People's Daily - July 28, 2025

People's Daily - July 28, 2025

Article Index

Page 01版:要闻

Page 02版:要闻

Page 03版:要闻

Page 04版:要闻

Page 05版:评论

Page 06版:要闻

Page 07版:读者来信

Page 08版:特别报道

Page 09版:理论

Page 10版:政治

Page 11版:文件

Page 12版:广告

Page 13版:社会

Page 14版:生态

Page 15版:体育

Page 16版:国际

Page 17版:国际

Page 18版:财经

Page 19版:科技

Page 20版:副刊

Page 01版:要闻

Culture is the soul

Original Article Return to Top

In the long river of human history, what exactly does culture mean?

"Culture is the soul of a nation, the spiritual bond that maintains national unity and ethnic solidarity, and the concentrated embodiment of a nation's vitality, creativity, and cohesiveness."

As early as more than 20 years ago, Xi Jinping (习近平) had profound thoughts and practices regarding culture in Zhejiang Province.

On July 28 and 29, 2005, the Eighth Plenary Session of the Eleventh Zhejiang Provincial Party Committee was held. Xi Jinping (习近平), then the Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, delivered a report. The meeting deliberated and approved the "Decision of the Zhejiang Provincial Party Committee of the Communist Party of China on Accelerating the Construction of a Major Cultural Province," deploying the implementation of the "Eight Projects" for the construction of a major cultural province.

Over the past 20 years, from the awakening of the "dawn of civilization" at the Liangzhu Site (良渚遗址) more than 5,000 years ago, to the continuation of the millennium-long cultural heritage of the "Grand Compilation of Chinese Paintings Throughout History"; from the blossoming of new charm in cultural heritage sites such as West Lake (西湖) and the Grand Canal, to the writing of new chapters in cultural undertakings and cultural industries... the "Eight Projects" have stirred up a grand atmosphere of "how rich and flourishing in culture" amidst the green mountains and clear waters of Zhejiang.

In October 2023, the National Conference on Publicity and Ideological Culture Work formally proposed and systematically expounded Xi Jinping's (习近平) Thought on Culture—marking a new height in our Party's understanding of the laws governing the construction of socialist culture with Chinese characteristics, and demonstrating a new height in our Party's historical confidence and cultural confidence.

With its vast territory and mighty rivers, China is experiencing ideological ferment that allows Chinese civilization to bloom with unique splendor, and the soul of culture is building a foundation and gathering strength for national rejuvenation.

From the blossoming spring to the verdant summer, we admire the red boat on Nanhu Lake (南湖), seek out the ancient relics of Liangzhu (良渚), ascend the Yellow Emperor's Temple (黄帝祠宇), visit the Southern Confucian Holy Land (南孔圣地), walk through ancient city streets, and enter enterprises and villages... tracing the origins and sources, we appreciate the scientific truth value, powerful spiritual strength, and broad cultural sentiments contained in the great thought...

"Let our culture continue uninterrupted, and let our creation be endlessly vibrant."

Shaoxing (绍兴), a city of ancient relics and charm, is a millennium-old hall of literature. Cangqiao Straight Street (仓桥直街), with its bustling households, melodious Yue opera, and surging crowds, is full of life.

More than 20 years ago, it was here that people were hesitant about whether to demolish or preserve the ancient street residences: should they tear down the "old" to build the "new," or protect it in its "original flavor"?

At that time, Zhejiang was in the midst of an explosive period of urbanization and urban development, and many places had the impulse for commercial development. Naturally, the ancient cities and blocks with superior locations were the focus of attention.

In January 2003, the snow had just cleared. Xi Jinping (习近平), who had been in Zhejiang for three months, came here, treading on the slippery stone roads, listening to the melodious Shaoxing (绍兴) dialect in the old houses, and was very interested.

"Should we insist on preserving the original appearance of the old street?" Zhong Huahua (钟华华), then the director of the Shaoxing (绍兴) Municipal Construction Committee, accompanied the investigation and research, and expressed his inner confusion as soon as they met.

"We must protect it in its original flavor!" Xi Jinping (习近平) replied affirmatively, and casually recited the poem "Returning Home" written by the Tang Dynasty poet He Zhizhang (贺知章): "I left home young and return old, my accent unchanged, my hair thin..."

He said to Zhong Huahua (钟华华): "Because you did this, we can hear the local accent today, remember our nostalgia, and think of the verses written by He Zhizhang (贺知章)."

Where do guests come from? Local accents convey nostalgia. No matter where you go, having old houses as before and unchanged local accents means you won't be like rootless duckweed.

Xi Jinping (习近平) instructed local cadres that the protection work should focus on the authenticity of history, the integrity of style, and the continuity of life.

These three principles run through the protection work of Shaoxing (绍兴) as a famous historical and cultural city. In the end, more than 840 old residents of Cangqiao Straight Street (仓桥直街) remained in their old houses, and 43 old houses were preserved, praised by UNESCO as a "living display of Chinese heritage."

These three principles have also pointed the way for the protection of famous historical and cultural cities in various parts of Zhejiang. As of the end of 2024, Zhejiang has 20 famous historical and cultural cities, 94 famous towns, 218 famous villages, 107 historical and cultural blocks, 73,943 immovable cultural relics, and 11,126 historical buildings, with the total amount of various cultural heritages ranking among the top in the country.

"Protecting it in its original flavor" continues the historical context and solves the question of where we come from. But in the tide of the times, where should Zhejiang go?

At the beginning of the 21st century, Zhejiang leaped from a small province in terms of resources to become one of the fastest-growing and most dynamic provinces in China's economy, while also facing the intertwined predicament of "先天不足" (xiān tiān bù zú - "inherent deficiencies," lacking natural advantages) and "growing pains."

The higher the mountain, the harder it is to climb. How to do practical work? How to walk in the forefront?

Not many people talked about culture. "Industry is discussed all day, agriculture is a cigarette, and when it comes to culture, education, and health, the meeting breaks up," this was the situation in many parts of Zhejiang at that time.

Xi Jinping (习近平) had keen insight.

He summarized Zhejiang's past achievements: "Zhejiang has no special policies and no special resources. The reason why it has achieved such achievements today is that Zhejiang has a profound cultural heritage, and Zhejiang's cultural traditions are very suitable for the requirements of a market economy."

He analyzed Zhejiang's future development: "Whether Zhejiang can continue to walk in the forefront in comprehensively building a moderately prosperous society and accelerating the process of socialist modernization in the future largely depends on our profound understanding of the power of culture, our high degree of consciousness in developing advanced culture, and our work efforts to accelerate the construction of a major cultural province."

Xi Jinping (习近平) first focused his attention on meeting the cultural needs of the people, and he proposed to "dedicate the most beautiful spiritual food to the people"—

Hangzhou (杭州), Nanshan Road (南山路). Zhejiang Art Museum (浙江美术馆), leaning against the mountain and facing the lake, is well-proportioned. The wave-shaped architecture complements West Lake (西湖). Pedestrians walking by seem to be walking in Jiangnan ink painting. How was it painted?

January 31, 2003, Xi Jinping's (习近平) first New Year's Eve after coming to work in Zhejiang. It was drizzling and the cold was biting. He held an umbrella and led a group of people along Nanshan Road (南山路) for a field survey.

Some people say: "Half of the history of Chinese painting and calligraphy is in Zhejiang." For several generations, people have dreamed of building a first-class comprehensive art museum in Zhejiang. As soon as Xi Jinping (习近平) arrived in Zhejiang, he put this work on the agenda.

After the on-site survey, in a conference room of Hangzhou (杭州) Liuying Hotel (柳莺宾馆), the debate was almost white-hot—

Some people advocated that the art museum should be built by West Lake (西湖). Nanshan Road (南山路) has convenient transportation, a beautiful environment, and is surrounded by the China Academy of Art (中国美术学院), Leifeng Pagoda (雷峰塔), and other echoes, creating a strong cultural atmosphere;

Some people said that land by West Lake (西湖) is worth every inch of gold. The art museum covers a large area and needs to be equipped with green space and parking lots. It also involves relocation problems, which is not cost-effective...

Should we calculate economic benefits or social benefits?

Xi Jinping (习近平) made the decision: "Build it by West Lake (西湖)."

In the blink of an eye, it was the end of the year again. That night, in the conference room of the Provincial Administrative Center, Xi Jinping (习近平) selected a set from three design proposals for the Zhejiang Art Museum (浙江美术馆): white walls and black tiles complemented the modern glass curtain wall, interpreting the architectural concept of "New Jiangnan"—that is the echo of history, the reflection of the times, it is Chinese, it is Chinese!

On May 15, 2005, the Zhejiang Art Museum (浙江美术馆) officially broke ground. Xi Jinping (习近平) personally pressed the start button. Today, the Zhejiang Art Museum (浙江美术馆) holds about 40 exhibitions of various types every year, attracting a large number of visitors. Focusing on spiritual common prosperity, it has cultivated a total of 101 rural art museums in the province, and the public drawing sketches at the art museum has become a popular phenomenon...

The power of culture ultimately comes from the influence and appeal of the core values embodied in it. Xi Jinping (习近平) has repeatedly demanded that the best places be given to the people. From the shores of West Lake (西子湖畔) to the source of the Qiantang River (钱江源头) and the starting point of the Grand Canal, museums, libraries, grand theaters, cultural centers (stations)... various public welfare cultural facilities have broken ground, and the public cultural service system is becoming increasingly perfect.

On July 10, 2003, at the Fourth Plenary Session of the Eleventh Provincial Party Committee, Xi Jinping (习近平) proposed the "Eight-Eight Strategy" for the top-level design of provincial development, and "accelerating the construction of a major cultural province" became an important part of it.

In 2004, Xi Jinping (习近平) personally led a team to conduct research around cultural construction—from the protection of cultural relics, famous cities, and cultural heritage to the development of cultural industries such as film, television, and animation, from rural cultural life to urban community cultural and sports activities, and then to the exploration of cultural system reform... with high level, large scale, and far-reaching impact.

On March 25, 2004, the new Haiyantang Road (海盐塘路) branch of the Jiaxing (嘉兴) City Library was quiet. Entering the library, Xi Jinping (习近平) rarely spoke. When going upstairs, he suddenly asked: "Are there any farmers coming here to read?"

"Yes, but not many."

"Why?"

"It is not convenient for farmers to go to the city library."

"Can the high-quality resources of the city library be transferred to towns and villages?"

…………

Cui Quansen (崔泉森), then the director of the library, has a vivid memory of this conversation: "Secretary Xi (习) was anxious about the farmers' desire to read."

Bearing in mind Xi Jinping's (习近平) instructions, they worked hard to explore and practice. In 2010, the Jiaxing (嘉兴) Library's general and branch libraries achieved full coverage of all townships. In 2012, Zhejiang's rural bookstores achieved full coverage of administrative villages; currently, there are more than 17,000 rural bookstores in the province, carrying out more than 100,000 reading and cultural activities of various types every year.

Hengtang Village (横塘村), Yiwu (义乌). In a small conference room, a reporter asked Ding Zheng (丁政), then the director of the Yiwu (义乌) Municipal Party Committee Office:

"Secretary-General Xi (习) summarized Yiwu (义乌) as '莫名其妙' (mò míng qí miào - "inexplicable," strange and unexplainable), '无中生有' (wú zhōng shēng yǒu - "create something from nothing," to create something out of nothing), '点石成金' (diǎn shí chéng jīn - "turn stone into gold," to turn crude things into something of value) development. How do you understand this '妙' (miào - "wonderful") character?"

"Yiwu (义乌) is not on the border and not by the sea, and has no resources, but it has developed strongly. Secretary Xi (习) has come to investigate many times. The '妙' (miào - "wonderful") he said refers to our culture..." said Ding Zheng (丁政).

This "妙" (miào - "wonderful") character is more wonderfully interpreted in the "Successful Model of Comprehensively Building a Moderately Prosperous Society—Investigation Report on Yiwu's (义乌) Development Experience," which was personally reviewed and approved by Xi Jinping (习近平): "Yiwu's (义乌) profound cultural heritage has nurtured the Yiwu (义乌) spirit of 'diligence in farming and learning, uprightness and courage,' and formed the 'rattle drum culture' with regional characteristics, providing a strong spiritual source and fertile cultural soil for Yiwu (义乌) people's entrepreneurship and Yiwu's (义乌) reform and development."

One investigation after another is not only a comprehensive cultural "physical examination," but also a systematic "dissection of sparrows." Xi Jinping (习近平) also presided over research symposiums of the Zhejiang publicity and cultural system, report meetings on research topics of the Provincial Political Consultative Conference on major cultural provinces, research symposiums of the science, education, health, and sports system, and symposiums on accelerating the construction of major cultural provinces, gathering wisdom and building consensus.

He put forward the four-character requirements of "真" (zhēn - "truth"), "情" (qíng - "emotion"), "实" (shí - "reality"), and "意" (yì - "intention") for the vast number of workers in philosophy and social sciences—truly adhere to the guiding position of Marxism, be full of passion for philosophy and social science work, adhere to the principle of linking theory with practice, and establish a sense of quality; for journalists, he put forward "serving the Party and the people, promoting justice and eliminating evil, valuing hearing and emphasizing seeing," and proposed "building the Internet into a new position, new channel, and new carrier for publicity and ideological work"...

Based on in-depth research, a thick research report on "The Status Quo and Countermeasures for the Construction of a Major Cultural Province" was produced, and a blueprint for the construction of a major cultural province gradually took shape in Xi Jinping's (习近平) mind.

A moment of milestone significance in the history of Zhejiang's cultural development has arrived—

On July 28 and 29, 2005, the Eighth Plenary Session of the Eleventh Provincial Party Committee was held, deliberating and approving the "Decision of the Zhejiang Provincial Party Committee of the Communist Party of China on Accelerating the Construction of a Major Cultural Province," and proposing the strategic deployment of "three forces" and "eight projects."

Enhance the cohesiveness of advanced culture, liberate and develop cultural productive forces, and improve the ability of social public services—the "three forces" pointed out the political direction, reform orientation, and value orientation for cultural construction.

Civilization quality project, cultural boutique project, cultural research project, cultural protection project, cultural industry promotion project, cultural position project, cultural communication project, and cultural talent project—the "eight projects" are systematically complete, adhere to focusing on practical work, doing practical work, and seeking practical results, and became the largest local cultural construction project in China at that time.

The "Eight Projects" are the cultural chapter of the "Eight-Eight Strategy." The "four beams and eight pillars" for Zhejiang to accelerate the construction of a major cultural province were thus established, and Zhejiang's practical work, walking in the forefront, and standing at the forefront of the tide had a clear pointer;

A series of fundamental issues such as who cultural construction is for, what kind of culture to build, and how to build culture have clearer answers, and basic issues such as the development direction, goals and tasks, development paths, and development guarantees of cultural construction have a systematic and complete understanding of the laws. The ideological characteristics of "understanding the essence and applying it, integrating essence and application" began to manifest in Zhejiang's practice and exploration, providing a rich theoretical basis and practical material for the formation of Xi Jinping's (习近平) Thought on Culture.

Twenty years ago, when the "Eight Projects" were launched, Xi Jinping (习近平) wrote affectionately in the "General Preface to the Zhejiang Cultural Research Project Achievement Library": "Today, we are stepping on the river from history, receiving the expectations of the people, and should shoulder the mission, sincerely dedicate ourselves, let our culture continue uninterrupted, and let our creation be endlessly vibrant."

Twenty years later, looking from history to the future, from Zhejiang to China and to the world, reviewing this passage, we can better feel General Secretary Xi Jinping's (习近平) advanced strategic vision and profound cultural feelings.

"We must create tangible and touchable carriers through visible and touchable means."

The "Eight Projects" drew a grand blueprint for Zhejiang to accelerate the construction of a major cultural province. Why does cultural construction attach so much importance to the word "project"?

Xi Jinping (习近平) emphasized that "we must create tangible and touchable carriers through visible and touchable means."

"Project-based promotion" seeks practical results. For the first major cultural project in China that observes local development from the level of philosophy and social sciences, Xi Jinping (习近平) personally served as the director of the Steering Committee of the Zhejiang Cultural Research Project, setting the direction, proposing topics, putting forward requirements, and writing the general preface.

Xi Jinping (习近平) also emphasized "功成不必在我" (gōng chéng bù bì zài wǒ - "achieving success does not necessarily require me," one need not be obsessed with taking credit for achievements) and "one term after another." Now, 20 years have passed, and the "Eight Projects" have been promoted by successive Zhejiang Provincial Party Committees, achieving long-term success. In Zhejiang, the land is full of fruitful results—

At the Grand Compilation of Chinese Paintings Throughout History (中国历代绘画大系) Museum, young people are flocking. People wear flowers in their hair and enter the paintings, wandering among "A Thousand Miles of Rivers and Mountains" ("千里江山图"), "Travelers among Mountains and Streams" ("溪山行旅图"), and "Auspicious Cranes" ("瑞鹤图"), viewing thousands of miles in a short distance and browsing through thousands of years, the magnificent momentum of Chinese culture... The unity of culture and technology makes people feel the surging cultural tide of the new era.

The source of the tide began 20 years ago.

In July 2005, a special report was placed on Xi Jinping's (习近平) desk—can the Song paintings collected by the Palace Museums on both sides of the Taiwan Strait be compiled and published?

As the peak of Chinese painting history, Song paintings are rare and scattered. Digital collection and collation will surely benefit future generations. Xi Jinping (习近平) immediately instructed: "This idea is very good and worth working hard for." The first batch of funds was quickly allocated.

"At that time, we didn't have a single painting from before the Qing Dynasty, and we didn't have a single instrument or equipment," recalled Zhang Xi (张曦), the person in charge of the project team and then the Secretary of the Party Committee of Zhejiang University (浙江大学). "Secretary Xi (习) attached great importance to it and directly promoted it, and everyone had the courage to start from scratch and overcome difficulties."

Traveling hundreds of thousands of kilometers, they conducted a large-scale "treasure hunt" around the world.

"Cold Forest and Heavy Banks" ("寒林重汀图"), a masterpiece by Dong Yuan (董源) of the Southern Tang Dynasty, is now in the Kurokawa Institute of Ancient Culture in Japan. Initially, Kurokawa did not accept the project team's request. They visited again and again, and finally reached a cooperation.

"A Thousand Miles of Rivers and Mountains" ("千里江山图") has been publicly displayed only a few times in the past century. To prevent the colors from peeling off, the shooting was extremely difficult. The project team went to the Palace Museum (故宫博物院) many times to negotiate, and the rare treasures were finally fixed as eternal.

Under the heart of inheritance and sincerity, the doors of cooperation with more cultural and museum institutions at home and abroad slowly opened. More than 1,000 Song painting treasures scattered in museums in mainland China and Taiwan, as well as in the United States, Britain, Japan, Russia, and other countries, have all been digitally collected...
In September 2010, the "Complete Collection of Song Paintings" (《宋画全集》) was basically completed as planned. Xi Jinping (习近平), then the Vice President of the country, gave further instructions: "The plan to publish the 'Grand Compilation of Chinese Paintings Through the Ages' next step is very good. We can actively report to relevant departments and strive for support from all parties."

The publication of the "Complete Collection of Yuan Paintings" (《元画全集》), "Complete Collection of Ming Paintings" (《明画全集》), "Complete Collection of Qing Paintings" (《清画全集》), and "Complete Collection of Pre-Qin, Han, and Tang Paintings" (《先秦汉唐画全集》) has illuminated the brilliant galaxy of Chinese painting history one by one.

In 2022, the "Grand Compilation of Chinese Paintings Through the Ages" project is about to be completed. On October 15, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) gave another instruction: "Continue to deeply explore the genetic code of the continuous inheritance of Chinese civilization, and make positive contributions to promoting the excellent traditional Chinese culture."

Under the promotion of General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平), the "Prosperous Era Revisits the Classics - Exhibition of Achievements of the 'Grand Compilation of Chinese Paintings Through the Ages'" was officially launched. From Jiangnan to Sai Bei, from water towns to border areas, and then to a broader world stage, it has become a phenomenal cultural event. As the most complete collection of fine works and the largest publication of ancient Chinese painting image literature to date, it has become a monumental work connecting the past and the present, and linking the world with a powerful combination of culture and technology.

The "Eight Projects" not only elevated the exploration of Chinese culture to a new height with the "Grand Compilation," but also certified the five-thousand-year history of Chinese civilization with the Liangzhu Ancient City Ruins.

Hangzhou Yuhang (杭州余杭), Liangzhu Ancient City Ruins Park (良渚古城遗址公园), a green and fragrant continent. Many children come here to check in and learn for the first time that in ancient times, this was a grand "city": an astonishing amount of rice, magnificent palaces, large-scale water conservancy projects, and exquisitely crafted jade artifacts...

It is hard to imagine that more than 20 years ago, there were mines and forests everywhere, and gray sand covered the ground.

"In the second half of 2002, although the rectification of mining enterprises in Yuhang District (余杭区) had been completed, there were still some mining enterprises in neighboring counties within the scope of the ruins area," recalled Guo Qingling (郭青岭), then the executive deputy curator of the Liangzhu Culture Museum (良渚文化博物馆).

On July 16, 2003, Xi Jinping (习近平) made a special trip to conduct research here. He leaned over to examine the unearthed cultural relics, listened carefully to the report on the current state of protection, and met cordially with the descendants of Mr. Shi Xigeng (施昕更), the discoverer of Liangzhu culture, in front of his statue...

For a long time in the past, the Western archaeological community used the three elements of "bronze ware, writing, and cities" as the standard of civilization, believing that China only had a history of civilization starting from the Yin and Shang dynasties.

During this research, Xi Jinping (习近平) keenly pointed out: "The Liangzhu site is a sacred place to prove the five-thousand-year history of Chinese civilization. It is a rare and valuable treasure, and we must protect it!"

Learning that there were still several quarries blasting mountains within the scope of the ruins, Xi Jinping (习近平) personally coordinated, and the stone mines were soon closed. At the same time, under his concern and promotion, there was also a breakthrough in the long-standing issue of delineating the scope of protection of the ruins.

Xi Jinping (习近平) further proposed the Liangzhu application for World Heritage status: "Our province is still blank in terms of World Heritage applications. 'Applying for World Heritage' has many conditions, and we must also make up our minds and pay the price."

Make up your mind and pay the price. Zhejiang (浙江) took the lead in exploring the establishment of a compensation mechanism for the protection of large sites in the country, using continuous financial investment to hold up an umbrella for Liangzhu. The protection of the Liangzhu site has since embarked on the right track. In 2007, the Liangzhu Ancient City (良渚古城) was unveiled; from 2009 to 2015, the water conservancy system outside the ancient city revealed its true appearance... One shocking archaeological discovery after another proved that cities, classes, kingship, and states had appeared in Liangzhu.

On July 13, 2016, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) made an important instruction on the letter from four veteran experts in the cultural and museum circles, Su Bai (宿白), Xie Chensheng (谢辰生), Huang Jinglue (黄景略), and Zhang Zhongpei (张忠培), regarding the Liangzhu application for World Heritage status, "The work of applying for World Cultural Heritage should be arranged in a coordinated manner. The application projects should be conducive to highlighting the historical and cultural value of Chinese civilization, conducive to reflecting the spiritual pursuit of the Chinese nation, and conducive to showing the world a comprehensive and true ancient China and modern China."

July 6, 2019, Azerbaijan.

At 10:29 local time, the Liangzhu Ancient City Ruins project entered the review process, "The Liangzhu Ancient City allows us to understand the origin of Chinese civilization," "It represents China's achievements in the great rice farming civilization more than 5,000 years ago"... At the 43rd World Heritage Conference, experts from various countries highly praised the Liangzhu Ancient City Ruins.

"I declare that the Liangzhu Ancient City Ruins application proposal is approved!" When the gavel of Abulfas Garayev, Executive Chairman of the 43rd World Heritage Committee, fell heavily, the Liangzhu Ancient City Ruins were successfully included in the World Heritage List.

The successful application of the Liangzhu Ancient City Ruins for World Heritage status has advanced the world's understanding of China's early civilization by more than a thousand years, providing sufficient physical evidence and conclusive academic support for the Chinese Civilization Exploration Project.

Based on samples represented by Liangzhu, the Chinese archaeological community has proposed a Chinese plan for defining civilization and identifying civilized societies, making original contributions to the study of the origin of world civilization.

In 2023, under the initiative of General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平), the first "Liangzhu Forum" (良渚论坛) was held. In his congratulatory letter to the forum, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) pointed out: "Chinese civilization is open, inclusive, and constantly absorbs and develops, constantly absorbing the essence of different civilizations in the world, greatly enriching the garden of world civilization." The light of civilization shines on the world.

The Grand Canal of China, another treasure of world culture.

On the last day of 2006, Xi Jinping (习近平) took the Hangzhou water bus "West Lake" (西湖) to inspect the first phase of the Grand Canal Comprehensive Protection Project. During the voyage, Xi Jinping (习近平) asked questions while watching, affirmed Hangzhou's efforts to protect the Grand Canal, and put forward higher expectations. He affectionately urged that the Grand Canal should truly become "the people's canal" and "the tourists' canal."

Today, managing water and rivers, and continuing the cultural heritage, the millennium-old Grand Canal nourishes the cities and people on both sides. It is not only an ecological river and a cultural river, but also a river of prosperity and happiness.

In September 2023, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) came to the Zhedong Canal (浙东运河) in Shaoxing (绍兴). He urged to do a good job in this article on the Grand Canal, so that the ancient Grand Canal can radiate a new style of the times. He walked across a high arched stone bridge more than 10 meters high. Looking at the endless stream of traffic on the highway next to the stone bridge, the General Secretary exclaimed: "Here you can imagine the vicissitudes of ancient and modern times."

During this inspection, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) placed high hopes on Zhejiang (浙江) to better shoulder the cultural mission of the new era.

Zhejiang (浙江) firmly focuses on the core task of high-quality development and building a demonstration zone for common prosperity, and deployed and promoted the "Implementation Plan on Continuing to Deepen the 'Eight Projects' to Better Shoulder the Cultural Mission of the New Era and Accelerate the Construction of a High-Level Cultural Province," creating "five new highlands," and writing new answers in faithfully practicing the "Double-Eight Strategy" and continuously deepening the "Eight Projects."

The music never stops, and the cultural heritage continues.

Looking back at the 20 years that Zhejiang (浙江) has gone through under the guidance of the "Eight Projects," Zhejiang (浙江) has moved from building a large cultural province to a strong cultural province, and has embarked on a path of cultural development with distinct characteristics of the times, Chinese characteristics, and Zhejiang characteristics.

This is a fruitful 20 years - Zhejiang (浙江) has successively promoted the "Eight Projects" of cultural construction, using civilization to explore the source and protect the roots, using cultural genes to identify the family background, using cultural and tourism integration to promote development, and using civilization brands to establish a new style. Culture has increasingly become a shining symbol of the "important window" and a strong driving force for high-quality development and the construction of a common prosperity demonstration zone.

This is a 20 years of full bloom - West Lake (西湖), the Grand Canal (大运河), and the Liangzhu Ruins (良渚遗址) have become world cultural heritage sites; rural cultural auditoriums have achieved full coverage of administrative villages with more than 500 people; national civilized counties have achieved "full house red" in prefecture-level cities; 59 Zhejiang-produced works have won the national "Five-One Project" award; cultural special commissioners have achieved full coverage of all townships (streets); and "culture + technology" phenomena such as "Black Myth: Wukong" (《黑神话:悟空》) have attracted global attention...

Over the past 20 years, looking back at every stroke and every concern of General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) in Zhejiang's (浙江) cultural construction, we have a deeper understanding of the scientific truth value of Xi Jinping's (习近平) cultural thought. Xi Jinping's (习近平) cultural thought is a constantly unfolding and open ideological system, which will surely show more powerful truth power and practical power.

"There is both excellent traditional Chinese culture and Marxism in it"

"Historical Records" (《史记》) records that the Yellow Emperor Xuanyuan (轩辕黄帝) ascended to heaven by riding a dragon after casting a tripod in Jinyun (缙云). More than 1,600 years ago, the Yellow Emperor Temple (黄帝祠宇) was built against the mountain and became the main place for the Chinese people in southern China to sacrifice and worship the humanistic ancestor of the Chinese nation. For thousands of years, countless descendants of Yan and Huang have come here to seek their roots and find the spirit and strength of Chinese self-identity.

Looking up at the plaque of the Yellow Emperor Temple (黄帝祠宇), Zhang Xiaohua (章晓华) will never forget the meaningful question in the winter more than 20 years ago.

On January 8, 2004, on the eve of the Spring Festival, Xi Jinping (习近平) came here to inspect Yellow Emperor culture. As a scenic spot worker, she familiarly introduced the legends and sacrificial activities of the Yellow Emperor.

Walking up the steps, Xi Jinping (习近平) suddenly stopped, turned around, and asked Zhang Xiaohua (章晓华):

"Little girl, do you believe in Marxism or Yellow Emperor culture?"

Zhang Xiaohua (章晓华), who had been quick-spoken all the way, was speechless for a moment and froze in place. She hesitated for a moment, and then said:

"I believe in both..."

"The answer is very correct!" Xi Jinping (习近平) said with a smile, "As a Communist Party member, we must believe in Marxism. As descendants of Yan and Huang, the five thousand years of Chinese civilization make us unable to forget our roots."

That day, Xi Jinping (习近平) rang the bell full of New Year blessings for the people of the province here. The bell was clear and the aftertaste echoed, and it also echoed the profound thinking that the Chinese Communists have never stopped:

Culture is the soul, the spiritual bloodline deeply rooted in a society and a nation. How should Chinese Communists view excellent traditional Chinese culture? Where is the common logic between Marxism and excellent traditional Chinese culture?

Since Confucius (孔子) and his lineage were granted residence in Quzhou (衢州) in 1128 after "escorting the emperor south" (扈跸南渡), the Southern Confucian School (孔氏南宗) promoted Confucianism deep into the folk and had a profound impact on the development of Jiangnan culture.

At the end of December 2002, braving the cold wind, Xi Jinping (习近平) visited the Southern Confucian Temple (孔氏南宗家庙) at night. Roasting sweet potatoes around a charcoal stove, everyone ate and chatted. Soon they talked about the 2555th anniversary of Confucius's birth in two years. Quzhou (衢州) wanted to take this opportunity to restore the Confucius sacrificial ceremony that had been interrupted for more than half a century. However, there was no unified opinion on what ceremony to use.

"My father said to Secretary Xi (习书记) that we hope to restore the Southern Confucian sacrifice, adopt modern people to sacrifice to Confucius, that is, abandon the old etiquette, wear modern people's clothes, and perform modern people's etiquette. Hearing this, Secretary Xi (习书记) nodded and said that the historical and cultural connotation of the Southern Confucian Temple (孔氏南宗家庙) is profound and broad, and it is a highlight in Zhejiang's (浙江) history and culture. Southern Confucian culture is worth exploring and promoting well," recalled Kong Lingli (孔令立), the 76th generation direct descendant of Confucius.

Thus, Quzhou (衢州) officially determined the positioning of "contemporary people sacrificing to Confucius, and civilian sacrifice to Confucius." This is an innovation of traditional sacrificial culture - participants wear modern clothes and bow. Originally, pigs, cattle, and sheep were offered, but now they are replaced by grains and fresh fruits and vegetables.

In 2004, Quzhou (衢州) successfully held the first Southern Confucian sacrificial ceremony since the founding of New China - the grand sacrificial ceremony to commemorate the 2555th anniversary of Confucius's birth. In addition to the Kong clan and representatives from all walks of life, most of the on-site spectators were local citizens and students. As the influence grew, more and more people signed up for the ceremony afterwards - in the new ceremony, traditional culture and modern society are integrated, carrying out innovation and transformation...

On June 20, 2005, when Xi Jinping (习近平) made a keynote report on "Ideals, Values, and Humanistic Spirit," he gave a contemporary interpretation of the Confucian virtues of loyalty, filial piety, benevolence, and righteousness: "Loyalty means being responsible to the country; filial piety means being responsible to relatives; benevolence means love, benevolence means universal love, benevolence means being responsible to others and society; righteousness means being responsible to oneself." This is also a high embodiment of socialist core values.

In 2014, at the international academic seminar commemorating the 2565th anniversary of Confucius's birth, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) delivered an important speech. He pointed out: "Excellent traditional culture is the foundation for a country and a nation to inherit and develop. If it is lost, the spiritual lifeline will be cut off." We must "strive to achieve the creative transformation and innovative development of traditional culture, so that it can be integrated and interconnected with contemporary culture, and jointly serve the task of cultivating people with culture in the era."

If there is no people in the heart, do not be an official. Xi Jinping (习近平) draws on the virtues of being a person and the way of being an official from ancient sages, starting from the purpose of the Chinese Communist Party to serve the people. He requires party members and cadres to solve the problems of "why join the party, what to do as an 'official,' and what to leave behind" in their thinking.

On June 12, 2003, Xi Jinping (习近平) came to Yongkang Fangyan Hugong Temple (永康方岩胡公祠) for inspection. On the screen wall outside the temple, "Being an official for one term, benefiting one party" (为官一任  造福一方) is prominently displayed, which commemorates Hu Ze (胡则), an honest official of the Northern Song Dynasty.

Staring at these eight characters, Xi Jinping (习近平) said: "When I was the secretary in Ningde (宁德), I put forward the call to the cadres 'Being an official for one term, benefiting one party' (为官一任  造福一方), and I take it as my motto."

"Good benevolence and good righteousness benefit the people" (好仁好义泽黎民), Xi Jinping (习近平) repeatedly read the couplet in front of the central hall of Hugong, and further guided the local cadres: "This is also the goal of your work."

The people are the foundation of the country, and governing with virtue is not in line with the Marxist mass viewpoint and our party's political concept of "people first"? Can't it be applied to the political practice of Chinese Communists?

Coming out of Hugong Temple (胡公祠) and walking on Tianjie (天街), Xi Jinping (习近平) patiently and earnestly said: "Hugong advocated 'harmonious neighbors and cherishing distance' (睦邻怀远), and today we emphasize foreign cooperation; Hugong required 'reducing and exempting Dingqian' (减免丁钱), and we now advocate reducing the burden on farmers. Hugong embodies the political concept of恪尽职守 **kè jìn zhí shǒu** (kè jìn zhí shǒu - "conscientiously perform one's duties," to be dedicated to one's work) and doing his best for the people, so the people still remember him..."

Looking into the distance from Fangyan Mountain (方岩山), the Danxia peaks resemble granaries.

"With food in hand, you won't panic in your heart. This can be called 'the world's granary' (天下粮仓)," Xi Jinping (习近平) raised his hand and pointed to the mountains, "The world's granary, the people are rich, isn't this what our Communists pursue?!"

Being an official for one term, benefiting one party. The world's granary, the people are rich. Knowing where it comes from and where it is going, the world's feelings and people's feelings of a Chinese Marxist are rooted in the excellent traditional Chinese culture and reflected in the green mountains and rivers.

In 2004, Xi Jinping (习近平) began to invite experts and scholars in the fields of literature, history, philosophy, and other humanities and social sciences to give lectures. The courses included Western philosophy, Marxist dialectics, as well as Chinese philosophy and Zhejiang studies -

"When talking about the frontier issues of Chinese philosophy and Zhejiang studies, I prepared carefully and wrote more than 10,000 words of drafts. When lecturing, he listened carefully, took notes, and asked questions from time to time. We had a heated discussion..."

Wu Guang (吴光), a researcher at the Institute of Philosophy of the Zhejiang Academy of Social Sciences (浙江省社会科学院哲学研究所), will never forget the scene at that time.

From Dayu's (大禹) "adapting to the situation" (因势利导), to Wang Yangming's (王阳明) "unity of knowledge and action" (知行合一), to Chen Liang (陈亮) and Ye Shi's (叶适) "practical application" (经世致用)... The thoughts of the sages are as bright as stars, and the wisdom of ancient and modern times is integrated. How to apply the wisdom of the sages to the socialist construction led by the Party? How to create a new cultural life? Through a series of studies, research, and practices, Xi Jinping's (习近平) vision and thinking have been further expanded -

He looks at deepening reforms from "two hands" - in the ideological essence of Marxist political economics and Chinese traditional philosophy's "wuwei" (无为) and "youwei" (有为), he deeply considers the dialectical relationship between the government's "youwei" and the market's "effective" to better play the role of the "visible hand" and the "invisible hand";

He looks at structural adjustment from "two birds" - in the rich meaning of Marxist materialist dialectics and the Chinese traditional story of "phoenix nirvana" (凤凰浴火), he insightfully observes the profound laws of the transformation of old and new kinetic energy, promotes the strategic adjustment of Zhejiang's (浙江) economic structure, and realizes "phoenix nirvana" and "changing birds in a cage" (腾笼换鸟).
He views ecological environment from the perspective of "two mountains"—creatively proposing that "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets" in the innovative development of the Marxist view of ecology and the contemporary sublimation of the Chinese civilization's wisdom of "harmony between man and nature" (天人合一 (tiān rén hé yī - "heaven and man in one," the concept that humanity and nature are interconnected and should exist in harmony)), turning green into gold.

He views the "San Nong" (三农) issues from the perspective of "two kinds of people"—making a forward-looking arrangement for urban-rural integration in the Marxist people-first concept and the Chinese nation's thousands-of-years-old expectation of "the people may rest, and a little comfort may be attained" (民亦劳止,汔可小康 (mín yì láo zhǐ, qì kě xiǎo kāng - "the people may rest, and a little comfort may be attained," from the Book of Poetry, expressing the hope for a comfortable life for the people)), allowing urban residents and farmers to share the fruits of reform and development.

To strengthen theoretical study, he borrowed Wang Guowei's (王国维) "theory of realm" to propose that leading cadres should aim high, endure loneliness, and comprehend the true meaning in theoretical study.

To strengthen Party spirit cultivation, he attached great importance to Wang Yangming's (王阳明) "sincere intention and rectifying the heart" (诚意正心) and "unity of knowledge and action" (知行合一 (zhī xíng hé yī - "knowing and doing are one," the unity of knowledge and practice)). Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) has quoted Wang Yangming's doctrines and propositions on many occasions, and has repeatedly emphasized cultivating the "heart learning" of communists, adhering to the integration of learning, thinking, and application, and the unity of knowing, believing, and acting.

"Combining the basic principles of Marxism with the excellent traditional Chinese culture"—in Fengqiao, one can more deeply feel this combination of mutual agreement and mutual achievement.

Fengqiao Town (枫桥镇), Zhuji (诸暨), has been known as the "throat of Kuaiji (会稽), thoroughfare of Wu and Yue (婺越)" since ancient times.

Accompanied by the gurgling water of the Fengxi River (枫溪江), the "Fengqiao Experience" has been continuously inherited and developed for more than 60 years, rising from a "town plan" to a "national policy"—minor issues are resolved in the village, major issues are resolved in the town, and conflicts are not escalated. The "local remedies" originating from the people have now developed into a Chinese solution for grassroots social governance.

On September 20, 2023, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) came to Fengqiao (枫桥) and stood in front of the "Wu-Yue Thoroughfare" (婺越通衢) archway. He pointed out: "People should unite, help each other, and live in harmony. This contains both the excellent traditional Chinese culture and Marxism."

In the Fengqiao Experience Exhibition Hall, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) watched and reviewed the birth, evolution, and development of the "Fengqiao Experience": "This contains our Party's policies and strategies for handling problems and resolving conflicts..."

Unity, mutual assistance, and harmonious coexistence—we can find traces of history in the temples and steles here:

The Fengqiao Great Temple (枫桥大庙) enshrines neither gods nor famous scholars, but three common people: Yang Gong (杨公) who provided ferry services, Pan Gong (潘公) who sold Tangyuan (汤圆), and Chai Gong (柴公) who hunted and burned charcoal. They are revered and worshiped by the locals for their character of harmony, kindness, loyalty, and trustworthiness, which has been passed down from generation to generation.

A Qing Dynasty (清代) ancient stele records a story of conflict mediation: At that time, Fengqiao's (枫桥) commerce was prosperous, and goods from other places were gathered and distributed here by boats and rafts. Over time, conflicts arose among the porters. The county invited some respected local villagers to mediate, and finally both parties shook hands and made peace.

Unity, mutual assistance, and harmonious coexistence—this is the wisdom crystallization of traditional Chinese culture; coming from the masses and going to the masses—this is the Marxist view of the masses. The "Fengqiao Experience" has developed in this combination.

During his work in Zhejiang (浙江), Xi Jinping (习近平) innovatively developed the "Fengqiao Experience" and explored methods to correctly handle contradictions among the people under the new situation by relying on the people. Under his personal promotion and planning, the innovative development of the "Fengqiao Experience" is deeply embedded in the construction of "Safe Zhejiang" (平安浙江) and "Rule of Law Zhejiang" (法治浙江), and integrated into all aspects and the entire process of social governance in Zhejiang.

Today, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) once again pointed out the direction for understanding and developing the "Fengqiao Experience"—it is necessary to adhere to and develop the "Fengqiao Experience" in the new era, adhere to the Party's mass line, correctly handle contradictions among the people, rely closely on the people, and resolve problems at the grassroots level and eliminate them in the bud.

Zhejiang (浙江) deeply practices the "Fengqiao Experience" in the new era, promotes the organic integration of self-governance, rule of law, and rule of virtue, adheres to moving the gate forward, shifting the focus downward, and governing at the source, and enriches and improves the grassroots governance platform supported by grid management, refined services, and information technology. New "Feng" scenes are emerging: Tongxiang's (桐乡) "three governance integration," Zhoushan's (舟山) "Maritime Fengqiao Experience," Yiwu's (义乌) "International Old Ladies"...

In the ancient town of Fengqiao (枫桥古镇), tourists come and go in an endless stream. People come here to feel the power of excellent traditional Chinese culture, the Communist Party of China's feelings for the people, and the vigorous vitality of the "second combination"...

The development of the times never stops, and the pace of thought never ceases.

In the late spring and early summer of 2023, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) visited the National Archives of Publications and Culture (中国国家版本馆) and the Chinese Academy of History (中国历史研究院) successively, deeply considering the major issues of promoting the construction of socialist culture with Chinese characteristics.

On June 2, at the symposium on cultural inheritance and development, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) pointed out: "To open up and develop socialism with Chinese characteristics on the profound basis of more than 5,000 years of Chinese civilization, the combination of the basic principles of Marxism with the specific reality of China and the excellent traditional Chinese culture is the only way. This is the law-based understanding we have gained in exploring the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and it is our greatest magic weapon for success."

On October 28, 2024, at the 17th collective study of the 20th Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) once again emphasized the need to "adhere to Marxism as the fundamental guiding ideology and be rooted in the broad and profound Chinese civilization," and made further deployments to accelerate the construction of a strong cultural country.

…………

From governing one region to leading a major country with a population of more than 1.4 billion, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) has combined the soul of Marxism and the root of excellent traditional Chinese culture, opening up broad space for theoretical and practical innovation.

General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) pointed out: "Without the five thousand years of Chinese civilization, where would Chinese characteristics come from? If it were not for Chinese characteristics, where would our successful path of socialism with Chinese characteristics be today?"

Holding the scientific truth and bathed in the glory of civilization, we illuminate the road to rejuvenation with the fire of culture, allowing today's China to face the future and move forward with confidence.

(Xinhua News Agency, Beijing (北京), July 27, Zhejiang Daily Interview Team: Zhou Tianxiao (周天晓), Qiu Yijiao (裘一佼), Shen Jingjing (沈晶晶), Lin Xiaohui (林晓晖))

Return to Top

Striving to Build a Transportation Powerhouse (Forging Ahead and Securing Victory in the 14th Five-Year Plan)

By: 本报记者  韩  鑫  邱超奕

Original Article Return to Top

At different time scales, a flowing China is presenting a brand-new picture—

In one hour, the Fuxing Hao (复兴号) bullet train travels 350 kilometers at lightning speed, leading the world in speed and surging with innovative power.

In one day, an average of approximately 180 million people travel across regions, with high enthusiasm for travel and bursting market vitality.

In one year, 3,113 kilometers of new railway lines were put into operation, and the total length of highways increased by 53,500 kilometers, continuously improving service and support capabilities.

General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) pointed out: "Building a safe, convenient, efficient, green, economical, inclusive, and resilient sustainable transportation system is an important measure to support high-quality economic and social development and realize the beautiful vision of 'people enjoying their travel and goods flowing smoothly'."

On the Lingdingyang (伶仃洋) waters, the north and south immersed tube tunnels showcase the innovative height of transportation technology.

With rolling blue waves and a seamless blend of sea and sky, two super projects more than 30 kilometers apart stand distantly facing each other. From the successful installation of China's first offshore immersed tunnel element for the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (港珠澳大桥) in 2013 to the closure of the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Bridge (深中通道) immersed tunnel in 2023, it was the same team with a decade-long leap.

China's transportation technology innovation has achieved a qualitative leap from quantitative accumulation and a systematic improvement from partial advancement: overcoming geological challenges, the world's longest highway tunnel, the Tianshan Victory Tunnel (天山胜利隧道), successfully penetrated the north and south of the Tianshan Mountains (天山); committed to independent innovation, the world's fastest high-speed train, the CR450, successfully debuted; accelerating intelligent transformation, more than 2,800 kilometers of the Yangtze River (长江) trunk waterway achieved full 5G coverage, artificial intelligence is accelerating its application in the field of transportation, and new technologies and models such as autonomous driving, intelligent shipping, and smart logistics are booming... Infrastructure construction is changing with each passing day, and equipment manufacturing capabilities have been greatly improved, strongly supporting the increasingly perfect modern comprehensive transportation system.

By the end of 2024, more than one-third of the provinces in the country had achieved high-speed rail access to all cities, and more than two-thirds of the provinces had achieved highway access to all counties; the "Four Goods Rural Roads" (四好农村路) construction has been accelerated, and the total mileage of rural roads has reached 4.64 million kilometers; aviation services cover 92.6% of the country's prefecture-level administrative units and 91.2% of the population; the number of express delivery service network routes has increased by 23,300. In the first half of this year, 1.6474 trillion yuan of fixed asset investment in transportation was completed, and 33.76 billion cross-regional personnel movements were completed.

On the coast of the East China Sea (东海), a world's major cargo port, as a hard-core force, provides strong support for China's export goods to go out and import goods to come in, marking the development strength of ensuring smooth transportation and logistics.

With a whistle, the "Sima Essen" (司马埃森) vessel, fully loaded with small commodities from Yiwu (义乌), Zhejiang (浙江), departed from Ningbo-Zhoushan Port (宁波舟山港). Thanks to the new logistics model of "rail-sea express line + Middle East express航," the "Sima Essen" vessel arrived at Jebel Ali Port (杰贝阿里港) in the United Arab Emirates in just 17 days.

The world's largest small commodity market is closely connected to the world's largest port in terms of cargo throughput, helping the efficient flow of goods for hundreds of thousands of small and medium-sized enterprises across the country. As of now, the cumulative transportation volume of the rail-sea intermodal transport channel between Yiwu (义乌) and Ningbo-Zhoushan Port (宁波舟山港) has exceeded 1 million TEUs.

A more mature transportation framework has accelerated the flow of materials and personnel. In 2024, the national social logistics costs were reduced by approximately 400 billion yuan, of which transportation costs were reduced by approximately 280 billion yuan, accounting for about 2/3; the freight turnover of railways and waterways increased by 17.5% and 33.6% respectively compared with 2020, the maximum daily processing capacity of express delivery reached 729 million pieces, and logistics transportation was smoother; the urban passenger volume was approximately 106.8 billion passengers, and approximately 200 million passengers travel through urban public transportation every day, the rate of access to passenger transport in townships and established villages across the country that meet the conditions is 100%, and residents' travel is more convenient... China has become one of the busiest countries in the world in terms of transportation.

"Connecting" with the world and "communicating" with the times. Looking at the sea, land, and air, a grand transportation plan is unfolding: maritime routes reach more than 100 countries and regions, and a number of ports such as the Chancay Port (钱凯港) have been put into operation; the number of China-Europe freight trains (中欧班列) has exceeded 110,000, and international multimodal transport routes such as the China-Europe Trans-Caspian Express have been opened; civil aviation international routes connect 213 cities in 83 countries; postal networks cover more than 220 countries and regions... China's transportation "circle of friends" is constantly expanding, and a new pattern of open cooperation in transportation facing the world and benefiting all parties has strongly guaranteed the stability of the global industrial chain and supply chain, and the achievements of sustainable transportation development continue to benefit the people of all countries in the world.

"We will thoroughly implement General Secretary Xi Jinping's (习近平) important exposition on building a transportation powerhouse, create first-class facilities, first-class technology, first-class management, and first-class services, strive to accelerate the construction of a transportation powerhouse, and strive to be a pioneer in China's modernization, and provide stronger and more powerful transportation service guarantees for the great cause of building a strong country and national rejuvenation," said Liu Wei (刘伟), Secretary of the Party Group and Minister of the Ministry of Transport (交通运输部).

Return to Top

People Enjoy Traveling, Goods Flow Smoothly (Editor's Notes)

By: 赵 政

Original Article Return to Top

The Yangtze River's freight volume remains the highest among the world's inland rivers. The "eight vertical and eight horizontal" high-speed rail network is taking shape with increasing density. In the first half of this year, the scale of civil aviation transportation reached a new high... Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, China's transportation industry has achieved historic accomplishments and undergone historic transformations, ushering in a historic leap from a large transportation country to a strong transportation country. A modern and comprehensive transportation system is becoming increasingly complete, powerfully promoting the high-quality development of China's economy and society, and better serving and ensuring the convenient travel of the people.

Possessing the world's largest high-speed railway network, high-speed highway network, and world-class port cluster, the vision of "people enjoying their travel and goods flowing smoothly" is accelerating into reality. "Transportation is becoming the pioneer of China's modernization." A magnificent picture of a flowing China is slowly unfolding.

**人享其行、物畅其流** (rén xiǎng qí xíng, wù chàng qí liú - "people enjoy their travel, goods flow smoothly," a vision of efficient and convenient transportation for both people and goods).

Return to Top

Hunan Deepens Advantages in Developing Advanced Manufacturing

By: 本报记者  吴齐强  颜  珂  申智林

Original Article Return to Top

"Xiang-branded" Major National Instruments, Continuously Climbing the Peak of Manufacturing——

The largest excavation diameter is 16.64 meters! An extra-large diameter shield tunneling machine with a total length of about 145 meters and a total weight of 5,000 tons, appeared at the construction site of the Hai Tai Yangtze River Tunnel (海太长江隧道) in Jiangsu (江苏).

A 4,000-ton all-terrain crane! Tailor-made for the installation of super-large and super-high wind turbines on land, it can lift 160 tons of heavy objects to a height equivalent to a 65-story building.

Manufacturing is the hard-core strength driving the rise of the central region. Hunan (湖南) has a solid foundation in advanced manufacturing, with 5 national-level advanced manufacturing clusters and 72 national-level manufacturing single champion enterprises.

In March 2024, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) pointed out during his inspection in Hunan (湖南): "Focus on advantageous industries, strengthen industrial base reconstruction and major technical equipment breakthroughs, continue to strengthen advanced manufacturing, promote the high-end, intelligent, and green development of industries, and build national-level industrial clusters."

Firmly grasping the main direction of advanced manufacturing, Hunan (湖南) leads industrial innovation with technological innovation, promotes the integrated development of the real economy and the digital economy, and accelerates the construction of a modern industrial system supported by advanced manufacturing.

