
Photo by Zhao Qiang (赵强).
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Layout design: Cai Huawei (蔡华伟)
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