56 unmanned mining trucks and more than 500 manned mining trucks are mixed and grouped, operating in the same field in an orderly manner. This large open-pit coal mine production scene is the result of the technological application of Self-Driving Technology Co., Ltd. (希迪智驾科技股份有限公司).

Ma Wei (马潍), Vice Chairman of Self-Driving Technology Co., Ltd. (希迪智驾科技股份有限公司), frankly said that the company's rapid growth step by step "relies on independent innovation."

Anchoring key core technologies, Hunan (湖南) stimulates innovation vitality through reform——

Introducing a number of measures to accelerate the transformation of scientific and technological achievements of colleges and universities; implementing the "Top Ten Technical Tackling Projects" for five consecutive years, breaking through more than 170 key core technologies... Hunan (湖南) strives to unblock the key points and blockages in the connection between the innovation chain and the industrial chain, and further strengthens the main position of enterprises in innovation.

The innovation vitality of enterprises is bursting out. SunSure Biotech Co., Ltd. (圣湘生物科技股份有限公司) established a Life Science Research Institute to strengthen basic technology pre-research. Ren Xiaomei (任小梅), Deputy Director of the Research Institute, introduced: "In the field of testing reagents alone, we registered 11 new products last year."

In 2024, Hunan (湖南) accelerated the promotion of five landmark projects of the science and technology innovation highland, accelerated the construction of the Changsha-Zhuzhou-Xiangtan National Independent Innovation Demonstration Zone (长株潭国家自主创新示范区), and completed the reorganization of 35 national key laboratories...

In the Zoomlion Smart Industry City (中联智慧产业城) in Hunan Xiangjiang New Area (湖南湘江新区), 12 smart factories, 20 smart production lines, and more than 2,000 industrial robots fully demonstrate the new vitality of Chinese intelligent manufacturing.

Hunan (湖南) explores the path of deep integration of the real economy and the digital economy——

Leading by leading enterprises, getting rid of the "inertia" of not wanting to transform.

Zhuzhou Jiufang Equipment Co., Ltd. (株洲九方装备股份有限公司) has been rooted in the field of axle thermal spraying for many years and is a supplier of CRRC Zhuzhou Electric Locomotive Co., Ltd. (中车株洲电力机车有限公司). "The complete machine enterprise took the lead in digital transformation, driving us to follow suit," said Jiang Yufei (姜宇飞), Deputy General Manager of Zhuzhou Jiufang Equipment Co., Ltd. (株洲九方装备股份有限公司).

Optimizing supply, solving the "confusion" of not knowing how to transform.

Hunan Hengmao Hi-Tech Co., Ltd. (湖南恒茂高科股份有限公司) once tried digital transformation, but the scattered system led to low efficiency in data extraction and utilization. The Hunan Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology (湖南省工业和信息化厅) created a "database of enterprises intending to undergo digital transformation" and a "resource pool of digital transformation service providers." "Now, we search according to the 'pool', and the problem of data 'barriers' has been solved," Lan Yu (兰宇), Deputy Director of the company's Information Center, said with emotion.

Riding the "digital" wave and moving towards "new", Hunan (湖南) is implementing major technological transformation and upgrading of manufacturing and large-scale equipment renewal projects, and innovatively carrying out the "Intelligent Empowerment of Ten Thousand Enterprises" action.

Currently, Hunan (湖南) is focusing on four directions: transforming and upgrading traditional industries, consolidating and extending advantageous industries, cultivating and strengthening emerging industries, and proactively laying out future industries, and deploying the construction of four major key industries respectively.

"Hunan (湖南) will thoroughly implement the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping's (习近平) important instructions, strengthen innovation-driven development, promote strengthening and supplementing the industrial chain, strengthen industrial clusters, and accelerate the high-quality development of advanced manufacturing in Hunan (湖南)," said Shen Xiaoming (沈晓明), Secretary of the Hunan Provincial Party Committee.

Return to Top

Photo Story

Original Article Return to Top

On July 27th, the "First Anniversary Main Venue Event of the Successful Beijing Central Axis World Heritage Application" was held at the Bell and Drum Tower Square (钟鼓楼广场) in Beijing (北京). The event released the "Three-Year Action Plan for the Protection and Inheritance of the Beijing Central Axis (2025-2027)" and other documents, showcasing a series of achievements in the overall and systematic protection of the Beijing Central Axis, the inheritance and utilization of cultural heritage, and international exchange and cooperation since the successful World Heritage application a year ago. The picture shows people viewing achievement exhibition boards at the Bell and Drum Tower Square (钟鼓楼广场) on that day.

Xinhua News Agency Reporter Chen Zhonghao (陈钟昊) Photo

Return to Top

Draw Strength from the Spirit, Inspire the Power to Move Forward (Remember History, Cherish the Memory of Martyrs)

By: 本报记者  刘涓溪  胡婧怡

Original Article Return to Top

A special Party class was recently held in the report hall of the Benxi Municipal Party School (本溪市委党校) in Liaoning Province (辽宁省). The class included a performance depicting the dialogue between the anti-Japanese hero Yang Jingyu (杨靖宇) and his mother, wife, and children on the eve of his sacrifice. The actors were all teachers from the Benxi Municipal Party School (本溪市委党校), who, through creating courses such as "Ode to the Anti-Japanese United Army" and "The Appearance of a Communist," allowed the heroic deeds to transcend time and space, educating and inspiring the students.

The Benxi (本溪) area was a major base of operations for the First Route Army of the Northeast Anti-Japanese United Army (东北抗日联军第一路军) and one of the important sources of the Northeast Anti-Japanese Volunteer Army (东北抗日义勇军). Today, the stories of the Anti-Japanese United Army still resonate, and the great spirit of the War of Resistance remains as fresh as ever. In Benxi Manchu Autonomous County (本溪满族自治县), Benxi City (本溪市), many landmarks and streets are named after "Anti-Japanese United Army" (抗联) and "Jingyu" (靖宇), the red gene is passed down from generation to generation, and the red bloodline continues to thrive.

One by one, the cultural relics of the War of Resistance tell the story of a glorious past.

In the Northeast Anti-Japanese United Army Historical Exhibition Hall (东北抗联史实陈列馆) located in the county seat of Benxi County (本溪县), there are exhibits of the *wula* shoes, cotton clothes, rifles, iron bowls, hoes, and other items used by the soldiers of the Northeast Anti-Japanese United Army (东北抗日联军). These cultural relics of the War of Resistance silently tell the story of the heroic War of Resistance.

Li Yingnan (李瑛楠), a guide at the Northeast Anti-Japanese United Army Historical Exhibition Hall (东北抗联史实陈列馆), introduced that Yang Jingyu (杨靖宇), the commander-in-chief of the First Route Army of the Northeast Anti-Japanese United Army (东北抗日联军第一路军), led his soldiers to set up camps in the deep mountains and dense forests, digging large pits, using wood as beams, and then covering them with artemisia grass to form underground bunkers. The soldiers rested in these humid, cold, dark, and narrow spaces, holding their guns and back-to-back.

A rusty machete in the museum is a cultural relic donated to the exhibition hall by the descendants of the hunter Jiang Guoen (蒋国恩). Li Yingnan (李瑛楠) introduced that after Yang Jingyu (杨靖宇) led his troops to the Liaodong (辽东) mountainous area to open up the Benhuan (本桓) Anti-Japanese Guerrilla Base, he often stayed in Jiang Guoen's (蒋国恩) home. Once, several traitors stewed a poisonous pheasant and sent it to Yang Jingyu (杨靖宇), but Jiang Guoen (蒋国恩) recognized it on the spot. Later, to express his gratitude, Yang Jingyu (杨靖宇) gave Jiang Guoen (蒋国恩) the machete he carried with him.

"During the War of Resistance, the soldiers guarded their homes, and the people cared about the soldiers, leaving behind many touching stories." Zhou Hao (周浩), director of the Research Department of the Northeast Anti-Japanese United Army Historical Exhibition Hall (东北抗联史实陈列馆), has been engaged in research related to the Northeast Anti-Japanese United Army (东北抗联) for a long time. He said that some villagers buried potatoes in the fields to avoid enemy surveillance when delivering food to the soldiers, marking them to guide the soldiers to dig them up.

As time passes, the details of history are frozen in one cultural relic of the War of Resistance after another. According to statistics, Benxi County (本溪县) has a total of 43 Anti-Japanese United Army sites and relics, 23 of which are listed as protection projects, and 1,201 cultural relics in the collection.

"I have heard many stories of anti-Japanese heroes since I was a child, and I admire them very much." Zhou Hao (周浩) is from Benxi County (本溪县). In recent years, he has been traveling around to collect cultural relics and historical materials related to the Northeast Anti-Japanese United Army (东北抗联). "Every cultural relic and every relic is a testimony to the unyielding resistance of the Anti-Japanese United Army soldiers, and these stories deserve to be remembered."

One by one, the stories of the War of Resistance continue the red bloodline.

Just across the street from the Northeast Anti-Japanese United Army Historical Exhibition Hall (东北抗联史实陈列馆) is the Benxi County Anti-Japanese United Army Middle School (本溪县抗联中学). Every class here is named after an anti-Japanese hero. "Yang Jingyu" Class (杨靖宇班), "Zhao Yiman" Class (赵一曼班), "Deng Tiemei" Class (邓铁梅班)... In each classroom, not only are photos of anti-Japanese heroes hung, but there is also a class flag with the hero's name written on it.

"This method allows the stories of heroes to take root deeply in the hearts of students, and allows the great spirit of the War of Resistance to be inherited subtly." Ding Jitao (丁吉涛), the principal of the Anti-Japanese United Army Middle School (抗联中学), said that the class will regularly organize theme class meetings on the Northeast Anti-Japanese United Army (东北抗联), and the flag-raising ceremony every week will share the stories of anti-Japanese heroes; the school also cooperates with the Northeast Anti-Japanese United Army Historical Exhibition Hall (东北抗联史实陈列馆) to jointly select and train "little Anti-Japanese United Army guides."

Deng Yutong (邓雨桐), a seventh-grade student who is currently participating in the selection of "little Anti-Japanese United Army guides," often recites the story of the anti-Japanese hero Deng Tiemei (邓铁梅): "After the September 18th Incident (九一八事变), patriotic person Deng Tiemei (邓铁梅) organized the Northeast People's Self-Defense Army (东北民众自卫军) in the mountains and fought desperately with the enemy..."

Deng Yutong's (邓雨桐) home is in Moshiyu Village (磨石峪村), Benxi County (本溪县), the birthplace of Deng Tiemei (邓铁梅). "Every day after school, when I pass the entrance of the village, I can see the monument to the hero Deng Tiemei (邓铁梅). I want to remember his story better, tell it better, and tell it to more people," said Deng Yutong (邓雨桐).

"Heroic stories are passed down from generation to generation, and people draw spiritual nourishment from these stories, inspiring the power to move forward," said Nie Shouquan (聂守全), vice president of the Benxi Municipal Party School (本溪市委党校).

Revolutionary sculptures, mossy stone steps, barracks ruins... At the Anti-Japanese United Army Secret Camp Site (抗联密营遗址) in the Guanmenshan Scenic Area (关门山景区), more than 20 party members from the Benxi County Supply and Marketing Cooperative (本溪县供销社) studied the red history, reviewed their oaths of joining the Party, and sang revolutionary songs together in front of the site. "Based on the exploration of revolutionary sites and historical materials, we have renovated and restored the Anti-Japanese United Army Secret Camp (抗联密营), the Anti-Japanese United Army Transportation Station (抗联交通站), the Anti-Japanese United Army Hospital (抗联医院) and other sites, which have become good places for red research and study," said Zhang Ligang (张利岗), the person in charge of the Guanmenshan Scenic Area (关门山景区).

In recent years, the Benxi Municipal Party School (本溪市委党校) has relied on the Northeast Anti-Japanese United Army Historical Exhibition Hall (东北抗联史实陈列馆), the Yang Jingyu Memorial Hall (杨靖宇纪念馆), the Northeast Anti-Japanese United Army Laobiangou Battle Site (东北抗联老边沟战斗遗址) and other red resources to create the "Re-walking the Anti-Japanese United Army Road" activity, and carried out a series of activities such as micro-Party classes, situational dramas, and field research. "Red history is a 'textbook' and 'nutrient'. We must use vivid historical stories and diverse experiences to impress people and let the great spirit of the War of Resistance penetrate into people's hearts," said Nie Shouquan (聂守全).

One by one, the red relics drive rural development.

The mountains are continuous, the streams are gurgling, the cool evening breeze blows away the summer heat, and the village activity square in Hubao Village (胡堡村), Cahe Zhang Town (草河掌镇) becomes lively. The adjacent Party-Masses Service Center is newly renovated, and the three-dimensional red five-pointed star on the outer wall is particularly eye-catching.

Zhao Wenxiong (赵文雄), the first secretary stationed in the village, is live-streaming: "In May 1936, General Yang Jingyu (杨靖宇) held the first Western Expedition Meeting in the mountains and forests of our Hubao Village (胡堡村)... Our mountain products come from this mountain forest. Welcome everyone to Benxi County (本溪县) to see the red relics and enjoy the beautiful scenery of the mountains and rivers."

Wang Chunzhi (王春志), a major beekeeper, is studying attentively beside him. In June of this year, after the opening of the live broadcast room of the first secretary of Hubao Village (胡堡村), Wang Chunzhi's (王春志) native honey was placed in front of the camera. "In the past, I just hung a sign on the roadside and waited for customers to come to my door. Now that I have a live broadcast room, my products can be sold to more places." Wang Chunzhi (王春志) has been raising bees for more than 20 years. July is the time when linden trees bloom. He has to go up the mountain every two or three days "fully armed" to check the beehive situation. After a circle, he is already drenched in sweat.

Hubao Village (胡堡村) is located at the foot of the Monk's Hat Base (和尚帽子根据地) in the mountains where the First Route Army of the Northeast Anti-Japanese United Army (东北抗日联军第一路军) was founded. There are many mountains and little land. In the past, villagers either worked odd jobs nearby or collected mountain products for scattered operations.

In 2023, Hubao Village (胡堡村) was selected as a national pilot village for the construction of red and beautiful villages, with a one-time subsidy of 3 million yuan from the central government, a special matching fund of 2 million yuan from the provincial government, and 1.1 million yuan of various fiscal funds coordinated by the city, county, and township. In just two years, the village has undergone a new look: the Western Expedition Conference Site (西征会议遗址) has been renovated with gardens, the Party-Masses Service Center has opened a farmers' night school and a farmers' health center, and 289 acres of red pine forest have become an important part of the village's collective income... In 2024, the per capita net income of Hubao Village (胡堡村) reached 20,000 yuan.

"Our village not only has rich red relics, but also has better and better infrastructure and public services, attracting more and more tourists." Zhao Wenxiong (赵文雄) said that many villagers have opened homestays and farmhouses at home and are making a living from cultural tourism.

Last year, Wang Chunzhi (王春志) renovated his old house and decorated some guest rooms. He opened for business for the first time during the National Day holiday and was fully booked. Wang Chunzhi (王春志) said: "When tourists come to stay, I will tell them the red stories here and help them recommend nearby red tourism routes."

"Hubao Village (胡堡村) will adhere to the leadership of Party building, promote the inheritance of red culture, the construction of beautiful villages, and the development of characteristic industries, so that the great spirit of the War of Resistance will illuminate the road to prosperity and strengthening the village," said Zhao Wenxiong (赵文雄).

Return to Top

Page 02版:要闻

Culture is the soul

Original Article Return to Top

In the long river of human history, what exactly does culture mean?

"Culture is the soul of a nation, the spiritual bond that maintains national unity and ethnic solidarity, and the concentrated embodiment of a nation's vitality, creativity, and cohesiveness."

As early as more than 20 years ago, Xi Jinping (习近平) had profound thoughts and practices regarding culture in Zhejiang Province.

On July 28 and 29, 2005, the Eighth Plenary Session of the Eleventh Zhejiang Provincial Party Committee was held. Xi Jinping (习近平), then the Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, delivered a report. The meeting reviewed and approved the "Decision of the Zhejiang Provincial Party Committee of the Communist Party of China on Accelerating the Construction of a Major Cultural Province," and deployed the implementation of the "Eight Projects" for the construction of a major cultural province.

Over the past 20 years, from the awakening of the "dawn of civilization" at the Liangzhu Site (良渚遗址) more than 5,000 years ago, to the continuation of the millennium-long cultural heritage of the "Grand Collection of Chinese Paintings Through the Ages" (中国历代绘画大系); from the blossoming of new charm in cultural heritages such as West Lake (西湖) and the Grand Canal (运河), to the writing of new chapters in cultural undertakings and cultural industries... the "Eight Projects," amidst the green mountains and clear waters of Zhejiang, have stirred up a grand atmosphere of "**郁郁乎文哉**" (yù yù hū wén zāi - "how rich and splendid is its culture," a flourishing and vibrant cultural scene).

In October 2023, the National Conference on Propaganda and Ideological Culture officially proposed and systematically expounded Xi Jinping's (习近平) Thought on Culture—marking a new height in our Party's understanding of the laws governing the construction of socialist culture with Chinese characteristics, and demonstrating a new height in our Party's historical confidence and cultural confidence.

With its vast territory and mighty rivers, China is experiencing ideological ferment that allows Chinese civilization to shine with unique splendor, and the soul of culture is building a foundation and gathering strength for national rejuvenation.

From the blossoming spring to the verdant summer, we admire the Red Boat of Nanhu (南湖红船), seek out the ancient relics of Liangzhu (良渚古迹), ascend the Yellow Emperor's Temple (黄帝祠宇), visit the Southern Confucian Holy Land (南孔圣地), walk through ancient city streets, and enter enterprises and villages... tracing the origins and sources, we appreciate the scientific truth value, powerful spiritual strength, and broad cultural sentiments contained in the great thought...

"Let our culture continue endlessly, and let our creation thrive."

Shaoxing (绍兴), a city of ancient relics and charm, is a millennium-old hall of literature. Cangqiao Straight Street (仓桥直街), with its bustling life, melodious Yue opera, and surging crowds.

More than 20 years ago, it was here that people were hesitant about whether to demolish or retain the ancient street residences: should they demolish the "old" to build the "new," or protect it in its "original flavor"?

At that time, Zhejiang was in the midst of an explosive period of urbanization and urban development, and many places had the impulse for commercial development. Ancient cities and blocks with excellent locations were naturally the focus of attention.

In January 2003, the snow had just cleared. Xi Jinping (习近平), who had been in Zhejiang for three months, came here, treading on the slippery stone roads, listening to the melodious Shaoxing (绍兴) dialect in the old houses, and was in high spirits.

"Should we insist on preserving the original appearance of the old street?" Zhong Huahua (钟华华), then the director of the Shaoxing Municipal Construction Committee, accompanied the research and said his confusion as soon as he met.

"We must protect it in its original flavor!" Xi Jinping (习近平) replied affirmatively, and casually recited the poem "Returning Home" written by the Tang Dynasty poet He Zhizhang (贺知章): "I left home young and return old, my accent unchanged, my hair thinned..."

He said to Zhong Huahua (钟华华): "Because you did this, we can hear the local accent today, remember our homesickness, and think of the verses written by He Zhizhang (贺知章)."

Where do guests come from, and homesickness is expressed through the local accent. No matter where you go, having old houses as before and an unchanged local accent will prevent you from being like rootless duckweed.

Xi Jinping (习近平) instructed local cadres that the protection work should focus on the authenticity of history, the integrity of the style, and the continuity of life.

These three principles run through the protection work of Shaoxing (绍兴) as a famous historical and cultural city. Cangqiao Straight Street (仓桥直街) ultimately retained more than 840 old residents living in old houses and 43 old houses, and was praised by UNESCO as a "living display of Chinese heritage."

These three principles have further pointed the way for the protection of famous historical and cultural cities in various parts of Zhejiang. As of the end of 2024, Zhejiang has 20 famous historical and cultural cities, 94 famous towns, 218 famous villages, 107 historical and cultural blocks, 73,943 immovable cultural relics, and 11,126 historical buildings. The total amount of various cultural heritages ranks among the top in the country.

"Protecting it in its original flavor" continues the historical context and solves the question of where we come from. In the tide of the times, where should Zhejiang go?

At the beginning of the 21st century, Zhejiang leaped from a small province with limited resources to one of the fastest-growing and most dynamic provinces in China, while facing the intertwined predicament of "innate deficiencies" and "growing pains."

The higher the mountain, the harder it is to climb. How to work hard in a practical way? How to be at the forefront?

Not many people talked about culture. "Industry is discussed all day, agriculture is discussed over a cigarette, and when it comes to culture, education, and health, the meeting is adjourned," this was the situation in many parts of Zhejiang at that time.

Xi Jinping (习近平) had keen insight.

He summarized Zhejiang's past achievements: "Zhejiang has no special policies and no special resources. The reason why it has achieved today's achievements is that Zhejiang has a profound cultural heritage, and Zhejiang's cultural traditions are very suitable for the requirements of a market economy."

He analyzed Zhejiang's future development: "Whether Zhejiang can continue to be at the forefront in comprehensively building a moderately prosperous society and accelerating the process of socialist modernization in the future largely depends on our profound understanding of the power of culture, our high awareness of developing advanced culture, and our efforts to accelerate the construction of a major cultural province."

Xi Jinping (习近平) first focused his attention on meeting the cultural needs of the people, and he proposed to "dedicate the most beautiful spiritual food to the people"—

Hangzhou (杭州), Nanshan Road (南山路). Zhejiang Art Museum (浙江美术馆), leaning against the mountain and facing the lake, is well-arranged. The wave-shaped architecture complements the West Lake (西湖). Pedestrians walking by seem to be walking in a Jiangnan ink painting. How was it created?

January 31, 2003, Xi Jinping's (习近平) first Lunar New Year's Eve after coming to work in Zhejiang. It was drizzling and the cold was biting. He held an umbrella and led a group of people along Nanshan Road (南山路) to survey the area.

Some people say: "Half of the history of Chinese painting and calligraphy is in Zhejiang." Several generations have dreamed of building a first-class comprehensive art museum in Zhejiang. As soon as Xi Jinping (习近平) arrived in Zhejiang, he put this work on the agenda.

After the on-site survey, in a conference room of the Hangzhou Liuying Hotel (杭州柳莺宾馆), the debate was almost white-hot—

Some people advocated that the art museum should be built on the edge of West Lake (西湖). Nanshan Road (南山路) has convenient transportation, a beautiful environment, and is surrounded by the China Academy of Art (中国美术学院), Leifeng Pagoda (雷峰塔) and other landmarks, creating a strong cultural atmosphere;

Some people said that land on the edge of West Lake (西湖) is very expensive, the art museum covers a large area, and it needs to be equipped with green space and parking lots, which also involves relocation problems. This is not cost-effective...

Should we calculate economic benefits or social benefits?

Xi Jinping (习近平) made the decision: "Build it on the edge of West Lake (西湖)."

In the blink of an eye, it was the end of the year again. That night, in the conference room of the Provincial Administrative Center, Xi Jinping (习近平) selected a set from three design proposals for the Zhejiang Art Museum (浙江美术馆): white walls and black tiles complemented the modern glass curtain wall, interpreting the architectural concept of "New Jiangnan"—that was the echo of history, the reflection of the times, it was Chinese, it was for the Chinese people!

On May 15, 2005, the Zhejiang Art Museum (浙江美术馆) officially broke ground. Xi Jinping (习近平) personally pressed the start button. Today, the Zhejiang Art Museum (浙江美术馆) holds about 40 exhibitions of various types every year, attracting a large number of visitors. Focusing on spiritual common prosperity, it has cultivated a total of 101 rural art museums in the province, and the public's sketching in art museums has become a popular phenomenon...

The power of culture ultimately comes from the influence and appeal of the core values embodied in it. Xi Jinping (习近平) has repeatedly demanded that the best places be given to the people. From the shores of West Lake (西子湖畔) to the source of the Qiantang River (钱江源头) and the starting point of the Grand Canal (大运河起点), museums, libraries, grand theaters, cultural centers (stations)... various public welfare cultural facilities have broken ground, and the public cultural service system is becoming increasingly perfect.

On July 10, 2003, at the Fourth Plenary Session of the Eleventh Provincial Party Committee, Xi Jinping (习近平) proposed the "Eight-Eight Strategy" (八八战略) for the top-level design of provincial development, and "accelerating the construction of a major cultural province" became an important part of it.

In 2004, Xi Jinping (习近平) personally led a team to conduct research on cultural construction—from the protection of cultural relics, famous cities, and cultural heritage to the development of cultural industries such as film, television, and animation, from rural cultural life to urban community cultural and sports activities, and then to the exploration of cultural system reform... The level was high, the scale was large, and the impact was far-reaching.

On March 25, 2004, the new Haiyantang Road (海盐塘路) branch of the Jiaxing City Library (嘉兴市图书馆) was quiet. Entering the library, Xi Jinping (习近平) rarely spoke. When going upstairs, he suddenly asked: "Do farmers come here to read?"

"Yes, but not many."

"Why?"

"It is not convenient for farmers to go to the city library."

"Can the high-quality resources of the city library be transferred to towns and villages?"

…………

Cui Quansen (崔泉森), then the director of the library, has a vivid memory of this conversation: "Secretary Xi was anxious about the farmers' desire to read."

Bearing in mind Xi Jinping's (习近平) instructions, they worked hard to explore and practice. In 2010, the Jiaxing Library (嘉兴图书馆) achieved full coverage of all towns and villages with its general and branch libraries. In 2012, Zhejiang's farmers' bookstores achieved full coverage of administrative villages; currently, there are more than 17,000 farmers' bookstores in the province, carrying out more than 100,000 reading and cultural activities of various types every year.

Hengtang Village (横塘村), Yiwu (义乌). In a small conference room, a reporter asked Ding Zheng (丁政), then the director of the Yiwu Municipal Party Committee Office:

"Secretary-General Xi Jinping (习近平) summarized Yiwu's development here as 'inexplicable,' 'creating something out of nothing,' and 'turning stone into gold.' How do you understand this 'wonderful' word?"

"Yiwu (义乌) is not on the border and not near the sea, and has no resources, but it has developed strongly. Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) has come to investigate many times. The 'wonderful' he said refers to our culture..." said Ding Zheng (丁政).

This "wonderful" word is more wonderfully interpreted in the "Investigation Report on the Successful Model of Comprehensively Building a Moderately Prosperous Society—on the Development Experience of Yiwu (义乌)," which was personally reviewed and approved by Xi Jinping (习近平): "Yiwu's (义乌) profound cultural heritage has nurtured the Yiwu (义乌) spirit of 'diligence in farming and learning, uprightness and courage,' and formed a 'rattle-drum culture' with regional characteristics, which provides a strong spiritual source and fertile cultural soil for Yiwu (义乌) people's entrepreneurship and Yiwu's (义乌) reform and development."

Each investigation is not only a comprehensive cultural "physical examination," but also a systematic "dissection of sparrows." Xi Jinping (习近平) also presided over research symposiums of the Zhejiang Propaganda and Culture System, report meetings on research topics of the Provincial Political Consultative Conference on the major cultural province, research symposiums of the science, education, health, and sports system, and symposiums on accelerating the construction of a major cultural province, gathering wisdom and building consensus.

He put forward the four-character requirements of "truth," "emotion," "reality," and "intention" for the vast number of workers in philosophy and social sciences—truly adhering to the guiding position of Marxism, being full of passion for philosophy and social science work, adhering to the principle of integrating theory with practice, and establishing a sense of excellence; for journalists, he put forward "serving the Party and the people, promoting justice and eliminating evil, valuing hearing and emphasizing seeing," and proposed "building the Internet into a new position, new channel, and new carrier for propaganda and ideological work"...

Based on in-depth research, a thick research report on "The Status Quo and Countermeasures for the Construction of a Major Cultural Province" was produced, and a blueprint for the construction of a major cultural province gradually took shape in Xi Jinping's (习近平) mind.

A moment of milestone significance in the history of Zhejiang's cultural development has arrived—

On July 28 and 29, 2005, the Eighth Plenary Session of the Eleventh Provincial Party Committee was held, and the "Decision of the Zhejiang Provincial Party Committee of the Communist Party of China on Accelerating the Construction of a Major Cultural Province" was reviewed and approved, proposing the strategic deployment of "three forces" and "eight projects."

Enhancing the cohesiveness of advanced culture, liberating and developing cultural productive forces, and improving the capacity of social public services—the "three forces" pointed out the political direction, reform orientation, and value orientation for cultural construction.

Civilization quality project, cultural boutique project, cultural research project, cultural protection project, cultural industry promotion project, cultural position project, cultural communication project, and cultural talent project—the "eight projects" are systematic and complete, adhere to focusing on practical work, doing practical work, and seeking practical results, and became the largest local cultural construction project in China at that time.

The "eight projects" are the cultural chapter of the "Eight-Eight Strategy" (八八战略). Zhejiang's "four beams and eight pillars" for accelerating the construction of a major cultural province were thus established, and Zhejiang had a clear indicator for working hard in a practical way, being at the forefront, and standing at the forefront of the times;

A series of fundamental questions such as who is cultural construction for, what kind of culture should be built, and how to build culture have clearer answers, and the basic questions such as the development direction, goals and tasks, development paths, and development guarantees of cultural construction have a systematic and complete understanding of the laws. The ideological characteristics of "**明体达用,体用贯通**" (míng tǐ dá yòng, tǐ yòng guàn tōng - "understanding the essence and applying it practically, integrating essence and application," understanding the fundamental principles and applying them in practice) began to manifest in Zhejiang's practice and exploration, providing rich theoretical basis and practical materials for the formation of Xi Jinping's (习近平) Thought on Culture.

20 years ago, when the "eight projects" were launched, Xi Jinping (习近平) wrote affectionately in the "General Preface to the Zhejiang Cultural Research Project Achievement Library": "Today, we are stepping on the river from history, receiving the expectations of the people, and should shoulder the mission, sincerely dedicate ourselves, so that our culture will continue endlessly and our creation will thrive."

20 years later, looking from history to the future, from Zhejiang to China and to the world, reviewing this passage can better feel General Secretary Xi Jinping's (习近平) forward-looking strategic vision and profound cultural feelings.

"We must create tangible and touchable carriers through visible and touchable means."

The "eight projects" drew a grand blueprint for Zhejiang to accelerate the construction of a major cultural province. Why does cultural construction attach so much importance to the word "project"?

Xi Jinping (习近平) emphasized that "we must create tangible and touchable carriers through visible and touchable means."

"Project-based promotion" seeks practical results. For the first major cultural project in China that observes local development from the philosophical and social science level, Xi Jinping (习近平) personally served as the director of the Steering Committee of the Zhejiang Cultural Research Project, setting the direction, proposing topics, making requirements, and writing the general preface.

Xi Jinping (习近平) also emphasized "**功成不必在我**" (gōng chéng bù bì zài wǒ - "achieving success does not necessarily require me," I don't need to be the one who gets the credit) and "one term after another." Now, 20 years have passed, and the "eight projects" have been promoted by successive Zhejiang Provincial Party Committees, achieving long-term success. In Zhejiang, the results are fruitful—

At the Grand Collection of Chinese Paintings Through the Ages (中国历代绘画大系) Museum, young people are flocking in. People wear flowers in paintings, wandering among "A Thousand Miles of Rivers and Mountains" (千里江山图), "Travelers among Mountains and Streams" (溪山行旅图), and "Auspicious Cranes" (瑞鹤图), enjoying thousands of miles in a short distance and browsing through thousands of years. The magnificent momentum of Chinese culture... The integration of culture and technology makes people feel the surging cultural wave of the new era.

The source of the wave began 20 years ago.

In July 2005, a special report was placed on Xi Jinping's (习近平) desk—could the Song paintings collected by the Palace Museums (故宫博物院) on both sides of the Taiwan Strait be compiled and published?

As the peak of Chinese painting history, Song paintings are rare and scattered. Digital collection and arrangement will surely benefit future generations. Xi Jinping (习近平) immediately instructed: "This idea is very good and worth working hard for." The first batch of funds was quickly allocated.

"At that time, we didn't have a single painting from before the Qing Dynasty, and we didn't have a single instrument or equipment," recalled Zhang Xi (张曦), the person in charge of the project team and then the secretary of the Party Committee of Zhejiang University (浙江大学). "Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) attached great importance to it and directly promoted it, and everyone had the courage to start from scratch and overcome difficulties."

Traveling hundreds of thousands of kilometers, they conducted a large-scale "treasure hunt" around the world.

"Cold Forest and Heavy Banks" (寒林重汀图), a masterpiece by Dong Yuan (董源) of the Southern Tang Dynasty, is now in the Kurokawa Institute of Ancient Culture (黑川古文化研究所) in Japan. Initially, Kurokawa did not accept the project team's request. They visited again and again and finally reached a cooperation.

"A Thousand Miles of Rivers and Mountains" (千里江山图) has been publicly displayed only a few times in the past 100 years. To prevent the colors from peeling off, the shooting difficulty is extremely high. The project team went to the Palace Museum (故宫博物院) many times to negotiate, and the rare treasures were finally fixed as eternity.

Under the heart of inheritance and sincerity, the doors of cooperation with more cultural and museum institutions at home and abroad slowly opened. More than 1,000 Song painting treasures scattered in various museums in mainland China and Taiwan, as well as in the United States, Britain, Japan, Russia, and other countries, have all been digitally collected...
In September 2010, the "Complete Collection of Song Dynasty Paintings" was basically completed as planned. Xi Jinping (习近平), then Vice President of the country, gave further instructions: "The plan to publish the 'Grand Compilation of Chinese Paintings Through the Ages' is very good. We can actively report to relevant departments and strive for support from all parties."

The publication of the "Complete Collection of Yuan Dynasty Paintings," "Complete Collection of Ming Dynasty Paintings," "Complete Collection of Qing Dynasty Paintings," and "Complete Collection of Pre-Qin, Han and Tang Dynasty Paintings" illuminated the brilliant galaxy of Chinese painting history one by one.

In 2022, the "Grand Compilation of Chinese Paintings Through the Ages" project is about to conclude. On October 15, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) gave another instruction: "Continue to deeply explore the genetic code of the continuous inheritance of Chinese civilization, and make positive contributions to promoting the excellent traditional Chinese culture."

Under the promotion of General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平), the "Grand Ceremony of Flourishing Times - Exhibition of Achievements of the 'Grand Compilation of Chinese Paintings Through the Ages'" was officially launched. From Jiangnan to the north of the Great Wall, from water towns to border areas, and then to a broader world stage, it has become a phenomenal cultural event. As the most complete collection of fine works and the largest publication of ancient Chinese painting image literature projects to date, it has become a grand and magnificent compilation connecting the past and the present, and connecting the world with a powerful combination of culture and technology.

The "Eight Projects" not only elevated the new height of Chinese cultural exploration with the "Grand Compilation," but also certified the five-thousand-year history of Chinese civilization with the Liangzhu Ancient City Site.

Hangzhou Yuhang (杭州余杭), Liangzhu Ancient City Site Park (良渚古城遗址公园), a green and fragrant continent. Many children come here to check in and learn for the first time that in ancient times, this was a large-scale "city": an astonishing amount of rice, magnificent palaces, large-scale water conservancy projects, and exquisitely crafted jade artifacts...

It is hard to imagine that more than 20 years ago, this place was full of mines and forests, and covered with gray sand.

"In the second half of 2002, although the rectification of mining enterprises in Yuhang District (余杭区) had been completed, there were still some mining enterprises in neighboring counties within the scope of the site," recalled Guo Qingling (郭青岭), then executive deputy curator of the Liangzhu Culture Museum.

On July 16, 2003, Xi Jinping (习近平) made a special trip to conduct research here. He leaned over to examine the unearthed cultural relics, listened carefully to the report on the current situation of protection, and met cordially with the descendants of Mr. Shi Xingueng (施昕更), the discoverer of Liangzhu culture, in front of his statue...

For a long time in the past, the Western archaeological community regarded the three elements of "bronze ware, writing, and cities" as the standard of civilization, and believed that China only had a history of civilization starting from the Yin and Shang dynasties.

During this research, Xi Jinping (习近平) keenly pointed out: "The Liangzhu Site (良渚遗址) is a sacred place to prove the five-thousand-year history of Chinese civilization, and it is a rare and valuable asset. We must protect it!"

Learning that there were still several quarries mining mountains within the scope of the site complex, Xi Jinping (习近平) personally coordinated, and the stone mines were soon closed down. At the same time, under his concern and promotion, there was also a breakthrough in the long-standing problem of delineating the scope of site protection.

Xi Jinping (习近平) further proposed the Liangzhu application for World Heritage status: "Our province is still blank in terms of World Heritage applications. 'Applying for World Heritage' has many conditions, and we must also make up our minds and pay the price."

Make up your mind and pay the price. Zhejiang (浙江) took the lead in exploring the establishment of a compensation mechanism for the protection of large sites in the country, and used continuous financial investment to hold up an umbrella for Liangzhu. The protection of the Liangzhu Site (良渚遗址) has since embarked on the right track. In 2007, the ancient city of Liangzhu was unveiled; from 2009 to 2015, the water conservancy system around the ancient city revealed its true appearance... One shocking archaeological discovery after another proved that cities, classes, kingship and states had appeared in Liangzhu.

On July 13, 2016, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) made an important instruction on the letter from four veteran experts in the cultural and museum circles, Su Bai (宿白), Xie Chensheng (谢辰生), Huang Jinglue (黄景略), and Zhang Zhongpei (张忠培), regarding the Liangzhu application for World Heritage status, "The work of applying for World Cultural Heritage should be arranged in a coordinated manner, and the application projects should be conducive to highlighting the historical and cultural value of Chinese civilization, conducive to reflecting the spiritual pursuit of the Chinese nation, and conducive to showing the world a comprehensive and authentic ancient China and modern China."

July 6, 2019, Azerbaijan.

At 10:29 local time, the Liangzhu Ancient City Site (良渚古城遗址) project entered the review process, "The Liangzhu Ancient City (良渚古城) allows us to understand the origin of Chinese civilization," "It represents China's achievements in the great rice farming civilization more than 5,000 years ago"... At the 43rd World Heritage Conference, experts from various countries highly praised the Liangzhu Ancient City Site (良渚古城遗址).

"I declare that the proposal for the Liangzhu Ancient City Site (良渚古城遗址) to be included in the World Heritage List is approved!" When the gavel of Abulfas Garayev, Executive Chairman of the 43rd World Heritage Committee, fell heavily, the Liangzhu Ancient City Site (良渚古城遗址) was successfully included in the World Heritage List.

The successful application of the Liangzhu Ancient City Site (良渚古城遗址) for World Heritage status has advanced the world's understanding of early Chinese civilization by more than a thousand years, and provided sufficient physical evidence and solid academic support for the project of tracing the origin of Chinese civilization.

Based on samples represented by Liangzhu, the Chinese archaeological community has proposed a Chinese plan for the definition of civilization and the recognition of entering a civilized society, making original contributions to the study of the origin of world civilization.

In 2023, under the initiative of General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平), the first "Liangzhu Forum (良渚论坛)" was held. General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) pointed out in his congratulatory letter to the forum: "Chinese civilization is open, inclusive, and receptive to all, constantly enriching and developing, enduring and new, and constantly absorbing the essence of different civilizations in the world, greatly enriching the garden of world civilization." The light of civilization shines on the world.

The Grand Canal of China (中国大运河), another treasure of world culture.

On the last day of 2006, Xi Jinping (习近平) took the Hangzhou (杭州) water bus "West Lake (西湖)" to inspect the first phase of the Grand Canal Comprehensive Protection Project. During the voyage, Xi Jinping (习近平) asked questions while watching, affirmed Hangzhou's (杭州) efforts to protect the Grand Canal, and put forward higher expectations. He affectionately urged that the Grand Canal should truly become "the people's canal" and "the tourists' canal."

Today, managing water and rivers, and continuing the cultural context, the millennium-old Grand Canal nourishes the cities and people on both sides. It is not only an ecological river and a cultural river, but also a river of prosperity and happiness.

In September 2023, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) came to the bank of the Zhedong Canal (浙东运河) in Shaoxing (绍兴). He urged to do a good job in the article on the Grand Canal, so that the ancient Grand Canal can be rejuvenated with a new style of the times. He walked across a high arched stone bridge more than 10 meters high. Looking at the endless stream of traffic on the highway next to the stone bridge, the General Secretary sighed: "Here you can imagine the vicissitudes of ancient and modern times."

During this inspection, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) placed high hopes on Zhejiang (浙江) to better shoulder the cultural mission of the new era.

Zhejiang (浙江) firmly grasps the core task of building a demonstration zone for high-quality development and common prosperity, and deploys and promotes the "Implementation Plan on Continuing to Deepen the 'Eight Projects' to Better Shoulder the Cultural Mission of the New Era and Accelerate the Construction of a High-Level Cultural Province," to create "five new highlands," and write new answers in faithfully practicing the "Double-Eight Strategy (八八战略)" and continuously deepening the "Eight Projects (八项工程)."

The music never stops, and the cultural context continues.

Looking back at the 20 years that Zhejiang (浙江) has gone through under the guidance of the "Eight Projects (八项工程)," Zhejiang (浙江) has moved from building a large cultural province to a strong cultural province, and has embarked on a path of cultural development with distinctive characteristics of the times, Chinese characteristics, and Zhejiang characteristics.

This is a fruitful 20 years - Zhejiang (浙江) has successively promoted the "Eight Projects (八项工程)" of cultural construction, using civilization to explore the roots and protect the roots, using cultural genes to identify the family background, using cultural and tourism integration to promote development, and using civilization brands to establish a new style. Culture has increasingly become a shining symbol of the "Important Window," and has increasingly become a strong driving force for building a demonstration zone for high-quality development and common prosperity.

This is a 20 years of full bloom - West Lake (西湖), the Grand Canal (大运河), and the Liangzhu Site (良渚遗址) have become World Cultural Heritage sites; rural cultural auditoriums have achieved full coverage of administrative villages with more than 500 people; national civilized counties have achieved "full red" in prefecture-level cities; 59 Zhejiang-produced works have won the national "Five-One Project (五个一工程)" award; cultural commissioners have achieved full coverage of all townships (streets); and "culture + technology" phenomena such as "Black Myth: Wukong (黑神话:悟空)" have attracted global attention...

Over the past 20 years, looking back at every blueprint and every concern of General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) in Zhejiang's (浙江) cultural construction, we have a deeper understanding of the scientific truth value of Xi Jinping's (习近平) cultural thought. Xi Jinping's (习近平) cultural thought is a constantly unfolding and open ideological system, which will surely show more powerful truth power and practical power.

"There is not only excellent traditional Chinese culture, but also Marxism"

"Historical Records" records that Xuanyuan Huangdi (轩辕黄帝) ascended to heaven by riding a dragon after casting a tripod in Jinyun (缙云). More than 1,600 years ago, the Huangdi Ancestral Temple (黄帝祠宇) was built against the mountain, becoming the main place in southern China for sacrificing and worshiping the humanistic ancestor of the Chinese nation. For thousands of years, countless descendants of Yan and Huang have come here to seek their roots and find the atmosphere and strength of Chinese self-identity.

Looking up at the plaque of the Huangdi Ancestral Temple (黄帝祠宇), Zhang Xiaohua (章晓华) will never forget the meaningful question in the winter more than 20 years ago.

On January 8, 2004, on the eve of the Spring Festival, Xi Jinping (习近平) came here to inspect Huangdi culture. As a scenic spot worker, she familiarly introduced the legends and sacrificial activities of Huangdi.

Walking up the steps, Xi Jinping (习近平) suddenly stopped, turned around, and asked Zhang Xiaohua (章晓华):

"Little girl, do you believe in Marxism or Huangdi culture?"

Zhang Xiaohua (章晓华), who had been quick-spoken all the way, was speechless for a moment and froze in place. She hesitated for a moment, and then said:

"I believe in both..."

"That's the right answer!" Xi Jinping (习近平) said with a smile, "As Communist Party members, we must believe in Marxism. As descendants of Yan and Huang, the five-thousand-year civilization of China makes us unable to forget our roots."

That day, Xi Jinping (习近平) rang the bell here for the people of the province, full of New Year blessings. The bell was clear and the aftertaste echoed, and it also echoed the profound thinking that the Chinese Communists have never stopped:

Culture is the soul, the spiritual bloodline deeply rooted in a society and a nation. How should Chinese Communists view excellent traditional Chinese culture? Where is the common logic between Marxism and excellent traditional Chinese culture?

Since Confucius (孔子) and his lineage were granted residence in Quzhou (衢州) in 1128 after "escorting the emperor south (扈跸南渡)," the Southern Confucian School (孔氏南宗) promoted Confucianism deep into the folk, which had a profound impact on the development of Jiangnan culture.

At the end of December 2002, braving the cold wind, Xi Jinping (习近平) visited the Southern Confucian Temple (孔氏南宗家庙) at night. Surrounding the charcoal stove to bake sweet potatoes, everyone ate and chatted. Soon they talked about the 2555th anniversary of Confucius's birth in two years. Quzhou (衢州) wanted to take this opportunity to restore the Confucius ceremony that had been interrupted for more than half a century. But there was no unified opinion on what ceremony to use.

"My father said to Secretary Xi (习书记) that we hope to restore the Southern Confucian sacrifice and adopt modern people's sacrifice to Confucius, that is, to abandon the old etiquette, wear modern people's clothes, and perform modern people's etiquette. Hearing this, Secretary Xi (习书记) nodded and said that the historical and cultural connotation of the Southern Confucian Temple (孔氏南宗家庙) is profound and broad, and it is a highlight in Zhejiang's (浙江) history and culture. Southern Confucian culture is worth digging and promoting well," recalled Kong Lingli (孔令立), the 76th generation direct grandson of Confucius.

As a result, Quzhou (衢州) officially determined the positioning of "contemporary people sacrificing Confucius, and civilian sacrifice to Confucius." This is an innovation of traditional sacrificial culture - participants wear modern clothes and bow, and the original offering of three animals, pigs, cattle and sheep, is changed to offering five grains and fresh fruits and vegetables.

In 2004, Quzhou (衢州) successfully held the first Southern Confucian sacrifice ceremony since the founding of New China - the grand ceremony to commemorate the 2555th anniversary of Confucius's birth. In addition to the Kong clan and representatives from all walks of life, most of the on-site spectators were local citizens and students. As the influence grew, more and more people signed up for the ceremony - in the new ceremony, traditional culture and modern society are integrated, and innovation and transformation are carried out...

On June 20, 2005, when Xi Jinping (习近平) made a keynote report on "Ideals, Values, and Humanistic Spirit," he gave a contemporary interpretation of the Confucian virtues of loyalty, filial piety, benevolence, and righteousness: "Loyalty is to be responsible to the country; filial piety is to be responsible to relatives; benevolence is to love others, benevolence is to be fraternity, benevolence is to be responsible to others and society; righteousness is to be responsible to oneself." This is also a high embodiment of socialist core values.

In 2014, at the International Academic Symposium commemorating the 2565th anniversary of Confucius's birth, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) delivered an important speech. He pointed out: "Excellent traditional culture is the foundation for a country and a nation to inherit and develop. If it is lost, the spiritual lifeline will be cut off." We must "strive to realize the creative transformation and innovative development of traditional culture, so that it can be integrated and connected with contemporary culture, and jointly serve the task of cultivating people with culture in the era."

Do not be an official if you have no people in your heart. Xi Jinping (习近平) draws on the virtues of being a person and being an official from ancient sages, starting from the purpose of the Chinese Communist Party to serve the people. He requires party members and cadres to solve the problems of "why join the party, what to do as an 'official,' and what to leave behind" in their thinking.

On June 12, 2003, Xi Jinping (习近平) came to the Hugong Ancestral Hall (胡公祠) in Yongkang Fangyan (永康方岩) for inspection. On the screen wall outside the ancestral hall, "Being an official for a term, benefiting one party (为官一任 造福一方)" is prominently displayed, which commemorates Hu Ze (胡则), a clean official of the Northern Song Dynasty.

Staring at these eight characters, Xi Jinping (习近平) said: "When I was the secretary in Ningde (宁德), I put forward the call to the cadres of 'Being an official for a term, benefiting one party (为官一任 造福一方),' and I regard it as my motto."

"Good benevolence and good righteousness benefit the people (好仁好义泽黎民)," Xi Jinping (习近平) repeatedly read the couplet in front of the central hall of Hugong, and further guided local cadres: "This is also the goal of your work."

The people are the foundation of the country, and governing with virtue is not in line with the Marxist view of the masses and the political concept of "people first" of our party? Can't it be applied to the political practice of Chinese Communists?

Coming out of the Hugong Ancestral Hall (胡公祠) and walking on Tianjie (天街), Xi Jinping (习近平) patiently guided: "Hugong advocated 'good neighborliness and cherishing distance (睦邻怀远),' and we emphasize foreign cooperation today; Hugong required 'reducing and exempting Dingqian (丁钱),' and we now advocate reducing the burden on farmers. Hugong embodies the concept of being conscientious in his duties and doing his best for the people, so he has been doing good things and practical things for the people, so the people still remember him..."

Looking into the distance from Fangyan Mountain (方岩山), the Danxia peaks are very similar to granaries.

"With food in hand, you won't panic in your heart (手中有粮,心中不慌). This can be called 'the world's granary (天下粮仓).'" Xi Jinping (习近平) raised his hand and pointed to the mountains, "The world's granary, the people are rich, isn't this the pursuit of our Communists?!"

Being an official for a term, benefiting one party. The world's granary, the people are rich. Knowing where it comes from and where it will go, the world's feelings and people's feelings of a Chinese Marxist are rooted in the excellent traditional Chinese culture and reflected in the green mountains and rivers.

In 2004, Xi Jinping (习近平) began to invite experts and scholars in the fields of literature, history, philosophy, and other humanities and social sciences to give lectures. The courses included Western philosophy, Marxist dialectics, as well as Chinese philosophy and Zhejiang studies -

"When talking about the frontier issues of Chinese philosophy and Zhejiang studies, I prepared carefully and wrote more than 10,000 words of drafts. When lecturing, he listened carefully, took notes, and asked questions from time to time. We had a heated discussion..."

Wu Guang (吴光), a researcher at the Institute of Philosophy of the Zhejiang Academy of Social Sciences (浙江省社会科学院哲学研究所), will never forget the scene at that time.

From Dayu's (大禹) "adapting to the situation (因势利导)," to Wang Yangming's (王阳明) "unity of knowledge and action (知行合一)," to Chen Liang (陈亮) and Ye Shi's (叶适) "practical application (经世致用)"... The thoughts of the sages are as bright as stars, and the wisdom of ancient and modern times is integrated. How to apply the wisdom of the sages to the socialist construction led by the Party? How to create a new cultural life? Through a series of studies, investigations, and practices, Xi Jinping's (习近平) vision and thinking have been further expanded -

He looks at deepening reform from "two hands" - in the ideological essence of Marxist political economy and Chinese traditional philosophy of "Wuwei (无为)" and "Youwei (有为)," he deeply thinks about the dialectical relationship between the government's "Youwei (有为)" and the market's "effectiveness," and better plays the role of the "visible hand" and the "invisible hand";

He looks at structural adjustment from "two birds" - in the rich meaning of Marxist materialist dialectics and the Chinese traditional story of "phoenix nirvana (凤凰浴火)," he insightfully observes the profound law of the transformation of old and new kinetic energy, promotes the strategic adjustment of Zhejiang's (浙江) economic structure, and realizes "phoenix nirvana (凤凰涅槃)" and "changing birds in cages (腾笼换鸟)";
He views ecological environment from the perspective of "two mountains"—creatively proposing that "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets" in the innovative development of the Marxist view of ecology and the contemporary sublimation of the Chinese civilization's wisdom of **天人合一** (tiān rén hé yī - "unity of man and nature," the belief that humans should live in harmony with nature), turning green into gold.

He views the "San Nong" (三农) issues from the perspective of "two kinds of people"—making a forward-looking arrangement for urban-rural integration in the Marxist concept of people-first and the Chinese nation's millennia-old expectation of "the people should rest, and there should be a little well-being" (**民亦劳止,汔可小康** (mín yì láo zhǐ, qì kě xiǎo kāng - "the people should rest, and there should be a little well-being," a hope for people to have a decent life)), allowing urban residents and farmers to share the fruits of reform and development.

To strengthen theoretical learning, he borrowed Wang Guowei's "theory of realms" to propose that leading cadres should aim high, endure loneliness, and comprehend the true meaning in theoretical learning.

To strengthen Party spirit cultivation, he attached great importance to Wang Yangming's "sincere intention and rectifying the heart" (**诚意正心**) and "unity of knowledge and action" (**知行合一**). Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) has repeatedly quoted Wang Yangming's doctrines and propositions on different occasions, emphasizing the cultivation of the "heart learning" of communists and adhering to the integration of learning, thinking, and application, and the unity of knowing, believing, and acting.

"Combining the basic principles of Marxism with the excellent traditional Chinese culture," in Fengqiao, one can more deeply feel this combination of mutual agreement and mutual achievement.

Fengqiao Town (枫桥镇), Zhuji (诸暨), has been known as the "throat of Kuaiji (会稽), thoroughfare of Wu and Yue (婺越)" since ancient times.

Accompanied by the gurgling water of the Fengxi River (枫溪江), the "Fengqiao Experience" has been continuously inherited and developed for more than 60 years, rising from a "town plan" to a "national policy"—small matters are not taken out of the village, major matters are not taken out of the town, and contradictions are not turned over to higher authorities. The "local remedies" originating from the people have now developed into a Chinese solution for grassroots social governance.

On September 20, 2023, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) came to Fengqiao (枫桥) and stood in front of the "Wuyue Thoroughfare" archway (**婺越通衢**), pointing out: "People should unite and help each other, and live in harmony. This contains both the excellent traditional Chinese culture and Marxism."

In the Fengqiao Experience Exhibition Hall (枫桥经验陈列馆), General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) watched and reviewed the birth, evolution, and development of the "Fengqiao Experience": "This contains our Party's policies and strategies for dealing with problems and resolving contradictions..."

Unity, mutual assistance, and harmonious coexistence—we can find traces of history in the temples and steles here:

The Fengqiao Great Temple (枫桥大庙) enshrines neither gods nor famous scholars, but three common people: Yang Gong (杨公) who ferried boats, Pan Gong (潘公) who sold Tangyuan (汤圆), and Chai Gong (柴公) who hunted and burned charcoal. They are admired and worshiped by the locals for their character of harmony, kindness, loyalty, and trustworthiness, and passed down from generation to generation.

A Qing Dynasty (清代) ancient stele records a story of mediation of a conflict: At that time, Fengqiao's commerce was prosperous, and goods from other places were collected and distributed here by boats and rafts. Over time, conflicts arose among the porters. The county invited some local respected villagers to mediate, and finally both parties shook hands and made peace.

Unity, mutual assistance, and harmonious coexistence—this is the wisdom crystallization of Chinese traditional culture; coming from the masses and going to the masses—this is the Marxist view of the masses. The "Fengqiao Experience" has developed in this combination.

During his work in Zhejiang (浙江), Xi Jinping (习近平) innovatively developed the "Fengqiao Experience" and explored methods to correctly handle internal contradictions among the people under the new situation by relying on the people. Under his personal promotion and planning, the innovative development of the "Fengqiao Experience" is deeply embedded in the construction of "Safe Zhejiang" (**平安浙江**) and "Rule of Law Zhejiang" (**法治浙江**), and integrated into all aspects and the entire process of social governance in Zhejiang (浙江).

Today, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) once again pointed out the direction for understanding and developing the "Fengqiao Experience"—it is necessary to adhere to and develop the "Fengqiao Experience" in the new era, adhere to the Party's mass line, correctly handle internal contradictions among the people, rely closely on the people, and solve problems at the grassroots level and resolve them in the bud.

Zhejiang (浙江) deeply practices the "Fengqiao Experience" in the new era, promotes the organic integration of self-governance, rule of law, and rule of virtue, adheres to moving the gate forward, shifting the focus downward, and governing at the source, and enriches and improves the grassroots governance platform supported by grid management, refined services, and information technology. New "Feng" sceneries are emerging: Tongxiang's (桐乡) "three governance integration," Zhoushan's (舟山) "Maritime Fengqiao Experience," Yiwu's (义乌) "International Old Niangjiu (老娘舅)"...

In Fengqiao Ancient Town (枫桥古镇), tourists come and go in an endless stream. People come here and feel the power of excellent traditional Chinese culture, the Communist Party of China's feelings for the people, and the vigorous vitality of the "second combination"...

The development of the times never ends, and the pace of thought never stops.

In 2023, in late spring and early summer, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) visited the National Archives of Publications and Culture (中国国家版本馆) and the Chinese Academy of History (中国历史研究院) successively, deeply considering the major issues of promoting the construction of socialist culture with Chinese characteristics.

On June 2, at the symposium on cultural inheritance and development, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) pointed out: "Opening up and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics on the profound basis of the more than 5,000-year-old Chinese civilization, combining the basic principles of Marxism with the specific reality of China and the excellent traditional Chinese culture is the only way. This is the regular understanding we have gained in exploring the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and it is our greatest magic weapon for success."

On October 28, 2024, at the 17th collective study of the 20th Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) once again emphasized the need to "adhere to Marxism as the fundamental guiding ideology and be rooted in the broad and profound Chinese civilization," and made further arrangements for accelerating the construction of a strong cultural country.

…………

From governing one region to leading a large country with a population of more than 1.4 billion, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) has combined the soul of Marxism and the roots of excellent traditional Chinese culture, opening up broad space for theoretical and practical innovation.

General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) pointed out: "Without the five thousand years of Chinese civilization, where would there be Chinese characteristics? If it were not for Chinese characteristics, where would we have today's so successful path of socialism with Chinese characteristics?"

Holding the scientific truth and bathing in the glory of civilization, we illuminate the road to rejuvenation with the fire of culture, allowing today's China to face the future and move forward with confidence.

(Xinhua News Agency (新华社) Beijing (北京), July 27, Zhejiang Daily (浙江日报) Interview Team: Zhou Tianxiao (周天晓), Qiu Yijiao (裘一佼), Shen Jingjing (沈晶晶), Lin Xiaohui (林晓晖))

Return to Top

Drawing Spiritual Nourishment, Inspiring the Strength to Move Forward (Remembering History, Cherishing the Memory of Martyrs)

By: 本报记者  刘涓溪  胡婧怡

Original Article Return to Top

A special Party lesson was recently held in the lecture hall of the Benxi Municipal Party School (本溪市委党校) in Liaoning Province (辽宁省). The lesson included a dramatic segment depicting the anti-Japanese hero Yang Jingyu's (杨靖宇) dialogue with his mother, wife, and children from afar before his sacrifice. The actors were all teachers from the Benxi Municipal Party School (本溪市委党校), who, through creating courses such as "Ode to the Anti-Japanese League" and "The Appearance of a Communist," allowed the hero's deeds to transcend time and space, educating and inspiring the students.

The Benxi (本溪) area was a major base for the First Route Army of the Northeast Anti-Japanese United Army (东北抗日联军第一路军) and one of the important sources of the Northeast Anti-Japanese Volunteer Army (东北抗日义勇军). Today, the stories of the Anti-Japanese League still resonate, and the great spirit of the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression remains as fresh as ever. In Benxi Manchu Autonomous County (本溪满族自治县), Benxi City (本溪市), many landmarks and streets are named after "Anti-Japanese League" ("抗联") and "Jingyu" ("靖宇"), the red gene is passed down from generation to generation, and the red bloodline continues to flow.

A collection of anti-Japanese war relics tells the story of a glorious past.

The Northeast Anti-Japanese League Historical Exhibition Hall (东北抗联史实陈列馆), located in the county seat of Benxi County (本溪县), displays the *wula* shoes and cotton clothes worn by the soldiers of the Northeast Anti-Japanese United Army (东北抗日联军), as well as the rifles, iron bowls, hoes, and other items they used. These anti-Japanese war relics silently tell the story of the heroic War of Resistance.

Li Yingnan (李瑛楠), a guide at the Northeast Anti-Japanese League Historical Exhibition Hall (东北抗联史实陈列馆), explained that Yang Jingyu (杨靖宇), the commander-in-chief of the First Route Army of the Northeast Anti-Japanese United Army (东北抗日联军第一路军), led his soldiers to set up camps in the deep mountains and dense forests, digging large pits, using wood as beams, and covering them with artemisia grass to form underground bunkers. The soldiers rested in these damp, cold, dark, and cramped spaces, holding their guns and back-to-back.

A rusty saber in the hall was donated to the exhibition hall by the descendants of the hunter Jiang Guoen (蒋国恩). Li Yingnan (李瑛楠) explained that after Yang Jingyu (杨靖宇) led his troops to the Liaodong (辽东) mountain area to establish the Benhuan (本桓) Anti-Japanese Guerrilla Base, he often stayed in Jiang Guoen's (蒋国恩) home. Once, several traitors stewed a poisonous pheasant and sent it to Yang Jingyu (杨靖宇), but Jiang Guoen (蒋国恩) recognized it on the spot. Later, to express his gratitude, Yang Jingyu (杨靖宇) gave his saber to Jiang Guoen (蒋国恩).

"During the War of Resistance, the soldiers guarded their homes, and the people cared about the soldiers, leaving behind many touching stories." Zhou Hao (周浩), director of the research department of the Northeast Anti-Japanese League Historical Exhibition Hall (东北抗联史实陈列馆), has long been engaged in research related to the Northeast Anti-Japanese League (东北抗联). He said that some villagers buried potatoes in the fields to avoid enemy surveillance while sending food to the soldiers, marking the spots to guide the soldiers to dig them up.

As time passes, the details of history are captured in the anti-Japanese war relics. According to statistics, Benxi County (本溪县) has a total of 43 Anti-Japanese League sites and ruins, 23 of which are listed as protected projects, and the museum has a collection of 1,201 cultural relics.

"I have heard many stories of anti-Japanese heroes since I was a child, and I admire them very much." Zhou Hao (周浩) is from Benxi County (本溪县). In recent years, he has been traveling around to collect cultural relics and historical materials related to the Northeast Anti-Japanese League (东北抗联). "Every cultural relic and every ruin is a testament to the unyielding resistance of the Anti-Japanese League soldiers, and these stories deserve to be remembered."

A series of anti-Japanese war stories continue the red bloodline.

Just across the street from the Northeast Anti-Japanese League Historical Exhibition Hall (东北抗联史实陈列馆) is the Benxi County Anti-Japanese League Middle School (本溪县抗联中学). Every class here is named after an anti-Japanese hero. "Yang Jingyu" Class ("杨靖宇"班), "Zhao Yiman" Class ("赵一曼"班), "Deng Tiemei" Class ("邓铁梅"班)... In each classroom, not only is there a photo of the anti-Japanese hero, but also a class flag with the hero's name written on it.

"This method allows the stories of the heroes to take root deeply in the hearts of the students, and the great spirit of the War of Resistance is passed on subtly." Ding Jitao (丁吉涛), the principal of the Anti-Japanese League Middle School (抗联中学), said that the class will regularly organize theme classes on the Northeast Anti-Japanese League (东北抗联), and the flag-raising ceremony every week will share the stories of anti-Japanese heroes; the school also cooperates with the Northeast Anti-Japanese League Historical Exhibition Hall (东北抗联史实陈列馆) to jointly select and train "little Anti-Japanese League narrators."

Deng Yutong (邓雨桐), a seventh-grade student who is currently participating in the selection of "little Anti-Japanese League narrators," often recites the story of the anti-Japanese hero Deng Tiemei (邓铁梅): "After the September 18th Incident (九一八事变), patriotic person Deng Tiemei (邓铁梅) organized the Northeast People's Self-Defense Army (东北民众自卫军) in the mountains and fought desperately with the enemy..."

Deng Yutong's (邓雨桐) home is in Moshiyu Village (磨石峪村), Benxi County (本溪县), the birthplace of Deng Tiemei (邓铁梅). "Every day after school, when I pass the entrance of the village, I can see the monument of the hero Deng Tiemei (邓铁梅). I want to remember his story better, tell it better, and tell it to more people," said Deng Yutong (邓雨桐).

"The stories of heroes are passed down from generation to generation, and people draw spiritual nourishment from these stories, inspiring the power to move forward," said Nie Shouquan (聂守全), vice president of the Benxi Municipal Party School (本溪市委党校).

Revolutionary sculptures, mossy stone steps, barracks ruins... At the Anti-Japanese League Secret Camp Site (抗联密营遗址) in Guanmenshan Scenic Area (关门山景区), more than 20 party members from the Benxi County Supply and Marketing Cooperative (本溪县供销社) studied red history, reviewed their oaths of joining the Party, and sang revolutionary songs together in front of the site. "Based on the exploration of revolutionary sites and historical materials, we have repaired and restored the Anti-Japanese League Secret Camp (抗联密营), the Anti-Japanese League Transportation Station (抗联交通站), the Anti-Japanese League Hospital (抗联医院) and other sites, which have become good places for red research and study," said Zhang Ligang (张利岗), the person in charge of Guanmenshan Scenic Area (关门山景区).

In recent years, the Benxi Municipal Party School (本溪市委党校) has relied on the Northeast Anti-Japanese League Historical Exhibition Hall (东北抗联史实陈列馆), the Yang Jingyu Memorial Hall (杨靖宇纪念馆), the Northeast Anti-Japanese League Laobiangou Battle Site (东北抗联老边沟战斗遗址) and other red resources to create the "Re-walking the Anti-Japanese League Road" activity, and carried out a series of activities such as micro-Party lessons, situational dramas, and on-site research and study. "Red history is a 'textbook' and 'nutrient'. We must use vivid historical stories and diverse experiences to move people and let the great spirit of the War of Resistance penetrate into people's hearts," said Nie Shouquan (聂守全).

A series of red relics drive rural development.

The mountains are continuous, the streams are gurgling, the cool evening breeze blows away the summer heat, and the village activity square in Hubao Village (胡堡村), Cahe Zhang Town (草河掌镇) becomes lively. The Party-Masses Service Center (党群服务中心) next to it has been renovated, and the three-dimensional red five-pointed star on the outer wall is particularly eye-catching.

Zhao Wenxiong (赵文雄), the first secretary stationed in the village, is live-streaming: "In May 1936, General Yang Jingyu (杨靖宇) held the first Western Expedition Conference in the mountains and forests of our Hubao Village (胡堡村)... Our mountain goods are produced from this mountain forest. Welcome everyone to Benxi County (本溪县) to see the red relics and enjoy the beautiful scenery of the mountains and rivers."

Wang Chunzhi (王春志), a major beekeeping farmer, is studying hard next to him. In June of this year, after the opening of the live broadcast room of the first secretary of Hubao Village (胡堡村), Wang Chunzhi's (王春志) native honey was placed in front of the camera. "In the past, I just hung a sign on the roadside and waited for customers to come to the door. Now that I have a live broadcast room, my products can be sold to more places." Wang Chunzhi (王春志) has been raising bees for more than 20 years. July is the time when linden trees bloom. He has to go up the mountain every two or three days "fully armed" to check the beehive situation. After a circle, he is already drenched in sweat.

Hubao Village (胡堡村) is located at the foot of the Monk Hat Base (和尚帽子根据地), which was created by the First Route Army of the Northeast Anti-Japanese United Army (东北抗日联军第一路军). There are many mountains and little land. In the past, villagers either worked odd jobs nearby or collected mountain goods for scattered operations.

In 2023, Hubao Village (胡堡村) was selected as a national pilot village for the construction of red and beautiful villages, with a one-time subsidy of 3 million yuan from the central government, a special matching fund of 2 million yuan from the provincial government, and a total of 1.1 million yuan of various financial funds from the city, county, and township. In just two years, the village has taken on a new look: the Western Expedition Conference Site (西征会议遗址) has been landscaped and renovated, the Party-Masses Service Center (党群服务中心) has opened a farmers' night school and a farmers' health and wellness room, and 289 acres of red pine forest have become an important part of the village collective income... In 2024, the per capita net income of Hubao Village (胡堡村) reached 20,000 yuan.

"Our village not only has rich red relics, but also has better and better infrastructure and public services, attracting more and more tourists," said Zhao Wenxiong (赵文雄). Many villagers have opened homestays and farmhouses in their homes and are eating cultural tourism meals.

Last year, Wang Chunzhi (王春志) renovated his old house and decorated some guest rooms. He opened for business for the first time during the National Day holiday and was fully booked. Wang Chunzhi (王春志) said: "When tourists come to stay, I will tell them the red stories here and help them recommend nearby red tourism routes."

"Hubao Village (胡堡村) will adhere to the leadership of Party building, promote the inheritance of red culture, the construction of beautiful villages, and the development of characteristic industries, so that the great spirit of the War of Resistance will illuminate the road to prosperity and strengthening the village," said Zhao Wenxiong (赵文雄).

Return to Top

Page 03版:要闻

AI Technology Accelerates the "Intelligent" Transformation of a Better Life

By: 本报记者  刘军国  田先进  白光迪  李安琪

Original Article Return to Top

AI (Artificial Intelligence) smart creation service platform helps barrier-free communication, creating more "opening methods" for Yiwu's Chinese and foreign merchants; AI travel assistants shape new cultural tourism formats, bringing customized experiences for foreign tourists to travel around China; AI technology is introduced into rehabilitation aids, allowing foreigners with mobility impairments to regain confidence in life... From the Internet of Everything to the Intelligent Internet of Everything, from product consumption to experience consumption, more and more AI applications are embedded in daily scenarios, accelerating the "smart" transformation of a better life.

"Yiwu's bosses are 'proficient' in multiple languages, making it easier to do business."

At 10:00 a.m., the Yiwu International Trade City (义乌国际商贸城) in Zhejiang (浙江) was bustling. Alfredo, an Italian businessman, walked into a bag shop and immediately spotted an LED backpack on the shelf.

"Hello, how much does this product cost?" Alfredo picked up the backpack and examined it, then asked in Italian. The proprietress, Ye Xiaoyun (叶晓云), quickly opened the "AI Translator" of the Chinagoods AI Smart Creation Service Platform (义乌市场官方平台) (hereinafter referred to as the "Yiwu Market Official Platform") on her mobile phone. "Please repeat that." Ye Xiaoyun held down the voice recognition button and handed the phone to Alfredo.

Ye Xiaoyun introduced the product in Chinese to the phone, and the Italian translation appeared word by word on the phone screen. With the help of the "AI Translator," the communication between the two was very smooth. Alfredo immediately decided to sign a purchase order for LED bags worth 110,000 RMB. "Artificial intelligence technology makes Yiwu's bosses 'proficient' in multiple languages, making it easier to do business," Alfredo said with a thumbs up.

In 2023, Yiwu International Trade City released the world's first large language model in the field of commodity trade, launching a newly upgraded Yiwu Market Official Platform. The platform has access to multiple AI large models, focusing on the application of AI technology on both the supply and demand sides of the small commodity industry. Based on the trade attributes of the Yiwu market, the Yiwu Market Official Platform has successively launched a series of AI application products, attracting nearly 30,000 merchants to use it regularly.

"One two three four five, one two three four five..." Setting up a mobile phone stand and opening the "Small Business AI Vision Creation" mini-program of the Yiwu Market Official Platform, merchant Yang Yiai (杨义爱) picked up the products on the shelf, faced the mobile phone lens, and began to "count."

A few minutes later, a magical scene appeared - Yang Yiai in the video had natural expressions, fluent speech, and skillfully used English, Spanish, and other foreign languages to introduce the products.

"Video expression is more intuitive, attracting many foreign businessmen." Yang Yiai said that with the help of the mini-program, she could record a video with lip movements in front of the camera, and then let AI generate scripts according to the merchant's needs, so as to produce a promotional video introducing her own products in 36 languages, and also match the corresponding background music according to the preferences of customers in different regions. With the help of efficient tools to become "proficient" in multiple languages, her foreign trade channels suddenly became wider.

"As the 'World Supermarket,' Yiwu must keep up with cutting-edge technology, embrace artificial intelligence, and combine it with its commercial attributes to provide more convenience and improve efficiency for business operators," said Lou QinFeng (楼勤峰), technology director of Yiwu China Commodities City Big Data Co., Ltd. (义乌中国小商品城大数据有限公司). He stated that the Yiwu Market Official Platform has added many "cheats" for Yiwu bosses. As of now, the number of users of the "Small Business AI Vision Creation" mini-program has exceeded 5,000, driving an increase of more than 20% in merchant orders.

"We have obtained a personalized travel experience."

As Anhui's (安徽) cultural tourism "top performer," Huangshan Scenic Area (黄山风景区) welcomes the peak tourist season, attracting tourists from all over the world. Li Fuluo (李孚洛), a young German man, and Chen Yan (陈曣), a Belgian friend, made an appointment to climb Huangshan. Which direction should they enter the mountain from to avoid crowds and get a better travel experience? Chen Yan opened the "Huangshan Official AI Travel Assistant" mini-program and switched to English mode. In the mini-program, a reduced version of the Huangshan Scenic Area map showed the percentage of tourists entering the mountain through each entrance, as well as the attractions that could be passed in that direction. After comprehensive consideration, the two decided to choose the South Gate (南大门) direction to enter the mountain.

During the cable car ride, the two studied other AI services of the mini-program. Clicking on the "Sea of Clouds Sunrise" section, a weather card appeared on the screen, which not only contained the weather information for the past few days, but also stated the probability of observing the sunrise and sea of clouds the next day. After getting off the cable car, the "AI Companion" function began to show its skills: the user interface was divided into three parts - the top was an electronic map of Huangshan, marking the real-time location of tourists and the location of attractions; the middle showed the number of attractions and the estimated time required for the tour; and the bottom was a graphic introduction of the attractions along the route, marked with the distance between tourists and the attractions. "Without a guide or doing a strategy, you can still have a good time," Chen Yan said.

"Why is the Huangshan Welcoming Pine (黄山迎客松) famous?" Li Fuluo's sudden question stumped Chen Yan. Chen Yan opened the "AI Image Recognition" function of the mini-program, pointed the mobile phone camera at the Welcoming Pine, and the relevant introduction appeared on the screen. Clicking the "More Trivia and Q&A" button, knowledge and trivia about the Welcoming Pine appeared. "Look, the answer is here," Chen Yan said.

The "Huangshan Official AI Travel Assistant" has transformed into a digital concierge, a virtual travel agency, and a travel recorder. Li Fuluo said: "With the help of artificial intelligence, we have obtained a personalized travel experience."

Wang Kaile (王恺乐), chief technology officer of Anhui Tuma Technology Co., Ltd. (安徽途马科技有限公司), the developer of the "Huangshan Official AI Travel Assistant" mini-program, said: "In order to adapt to the trend of the increasing number of foreign tourists in Huangshan year by year, the technical team has continuously optimized the translation function, while ensuring the accuracy, aesthetics and other effects of use." Wang Kaile said that in the future, the "Huangshan Official AI Travel Assistant" will realize English voice broadcast, and the company will continue to strengthen technology research and development and field research to better enhance the tourist experience in Huangshan.

"Chinese technology has allowed me to regain confidence in life."

"Hello, why did my 'Bangbang Car' suddenly stop moving?" Emma, who lives in Quebec, Canada (加拿大魁北克省), is contacting the Bangbang Robot headquarters in China through the "Bangbang Smart Service Platform." "We will help you detect it immediately and deal with it in a timely manner." In less than a minute, the Chinese headquarters detected the "problem" through the background data. It turned out that Emma had accidentally touched the lock mode, and the "Bangbang Car" was performing normally.

The "Bangbang Car" in Emma's mouth is an intelligent auxiliary travel robot independently produced and developed by the Chinese company Bangbang Robot (邦邦机器人). Emma is 47 years old this year. Three years ago, she suffered lower limb paralysis due to a skiing accident. "'Bangbang Car' is now my best friend." Operating the steering handle with one hand, Emma skillfully starts the "Bangbang Car," accelerating, crossing obstacles, and reversing freely. "It is very stable and safe, and my daily travel needs can be met."

For paralyzed patients, it is very important to ensure daily rehabilitation training and prevent complications. Bangbang Robot's control accuracy reaches 2 mm, and the equipped adjustable joints are suitable for home scenes. With the assistance of the interactive visual training function, Emma can perform "AI Smart Rehabilitation" anytime and anywhere. "Now my work and life have returned to normal, and Chinese technology has allowed me to regain confidence in life," Emma said.

"The AI large model provides a 'smart brain' for the system. If the robot has an emergency such as capsizing or collision, the system will detect the user's vital signs as soon as possible and notify the emergency contact in a timely manner," said Li Jianguo (李建国), CEO of Bangbang Robot Company.

Climbing slopes, bumpy road conditions, braking... Walking into the Bangbang Robot R&D Center (邦邦机器人研发中心) located in Tianning District, Changzhou City, Jiangsu Province (江苏省常州市天宁区), many new products are undergoing multi-link testing. In 2024, Bangbang Robot's overseas performance was impressive: the core market expanded from 3 to 11, the business covered 65 countries and regions, and overseas market sales increased by 220% year-on-year. "More and more foreign customers are coming to order in large quantities, hoping to introduce Bangbang robots to help more people in need," Li Jianguo introduced that 70% of the company's annual orders now come from foreign markets, "which marks that the product has been recognized by foreign markets. Next, we plan to access large models such as DeepSeek to create a full-life assistant solution for home-based elderly care and health care."

Layout design: Cai Huawei (蔡华伟)

Return to Top

Adhering to Global Solidarity, Promoting Ethical AI (Harmony Voice)

Original Article Return to Top

In the intelligent era, only by adhering to shared destiny can we fully seize opportunities and effectively meet challenges.

On July 26th, the 2025 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) and the High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance opened in Shanghai (上海). This conference is an important action to implement the "Global AI Governance Initiative" proposed by President Xi Jinping (习近平), aiming to create a technology vane, application display platform, industry accelerator, and governance forum in the field of artificial intelligence, and to gather global wisdom and innovative power for the development of artificial intelligence.

Currently, the global wave of intelligence is surging, and innovation in the field of artificial intelligence is showing a trend of collective breakthroughs. With the theme of "Intelligent Era, Shared Destiny," this conference focuses on ten key areas such as scientific intelligence and AI-empowered new industrialization, comprehensively showcasing the latest thinking and practices in AI technology frontiers, industry trends, and global governance. The conference released the "Global AI Governance Action Plan," calling on all parties to take concrete actions in 13 areas, including promoting AI to empower various industries, accelerating the construction of digital infrastructure, creating a diverse and open innovation ecosystem, and strengthening international cooperation in AI capacity building, thereby building consensus on jointly promoting global AI development and governance.

Just as Turing Award winner Yoshua Bengio said, AI products should become global public goods. How to make full use of the existing achievements of AI development and transform the parameters in the laboratory into universal welfare is a question of the times concerning the progress of human civilization. We must adhere to openness, sharing, and intelligent equality, so that more countries and groups can truly access, apply, and benefit from AI, and maximize the potential of AI in empowering global economic and social development and addressing global challenges. During the conference, the China Meteorological Administration (中国气象局) officially released the "MAZU" (妈祖) China Plan for Early Warning for All, and donated the "MAZU-Urban" urban multi-hazard early warning intelligent agent to representatives from Djibouti (吉布提) and Mongolia (蒙古国). Intelligent technology-based aquaculture helps increase production and income, light-vision linkage platforms build railway safety barriers, and open-source large models promote the universalization of AI technology. Various examples of Chinese AI products and technologies empowering development in countries and regions in Asia, Africa, South America, and Europe were also centrally displayed during the conference, attracting attention from all parties. With the in-depth advancement of China's "AI+" action, China's development experience and technological products are continuously benefiting the world, continuously injecting momentum into promoting AI for good.

Further development of global AI technology cannot be separated from an open and inclusive innovation cooperation environment. More than 3,000 cutting-edge exhibits were concentrated, covering more than 100 heavyweight new products with "global premiere" and "China debut"; 240 projects participated in the evaluation of the Outstanding AI Leader Award, with international projects accounting for 17%. The conference is a dialogue and cooperation platform for all parties to exchange new breakthroughs and new applications. The conference released the "International AI Open Source Cooperation Initiative" and launched the establishment of the Global AI Innovation Governance Center to drive technological innovation and improve ecological co-governance through open source. When innovative elements circulate efficiently and deeply integrate in the global network, AI technology will accelerate iteration and provide more accurate and effective solutions for human development. China, adhering to the spirit of openness and sharing, is willing to jointly carry out technological research with other countries, increase open source efforts, and jointly promote AI development to a higher level.

Artificial intelligence brings unprecedented development opportunities, but also unprecedented risks and challenges. How to strike a balance between development and security requires further consensus and exploration of solutions. During the conference, China proposed the establishment of the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization to respond to the calls of the Global South and help bridge the digital and intelligent divide with practical actions. To strengthen global AI governance, China has always been an action-oriented player: promoting the UN General Assembly to adopt a resolution on strengthening international cooperation in AI capacity building through consultation and consensus, co-hosting the Friends of the Group Meeting on International Cooperation in AI Capacity Building with Zambia (赞比亚), and co-hosting AI capacity building workshops with the United Nations. China actively implements the relevant commitments of the UN "Future Pact" and its annex "Global Digital Pact," and continuously contributes wisdom and solutions to improving the global AI governance system. Adhering to the overall planning of development and security, and strengthening coordination with various countries, China will work with all parties to continuously promote the early formation of a global AI governance framework and rules with broad consensus.

In the intelligent era, only by adhering to shared destiny can we fully seize opportunities and effectively meet challenges. China will always adhere to the principles of people-oriented, intelligent for good, fair and inclusive, and collaborative governance, and work with all parties to promote the strengthening of global AI governance and international cooperation, and jointly create an inclusive, open, sustainable, fair, secure, and reliable digital and intelligent future.

Return to Top

Kim Jong-un Visits the Sino-Korean Friendship Tower

Original Article Return to Top

Pyongyang, July 27 (Reporter Liu Rong (刘融)) – The Korean Central News Agency (朝中社) reported on the 27th that Kim Jong-un (金正恩), General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and Chairman of the State Affairs Commission, visited the China-North Korea Friendship Tower (中朝友谊塔) in Pyongyang (平壤), the capital of North Korea, on the 26th to commemorate the 72nd anniversary of the victory of the Korean Fatherland Liberation War.

The report stated that the North Korean side laid a wreath at the Friendship Tower in the name of Kim Jong-un (金正恩). Kim Jong-un (金正恩) said, "We will 永志不忘 (yǒng zhì bù wàng - "eternally remember," to never forget) the combat achievements and contributions of the martyrs of the Chinese People's Volunteers (中国人民志愿军) recorded in the great victory history of the Fatherland Liberation War."

Choe Son-hui (崔善姬), Minister of Foreign Affairs of North Korea, and Kim Song-nam (金成男), Director of the International Department of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, also attended.

Return to Top

Working Together to Contribute Positively to the Development of the World's Human Rights Cause

By: 本报记者 时元皓

Original Article Return to Top

On July 25th, local time, the second China-Latin America Human Rights Roundtable, themed "China-Latin America Community of Common Destiny and the Development of Human Rights," was held in São Paulo (圣保罗), Brazil (巴西). Over 130 officials, experts, scholars, and representatives from relevant social organizations, think tanks, and media in the field of human rights from China and Latin America and the Caribbean region focused on topics such as "Human Rights Protection in the Era of Digital Intelligence," "Environment, Climate, and Human Rights," and "China-Latin America's Contribution to Global Human Rights Governance" for discussion. The participating representatives generally believed that China is actively promoting global human rights governance through its own practices. At a time when digital technology is accelerating and environmental and climate governance is related to the fate of mankind, China and Latin American countries should continue to work together to promote the development of global human rights.

Wang Yanwen (王琰文), Deputy Secretary-General of the China Society for Human Rights Studies, said that China adheres to a human rights concept centered on the people, regards the rights to subsistence and development as the primary basic human rights, coordinates and promotes the comprehensive development of various human rights, and promotes the historical achievements of China's human rights cause. China and Latin America should strengthen human rights cooperation and research, adhere to human rights values to promote the good of digital intelligence technology, adhere to environmental governance and green development to promote the happiness of all mankind, and promote global human rights governance in a more fair, just, reasonable, and inclusive direction.

Ali Gill (阿利·吉尔), Chairman of the National Reparations Committee of Grenada (格林纳达), said that the development process of developing countries is inseparable from the protection of human rights, and he is willing to deepen exchanges and cooperation with China in the field of human rights.

"China has successfully won the battle against poverty and lifted hundreds of millions of impoverished people out of poverty. This great achievement itself is a powerful defense of human rights and human dignity." Victoria Pérez (维多利亚·佩雷兹), Chairman of the Human Rights Committee of the Southern Common Market Parliament, said that the concept of a community of common destiny for mankind proposed by China provides a new perspective for global human rights governance. "Only when we truly realize that we share a common destiny and respect the independent choices of each nation in the pursuit of social fairness and justice can we truly defend human rights."

Si Fulan (司芙兰), Director of the China Research Center of the National University of La Plata (拉普拉塔国立大学) in Argentina (阿根廷), told reporters that Latin American countries and China have great potential for cooperation in protecting human rights. Latin American countries can combine their own experiences and draw on China's innovation-driven technological development path and relatively complete theoretical and legal framework to jointly address digital challenges such as algorithmic discrimination and digital privacy, and "work together to build a digital community of common destiny."

"China's progress in the field of human rights and its contribution to world peace have set an example for other countries." Mora Ga (莫拉加), Chairman of Human Rights Without Borders, said that the holding of this roundtable is a vivid practice of viewing and defending human rights from a new perspective.

"Sustainable development is a core issue for all mankind, which is related to human survival, and it is necessary to properly handle the relationship between environmental protection and the improvement of people's living standards." Evandro Carvalho (埃万德罗·卡瓦略), professor at the Fluminense Federal University (巴西弗鲁米嫩塞联邦大学) in Brazil and an expert on international issues, told reporters that the Chinese government adheres to a people-oriented approach and uses systematic methods to address environmental issues, and has made many achievements in green development. Dialogue between Latin America and China on this issue will provide Latin American countries with more Chinese experience.

Shaira Morgan (莎伊拉·摩根), Chairman of the Committee on Indigenous, Afro-descendant and Autonomous Region Affairs of the National Assembly of Nicaragua (尼加拉瓜国民议会), said that taking this roundtable as an opportunity, Nicaragua will work with China and other Latin American countries to jointly defend sovereignty, peace, and the dignity of the people. "What we are building together is a just, people-oriented world that respects multilateralism."

Gustavo Villal (古斯塔沃·比利亚尔), Speaker of the Andean Parliament, said that Latin America-China cooperation has made positive contributions to world peace and stability. In promoting South-South cooperation and improving the level of global governance, "Latin America and China are working together to contribute positively to the development of the world's human rights cause."

The roundtable was co-sponsored by the China Society for Human Rights Studies, Renmin University of China (中国人民大学), and São Paulo State University (巴西圣保罗州立大学), and co-organized by the Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies of Renmin University of China (中国人民大学重阳金融研究院) and the Institute of Public Policy and International Relations of São Paulo State University. The meeting also released the "São Paulo Consensus on China-Latin America Human Rights Exchange and Cooperation" and announced the launch of the "China-Latin America Human Rights Research Cooperation Network."

(Reported from São Paulo (圣保罗) on July 27 by this newspaper)

Return to Top

Chinese Embassy in North Korea Pays Tribute at Cemetery of Chinese People's Volunteer Army Martyrs

Original Article Return to Top

This newspaper reports from Pyongyang on July 27th (Reporter Liu Rong (刘融)) On July 25th, on the occasion of the anniversary of the Korean War Armistice, Wang Yajun (王亚军), Chinese Ambassador to North Korea, led more than 70 diplomats from the embassy to Qiu Chang County (球场郡), North Pyongan Province, and other places to sweep the tombs of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army martyrs and pay tribute to the Volunteer Army heroes who sacrificed in the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea.

At the Martyrs' Cemetery in Qiu Chang County (球场郡), Ambassador Wang Yajun (王亚军) led the Chinese delegation to stand in solemn formation, sing the national anthem, and present a flower basket to the monument. All personnel bowed in tribute, offering wine to the loyal souls and white flowers to commemorate the heroic spirits.

The North Korean cemetery administrator stated that North Korean people come to express their condolences to the Volunteer Army martyrs on every important festival. They will continue to do a good job in the maintenance and management of the cemetery and contribute to the inheritance of North Korea-China friendship.

Ambassador Wang Yajun (王亚军) thanked the Workers' Party of Korea and the government for attaching importance to the renovation and protection of the tombs of the Volunteer Army martyrs, and said that the traditional friendship between China and North Korea is forged with blood and is a common and valuable asset of both sides. This year marks the 75th anniversary of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army's participation in the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea. It is believed that under the strategic guidance of the top leaders of the two parties and countries, the traditional friendship between China and North Korea will surely achieve greater development and make greater contributions to maintaining regional peace and benefiting the people of the two countries.

At the Songgu Peak (松骨峰) battle site in Jiachuan City (价川市), South Pyongan Province, Ambassador Wang Yajun (王亚军) said that the Chinese People's Volunteer Army fought side by side with the Korean military and civilians, 不畏艰险 (bù wèi jiān xiǎn - "not afraid of hardship and danger," undaunted by difficulties), made huge sacrifices, and made important contributions to the victory of the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea. We must work together to overcome challenges and contribute to the socialist construction of the two countries and regional peace and stability.

The North Korean accompanying personnel stated that the Chinese People's Volunteer Army united and fought together with the Korean military and civilians, guarding North Korea like guarding their own motherland. The Korean people will always remember the great sacrifices of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army.

The Chinese tomb-sweeping personnel also passed by Longyuanli (龙源里) and paid tribute to the Volunteer Army martyrs who bravely sacrificed in the Sansuoli (三所里) and Longyuanli (龙源里) blocking battles by the roadside.

Return to Top

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Answers Questions from Reporters on the Cambodian-Thai Border Conflict

Original Article Return to Top

Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, July 27th. Foreign Ministry Spokesperson answered reporters' questions on the Cambodian-Thai border conflict on the 27th.

A reporter asked: Under the mediation of the international community, both Cambodia and Thailand have recently expressed a positive willingness to cease fire and stop the war, but the on-site fighting is still continuing. What is China's position on this?

The spokesperson said that Cambodia and Thailand are neighbors that cannot be moved away, and they are both friendly neighbors of China. Adhering to good-neighborliness and mutual trust, and properly managing differences, is in line with the fundamental and long-term interests of both Cambodia and Thailand, and is conducive to regional peace and stability. China is deeply saddened by the casualties of the Cambodian and Thai people caused by the conflict, and expresses its sincere condolences. It is hoped that both sides will proceed from the common interests of the two peoples, adhere to the spirit of **以和为贵** (yǐ hé wéi guì - "harmony is to be valued," to value peace and harmony) and **与邻为善** (yǔ lín wéi shàn - "be kind to your neighbors," treat neighbors with kindness), maintain calm and restraint, cease fire and stop the war as soon as possible, peacefully resolve differences through dialogue and consultation, and restore peace and stability in the border area as soon as possible.

The spokesperson said that Cambodia and Thailand are both important members of ASEAN. In recent days, ASEAN has actively promoted a ceasefire between Cambodia and Thailand. China appreciates this and welcomes all efforts that are conducive to easing the situation and de-escalation. China will uphold a fair and just position, continue to maintain close communication with Cambodia and Thailand, actively promote peace and promote talks, and play a constructive role in promoting a ceasefire and cessation of hostilities.

Return to Top

The Second "China-Japan Friendship and People-to-People Exchange" Forum Held in Beijing

Original Article Return to Top

Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, July 27th (Reporter Feng Xinran (冯歆然)) The second "China-Japan Friendship and People-to-People Exchange" Forum, co-sponsored by the China Human Rights Development Foundation (中国人权发展基金会) and the Japan-China Friendship Center (日中友好会馆), and co-organized by the Institute of Japanese Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (中国社会科学院日本研究所) and the China International Publishing Group (中国对外书刊出版发行中心), was held in Beijing (北京) on the 27th. More than 50 experts and scholars from nearly 20 universities and research institutions in China and Japan attended the meeting.

Xie Fuzhan (谢伏瞻), Chairman of the China Human Rights Development Foundation (中国人权发展基金会), pointed out in his speech that people-to-people exchanges are the "source of vitality" of China-Japan relations, and the future of China-Japan relations is in the hands of the people of both countries. China-Japan relations are at a crossroads, and it is even more necessary to uphold a correct view of history, strengthen people-to-people exchange and cooperation at all levels, cultivate objective and rational understanding of each other, promote mutual understanding and communication, and create a good atmosphere for the friendship and improvement of relations between the two countries.

Japanese Ambassador to China Kenji Kanasugi (金杉宪治) believes that the biggest challenge currently facing Japan-China relations is how to improve the feelings of the people of both countries. There is no "**特效药**" (tè xiào yào - "special effect medicine," a quick fix or panacea) for improving emotional perception. It requires continuous exchange and dialogue, understanding each other from the other's perspective, and allowing the people of both countries to truly feel the benefits of improving Japan-China relations.

The China Human Rights Development Foundation (中国人权发展基金会) and the Japan-China Friendship Center (日中友好会馆) founded the "China-Japan Friendship and People-to-People Exchange" Forum in 2024 and formed a working mechanism to be held in China and Japan in rotation.

Return to Top

Malaysian Official: Looking Forward to Further Strengthening Sports and Youth Exchange and Cooperation Between Malaysia and China

Original Article Return to Top

According to Xinhua News Agency, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, July 27th (Reporters Wang Jiawei (王嘉伟) and Cheng Yiheng (程一恒)) - Malaysian Minister of Youth and Sports Hannah Yeoh (杨巧双) stated in Kota Kinabalu, the capital of Sabah (沙巴州), Malaysia, on July 27th that Malaysia welcomes strengthened exchanges and cooperation with China in the fields of sports and youth, and looks forward to promoting the continuous development of Malaysia-China relations through deepening cultural exchanges.

Hannah Yeoh (杨巧双) made the remarks in an interview with the media while attending the "2025 Malaysia-China Friendship Run" event in Kota Kinabalu (哥打基纳巴卢) on the same day. She said that China has long maintained a world-leading level in the field of sports and plays a pivotal role in Asia and even in the Olympic arena. Malaysia and China maintain active cooperation in terms of coaching staff and training resources, with Malaysian athletes going to China for professional training, especially in diving and Wushu (武术) and other sports. "We hope that such cooperation can continue."

Return to Top

Page 04版:要闻

In the mountain city, the fragrance of books permeates the air.

By: 本报记者  李增辉  姜  峰  王欣悦

Original Article Return to Top

"Reading makes you a better person." Not long ago, this newspaper published an article written by "Construction Site Uncle" Liu Shili (刘诗利), which sparked people's thinking on "why read," "what to read," and "how to read" with simple words. On July 25th, the 33rd National Book Fair opened in Chongqing (重庆), and this book lover once again became the focus.

"I used to be timid and nervous, but now I am much calmer and can even explain some principles. I have gained all of this from reading." In front of the People's Daily Press (人民日报出版社) booth, Liu Shili's (刘诗利) simple words once again resonated with the audience.

The Book Fair is hosted by the National Press and Publication Administration (国家新闻出版署) and organized by the Chongqing Municipal People's Government (重庆市人民政府), with the theme of "Scholarly China · The Beauty of Reading." During the fair, exhibitions such as the "Light of Truth - Exhibition of Publishing Achievements of the Party's Innovative Theories," the "Old Books, New Knowledge" themed exhibition, and the "Land-Sea Agreement" themed exhibition will be held. In addition, reading activities such as the Readers' Conference, Children's Reading Carnival, Land-Sea Reading Hall, and the 2025 Net Walker Conference will be held. These activities are of great significance for promoting the prosperity and development of the publishing industry, expanding and upgrading cultural consumption, and helping build a strong cultural country.

Thousands of Activities, Over a Million Books

An 80,000-square-meter exhibition area, thousands of featured reading activities, and over a million excellent books displayed online and offline... Stepping into the Book Fair, a strong cultural atmosphere is palpable.

From science fiction novels to children's novels, from online literature to classic masterpieces, from the ink fragrance of paper books to the convenience of digital reading... Readers are engrossed in books, and the city is filled with the fragrance of books.

"Less than an hour after the opening, the booth was surrounded 水泄不通 (shuǐ xiè bù tōng - "water cannot leak through," packed tightly; impenetrable), and we truly felt the enthusiasm of Chongqing (重庆) readers." Gao Shiyi (高世屹), President of the Encyclopedia of China Publishing House (中国大百科全书出版社), said that the rich cultural atmosphere and the enthusiasm for national reading in Chongqing (重庆) impressed him deeply. "This time, we brought 'The Great World Civilization: China,' which is a history of China from a global perspective and is particularly popular with readers."

In the People's Daily Press (人民日报出版社) exhibition area, books such as "Readers' Questions · Common Concerns: Creating a New Business Card for Open Journalism," "New Era Keywords - A Comprehensive Discussion of Original and Iconic Concepts," and "Tales from the Kitchen Stove" have attracted much attention.

At the Book Fair, digital technology and the cultural industry are deeply integrated. "We are constantly increasing investment in digital content research and development and application technology to create an integrated digital publishing platform," said Li Bin (李斌), President of the Chongqing Audio-Visual and Digital Publishing Association (重庆音像与数字出版协会) and Secretary of the Party Committee of Chongqing Xinhua Publishing Group (重庆新华出版集团党委). At this Book Fair, Chongqing Xinhua Publishing Group (重庆新华出版集团) released the "Digital Intelligence Integration" integrated project.

Relying on the integrated digital publishing platform, Chongqing Xinhua Publishing Group (重庆新华出版集团) provides online reading services to some banks, government agencies, and schools through applications such as "Yuetao.com." In 2024, the total output value of the digital publishing industry in Chongqing (重庆), including online publishing, reached 31.3 billion yuan, with an added value of 15.8 billion yuan.

Experience the Reading Atmosphere, Enjoy Book Purchase Benefits

At the Book Fair, there are many books, and even more people. People carry large and small bags, tirelessly searching for a spiritual resting place in the sea of books.

"Checking in at physical bookstores at the Book Fair is like 'opening a blind box,' and each one has surprises!" said Zhou Jing (周静), a reader from Jiangbei District (江北区), Chongqing (重庆).

Why are there physical bookstores at the Book Fair? It turns out that this Book Fair has created a physical bookstore block, with more than 20 distinctive bookstores such as Chongqing Xinhua Bookstore (重庆新华书店) and Sisyphe Bookstore (西西弗书店) appearing. Readers here can not only find high-quality books and cultural and creative products from all over the country, but also enjoy a unique reading space.

Walking into the block, the "Qushu Li" reading space breaks through the traditional bookstore model and is decorated as a home study, displaying popular books in literature, lifestyle, and social sciences, creating a reading experience that is "as comfortable as being at home"; Sisyphe Bookstore (西西弗书店) has transformed the exhibition hall from a traditional "bookstore" into a "city cultural living room" integrating "bookstore + coffee + cultural and creative products"...

Not only can you experience a strong reading atmosphere on site, but you can also enjoy book purchase benefits.

During the Book Fair, the organizing committee launched a special subsidy of "2 million yuan of cultural benefit book purchase coupons," with denominations ranging from 5 yuan to 50 yuan; exhibitors jointly offered discounts, and more than 400 publishers launched discount book purchase activities; JD.com (京东), Dangdang (当当) and other platforms simultaneously launched online benefit zones.

"The bookstore also offers additional discounts for purchases over a certain amount, and various discounts can be used in combination," said Zhu Jian'an (朱健安), head of the Xinhua Bookstore (新华书店) exhibition area.

High-Quality Content from the Venue to the Entire Network

"Today, I specially brought my child to the Book Fair to experience the atmosphere on site," said reader Zhou Li (周丽). "We also participated in check-in stamp collection and poetry interaction activities."

In addition to books, interactive activities and cultural and creative markets are also popular. At the Dazu (大足) sub-venue, long scrolls, building-shaped book stacks, and cultural and creative markets attracted readers to check in, and the calligraphy and painting creation tables were the most popular, with young people stepping forward to write "Great Dazu, Full of Blessings" and "World Cultural Heritage Dazu Rock Carvings" with brushes.

"Thousand-Hand Guanyin" refrigerator magnets, "Flower Crown" bookmarks, and "Rock Carving Traveler" blind boxes were crowded with people. "In recent years, we have designed a series of cultural and creative products to allow people to feel the cultural connotation of the Dazu Rock Carvings and tell the Dazu story through physical carriers," said Feng Zhongkuan (冯忠宽), store manager of the Dazu Rock Carvings Nan Shu Ju (大足石刻南书局).

This is a grand event for the industry, a grand event for readers, and also a grand event for the city.

This Book Fair deeply integrates technologies such as artificial intelligence to build a one-stop digital platform, integrating book information, live event broadcasts, venue guides, and other functions to achieve "online exhibition browsing - intelligent book recommendation - offline book purchase"; the Book Fair also links new media matrices to live broadcast good and new books and key activities, allowing high-quality content to go from the "venue" to the "entire network."

Reading has long been deeply integrated into the daily life of Chongqing (重庆) citizens.

Chongqing (重庆) continues to optimize the "15-minute quality cultural life circle," with libraries, distinctive bookstores, and farm bookstores distributed in urban and rural areas; it has cultivated a number of national reading promotion projects and held more than 80 brand reading activities such as "Reading Star" and "Hongyan Teenager," attracting more than 300,000 participants and more than 3 million viewers; it has implemented a project for primary and secondary school students (children) in the city's public libraries to obtain free borrowing cards, with a cumulative total of 2.036 million cards issued; it has implemented the "Ba · Palm Book" project in public libraries to enter rail transit, building 71 borrowing cabinets... In 2024, the comprehensive reading rate of adult residents in Chongqing (重庆) reached 92.09%, and the "Scholarly Chongqing" brand has been among the top ten in the national national reading brand communication influence for four consecutive years.

Return to Top

Technology as a New Plow, Deeply Cultivating Jilin's Black Soil (Vibrant China Research Trip)

By: 本报记者

Original Article Return to Top

In the height of summer, the land of Changbai Mountains and Songhua River is filled with the fragrance of soil and crops, the scent of Jilin's modern agriculture.

In Lishu County (梨树县), Siping City (四平市), the "Lishu Model" carefully protects the black soil, consolidating the foundation of the nation's granary. In Wangqing County (汪清县), Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture (延边朝鲜族自治州), the small wood ear fungus "reverse customized" intelligent factory has broken into the high-end catering supply chain. In Jiutai District (九台区), Changchun City (长春市), Ma'anshan Village (马鞍山村) is developing rural tourism, unfolding a common prosperity picture scroll amidst green mountains and clear waters.

On February 8 this year, when listening to the work report of the Jilin Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial Government, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) pointed out: "Ensuring national food security is the political responsibility of a large agricultural province and a large grain province. Jilin must focus on developing modern agriculture, improve the support system for strengthening agriculture, benefiting farmers, and enriching farmers, and coordinate the development of scientific and technological agriculture, green agriculture, quality agriculture, and brand agriculture."

Bearing in mind these instructions, Jilin is using hard work as its score and innovation as its strings, striving to play a new movement of modern agriculture on the fields of hope.

New plows of science and technology are deeply cultivating the "black soil granary," providing a solid foundation for a bumper harvest.

On the Songliao Plain (松辽平原), the cornfields are rolling with green waves, growing vigorously.

"This iron lump is our black soil's 'diamond drill'!" Liu Fengzhi (刘凤芝), a large grain grower in Lishu County (梨树县), said with a smile, patting the multi-functional no-till planter beside him. This agricultural machine is tailor-made for the "Lishu Model," overcoming the planting problem under straw cover. One trip to the field can complete multiple processes such as straw returning to the rows, strip tillage, sowing, and fertilization. "One operation takes care of everything, doubling efficiency and saving 80 yuan per mu," Liu Fengzhi (刘凤芝) calculated clearly.

The black soil is not only adding new equipment, but the "Lishu Model" of straw returning to the field, no-till and reduced tillage has basically achieved full coverage in suitable areas of Lishu County (梨树县), with a promotion area of approximately 100 million mu in the four northeastern provinces. The organic matter content of plots that have applied this model for 10 consecutive years has increased by nearly 13%.

Good land also needs good seeds. In Gongzhuling City (公主岭市), in the only national-level agricultural high-tech zone with corn as the leading industry, the fully numerically controlled seed processing line of Hongxiang Seed Industry Processing Plant is operating efficiently, with more than 110 corn varieties entering the market. "Good seeds bring good harvests, with a seed emergence rate as high as 97.75%," said Niu Wenqing (牛文卿), the factory director of the processing plant.

Science and technology have built a solid foundation for the "black soil granary." The comprehensive mechanization rate of plowing, planting, and harvesting of major crops in Jilin Province has reached 94.6%, and the coverage rate of improved varieties has reached 100%. In 2024, the total grain output of the province reached 85.32 billion jin, a record high.

The ingenious brushstrokes of industry are painting the golden signboard of "Ji-Character Brand."

How can corn be sold?

"Corn is sold by the jin, more than 1 yuan per jin; made into fresh corn, one ear sells for 5 yuan, and the expensive ones can sell for 11 yuan," said Wang Xiaomin (王小敏), project manager of Jilin Province Nong Sao Food Co., Ltd. From selling by the jin to selling by the ear, the difference of one character is the doubling of value and the extension of the industrial chain. In the first quarter of this year, more than 20 million ears of fresh corn were sold from here to various places, driving farmers to increase their income by 3,000 to 5,000 yuan per hectare.

Practicing the concept of large agriculture and large food, Jilin is making full use of the "grain head and food tail," "livestock head and meat tail," and "agricultural head and industrial tail" articles, allowing small specialties from the black soil to break into the big market.

"We not only upgrade the production end, but also deeply study the needs of consumers," said Sun Yongfang (孙永芳), chairman of Wangqing County Taoyuan Small Wood Ear Industry Co., Ltd. By launching wood ear products with different tastes such as "crispy," "glutinous," and "moist," the company accurately connects with segmented markets and successfully joins hands with Hema, Haidilao, and other businesses.

Extending the chain, supplementing the chain, and strengthening the chain, Jilin is vigorously developing agricultural product brands, and characteristic agricultural products are accelerating their "breakout": Changbai Mountain (长白山) ginseng has been developed into more than 3,000 products such as food, medicine, and cosmetics, with a total industrial chain output value exceeding 80 billion yuan; Jilin rice has an premium rate of over 30% through brand shaping and standard improvement... High-quality agricultural products have become hot commodities in the market.

The fertile villages and towns are unfolding a beautiful picture of livable and workable harmony.

"In the past, you had to prepare two pairs of shoes when you went out, one pair of boots to wear on the muddy road, and one pair of clean shoes to change into when you got in the car," Zhao Shilong (赵世龙), the party branch secretary of Ma'anshan Village (马鞍山村), said, telling the inconvenience of traveling in this once-poor village.

Today's Ma'anshan Village (马鞍山村) is surrounded by green mountains and flowing streams. The village has developed rural tourism, creating a red education base, a pastoral complex, and characteristic homestays, receiving more than 600,000 tourists annually. Villager Diao Xiuyun (刁秀云) renovated her old house and rented it out to open a homestay. She also works as a cleaner in the homestay. The couple's annual income is 60,000 yuan.

"The toilet has changed, and life is very different." Song Mingyu (宋明玉), a villager in Guangdong Village (光东村), Helong City (和龙市), Yanbian (延边), said that in recent years, every household has been using indoor flush toilets, and the tiles and flush toilets are clean and shiny.

Strolling through Guangdong Village (光东村), thousands of acres of rice fields are lush green, sightseeing cable cars slide overhead, and cultural and creative shops and homestays are everywhere... Finding a new path of agricultural and tourism integration, in 2024, the collective economic income of Guangdong Village (光东村) exceeded one million yuan, an increase of more than 10 times compared to 2015, and the per capita net income of farmers has roughly doubled.

Building homes more beautifully and living a more prosperous life, villages and towns are taking on a new look in the process of promoting rural construction.

From a large granary that firmly holds China's rice bowl to an innovation source that leads the development of modern agriculture, and then to a happy home that carries poetry and distance, Jilin is focusing on developing modern agriculture and striving to draw a new picture of comprehensive rural revitalization.

(Reporters Chang Qin (常钦), Zheng Zhiwen (郑智文), Ge Mengchao (葛孟超), and Men Jiewei (门杰伟) of this newspaper)

Return to Top

Enthusiasm for Performances Soars, Summer Cultural Tourism Heats Up (China's Consumption Moves Towards the New: Focus on Summer Consumption)

Original Article Return to Top

Shanxi Taiyuan (山西太原) optimizes concert support services, driving cultural tourism development with the enthusiasm of the audience; Shanghai (上海) uses theaters as a link to turn street "traffic" into theater "retention"; Henan Kaifeng (河南开封), scenic spots launch interesting activities, and immersive performances are popular... This summer, the popularity of the performing arts market has been rising, and various places have innovated forms, linked diversified consumption formats, and the cultural tourism market has been full of highlights.

-- Editor

Shanxi (山西): More Services Outside Concerts

Reporter Zheng Yangyang (郑洋洋)

"So beautiful!" Brilliant fireworks bloomed, lighting up the night sky above the "Red Lantern" stadium of the Shanxi Sports Center (山西体育中心), and tens of thousands of spectators held glow sticks and sang enthusiastically with the singers on the stage, pushing the atmosphere to another climax.

"The experience is very good. Not only is there a free shuttle bus after the concert, but there are also drone and fireworks shows." Wang Liu (王柳), an audience member from Xi'an (西安), Shaanxi (陕西), came to Taiyuan (太原), Shanxi (山西) for the second time to watch a concert.

The good experience and policy support are inseparable. Taiyuan (太原) has introduced measures to create a characteristic performing arts consumption matrix and form a long-term mechanism to provide efficient services for concert performances.

In order to facilitate the travel of the audience, Taiyuan (太原) has opened free shuttle services at major transportation hubs, key hotel business districts, etc., and simultaneously increased the frequency of bus departures and extended the operating hours of the subway. In June of this year, the Taiyuan (太原) railway department also added "fan special trains" to meet the cross-city travel needs of concert audiences.

"Travel with the performance." For 3 days before and after the concert, fans can also enjoy free first-pass tickets to scenic spots such as Jin祠天龙山 (Jinci Tianlong Mountain) and Taiyuan Zoo (太原动物园) with their tickets. "I have long been 'planting grass' for ancient buildings in Shanxi (山西). I plan to take this opportunity to visit Jin祠 (Jinci) and taste Taiyuan (太原) cuisine," said Wang Liu (王柳).

"Concerts have become a new engine for the integrated development of culture and tourism in Taiyuan (太原), which not only enhances the city's popularity, but also drives the development of related industries such as tourism, catering, and accommodation." Yang Junqing (杨俊青), a fourth-level researcher at the Taiyuan Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism (太原市文化和旅游局), introduced that Taiyuan (太原) held a total of 32 concerts in 2024, with nearly 1 million on-site spectators, of which nearly 70% were from outside the province, driving consumption of 4.1 billion yuan.

Shanghai (上海): The Popularity of the Drama Market Increases

Reporter Cao Lingjuan (曹玲娟)

"I feel that the leaves on my body are falling off one by one, leaving only the trunk..." At the Shanghai Dramatic Arts Center (上海话剧艺术中心), on the stage, the drama reached its climax; under the stage, the audience was immersed in it.

An audience member from Beijing (北京) said that he made a special trip to Shanghai (上海) to watch the performance during the summer vacation, "It was worth the trip."

The number of performances and total box office of Shanghai (上海) dramas have always been among the top in the country. In the summer heat wave, the market popularity has not decreased but increased. "Attracting young people, the summer vacation is a must-win golden period," said Zhang Huiqing (张惠庆), general manager of the Shanghai Dramatic Arts Center (上海话剧艺术中心).

Every weekend, all three theaters, large and small, of the Shanghai Dramatic Arts Center (上海话剧艺术中心) are fully open, with 1,009 seats full. From June to August this year, the Drama Building (话剧大厦) where the center is located will hold 173 performances. "Since June, the number of audience members has increased by nearly 30% compared with the previous two months. It is expected that more than 30,000 audience members will be welcomed from June to August," introduced Lu Liping (陆莉萍), deputy general manager of the Shanghai Dramatic Arts Center (上海话剧艺术中心).

The Wukang-Anfu Historical and Cultural Block (武康—安福风貌街区) where the Shanghai Dramatic Arts Center (上海话剧艺术中心) is located covers an area of only 0.4 square kilometers, but the average daily traffic can reach 20,000 to 30,000 people. In order to turn the "traffic" on the street into the "retention" of dramas, the Shanghai Dramatic Arts Center (上海话剧艺术中心) has jointly launched a "Friendly Neighbor Special Project" with surrounding shops. Members of the art center or ticket holders on the day can enjoy discounts when spending in participating stores.

At the same time, in order to attract more audiences to the theater, the Shanghai Dramatic Arts Center (上海话剧艺术中心) has opened up the street facade to facilitate audiences to freely enter and exit the theater's coffee shop and taste drinks customized for the repertoire; established cultural spaces such as "Drama Space Station" and "Little Dramatist" to hold special exchange activities; added repertoire check-in points in the performance hall to "freeze" theater moments... The Drama Building (话剧大厦) has increased the audience's participation and become a city public space with "life" and memory.

Henan (河南): Immersive Participation Experience is Sufficient

Reporter Zhang Wenhao (张文豪)

Horses neighed, dust flew, and the "Liangshanbo (梁山泊) soldiers" braved the scorching sun and smoke to "rush into the city," and the scene was full of cheers.

"The scenic spot is too worth it. I thought it was just a gesture, but I didn't expect the scene to be so realistic." In the packed auditorium of the Wansui Mountain Wuxia City (万岁山武侠城) in Kaifeng (开封), Henan (河南), tourist Chen Xuan (陈轩) said with emotion, "Fortunately, the first thing I did when I entered the park was to book this performance, otherwise I wouldn't be able to grab it."

In recent years, Wansui Mountain (万岁山) has emerged in the cultural tourism market with martial arts culture as its entry point. In the first half of the year, the scenic spot received more than 10 million tourists, an increase of 239.33% year-on-year; the comprehensive revenue exceeded 600 million yuan, an increase of 162% year-on-year.

"The number of tourists entering the park during the summer vacation has increased significantly. In response to the hot summer weather, the scenic spot has launched a cool festival event, which has attracted many young tourists and parent-child groups," said Wang Xueying (王雪莹), manager of the brand promotion department of Wansui Mountain (万岁山).

In Wansui Mountain Wuxia Square (万岁山武侠广场), Ms. Zhang (张女士) was playing with her children in the water curtain. She said that she could encounter various performances at any time in the scenic spot, and tourists could also put on ancient costumes and participate in the plot immersively. "The children had a great time."

In the opinion of Zhang Xiangyu (张祥宇), Dean of the Henan Provincial Academy of Culture and Tourism Planning (河南省文化和旅游规划研究院), Wansui Mountain Wuxia City (万岁山武侠城) attracts a highly sticky tourist group by carefully constructing a "martial arts world" and providing high-quality and cost-effective services.

The scenic spot launched the "3-day unlimited entry" service - one ticket can be used to enter and exit unlimited times within 3 days. At the same time, it has joined hands with surrounding attractions such as Kaifeng City Wall (开封城墙) and Kaifeng Iron Tower (开封铁塔) to promote a one-ticket pass. Wang Xueying (王雪莹) said that the scenic spot has thousands of performances every day with diverse styles, "creating super value experience with value-added services."

As dusk fell, a group of strong men swung wooden sticks and vigorously hit the boiling molten iron into the night sky. "Bang," thousands of iron flowers fell. Tourists raised their mobile phones one after another to leave good memories, and Chen Xuan (陈轩) was one of them: "The performance list has been collected, and I will enter the park to play tomorrow."

Return to Top

Import and Export Value in Yellow River Basin Grows for 17 Consecutive Months

Original Article Return to Top

This newspaper's Beijing (北京) July 27th dispatch (Reporter Ouyang Jie (欧阳洁)): According to Qingdao Customs (青岛海关) statistics, in the first half of the year, the total import and export value of the 9 provinces and regions in the Yellow River (黄河) Basin reached 3.12 trillion yuan, a record high for the same period in history, accounting for 14.3% of the national total, a year-on-year increase of 8.2%, maintaining growth for 17 consecutive months, 5.3 percentage points higher than the national overall growth rate. The Yellow River (黄河) Basin is becoming one of the important engines of foreign trade development.

Within the basin, Qinghai (青海), Gansu (甘肃), and Henan (河南) experienced rapid import and export growth, all achieving double-digit growth.

The diversification of markets continues to advance. In the first half of the year, the import and export value to countries jointly building the "Belt and Road" increased by 7%. The number of foreign trade entities has expanded significantly, with 96,000 enterprises in the basin with import and export performance, an increase of 7,206 compared with the same period last year. The competitiveness of advantageous products continues to increase, with faster export growth for products such as mobile phones, agricultural products, ships, and containers. The release of import demand in the technological innovation industry has driven the import value of mechanical and electrical products in the Yellow River (黄河) Basin to increase by 7.9%.

Return to Top

First Edition Editors: Yang Xu, Zhang Shuaizhen, Yin Le; Second Edition Editors: Hu Anqi, Liu Jingwen, Chen Zhen; Third Edition Editors: Han Xiaoming, Jiang Bo, Li Anqi; Fourth Edition Editors: Jiang Xuejie, Guo Xueyan, Zhang Zeng

Original Article Return to Top
Return to Top

Page 05版:评论

Where Demand Leads, a Blue Ocean Awaits (Commentator's Observation)

By: 周珊珊

Original Article Return to Top

Who can accurately capture the pulse of consumption, align with the "granularity" of consumer demand, and seize the initiative in the new blue ocean of the market?

The keen capture and efficient response to immediate needs are opportunities at every stage of the supply chain.

In the ever-changing consumer market, continuously transforming new consumer demands into new development opportunities will make the pulling and driving role of consumption on the economic cycle more significant, and the supporting role for high-quality economic development more powerful.

Recently, I was chatting with friends about shopping and found that everyone has a common consumer demand: fitness and shaping. Those who love sports have purchased fitness course packages; those who sit for long periods at work have purchased swimming equipment. From fitness classes to equipment, the market size of mass fitness is evident.

Data from relevant institutions shows that from 2019 to 2023, the compound annual growth rate of China's fitness industry market size exceeded 11%; the light food market has shown explosive growth, with the market size exceeding 320 billion yuan in 2024, with an annual growth rate of 41.7%. More and more people are paying more attention to healthy lifestyles and their own image, making this consumer field a blue ocean full of opportunities.

Where there is demand, there is a market. The instant retail sector, which is closely related to young people's consumption habits, has also shown amazing development speed and potential. From the initial food delivery to most of the goods sold in shopping malls and supermarkets today, they can be ordered and delivered "same-day" or even "half-hour." Data shows that in the first half of 2025, the national online retail sales were 7429.5 billion yuan, an increase of 8.5% year-on-year, and online instant retail contributed a lot of incremental growth.

From weight loss and fitness to instant retail, from commodity consumption to service consumption, new formats and models in the consumer field are emerging one after another. This is not only a reflection of the continuous upgrading of the needs of hundreds of millions of people for a better life, but also the fruitful results of the vast number of business entities adapting to the trend, seizing opportunities, and leading the expansion of demand with high-quality supply. It is not difficult to find that the new round of consumption is moving towards new directions and upgrading, showing two major characteristics in the vertical and horizontal directions.

Vertically, the "granularity" of consumer demand continues to refine, giving rise to long-tail markets. The Seventh National Population Census shows that China has approximately 400 million young people aged 14-35. As the main force in the consumer market, their needs are diversified, personalized, and highly potential. Who can accurately capture the pulse of consumption, align with the "granularity" of consumer demand, and seize the initiative in the new blue ocean of the market?

Horizontally, the immediacy of consumer satisfaction is constantly strengthening and is becoming a new rigid demand. The keen capture and efficient response to immediate needs are opportunities at every stage of the supply chain. Currently, the consumption scenarios of instant retail are expanding from emergency needs to daily consumption, and the categories of consumer goods are gradually breaking through the boundaries of catering and accelerating their penetration into fields such as alcohol, digital products, air tickets, tickets, and hotels. Only by keeping up with the immediacy of consumer demand and making advance arrangements can we accumulate substantial momentum.

The expansion and improvement of consumption are inseparable from the strong support of the "visible hand." This year's "Government Work Report" proposed: "Formulate special measures to enhance consumption capacity, increase high-quality supply, and improve the consumption environment, release diversified and differentiated consumption potential, and promote the quality and upgrading of consumption." In recent times, special actions to boost consumption have been steadily promoted, the "national subsidy" policy has been implemented and taken effect, and the "Buying in China (购在中国)" series of activities have been carried out in depth, further stimulating the vitality of the consumer market. In the next step, it is also necessary to find ways to increase residents' income, enhance residents' purchasing power, and optimize the consumer market environment, and strive to provide more institutional guarantees for the expansion and improvement of consumption.

To allow consumption to move towards new directions, links such as research and development, production, storage, circulation, sales, and recycling, as well as categories such as culture, transportation, sports, and commerce, should actively take action to jointly care for and explore new consumer demands. For example, the "Starlight·Yanzhao (星光·燕赵号)" tourist train connecting Beijing (北京) and Chengde (承德), Hebei (河北) has recently opened, accurately improving the travel quality of passengers with butler-style services, adding assistance to the "summer heat avoidance economy"; for another example, the "ZheBA (浙BA)" competition and the "Xiang Super (湘超)" team formation, many local sports events have driven consumption in hotels, catering, transportation, and retail, transforming network traffic and passenger "retention" into consumption increment.

Where demand points, there are blue oceans. Adhering to demand orientation embodies the value orientation of adhering to the people as the center. In the ever-changing consumer market, continuously transforming new consumer demands into new development opportunities will make the pulling and driving role of consumption on the economic cycle more significant, and the supporting role for high-quality economic development more powerful.

Return to Top

Express Delivery's Acceleration Reflects a Strong Economic Foundation (People's Daily Commentary)

By: 韩 鑫

Original Article Return to Top

New industries are accelerating their development, new business models are continuously emerging, and new investments are showing strong growth, allowing new momentum to continuously gather and new advantages to be built at an accelerated pace, driving innovation in China with surging vitality and ample staying power.

Exceeding 100 billion pieces! Recently, the State Post Bureau (国家邮政局) released data showing that as of July 9th, China's express delivery volume this year exceeded 100 billion pieces, 35 days earlier than when it reached 100 billion pieces in 2024. With this, China's express delivery volume has exceeded 100 billion pieces for five consecutive years.

The small express delivery connects thousands of cities and hundreds of industries, linking online and offline, and is the "capillary" of economic operation. Looking back at history, since stepping onto the 100 billion piece platform in 2021, China's express delivery business has maintained high growth on a high base, and the time taken to break 100 billion pieces has been continuously shortened, achieving a leap from "an average of 10 billion pieces per year" to "an average of 10 billion pieces per month." Touching the strong pulse of China's express delivery, one can clearly feel the strong physique of the Chinese economy.

Looking at the pulse shape, it is full and powerful. The "rapid changes" in the package reflect a more vibrant domestic demand market.

The 100 billionth express delivery this year came from a trade-in of a household air conditioner. Cars are being exchanged for "smart" ones, home appliances for "intelligent" ones, and home decoration for "new" ones... As of the first half of the year, the trade-in of consumer goods has been intensified and expanded, driving sales of over 2.9 trillion yuan. This not only magnifies the economies of scale of express delivery but also releases the potential of a super-large-scale market.

Fully meeting the delivery needs of consumer goods trade-ins, live streaming e-commerce, holiday economy, etc., the express delivery industry supports the continuous improvement of market circulation and helps to continuously release online consumption demand. In the first half of the year, online retail sales of physical goods reached 6119.1 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 6%, accounting for 24.9% of the total retail sales of consumer goods; during the Spring Festival and "May Day" holidays this year, the volume of express delivery business increased by more than 20% year-on-year... The solid data accumulated by each package shows that in the face of an increasingly complex and severe external environment, driven by a series of policies to expand domestic demand and promote consumption, China's consumer market has withstood the pressure, tended to be active, and the situation is improving.

Observing the pulse, the rhythm is even. The extension of the delivery radius reflects a more coordinated and balanced regional development.

In Shache County (莎车县), Xinjiang (新疆), express delivery service points are piled up with express deliveries from all over the country; in Xilingol League (锡林郭勒盟), Inner Mongolia (内蒙古), herders can receive horse gear in pastoral areas with a light tap on their mobile phones; in Nyingchi City (林芝市), Tibet (西藏), two-yuan postage flower seeds are delivered to the foot of the snow-capped mountains... Since the beginning of this year, the western region has accelerated its entry into the "free shipping zone." In the first half of the year, the proportion of express delivery volume in the central and western regions accounted for 1.4 percentage points higher than the same period last year. Small packages write a brand-new "Western Delivery Record," marking the solid footprint of coordinated regional development.

Not just express delivery, today's Chinese market has an average of more than 10,000 railway passenger trains shuttling across the land every day, nearly 34 billion yuan of physical goods being traded online, and 24,000 newly established enterprises sprouting and growing... Breaking down the barriers between regions, industries, and markets, promoting urban-rural connectivity, regional interconnection, and factor flow, the domestic circulation is smoother and more efficient, and the main driving force for growth is stronger. A national unified market that is being built at an accelerated pace is becoming a solid support for China's high-quality economic development.

Looking at the pulse trend, the circulation is smooth. Express delivery services are moving towards new and better, demonstrating more sustainable innovation momentum.

The "easy to rot after leaving the branch" lychees, with the help of the "airplane + cold chain" new model, cross thousands of miles and enter thousands of households; the "unmanned vehicle + unmanned aerial vehicle" new technology accelerates its landing, helping the industry shift from "end service supply" to "community life security"... A series of technological innovations that condense the collaborative efforts of the upstream and downstream of the industrial chain not only promote the digital transformation and intelligent upgrading of the postal express delivery industry but also become a powerful support for improving circulation efficiency and reducing logistics costs.

Looking at all walks of life, since the beginning of this year, new quality productive forces have accelerated their cultivation and growth, continuously demonstrating a strong driving force for high-quality development. In the first half of the year, the digital industry completed a year-on-year increase of 9.3% in business revenue, investment in high-tech service industries increased by 8.6% year-on-year, and the added value of high-tech manufacturing above designated size increased by 9.5% year-on-year... New industries are accelerating their development, new business models are continuously emerging, and new investments are showing strong growth, allowing new momentum to continuously gather and new advantages to be built at an accelerated pace, driving innovation in China with surging vitality and ample staying power.

The small package is connected to the economic artery on one end and the people's livelihood micro-circulation on the other. From this perspective, the accelerating pace of China's express delivery shows not only the vigorous and upward economic vitality but also the continuous realization of a better life. We have reason to believe that with a more sound logistics network, continuous release of market demand, and accelerated construction of a national unified market, the pace of China's high-quality economic development will be more stable.

Return to Top

A Good City Should Be Able to Settle the Body and Mind (On-the-Spot Commentary)

By: 崔 寅

Original Article Return to Top

Guided by the concept of green development, accelerating the shift from quantitative growth to qualitative improvement, and promoting the organic symbiosis of ecological space and urban functions are the keys to effectively enhancing a city's influence, attractiveness, and competitiveness.

One summer afternoon, I emerged from the East Branch of the Shanghai Library (上海图书馆东馆) and stepped into a nearby grove of trees. As I walked through this "Reading Forest" (悦读森林) covering more than 20,000 square meters, the fragrance of camphor trees, cedars, ferns, and other plants filled the air. I noticed that the circular walkways were cleverly laid out, with "small skylights" formed between the tree canopies, and seats and other facilities scattered among the trees, allowing readers to enjoy reading in a pleasant environment. Strolling, reading, and the rhythms of nature are organically integrated.

Why is there such a large green space next to the library? In fact, this woodland has been around since the end of the last century. When the library was first built, relevant departments jointly planned it, adhering to the concept of "low-impact development." Based on preserving the original appearance of the forest, an integrated design was used to make this urban public green space more functional and easier to open and share. For citizens, allowing culture and nature to nourish each other not only provides more recreational corners but also enriches the experience of reading and feeling nature.

How to integrate beautiful mountains, rivers, and scenery into the city is an important issue for urban development. Not long ago, the Central Urban Work Conference (中央城市工作会议) deployed seven key tasks, one of which was to "focus on building green, low-carbon, and beautiful cities." The continuous ecological greenways and the pocket parks around us truly interpret "harmonious coexistence between man and nature." Optimizing the urban spatial structure and making cities more beautiful and livable are essential to continuously enhance the people's sense of happiness.

The beauty of a city should not be hidden but should be opened up scientifically and orderly. In recent years, Shanghai (上海) has been demolishing walls to reveal greenery, bringing green spaces that were once "hidden away" into public view. The Shanghai Conservatory of Music (上海音乐学院) removed the walls along the street of its garden green space, integrating the street-side pocket park with the green space inside the campus. A batch of buildings built in the early 20th century have been unified in planning and optimized in function, adding a touch of romance and elegance, complementing the surrounding neighborhood style. When walls cannot hide the greenery, and when seeing, approaching, being close to, and enjoying green spaces become part of daily life, the greenness and warmth of urban development quietly increase.

Building a modern people's city calls for more ecological spaces that nurture the soul. In recent years, Shanghai has integrated park construction into the urban fabric, adding greenery wherever possible, filling in gaps with greenery, and expanding greenery in three dimensions, making good use of the city's spatial corners to turn the mega-city into an ecological home that is walkable, restful, and warm. In addition to increasing green space, Shanghai has also taken measures such as free opening, quality improvement, function expansion, and promotion of integration to refresh the intrinsic quality and public services of various parks. From building "city parks" to creating a "park city," guided by the concept of green development, accelerating the shift from quantitative growth to qualitative improvement, and promoting the organic symbiosis of ecological space and urban functions are the keys to effectively enhancing a city's influence, attractiveness, and competitiveness.

A people's city is built by the people and for the people. Fully practicing the concept of a people's city also requires drawing on the wisdom of the masses. Under the overpass at the intersection of Yan'an West Road (延安西路) and Loushanguan Road (娄山关路) in Changning District (长宁区), Shanghai, there used to be only a parking lot. When the space was being renovated, public opinion was solicited, and there was a strong call for adding sports venues. As a result, the surrounding park and the space under the bridge began to integrate, and outdoor ball courts were added. The color scheme changed from "gray and dusty" to bright and colorful, making it more vibrant. Adhering to asking the people what they need and asking the people for their ideas is a necessary way to build a good people's city and a vivid embodiment of whole-process people's democracy. With everyone participating and everyone benefiting, the city will also become a community of co-governance and shared benefits in its development.

Walking in the "Reading Forest" (悦读森林), I can't help but think of the reason for its name: advocating the concept of "reading + green + music + nature." The library extends into the forest, greenery decorates the city, and people read books and also read the growing city. We look forward to more green spaces in the city, where people can settle their minds and bodies and live poetically, which is what it means to "make life better."

(The author is a reporter from this newspaper's Shanghai Branch (上海分社))

Return to Top

How to View These Three "100 Millions" (Sideways)

By: 邱 凌

Original Article Return to Top

Approximately 100 million people take rail transit for efficient commuting every day, 100 million people take buses through the streets, and 100 million people take taxis and ride-hailing services for "door-to-door" travel... Among the data released at the State Council Information Office (国新办) press conference, the three particularly eye-catching "100 million people" vividly reflect the resilience and vitality of China's urban transportation.

In recent years, the increasingly diverse transportation networks and efficient and convenient travel experiences have significantly improved the quality of life for Chinese people. Traveling "thousands of miles in a day" between regions and switching between multiple cities has become a reality. Within cities, subways, buses, taxis, and ride-hailing services provide unimpeded travel, greatly expanding the radius of work and life.

Transportation is the lifeblood of modern cities. How to maximize the value of each mode of transportation tests governance wisdom. Taking buses as an example, China now has nearly 80,000 urban bus routes with a total length of over 1.7 million kilometers. The huge volume of buses benefits hundreds of millions of people's daily travel, but behind each bus route lies considerable knowledge. From how to set up stops more conveniently to how many vehicles to equip for efficient operation, scientific demonstration is needed to provide the "optimal solution." In addition, transportation routes are not immutable and need to be continuously adjusted according to actual conditions. For example, as ride-hailing has become commonplace, the number of passengers on night buses in many places has been decreasing. By continuously optimizing night transportation solutions from "necessity" to "supplement," we can illuminate the way home for late-night commuters with refined services.

For a city, the increasingly dense transportation network also injects vitality into urban economic development. Take Beijing (北京) as an example. Currently, 29 subway lines are interwoven, and the "underground artery" resonates with the city's economic development. With the continued popularity of cultural tourism, the city's public transportation network connects most of the popular attractions. The "transportation + cultural tourism" service loop also activates new momentum for urban cultural tourism consumption.

From a broader perspective, whether a city's planning layout is reasonable and whether its transportation network is efficient are related to the city's overall image. Today, people's demand for travel has long shifted from "being able to get on" to "being able to get on comfortably." This also means that urban transportation needs to focus more on optimizing details and "prescribing small remedies." For example, for citizens, services should be extended from mass benefit to precise reach, launching services such as "direct access to subway stations" and "point-to-point transportation for school and medical treatment"; for tourists, developing more "through-tourism special lines" connecting popular attractions and improving transfer and connection services between different modes of transportation.

When the roads are clear, everything goes smoothly. The city's temperature and the precision of governance are presented in every departure and arrival. As the "happy travel network" becomes increasingly dense, the city's pulse will be more calm and show more vitality.

(Excerpted and adapted from *Beijing Daily* (《北京日报》))

Return to Top

Photo Story

Original Article Return to Top

To better meet the diverse service needs of the elderly and further unleash the consumption potential of the silver economy, the Ministry of Civil Affairs (民政部) and the Ministry of Commerce (商务部) are scheduled to hold the National "Elderly Care Service Consumption Season" event from July to December. Enriching the supply of elderly care services, increasing efforts to protect the consumption safety of the elderly, and promoting the coordinated development of the elderly care cause and industry are conducive to creating a good atmosphere for promoting elderly care service consumption, ensuring that the elderly can consume with confidence and peace of mind, and further improving the quality of life of the elderly.

This is precisely:

Where in the world can one find a land of lasting joy?

Helping and benefiting the elderly requires careful consideration.

A more abundant supply of services,

Comfortable and pleasant care is the best approach.

Xu Zhiwen (徐之文)

Return to Top

People's Livelihood Projects Should Not Become Mere Decorations (Commentary)

By: 北京市朝阳区 梁文翰

Original Article Return to Top

New public toilets in some villages in Jishan County (稷山县), Shanxi (山西) Province, built with significant investment, are locked and closed year-round, becoming decorative displays that are pleasing to the eye but not practical. After the incident was exposed, the local authorities quickly rectified the situation and held those responsible accountable. This response is commendable, but it is even more important to reflect on why a well-intentioned livelihood project failed to achieve the expected benefits for the people.

Similar situations of "emphasizing construction but neglecting operation" are not uncommon in reality. The reasons for this are twofold. On the one hand, there is a misalignment of the concept of political achievement. Some places regard livelihood projects as showcase projects, only caring about whether they exist, not whether they are good, and even simply judging success by "how much investment" or "how grand the construction is," ultimately falling into the trap of formalism. On the other hand, work deployment and implementation are not in place. The deployment lacks systematic consideration, and the execution is mechanically rigid, either building and then neglecting, or releasing and then neglecting, causing the livelihood projects to be distorted and changed in the process of implementation. This is a manifestation of negligence and laziness in administration, as well as a weakening of capabilities.

As long as the concept of political achievement does not deviate, there are always more solutions than difficulties. Some places have a shortage of parking and sports space, and the relevant departments have transformed the corners under overpasses and elevated roads into parking lots, sports fields, leisure parks, etc., which both generate revenue and benefit the people's livelihood. Adapting to local conditions, implementing precise policies, and striving for creative implementation can turn livelihood projects into projects that win the hearts of the people, do good things well, and do practical things effectively, and effectively enhance the people's sense of gain.

Return to Top

Contributions Welcome

Original Article Return to Top

Dear readers, this page's "Everyone's Talk," "Heartwarming News and Hot Reviews," "China Road China Dream," and "Incoming Articles" columns are open for submissions for a long time. We welcome your contributions. Please do not submit the same manuscript to multiple publications.

This page's email address: rmrbbpl@peopledaily.cn (Please indicate the column name in your submission)

Return to Top

Editor in Charge for This Edition: Li Zheng, Shi Ling, Chang Jin

Original Article Return to Top
Return to Top

Page 06版:要闻

The Age of Intelligence: A Shared Future

By: 本报记者  沈文敏

Original Article Return to Top

From July 26th to 28th, the 2025 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) and the High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance were held in Shanghai (上海). The theme of "Intelligent Era, Shared Future" permeated the entire event, bringing a feast of thought and innovation to the global AI field. The conference focused on key topics such as the debut and exhibition of AI technology products, empowering various industries and entering households, and global AI governance, comprehensively showcasing the latest progress and future trends in the field of artificial intelligence.

First Debuts and Exhibitions, Witnessing Innovation Strength

During the conference, over 3,000 cutting-edge exhibits were showcased, including more than 100 "global firsts" and "China (中国) premieres," covering all key aspects of the AI industry chain and demonstrating the innovation vitality and development trends of artificial intelligence.

In the field of large models, Step AI released its new generation foundation large model Step 3 on the eve of the conference opening. As a full-size, native multimodal reasoning model, it possesses powerful visual perception and complex reasoning capabilities, enabling it to complete cross-domain knowledge understanding, mathematical, and visual cross-analysis tasks.

Tencent (腾讯) released Hunyuan 3D World Model 1.0 at the conference, a model designed for 3D scene asset generation. Users can quickly generate panoramic images with 360-degree roaming with just one sentence or one image, improving the efficiency of game creation and virtual asset generation.

Innovation in the robotics field continues. ZHIYUAN Robotics (智元机器人) showcased multiple humanoid robots, having already achieved a production volume of 1,000 units. Targeting different scenarios such as logistics and elderly care companionship, it has formed three major series: Yuanzheng, Elf, and Lingxi. Step AI's quadruped robot has strong environmental adaptability, can walk stably on complex terrain, and perform tasks such as inspection and rescue.

Westwell Lab (西井科技)'s globally first Q-Tractor P40 Plus upgraded new energy unmanned tractor has a range of 200 kilometers and a 5-minute fast battery swap function, specifically designed for airports, logistics centers, and other scenarios. The simultaneously released Hymala multimodal transport logistics hub large model matrix integrates "dispatcher + operator + commander" functions, accelerating the transition of smart logistics from "single-point intelligence" to "full-domain intelligence," and has served over 200 customers in 28 countries and regions.

These first-debuted and exhibited products demonstrate the various possibilities of artificial intelligence applications in various fields, promoting the expansion and upgrading of industrial boundaries.

Deep Empowerment, Promoting Industrial Upgrading

Artificial intelligence is accelerating its integration with the real economy, deeply empowering various industries, and becoming an important driving force for promoting industrial upgrading and economic growth.

In manufacturing, AI assists in the intelligent transformation of production. The COSMOPlat industrial internet platform utilizes AI technology to monitor and analyze production data in real-time, achieving predictive maintenance of equipment failures. A certain automobile manufacturing enterprise, with the help of this platform, reduced equipment failure rates by 30%, maintenance costs by 25%, and increased production efficiency by 20%.

In the medical field, AI-assisted diagnosis plays a positive role. iFlytek (科大讯飞)'s AI doctor assistant, based on medical knowledge graphs and deep learning algorithms, quickly analyzes patient medical records and imaging data, providing diagnostic suggestions for doctors. In the application of primary healthcare institutions, it improves diagnostic accuracy by 20%.

In the financial industry, AI is used to improve risk control and service efficiency. At China CITIC Bank (中信银行), the AI risk control system monitors transaction behavior in real-time, identifies anomalies in milliseconds, intercepts fraud risks, and saves the bank a significant amount of losses each year.

Experts say that the key to artificial intelligence empowering industries lies in combining industry characteristics, identifying pain points and needs, creating customized solutions, achieving deep integration of technology and industry, and promoting the digital and intelligent transformation of industries.

Integrating Resources, Improving Global Governance

Ensuring the safe, reliable, and controllable development of AI and realizing technology for the benefit of mankind is the common responsibility of the international community.

At the opening ceremony of the conference, the "Global Artificial Intelligence Innovation Governance Center" was officially launched. With the goal of providing rich and diverse international public goods, the center will actively promote in-depth exchanges and cooperation among all parties globally in key areas such as AI governance concepts, rule-making, and standard-setting, and is committed to forming a global governance framework and standards and norms with broad international consensus as soon as possible.

"This center provides a high-quality platform for countries to engage in dialogue and cooperation, which helps to integrate resources from all parties, gather global wisdom, and jointly explore scientific, reasonable, and practical governance paths," said Xue Lan (薛澜), Dean of the Institute for AI International Governance at Tsinghua University (清华大学).

The 2025 World Artificial Intelligence Conference demonstrates the vigorous development trend of artificial intelligence and also highlights the importance and urgency of global governance. In the intelligent era, adhering to the concept of "Shared Future," strengthening technological innovation, deepening industrial applications, and improving global governance, artificial intelligence will surely create a better future for human society.

Return to Top

Building a New Engine for High-Quality Development (60 Glorious Years, Charming New Tibet)

By: 本报记者  孟祥夫  宋  飞  环球时报记者  李迅典

Original Article Return to Top

In just 2 to 3 minutes, a truck full of goods can complete customs clearance; the average transportation cost per container has decreased by nearly 2,000 yuan, saving enterprises money... In August 2024, the Xigaze (日喀则) International Land Port Export Goods Inspection Site in Tibet (西藏) was officially sealed and put into operation. This modern facility integrates functions such as customs declaration, inspection, transshipment, loading and unloading, storage, and consolidation. It can guarantee the inspection of 300 export cargo vehicles per day, becoming a key hub for Tibet (西藏) to connect with overseas markets.

Simplifying customs clearance procedures facilitates the efficient collection and distribution of goods.

In front of the international land port's customs monitoring screen, a reporter saw a truck undergoing customs clearance. The staff clicked the mouse, and the cargo information appeared on the computer screen. "Now, we are using advanced large container inspection systems," said Tsering Tsomo (次仁措姆), Deputy Section Chief of the Comprehensive Business Section of Xigaze (日喀则) Customs. Goods are transported from the place of production to the land port by rail and road. After inspection, the containers loaded with goods will be affixed with customs intelligent electronic locks built based on the Beidou (北斗) system to ensure that the entire process is controllable. Subsequently, the trucks loaded with containers can go directly to the border port. After the information is verified, they can quickly pass through customs without secondary inspection.

"In the past, freight procedures were complicated and time-consuming, and queuing overnight to complete the procedures was the norm," said Sangzhu (桑珠), a Tibetan (藏族) truck driver. "Now it's completely different. Today, after completing the inspection at the international land port, I can park the truck in the designated parking space and sleep peacefully, and then set off for the Zhangmu (樟木) Port early tomorrow morning."

Located 5 kilometers from the city and 50 kilometers from the airport, the Lhasa-Xigaze (拉日) Railway passenger and freight stations are located within it, providing quick access to important ports such as Gyirong (吉隆), Zhangmu (樟木), and Lizi (里孜)... The Xigaze (日喀则) International Land Port has a unique transportation location.

"The collection and distribution of goods at the international land port is mainly based on intra-regional turnover, inter-provincial linkage, and overseas exports," said Tenzin Namgyal (旦增南加), General Manager of Xigaze (日喀则) Chengyou Supply Chain Management Co., Ltd. Currently, the export goods through the land port have shifted from the "old three items" of furniture, clothing, and home appliances to the "new three items" of new energy vehicles, lithium batteries, and photovoltaic products. From March to May this year, more than 1,000 new energy vehicles were transported from Shanghai (上海) and other places to the Xigaze (日喀则) International Land Port train assembly center by rail. Then, through the multimodal transport model of railway and road, they were diverted to Gyirong (吉隆) and Zhangmu (樟木) ports for customs clearance and driven to the international market.

Based on unique resources, cultivate a new industrial ecology.

Workers are busy welding and assembling, and robots shuttle back and forth, carrying goods... The operation workshop of Xigaze (日喀则) Sunrise Oriental Clean Energy Co., Ltd. is a busy scene.

"The company invested in the construction of a large flat-plate solar collector production plant in 2023. By integrating transportation resources, it has reduced logistics and warehousing costs, and effectively solved the 'last mile' distribution problem," said Li Shenglin (李生林), the general manager. At present, the company is deeply involved in the field of clean energy heating. Its products radiate to high-altitude areas with large heating demands such as Ngari (阿里), Nagqu (那曲), and Shannan (山南). It has built and successfully operated more than 100 heating projects, with a heating area of 3 million square meters.

The rapid development of Xigaze (日喀则) International Land Port is cultivating a new industrial ecology for Tibet (西藏). As of June this year, the land port has registered more than 150 enterprises, covering food processing, building materials, warehousing and logistics, clean energy and other industries. A total of 53 investment promotion projects have been launched, 48 have started construction, and a total investment of 3.302 billion yuan has been completed, driving employment for 2,369 people.

In terms of industrial layout, the international land port takes the export goods inspection site as the core, develops leading functions such as modern logistics, port services, and industrial supporting facilities, and cultivates characteristic industries such as biomedicine, characteristic health food, and clean energy.

Expand cross-border e-commerce to enhance international competitiveness.

In order to enhance its radiation capacity, Xigaze (日喀则) International Land Port is accelerating the construction of bonded warehouses and export supervision warehouses, and expanding new business formats such as cross-border e-commerce through the "inspection site + bonded warehouse" model. In May this year, Xigaze (日喀则) Chengyou Supply Chain Management Co., Ltd. successfully exported a batch of department store commodities through the cross-border e-commerce B2B (business-to-business) direct export model, achieving a breakthrough in the cross-border e-commerce business of enterprises in the Xigaze (日喀则) Customs jurisdiction.

Xigaze (日喀则) Nongtou Jinfan Carpet Decoration Material Technology Co., Ltd. focuses on Tibetan (藏) carpet production and export. "In the future, export goods can complete customs declaration, inspection and other procedures in the bonded warehouse, reducing the financial pressure on enterprises and improving the efficiency of cargo turnover," said Qiao Mingrui (乔明瑞), the company's head. As an export-oriented logistics node, the bonded warehouse facilitates enterprises to connect with international buyers and more conveniently promote Tibetan (藏) carpets to overseas markets.

Goods from Zhejiang (浙江), Shandong (山东), Guangdong (广东) and other provinces are exported through Xigaze (日喀则), forming an efficient supply chain of "collection of goods outside the region - inspection in Xigaze (日喀则) - exit from the port."

"The Xigaze (日喀则) International Land Port has significantly improved the region's level of opening up and economic and trade cooperation, which will help Tibet (西藏) better integrate into the 'Belt and Road' initiative," said Li Shihua (李世华), Deputy Secretary of the Party Working Committee and Deputy Director of the Management Committee of Xigaze (日喀则) International Land Port (Economic Development Zone).

Return to Top

Never give up any opportunity to challenge yourself (The most beautiful demeanor of revolutionary soldiers in the new era)

By: 本报记者  李龙伊

Original Article Return to Top

Late at night, the sound of alarms pierced the tranquility of a port in the South China Sea, kicking off a joint military-civilian exercise against a real combat backdrop.

"The military port has been damaged by the 'enemy'!" Several naval vessels returning to port for resupply urgently changed course and headed for alternative docks. In the joint military-civilian command center several kilometers away, Xie Liang (谢亮), an officer from a unit of the Guangxi Military Region (广西军区), kept a close watch on the situation display screen, precisely controlling troop deployments and handling "enemy" harassment operations. Watching the fully fueled and armed vessels set sail again, Xie Liang (谢亮) breathed a sigh of relief.

In his twenty-five years of military service, Xie Liang (谢亮) has focused on the primary responsibility of national defense mobilization, loyally fulfilling his duties and mission, diligently studying war and planning operations, participating in numerous major missions, assiduously honing his skills to win battles, and forming a series of achievements supporting training and preparedness for war. His related achievements have won one all-army award and four theater-level awards.

After graduating from the National University of Defense Technology (国防科技大学), Xie Liang (谢亮) was assigned to a border defense company of the Guangxi Military Region (广西军区). This was a heroic unit that had been tempered by the flames of war. In one battle, the officers and soldiers of the company held their ground, repelling 16 attacks by the enemy ranging from a reinforced battalion to a regimental scale, ensuring that the core position was not lost. After the battle, they were awarded the honorary title of "Heroic Company of Steadfast Defense" (坚守英雄连).

In the honor room, facing the walls filled with certificates and banners, and the long list of martyrs, Xie Liang (谢亮) strengthened his belief in making contributions and establishing a career here. He took the lead in training and worked diligently, actively signing up to participate in basic subject competitions organized by higher authorities. Three months later, amidst the applause of his comrades, Xie Liang (谢亮), as a representative, hung the competition medal on the honor wall. "At that moment, I felt that I had truly integrated into this glorious fighting collective," Xie Liang (谢亮) said.

"As a military officer on the front lines of border defense, it is not enough to simply be rated as excellent overall; every aspect must be excellent, so that we have the confidence to guard the national gate." In the new round of national defense and military reform, facing the brand-new national defense mobilization training system and the densely packed new content on the subject schedule, Xie Liang (谢亮) dared not delay for a moment, "We must learn and master it as soon as possible!"

After finishing his work during the day, Xie Liang (谢亮) insisted on squeezing out two hours to study national defense mobilization policy documents, marking important clauses with a highlighter and writing down his thoughts and annotations.

In order to have a more comprehensive understanding of national defense mobilization work in his jurisdiction, Xie Liang (谢亮) conducted in-depth investigations at the front lines, visiting key enterprises and emerging industries, and meticulously recording information on transportation, materials, human resources, and other aspects, building a database.

The protection of military facilities for border and coastal defense is a matter of border security. Facing changes in technology, changes in warfare, and changes in adversaries, the information-based transformation and upgrading of existing war preparedness training facilities has become a key planning project for the unit.

The task fell to the business department responsible by Xie Liang (谢亮). "Transformation and upgrading must seize opportunities and be completed successfully." He deeply knew that strengthening information-based construction is the basic project to promote transformation and development, and doing a good job in related work is not only a matter of duty, but also a need for winning battles.

The difficulty of "crossing boundaries" can be imagined. Xie Liang (谢亮) never gave up any opportunity to challenge himself. After receiving the task, Xie Liang (谢亮) learned while doing, and worked hard with his comrades. From carefully drafting feasibility reports for upgrading and transformation, to opening up the "meridians" connecting various devices... Xie Liang (谢亮) and his comrades broke through a number of technical problems in three months, achieved process reengineering and mechanism innovation in one year, and completed a comprehensive upgrade within two years, laying a solid foundation for enhancing the war support capabilities of the military region system.

In December 2021, Xie Liang (谢亮) was transferred to work in a coastal front-line unit, starting a journey of striving to strengthen the country through the sea. "How can we enable the militia to achieve new achievements and show a new style in the new era?" Xie Liang (谢亮) was thinking.

In order to build a lean and efficient new type of militia support and security force at sea, Xie Liang (谢亮) proposed to establish a new-domain and new-quality female militia team.

After matching job requirements with capability indicators, Xie Liang (谢亮) widely mobilized and absorbed a large number of talents such as helicopter pilots, speedboat drivers, network engineers, lifeguards, and divers to join the militia; at the same time, he raised funds for new equipment, and a new type of militia security team gradually became full-fledged.

After the reorganization, the female militia company distinguished itself in the first live-fire exercise. A sudden thunderstorm caused a surge of waves on the sea, and a fishing boat encountered strong winds 10 nautical miles from the coastline and urgently needed rescue. The female militia company received a situation report and quickly dispatched speedboats, drones, and helicopters to carry out a three-dimensional rescue.

During an exercise, the communication signal was suddenly interrupted, and the transmission of key information came to an abrupt halt. The sudden situation on the training ground caused the special situation handling to be judged as a failure. Facing failure, Xie Liang (谢亮) was not discouraged: "Only by truly training and preparing, and constantly discovering problems and solving problems, can we win the future battlefield."

After tracing the source of the problem, Xie Liang (谢亮) found through investigation that the obsolescence of communication equipment caused this failure. The information network is the "nervous system" of operational command and control, and must not become an obstacle affecting the smooth flow of command and control, and must be completely reliable.

Xie Liang (谢亮) began to study related technologies and actively consulted technical experts in related fields. Two months later, he wrote a more than 30-page equipment upgrade plan and technical standard plan, and submitted it to higher authorities. In the plan, high-throughput transmission, domestically produced autonomous and controllable, and highly reliable equipment were listed one by one.

Soon, this equipment was approved for entry into service, and the mission platform's situational awareness capabilities and information communication technology achieved a qualitative leap. "**为了打赢** (wèi le dǎ yíng - "in order to win," emphasizing the determination and commitment to achieve victory), we must not stop charging forward for a moment!" Xie Liang (谢亮) said.

(Xiao Xianyun (肖先云) and Cao Xuebing (曹学兵) participated in the writing)

Return to Top

The 11th Group of Cadres and Talents Aiding Tibet and the 6th Group Aiding Qinghai Depart for Work

Original Article Return to Top

This newspaper reported from Beijing on July 27th (Reporter Zhang Yang (张洋)) On July 27th, leading officials from the Organization Department of the Central Committee (中央组织部) and the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security (人力资源社会保障部) led teams to send the eleventh batch of cadres and talents from central government departments aiding Tibet and the sixth batch aiding Qinghai to Lhasa (拉萨) and Xining (西宁) respectively. Recently, cadres and talents from various provinces and cities aiding Tibet and Qinghai have also arrived in Tibet and Qinghai. From this point on, the eleventh batch of cadres and talents aiding Tibet and the sixth batch aiding Qinghai have begun their three-year work assignments in Tibet and Qinghai.

In 1994 and 2010, the Party Central Committee made significant decisions to provide counterpart assistance to Tibet and the Tibetan-inhabited areas of Qinghai, respectively. According to the unified deployment and arrangement of the Party Central Committee, the Organization Department of the Central Committee and the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security have selected and dispatched 11 batches of over 13,000 cadres and talents aiding Tibet and 6 batches of over 1,700 cadres and talents aiding Qinghai to work in Tibet and Qinghai. The vast number of cadres and talents aiding Tibet and Qinghai have conscientiously implemented the Party Central Committee's guidelines and policies on Tibetan affairs, especially the Party's strategy for governing Tibet in the new era, adhered to the main theme of forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation, and worked together with cadres and the masses of all ethnic groups in the aided areas to overcome difficulties and work hard, effectively promoting long-term stability and high-quality development in Tibet and Qinghai, and demonstrating the境界, 才干和担当 (jìng jiè, cái gàn hé dān dāng - "realm, talent and responsibility") of the cadres and talents aiding Tibet and Qinghai.

This year, the Organization Department of the Central Committee and the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security organized and carried out the selection and rotation of the eleventh batch of cadres and talents aiding Tibet and the sixth batch aiding Qinghai. The new batch of 2,156 cadres and talents aiding Tibet and 480 cadres and talents aiding Qinghai come from 112 central government departments and 17 provinces and cities. They are young and energetic with good overall qualities. The proportion of Communist Party members, those with a bachelor's degree or above, and professional and technical personnel is relatively high. Many comrades are outstanding young cadres from their local units. The composition of sources is reasonable, and the structure and function of personnel are continuously optimized. The proportion of party and government cadres selected and dispatched by central and state organs from internal departments and the proportion of business management personnel selected and dispatched by central enterprises from their headquarters have both increased significantly compared with the previous batch. The cadres and talents selected and dispatched by provinces and cities are further inclined towards key areas such as rural revitalization, medical education, and ecological protection.

From July 28th to August 2nd, the Organization Department of the Central Committee and the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security will, together with relevant parties from the Tibet Autonomous Region (西藏自治区) and Qinghai Province (青海省), hold training courses in Lhasa and Xining to help the new batch of cadres and talents aiding Tibet and Qinghai to quickly familiarize themselves with the situation and enter the work state as soon as possible. Previously, each counterpart assistance province and city had conducted training for the new batch of cadres and talents aiding Tibet and Qinghai from their respective provinces and cities.

Return to Top

Photo Story

Original Article Return to Top

On July 27, farmers in Fengning Manchu Autonomous County (丰宁满族自治县), Hebei Province (河北省), worked in vegetable greenhouses. The local area has vigorously developed vegetable cultivation, and the current vegetable planting area has reached 183,000 mu.

Xinhua News Agency reporter Xing Guangli (邢广利) photographed.

Return to Top

Gao Yongxiang: Loyal Souls Immortal, Watching Over Mountains and Rivers (Remembering History, Cherishing the Memory of Martyrs - Anti-Japanese War Heroes)

By: 新华社记者  刁慧琳

Original Article Return to Top

On the square of Wangjiazhuang Village (王家庄村), Lingtai County (灵台县), Pingliang City (平凉市), Gansu Province (甘肃省), a bust stands silently, its gaze firm and its spirit vigorous. This is Gao Yongxiang (高永祥), well-known to every household in the area, whose deeds of loyalty to the revolution and defending the country are still praised by the villagers.

Gao Yongxiang's (高永祥) original name was Gao Canggui (高仓贵), born in 1912 in Lingtai (灵台), Gansu (甘肃). His family had been farmers for generations, living in poverty, but he was intelligent and quick-witted, stubborn and resolute, and had great aspirations from a young age.

In the spring of 1931, Gao Yongxiang (高永祥) was transferred to the front line in Jiangxi (江西) with the Kuomintang's (国民党) 26th Route Army to "suppress the Communists." During this time, he witnessed firsthand the strict discipline of the Red Army, while the Kuomintang (国民党) army oppressed the people. In contrast, his thinking underwent a great transformation.

In December of the same year, Gao Yongxiang (高永祥) participated in the Ningdu Uprising (宁都起义), joined the Red Army as a company commander in the 5th Red Army Corps, and soon joined the Communist Party of China (中国共产党). Subsequently, he participated in the fourth and fifth counter-"encirclement and suppression" campaigns to defend the Central Soviet Area, and was promoted to battalion commander and regimental commander due to his bravery in combat.

After studying at the Chinese People's Anti-Japanese Military and Political University, Gao Yongxiang (高永祥) was sent to Taiyuan (太原), Shanxi (山西) to train anti-Japanese guerrilla backbones. During this time, he actively mobilized the masses, expanded the anti-Japanese armed forces, and prepared to establish Party organizations. In the "Jinxi Incident," facing the heavy siege of Yan Xishan's (阎锡山) forces, Gao Yongxiang (高永祥) remained calm in the face of danger, led his troops to break through the encirclement, and transferred to northwestern Shanxi (晋西北), preserving an anti-Japanese armed force that could not be underestimated for the Party and the people.

In February 1940, the Japanese Takahashi Brigade surrounded a cavalry company of our army in Dajuhui Village (大巨会村), Wuzhai County (五寨县), Shanxi Province (山西省). The 36th Regiment was ordered to rush to the rescue. Gao Yongxiang (高永祥) commanded the 2nd Battalion of the regiment to fight tenaciously, repeatedly defeating three enemy assaults.

Unfortunately, Gao Yongxiang (高永祥) did not live to see the victory of the Anti-Japanese War. In July 1945, Gao Yongxiang (高永祥) led the 36th Regiment and the militia, preparing to liberate Shenchi County (神池县), Shanxi Province (山西省). During the battle, the enemy organized a group charge directly at Gao Yongxiang's (高永祥) command post. Gao Yongxiang (高永祥) led the office cadres and guards in a bayonet charge against the enemy. In the fierce battle, he was seriously wounded and later died heroically due to excessive blood loss.

At Gao Yongxiang's (高永祥) memorial service, Xu Guangda (许光达), commander of the Second Sub-district of the Jin-Sui Military Region, highly praised Gao Yongxiang's (高永祥) life. To commemorate his outstanding contributions to the people, Hengshan Village (横山村), Wuzhai County (五寨县) was renamed Yongxiang Village (永祥村), and Hengshan (横山) was renamed Yongxiang Mountain (永祥山).

In the Gao Yongxiang (高永祥) special exhibition hall of the CPC Lingtai County Working Committee Memorial Hall (中共灵台工委纪念馆), flower baskets spontaneously offered by the masses are placed next to Gao Yongxiang's (高永祥) photo.

The flame of inheritance burns endlessly. In order to better promote the red spirit, local schools often organize primary and secondary school students to visit the memorial hall to learn about Gao Yongxiang's (高永祥) deeds and the years of arduous struggle. Many students also actively apply to be "Young Pioneer Volunteers" in the Gao Yongxiang (高永祥) exhibition hall.

"Gao Yongxiang (高永祥) was loyal to the revolutionary cause, and his heroic deeds have inspired generations of Lingtai (灵台) people to inherit the red bloodline, establish patriotic feelings, and cultivate a sense of social responsibility," said Bai Shuanghong (白双宏), deputy curator of the memorial hall.

(According to Xinhua News Agency, Lanzhou (兰州), July 23)

Return to Top

The 5th China New E-commerce Conference Held in Yanbian, Jilin

Original Article Return to Top

This newspaper Changchun (长春) July 27th (Reporters Meng Haiying (孟海鹰) and Jin Xin (金歆)) The 5th China New E-commerce Conference was held on the 27th in Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture (延边朝鲜族自治州), Jilin Province (吉林省), with more than 600 guests participating from government departments, social organizations, internet companies, research institutions, and other sectors.

The opening ceremony of the conference released the "China New E-commerce Development Report (2025)" and innovative cases of new e-commerce development. The main forum included keynote speeches and thematic speeches. The conference also released the fourth batch of high-quality live broadcast rooms (anchors) list of the high-quality anchor cultivation project, launched the high-quality anchor empowerment action, and held the launching ceremony of the "Cross-border Exhibition and Sales Integration Project." This conference set up sub-forums around topics such as technological innovation, integrated development, cross-border e-commerce, sustainable development and social responsibility, and held two major theme activities: the industrial chain docking exhibition and "Promoting Consumption and Benefiting People's Livelihood - Jilin Ginseng Characteristic Industrial Belt."

The conference was hosted by the Internet Society of China (中国网络社会组织联合会) and organized by the China International Electronic Commerce Center (中国国际电子商务中心), the Publicity Department of the Jilin Provincial Party Committee (吉林省委宣传部), the Cyberspace Administration of Jilin Province (吉林省委网信办), the Department of Commerce of Jilin Province (吉林省商务厅), and the People's Government of Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture (延边朝鲜族自治州人民政府).

Return to Top

Editor in Charge for This Section: Wu Yan, Han Chunyao, Wu Kai

Original Article Return to Top
Return to Top

Page 07版:读者来信

Disorderly Garbage Dumping Pollutes Surrounding Environment (Exposure)

By: 本报记者 史一棋

Original Article Return to Top

Readers have recently reported that multiple open-air garbage dumps are scattered in some villages and towns in Changzhi City (长治市), Shanxi Province (山西省), seriously polluting the surrounding environment.

Accordingly, the reporter went to Shangdang District (上党区) and Pingshun County (平顺县) in Changzhi City (长治市) for on-site interviews and investigations a few days ago, and found that a large amount of garbage that had not been sorted at the source was dumped in mountain gullies and farmland. This garbage is piled up in the open air without any dustproof or anti-seepage measures; some have expanded to the bottom of the mountain, and some have invaded water bodies.

On-site: 60 mu (亩) of mountain gullies beside the national highway are filled with construction and domestic waste.

On July 17, in Beicheng Township (北呈乡), Shangdang District (上党区), Changzhi City (长治市), Shanxi Province (山西省), the continuous cornfields were pleasing to the eye against the backdrop of blue sky and white clouds, but the beautiful scenery was shrouded in a strong, foul odor. The reporter entered a villager's home and asked about the source of the odor. The villager pointed to an unpaved dirt road and said, "You can see it if you go along here. They dump all the untreated domestic waste in the mountain gully."

Who are they? Why do they dump untreated domestic waste here?

A villager told reporters that in recent years, due to geological changes, some areas in the east and south of Dongfen Village (东坟村) have become subsidence areas, and some villagers have moved out of the village and into the city one after another. The villagers said that fewer and fewer people live in the village, but more and more garbage is transported to the village, and the odor is getting stronger and stronger.

Following the direction indicated by the villagers, the reporter walked about 500 meters along the dirt road and saw a narrow and long mountain gully with a flat bottom. It is estimated that the total length of this mountain gully is about 1,200 meters, with a width of 10 to 20 meters at the narrower part and 40 to 50 meters at the wider part, covering an area of about 60 mu (亩) (see Figure ①).

Construction waste is piled up on both sides of the mountain gully: waste bricks and stones, discarded cables, discarded steel bars, discarded plastic boards, discarded green nets for covering, etc.; some are scattered and piled up, while others are packed in woven bags; in the middle, there is more than 10 meters high of unsorted domestic waste. The garbage dump is adjacent to the Erguang Expressway (二广高速). From the aerial view, the garbage dump looks like a cracked "scar" in the cornfield.

"Since 2016, almost every day, trucks have been dumping garbage here, mostly at night," Yu Yong (于勇) (pseudonym), a villager in Xipo Village (西坡村), told reporters, "This domestic waste is too smelly."

That night, the reporter waited for more than 3 hours. At about 20:00, a truck with license plate number "Jin D929L9 (晋D929L9)" drove into the garbage dump. The truck body was printed with "Beautify Changzhi (美化长治), Create the Future Together". The truck was covered with camouflage tarpaulin. After the driver got out of the truck and observed for a while, he removed the tarpaulin from the truck body, and then manipulated the truck bucket to tilt, and a large amount of domestic waste was dumped from the truck bucket into the mountain gully. Subsequently, the driver rolled up the tarpaulin, started the vehicle and drove away from the scene.

The reporter followed the vehicle for about 20 minutes and arrived at the "Guotou Changzhou Yude Yuan (国投长州育德苑)" residential complex located at the intersection of Xinjian Road (新建路) and Lidu Street (黎都街) in Shangdang District (上党区). The driver unloaded the truck bucket and left it in the middle of the community square, and then drove away. A resident of the community told reporters that this is a garbage station where residents centrally discard domestic waste. At present, residents of the community do not sort their garbage, and the garbage is directly put into the truck bucket. When it is full, someone will transport it away.

Visit: Garbage dumps that have been dumped for many years emit foul odors and pollute ponds.

In Beicheng Township (北呈乡), Shangdang District (上党区), there is more than one garbage dump where domestic waste and construction waste are mixed together.

According to local villagers, in Nancheng Village (南呈村), an open space of about 20 mu (亩) is also piled with waste bricks and various domestic waste. At the entrance of the garbage dump, there is also a publicity sign with the inscription "Shangdang District (上党区) Beicheng Township (北呈乡) People's Government Xuan (宣)", which reads "It is strictly forbidden to dump garbage indiscriminately, and protect environmental sanitation."

The reporter saw in Nancheng Village (南呈村) that every 20 to 30 minutes, a large truck loaded with slag soil drove from east to west along the village road. During the driving process of the slag truck, the self-unloading bucket behind it kept dropping slag soil. When the wind blows, dust fills the air, and the visibility on the road is less than 20 meters.

The reporter followed the slag truck to an open space on the west side of Provincial Highway 227 (227省道). After the slag truck stopped, it turned around and dumped the slag soil in the self-unloading bucket. "There is a place nearby that is repairing roads, and the excavated soil is dumped here," Gao Liang (高亮) (pseudonym), a villager in Nancheng Village (南呈村), said that slag trucks have been coming more frequently in the past month, which has brought a lot of trouble to the lives of villagers. "Slag trucks not only cause a lot of dust, but also make the roads in the village bumpy."

In addition to slag soil, this open space is also piled with a lot of construction waste and domestic waste (see Figure ②). Several magpies are foraging in the domestic waste pile. The reporter approached to check, and the magpies flapped their wings and flew away. It turned out that there were many kitchen waste such as watermelon rinds in the domestic waste pile, which attracted magpies to forage here. Satellite maps also show that the garbage dump is adjacent to the local seasonal flood river - Taoqing River (陶清河).

Beside the pond on the west side of Beihe Village (北和村), dozens of piles of construction waste of various sizes, such as waste bricks and stones, and discarded steel bars, can be seen everywhere, and some coal gangue piles emit a strong and pungent smell of sulfide (see Figure ③). In addition, in some domestic waste piles, some plastic products are emitting smoke; some garbage has invaded the water body, causing the water body to turn black and emit bursts of foul odor.

"These garbage piles by the pond have been there for many years, and they have been piled up and no one cares. And from time to time, trucks come to dump new garbage," said Han Min (韩敏) (pseudonym), a villager in Beihe Village (北和村).

On July 18, according to the information provided by readers, the reporter went to Yuxia Pass Town (玉峡关镇), Pingshun County (平顺县), Changzhi City (长治市), and saw another hillside full of garbage on the east side of County Road 674 (674县道).

The aerial view shows that the garbage dump is piled up from the bottom of the mountain to the top of the mountain, forming an irregular semicircle. The garbage dump is not fenced, and the garbage is piled up in a disorderly manner; some garbage has flowed down along the mountain gully, and some vegetation has been damaged. The reporter entered the garbage dump, and the pungent foul odor permeated the air. In the garbage pile, there is not only construction waste such as waste bricks and stones, discarded cables, and discarded steel bars, but also domestic waste such as old magazines and books, worn-out clothes, and kitchen waste. Judging from the traces on the scene, a lot of garbage should have been dumped recently.

While the reporter was filming, a middle-aged man who claimed to be a staff member of the village committee came forward to ask the reporter about his intentions. According to his description, this is a centralized landfill in the county, and the garbage from the surrounding villages is dumped here, and vehicles operate every day, "It has been many years."

However, the reporter did not see any relevant signs and publicity information of the landfill on the scene, nor did he see any landfill traces and related dustproof and anti-seepage facilities.

Question: After a year of tackling solid waste pollution prevention and control, the amount of garbage in this area has increased instead of decreasing.

According to China's current "Pollution Control Standard for Domestic Waste Landfills", the elevation of the landfill site should be above the flood level with a recurrence period of not less than 50 years, and it should be built outside the inundation area and protection area of ​​reservoirs and other artificial water storage facilities in the long-term plan; the selection of the landfill site should avoid active collapse, landslide and uplift zones, and active subsidence areas in abandoned mining areas; the landfill should implement rain and sewage diversion and set up a rainwater collection and drainage system to collect and discharge rainwater that may flow to the landfill area and rainwater that has not been in contact with domestic waste in the non-landfill area within the catchment area; the landfill should build isolation facilities such as walls or fences, and set up anti-scattering facilities, safety protection facilities, and fire isolation belts at the boundary of the landfill area or other necessary locations.

From what the reporter saw during the on-site visit, the garbage dumps involved did not meet the above requirements.

The "Solid Waste Pollution Prevention and Control Tackling Action Plan" issued by Shanxi Province (山西省) on July 24, 2024 requires strengthening source classification and recycling to promote the reduction and resource utilization of solid waste from domestic sources. The plan requires that by 2025, except for Taiyuan City (太原市), the coverage rate of domestic waste classification in other cities should reach 70%; the recycling rate of urban domestic waste should reach 35%; and cities should achieve full coverage of domestic waste incineration treatment capacity.

One year after the implementation of the plan, many villagers encountered by the reporter in Shangdang District (上党区) and Pingshun County (平顺县) said that in recent years, the amount of garbage transported to their villages has increased instead of decreasing, and whether it is industrial solid waste or domestic waste, it has not been classified and treated and is dumped at will.

In February this year, when the first Central Ecological and Environmental Protection Inspection Team inspected Shanxi (山西), it found that Changzhi City (长治市) "has a large gap in the construction of domestic waste incineration facilities, and domestic waste is still mainly landfilled." On June 27, the inspection team reported that "Changzhi City (长治市) currently has 1 domestic waste incineration facility, covering 8 of the city's 12 counties (districts), and has been operating at overload for a long time." At the same time, the analysis pointed out the reasons: "The planning and promotion of the construction of domestic waste incineration facilities are not effective, the implementation of harmless treatment measures for domestic waste is not in place, and the daily operation, maintenance and supervision and management of landfills are lacking."

How will these dumped garbage be handled in the future? This newspaper will continue to follow up and report.

Return to Top

Low-hanging Cables in Fields Pose Safety Hazard (Local News)

Original Article Return to Top

In Zhongba Village (中八村), Huchao Township (湖潮乡), Gui'an New District (贵安新区), Guizhou (贵州), three cables were moved from a utility pole in the middle of rice paddies towards Provincial Highway 102 (102省道), spanning across farmland and field paths. The cables have outer wrapping material, but are simply too low, with the lowest point being about 1.5 meters high (see picture), directly affecting villagers' farming and pedestrian passage. Many villagers have to bend over when carrying grain and firewood, which is inconvenient and poses a safety hazard.

This problem has existed for many years. Every time I travel to and from the fields, I risk accidentally touching the cables. I hope relevant departments will take measures to raise the cables and eliminate the hidden dangers.

Gui'an New District (贵安新区), Guizhou (贵州) Yao Jiachang (耀家昌)

Return to Top

Suggestion.

Original Article Return to Top

Careless Disinfection of Tableware is Unacceptable

The hygiene problems of the catering industry have always received widespread attention. In recent years, some "disinfected" tableware sets have been reported to have visible oil and water stains, and some have been found to have excessive levels of coliform bacteria. Analyzing the reasons behind this, some companies, in order to save costs, have reduced the high-temperature disinfection temperature from 120 degrees Celsius to below 80 degrees Celsius, and the disinfection time from 30 minutes to below 15 minutes. Some workers even wipe the tableware with rags before directly packaging it.

Careless disinfection of tableware is unacceptable. First, we must increase supervision and enforcement, formulate and improve laws and regulations, and act in accordance with the law. Establish a "red and black list" for disinfection companies, and implement industry bans on companies that repeatedly fail spot checks. The second is to do a good job in departmental collaboration. Health, market supervision, ecological environment and other departments should take joint action to ensure that supervision is comprehensive. Use technological means to promote "one-code traceability," such as scanning the packaging QR code to view the entire disinfection process recording. Through open and transparent measures, increase social supervision and force disinfection companies to improve quality and efficiency.

Wang Wugang (王武刚), Zhengzhou City (郑州市), Henan (河南)

Summer Care Can Bring Children into the Fields

After the children have summer vacation, many parents cannot take care of them because they are at work or working away from home, so summer care classes have emerged. However, urban summer care classes are mostly indoor interest classes or provide homework tutoring indoors, and most care institutions do not have outdoor course arrangements.

Therefore, I suggest that children take advantage of the summer vacation to go to the fields more. Nowadays, many children cannot distinguish between rice and wheat, and some have not even seen live poultry. Natural education is limited to book illustrations. As a summer care class or extracurricular research institution, some field courses can be arranged for children, provided that safety is ensured. Children can broaden their horizons by going to the fields, which can promote their all-round development. At the same time, playing in the fields and interacting closely with partners is conducive to enhancing friendship and strengthening teamwork ability, allowing children to learn through play and make summer life more exciting.

Zhang Yuxin (张裕新), Qidong City (启东市), Jiangsu (江苏)

Don't Let Urban Street Trees Block Traffic Lights

Currently, there is abundant rainfall in summer, and the branches and leaves of some urban street trees are growing luxuriantly, resulting in some blocking traffic lights and signs, interfering with drivers' vision, and increasing traffic risks; some branches are drooping, causing inconvenience to pedestrians and vehicles, especially in severe weather, broken branches fall, threatening the safety of people's lives and property; and some have not been pruned for a long time, and the tree shapes are messy and affect the urban landscape.

Urban street trees need to be pruned frequently, which can not only eliminate traffic hazards, but also help street trees grow healthily and enhance the "appearance" of the city. It is recommended to establish a regular inspection and pruning system, formulate a scientific pruning cycle, and prune by region and time period according to different tree species and growth conditions; strengthen the construction of professional teams to improve pruning technical level; encourage citizens to provide feedback on problems through hotlines, online platforms, etc., so that street trees can better play the role of beautifying the city and serving citizens.

Zhang Yiyou (张宜友), Baoshan District (宝山区), Shanghai (上海)

Return to Top

How to Maintain Hotel Service Quality (Focus on the People)

By: 本报记者 赵 兵

Original Article Return to Top

Currently, the hotel accommodation industry continues to develop, providing guests with increasingly personalized services. At the same time, old problems such as false advertising, poor accommodation environments, and unfair contract terms still exist to varying degrees in the hotel accommodation sector.

A netizen, Mr. Li, left a message on the "People's Complaint" section of People's Daily Online (人民网) stating that during the "May Day" holiday this year, he found the hygiene conditions to be very poor after checking into a hotel in Huizhou City (惠州市), Guangdong Province (广东省). "The room's hygiene conditions were worrying, with residual garbage and clear stains on the table; the stains on the bedsheets were serious, and the hygiene conditions were severely substandard."

Regarding hotel environment and service quality issues, many netizens left messages saying: "Air conditioning not cooling," "Doors and windows not soundproof," "Insufficient hot water supply," "Poor hygiene conditions," "Cockroaches and other insects appearing"... These problems greatly affect the check-in experience. However, the cost of protecting one's rights is often high, especially the time cost, leading many consumers to choose to tolerate it.

Many consumers also report false advertising issues in hotels. For example, some media previously exposed a hotel in Zhejiang (浙江) that launched a "99 yuan sleep on the sofa in the lobby" project, which sparked heated discussions. After the local market supervision department intervened in the investigation, it believed that the hotel could not actually provide services corresponding to the advertisement, which constituted false advertising and violated the Anti-Unfair Competition Law, and made an administrative penalty decision to fine it 100,000 yuan.

Some readers also reported that some hotels attract tourists by claiming to be tens or hundreds of meters away from local landmark buildings, but the actual location is far in the suburbs, tens of kilometers away. Some use the guise of "youth hostels" but are actually group rental apartments in ordinary residential buildings. Others advertise that they can check into rooms with beautiful views such as "sea view" or "lake view," but in reality, the view outside the window is just an ordinary street scene.

In addition, there are many complaints about reservation refund issues. For example, Ms. Zhang, a reader, booked a 3-day stay at a hotel in Yunnan (云南) from April 12th to April 15th through an online platform for a total of 2261 yuan. "We went to the hotel to view the room on the evening of April 11th and found the hotel hygiene to be too poor, so we canceled the order. As a result, the online platform deducted 586 yuan. We didn't know why the deduction was made. After communicating with the platform's customer service, they compensated 200 yuan, but still deducted 386 yuan. We feel that this deduction is unreasonable," said Ms. Zhang.

Industry insiders say that, on the one hand, the domestic hotel industry is highly competitive, and the operating conditions of some hotels are not optimistic, so they try to control costs as much as possible, which affects the quality of hotel services. On the other hand, there are also problems with the low quality of some employees and the low level of hotel management.

Inadequate external supervision is another important reason for the frequent occurrence of chaos in the hotel industry. Luo Hao (罗浩), an associate professor at the School of Management of Sun Yat-sen University (中山大学), introduced that China's hotels can be roughly divided into three categories: star-rated hotels, brand hotels, and non-standardized accommodations. It involves multiple departments such as commerce, health, and market supervision. Under multi-headed management, the responsibilities are unclear, and it is difficult for various departments to form a joint force; the standards are inconsistent, making it difficult to implement.

In addition to the supervision of operating entities such as hotels, there is also a lack of supervision of online service platforms and social media platforms. "Although in recent years, China has successively issued relevant regulations to further standardize the network service platforms that connect with the hotel accommodation industry, there are still gaps in legislation," said Luo Hao, "and there is also a lack of specialized regulatory agencies for supervision, and in many cases, we can only rely on platform self-discipline."

Mr. Chen (陈先生), a reader from Baoding (保定), Hebei (河北) believes that online platforms have an undeniable platform responsibility for hotels, B&Bs, and other merchants that settle in, and must not act as a "**甩手掌柜**" (shuǎi shǒu zhǎng guì - "hands-off shopkeeper," to shirk responsibility). "It is recommended to start with the review of key information for each entry and strictly supervise it. Regulatory departments should also strengthen platform responsibilities. For hotels with serious consumer complaints, while dealing with the hotel, the responsibilities borne by the online platform should also be dealt with together, with online and offline efforts combined, to force online platforms and hotels to work together to provide good hotel services."

Faced with hotel supervision issues, some places are actively exploring solutions. For example, Yanji City (延吉市), Jilin Province (吉林), issued the "Guiding Opinions on Regulating Price Behavior in the Accommodation Industry," proposing to conduct price monitoring of the accommodation industry by type and grade, and to promptly request government intervention and guidance when abnormal price fluctuations occur. Some places use technology to empower, such as Shandong (山东), which promotes the pilot application of hygiene and cleaning recorders, striving to ensure that the disinfection of public supplies and the cleaning of guest rooms in accommodation establishments are fully recorded and can be reviewed, and exploring ways to promote the improvement of hygiene quality in accommodation establishments.

To address the root causes and symptoms of chaos in the hotel industry, regulatory departments, the industry, platforms, and hotels need to work together. Experts suggest that the government needs to improve existing regulations, refine the regulatory functions of all parties, and build a scientific and effective regulatory system; industry associations should issue self-discipline standards and actively guide the overall standardized development of the industry; platforms and hotels need to adhere to the concept of serving customers and win consumer recognition and establish a good reputation through honest and trustworthy, meticulous and thoughtful services.

(Jiang Zhuoqun (蒋卓群) participated in the writing)

Return to Top

Seeking Submissions

Original Article Return to Top

People's Daily "Letters from Readers" page and People's Daily Online "People's Complaints" jointly launched a solicitation for "Summer Consumption Traps," welcoming readers to provide clues and suggestions.

Email: rmrbdzlx@126.com

dzlx@peopledaily.cn

Mobile: People's Daily App "Exposure Platform" (人民日报客户端“曝光台”)

People's Daily Online "People's Complaints" Platform (人民网“人民投诉”平台)

Return to Top

Editor in charge of this edition: Xiang Zifeng

Original Article Return to Top
Return to Top

Page 08版:特别报道

Let Courageous Acts Become a New Social Trend in the New Era (Observation · Special Planning)

Original Article Return to Top

On July 21st, the 15th National Commendation Conference for Heroes and Role Models of Justice and Courage was held in Beijing (北京), grandly commending 60 individuals and groups who are heroes and role models of justice and courage.

Since the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, under the strong leadership of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping (习近平) at its core, new achievements have been made in the cause of justice and courage. More than 30,000 cases of acts of justice and courage have been confirmed nationwide in accordance with laws and regulations, involving nearly 40,000 people.

The individuals and groups of heroes and role models of justice and courage commended this time have inherited the traditional virtues of the Chinese nation, practiced the core socialist values, and safeguarded the interests of the country and the people. Although they differ in age, occupation, and region, they all stepped forward and sacrificed themselves for others in times of crisis, demonstrating the spirit of the times and the brilliance of humanity.

Recently, reporters from this newspaper approached some of the commended individuals and groups of heroes and role models of justice and courage to gain an in-depth understanding of their good deeds and listen to their stories of bravery, fearlessness, and dedication.

-- Editor

National Hero of Justice and Courage, Cai Wen (蔡文)

Regardless of Danger, Rushing into a Well to Save People

Reporter Shi Yu (施钰) from this newspaper

It was an ordinary summer night.

At about 8:00 PM on July 14, 2023, in Mawei District (马尾区), Fuzhou City (福州市), Fujian Province (福建), Cai Wen (蔡文), a mechanical engineer at Chalco Ruimin Co., Ltd. (中铝瑞闽股份有限公司), was riding his electric bike to pick up his daughter from her painting class, as usual.

"Help! Someone fainted in the sewage well!" Just as Cai Wen (蔡文) exited the entrance of Minyu Xincun Community (闽渔新村小区) in Luoxing Street (罗星街道), he heard someone calling for help near the sewage well. It turned out that two workers had accidentally fallen into the approximately 4-meter-deep sewage well while working on the roadside. The space inside the well was enclosed and narrow, the sewage was turbid, and there were also a large number of harmful gases.

Cai Wen (蔡文) pushed through the crowd and, without any protective measures, climbed into the well using the ladder inside. Holding onto the ladder with one hand, he supported the already unconscious worker with the other, lifting him up little by little with his shoulders and arms. With the help of other people at the wellhead, one worker was rescued.

Cai Wen (蔡文) came out of the well, his face pale and his breathing rapid. At this time, Cai Wen's (蔡文) father, Cai Chuanfu (蔡传福), was taking a walk at the entrance of the community and came over to see what was happening, only to find that it was his son saving people. "Cai Wen (蔡文), be careful!" Cai Chuanfu (蔡传福) reminded his son. "It's okay, I'm saving people." With that, Cai Wen (蔡文) went down into the well again.

Cai Wen (蔡文) tied the rope around the second worker's waist and had the people at the well pull him up, while he used his body to push him up from inside the well. With the joint efforts of Cai Wen (蔡文) and the arriving fire and rescue personnel, the second worker was successfully rescued. However, Cai Wen (蔡文) fell into a coma and fell to the bottom of the well due to inhaling a large amount of harmful gases. Cai Wen (蔡文) was rescued by fire and rescue personnel and immediately sent to the hospital for emergency treatment.

In the end, both workers were out of danger, but Cai Wen (蔡文), who was only 41 years old, left forever.

"He was very aware of the danger of going down into the well." Lan Qisen (蓝启森), director of the Party-Masses Work Department of Chalco Ruimin Co., Ltd. (中铝瑞闽股份有限公司), said that Cai Wen (蔡文) had participated in 153 safety training sessions at the company, and scored full marks in every training exam. He had also participated in a large number of confined space operations, "**义无反顾** (yì wú fǎn gù - "duty without turning back," to do something without hesitation)" to choose to go down into the well to save people.

"Cai Wen (蔡文) was always happy to help others." Chen Qin (陈钦), Cai Wen's (蔡文) wife, said that if neighbors had broken water pipes or appliances at home and asked Cai Wen (蔡文) for help, he would go to their homes to help as long as he had time; if the company called, he would go to the company to solve the problem no matter how late it was. "Saving people at that time was his choice following his heart." Chen Qin (陈钦) said.

"After Cai Wen (蔡文) sacrificed himself, the care and help from all sectors of society also made us feel warm. Our lives have returned to normal, and I will raise my children well and pass on the spirit of justice and courage." Chen Qin (陈钦) said.

National Role Models of Justice and Courage, Xie Ruxiang (谢如祥) and Fan Jiangtao (范江涛) Group

Saving People is More Important Than Summiting Mount Everest

Reporter Qi Yukun (亓玉昆) from this newspaper

Xie Ruxiang (谢如祥), a citizen of Zhongshan City (中山市), Guangdong Province (广东), and Fan Jiangtao (范江涛), a citizen of Xinzheng City (新郑市), Henan Province (河南), are currently working in Hunan (湖南) and are members of the Hunan Mountaineering Team (湖南省登山队). If it weren't for their experience saving people on Mount Everest two years ago, they might not be known.

At 5:00 PM local time on May 18, 2023, Fan Jiangtao (范江涛), who had been resting at Camp C4 on the south slope of Mount Everest for a day, set off with his teammates towards the summit of Mount Everest. At 8:00 PM that day, they reached an altitude of 8,450 meters.

Suddenly, Fan Jiangtao (范江涛) saw a female climber lying alone on the right side of the climbing rope, with her head drooping, her forehead covered with ice and snow, and the locking buckle of her descender still hanging on the rope. Her left glove was missing, her skin was frozen black, and her whole body was trembling.

"You can't save her." A guide walking in front of Fan Jiangtao (范江涛) said. There is a saying in the mountaineering world—"No rescue above 8,000 meters." Here, even twisting the cap of a mineral water bottle is difficult.

Seeing that the dream of summiting Mount Everest was about to be realized, Fan Jiangtao (范江涛) hesitated and climbed up 20 meters, but finally decided to return to save the person. "I gave her my gloves, changed her oxygen, fed her food, massaged her hands and feet, and performed CPR. Then, I organized her equipment and released the locked descender. After her consciousness and physical strength recovered a bit, the guide and I supported her as we walked down." Fan Jiangtao (范江涛) said, "The altitude is high, and descending is very difficult. We only descended 100 meters in more than an hour. At this time, the person in distress fainted again, and my physical strength was approaching its limit."

Fan Jiangtao (范江涛) had no choice but to temporarily settle the person in distress and go to find rescue. At around 10:00 PM, he met Xie Ruxiang (谢如祥), who was going up. Xie Ruxiang (谢如祥) immediately decided: "Give up summiting and save people together!" In the end, they retreated to Camp C4 on Mount Everest in the early hours of the next morning, and the person in distress was successfully rescued.

"Looking back now, there were many accidental factors that allowed us to save the person." Xie Ruxiang (谢如祥) said that he had only been out for 3 hours at the time, his physical strength was abundant, and there was no wind or snow to interfere with his vision, and he had plenty of spare oxygen.

This was not the first time Xie Ruxiang (谢如祥) had rescued someone during a climb. In 1991, when he was attempting to summit Muztagh Ata (慕士塔格峰) in Xinjiang (新疆), he gave up summiting to rescue a climber; in June 2022, Xie Ruxiang (谢如祥) helped a climber escape danger while climbing Haba Snow Mountain (哈巴雪山) in Yunnan (云南). "Bringing people down is more important than standing on the summit." Xie Ruxiang (谢如祥) said. Last month, he just summited Mount Elbrus (厄尔布鲁士峰), the highest peak in Europe.

In order to realize his dream of summiting Mount Everest, Fan Jiangtao (范江涛) worked hard for 17 years. This May, he finally stood on the summit of Mount Everest, and at that moment, he was in tears.

National Role Model of Justice and Courage, Wei Daxing (魏大兴)

Sacrificing Himself to Clear a Culvert, Protecting the Dam for the Village

Reporter Shen Jingran (沈靖然) from this newspaper

In the early morning of July 4, 2023, torrential rain poured down on Dashi Village (大石村), Baiyang Town (白羊镇), Wanzhou District (万州区), Chongqing (重庆), and ditches and fields were transformed into swamps in an instant.

Hearing a loud noise in the darkness, Wei Daxing (魏大兴), a 67-year-old villager, discovered that a pond not far from his home had burst its banks due to the heavy rain. At 5:00 AM, the rain became even heavier. Thinking of the elderly people in the village who had difficulty moving, Wei Daxing (魏大兴) grabbed his rain gear and plunged into the rainstorm.

On the muddy mountain road, Wei Daxing (魏大兴) knocked on doors and shouted loudly from house to house: "Get up! Danger! Hurry up! Evacuate!" Without stopping for more than two hours, this anxious figure awakened the sleeping village. "He woke up the whole village." Chen Jianchuan (陈建川), secretary of the Dashi Village (大石村) Party Branch, recalled, "The mountain road was so slippery that you couldn't stand still, but he ran all over it."

After evacuating the villagers to a safer place, Wei Daxing (魏大兴) still had a tight string in his heart. He called on fellow villager Wei Dazhang (魏大章), grabbed a long bamboo pole, and rushed towards the Baiguoshu Reservoir (白果树水库) about 800 meters away in the heavy rain—this reservoir was related to the drinking water of several villages downstream, and even more related to the safety of more than 80 households in Taibaixi Village (太白溪村) downstream! The mountain rocks and dead branches carried by the rainstorm could easily block the drainage culvert, and once the dam burst, the consequences would be disastrous.

When they arrived at the reservoir, the scene in front of them made the two of them gasp: the water level had exceeded the warning line by more than one meter, and the mouth of the drainage culvert was completely submerged underwater. Speaking of the scene at that time, Li Changping (黎昌平), director of the Baiyang Town (白羊镇) Peace Office, couldn't help but cover his face: "He must have known that it was dangerous to do this, but if he didn't do it, it would be others who were in danger..."

Wei Daxing (魏大兴) threw down his straw hat, took off his rain boots, and plunged into the turbulent muddy water. He held a bamboo pole tightly in one hand for support, and groped underwater with the other. The water flow impacted him, and dead branches and debris entangled him. He gritted his teeth and cleared the blockage little by little.

Half an hour later, as the last thick dead branch was pulled out, a powerful water flow gushed out instantly, and the culvert was clear! But at this time, a huge vortex formed at the mouth of the culvert, and the suction instantly sucked the exhausted Wei Daxing (魏大兴) into it, and the rushing water swallowed his figure...

In the end, this rainstorm did not take the life of a single villager, except for Wei Daxing (魏大兴). He used his body to protect the dam for the village.

"He was usually just an old fellow who couldn't stay idle." Chen Jianchuan (陈建川) recalled that if someone's light bulb was not working or a water pipe was broken, Wei Daxing (魏大兴) would grab his old cloth bag and rush over as soon as he was called; he was always busy with village affairs such as repairing roads and setting up lines.

After Wei Daxing's (魏大兴) sacrifice, not only the villagers in his own village, but also the villagers in several nearby villages came to mourn spontaneously. "He saved so many people with his own life." Chen Jianchuan (陈建川) murmured.

National Role Models of Justice and Courage, Jiang Zhengquan (蒋正全), Cheng Xincan (程心灿), Qin Jianping (秦建平), Liu Tonglian (刘同连), Wang Fuli (王福利), and Wang Jianning (王建宁) Group

Vehicle Falls into Water, 6 People Work Together to Rescue

Reporter Zhang Danhua (张丹华) from this newspaper

On August 8, 2022, at the Erlongkou Reservoir (二龙口水库) in Yanliang District (阎良区), Xi'an City (西安市), Shaanxi Province (陕西), a white car suddenly lost control, crashed through the roadside guardrail, and fell into the water. Jiang Zhengquan (蒋正全) and his coworkers Cheng Xincan (程心灿) and Qin Jianping (秦建平), who were about 200 meters away from the scene, immediately ran over and jumped into the water after hearing the crash, swimming towards the slowly sinking vehicle.

After the three approached the vehicle in the water, they found that the car window was already open, and there were 3 adults and 2 children inside. Liu Tonglian (刘同连), a nearby resident, then swam over and held the front left of the vehicle to prevent it from tilting. They first pulled a little girl out of the car window. Jiang Zhengquan (蒋正全) held the child on his shoulders and swam towards the shore with all his might. Less than 10 meters from the shore, the little girl grabbed a bamboo pole handed over by a villager and went ashore, but Jiang Zhengquan (蒋正全), who was exhausted, sank into the water.

Cheng Xincan (程心灿) and Qin Jianping (秦建平) successively dragged 3 trapped people out of the car, and Liu Tonglian (刘同连) swam back to the shore, working together to rescue the 3 trapped people ashore. At this time, there was still 1 trapped person in the car. Wang Fuli (王福利) and Wang Jianning (王建宁), nearby residents, rushed to the scene after hearing the news, and the two worked together to rescue the last person ashore.

Qin Jianping (秦建平) recalled that after saving the people, they found that Jiang Zhengquan (蒋正全) had not come ashore, but because they themselves were already exhausted, they hurriedly shouted for help. A young man rescued the unconscious Jiang Zhengquan (蒋正全). The police who arrived at the scene and the surrounding people performed CPR on Jiang Zhengquan (蒋正全) and contacted 120 to send him to the hospital, but Jiang Zhengquan (蒋正全) unfortunately died.

Jiang Zhengquan (蒋正全), who was 44 years old at the time, was from Jiangjin District (江津区), Chongqing (重庆). He came to Xi'an (西安) to work in early 2022. Cheng Xincan (程心灿) said that Jiang Zhengquan (蒋正全) was usually a kind and enthusiastic person. A few days after the incident, Jiang Zhengquan's (蒋正全) ashes returned to his hometown. Hundreds of local residents spontaneously waited for more than 2 hours in the scorching sun, holding white chrysanthemums, to welcome Jiang Zhengquan (蒋正全) home. "Over the years, the care from all sectors of society has made our family very moved." Jiang Zhengying (蒋正英), Jiang Zhengquan's (蒋正全) younger sister, said that her brother's child is 12 years old this year, and the family, according to her brother's wishes, encouraged the child to join the army when he grows up.

Wang Fuli (王福利), 54 years old this year, is a farmer in Lintong District (临潼区), Xi'an City (西安市). "At that time, I only thought that saving people was the most important thing, and I didn't think so much." He said, "Commendation is an honor, but also a responsibility. It reminds me to be ready to lend a helping hand to those in need at any time."

Wang Jianning (王建宁) is a farmer in Yanliang District (阎良区), Xi'an City (西安市). "At that time, I was watering my own land. I grew up by the river, and I didn't consider the danger when I jumped down." Wang Jianning (王建宁) said that he was a little scared afterwards, but he did not regret it.

National Role Models of Justice and Courage, Ma Wenxuan (马文轩), Wang Wubin (王武斌), Ma Bin (马斌), and Gao Yifan (高一帆) Group

A Series of Emergency Rescues, Resolving the Danger of a Bus Out of Control

Reporter Zhao Shuaijie (赵帅杰) from this newspaper

"At that time, I didn't have time to think too much, I rushed up at the first time" "We just did what we should do"... More than half a year later, when interviewed by reporters, Ma Wenxuan (马文轩), Wang Wubin (王武斌), Ma Bin (马斌), and Gao Yifan (高一帆), students of Linxia City No. 3 Middle School (临夏市第三中学) in Gansu (甘肃), spoke firmly.

At about 1:40 PM on December 19, 2023, a bus carrying 18 passengers was traveling near the Longwangmiao intersection (龙王庙路口站) of Binhe Road (滨河路) in Linxia City (临夏市) when the driver suddenly fell into a coma and his hands left the steering wheel. Soon, the vehicle ran over the double yellow line and rushed towards the oncoming lane.

"Uncle, there's danger!" In an emergency, Ma Wenxuan (马文轩), who was sitting next to the driver's seat, was the first to rush to the driver's side. Seeing that the driver was not responding, he jumped into the driver's seat, lay on the ground, reached out and moved the driver's foot off the accelerator, and then pressed down hard on the brake pedal. Ma Bin (马斌) next to him opened the door of the driver's seat, "We have to control the direction quickly!"

Almost at the same time, Wang Wubin (王武斌) and Gao Yifan (高一帆) in the back row of the vehicle also rushed forward. One of them supported the driver, who was losing consciousness, and the other, together with Ma Bin (马斌), tried to control the vehicle, which was constantly deviating to the left. "Turn right, turn right." The two held the steering wheel tightly and carefully applied force to the right together.

"Squeak—" As soon as the car stopped, Ma Wenxuan (马文轩) tightened the handbrake and turned on the hazard lights. Gao Yifan (高一帆) pressed the door button and opened the front and rear doors of the vehicle. The four did not leave, but worked together to lift the driver to the aisle of the car and let him lie down flat. Ma Wenxuan (马文轩) knelt on the ground and kept pressing the driver's chest with both hands, performing CPR.

"Fortunately, a nurse arrived in time to take over the first aid, and some passengers called 120." Wang Wubin (王武斌) said that they did not leave until the ambulance arrived. "At that time, I didn't feel anything, but after getting back on the bus to school, I realized that my heart was beating fast and my hands were shaking all the time."

A series of emergency rescues prevented the accident from further deteriorating. People at the scene praised them, but the four students were very low-key after returning to school. "We didn't know until the bus company wanted to send a pennant." Zhou Xiaopeng (周晓鹏), principal of Linxia City No. 3 Middle School (临夏市第三中学), was deeply proud. "These children helped others with their intelligence and bravery, which is very remarkable! The school has always attached importance to moral education and safety education, and regularly invites professionals to give lectures on emergency rescue and fire safety knowledge."

"A month before the incident, I had just participated in the emergency rescue training organized by the school and learned how to use CPR and AED (Automated External Defibrillator)." Ma Wenxuan (马文轩) said that he is also interested in cars, and as he is about to enter the ninth grade, he is actively previewing the new courses. "**好好学习** (hǎo hāo xué xí - "study hard," to put effort into one's studies)," and strive to study a major that I am interested in in the future!"

Return to Top

Gathering the Light of Kindness and Overwhelming Righteousness (Thoughts)

By: 宋 宇

Original Article Return to Top

The new era is an era that needs heroes and is certain to produce them. There is such a group of people who are ordinary figures around us, but who resolutely rush to dangerous situations in times of crisis to protect the safety of the people and defend social justice. Through one thrilling moment after another, we see the light of goodness and overwhelming righteousness constantly converging.

Behind the acts of kindness and righteousness, there is the brilliance of human nature of selflessness and dedication. There are no heroes who descend from the sky, only ordinary people who step forward. In the face of danger, do we stand still or take a step forward? The seemingly instantaneous decision is not a momentary impulse, but a habitual practice and a choice from the heart. In fact, you and I all have this seed of kindness. As long as we persist in carefully nurturing it with the correct view of righteousness and benefit, we will surely be able to make it break ground at the right time.

Behind the acts of kindness and righteousness, there is the spirit of the times of respecting heroes and learning from heroes. Through richer media forms, heroic deeds and lofty spirits can be spread to farther places and more people; through more powerful policies and measures, heroes and role models of 见义勇为 (jiàn yì yǒng wéi - "seeing righteousness acting bravely," to act heroically for a just cause) and their families can obtain better rights protection and more preferential support. When one person does good, ten thousand can be inspired. The atmosphere of learning from the virtuous and aspiring to goodness is becoming more and more intense, which will encourage new heroes and role models to emerge continuously.

Life is limited, and the formation process of the noble spirit of many heroic role models is also limited, but the formation of a valuable spiritual wealth is an eternal freeze-frame. Like heroic role models, adhering to beliefs and striving for struggle, everyone can write an extraordinary life with the ordinary of ordinary people.

Return to Top

Editor in Charge for This Edition: Bai Zhiyu, Song Yu, Zeng Yichen

Original Article Return to Top

Layout Design: Cai Huawei (蔡华伟)

Return to Top

Page 09版:理论

Improving Income Distribution Mechanisms and Developing New Quality Productive Forces (In-depth Study and Implementation of Xi Jinping's Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era - Experts Discuss Studying Volume I of "Xi Jinping's Economic Anthology")

By: 洪银兴  卞元超

Original Article Return to Top

New quality productive forces are an important theoretical achievement of Xi Jinping's (习近平) economic thought, marking a major breakthrough and innovation in our Party's understanding of Marxist productive forces theory. Developing new quality productive forces requires the formation of new types of production relations that are compatible with them. Several works in the first volume of "Xi Jinping Economic Anthology" (《习近平经济文选》) make important expositions on developing new quality productive forces and forming new types of production relations. For example, "Chinese-style Modernization Must Rely on Scientific and Technological Modernization for Support" points out: "Solidly promote the deep integration of scientific and technological innovation and industrial innovation to help develop new quality productive forces"; "What is New Quality Productive Forces and How to Develop New Quality Productive Forces" points out: "It is necessary to improve the mechanism for factors to participate in income distribution, stimulate the vitality of labor, knowledge, technology, management, capital, and data and other production factors, better reflect the market value of knowledge, technology, and talent, and create a good atmosphere that encourages innovation and tolerates failure"; "Ensuring that China's Economic Ship Rides the Wind and Waves and Moves Steadily and Far" points out: "We must coordinate the relationship between cultivating new driving forces and updating old driving forces, and develop new quality productive forces in accordance with local conditions"; and so on. General Secretary Xi Jinping's (习近平) important expositions provide fundamental guidance for us to accelerate the development of new quality productive forces and form new types of production relations that are compatible with them.

Income distribution is an important part of production relations. In the process of building new types of production relations, improving the income distribution system plays an important role. Analyzing and studying the income distribution system can usually use Marxist distribution theory and research methods on the labor process. At the same time, it should be noted that against the background of the in-depth development of a new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation, the development of new quality productive forces involves not only technological progress and the improvement of means of production, but also the optimal combination of various innovative elements such as knowledge, technology, and management according to their respective supply and demand conditions and the weight of their contribution to new quality productive forces. Therefore, the development of new quality productive forces is not a general labor process, but an innovative labor process. Using Marxist distribution theory and research methods on the labor process to study new quality productive forces and new types of production relations, we must not only measure the level of productive forces development by the level of wealth growth, but also accurately judge the role of various production factors in wealth growth, explain the role of various production factors participating in income distribution in improving total factor productivity, and on this basis, further improve the system and mechanism of distribution according to factors, so as to promote the optimal combination of new production factors through the reform and improvement of the income distribution system and greatly improve total factor productivity.

The distribution of the results of new quality productive forces includes two processes.

To study the distribution relationship in the development of new quality productive forces, it is first necessary to analyze the distribution process. Marx revealed two aspects of the distribution relationship in the "Introduction to the Critique of Political Economy": "Before distribution is the distribution of products, it is (1) the distribution of instruments of production, (2) the distribution of members of society among various types of production (the individual belongs to a certain production relationship)." Following this principle, to study the position and role of the distribution relationship in the development of new quality productive forces, it is first necessary to study the distribution of production conditions that plays a decisive role in the distribution relationship.

The production conditions of new quality productive forces are mainly innovation conditions, involving the distribution of innovation factors such as knowledge and technology. At present, the speed of development, the breadth of radiation, and the depth of impact of the digital economy are unprecedented, and it is the most important production condition for developing new quality productive forces. The distribution of the digital economy as a production condition is key to the distribution of the three core elements of data, computing power, and algorithms. The more sufficient and accurate the required data, the more powerful the computing power, and the more advanced the algorithm, the higher the level of productivity. It should be seen that different production units, platforms, and enterprises have different conditions for owning these production factors, and the role of these production factors in the relevant units will also be different. The degree to which each unit condenses these production factors reflects its level of productivity, which in turn is reflected in the differences in the development level of new quality productive forces in different industries and different enterprises.

According to the basic principles of Marxist political economy, under the conditions of socialized production and market economy, macro distribution does not directly face individual producers, but includes two distribution processes: the first distribution is the market's distribution of the total social product among enterprises, and the second distribution is the enterprise's internal distribution of the results it has distributed in the market. This framework can be used to analyze the distribution of new quality productive forces among different departments and the distribution within enterprises that develop new quality productive forces.

The reason why there must first be a market distribution of the total social product among enterprises is that the products and services entering the market are the results formed by enterprises as overall producers. The distribution of total social income among different industries and different enterprises reflects the role of the law of value, which in reality is the market's evaluation of the level of productivity development of each enterprise. In practice, not all enterprises have the ability to cultivate and develop new quality productive forces. Compared with other enterprises, enterprises with better development of new quality productive forces can obtain higher income from the market, which is the result of the market evaluation and competition mechanism. These enterprises that have the ability to cultivate and develop new quality productive forces are more competitive in the market, and therefore can also obtain more income from the market. At the same time, only those enterprises that rely on the development of new quality productive forces to obtain higher income in the market have the ability to distribute to the owners of various factors that contribute to the development of new quality productive forces in the subsequent second distribution. The second distribution is the distribution within the enterprise. This is not only the distribution according to work in the general sense, but also the distribution according to the marginal contribution of various production factors in the development of new quality productive forces.

In this way, the two distributions reflect the principle of market evaluation of contribution and remuneration determined by contribution. Among them, the first distribution reflects the market evaluation of contribution, and the second distribution reflects the remuneration of various production factors according to contribution. This income distribution mechanism has an important promoting effect on the development of new quality productive forces.

From the basic connotation of new quality productive forces, we can see the innovation elements and their remuneration.

General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) pointed out in "What is New Quality Productive Forces and How to Develop New Quality Productive Forces" that new quality productive forces "take the leap of laborers, labor materials, labor objects and their optimal combination as the basic connotation." This shows that the innovation process of developing new quality productive forces requires promoting the optimal combination and renewal of various production factors, which will put forward new requirements for the remuneration of production factors.

The leap of laborers' quality and their remuneration. Generally speaking, laborers can be divided into simple laborers and complex laborers. A significant feature of new quality productive forces is innovation, and scientific and technological innovation is the core element of developing new quality productive forces. Correspondingly, the laborers needed to develop new quality productive forces must have certain new knowledge, new skills, and digital literacy, and be able to adapt to and master close cooperation with artificial intelligence, human-computer interaction robots, etc. Because of this, complex laborers play a decisive role in the development of new quality productive forces, reflecting the leap of the quality of labor factors. In practice, this is mainly manifested in the fact that talent is the first element in developing new quality productive forces, and people's knowledge, technology, management, data processing capabilities, etc. play an important role. Correspondingly, the value of complex labor condensed with data, knowledge, technology, management and other factors should also be reflected in income distribution.

The leap of the quality of labor materials and their remuneration. The quality of labor materials is a measuring instrument of the level of productivity in each economic era. At present, with the development of digital technologies such as the Internet and artificial intelligence, the cultivation and development of new quality productive forces cannot be separated from digital platforms, intelligent systems, etc., such as smart phones, Internet platforms, cloud computing, robots, drones, smart sensors, virtual reality and augmented reality equipment, etc. These devices and equipment have also become new types of labor materials. Whether enterprises can use these digital platforms and intelligent systems, and how advanced these platforms and systems are, can reflect the ability of enterprises to develop new quality productive forces and create social wealth. Correspondingly, these new types of labor materials can also obtain higher remuneration.

The leap of the quality of labor objects and their remuneration. Productivity reflects the ability of people and nature to transform materials. In the traditional development of productive forces, labor objects mainly involve energy raw materials and natural resources. In the current context of comprehensively promoting Chinese-style modernization with high-quality development, the quality of labor objects must also achieve a leap in the development of new quality productive forces. For example, in order to promote the realization of a modernized society where humans and nature coexist in harmony, the development of productive forces requires promoting an energy revolution, replacing fossil energy with renewable clean energy, and also requires accelerating green technological innovation and the promotion and application of advanced green technologies to provide more ecological products. In general, the labor objects for developing new quality productive forces are no longer limited to unprocessed natural objects and processed raw materials that exist in material form, but also include natural objects newly discovered with technological progress, raw materials injected with more technical elements, and labor objects that exist in non-material form such as data. These new production factors are high-quality production factors for developing new quality productive forces, and should also be reflected in wealth distribution accordingly.

The generation of data elements and the realization of data property rights.

With the continuous acceleration of digitalization, networking, and intelligentization, the importance of data elements is becoming increasingly prominent among the various elements for developing new quality productive forces. General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) pointed out in "Developing the Digital Economy and Seizing the High Ground for Future Development" that "data, as a new type of production factor, has a significant impact on the transformation of traditional production methods"; in "Firmly Implementing the Strategy of Expanding Domestic Demand" he pointed out: "Optimize the income distribution structure, and improve the mechanism for knowledge, technology, management, data and other production factors to be evaluated by the market for their contribution and to determine remuneration according to their contribution." Income distribution is the economic realization of factor ownership, and the income distribution of data elements is the economic realization of data property rights.

The process of data becoming a new type of production factor mainly includes the following links: the collection and production of original data, the encoding of these original data according to a certain scientific algorithm, and the calculation of these data by a processor with a certain computing power to form data that meets specific production needs. In this process, the Internet, Internet of Things devices, etc. collect and produce original data, and different companies process these original data either through their own platforms or by using other people's platforms. Different platforms and companies have different computing power, algorithms, and labor levels, and their ability to produce data is also different.

After data becomes a new type of production factor, to give full play to its role in developing new quality productive forces, it is necessary to determine the value of the data. The value of data is closely related to the use value of data, which reflects the use of data to promote the formation of a higher level of productivity in related fields. There are two main factors that affect the value of data. One aspect is the complexity and density of the data generation process. In this process, having servers and platforms that can provide stronger computing power, more scientific algorithms, and higher-level code can generate data resources with higher technological content. The other aspect is the circulation and widespread application of data. Unlike other material production factors, data has the effect of increasing returns to scale. The smoother the circulation and the wider the use, the higher the return. In general, the higher the technological content of data generation and the wider the circulation and application of data, the higher the value of data.

To determine the value of data, it is also necessary to establish a corresponding property rights system. It should be seen that each link in the process of data becoming a new type of production factor will form value and income. This requires confirming the rights of data and the different links in the process of forming new types of production factors, and protecting their property rights in data circulation and sharing to realize value. Whoever produces the data owns the data property rights; whoever uses other people's data when producing new data must pay remuneration to the owner of the data.

At the same time, it needs to be seen that in a market economy, the realization of data value faces two problems. First, the monopoly of data property rights by platform companies will reduce the efficiency of data elements participating in wealth creation and cause social welfare losses. Specifically, platform companies rely on their advantages in mastering data to form a monopoly and obtain monopoly profits based on this; second, the data market has the characteristics of information asymmetry, which will also reduce the efficiency of data elements participating in wealth creation, resulting in the inability to fully realize the value of data in the circulation of data.

To solve the problems faced by data elements participating in wealth creation and income distribution, it is necessary to continuously improve the basic data system. This is conducive to giving full play to China's advantages in massive data scale and rich application scenarios, and activating the potential of data elements. Focusing on data property rights, circulation and transaction, income distribution, and security governance, we will establish and improve a data property rights system that guarantees rights and interests and complies with regulations, establish and improve a data element circulation and transaction system that is compliant, efficient, and combines on-site and off-site, establish and improve a data element income distribution system that reflects efficiency and promotes fairness, and establish and improve a data element governance system that is safe, controllable, flexible, and inclusive, so as to fully realize the value of data elements and provide strong support for deepening innovation-driven development and cultivating and developing new quality productive forces.

(This article is the result of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference's "Theoretical Research on the Development of New Quality Productive Forces" project)

Return to Top

First "ban the body," then "ban the people" (Ideological Perspectives)

By: 王富军

Original Article Return to Top

"Those who are good at prohibiting, first prohibit themselves and then others; those who are not good at prohibiting, first prohibit others and then themselves." When General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) emphasized strengthening the Party's work style construction, he quoted this sentence from Xun Yue's (荀悦) "Shen Jian·Political System" (《申鉴·政体》) of the Eastern Han Dynasty, requiring leading cadres at all levels to lead by example and set an example, providing us with a guide to action for studying and implementing the spirit of the Central Eight-Point Regulation and promoting comprehensive and strict Party governance. "Prohibiting oneself first" is the key to unremittingly implementing the spirit of the Central Eight-Point Regulation and promoting work style construction.

"Those who are good at prohibiting, first prohibit themselves and then others" is a clear requirement for leading cadres. General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) emphasized: "Leading cadres at all levels should take the lead in changing their work style, practice what they advocate, lead by example, and form a 'lead goose effect'." At the beginning of the introduction of the Central Eight-Point Regulation, the comrades of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee started from themselves, traveling with light vehicles and simplified procedures, streamlining meetings, and practicing thrift, setting a model of "prohibiting oneself first" for the entire Party. As the "key minority," leading cadres must do what they require others to do first; they must resolutely not do what they require others not to do. Starting from oneself, strictly implement the spirit of the Central Eight-Point Regulation, eliminate ostentation and extravagance, resist hedonism and extravagance, and adhere to diligence and thrift in running all undertakings. This spirit of leading by example is not only a requirement for individual leading cadres, but also a guide for the work style construction of the entire cadre team. Only when leading cadres take the lead in abiding by the regulations can they lead the entire society to form a good atmosphere and promote the spirit of the Central Eight-Point Regulation to take root.

"Prohibiting oneself first" and "prohibiting others" are complementary. The ancients said: "When one's conduct is upright, orders are followed without being issued; when one's conduct is not upright, orders are not followed even if they are issued." Only when one is strong oneself can one have the confidence to issue orders to prohibit others. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping (习近平) at its core has taken the political consciousness of "one must be strong oneself to forge iron," taken the lead and set an example, and promoted the transformation of the Party's work style with the firm action of "prohibiting oneself first," setting a benchmark for "prohibiting others." The key to why the Central Eight-Point Regulation can become "iron rules" and "hard constraints" lies in the Party Central Committee's determination to **徙木立信** (xǐ mù lì xìn - "move a log to establish trust," to establish credibility through a small act), starting with specific matters such as a meal, a glass of wine, a survey, and a visit abroad. Conversely, if leading cadres say one thing and do another, the system will be reduced to a "scarecrow" and a "paper tiger," which will not only fail to produce the desired effect, but will also damage the credibility of laws and regulations.

"Prohibiting oneself first" is an inherent requirement for implementing the spirit of the Central Eight-Point Regulation and strengthening work style construction. The essence of the Central Eight-Point Regulation is "prohibition," but if it is to be effectively prohibited, one must first prohibit oneself. As the backbone of the Party and the country's cause, leading cadres have a demonstrative effect in their words and deeds. If leading cadres can strictly implement the spirit of the Central Eight-Point Regulation, take the lead in improving investigation and research, go deep into the grassroots to understand the real situation, streamline meetings and activities, improve work efficiency, practice diligence and thrift, and oppose extravagance and waste, they can form a good atmosphere in the whole society, drive all Party members and cadres to actively respond, and make the spirit of the Central Eight-Point Regulation truly take root. At the same time, "prohibiting oneself first" is also a kind of self-restraint and self-supervision for leading cadres, which helps leading cadres enhance their awareness of discipline and rules, and prevent abuse of power and corruption. Only when leading cadres are accustomed to working under the "searchlight" can they eliminate the "broken window effect" and make discipline truly become a high-voltage line with electricity.

To achieve "prohibiting oneself," leading cadres must consciously build a defense line. First, they must diligently look at the "three mirrors": use the Party Constitution and Party regulations as a mirror to straighten their clothes, use the expectations of the masses as a mirror to understand gains and losses, and use typical cases as a mirror to know awe. Second, they must make good use of the "two forces": rely on the internal driving force of "**吾日三省吾身**" (wú rì sān xǐng wú shēn - "I examine myself three times a day," to examine oneself repeatedly) to enhance their ideological realm, and also rely on the action force of "handling immediately" to strengthen execution. Third, they must grasp the "pair of relationships": deeply understand the dialectical relationship between "tighter" and "better." General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) pointed out: "Rules are for restraint, so they should be tighter. It is natural to be uncomfortable when it is tighter." "If we are a little uncomfortable and a little uneasy, the comfort level of the people will be a little better and the satisfaction will be higher, and their feeling about us will be a little better." Only when leading cadres are strict with themselves with the responsibility of "**背石头上山**" (bēi shí tou shàng shān - "carrying stones up the mountain," to shoulder heavy responsibilities and work diligently) can they drive others with the power of gentle breeze and rain.

The way of "good prohibition" is the same in ancient and modern times. From the ancient训 in "Shen Jian·Political System" (《申鉴·政体》) to the practice of the spirit of the Central Eight-Point Regulation, it reveals an eternal law: to govern a country, one must first govern officials; to govern officials, one must first govern oneself. On the new journey, leading cadres need to use the sobriety of "prohibiting oneself" and the responsibility of "prohibiting others" to drive the whole society to form a good atmosphere, promote the normalization and long-term effectiveness of work style construction, and use the new achievements of work style construction to promote maintaining the Party's advanced nature and purity, and continuously win the trust and support of the people, so as to provide a strong guarantee for further comprehensively deepening reform and promoting Chinese-style modernization.

Return to Top

Empowering Urban Development with Digital Technology

By: 俞  平

Original Article Return to Top

Cities hold a pivotal position in the overall work of the Party and the state, capable of powerfully driving economic and social development and improving people's well-being. Urban capacity is an important indicator for measuring the quality and potential of a city's development, reflecting its resource allocation capabilities, innovation-driven level, and regional radiation influence. General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) attaches great importance to urban development, repeatedly emphasizing the need to "enhance urban capacity and core competitiveness." Under the leadership of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping (习近平) at its core, various regions are taking multiple measures to promote the enhancement of urban capacity. Currently, digital technology is fully integrated into human production and life, and it is also driving cities to continuously achieve capacity enhancement in digital transformation and intelligent development. This Central Urban Work Conference deployed the key tasks of urban work as "one optimization and six constructions," which includes focusing on building convenient and efficient smart cities. We must seize the opportunity, leverage the amplification, superposition, and multiplication effects of digital technology on urban development, promote the continuous enhancement of urban capacity, and achieve the organic unity of high-quality development, high-efficiency governance, and high-quality life.

The term "capacity" encompasses multiple levels of meaning, including scale, quality, and influence. Urban capacity is a concentrated manifestation of a city's competitiveness, influence, and radiation. Looking back at the history of world urban development, the continuous prosperity and development of a city lies in the continuous enhancement of its urban capacity; the continuous enhancement of a city's capacity can continuously exert influence and radiation, driving urban agglomerations to develop in a "group," and then leading the overall progress of the region. Generally speaking, urban capacity is comprehensively determined by various factors such as population size, economic volume, industrial structure, technological development, and cultural influence, including economic capacity, innovation capacity, and openness capacity. For this reason, the enhancement of urban capacity is a systematic project, covering multiple aspects such as infrastructure iteration and upgrading, industrial structure optimization and adjustment, efficient allocation of innovation elements, and in-depth promotion of cultural construction. In the process of urban capacity enhancement, digital technology can play an important role. Digital technology has universal attributes, can cross different fields and different scenarios to achieve widespread penetration, and flexibly integrate into all aspects of economic and social development. By comprehensively empowering economic development, social governance, etc., it injects strong impetus into promoting urban capacity enhancement.

From the perspective of resource allocation, digital technology helps cities actively carry out foreign trade and international cooperation, develop an export-oriented economy, and gather elements such as international talent and global capital by building a global information network, promoting the development of cross-border e-commerce, and improving logistics efficiency, thereby continuously enhancing the function of global resource allocation. From the perspective of technological innovation, digital technology integrates the computing resources and data elements of innovation entities such as universities, research institutes, and technology companies, and relies on artificial intelligence to accelerate scientific research data mining and technology path optimization, enabling cities to continuously enhance the source function of technological innovation and improve the source supply and industrial leadership capabilities in the field of technological innovation. From the perspective of social governance, digital technology can realize real-time monitoring of urban operation status, accurate positioning of bottlenecks, and efficient formulation and execution of solutions by building intelligent sensing systems, big data analysis platforms, and automated decision-making mechanisms, thereby promoting urban governance towards a more intelligent and precise direction. In practice, the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (京津冀) region empowers the "one-network-for-all" service with digital technology, promotes the integration of government services in the three regions, and effectively improves public satisfaction and the overall effect of urban governance. Hangzhou (杭州), Zhejiang (浙江) seized the development opportunities of digital technology, placed innovation at the core of the overall development situation, and focused on building a higher-level innovative and vibrant city, promoting the integration of production, education, and research throughout the entire chain of innovation, and accelerating the deep integration of technological innovation and industrial innovation. These are all vivid examples of digital technology promoting the continuous enhancement of urban capacity.

Currently, digital transformation has become a major trend in economic and social development, and cities have become comprehensive carriers for promoting digital transformation. The "Opinions on Continuing to Promote Urban Renewal Actions" issued by the General Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the General Office of the State Council proposed "promoting the construction of new urban infrastructure," which is conducive to promoting cities to accelerate the construction of high-speed, ubiquitous, space-air-ground integrated, cloud-network integrated, intelligent and agile, green and low-carbon, safe and controllable intelligent comprehensive digital information infrastructure, and promoting cities from traditional physical spaces to transform and upgrade into organic life forms that are perceptible, thoughtful, and capable of evolution, providing important support for the leap in urban capacity. We must firmly grasp the interactive relationship between digital technology and urban development, and use digital technology to enhance urban capacity.

Strengthen innovation leadership. Innovation is the primary driving force for leading development. Leading the development of new quality productive forces with technological innovation is an important way to cultivate new driving forces for urban development and enhance urban capacity. At present, it is necessary to deeply promote the deep integration of digital technology with primary, secondary, and tertiary industries, accelerate the large-scale application of the industrial Internet in accordance with local conditions, and promote the digital transformation of productive service industries such as finance and logistics, and lifestyle service industries such as commerce, tourism, culture, and health. Promote the digital transformation of cities and the integrated innovation and coordinated development of large, medium, and small enterprises, highlighting original technology and the sharing of innovative scenarios. Develop emerging digital industries in accordance with local conditions, accelerate the transformation of technological innovation achievements, and create internationally competitive digital industrial clusters. Cultivate and strengthen the data industry, develop a number of data merchants and third-party professional service institutions, and improve the application support and service capabilities of data elements.

Strengthen digital empowerment. Giving full play to the powerful enabling role of digital technology can enhance urban capacity by promoting innovation in urban governance methods, models, and concepts. It is necessary to improve the urban operation management and service platform, promote data integration in the entire process and all links of urban planning, construction, management, and operation and maintenance, and promote data empowerment and business linkage for urban physical examinations and urban renewal. Relying on urban operation and governance intelligent hubs, etc., focusing on public safety, emergency communication, traffic management, market supervision, ecological environment and other fields, integrate functions such as status perception, modeling analysis, urban operation, and emergency command to achieve comprehensive situation awareness, intelligent trend judgment, coordinated and efficient disposal, agile scheduling response, and rapid switching between peace and emergency.

Adhere to a people-centered approach. Cities are places where people live in concentrated areas. Only by continuously improving the equalization and quality of public services can urban development continuously enhance its capacity while better benefiting the people. To this end, it is necessary to promote the deep integration of digital technology and public services with the goal of benefiting the people and enterprises, and promote the transformation of government services from "can be handled" to "easy to handle." Promote the integration of digital technology and public services such as education, medical care, housing, employment, and elderly care to improve the coverage and balanced inclusiveness of service resources. Popularize the intelligence of digital life, accelerate the construction of new scenarios such as smart catering, intelligent travel, digital homes, and instant retail, and create new landmarks for urban digital consumption. Use digital technology to deeply explore urban characteristic cultural resources, enrich the supply of services such as digital cultural creation and digital content, and develop smart tourism. Accelerate the digital transformation of age-appropriate and disability-friendly barrier-free facilities and public services, and promote the creation of low-cost, high-experience, and interactive community and home-based smart elderly care service scenarios.

Promote cooperation and win-win results. At present, the spatial structure of economic development is undergoing profound changes, and central cities and urban agglomerations have become the main spatial forms for carrying development factors. Giving play to the comparative advantages of various regions and promoting the rational flow and efficient aggregation of various elements can enhance the capacity of central cities and then drive the innovative development of urban agglomerations. It is necessary to promote digital economy exchanges and cooperation between cities, promote the optimized layout of digital infrastructure in urban agglomerations such as the Yangtze River Delta (长三角) and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (粤港澳大湾区), and strengthen data element sharing and utilization, inclusive sharing of digital services, and efficient coordination of digital governance. Promote digital economy east-west cooperation, carry out activities such as co-building digital industrial parks and digital consumption assistance, and strengthen the replication and promotion of advanced planning concepts, construction experience, and management models. Coordinate and promote the coordinated construction of smart cities and digital villages, promote the sharing of urban and rural digital facilities, the integration of data resources, the mutual promotion of industrial ecology, and the sharing of public services.

(Author's affiliation: Information Institute, Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences (上海社会科学院))

Return to Top

Page 10版:政治

How much bloodshed and sacrifice did it take to achieve our victory? (A Dialogue Across Time)

By: 本报记者  王  者

Original Article Return to Top

Walking into a farmhouse courtyard in Xiaoguanzhuang Village (小官庄村), Xiaodian Town (小店镇), Juxian County (莒县), Rizhao City (日照市), Shandong Province (山东省), 99-year-old veteran Shen Changlong (沈长龙) gazes out the window. His hands, etched with the marks of time, gently caress a wood carving, his fingertips slowly tracing the rough-hewn lines.

The wood carving is of Lai Yongnian (来永年), an old comrade-in-arms, carved by Shen Changlong himself. The old man's gaze meets the wood carving's, traversing more than eighty years of war, and the scenes of fighting alongside Lai Yongnian reappear before his eyes.

"I dreamed of him again, fighting and attending classes with me, teaching me how to make insoles..." Before the words finished, Shen Changlong's eyes were already filled with tears.

Why did you join the army?

"The Eighth Route Army (八路军) told us that after victory, we would surely live a good life."

"In February 1943, a team of the Eighth Route Army (八路军) was stationed in our village," Shen Changlong said slowly. "Those soldiers were different from other soldiers."

Shen Changlong recalled that after the Eighth Route Army (八路军) came to Xiaoguanzhuang Village (小官庄村), they helped the villagers carry water, sweep the courtyards, and taught the children to read. "The Eighth Route Army (八路军) told us that after victory, we would surely live a good life, and hearing that gave us hope!"

The young Shen Changlong was deeply inspired and determined to join the army to serve the country. "Instructor Wang (王指导员), I want to join the army to fight the Japanese devils!" He surrounded Wang Jingren (王景任), the instructor of the Fourth Company of the Juzhong Independent Battalion (莒中独立营) of the Binhai Military Region (滨海军区), every day, saying it over and over again.

At that time, Juxian County (莒县) was deeply mired in the quagmire of the Japanese puppet's seesaw battle. Wang Jingren (王景任), seeing the eagerness and persistence in Shen Changlong's eyes, handed him a sentry post on the Xiheyan (西河沿) of Xiaoguanzhuang Village (小官庄村): "Shen Changlong (沈长龙), this sentry post is your position. You must keep a good watch and report any situation immediately!" Shen Changlong clenched his red-tasseled spear, his immature face full of determination.

"Soldiers have to fight. You were only 17 years old at the time. Weren't you afraid?" the reporter asked.

"Not afraid!" Shen Changlong replied decisively.

In 1943, 17-year-old Shen Changlong joined the army. After arriving at the unit, he met Lai Yongnian (来永年), a comrade-in-arms who was four years older than him. Lai Yongnian (来永年) taught Shen Changlong how to use a pistol and make insoles, and also shared stories about his hometown. Gradually, the two became good friends, agreeing to fight side by side and drive away the invaders together.

"He was like my good elder brother, caring for my life." With the help of Lai Yongnian (来永年), Shen Changlong quickly became familiar with the environment of the unit and prepared to go into battle to kill the enemy.

Which battle was most memorable?

"We shouted 'Avenge the company commander!' and rushed towards the enemy at all costs."

"We fought many battles back then. Some of them are like they're engraved in my mind, and I'll never forget them in this lifetime..." After being tempered by the flames of war, Shen Changlong quickly grew from a new recruit into a soldier capable of standing alone.

"We won that battle, but the price was too high." Memories rippled as Shen Changlong recalled a heart-wrenching battle.

In February 1944, the battle to capture the Xiazhuang (夏庄) stronghold in Juxian County (莒县) began, and the unit to which Shen Changlong belonged took on the main attack task in this battle. The Japanese stronghold was solid, and Shen Changlong and Company Commander Wang Shuhua (王澍华) were lurking in the ravines in the northeast corner of Xiazhuang Village (夏庄村), waiting for an opportunity to take the initiative to attack.

As the sound of a charge horn ripped through the sky, Company Commander Wang Shuhua (王澍华) took the lead, leading the soldiers straight to the enemy's position. In the fierce battle, Wang Shuhua (王澍华) was unfortunately shot and heroically sacrificed. "We shouted 'Avenge the company commander!' and rushed towards the enemy at all costs." Shen Changlong and his comrades charged desperately and finally captured the Japanese stronghold.

On the anti-Japanese battlefield, not only courage in bloody battles was needed, but also the wisdom to defeat the enemy.

In May 1944, Shen Changlong's unit was ordered to attack the Japanese puppet stronghold in Zhangjiaweizi (张家围子). Shen Changlong's unit planned to select several soldiers, disguise themselves as Japanese soldiers, and take this stronghold, which was easy to defend but difficult to attack, through trickery.

Squad Leader Meng Qingyou (孟庆友) took the lead, cleverly luring more than a hundred Japanese puppet troops to gather on the stronghold's playground. Hearing the bugle call as a signal, Shen Changlong and his party swaggered to knock on the gate of the enemy's garrison. "We babbled and fooled them for a while, and when we entered the garrison and showed our guns, the enemy was completely dumbfounded!" In this way, without firing a single shot, they captured more than a hundred enemies.

In July 1945, on the eve of the victory of the Anti-Japanese War, the Japanese puppet troops set up a stronghold in Xinwang Village (新旺村), Longshan Town (龙山镇), Juxian County (莒县), attempting to control the Taishi Highway (泰石公路). In the torrential rain, Shen Changlong followed the Second Battalion of the Independent Third Regiment of the Binhai Military Region (滨海军区独立第三团二营), led by Cao Jiting (曹吉亭), the deputy political commissar of the Second Battalion, to charge towards the enemy's position. The rain soaked the military uniforms, and the mud was ankle-deep. In the fierce battle, a shell exploded nearby, and Cao Jiting (曹吉亭) fell down with serious injuries. In the mixture of blood, rain, and mud, they fought bravely against the enemy and finally captured the stronghold.

Throughout his military career, Shen Changlong has 16 scars on his body. "This scar was left when I fought the Japanese with bayonets. I didn't even feel the pain when it was torn open at the time." Shen Changlong touched a long scar on the tiger's mouth of his left hand. Since then, the thumb and index finger of this hand have become stiff and curled up. "At that time, I had only one thought in my mind: even if I die, I must capture the Xinwang (新旺) stronghold!"

What did you want to do after the victory?

"The war is over, it's time to build our homeland."

"I will never forget it! The battalion commander said that day that he wanted to announce good news to everyone." Speaking of August 15, 1945, Shen Changlong's voice trembled slightly.

"The battalion commander called everyone together and announced to us, 'The Japanese devils have surrendered! Unconditional surrender!'" The old man described that historic moment, his eyes shining with brilliance.

"Lofty Changbai Mountain (长白山), surging Yalu River (鸭绿江), vow to restore lost land and drive away the tyrants!" Shen Changlong and Lai Yongnian (来永年) hugged and jumped ecstatically, and the loud "Eighth Route Army March (八路军军歌)" echoed in the air. "How many people shed blood and sacrificed to achieve our victory," Shen Changlong said.

In March 1946, Shen Changlong returned to his hometown with full honors and 16 scars. After taking off his military uniform, his patriotic heart never changed. "The war is over, it's time to build our homeland," Shen Changlong said.

After returning to the village, Shen Changlong served as the chairman of the village farmers' association, leading the villagers to devote themselves to production, turning the courage on the battlefield into sweat for building their hometown. During the slack season, he also took up his ancestral carpentry skills again, making benches and repairing furniture for his neighbors. "Seeing the villagers using the furniture I made, and their lives getting better day by day, I feel at ease," Shen Changlong said.

Shen Changlong, who is about to reach the age of one hundred, has gradually declining memory, but the young faces of his comrades-in-arms that never fade are forever engraved in his mind. "This spring, I dreamed of Brother Yongnian (永年老哥) again." Shen Changlong's voice was full of deep remembrance. The next day after waking up, Shen Changlong found the carving knife that had been sealed for many years, and traced Lai Yongnian's (来永年) appearance in the depths of his memory, spending a week to make a wood carving and put it on the bedside. "Long face, high nose bridge, Brother Yongnian's (永年老哥) face is like it's in front of my eyes, but I can't carve it like him no matter what." Speaking of this, he was saddened.

The story of blood and fire that permeates Shen Changlong's body is being transformed into spiritual fertile soil to nourish future generations, sowing seeds of sincerity in the hearts of his descendants. In the cold winter of 2004, Shen Changlong's grandson, Shen Guodong (沈国栋), embarked on his military journey. On the night before his departure, the old man held his grandson's hand tightly, his words carrying immense weight: "Join the army and fight, charge ahead, and don't retreat." Shen Changlong's grandson Wang Yuelai (王月磊), nephews Shen Guijun (沈桂军) and Shen Guiliang (沈桂亮)... many family descendants have put on military uniforms and devoted themselves to the ranks of defending the country.

Now, although Shen Changlong's steps are faltering, he always likes to go to the market whenever he has time. Walking through the market, with the clear sky above his head and the bustling human fireworks on both sides, is exactly the scene that the young man who fought bravely against the enemy in the mud yearned for.

(Liu Dong (刘栋) and Zheng Lina (郑丽娜) participated in the writing)

Return to Top

Multiple departments coordinate to mediate grassroots disputes.

By: 本报记者 宋朝军

Original Article Return to Top

A heavy rain fell, and Zhu Peihong (朱培宏), a mediator at the Comprehensive Management Center of Lintan County (临潭县), Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture (甘南藏族自治州), Gansu Province (甘肃省), felt a little uneasy and came to the home of Zhou (周) in Chengguan Town (城关镇) early in the morning. Zhou's (周) house had just been renovated not long ago, and Zhu Peihong (朱培宏) was very concerned.

More than a year ago, the two met for the first time, when Zhou (周) was anxiously petitioning.

At that time, the Lintan County Water Supply Company (临潭县供水公司) was repairing urban pipelines next to his house, but due to pipeline design problems, the water pipe burst, causing the foundation of Zhou's (周) house to sink, and the walls to develop serious cracks and partially collapse. Subsequently, Zhou (周) and the water supply company negotiated, and both parties had no objection to the determination of responsibility, but they were never able to reach an agreement on the compensation plan.

After a long delay, Zhou (周) began to petition. The letters and visits department believed that this matter belonged to a dispute over appeals and requests for resolution, so in accordance with the mechanism for linking visits and mediation, it was transferred to the county's Comprehensive Management Center for mediation.

In order to further solve the problem of "each managing a piece, each managing a section" in grassroots governance, Gansu (甘肃) established a "three-way linkage" mechanism of court-mediation linkage, police-mediation linkage, and visit-mediation linkage from 2023, transferring civil and commercial dispute cases where the parties agreed to mediation by the court, police situations of conflict and dispute reported by the public security organs, and letters and visits concerning conflict and dispute received by the letters and visits department to the Comprehensive Management Center in accordance with the law, where the Comprehensive Management Center coordinates and organizes mediators and relevant responsible departments to concentrate on mediation and resolution.

"The most important thing is to first ensure that Brother Zhou's (周) family has a place to live," Zhu Peihong (朱培宏) pointed out the key issue. Therefore, personnel from the letters and visits, water affairs, and judicial departments formed a mediation team and proposed a "transitional resettlement + professional appraisal" plan—the town government coordinated the rental of temporary housing to resettle Zhou's (周) family, and at the same time entrusted a third-party organization to assess the extent of the damage to the house. In less than a month, the two parties completed the compensation, and Zhou's (周) house was quickly repaired.

Coordinating all parties and multiple forces to jointly solve outstanding problems. In Longtou New Village (龙头新村), Jiangluo Town (江洛镇), Huixian County (徽县), Longnan City (陇南市), Gansu Province (甘肃省), a concrete factory is in full swing of production. Mu Husheng (牟虎生), a mediator at the Municipal Comprehensive Management Center, stood aside, revisiting local village officials and business leaders to understand the production and operation situation. More than a year ago, this land was still idle.

At the end of the last century, a dispute occurred on this plot of land. At that time, a construction engineering company from Sichuan Province (四川省) signed a construction contract with a local enterprise. After the project was completed, the enterprise was unable to pay the full project cost. After the court ruling, the construction party had not yet received all the project funds, and the local enterprise went bankrupt due to poor management. The remaining more than 1 million yuan of arrears had no property available for execution, and Chen (陈), the person in charge of the construction party, obtained the right to use the more than 10 mu of land through "offsetting debt with property." More than 20 years have passed, Chen (陈) is far away in another province, and the nature of land use has changed. To transfer it, he must first pay the land transfer fee and related taxes. For this reason, he filed a compensation claim with the local government and the court.

Mu Husheng (牟虎生), who has more than 10 years of experience in court letters and visits work, realized that this case spans regions, systems, and industries, and to protect Chen's (陈) rights, he cannot rely solely on filing a lawsuit. To this end, the local government launched a court-mediation linkage mechanism, and the Municipal Comprehensive Management Center established a mediation team composed of the Letters and Visits Bureau, the court, and the Natural Resources Bureau and other departments, repeatedly communicating and optimizing ideas, and finally connecting with a concrete production enterprise that intended to take over. After providing Chen (陈) with a disposal plan, Mu Husheng (牟虎生) coordinated the governments and courts at all levels in Longnan (陇南) to speed up the handling. Finally, the Longnan Intermediate People's Court (陇南市中级人民法院) legally provided economic compensation to the construction party where Chen (陈) was located, and the right to use the land was transferred to the concrete production enterprise. "Court-mediation linkage helps to coordinate resources from all parties, and the resolution methods are more flexible and diverse," said Mu Husheng (牟虎生).

As of now, Gansu Province (甘肃省) has set up more than 1,800 mediation rooms at the four levels of city, county, township, and village, equipped with more than 4,900 working personnel, and stationed more than 8,600 mediation forces from all parties. In the first half of this year, through the "three-way linkage" mechanism, Gansu (甘肃) successfully resolved 183,000 conflicts and disputes.

(Ma Haitao (马海涛) participated in writing)

Return to Top

Over 10,000 People Prosecuted by National Procuratorates for E-commerce-Related Crimes

Original Article Return to Top

This newspaper reported from Beijing on July 27th (Reporter Ni Yi (倪弋)) The Supreme People's Procuratorate (最高人民检察院) recently released information on the procuratorial organs' lawful punishment of e-commerce black and gray industry crimes, showing that illegal and chaotic phenomena in the current e-commerce industry chain are increasing, seriously infringing on consumers' legitimate rights and interests, disrupting the order of fair market competition, and affecting the healthy development of the e-commerce industry. From January 2024 to June 2025, national procuratorial organs prosecuted more than 10,000 people involved in e-commerce-related crimes.

The procuratorial organs found in handling cases that the following situations in the field of e-commerce crime deserve key attention. Compared with traditional counterfeiting crimes, selling counterfeit and shoddy goods through e-commerce channels has lower infringement costs, newer marketing models, more concealed sales channels, and greater governance difficulties. In the case of Xu Moumou (徐某某) and others selling goods with counterfeit registered trademarks, Xu Moumou and others, knowing that the liquor provided by others was not authorized or permitted by the registered trademark right holder, still sold it to the public through an e-commerce live broadcast platform, with sales amounting to more than 2.7 million yuan.

The e-commerce industry involves various fields such as communications, logistics, retail, and the Internet, and it possesses a large amount of citizens' personal information. Driven by interests, some practitioners illegally obtain personal information and sell it illegally. In a case handled by the procuratorial organs, Cheng Moumou (成某某) used his position in the e-commerce business department of a certain company to repeatedly sell more than 300,000 cross-border shopping order information obtained during his work to others. In another case of infringing on citizens' personal information, Zhang Moumou (张某某) used his position as the information security负责人 (fù zé rén - "person in charge," individual responsible) of a technology company to export and sell a large amount of shopping cache data from the company's background e-commerce platform.

Some criminals use e-commerce live broadcast platforms, taking advantage of the public's difficulty in distinguishing the authenticity of live broadcast products, carefully set up live broadcast rhetoric, package cheap goods, and carry out live broadcast fraud in the name of "high-priced recycling," inducing consumers to buy. In the fraud case handled by the procuratorial organs involving Du Moumou (杜某某) and Shi Moumou (石某某), Du Moumou and Shi Moumou fabricated the identity of the Chinese agent of a top South African jewelry brand, forged authorization certificates and inspection certificates, falsely claimed that the "three-no" products sold in the live broadcast room were South African jewelry, and used "high-priced recycling" and "value preservation and appreciation" as bait, promising to repurchase them at a high price after a certain period of time, and then delayed with reasons such as "the account being reported" and "sudden illness." After the platform's money arrived, the people and the store disappeared, and they registered a new store to continue the fraud, and the live broadcast account was rebranded and "reborn," seriously infringing on consumers' rights and interests.

The procuratorial organs remind: The cyberspace is not a place outside the law. Network users and operators should use the network in accordance with the law, operate in compliance with the law, resolutely put an end to illegal and criminal acts such as using network platforms to manufacture and sell fake goods, infringe on personal information, and commit fraud, and consciously purify the network consumption environment. The general public should be vigilant against online consumption traps, pay attention to the protection of personal information, and safeguard their legitimate rights and interests.

Return to Top

Photo Report

Original Article Return to Top

On July 25th, Wangcheng Street (望城街道), Jin'an District (金安区), Lu'an City (六安市), Anhui Province (安徽省), in conjunction with the Lu'an City Veterans Volunteer Service Team (六安市退役军人志愿服务队), entered Zhengyang Community (正阳社区) in Wangcheng Street (望城街道) to carry out the theme activity of "A Strong Country and Rejuvenation Includes Me; Children's Hearts Build Dreams of National Defense," guiding children to enhance their national defense awareness from an early age and cultivate a sense of patriotism. The picture shows volunteers explaining naval vessel knowledge to children.

Photo by Tian Kaiping (田凯平) (People's Vision (人民视觉))

Return to Top

Tianjin Standardizes the Recognition and Management of "Tianjin Time-Honored Brands"

Original Article Return to Top

This Tianjin (天津) report on July 27th (reported by Li Jiading (李家鼎)) (reporter of this newspaper) states that the "Tianjin (天津) Jinmen (津门) Time-Honored Brand Recognition and Management Measures" was recently issued, clarifying the recognition conditions, application process, and dynamic management of Jinmen (津门) Time-Honored Brands.

The measures clarify that Jinmen (津门) Time-Honored Brands must meet the following conditions: the brand must have been established for more than 40 years, possess Chinese national characteristics and distinct regional cultural features, provide products, skills, or services with high economic and cultural value, and be representative and widely recognized in the industry. The affiliated enterprise must be legally established in Tianjin (天津), possess a consistent trade name or registered trademark, have been continuously operating its main business for more than 30 years, have good operating conditions, and have no abnormal operating or serious untrustworthiness records.

The recognition work follows the principles of "voluntary application, selection of the best, and dynamic management," and is carried out every 3 years. The measures clarify that the Time-Honored Brand logo shall not be changed arbitrarily, the signboard must be hung in the main business premises, and forgery and misuse are prohibited. At the same time, a dynamic management mechanism will be established. For situations such as failure to submit materials on time or irregular use of the logo, rectification will be ordered; for serious untrustworthiness, illegal operation, and other situations, the right to use the logo will be suspended or revoked, and even removed from the list.

Previously recognized China Time-Honored Brands are automatically included in the Jinmen (津门) Time-Honored Brand list. Original Jinmen (津门) Time-Honored Brands do not need to re-apply, but must participate in regular review according to the new regulations.

Return to Top

Overnight visitor arrivals up over 70% year-on-year.

Original Article Return to Top

According to the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (广西壮族自治区) Department of Culture and Tourism, as reported by our Nanning (南宁) correspondent Zhang Yunhe (张云河) on July 27th: In the first half of this year, Guangxi (广西) received 75.1% more inbound overnight tourists year-on-year, and inbound overnight tourist spending increased by 77.5% year-on-year. The top five foreign tourist source countries were Vietnam (越南), Malaysia (马来西亚), South Korea (韩国), Singapore (新加坡), and the United States (美国).

Since the beginning of this year, Guangxi (广西) has carried out multi-channel and multi-form inbound tourism promotion and actively restored the inbound tourism supply chain. The Guangxi (广西) Department of Culture and Tourism has optimized inbound tourism reward and subsidy measures, encouraged tourism enterprises to go overseas for marketing and promotion, and organized major inbound tourism enterprises to participate in international tourism exhibitions and hold special promotion conferences in important source markets. At the same time, it also invited international tour operators to Guangxi (广西) for inspection tours, and organized enterprises in the region to study product optimization, supporting services, and international marketing with representatives of the inspection tour groups. In the first half of the year, Guilin (桂林) held the Russia-Guilin (俄罗斯桂林) Special Docking Conference, China-Vietnam Cross-border Tourism Cooperation and Exchange, and Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Youth Study Tourism and other activities. Nanning (南宁) seized the market dividend brought by the 240-hour transit visa-free policy and improved the consumption convenience for foreign tourists in Yong (邕). Chongzuo (崇左) actively carried out China-Vietnam cross-border tourism exchange activities and has held 5 cross-border docking activities.

Return to Top

Joint Research Overcomes Technical Difficulties

By: 本报记者 刘新吾

Original Article Return to Top

The machines hummed, and spandex threads moved rapidly on the production line. Recently, at Huafon Chongqing Spandex Co., Ltd. (华峰重庆氨纶有限公司), 120 multi-hole high-density spinning production lines were completed and put into operation, realizing the industrialization of high-strength, high-temperature-resistant polyurethane elastic fibers, adding more than 200 million yuan in sales revenue. The success of this project is not only the company's own efforts, but the result of the company's leadership, joint research by universities, and deep integration of industry, academia, and research.

Fuling District (涪陵区), Chongqing (重庆), has a solid foundation in the advanced materials industry. In 2024, the output value of the materials industry reached 138.8 billion yuan, accounting for more than 1/4 of the city's total. However, companies in the advanced materials industry chain once faced a common dilemma: lack of overall coordination in research and development, barriers to talent mobility, and difficulties in linking and distributing benefits.

To break through the bottleneck, Fuling District launched a reform of the Advanced Materials Industry Talent Innovation Consortium at the beginning of this year. As a leading enterprise in the Fuling advanced materials industry, Chongqing Huafon Chemical Co., Ltd. (重庆华峰化工有限公司) took the lead, linking 28 units including upstream and downstream enterprises, university research institutes, and industry associations to form an innovation consortium. It allocated 262 experts and talents from the upstream and downstream of the industrial chain, broke down barriers between enterprises, and established a close innovation collaboration mechanism.

As the chief technology officer of the biomimetic catalyst and ruthenium catalyst precursor preparation project, Zhao Fengxuan (赵风轩), Deputy General Manager of Chongqing Huafon Chemical Co., Ltd. (重庆华峰化工有限公司), can now coordinate the experts and talents of multiple member units, realize talent sharing, and greatly improve research and development efficiency.

The consortium innovatively adopted the "industry proposes the topic, talents reveal the topic, and all parties answer the topic" model, and determined 21 technical project tackling teams through the "revealing the list and taking command" approach, and formed a corresponding common list of technical tackling. The consortium also established an "achievement transformation sharing pool" and a "intellectual property consortium," implemented a stepped revenue distribution, and built a closed-loop risk sharing of "**事前预案共商、事中损失共摊、事后复盘共建**" (shì qián yù'àn gòng shāng, shì zhōng sǔnshī gòng tān, shì hòu fù pán gòng jiàn - "prior plan joint consultation, in-event loss sharing, post-event review joint construction," a mechanism for collaborative risk management). Since its establishment, the consortium has transformed 11 achievements, newly applied for 16 patents, and 7 key scientific research projects have received municipal-level project support. "We will continue to deepen the reform of the talent system and mechanism, optimize the collaborative innovation ecology, and build an advanced material innovation highland with national influence." The person in charge of the Organization Department of the Fuling District Committee (涪陵区委组织部) said that in the first half of this year, the industrial output value of the district's materials industry above designated size was 74.94 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 6.8%, and the advanced materials industry is constantly moving towards high-end, intelligent, and green development.

Return to Top

Editor in Charge for This Section: Su Xianlong, Zhao Xiaoxi, Xu Danyang

Original Article Return to Top

Cartography: Wang Zhepeng (汪哲平)

Return to Top

Page 11版:文件

Regulations on Sharing of Government Data

Original Article Return to Top

State Council Decree of the People's Republic of China

No. 809

The "Regulations on the Sharing of Government Data" was adopted at the 59th executive meeting of the State Council on May 9, 2025, and is hereby promulgated and shall come into force on August 1, 2025.

Premier Li Qiang (李强)

May 28, 2025

Chapter I General Provisions

Article 1 These Regulations are formulated in accordance with the "Cybersecurity Law of the People's Republic of China," the "Data Security Law of the People's Republic of China," and the "Personal Information Protection Law of the People's Republic of China" in order to promote the safe, orderly, efficient sharing and utilization of government data, enhance the government's digital governance capabilities and the effectiveness of government services, and comprehensively build a digital government.

Article 2 These Regulations apply to the sharing of government data between government departments and organizations authorized by laws and regulations to perform public administration functions (hereinafter collectively referred to as government departments), as well as related security, supervision, and management work.

Article 3 For the purposes of these Regulations, "government data" refers to various types of data collected and generated by government departments in the course of performing their duties in accordance with the law, but does not include data that is classified as state secrets or work secrets.

For the purposes of these Regulations, "government data sharing" refers to the act of a government department using the government data of other government departments or providing government data to other government departments as required for performing its duties in accordance with the law.

Article 4 Government data sharing shall adhere to the leadership of the Communist Party of China (中国共产党), implement the overall national security concept, coordinate development and security, and follow the principles of overall coordination, unified standards, lawful sharing, reasonable use, and secure controllability.

Article 5 Carrying out government data sharing shall comply with laws and regulations, fulfill the obligations of government data security protection, and shall not endanger national security or public interests, nor shall it harm the legitimate rights and interests of citizens, legal persons, and other organizations.

Article 6 The state shall establish a standard system for government data sharing and promote the standardization and normalization of government data sharing.

Article 7 The state encourages management innovation, mechanism innovation, and technological innovation in the field of government data sharing, and continuously improves the efficiency, application level, and security assurance capabilities of government data sharing.

Chapter II Management System

Article 8 People's governments at all levels shall strengthen the organization and leadership of government data sharing.

The government data sharing authority of the State Council (国务院) shall be responsible for coordinating and promoting the national government data sharing.

The government data sharing authorities of local people's governments at or above the county level shall be responsible for coordinating and promoting government data sharing within their respective administrative regions.

The departments of the State Council (国务院) shall be responsible for the government data sharing of their respective departments, and coordinate and guide the government data sharing of their respective industries and fields.

Article 9 The government data sharing authority shall, in conjunction with other government departments, study major matters and important tasks in government data sharing, summarize and promote typical cases and experiences in government data sharing, and coordinate and promote the safe, orderly, efficient sharing and utilization of government data across levels, regions, systems, departments, and businesses.

Article 10 Government departments shall implement the main responsibility for government data sharing, establish and improve the government data sharing system of their respective departments, and organize research to solve major problems in government data sharing.

Article 11 Government departments shall specify the government data sharing work organization of their respective departments. The government data sharing work organization shall be responsible for the specific work of government data sharing in its department and perform the following duties:

(1) Organize the preparation, updating, and maintenance of the government data catalog of the department;

(2) Organize the submission of government data sharing applications of the department, organize the review of sharing applications for the government data of the department, coordinate and share the government data of the department;

(3) Ensure that the government data provided by the department complies with the standards and specifications for government data sharing;

(4) Organize the submission or processing of government data verification applications involving the department;

(5) Establish and improve the data security and personal information protection system in the government data sharing of the department, and organize the security assessment of the government data sharing of the department;

(6) Other work related to government data sharing in the department.

Chapter III Catalog Management

Article 12 Government data shall be subject to unified catalog management. The government data sharing authority of the State Council (国务院) shall formulate the standards and specifications for the preparation of the government data catalog and organize the preparation of the national government data catalog. The government data sharing authorities of local people's governments at or above the county level shall organize the preparation of the government data catalog within their respective administrative regions.

Government departments shall, in accordance with their respective duties and in accordance with the standards and specifications for the preparation of the government data catalog, prepare the government data catalog of their respective departments.

Article 13 Government departments shall, when preparing the government data catalog, conduct security risk assessment and personal information protection impact assessment in accordance with the law, and obtain the approval of the person in charge of the department.

The government data catalog shall specify information such as the name of the data catalog, data items, providing unit, data format, data update frequency, as well as sharing attributes, sharing methods, usage conditions, and data classification and grading.

Article 14 Government data shall be divided into three categories according to sharing attributes: unconditional sharing, conditional sharing, and non-sharing:

(1) Government data that can be provided to all government departments for sharing and use belongs to the category of unconditional sharing;

(2) Government data that can be provided to relevant government departments for sharing and use in accordance with certain conditions belongs to the category of conditional sharing;

(3) Government data that laws, administrative regulations, and decisions of the State Council (国务院) clearly stipulate cannot be provided to other government departments for sharing and use belongs to the category of non-sharing.

Article 15 Government departments shall scientifically and reasonably determine the sharing attributes of government data, and shall not hinder or affect government data sharing by arbitrarily adding conditions or other means.

For government data belonging to the category of conditional sharing, government departments shall specify the sharing scope, usage, and other sharing and usage conditions in the government data catalog. For government data belonging to the category of non-sharing, government departments shall specify the reasons in the government data catalog and clarify the corresponding laws, administrative regulations, and decisions of the State Council (国务院).

Article 16 Government departments shall submit the prepared government data catalog to the government data sharing authority at the same level for review. The government data sharing authority shall notify the government departments uniformly after the review is approved.

Government departments shall, in accordance with the uniformly released government data catalog, enrich government data resources, ensure the quality of government data, and share government data in accordance with the law.

Article 17 The government data catalog shall be dynamically updated.

If the government data catalog needs to be updated accordingly due to adjustments in laws, administrative regulations, decisions of the State Council (国务院), or changes in the responsibilities of government departments, the government departments shall complete the update of the government data catalog within 10 working days from the date of the adjustment or change, and submit it to the government data sharing authority at the same level for review. If it is necessary to extend the update period due to special reasons, the extension may be extended by 5 working days with the consent of the government data sharing authority at the same level.

The government data sharing authority shall complete the review and release within 2 working days from the date of receiving the updated government data catalog.

Chapter IV Sharing and Use

Article 18 Government departments shall establish and improve a government data full-process quality management system, improve government data quality management capabilities, and strengthen the standardized management of government data collection, storage, processing, transmission, sharing, use, and destruction.

Article 19 Government departments shall collect government data in accordance with statutory powers, procedures, standards, and specifications. If the need to perform duties can be met by obtaining government data through sharing, government departments shall not repeatedly collect it from citizens, legal persons, and other organizations.

If the government data collection work involves multiple government departments, the government data sharing authority shall specify the government department that takes the lead in collection and regard it as the data source department. The data source department shall strengthen coordination and cooperation and information communication with other relevant government departments, update and improve government data in a timely manner, ensure the integrity, accuracy, and availability of government data, and provide unified government data sharing services.

Article 20 The government data sharing authority shall establish a government data sharing supply and demand docking mechanism and clarify the work process.

The government data demand department shall, in accordance with the needs of performing its duties and in accordance with the uniformly released government data catalog, submit a government data sharing application in accordance with the law after obtaining the consent of the person in charge of the government data sharing work organization of the department, clarifying the basis for use, usage scenarios, scope of use, sharing methods, and time limits for use, and ensuring the authenticity, legality, and necessity of the government data sharing application.

The government data providing department shall review the government data sharing application submitted by the government data demand department within the time limit stipulated in Article 21 of these Regulations, and make a reply after obtaining the consent of the person in charge of the government data sharing work organization of the department.

Article 21 If the government data requested by the government data demand department for sharing belongs to the category of unconditional sharing, the government data providing department shall make a reply within 1 working day from the date of receiving the government data sharing application; if it belongs to the category of conditional sharing, it shall make a reply on whether to agree to sharing within 10 working days from the date of receiving the government data sharing application. If it is necessary to extend the reply period due to special reasons, the government data providing department shall report to the government data sharing authority at the same level for approval and inform the government data demand department, and the extended period shall not exceed 10 working days.

If the application materials submitted by the government data demand department are incomplete, the government data providing department shall inform it of the materials that need to be supplemented at one time and shall not directly reject it. If the government data providing department does not agree to sharing, it shall state the reasons.

Article 22 The government data providing department shall share government data within 20 working days from the date of making a reply agreeing to sharing.

The government data providing department may share government data with the government data demand department through service interfaces, batch exchange, file download, and other methods.

Article 23 The state encourages government departments at all levels to optimize the government data sharing review process and shorten the time for reviewing and providing shared government data.

Article 24 The higher-level government department shall, in accordance with the needs of the lower-level government department to perform its duties, and on the premise of ensuring the security of government data, timely and completely return the government data within the administrative region of the lower-level government collected and generated by the business information system, and do a good job in system docking and business collaboration, and shall not set additional restrictions.

After obtaining the returned government data, the lower-level government department shall share and use it in accordance with the needs of performing its duties, and ensure the security of relevant government data.

Article 25 Government departments that obtain government data through sharing shall not arbitrarily expand the scope of use or use it or use it in disguise for other purposes, and shall not arbitrarily provide the obtained government data to third parties. If it is indeed necessary to expand the scope of use, use it for other purposes, or provide it to third parties, the consent of the government data providing department shall be obtained.

The government data sharing authority and other government departments shall take measures to prevent the risk of leakage caused by the aggregation and association of government data.

Article 26 The government data sharing authority of the State Council (国务院) shall coordinate the establishment of a government data verification and correction system.

Government departments shall, in accordance with their respective duties, establish government data verification and correction rules and provide correction channels. The government data demand department shall record the usage status of government data, and if it finds that the government data is inaccurate or incomplete, it shall promptly submit a government data verification application to the government data providing department. The government data providing department shall verify, correct, and feedback the verification and processing results within 10 working days from the date of receiving the government data verification application.

Article 27 If the purpose of sharing government data obtained by the government data demand department through sharing has been achieved, cannot be achieved, or is no longer necessary to achieve the purpose of sharing, it shall be properly disposed of in accordance with the requirements of the government data providing department.

If the government data demand department uses government data beyond the scope of use or the purpose of sharing without authorization, or provides government data to a third party without authorization, the government data sharing authority or the government data providing department shall suspend its government data sharing authority and urge it to rectify within a time limit. If it refuses to rectify or fails to rectify, it may terminate sharing.

The government data providing department shall not terminate or change the provided government data sharing service without justifiable reasons. If it is indeed necessary to terminate or change the service, the government data providing department shall negotiate with the government data demand department and report to the government data sharing authority at the same level for record.

Article 28 The government data sharing authority shall establish and improve a government data sharing dispute resolution mechanism.

If the government data demand department and the government data providing department at the same level have a government data sharing dispute, they shall resolve it through consultation; if the consultation fails, they shall apply to the government data sharing authority at the same level for coordination and resolution in accordance with the procedures. If a government data sharing dispute occurs across levels and regions, it shall be coordinated and resolved by the common higher-level government data sharing authority. If an agreement is still not reached after coordination and resolution by the government data sharing authority, it shall be reported to the people's government at the same level as the government data sharing authority for decision.

Article 29 The government data sharing authority shall supervise and inspect the government data sharing situation, and may circulate notices of violations of these Regulations.

The government data demand department shall record the usage scenarios, usage process, application effectiveness, storage status, and destruction status of shared government data, and the retention period of relevant records shall not be less than 3 years. The government data sharing authority and the government data providing department may consult the relevant records of the government data demand department. If laws and administrative regulations provide otherwise, those provisions shall prevail.

Chapter V Platform Support

Article 30 The state shall coordinate the construction of data infrastructure, improve the government data security protection capabilities, and integrate and build a national integrated government big data system with unified standards, reasonable layout, coordinated management, and security and reliability.

The government data sharing authority of the State Council (国务院) shall coordinate the construction and management of the national integrated government big data system, and shall be responsible for integrating and building the national government big data platform to achieve interconnection and interoperability with the government data platforms of relevant departments of the State Council (国务院) and the government data platforms of various regions, providing platform support for government data sharing.

The government data sharing authorities of local people's governments at or above the county level shall be responsible for the construction and management of the government data platform in their respective administrative regions, and shall share government data with townships (streets), villages (communities) as needed.

The relevant departments of the State Council (国务院) shall be responsible for building and optimizing the government data platform of their respective departments, which can support the government data sharing work of their respective industries and fields. If a government data platform has not been built, the government data sharing work of the department can be carried out through the national government big data platform.

Article 31 The government data platform that has been built by the government department shall be included in the national integrated government big data system. Except as otherwise provided by laws and administrative regulations, in principle, cross-level, cross-regional, cross-system, cross-departmental, and cross-business government data sharing work shall not be carried out through the newly built government data sharing and exchange system.

Article 32 Government departments shall carry out government data sharing-related work through the national integrated government big data system.

Article 33 The state encourages and supports the application of new technologies such as big data, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and blockchain in government data sharing.
Chapter VI Guarantee Measures

Article 34 The competent department for government data sharing shall, in conjunction with the cyberspace administration, public security, national security, confidentiality administration, and cryptography management departments at the same level, promote the establishment of a security management system for government data sharing based on the data classification and grading protection system. Adhering to the principle of "whoever manages is responsible, whoever uses is responsible," the responsibilities of each entity in each stage of government data sharing shall be clarified, and the implementation of security management responsibilities for government data sharing shall be supervised.

The government data requesting department shall bear the security management responsibility if government data is tampered with, damaged, leaked, or illegally used during the use of legally shared government data.

Article 35 Government departments shall establish and improve a security management system for government data sharing, implement the main responsibility for security management of government data sharing and the requirements for classified and graded management of government data, and ensure the security of government data sharing.

Government departments shall take technical measures and other necessary measures to prevent government data from being tampered with, damaged, leaked, or illegally obtained and used.

Government departments shall strengthen the monitoring of security risks of government data. In the event of a security incident involving government data, they shall immediately activate the emergency plan, take corresponding emergency response measures to prevent the expansion of hazards, eliminate security risks, and report to the relevant competent authorities in accordance with regulations.

Article 36 If a government department entrusts others to participate in the construction, operation, and maintenance of government informatization projects, and to store and process government data, it shall follow the approval procedures in accordance with relevant national regulations, clarify work norms and standards, and take necessary technical measures to supervise the entrusted party to fulfill corresponding government data security protection obligations. The entrusted party shall fulfill the government data security protection obligations in accordance with the provisions of laws, administrative regulations, and contractual agreements, and shall not access, obtain, retain, use, disclose, or provide government data to others without authorization.

The construction and management unit of the government data platform shall ensure the safe and stable operation of the platform and maintain the security of government data in accordance with the provisions of laws, administrative regulations, and the mandatory requirements of national standards.

Article 37 Government departments and their staff shall comply with the provisions of the "Personal Information Protection Law of the People's Republic of China" (《中华人民共和国个人信息保护法》), the "Regulations on the Management of Network Data Security" (《网络数据安全管理条例》), and other laws and administrative regulations when carrying out government data sharing activities involving personal information.

Citizens, legal persons, and other organizations have the right to complain and report on acts that infringe upon their legitimate rights and interests in the process of government data sharing. The government department receiving the complaint or report shall handle it in a timely manner in accordance with regulations.

Article 38 People's governments at or above the county level shall include the funds required for government data sharing in their budgets at the same level. People's governments at or above the county level and their relevant departments shall implement full-process budget performance management for relevant government data sharing funds. The government data sharing situation shall be an important basis for determining the investment in the construction of government informatization projects, operation and maintenance funds, and project post-evaluation results.

The competent department for government data sharing shall strengthen the supervision of the timeliness and data quality of data sharing by government data providing departments, the data application of government data requesting departments, and security protection measures within its administrative region, and report to the people's government at the same level.

Chapter VII Legal Liability

Article 39 If a government data providing department violates the provisions of these regulations and one of the following circumstances occurs, the competent department for government data sharing at the same level shall order it to make corrections; if it refuses to make corrections or the circumstances are serious, the leading personnel and directly responsible personnel who are responsible shall be given sanctions in accordance with the law:

(1) Failing to compile or update the government data catalog as required;

(2) Obstructing or affecting government data sharing by arbitrarily adding conditions or other means;

(3) Failing to cooperate with the data source department to promptly improve and update government data;

(4) Failing to respond to the government data sharing application in a timely manner or failing to share government data in a timely manner without justifiable reasons;

(5) Failing to return the government data collected and generated by the business information system within the administrative region of the lower-level government to the lower-level government department in accordance with regulations;

(6) Failing to verify and correct in a timely manner after receiving the government data verification application;

(7) Terminating or changing the government data sharing service that has been provided without authorization;

(8) Failing to incorporate the constructed government data platform into the national integrated government big data system in accordance with regulations;

(9) Other circumstances in violation of the provisions of these regulations.

Article 40 If a government data requesting department violates the provisions of these regulations and one of the following circumstances occurs, the competent department for government data sharing at the same level shall order it to make corrections; if it refuses to make corrections or the circumstances are serious, the leading personnel and directly responsible personnel who are responsible shall be given sanctions in accordance with the law:

(1) Repeatedly collecting government data that can be obtained through sharing;

(2) Using government data obtained through sharing beyond the scope of use and sharing purpose without authorization;

(3) Providing government data obtained through sharing to a third party without authorization;

(4) Failing to properly dispose of government data obtained through sharing as required when the sharing purpose has been achieved, cannot be achieved, or is no longer necessary to achieve the sharing purpose;

(5) Failing to keep relevant records of government data obtained through sharing in accordance with regulations;

(6) Failing to fulfill the security management responsibilities for government data obtained through sharing;

(7) Other circumstances in violation of the provisions of these regulations.

Article 41 If the competent department for government data sharing violates the provisions of these regulations and one of the following circumstances occurs, the people's government at the same level or the higher-level competent department shall order it to make corrections; if it refuses to make corrections or the circumstances are serious, the leading personnel and directly responsible personnel who are responsible shall be given sanctions in accordance with the law:

(1) Failing to specify the data source department in accordance with regulations;

(2) Failing to coordinate and handle disputes over government data sharing in accordance with regulations;

(3) Other circumstances in violation of the provisions of these regulations.

Article 42 If government departments and their staff disclose, sell, or illegally provide personal privacy, personal information, trade secrets, or confidential business information known in the process of government data sharing to others, or neglect their duties, abuse their powers, or engage in malpractice for personal gain in government data sharing, they shall be given sanctions in accordance with the law; if a crime is constituted, they shall be investigated for criminal responsibility in accordance with the law.

Chapter VIII Supplementary Provisions

Article 43 The state promotes government departments and other state organs to carry out data sharing as needed to perform their respective duties with reference to the provisions of these regulations.

Article 44 These regulations shall come into force on August 1, 2025.

(Xinhua News Agency (新华社) dispatch)

Return to Top

Jiangsu Food and Pharmaceutical Science College: "Work-Intelligence Integration" Forges New Craftsmen in the Food Industry

Original Article Return to Top

To adapt to the new trends and requirements of intelligent transformation and digital upgrading in the food industry, Jiangsu Food and Pharmaceutical Science College (江苏食品药品职业技术学院) actively responds to the "Healthy China" strategy and accurately connects with the needs of Jiangsu's (江苏) new food advanced manufacturing cluster. It promotes the iterative upgrading of the food intelligent processing technology professional group with the concept of "industrial intelligence integration," and continuously cultivates compound high-skilled talents urgently needed by the industry.

Industrial demand drives, intelligent data adapts

Jiangsu Food and Pharmaceutical Science College (江苏食品药品职业技术学院) took the lead in establishing a national-level food industry-education integration community and a provincial-level green food industry-education consortium. It jointly built an intelligent service big data platform with the China National Food Industry Association (中国食品工业协会), Luhua Group (鲁花集团), and others. Relying on intelligent algorithms, it captures and analyzes industry technology iteration and talent demand data in real-time, dynamically calibrates professional directions, and optimizes talent training programs to achieve precise alignment between education supply and industrial demand.

Work tasks upgrade, digital intelligence technology empowers

Jiangsu Food and Pharmaceutical Science College (江苏食品药品职业技术学院) constructs a "post integration + digital intelligence integration" curriculum system, adding 3 platform sharing courses such as "Fundamentals of Artificial Intelligence." More than 85% of the key courses integrate "four new" technology modules in intelligent equipment operation and maintenance, non-destructive testing, and quality traceability. It updates 6 types of extended elective courses such as green production and operation management to cultivate students' full-chain post capabilities. Jointly build the Food Intelligent Manufacturing Industry College with Jinshiyuan Group (今世缘集团), renovate 9 intelligent production training workshops, and jointly build a virtual simulation training base with Neusoft Corporation (新道科技) and others. Develop 45 production-type training projects, and through the "virtual simulation - real-world operation - production line collaboration" model, the virtual and real bases collaborate to enhance students' digital intelligence integration application capabilities. Flexibly introduce high-precision and cutting-edge talents such as industry professors, industry masters, and WorldSkills champions, and select teachers to go to intelligent factories such as Yangzhou Perfect (扬州完美) for practical training. Hold a series of training sessions such as DeepSeek application to strengthen teachers' digital intelligence practical combat capabilities.

Craftsman talent cultivation, intelligent evaluation builds the foundation

Jiangsu Food and Pharmaceutical Science College (江苏食品药品职业技术学院) deeply explores curriculum ideological and political elements such as "conscience, integrity, and innovation," and has built a provincial-level curriculum ideological and political demonstration course "Food Production Technology." Create the "Sincere Food Art" campus culture brand, and adhere to the synchronous cultivation of professional ethics and professional skills; school-enterprise jointly formulate a food new craftsman evaluation index system, establish a "Food Craftsman" intelligent evaluation system, accurately draw students' growth portraits, and efficiently achieve the "moral and technical parity" education goal.

The school has cumulatively cultivated more than 10,000 compound high-skilled talents, mainly gathered in the Yangtze River Delta region (长三角地区). The satisfaction of employers is as high as 99.52%, and it has been selected into the national "Double High Plan" professional group, and its comprehensive strength has steadily ranked among the top similar colleges and universities in the country. In the future, the school will continue to deepen "industrial intelligence integration," enhance the competitiveness of professional groups, forge more new food industry craftsmen who adapt to the development of new quality productivity, and inject new impetus into the high-quality development of the food industry.

Data source: Jiangsu Food and Pharmaceutical Science College (江苏食品药品职业技术学院)

Return to Top

Page 12版:广告

Feihe: Appearing at the 2025 World Artificial Intelligence Conference, Showcasing the "AI+" Implementation Model of Chinese Dairy Enterprises to the World

Original Article Return to Top

From July 26th to 28th, the 2025 World Artificial Intelligence Conference and the High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance (referred to as "2025 World Artificial Intelligence Conference") was held in Shanghai (上海). Heilongjiang Feihe Dairy Co., Ltd. (黑龙江飞鹤乳业有限公司) (referred to as "Feihe (飞鹤)") made its debut at the conference, and its innovative and intelligent exhibition booth attracted many domestic and foreign visitors.

As a pioneer representative of China's dairy industry's digital transformation, Feihe (飞鹤) showcased its innovative achievements in AI-empowered entire industrial chain at the conference, covering the entire process of production, research and development, circulation, and service, realizing the full-scenario AI reconstruction from upstream pastures and intelligent factories to downstream terminal consumer services. A series of innovative achievements fully demonstrated Feihe's (飞鹤) vivid practice of driving high-quality industry development through innovation, and showcased the "AI+" implementation model of Chinese dairy companies to the world.

AI revitalizes business scenarios, focusing on creating an innovative model for dairy companies.

The many innovative achievements showcased at the 2025 World Artificial Intelligence Conference fully demonstrated the "accelerator" role of new technologies in the transformation of traditional industries.

Feihe (飞鹤) took the lead in deploying new technologies, establishing an information system in 2010, becoming a pioneer in the digital transformation of domestic dairy companies. Leng Youbin (冷友斌), Chairman of Feihe (飞鹤), said that embracing the hot artificial intelligence is not a multiple-choice question, but a mandatory one. With the rapid development of artificial intelligence technology, Feihe (飞鹤) innovatively explored the "AI + Dairy" practice path, and fully built an AI capability platform in 2023, starting a new round of transformation. At the 2025 World Artificial Intelligence Conference, Feihe (飞鹤) further demonstrated the scenario reconstruction of AI in research and development, pasture and factory production, supply chain management, and consumer services.

In terms of research and development, relying on the "14th Five-Year Plan" national key research and development project, Feihe (飞鹤) has created an independent breast milk intelligent computing engine and released a full-spectrum database of human milk oligosaccharides. At the same time, Feihe (飞鹤) innovatively used large models to efficiently verify the efficacy mechanism of small molecule milk protein core components, and developed a new product "Aiben Yuedong Protein (爱本跃动蛋白)" based on this.

Driven by AI, Feihe (飞鹤) has achieved fresh efficiency improvement from "pasture" to "factory". Feihe's (飞鹤) own pastures formulate feeding formulas and feeding plans according to the different conditions of each cow, realizing a significant increase in breeding efficiency and milk source quality. The quality of fresh milk produced by its own pastures has reached the international leading level, and the main indicators of its raw milk, such as protein content ≥ 3.4% and colony index ≤ 0.5 million.

With the empowerment of AI smart brain and AI diversion and sorting technologies, fresh milk produced by Feihe (飞鹤) pastures can reach the production workshop within 2 hours and be delivered to customers in as little as 28 days, providing a guarantee for the freshness of the products.

The intelligent transformation achievements in the production and manufacturing process are remarkable. The "Thousand Eyes System (千眼系统)" built by Feihe (飞鹤) creatively realizes millisecond-level online monitoring and quality traceability of the entire process of milk powder production, achieving zero errors and zero error rates in the feeding process. At the same time, the world's leading low-temperature one-time extraction process of raw milk helps Feihe (飞鹤) products lock in more fresh nutrition.

In terms of achieving deep connection between enterprises and consumers, Feihe (飞鹤) has built a multi-level intelligent service system. "He Xiaoxiao (鹤小小)", which was unveiled at this conference, is an important achievement of Feihe's (飞鹤) promotion of "AI + Service". "He Xiaoxiao (鹤小小)" is a physical intelligent voice interaction robot fully equipped with DeepSeek. Consumers can communicate and converse with it to obtain both professional knowledge and emotional value.

Through the stage of the 2025 World Artificial Intelligence Conference, Feihe (飞鹤) strives to provide replicable practical experience for the digital transformation of the traditional dairy industry, and provide innovative models for the industrial application of new technologies for global dairy companies.

Expand the innovation "circle of friends" and promote the deep application of AI.

At the 2025 World Artificial Intelligence Conference, Feihe Aiben (飞鹤爱本), as a sub-brand of Feihe (飞鹤), joined hands with partners such as Huawei Cloud (华为云) and Meinian Onehealth (美年大健康) to jointly launch the "AI Precision Nutrition Alliance (AI精准营养联盟)", aiming to aggregate the resource advantages of all parties, form a joint force of the industrial community, and jointly promote the deep application of AI in the functional nutrition and health industry.

The dairy industry spans the primary, secondary, and tertiary industries, with a large industrial chain span, long chain, and many links. It is currently in a critical period of improving quality and efficiency throughout the entire industrial chain. Feihe (飞鹤) believes that enterprises should not only accelerate the "inward-facing" technological transformation, but also expand the innovation "circle of friends" to drive the overall development of the industry.

Today, as technological innovation and life sciences are increasingly becoming important drivers of the global dairy industry, Feihe (飞鹤) insists on integrating resources with an open ecology, accelerating the integration of industry, academia, and research, and building a "research + technology" dual engine.

Focusing on basic research and cutting-edge research, Feihe (飞鹤) is expanding its scientific research "circle of friends" at the global level. In terms of research and development, Feihe (飞鹤) has established in-depth scientific research cooperation relationships with more than 20 well-known universities and authoritative institutions in 7 countries, including Peking University (北京大学), to carry out systematic research.

Feihe (飞鹤) has taken the lead in the "14th Five-Year Plan" national key research and development project, leading the technological breakthroughs for the development of a new generation of dairy products, gathering scientific and technological forces including 5 well-known universities, more than 15 national-level platforms, and hundreds of experts and scholars. Relying on in-depth research, many research results have been industrialized and applied.

In empowering future research, Feihe (飞鹤) will integrate cloud computing, AI algorithms, and a leading mother-child health cohort to build a new generation of big data centers, and provide more targeted health management solutions based on research on different individuals.

In building a new engine for technology, Feihe (飞鹤) is accelerating the construction of an AI "circle of friends": cooperating with ByteDance Volcano Engine (火山引擎) to jointly create an AI capability platform construction plan; joining hands with Alibaba Cloud (阿里云) to deepen the data platform supply chain side business and business platform project construction. This year, Feihe (飞鹤) officially joined hands with Huawei Cloud (华为云) to launch a pilot project for intelligent predictive maintenance of equipment, opening up the exploration of intelligent operation and maintenance upgrades for factories.

Continuously build a dairy innovation ecosystem to help industrial iteration and upgrade. Relying on excellent products and high-quality services, Feihe (飞鹤) has maintained the first place in sales in the Chinese market for 6 consecutive years, gaining the trust and choice of consumers.

Focus on the new vision of full-age nutrition, so that cutting-edge scientific and technological achievements benefit more families.

At this conference, Feihe Aiben (飞鹤爱本) launched three major AI achievements, marking that Feihe Aiben (飞鹤爱本), as Feihe's (飞鹤) second growth curve, innovatively launched AI functional nutrition products, and took the lead in upgrading to the "AI-empowered precision nutrition ecosystem" stage.

Feihe Aiben (飞鹤爱本) launched the first nutrition consultant deeply integrated with AI capabilities - "Doctor AI (爱博士)", which can provide intelligent Q&A, intelligent companionship, health advice, product recommendations and other services, and provide professional and customized nutrition guidance for different groups of people, representing Feihe's (飞鹤) upgrade from fragmented services to systematic health management services, providing professional and customized nutrition guidance. This is a concrete practice of Feihe's (飞鹤) brand mission of "transmitting love with nutrition, and making human beings more intelligent, healthier, and longer-lived", and it is also a vivid microcosm of Feihe's (飞鹤) active creation of full-age precision nutrition solutions.

Currently, the health needs of different groups of people are undergoing profound changes. In addition to providing basic nutrition products, developing precision nutrition solutions that meet the personalized needs of different groups of people has become a key direction for the development of dairy companies, and will also help China's dairy industry break through to value innovation.

At present, Feihe (飞鹤) has accepted 50 special projects and obtained 16 authorized patents around milk protein nutrition combination and production and preparation technology, realizing the industrial production of 7 kinds of milk protein raw materials and the technical reserve of 6 kinds of milk protein raw materials, and precisely developing health nutrition solutions for people of all ages. Among them, Feihe Aiben Yuedong Protein Powder (飞鹤爱本跃动蛋白粉), launched for middle-aged and elderly people, won the "Special Prize for Technological Progress" from the China Dairy Industry Association (中国乳制品工业协会).

At the "AI Digital Innovation and Development" sub-forum of this conference, Dong Yan (董岩), Vice President of Feihe (飞鹤), said that AI is a new quality productive force for the upgrading of the dairy industry. The deep integration of artificial intelligence and the real economy provides new impetus for breaking through the predicament of industrial homogenization and enhancing global competitiveness. In the future, Feihe (飞鹤) will accelerate the construction of a full-age precision nutrition ecosystem empowered by AI, so that cutting-edge scientific and technological achievements can benefit more families.

From "a blade of grass" to "a can of milk powder", Feihe (飞鹤) reconstructs the value of the entire industrial chain with AI, helping the transformation and upgrading of China's dairy industry, which not only demonstrates the potential of technology to transform traditional industries, but also highlights the innovative strength of Chinese dairy companies in the field of nutrition and health. In the intelligent era, we will work together globally. Under the general trend of digital-driven industrial transformation, Feihe (飞鹤) will continue to show the world the "AI+" implementation model of Chinese dairy companies, and continue to contribute to the goal of "making human beings more intelligent, healthier, and longer-lived".

Data source: Heilongjiang Feihe Dairy Co., Ltd. (黑龙江飞鹤乳业有限公司)

Return to Top

Page 13版:社会

Writing a Story of Resilience for 49 Years (Frontline of People's Livelihood)

By: 本报记者 张腾扬

Original Article Return to Top

"I can't forget the warmth of the director's arms when he carried me onto the bus, I can't forget the nurse bringing the spoon to my mouth when I was sick..." The poems of Yang Yufang (杨玉芳), an elderly survivor of the Tangshan Earthquake (唐山大地震), record the bits and pieces of his life at the Tangshan Paraplegia Sanatorium (唐山市截瘫疗养院) in Hebei Province (河北省).

"The earthquake made it impossible for me to stand up again, and I couldn't accept it at first. With the care and encouragement of medical staff and caring people in society, we had the courage to live on." Gao Zhihong (高志宏) met Yang Yufang (杨玉芳) while recovering from his injuries and formed a family, living in the sanatorium for more than 40 years.

Due to the 1976 Tangshan Earthquake (唐山大地震), 3,817 people became paraplegic. To properly resettle them, the Party and the government introduced multi-level assistance policies covering medical care, living security, psychological support, and social integration. In 1981, the Tangshan Paraplegia Sanatorium (唐山市截瘫疗养院) was built and put into use, allowing paraplegic victims of the earthquake to live there long-term, with medical care, nursing, and basic living security costs mainly borne by the government's finances. The sanatorium developed personalized treatment plans and health management systems, and also provided psychological support and recreational activities for the injured.

Some international health experts predicted that the survival limit for these paraplegic patients was 15 years. In fact, 20 years after the earthquake, more than 2,800 paraplegic patients were living well; 30 years after the earthquake, more than 1,600 paraplegic patients were well taken care of. Today, more than 500 paraplegic patients have entered old age, with the oldest being over 90 years old.

"I have lived to this day because of professional and attentive care."

The sanatorium area, canteen, bathroom, and laundry room are all bungalows, accessible without climbing stairs. The spacious corridors inside have handrails on both sides, and the floors are made of non-slip material. The passages between the functional areas of the sanatorium area are equipped with gentle ramps to facilitate wheelchair access.

In the Tangshan Paraplegia Sanatorium (唐山市截瘫疗养院), what is as common as barrier-free facilities is humanized care.

The courtyard is surrounded by green plants. In the nursing wards, the tables and bathroom facilities are relatively low, and a call system is equipped in front of the beds, so that nursing staff can respond immediately when paraplegic patients need it.

In the nursing ward, Yao Cuiqin (姚翠芹) is playing with her mobile phone. Although it is inconvenient for her to get out of bed, she usually plays with goldfish and uses her mobile phone to take pictures of the pigeons outside the window. During the earthquake, 23-year-old Yao Cuiqin's (姚翠芹) spinal cord nerves were compressed, and she has been unable to stand up ever since.

"The reality of disability cannot be changed, but life must go on." Yao Cuiqin (姚翠芹) sighed that with the encouragement of the people around her, she joined the disabled people's art troupe and won first prize in the national disabled people's Karaoke competition. She also took up writing and published several literary works.

Two years ago, Yao Cuiqin (姚翠芹) was diagnosed with severe osteoporosis. Coupled with old injuries from the earthquake, her back pain made it impossible for her to sit up, and she was admitted to the full-care ward of the sanatorium.

"What's the point of living if I have to be served even for bowel movements?" When she first fell ill, Yao Cuiqin (姚翠芹) could not accept the reality, often lost her appetite, and did not take her medicine on time.

During that time, the doctors and nurses of the sanatorium took meticulous care of Yao Cuiqin (姚翠芹), helping her wash up every morning and evening, turning her over every two hours, and wiping her down once a week. Dong Jing (董静), the director of the ward, would come to chat with her whenever she had time, sharing fresh things that happened around her.

Once, Yao Cuiqin (姚翠芹) was sick and had diarrhea for two days and two nights. "The caregiver came to check on me every now and then, changing my diapers and wiping me clean in time. There was no odor in the room, bedding, or on me," Yao Cuiqin (姚翠芹) said, "The doctors and nurses are all concerned about me and taking care of me, what reason do I have to give up?"

Over the past two years, she has become more and more optimistic under the treatment and care of the medical staff, and has also asked her family to put green plants and fish tanks on the windowsill of her ward. "I have lived to this day because of professional and attentive care." Now, she is using her mobile phone to write her memoirs of her military career, and has written more than 60,000 words in just over a month.

This care for individuals is an epitome of Tangshan's (唐山) long-term protection of paraplegic patients. In order to provide more patients with continuous health security, Tangshan (唐山) conducts routine physical examinations for paraplegic patients and provides drug support for common diseases. The sanatorium also updates age-appropriate fitness equipment in a timely manner and carries out rehabilitation programs to prevent geriatric diseases.

"No need to worry about hospitalization costs or nursing care."

"You didn't use a pain pump for your surgery?"

"I used to endure more pain when I was training as an athlete. Although the government pays for my medical expenses, I still want to save a little." Arriving at the ward of the Hand Surgery Department of the Second Hospital of Tangshan (唐山市第二医院), paraplegic patient Li Dongmei (李冬梅) was lying on the bed, chatting with her fellow patients sideways, with a plaster cast on her left elbow to fingertip. Previously, she had surgery for joint effusion compressing the ulnar nerve.

"The surgery went smoothly, and I can be discharged in a few days." Li Dongmei (李冬梅) had outstanding sports performance since she was a child and was the main player in the school basketball team. However, at the age of 13, she was paralyzed in the earthquake and sat in a wheelchair. Li Dongmei (李冬梅) did not forget her dream of fighting in the arena and strived to become an athlete with disabilities.

Over the years, she has participated in wheelchair basketball, racing wheelchair, badminton, discus and other disabled sports, and has won dozens of medals. Among them, she won five gold medals and one bronze medal in the 6th and 7th Far East and South Pacific Games for the Disabled. While the struggle in the arena won her flowers and applause, it also left her with training injuries.

This time she fell ill, the staff of the sanatorium first took Li Dongmei (李冬梅) to a general hospital for diagnosis and surgery. When people are sick and hospitalized, they often worry about treatment costs and care issues. But Li Dongmei (李冬梅) has no such worries: "I am a civil affairs service recipient, and the government is responsible for the cost of hospitalization and treatment. During my hospitalization, the sanatorium also helped me hire a nursing worker to accompany me."

Yang Zhensheng (杨震生), director of the Tangshan Paraplegia Sanatorium (唐山市截瘫疗养院), introduced that paraplegic patients living in the sanatorium, in addition to enjoying the two subsidies for disabled people, can also apply for medical assistance in accordance with relevant special policies. With the improvement of China's medical insurance coverage and reimbursement ratio, the medical security level of paraplegic patients has been significantly improved.

In the sanatorium these years, Li Dongmei (李冬梅) has been hospitalized three times: "No need to worry about hospitalization costs or nursing care. Every time I am hospitalized or discharged, someone from the sanatorium comes to pick me up, so I don't have to worry about anything."

In order to help paraplegic patients train, the sanatorium not only transfers staff to accompany the training, but also contacts special training venues. Yang Zhensheng (杨震生) introduced that paraplegic patients in the sanatorium have won a total of 77 medals in domestic and foreign disabled sports games, and two world champions have emerged. Many people have also created literary works, or formed bands to regularly perform for troops, schools, and communities, and strive to give back to society.

"Love makes us strong and live wonderfully."

In recent days, in the activity room of the sanatorium, paraplegic patient Gao Qingfeng (高清峰) has been learning to sing the latest internet hit songs: "It's boring to always sing old songs, we have to keep up with the times and catch up with fashion."

Gao Qingfeng (高清峰) is the main force of the sanatorium band. He not only sings well, but also plays the erhu, harmonica, and zhongruan. "When I was a child, my family loved music and performed everywhere, so I learned a lot."

The sanatorium not only pays attention to the daily life of paraplegic patients, but also focuses on enriching their spiritual and cultural life, organizing cultural and artistic activities, such as wheelchair basketball teams, art troupes, literary creation groups, etc., and encouraging paraplegic patients to participate in charity performances and disabled sports games.

"Some of us like to write poetry, some like to write novels, and we can also recite, sing, and play musical instruments. We can organize a literary performance at any time," Gao Qingfeng (高清峰) introduced. Every year before the Spring Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival, National Day for Helping the Disabled and other festivals, the sanatorium organizes everyone to rehearse literary and artistic programs.

In order to improve everyone's level, the sanatorium also invited teachers from the Tangshan Elderly University (唐山市老年大学) to teach. "In the past, I taught myself electronic organ online, with one finger on the left hand and two fingers on the right hand. Later, I practiced with professional teachers, and all ten fingers cooperated tacitly," Gao Qingfeng (高清峰) said. The sanatorium also issued tablet computers, and the staff taught the paraplegic patients how to use them. Gao Qingfeng (高清峰) uses this tablet to read news, listen to songs, learn piano, and play chess.

"Our old couple want to write our life in the sanatorium into a script, so that more people can understand the lives of Tangshan (唐山) paraplegic patients in the decades after the earthquake." Speaking of her creations over the years, Yang Yufang (杨玉芳) could not hide her pride, "My works have changed from sadness to full of love and gratitude, and this change is just like my mood. Love makes us strong and live wonderfully."

Forty-nine years have passed, and the paraplegic victims of the Tangshan Earthquake (唐山大地震), with the care of the Party and the government and the love of all sectors of society, have written strong life stories through literature, art, and sports, proving to the whole society that disabled people can also live wonderfully.

Return to Top

Turning volunteer hours into a money game is unacceptable (People's Livelihood Perspective)

By: 吕 莉

Original Article Return to Top

Let volunteer service return to its original intention, promote volunteer culture into daily life, and the concept of "one for all, all for one" will surely become a widespread practice.

Is it possible for volunteer service hours to "instantly arrive" with a simple finger tap to transfer money? In recent years, education departments in many places have incorporated volunteer service hours into the comprehensive evaluation system, and some places have also built volunteer service platforms. However, on social media, some merchants claim that volunteer service hours can be purchased with money, and some parents have seen their hours increase on the same day they transferred money.

Student volunteer service refers to the voluntary dedication of time, intelligence, physical strength, skills, etc., by students, without the purpose of obtaining remuneration, to help others and serve society's public welfare endeavors. The original intention of the education department to incorporate it into the evaluation is to improve students' social practice ability and cultivate a sense of social responsibility.

This was originally a good thing, so how did it become a money game for some people? Some places regard volunteer hours as the only indicator, only assessing the final number rather than the process, making it easy to get away with it. Some parents are willing to "pay to刷时长 (shuā shí cháng - '刷时长' is a slang term meaning 'to artificially inflate the hours')" in order to let their children "save time" and "do more practice questions," allowing some merchants to smell a "business opportunity."

When some children are sweating in volunteer activities, seeing other students "lying down and increasing their hours," they are likely to plant the seeds of "opportunism" in their hearts, believing that "money can buy everything." Parents should lead by example, guiding and supporting their children to understand society and improve themselves in practice. Forgery not only causes children to lose points in moral education, but also affects the formation of correct values.

Fortunately, some regions have piloted new assessment methods, making the evaluation not only look at numbers, but also adding warmth and detail. For example, introducing "volunteer service mentors," with the secretary of the community Party organization and the head of the public welfare organization giving scores to students' on-site performance, and writing comments into the archives. When students go to welfare homes and orphanages, do they really bring help? When participating in public welfare rescue publicity, do they understand the meaning of the activity? These must be included in the evaluation system.

Forgerers should be blacklisted. Volunteer service fraud is a moral issue. Once cheating is discovered, the relevant departments of the school should veto it in terms of moral education. Failure to severely punish this behavior is the greatest harm to those who abide by the rules. The volunteer service information system has covered the whole country. The next step is to promote relevant departments to form a joint force. Once forgery is verified, the buyer, seller, institution, and platform should all be held responsible.

Volunteer service is a sign of social civilization and progress. Encouraging young people to "dedicate, love, help, and progress" through volunteer service helps to form a positive and upward-looking value system. Let volunteer service return to its original intention, promote volunteer culture into daily life, and the concept of "I for everyone, everyone for me" will surely 蔚然成风 (wèi rán chéng fēng - "become a common practice," describes something positive becoming widespread).

Return to Top

Summer vacation fire safety, keep it in mind.

Original Article Return to Top

On July 25th, at a fire station in Rongcheng City (荣成市), Shandong Province (山东省), children learned how to use fire hoses under the guidance of firefighters. During the activity, firefighters also explained the use of fire extinguishers and other equipment, and simulated fire escape, enhancing children's safety awareness through interactive practice.

Li Xinjun (李信君) Photo (Image China)

Return to Top

Snakes Active in Summer: What to Do if Bitten? (Service Window)

By: 本报记者 刘晓宇

Original Article Return to Top

In summer, snakes are active frequently. How to prevent snake bites? How to deal with snakes when encountering them? How to scientifically treat snake bites? The reporter conducted an interview.

"Snakes prefer to live in shady, damp grass and tree holes. Outdoor wildlands are places where snakes often appear," said Lin Hui (林辉), a forest ranger at Wuyishan National Park (武夷山国家公园).

"Try not to go to wildlands or remote corners outdoors, and take protective measures if you do," said Lin Hui (林辉). "Rubber-soled shoes and rain boots can resist most snake attacks at lower heights. Wear long sleeves and trousers, and tighten the cuffs and trouser legs to reduce skin exposure."

It is also important to "send a signal" in advance. Lin Hui (林辉) said, "Carry a stick to explore the road when walking in the wild. The noise made by exploring the road can drive away most snakes."

"Do not actively drive away or attack snakes when encountering them. You can slowly retreat and detour to avoid them. Snakes usually do not actively chase humans," Lin Hui (林辉) added. If a snake enters a home or public place, you can call 119 or contact professional snake catchers. Do not try to catch it yourself.

How to scientifically treat snake bites? Zhang Meiji (张美吉), attending physician of Wound, Ulcer, Snake Injury and Vascular Surgery at Fujian Provincial People's Hospital (福建省人民医院), said: "Leaving the environment, calmly immobilizing, rinsing the wound, bandaging the limb, and sending to the hospital for treatment are the necessary 'five-step work method'."

Leave the environment. After being bitten by a snake, immediately use a stick to drive the snake away; if bitten in the water, immediately go ashore. At the same time, try to remember the basic characteristics of the snake, such as the pattern, head shape, and color, to help the doctor determine the type of snake.

Calmly immobilize. Snake venom generally spreads in the human body through blood flow, so do not run after being bitten. At the same time, remove objects that bind the limbs, such as bracelets, rings, and watches, to prevent toxins from accumulating here and causing secondary damage.

Rinse the wound. Before medical personnel arrive, you can rinse the wound with clean water, hydrogen peroxide, or iodophor. It is not recommended to cut the wound yourself or suck the venom from the wound with your mouth.

Bandage the limb. Use a small splint and elastic bandage to bandage the affected limb. The bandaging position should be about 10 centimeters above the wound (proximal end) or at the joint above the wound. Do not tie it too tightly. After tying, relax it every 30 minutes, each time for two or three minutes, to avoid affecting blood circulation and causing tissue necrosis.

Send to the hospital for treatment. Go to a hospital with experience in treating snake injuries as soon as possible. The doctor will use the corresponding antivenom according to the condition, and at the same time, hospitalize for observation and comprehensive treatment of other complications.

Return to Top

Hubei opens over 3,800 summer "caring托管班" (supervised care classes).

Original Article Return to Top

This newspaper's Wuhan (武汉) July 27th dispatch (Reporter Wu Jun (吴君)) - A reporter learned from the Hubei Provincial Committee of the Communist Youth League (共青团湖北省委) that Hubei (湖北) will open more than 3,800 summer "Caring托管班" (ài xīn tuō guǎn bān - "Caring託管班," Caring childcare classes) this year, providing free summer childcare services for children aged 6 to 14.

In order to run the "Caring托管班" well, the Hubei Provincial Committee of the Communist Youth League (共青团湖北省委) recruited volunteers in various forms. In terms of volunteer recruitment, a combination of school-local pairing and online platform recruitment was adopted, with more than 20,000 volunteers participating. Among them, the Hubei Provincial Committee of the Communist Youth League (共青团湖北省委) jointly established more than 900 college student volunteer teams with universities.

In terms of curriculum, the Hubei Provincial Committee of the Communist Youth League (共青团湖北省委) has jointly launched nearly 200 courses covering the five aspects of "morality, intelligence, physical fitness, aesthetics, and labor" for the "Caring托管班" with multiple departments and various social forces, focusing on a number of characteristic courses such as artificial intelligence education, intangible cultural heritage inheritance, and puzzle games, and integrating safety self-protection education such as drowning prevention, fire safety electricity use, and daily first aid.

Liu Zhitian (刘治田), Secretary of the Hubei Provincial Committee of the Communist Youth League (共青团湖北省委), introduced that the number of "Caring托管班" opened in Hubei Province (湖北省) this year has increased by more than 300 compared with last year, mainly expanding new locations in parks, business districts, buildings, and industrial chains, highlighting the service coverage for children of dual-income families, children of new employment form workers, left-behind children, and children from economically disadvantaged families.

Return to Top

"AI+" Adds New Hues to Consumption

By: 本报记者 温素威

Original Article Return to Top

In the summer, appliance stores are bustling with people. Ms. Li, a resident of Chaoyang District (朝阳区) in Beijing (北京市), is planning to buy the latest Samsung foldable screen phone. "AI (Artificial Intelligence) translation can solve our language barriers when traveling abroad, and intelligent imaging makes travel photography more photogenic," she told reporters, adding that mobile phones equipped with AI technology better understand consumers' needs and can complete complex work tasks with simple instructions.

At work, she uses the AI transcription function to generate verbatim transcripts of real-time calls on her phone; in life, she wears smart wearable devices to record health data and obtain personalized advice. AI is integrating into daily life as a "life partner," reshaping lifestyles. The "Special Action Plan for Boosting Consumption" issued this year proposes to carry out the "AI+" action to promote "AI+Consumption." Samsung iterates on technology research and development, using artificial intelligence technology to enhance the added value of products, transforming "cold and hard" machines into "humane" partners, helping to boost consumption and benefiting life with technology.

Some of Samsung's research and development institutions in China focus on cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence, 5G/6G communication technology research and standardization. While carrying out preliminary research, they also actively promote commercial development to bring consumers a more intelligent and convenient life experience; others focus on the research and development of Samsung Electronics smart TVs, mobile phones and other commercial software solutions and future technology development... As of the end of 2023, Samsung has established 11 research and development centers in China, with more than 5,000 R&D personnel, forming a full-chain innovation capability covering chips, algorithms, and terminals.

While actively innovating, Samsung is vigorously promoting green and low-carbon products to stimulate consumption vitality. The third national time utilization survey communiqué released by the National Bureau of Statistics (国家统计局) in 2024 shows that the average daily use of the Internet in China is 5 hours and 37 minutes, an increase of nearly 3 hours compared with 2018. Although consumers can manually set the "power saving mode," this mode will prevent some functions from working properly. AI energy-saving technology can change the traditional energy consumption management model through deep learning algorithms. A Samsung mobile phone reduces energy consumption by dynamically analyzing consumer behavior through a dynamic power consumption management system, intelligently adjusting the central processor frequency, and optimizing background processes.

The concept of green and low-carbon extends to the whole-house appliance system. Through the collaborative management of the Internet of Things hub, the air conditioner can automatically adjust the air supply angle according to the distribution of people in the room, the washing machine can match the best washing program according to the material of the clothes, and the refrigerator can optimize the operation of the compressor according to usage habits and the surrounding environment. The home energy solution based on AI energy-saving technology not only controls electricity costs, but also helps to achieve the "dual carbon" goal. Through energy-saving technology innovation, Samsung transforms the concept of green consumption into practice, and promotes high-quality consumer goods into residents' lives with diversified measures, and smooths the resource recycling chain.

After the "Special Action Plan for Boosting Consumption" was issued, Samsung actively responded to the policy, deepened channel cooperation, and increased the efforts of "trade-in." This year, Samsung has expanded the scope of trade-in subsidies from mobile phones to tablets, home appliances and other categories, providing consumers with an opportunity to change machines that combines technological value and economic benefits. In addition, it also innovatively launched the "cross-brand recycling + intelligent valuation" model, and cooperated with third-party platforms to realize the valuation of all categories of old machines. This flexible mechanism can not only lower the threshold for trade-in, but also reduce the impact of discarded electronic products on the environment.

Return to Top

Police and medical personnel work together to rescue man bitten by pit viper

By: 本报记者 曹继炜

Original Article Return to Top

At approximately 9:00 AM on July 21st, Mr. Li (李先生), a merchant at the Yuka Service Area (鱼卡服务区) of the Da Qaidam Administrative Committee (大柴旦行政委员会) in Qinghai Province (青海省), discovered a venomous snake in the service area. Fearing that the snake would harm people, he attempted to capture it himself. During the capture process, the snake bit Mr. Li's (李先生) finger.

Subsequently, Mr. Li (李先生) took the snake to the hospital for treatment, where his injured finger was visibly swollen and purple. After the police contacted experts for identification, it was initially determined that the snake that caused the injury was the highly venomous Alashan pit viper. However, the local hospital had no corresponding antivenom serum reserves and needed to be transferred to Xining (西宁), 700 kilometers away, for treatment.

The police immediately activated the emergency mechanism, coordinated with the Affiliated Hospital of Qinghai University (青海大学附属医院) to prepare for admission, and dispatched a police car to clear the way for the ambulance. At approximately 11:00 AM, the ambulance departed, and arrived at the hospital's emergency department building at approximately 5:00 PM. The hospital was prepared to receive the patient and immediately opened a green channel for emergency treatment.

Currently, Mr. Li's (李先生) vital signs are stable, and he is receiving follow-up treatment. The Alashan pit viper that caused the injury has been transferred to the Xining Wildlife Park (西宁市野生动物园) for shelter.

Return to Top

Editor in Charge for This Edition: Lü Li, Xu Yang, Li Zhiyao

Original Article Return to Top
Return to Top

Page 14版:生态

In the face of disaster, everyone is united as one.

By: 王 洲 王海燕

Original Article Return to Top

On the morning of July 27th, the rain weakened to a drizzle. Seeing the guesthouse room they were staying in destroyed by the flood, tourist Wang Yan (王艳) recalled the experience of the early morning with lingering fear: "If I hadn't been woken up in time, I don't dare think what the consequences would have been!"

From 12:00 on the 26th to 2:00 on the 27th, the average rainfall in Miyun District (密云区), Beijing (北京) reached 73.5 millimeters. The Miyun District Flood Control Headquarters (密云区防汛指挥部) activated a Level I flood control emergency response.

On the 26th, Wang Yan (王艳) and her family went to Jiayu Village (贾峪村), Shicheng Town (石城镇), Miyun District (密云区) to play, and stayed in a guesthouse in the village that night. At just after 1:00 AM the next day, guesthouse owner Yang Jinliang (杨金亮) knocked on her door and woke her up: "The rain is getting heavier, quickly follow us to a safe place!" Like her, other guests and villagers in the village's guesthouses were also woken up, and followed the village officials through ankle-deep water, braving the rain to move to a higher ground in a neighboring village.

"Our village was not originally within the scope of the evacuation, but the district and town had previously reminded us to be prepared for emergencies. After midnight, the rain became heavier and heavier, and we also received a notice from the District Flood Control Headquarters (区防汛指挥部) to evacuate the masses." said Wang Shixun (王士寻), Secretary of the Party Branch of Jiayu Village (贾峪村). Village officials knocked on doors to notify everyone to evacuate urgently. By just after 2:00 AM, all villagers and tourists had completed the evacuation.

"At first, I really didn't have confidence, but the enthusiasm and thoughtfulness of the villagers dispelled our concerns." Wang Yan (王艳) said that from climbing to the high ground at just after 1:00 AM to returning to the village at just after 3:00 AM, several villagers took turns going back and forth between the high ground and the village to check the water situation and inform everyone of the real-time situation, and everyone gradually felt at ease.

At 3:00 AM, the situation in the village improved, and villagers and tourists returned to the village in an orderly manner. Many houses had been flooded or washed away, and the road for tourists to leave the village was also interrupted. Led by Party members, villagers whose houses were not damaged welcomed tourists into their homes.

Wang Mingzeng (王明增) and Meng Haixia (孟海霞), a couple who run a guesthouse, had a higher terrain and were less affected by the disaster. They took the initiative to invite tourists staying in other damaged guesthouses to take temporary shelter in their home. The couple cooked corn and noodles early in the morning... Eating hot food, the tourists repeatedly offered to pay, but were refused. "It is a kind of trust for everyone to come here to play, and it is our duty to do a good job in safety protection and service for everyone," said Meng Haixia (孟海霞).

At noon on the 27th, road repairs and house dredging were still ongoing, and the town decided to arrange for villagers and tourists whose houses were damaged to move to the nearby Qingliang Valley Scenic Area (清凉谷风景区). "The terrain there is higher, and there is a guest house that can provide accommodation, so everyone can have a good rest," said Li Youning (李友宁), Mayor of Shicheng Town (石城镇).

In order to do a good job in resettling the affected people, Li Youning (李友宁) coordinated everywhere and did not close his eyes all night. At 9:00 AM, more than 80 villagers from Xiwazi Village (西湾子村), Shicheng Town (石城镇), who were severely affected by the disaster, successfully moved into the dormitory of the town's central primary school, and he breathed a sigh of relief. Villager Zhang Shulan (张书兰) accompanied her 91-year-old mother to live in a dormitory on the 2nd floor. "The town government distributed blankets, the dormitory has air conditioning, and the bathroom can take a bath. It's as warm as home here," said Zhang Shulan (张书兰).

"Our school has 20 dormitories, each with 4 bunk beds, which can be used to temporarily resettle affected villagers," said Jin Zongjian (金宗健), chairman of the trade union of the town's central primary school.

It is understood that the central primary school in Shicheng Town (石城镇中心小学) has been used as a temporary standby resettlement point for the flood season for many years, and must be on duty every summer. Jiayu Village (贾峪村) has selected an emergency resettlement point in advance and stored emergency supplies... Before the arrival of this heavy rainfall, Miyun District (密云区) released early warning information through various channels such as SMS, radio, and WeChat official accounts. Reservoirs and ponds were emptied in advance to prepare for flood interception and peak shaving.

"In this heavy rainfall, we combined the actual situation to expand the scope of evacuation. As of 17:00 on the 27th, Miyun District (密云区) had evacuated 1,627 households with 4,015 people in 154 villages in 19 towns, achieving full evacuation." said Ning Xiaowei (宁晓巍), Deputy Director of the Emergency Management Bureau of Miyun District (密云区应急局). "In the face of disaster, everyone **拧成了一股绳** (nǐng chéng le yī gǔ shéng - "twisted into a rope," to unite and work together)."

Return to Top

In High Mountains and Dense Forests, Fragrant Wood Envelops an Ancient Village (Tales of Ancient Trees)

By: 本报记者 苏 滨

Original Article Return to Top

The Miao ethnic group's ancient village of Qinglang (情郎) in Zhouxi Town (舟溪镇), Kaili City (凯里市), Guizhou (贵州), hidden deep in the mountains, is known as "Nanmu Village" by the villagers in the surrounding areas because of its century-old Phoebe zhennan (楠木) trees.

Driving to Qinglang Village (情郎村), all that can be seen through the car window are mountains. Passing through the entrance of the village, the view suddenly opens up: tall and straight Phoebe zhennan trees form a forest, their crowns like canopies, emitting a faint fragrance that grows stronger the closer you get; the clear water of the Qinglang River (情郎河) flows gurgling... The entire village is simple and peaceful, yet full of natural vitality.

How large is the Phoebe zhennan forest in Qinglang Village (情郎村)? Li Yingchen (李英臣), the Party Branch Secretary of Qinglang Village (情郎村), and the villagers carefully investigated: there are 68 trees over a century old, the oldest being over 300 years old with trunks that require three or four people to encircle; Phoebe zhennan trees under a century old are even more ubiquitous in every corner of the village.

"Every autumn, the Phoebe zhennan trees bear strings of fruit, attracting many birds to peck at them. Because the seeds are difficult to digest, they are excreted in the birds' droppings, and wherever they fall, a Phoebe zhennan seedling may sprout," said Li Yingchen (李英臣). The Phoebe zhennan tree has a long growth cycle and requires careful management over time, but its vitality is much stronger than many other tree species.

Li Yingchen (李英臣) remembers that a few years ago, one winter night, it suddenly started snowing, and then it started hailing in the middle of the night. Six Phoebe zhennan trees at the mouth of the valley suffered: overnight, all their leaves were knocked off, leaving only bare trunks, one of which was over 300 years old.

The next morning, a bewildered Li Yingchen (李英臣) picked up his phone and quickly contacted Pi Jiwei (皮基伟), Deputy Director of the Forest Protection Center of the Kaili City (凯里市) Forestry Bureau. "It was heartbreaking, I've never felt so heartbroken. How could such good trees withstand such devastation?" said Li Yingchen (李英臣). Pi Jiwei (皮基伟), who rushed to the scene, also felt his spirits sink to the bottom, wondering if the Phoebe zhennan trees could still be saved. After repeated research, the professionals adopted a method of protection based on natural recovery for the six Phoebe zhennan trees. Two years later, the six Phoebe zhennan trees were lush and green, and some even grew branches more than 2 meters long. Since then, the villagers have been even more strict in protecting the Phoebe zhennan trees.

Once, Pi Jiwei (皮基伟) didn't inform the village and went to Qinglang Village (情郎村) with his colleagues to monitor the Phoebe zhennan trees. They had only stopped under a century-old Phoebe zhennan tree for a short while when they were mistaken for timber thieves and surrounded by a group of villagers until a phone call was made to Li Yingchen (李英臣) on the spot, which cleared up the misunderstanding.

While the masses are spontaneously protecting the trees, the local government is also carrying out comprehensive protection.

In 2022, the Kaili City (凯里市) Forestry Bureau implemented the Phoebe zhennan germplasm resource bank protection project, establishing a "one tree, one sign, one responsible person, one plan" mechanism to create digital archives for ancient trees. Since 2023, the Kaili City (凯里市) Forestry Bureau has purchased insurance for 68 Phoebe zhennan trees over a century old, adding a layer of protection for the protection of ancient trees.

"Due to external injuries, ant bites, and other factors, the older Phoebe zhennan trees generally have cavities. We usually clean them out and fill them to avoid erosion and infection from wind, water, and insects. If the Phoebe zhennan trees don't grow leaves or the leaves turn yellow, we need to hang nutrient bags on them to rejuvenate them," Pi Jiwei (皮基伟) explained. For some Phoebe zhennan trees, the soil around the roots has to be dug up to clean out rotten roots, and then fertilizer is applied around them to increase nutrition.

Not long ago, Qinglang Village (情郎村) held a courtyard meeting under the Phoebe zhennan trees to collect opinions and suggestions from the masses on protecting the Phoebe zhennan trees, and formally wrote "not to cut a single branch or leaf" into the village rules and regulations.

"Protection comes first, and common prosperity must also keep up. Developing Phoebe zhennan characteristics, the village collective has built a themed homestay," said Li Yingchen (李英臣). Opening the wooden door, a faint woody fragrance fills the air, and standing on the terrace, the Phoebe zhennan forest is in full view, which tourists praise endlessly.

Phoebe zhennan

A plant of the Nanmu genus of the Camphoraceae family in the Magnoliopsida class and Camphorales order. It is a subtropical evergreen tree and a national second-class protected wild plant. It flowers from April to May and fruits from September to October. It is a valuable timber tree species.

Return to Top

Heavy Rainfall Persists in Many Parts of Northern China

Original Article Return to Top

This newspaper reported from Beijing (北京) on July 27th (Reporter Li Hongmei (李红梅) and Wang Hao (王浩)) that the reporter learned from the China Meteorological Administration (中国气象局): Since July 23rd, many places in the north have experienced continuous heavy rainfall. Meteorological monitoring shows that on the 26th, heavy rain or torrential rain occurred in some areas of northern Shaanxi (陕西), northern Shanxi (山西), northern Hebei (河北), and northern Beijing (北京), with localized torrential rainstorms. In particular, extremely heavy rainstorms occurred in local areas of Huairou (怀柔) and Miyun (密云) in Beijing (北京). On the 27th, relatively strong rainfall occurred in Beijing (北京), Jiangxi (江西), Yunnan (云南) and other places. The Central Meteorological Observatory (中央气象台) predicts that in the next 3 days, there will still be heavy rainfall in northern North China (华北), Northeast China (东北) and other regions. At 18:00 on the 27th, the Central Meteorological Observatory (中央气象台) continued to issue a yellow alert for rainstorms and issued a meteorological risk warning for floods in small and medium-sized rivers. The Ministry of Water Resources (水利部) and the Ministry of Natural Resources (自然资源部) respectively issued orange meteorological warnings for mountain torrent disasters and geological disaster risk warnings jointly with the China Meteorological Administration (中国气象局).

It is expected that from 20:00 on the 27th to 20:00 on the 28th, there will be heavy to torrential rain in some areas of central and northern Shanxi (山西), central and northern Hebei (河北), Beijing (北京), northern Tianjin (天津), western and northern Liaoning (辽宁), eastern Jilin (吉林), northern Shaanxi (陕西), Taiwan Island (台湾岛), and southwestern Yunnan (云南), among which there will be localized torrential rainstorms in central and northeastern Hebei (河北), southern and northern Beijing (北京), northern Tianjin (天津), and western Taiwan Island (台湾岛).

The reporter learned from the Ministry of Water Resources (水利部) that since July 23rd, continuous rainfall has occurred in the Chaobai River (潮白河) and the upper reaches of the Yongding River (永定河) in the Haihe River Basin (海河流域). Affected by rainfall, the Yinma River (饮马河) and Nanyang River (南洋河), tributaries of the Yongding River (永定河), and the Bai River (白河) and Chao River (潮河), tributaries of the Chaobai River (潮白河), have successively experienced the largest floods since recorded data became available. At 3:00 on the 27th, the main stream of the Chaobai River (潮白河) at the Miyun Reservoir (密云水库) experienced the largest inflow flood since the reservoir was built in 1959, with a maximum inflow flow of 6,550 cubic meters per second.

The Ministry of Water Resources (水利部) guided the precise scheduling of key reservoirs in the Chaobai River (潮白河) Miyun (密云) and Huairou (怀柔) Reservoirs and the Yongding River (永定河) Youyi (友谊) Reservoir and other river basin reservoirs to fully block floods, and dispatched working groups to the front line to guide local flood control work. The Ministry of Water Resources (水利部) launched a Level IV emergency response for flood defense in Beijing (北京市) at 12:00 on July 27th. The Beijing Municipal Water Affairs Bureau (北京市水务局) launched a Level III emergency response for flood control and drainage, and scheduled the Miyun Reservoir (密云水库) to gradually increase the outflow flow from 15:00 on the 27th to reserve sufficient flood control capacity to cope with possible subsequent floods. The Shanxi Provincial Department of Water Resources (山西省水利厅) launched a Level III response for flood defense in Datong City (大同市) and dispatched a working group to Datong (大同) to guide and urge the prevention and response to the heavy rain and flood of the Yu River (御河).

Return to Top

Sunshine Insurance: Two Decades of Approaching Finance with an Industry Mindset

Original Article Return to Top

Welcoming its 20th anniversary milestone, Sunshine Insurance (阳光保险) adheres to the vision of "building a respected century-old enterprise," sticks to its primary responsibilities and business, insists on approaching finance with the mindset of doing real industry, continuously solidifies its professional value in serving the real economy, and firmly practices finance for the people in helping to improve people's livelihood and well-being. Embarking on a new journey, Sunshine Insurance (阳光保险) will continue to write a new chapter of high-value growth and high-quality development.

2005

On July 28, 2005, Sunshine Property & Casualty Insurance Co., Ltd. (阳光财产保险股份有限公司) (referred to as "Sunshine P&C Insurance (阳光财险)") was formally established, becoming the 79th insurance company in China's insurance industry.

2007

In June 2007, Sunshine Insurance Holding Co., Ltd. (阳光保险控股股份有限公司) was established; in July, Sunshine P&C Insurance (阳光财险) achieved profitability 23 months after its opening; in December, Sunshine Life Insurance Co., Ltd. (阳光人寿保险股份有限公司) was formally established.

2008

In January 2008, Sunshine Insurance Holding Co., Ltd. (阳光保险控股股份有限公司) was renamed Sunshine Insurance Group Co., Ltd. (阳光保险集团股份有限公司) (referred to as "Sunshine Insurance (阳光保险)"); in June, Sunshine Insurance (阳光保险) assisted in building its first Sunshine Insurance Bo'ai School in Chenzhou (郴州市), Hunan Province (湖南省). To date, the number of Sunshine Insurance Bo'ai Schools has reached 77, covering 25 provinces and benefiting 29,000 teachers and students.

2009

In 2009, Sunshine P&C Insurance (阳光财险) created the "Auto Insurance Life Table" mechanism to help the industry's refined development of auto insurance.

2010

In May 2010, Sunshine Insurance (阳光保险) established the Sunshine Insurance Charity Foundation (阳光保险爱心基金会); Sunshine Insurance (阳光保险) entered the list of China's Top 500 Enterprises for the first time and has remained on the list ever since; in August, Sunshine Insurance (阳光保险) implemented the "Employee Parents Support Allowance Program." Any employee who has worked for more than 3 years and whose parents are 60 years old or older will receive a monthly parental support allowance of 500 yuan for their parents. Currently, nearly 100,000 employees' parents are enjoying this benefit.

2011

In 2011, Sunshine Insurance (阳光保险) launched the "Flash Claim" service standard for auto insurance, shortening the claim settlement cycle to as fast as 3.67 hours, helping to accelerate and improve the efficiency of claim settlement services in the industry.

2012-2015

In December 2012, Sunshine Asset Management Co., Ltd. (阳光资产管理股份有限公司) was established; Sunshine Insurance's (阳光保险) tax payment exceeded 10 billion yuan; Sunshine Financial City (阳光金融城) opened in Tongzhou District (通州区), Beijing (北京市), contributing corporate strength to the economic development of the Beijing Municipal Administrative Center (北京城市副中心) in the future.

2015

On July 28, 2015, Sunshine Insurance (阳光保险) celebrated its tenth anniversary. Sunshine Insurance (阳光保险) adheres to the concept of "bringing in people one by one, building institutions one by one, and collecting premiums cent by cent," deeply cultivates the main insurance business, focuses on value development, and steadily promotes the company to become a backbone force in the insurance industry.

2015-2017

Sunshine Insurance (阳光保险) launched a technological development strategy for the insurance industry, proposing the Sunshine Technology (阳光科技) development goal of "one machine and a group of customers," accelerating the transformation to mobile, digital, and intelligent development.

2018-2020

Sunshine Insurance (阳光保险) actively responded to the call and fully served poverty alleviation, launching the assistance plan for Longquan Village (龙泉村), Antu County (安图县), Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture (延边朝鲜族自治州), Jilin Province (吉林省). It carried out an "all-in-one" assistance measure in Longquan Village (龙泉村), including industrial assistance, insurance donations, consumption-based poverty alleviation, educational support, and rural infrastructure construction, helping Longquan Village (龙泉村) to achieve poverty alleviation one year ahead of schedule. It launched the "Dual Growth Plan" public welfare project for poor students and rural doctors. As of the end of 2024, the "Ten Thousand Students Assistance Plan" has assisted nearly 11,000 impoverished students in the "Three Regions and Three Prefectures (三区三州)"; the "Ten Thousand Village Doctors Capacity Improvement Plan" has trained 22,000 rural doctors, benefiting 22 million rural people.

2021

On April 8, 2021, the Sunshine Insurance Museum (阳光保险博物馆), which took eight years to build, officially opened in Sunshine Financial City (阳光金融城), with an exhibition area of over 3,000 square meters, more than 1,000 pictures and materials, and more than 500 historical collections.

2022

On December 9, 2022, Sunshine Insurance (阳光保险) was successfully listed on the Main Board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (香港交易所). Among the 239 insurance legal entities newly released by the National Financial Regulatory Administration (国家金融监督管理总局), Sunshine Insurance (阳光保险) is one of the 10 listed companies.

2023-2024

Sunshine Insurance (阳光保险) proposed and implemented the "New Sunshine Strategy (新阳光战略)," launched the "Three/Five/Seven" full life cycle protection plan, took the lead in holding the Insurance Technology Digital Intelligence Conference, initiated the establishment of the Industry Insurance Technology Digital Intelligence Innovation Consortium, and established Sunshine Digital Intelligence Technology Co., Ltd. (阳光数智科技有限责任公司), using one achievement after another to transform the "New Sunshine Strategy (新阳光战略)" plan into a realistic picture, and using one measure after another to actively serve the real economy and safeguard people's livelihood and well-being, focusing on doing a good job in the "five major articles" of finance.

2025

On July 28, 2025, Sunshine Insurance (阳光保险) will celebrate its 20th anniversary. Over the past 20 years, the company has adhered to the mentality of doing real industry while doing finance. While continuing to exert the function of insurance protection, it has contributed to society to the best of its ability, with a cumulative insurance claim payment of 390 billion yuan, tax payments exceeding 83 billion yuan, and providing risk protection of over 4 trillion yuan for the real economy. Based on a new starting point, Sunshine Insurance (阳光保险) will continue to anchor high-value growth, move towards a new stage of high-quality development, and continue to do a good job in the "five major articles" of finance with practical actions.

Data source: Sunshine Insurance (阳光保险)

Return to Top

This edition's editors: Zhang Ye, Jiang Meng, Ren Tongtong

Original Article Return to Top
Return to Top

Page 15版:体育

Resistance training is more than just "building muscle" (Fitness Perspectives · Service Station)

By: 本报记者 季 芳

Original Article Return to Top

Resistance exercise refers to active movements performed by overcoming resistance, mainly divided into two categories: bodyweight resistance and assisted resistance. Suitable training methods can be selected according to training goals and venue conditions. Resistance training is not just about "building muscle," but a way to optimize bodily functions from the inside out, and it is a training choice worth sticking to in the long term.

Benefits of Resistance Exercise

Zuo Hao (左浩), a coach at Beijing Zoyou Tongxing Comprehensive Fitness Club (北京佐佑同行综合体能俱乐部), introduced that resistance exercise has a significant effect on increasing muscle strength and improving overall athletic performance. As people age, the body's muscles gradually lose mass, and resistance exercise is an important way to effectively combat aging and maintain muscle mass.

In addition, resistance exercise also plays an important role in increasing basal metabolic rate. Muscle is a "high energy consumer," and an increase in muscle mass means that more calories can be automatically burned each day, thereby helping to control weight and lose fat in the long term.

Resistance exercise also has a positive impact on bone health. It can apply moderate pressure to the bones, stimulate osteoblast activity, and help prevent and improve osteoporosis. At the same time, resistance training can also shape a toned physique, making body lines clearer and more fit.

Before starting resistance exercise, adequate preparation can make training safer and more effective. First, a scientific and reasonable training plan should be developed based on one's own physical condition and exercise goals. For example, if the goal is to build muscle, you should choose heavy weights and fewer repetitions (8-12 repetitions per set); if it is to improve muscle endurance, you can use light weights and more repetitions (more than 15 repetitions per set). The training plan should be adjusted in a timely manner according to the body's adaptation.

Secondly, the warm-up before exercise is very important. Dynamic stretching for 5 to 10 minutes is usually required, such as high knee lifts, jumping jacks, etc., combined with small-weight pre-training of the target muscle groups to effectively prevent sports injuries.

What are the daily training options?

1. Bodyweight Resistance Exercise

This type of exercise uses one's own body weight as resistance and does not require additional equipment, making it suitable for performing at home or outdoors. Common movements include:

Push-ups: The pectoralis major, triceps, and shoulder muscles work together to push the body up from the ground, while relying on the core muscles to keep the body in a straight line. It is an important movement for exercising upper limb strength and core stability.

Pull-ups: Use the strength of the arms and back to pull the body up to a horizontal bar, mainly exercising the latissimus dorsi, biceps, and shoulder muscles. It is a classic movement for increasing back strength.

Plank: Keep the body in a straight line, relying only on the strength of the core muscles to maintain the posture. It can effectively exercise the abdominal and lower back muscles and improve core stability.

Sit-ups: Through the contraction of the abdominal muscles, the upper body is curled forward. It is a common movement for exercising the rectus abdominis and helps to increase abdominal strength.

Squats: Use the strength of the legs and buttocks to complete the action of squatting and standing up, mainly exercising the front and back of the thighs and the gluteus maximus. It is a basic movement for increasing lower limb strength.

2. Assisted Resistance Exercise

This type of exercise usually uses equipment or external resistance for training and is suitable for performing in a gym or an environment with relevant equipment. It mainly includes the following forms:

Dumbbell training: By holding dumbbells to perform movements such as curls and presses, multiple muscle groups such as the arms, chest, back, and shoulders can be flexibly exercised, which is suitable for improving strength and muscle endurance.

Barbell training: Using barbells to perform compound movements such as squats, deadlifts, and bench presses can comprehensively exercise large muscle groups throughout the body, such as the legs, back, and chest. It is an effective way to build muscle and increase strength.

Kettlebell training: Due to its unique shape and weight distribution, kettlebells are suitable for dynamic training such as swings and squats, which can effectively improve explosive power, coordination, and cardiorespiratory endurance.

Machine training: Equipment in the gym, such as leg extension machines and back rowing machines, can provide a stable range of motion, making it easy to accurately exercise specific muscle groups, which is suitable for beginners or target muscle group strengthening.

Resistance band training: Using the elasticity of resistance bands for training can simulate the effects of dumbbells and barbells, and also has the advantages of portability and flexibility, making it suitable for use at home or while traveling.

Sandbag training: By holding or carrying sandbags to perform swinging, pressing, and other movements, the challenge of training can be increased, strength and endurance can be improved, and the body's coordination can be enhanced.

What should you pay attention to during training?

Exercise should be regular and not excessive. Resistance exercise should pay attention to training frequency and intensity. Beginners can start with basic movements, feel the muscle exertion, and then adjust the plan according to the body's adaptation to avoid over fatigue. It is recommended that beginners practice 2-3 times a week, each training session targeting 1-2 large muscle groups (such as chest + shoulders, legs + core), with 60-90 seconds between each set of movements. As the ability improves, gradually increase the weight or reduce the rest time.

The movements should be standardized, and the standardization and safety of the movements are crucial. First-time practice should be carried out under the guidance of professionals. Adjust the breathing rhythm, control the strength, and avoid overtraining that leads to muscle strain.

Pay attention to gradual progress during exercise. You can start with bodyweight training such as push-ups, and then gradually increase the weight of dumbbells, barbells, etc. As strength increases, the resistance (weight, number of repetitions, number of sets, or difficulty) is gradually increased, which is the key to continuous progress. In addition, pay attention to nutritional supplements after training.

Return to Top

"Strive to be the best version of yourself"

By: 本报记者 陈晨曦

Original Article Return to Top

"Did I make it (to the finals)?" On the evening of July 27th, at the 2025 Singapore World Aquatics Championships women's 200m individual medley competition, 12-year-old Chinese swimmer Yu Zidi (于子迪) had just finished her semi-final and, not yet knowing her result, widened her eyes in the mixed zone, awaiting the answer.

"Yes!" Several reporters answered quickly in unison.

A fleeting smile of surprise flashed across Yu Zidi's (于子迪) face, and then she said in a calm tone: "I'm quite happy, I need to continue to work hard, and I hope to break through myself and perform to my true level."

In the women's 200m individual medley preliminary round held on the morning of the 27th, the fledgling Yu Zidi (于子迪) swam a time of 2 minutes 11.90 seconds, squeezing into the semi-finals. In the evening's semi-final, she increased her speed and finished seventh with a time of 2 minutes 10.22 seconds, advancing to the final.

At the Singapore World Aquatics Championships, people saw Yu Zidi's (于子迪) daring and 一往无前 (yī wǎng wú qián - "go forward without hesitation," to advance dauntlessly; to be resolute and determined). Outside the arena, she is a somewhat shy girl. "This is my first time participating in a world competition, and I feel very good. How should I put it? Very... I don't know how to say it, but it's very good." After finally finishing these words, Yu Zidi's (于子迪) face turned red.

However, this "little sister" who is just over 1.6 meters tall seems to contain enormous energy within her. After the semi-final, curious foreign reporters gathered around, asking their Chinese counterparts about her background.

Yu Zidi (于子迪), a girl from Baoding (保定), Hebei (河北) Province, entered the Hebei Provincial Swimming Team (河北省游泳队) in 2022 and quickly began to stand out after just one year. At the National Swimming Championships women's 200m butterfly final held this May, Yu Zidi (于子迪) won the championship with a time of 2 minutes 06.83 seconds, a time that would rank fourth at the Paris Olympics. Even more commendable is that Yu Zidi's (于子迪) four swimming strokes are very balanced, and she can also rank among the world's top athletes in the women's 200m individual medley and 400m individual medley events.

Yu Zidi's (于子迪) story with swimming began in the summer when she was six years old, when her father took her to a water park. After that, her swimming journey was not always smooth. In 2024, due to the pressure, she once thought about giving up. But when she saw "senior" Ye Shiwen (叶诗文) persevering in the pool, she was deeply shocked, "I suddenly understood why I swim."

In addition to the women's 200m individual medley final, Yu Zidi (于子迪) will also participate in the women's 200m butterfly preliminary round on July 30th and the women's 400m individual medley preliminary round on August 3rd, with strong opponents in each event. In the 200m individual medley final, Yu Zidi (于子迪) will face Canadian swimmer Summer McIntosh, who just won gold in the women's 400m freestyle event, as well as American star Alex Walsh, among others.

After a day of hard fighting, Yu Zidi (于子迪) already felt the intensity and cruelty of the world's top competitions. "They all swim so fast, I didn't expect to be able to enter the 200m individual medley final. There is definitely pressure, I will go all out in the final and try to be the best version of myself." When she said this, the little girl's eyes no longer dodged.

Return to Top

The Soon-to-be PhD Student on the Universiade Field

By: 本报记者 陶相安

Original Article Return to Top

In the 2025 Rhine-Ruhr World University Summer Games (hereinafter referred to as the "Universiade") women's basketball competition, the Chinese team defeated the American team to win the championship. Among them, player Liu Yutong (刘禹彤) attracted attention. At 2.01 meters tall, she always drew cheers whenever she broke through multiple defenders to complete wonderful goals. Off the court, she also has her own plans: "This September, I will become a doctoral student and start a new journey of study."

Born in 2001, Liu Yutong (刘禹彤) was once a star player in the domestic college basketball league. While studying at Beijing Normal University (北京师范大学), she repeatedly won the Chinese University Basketball League championship with her team. After moving from campus competitions to professional arenas, Liu Yutong (刘禹彤) felt that the challenges were even greater. "Whether it's defensive tactics or individual defensive abilities, there are many things I need to learn and improve," she said, adding that after being honed in professional teams, she can make judgments on the court more and more calmly.

In Liu Yutong's (刘禹彤) view, in addition to the experience in professional arenas, her learning experience has also helped her grow better. In the quarter-finals of this Universiade women's basketball tournament, facing the targeted defense of the Japanese team, Liu Yutong (刘禹彤) adjusted in time and eventually helped the team win the game.

"In the past, I might have been very anxious if I faced this situation," Liu Yutong (刘禹彤) said. "My major in graduate school is sports psychology, which helps me to face the ever-changing arena more calmly. In the process of pursuing my doctoral degree in the future, I will also work hard to keep up with training and maintain my competitive state."

Return to Top

Sunshine Insurance: Two Decades of Approaching Finance with an Industry Mindset

Original Article Return to Top

Welcoming its 20th anniversary milestone, Sunshine Insurance adheres to the vision of "building a respected century-old enterprise," sticks to its primary responsibilities and business, insists on doing finance with the mindset of doing real industry, continuously consolidates its professional value in serving the real economy, and firmly practices financial services for the people in helping to improve people's livelihood and well-being. Embarking on a new journey, Sunshine Insurance will continue to write a new chapter of high-value growth and high-quality development.

2005

On July 28, 2005, Sunshine Property & Casualty Insurance Co., Ltd. (阳光财产保险股份有限公司) (hereinafter referred to as "Sunshine P&C Insurance" (阳光财险)) was officially established, becoming the 79th insurance company in China's insurance industry.

2007

In June 2007, Sunshine Insurance Holding Co., Ltd. (阳光保险控股股份有限公司) was established; in July, Sunshine P&C Insurance achieved profitability in 23 months of operation; in December, Sunshine Life Insurance Co., Ltd. (阳光人寿保险股份有限公司) was officially established.

2008

In January 2008, Sunshine Insurance Holding Co., Ltd. (阳光保险控股股份有限公司) was renamed Sunshine Insurance Group Co., Ltd. (阳光保险集团股份有限公司) (hereinafter referred to as "Sunshine Insurance" (阳光保险)); in June, Sunshine Insurance aided in the construction of the first Sunshine Insurance Bo'ai School in Chenzhou (郴州市), Hunan Province (湖南省). To date, the number of Sunshine Insurance Bo'ai Schools has reached 77, covering 25 provinces, benefiting 29,000 teachers and students.

2009

In 2009, Sunshine P&C Insurance created the "Auto Insurance Life Table" mechanism, helping the industry's auto insurance to develop in a refined manner.

2010

In May 2010, Sunshine Insurance established the Sunshine Insurance Charity Foundation (阳光保险爱心基金会); Sunshine Insurance entered the list of China's Top 500 Enterprises for the first time and has remained on the list ever since; in August, Sunshine Insurance implemented the "Employee Parents Support Allowance Program." Any employee who has worked for 3 years and whose parents have reached the age of 60, the company will give the employee's parents a monthly allowance of 500 yuan. Currently, nearly 100,000 employees' parents enjoy this benefit.

2011

In 2011, Sunshine Insurance launched the "Flash Claim" service standard for auto insurance, shortening the claim settlement cycle to as fast as 3.67 hours, helping to accelerate and improve the efficiency of the industry's claim settlement services.

2012-2015

In December 2012, Sunshine Asset Management Co., Ltd. (阳光资产管理股份有限公司) was established; Sunshine Insurance's tax payment exceeded 10 billion yuan; Sunshine Financial City (阳光金融城) opened in Tongzhou District (通州区), Beijing (北京市), contributing corporate strength to the economic development of the Beijing Municipal Administrative Center (北京城市副中心) in the future.

2015

On July 28, 2015, Sunshine Insurance celebrated its tenth anniversary. Sunshine Insurance adheres to the concept of "people entering one by one, institutions built one by one, and premiums collected cent by cent," deeply cultivates the main insurance business, focuses on value development, and steadily promotes the company to become a backbone force in the insurance industry.

2015-2017

Sunshine Insurance launched a technological development strategy for the insurance industry, proposing the Sunshine Technology development goal of "one machine and a group of customers," accelerating the transformation to mobile, digital, and intelligent development.

2018-2020

Sunshine Insurance actively responded to the call, fully served the poverty alleviation effort, and launched the assistance program for Longquan Village (龙泉村), Antu County (安图县), Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture (延边朝鲜族自治州), Jilin Province (吉林省). It carried out a "package" of assistance measures in Longquan Village, including industrial assistance, insurance donations, consumption poverty alleviation, education support, and rural infrastructure construction, helping Longquan Village to achieve poverty alleviation one year ahead of schedule. It launched the "Dual Growth Program" public welfare project for poor students and rural doctors. As of the end of 2024, the "Ten Thousand Students Assistance Program" has assisted nearly 11,000 poor students in the "Three Regions and Three Prefectures" (三区三州); the "Ten Thousand Village Doctors Capacity Improvement Program" has trained 22,000 rural doctors, benefiting 22 million rural people.

2021

On April 8, 2021, the Sunshine Insurance Museum (阳光保险博物馆), which took 8 years to build, officially opened in Sunshine Financial City (阳光金融城), with an exhibition area of more than 3,000 square meters, more than 1,000 pictures and materials, and more than 500 historical collections.

2022

On December 9, 2022, Sunshine Insurance was successfully listed on the Main Board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (香港交易所). Among the 239 insurance legal entities newly released by the National Financial Regulatory Administration (国家金融监督管理总局), Sunshine Insurance is one of the 10 listed companies.

2023-2024

Sunshine Insurance proposed and implemented the "New Sunshine Strategy," launched the "Three/Five/Seven" full life cycle protection plan, took the lead in holding the Insurance Technology Digital Intelligence Conference, initiated the establishment of the Industry Insurance Technology Digital Intelligence Innovation Consortium, and established Sunshine Digital Intelligence Technology Co., Ltd. (阳光数智科技有限责任公司), using one achievement after another to transform the "New Sunshine Strategy" plan into a realistic picture, and using one measure after another to actively serve the real economy and safeguard people's livelihood and well-being, focusing on doing a good job in the "five major articles" of finance.

2025

On July 28, 2025, Sunshine Insurance will celebrate its 20th anniversary. Over the past 20 years, the company has adhered to the mindset of doing real industry while doing finance. While continuing to exert the function of insurance protection, it has made the greatest efforts to contribute to society, with a cumulative insurance claim payment of 390 billion yuan, tax payment of more than 83 billion yuan, and risk protection of more than 4 trillion yuan for the real economy. Standing at a new starting point, Sunshine Insurance will continue to anchor high-value growth, move towards a new stage of high-quality development, and continue to do a good job in the "five major articles" of finance with practical actions.

Data source: Sunshine Insurance (阳光保险)

Return to Top

Editor in Charge for This Section: Lin Lin, Tang Tianyi, Wang Bo

Original Article Return to Top

Layout Design: Wang Zheping (汪哲平)

Return to Top

Page 16版:国际

China-Europe Cooperation on New Energy Vehicles Continues to Deepen (International Perspective)

By: 本报记者 刘 赫

Original Article Return to Top

Thirteen years ago, the BBC's well-known automotive program "Top Gear" commented that Chinese cars "lack independent technology and have no hope." In 2025, when it re-evaluated Chinese cars, host Tom Ford exclaimed that Chinese new energy vehicles are "well-performing, well-made, and fully equipped," and "'Made in China' is completely different."

It takes ten years to forge a sword. This "different" stems from the continuous improvement of innovation capabilities and quality control of Chinese automobiles. According to the latest data released by the European automotive market analysis agency Dataforce, in the first quarter of this year, sales of Chinese car brands in European countries increased by 78% year-on-year. Data from the European Automobile Manufacturers Association shows that China is the EU's third-largest automotive export market, after the UK and the US. As two of the world's most important automotive markets, China and Europe are using technological cooperation as a link and green production capacity as an engine to learn from each other and achieve mutual benefit and win-win results in the electrification and intelligent transformation of the automotive industry.

From "trying something new" to "trust"—

Chinese new energy vehicle sales continue to rise in Europe.

On the morning of July 15, at the Shanghai Haitong International Automotive Terminal, the first batch of 300 SAIC Maxus pure electric logistics vehicles purchased in bulk by Deutsche Post DHL Group officially set off for Europe.

Why choose a Chinese brand? At the beginning of 2022, the SAIC Commercial Vehicle Europe team observed that Deutsche Post DHL Group was accelerating the transformation of its fleet to electrification, and the two teams began to contact each other. In 2024, the first 50 SAIC EV30s put into trial operation took to the streets of Germany and were put into the logistics and distribution network. With a city driving range of over 400 kilometers and the ability to charge to 80% in 30 minutes, the battery can be used normally from minus 30 degrees Celsius to plus 50 degrees Celsius. SAIC Maxus has won customers with quality.

"More and more European companies have shifted from 'trying something new' to 'trusting' Chinese new energy vehicles," said Ai Ruoxin, head of global freight at Deutsche Post DHL Group. By 2030, Deutsche Post DHL Group plans to increase the use of new energy vehicles for "last mile" logistics distribution to more than 66%. "To achieve this strategic goal, we cannot do without the support of Chinese automobiles," Ai Ruoxin said, full of expectations for future cooperation.

Nowadays, the probability of seeing Chinese cars on the streets of Europe is greater. Since the beginning of this year, sales of Chinese new energy vehicles in Europe have continued to rise. According to data from Junt Business Consulting, sales of Chinese new energy vehicles in the European market in April were approximately 15,300 units, an increase of 59% year-on-year.

As the birthplace of automobiles, the European automotive market has long been occupied by many experienced brands. A new brand needs to overcome many "preconceived notions" to grow here. Michiel van Ratingen, Secretary General of the European New Car Assessment Program, said that the achievements of Chinese car companies in Europe are directly related to their progress in technological innovation, safety assurance, green environmental protection, and quality improvement. Mike Hawes, Chief Executive Officer of the British Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, believes that more Chinese car brands entering the European market is good for both consumers and the automotive industry. Healthy competition not only reduces the price of electric vehicles, but also promotes industry innovation.

From "product going overseas" to "ecosystem going overseas"—

One-stop service network better meets consumer needs.

Recently, Changan Automobile's (长安汽车) first flagship store in Europe officially started operations in Drammen, Norway. Data released by the Norwegian Road Federation shows that in 2024, new energy vehicles accounted for as high as 88.9% of newly registered vehicles in Norway. The day before Changan Automobile held its launch conference, Henriette, a local resident, passed by the store and took a fancy to a white Deep Blue S07 (深蓝S07). She placed an order on the spot and became the first "Deep Blue" car owner in Europe. "The feeling of picking up a new car is great!" said Henriette.

In addition to the Norwegian market, Changan Automobile has also established three regional operation centers in Munich, Germany, Amsterdam, Netherlands, and Birmingham, UK. Nick Thomas, Regional Marketing Director of Changan Automobile Europe, told reporters that the company cooperates with local leading dealers to achieve "zero time difference" between new car launches and store openings. At the same time, it has joined forces with European logistics companies and insurance service providers to build a one-stop service network for warehousing, after-sales, and insurance, "not simply exporting products, but providing systematic services."

On the banks of the Danube, in the eleventh district of Budapest (布达佩斯), the capital of Hungary, there is a comprehensive park covering an area of 32,000 square meters, which is the location of BYD's (比亚迪) European headquarters. According to the company, the European headquarters undertakes three core functions: sales and after-sales, vehicle certification and testing, and localized vehicle design and function development. It will create thousands of jobs for the local area and carry out joint scientific research with Hungarian universities to promote the upgrading of the new energy vehicle industry. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán (欧尔班) said at the completion ceremony of BYD's European headquarters that BYD brings not only manufacturing capabilities, but also research and development innovation capabilities, marking a new stage in Chinese companies' investment. Hungary and China will work together to incubate more cutting-edge technologies.

With 28 years of experience in the automotive industry, Joseph Lascoi has worked for nearly 8 years at BYD's electric bus and truck factory in Komárom, Hungary. "I chose to come here because I wanted to do something challenging." The BYD's first European electric vehicle factory recently announced that it will add 29,000 square meters of intelligent production area, deeply integrating digital, intelligent, and green manufacturing technologies to meet the growing urgent demand for zero-emission public transportation in the European market.

As a sales partner of BYD, Schiller Mark, Strategy and Marketing Director of the Hungarian car dealer Schiller Company, said that BYD's brand awareness in Hungary is constantly improving, and the company has decided to shift from selling traditional European brands to mainly selling BYD's innovative models.

From a single "product going overseas" to a systematic "ecosystem going overseas," the reputation of Chinese new energy vehicles is built on one car after another running on the streets. The continuous deepening of China-Europe new energy vehicle cooperation is a microcosm of the accelerated restructuring of the global automotive industry.

From "complementary advantages" to "joint innovation and research"—

The whole-chain partnership achieves mutual benefit and win-win results.

The transformation and upgrading of the automotive industry cannot be achieved without the concerted efforts of the entire chain. A set of power batteries and a set of intelligent equipment connect not only the space for industrial development, but also the space for industrial cooperation and innovation between China and Europe.

The "Battery Valley" in the Hauts-de-France region of northern France stretches from Dunkirk in the north to Douai in the south, a total length of about 100 kilometers. In Luitz, in the middle of the "Battery Valley," two battery box production lines jointly invested by China's Minth Group (敏实集团) and France's Renault Group have started production. Jean-Luc Bois, manager of the Renault Luitz plant, introduced that the production line was installed in less than 3 months, and the Sino-French joint venture is stepping up the production of battery boxes for Renault's new electric vehicles. "Chinese companies have achieved real leading advantages in battery technology and electric vehicles. We sincerely hope to establish partnerships with Chinese companies and benefit from advanced technologies," said Yann Pitollet, CEO of the Northern France Investment Promotion Agency.

There are many similar cooperation cases. CATL (宁德时代) has cooperated with a number of European car companies to build battery factories in Germany, Hungary, and Spain; Leapmotor (零跑汽车) and European car manufacturer Stellantis announced a cooperation plan to produce pure electric vehicles at the Mirafiori plant in Italy; Gotion High-tech (国轩高科) has joined hands with a Slovak company to jointly build a power battery factory in Šurany, which is regarded as the second largest foreign investment project in Slovak history.

In the Chinese market, Volkswagen Group has jointly developed a new generation of electronic and electrical architecture with XPeng Motors (小鹏汽车), and established a joint venture with Horizon Robotics (地平线), creating an in-depth cooperation model of "technology licensing + joint venture entity"; Audi cooperates with Huawei to equip the Audi A5L series models with digital functions exclusive to the Chinese market; BMW cooperates with CATL and other companies to develop electric vehicle batteries, and also jointly explores cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence and solid-state batteries with Tsinghua University (清华大学) and other universities.

Recently, the super-sensory intelligent cockpit led by the BMW Shanghai R&D team made its debut in Asia. It is understood that this new technology will be mass-produced by the end of this year and sent to European factories. Oliver Zipse (齐普策), Chairman of the BMW Group, said: "We have established the largest R&D center outside of Germany in China, with more than 3,000 engineers focusing on the research and development of autonomous driving technology and digital user interfaces, and working with many local partners to integrate cutting-edge artificial intelligence technology into automotive products."

The International Energy Agency estimates that the global new energy vehicle gap will reach 27 million vehicles by 2030. Industry insiders believe that China-Europe new energy vehicle industry cooperation will help fill the world's "green gap." In the era of new energy vehicles, Chinese and European car companies have already taken action to achieve mutual benefit and win-win results through open cooperation. Ferdinand Dudenhöffer, a well-known German automotive economics expert, said that international cooperation has always been the key to the development of the automotive industry, and strengthening automotive industry cooperation between Europe and China will pave a "golden road" for industrial development.

(Reported by this newspaper from Berlin on July 27)

Return to Top

Kuala Lumpur Launches "Equal and Inclusive Green City" Initiative

By: 本报记者 刘 慧

Original Article Return to Top

The Malaysian government recently announced the launch of the "2040 Kuala Lumpur Local Plan" (《2040年吉隆坡地方蓝图》), striving to build Kuala Lumpur into an "equal and inclusive green city." The "Plan" covers approximately 190 specific measures, focusing on urban sustainable development, and is referred to by local media as an "important guide for Kuala Lumpur's urban development in the next 15 years."

The "Plan" proposes 12 development principles, including land suitability, infrastructure carrying capacity, and the coordination of public utilities and the environment. Among them, the construction of a more convenient public transportation system is considered an "important support for the future development of Kuala Lumpur." Kuala Lumpur will be committed to building an efficient, low-carbon public transportation system throughout the city, enabling people to reach all parts of the city by public transportation within a 400-meter walk. Currently, new subway lines and other infrastructure projects are in the planning and construction phase. The Kuala Lumpur government will also take incentive measures to increase the population density near transportation hubs such as subway and light rail. The goal set by the "Plan" is that by 2040, 70% of Kuala Lumpur residents will use public transportation in their daily lives.

In terms of urban architectural planning, the "Plan" pays special attention to the needs of low- and middle-income people. Kuala Lumpur plans to build 305,000 affordable homes by 2040 and renovate old residential areas to alleviate the problem of insufficient affordable housing supply. The Kuala Lumpur government will also manage and develop land in a sustainable manner, including old area renovation, protection of historical buildings, and strengthening suburban development. Currently, 139 areas with reconstruction potential have been identified.

In terms of spatial planning, the "Plan" sets a target of no less than 20 square meters of urban open space per capita, which is equivalent to ensuring more than 4,700 hectares of green space. A 254-kilometer-long green corridor network will connect multiple community parks in Kuala Lumpur, encouraging people to adopt healthy and active lifestyles. Currently, Kuala Lumpur, which has a large labor force, is also gradually entering an aging society. At the same time, the population aged 20 to 29 maintains the largest proportion. Future urban planning will pay more attention to the well-being and basic service provision of the elderly and youth groups, including strengthening elderly care, health care and barrier-free public facilities construction, and improving education levels.

Faced with increasingly severe environmental problems, the Kuala Lumpur government has proposed to enhance resilience to climate change by implementing climate change adaptation plans, disaster management, renewable energy promotion, integrated waste management, and the construction of high-performance buildings, and plans to build a climate-smart/low-carbon city in 2040.

The Mayor of Kuala Lumpur, Maimunah Mohd Sharif (迈穆娜·穆赫德·谢里夫), said that the formulation of the "Plan" is not only to solve the current problems facing urban development, but also to ensure that the city can cope with challenges such as traffic congestion, insufficient greening, and inadequate public facilities. "This is more of an action plan." Maimunah (迈穆娜) said that the "Plan" aims to build Kuala Lumpur into a livable and trustworthy investment destination to achieve the development vision of a "city for all."

Return to Top

Guangxi's trade with ASEAN grew by double digits in the first half of the year.

Original Article Return to Top

Nanning, July 27th (People's Daily reporter Pang Geping (庞革平)) - The reporter learned from Nanning Customs (南宁海关) that in the first half of this year, Guangxi's (广西) foreign trade import and export reached 387.15 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 13%, which is 10.1 percentage points higher than the national foreign trade growth rate. Among them, Guangxi's (广西) import and export to ASEAN exceeded 200 billion yuan, showing double-digit growth.

According to Nanning Customs (南宁海关) statistics, in the first half of this year, Guangxi's (广西) import and export to ASEAN was 206.08 billion yuan, an increase of 11.9%, accounting for 53.2% of Guangxi's (广西) total foreign trade in the same period. Among them, import and export to Vietnam (越南) was 149.88 billion yuan, an increase of 4.3%.

The vigorous development of emerging business forms is one of the highlights of Guangxi's (广西) import and export trade with ASEAN countries. In the first half of the year, Guangxi's (广西) cross-border e-commerce platform import and export reached 25.76 billion yuan, an increase of 145.9%, most of which were export businesses, mainly sold to ASEAN countries such as Thailand (泰国) and Vietnam (越南).

Return to Top

Cuban Prime Minister: Cuba will not yield to hostile US policies

Original Article Return to Top

According to Xinhua News Agency, Ciego de Ávila, Cuba, July 26 (Reporter Jiang Biao (蒋彪)) – Cuban Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz (马雷罗) emphasized at the "July 26th National Rebellion Day" commemoration on the 26th that Cuba will not succumb to the hostile policies of the United States, will overcome numerous difficulties, and will defend national dignity at all costs.

On the same day, Cuba held an event in the central city of Ciego de Ávila (谢戈德阿维拉) to commemorate "July 26th National Rebellion Day." At the event, approximately 10,000 Cuban people held national flags and the symbolic black and red flag of the "July 26th Movement," chanting patriotic slogans. Cuban revolutionary leader Raúl Castro (劳尔·卡斯特罗), President Miguel Díaz-Canel (迪亚斯—卡内尔), and others attended the event.

In his speech, Marrero criticized the U.S. government for its long-standing hostile policies towards Cuba, constructing a cruel blockade system comparable to a "wartime siege," attempting to economically strangle Cuba and incite despair and discontent among the people. Marrero said that although Cuba is currently facing unprecedented challenges, the Cuban people are still as strong and optimistic as they were during the revolutionary era, and firmly believe that victory will eventually come. "Cuba will not surrender, will not succumb, and will never kneel to anyone."

Marrero also stated that 2026 has special significance for Cuba, as it will commemorate the 100th anniversary of the birth of the late Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro (菲德尔·卡斯特罗) and convene the Ninth National Congress of the Communist Party of Cuba. The conference will focus on discussing how to improve Cuba's production capacity.

On July 26, 1953, Fidel Castro (菲德尔·卡斯特罗) led more than 100 young people to attack the Moncada Barracks (蒙卡达兵营), the second largest military fortress of the then-Cuban Batista (巴蒂斯塔) dictatorship, launching the first shot of the Cuban Revolution to overthrow the pro-American dictatorship. Although the uprising ended in failure, the Cuban people had been awakened. "July 26th National Rebellion Day" has therefore become one of Cuba's most important commemorative days.

Return to Top

Severe Wildfires Erupt in Multiple Regions of Greece, Firefighting Resources Strained

Original Article Return to Top

According to Xinhua News Agency, Athens, July 27th (Reporter Chen Gang (陈刚)) According to local media reports, affected by the heatwave, fierce wildfires broke out in many parts of Greece on the 26th, leading to a shortage of firefighting forces.

The report said that this was the most serious day of wildfires in Greece since the outbreak this week. On the 26th, fierce wildfires broke out on the southern islands of Greece, the Peloponnese region, and the East Attica region north of the capital Athens (雅典). Among them, the fire in Drosopigi in the East Attica region was the most serious, and once spread to residential areas. Strong gusts of wind exacerbated the difficulty of extinguishing the fire, and the fire once approached the central square of Krioneri city in the southeast direction of Drosopigi, with multiple houses on fire and cars destroyed.

Due to the shortage of firefighting forces, the Greek government has requested assistance from the EU Civil Protection Mechanism.

Greece and other Mediterranean coastal countries have been continuously hit by heatwaves since the beginning of this week. Data from the National Observatory of Athens (希腊国家天文台) showed that the heatwave caused temperatures in many parts of Greece to exceed 42 degrees Celsius, and Scala in the Messinia region of the Peloponnese set a high temperature record of 45.8 degrees Celsius.

Return to Top

Netherlands returns looted artifacts to Nigeria

By: 本报记者 徐 馨

Original Article Return to Top

The Netherlands recently officially returned 119 Benin Bronzes to Nigeria, including portraits, animal statues, and royal emblems. These cultural relics were looted by British troops in 1897 and later appeared in auction houses, subsequently flowing into museums, private collectors, and other places. Among these 119 bronzes, 113 were returned by the National Museum of World Cultures, Leiden (荷兰莱顿世界博物馆), and 6 were returned by the Municipality of Rotterdam (鹿特丹市政府).

At the handover ceremony held at the National Museum, Lagos (拉各斯国家博物馆), Nigeria, Hannatu Musawa (汉娜图·穆萨瓦), Nigeria's Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, said: "These bronzes emphasize the importance of heritage protection and cultural promotion for our national cultural identity. As a country rich in diversity and historical heritage, Nigeria's cultural heritage is both a beacon of our pride and the cornerstone of the creative economy."

The Benin Bronzes were created by the Edo people starting in the 13th century, mostly using the lost-wax casting method. This metallurgical process can express precise and complex details and geometric textures, and is an important historical and cultural treasure. Among the cultural relics returning to their homeland this time, a bronze commemorative head of the Kingdom of Benin (贝宁王国), an ivory carving showing a narrative scene, and two animal-shaped objects will be exhibited and permanently preserved at the National Museum, Lagos (拉各斯国家博物馆). The remaining cultural relics, such as bells and emblems used in court ceremonies, are planned to be exhibited at the National Museum, Lagos (拉各斯国家博物馆) and the Edo Museum of West African Art (埃多西非艺术博物馆) in Benin City (贝宁城).

Eppo Bruins (埃波·布鲁因斯), the Dutch Minister for Education, Culture and Science, said: "Cultural heritage is essential for telling and passing on the history of a country and a community. The Benin Bronzes are indispensable to Nigeria, and it is a good thing to return them to their original owners. The return of cultural relics helps to correct the historical injustices that still exist today."

In order to promote the improvement of cultural relic return policies, the Dutch government established an independent advisory body - the "Advisory Committee on the Return of Cultural Objects from the Colonial Period" (殖民时期文物归还咨询委员会). Its main task is to assess and advise on how to handle requests for the return of cultural property looted or illegally obtained during the colonial period. Its purpose is "to unconditionally return cultural relics that were taken away by involuntary means during the Dutch colonial rule." In 2022, the Dutch government officially adopted a relevant policy framework and carried out cultural relic return negotiations with Nigeria, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and other countries.

In February of this year, the Netherlands and Nigeria signed the cultural relic return agreement in Leiden (莱顿), the Netherlands. Marieke van Bommel (玛丽克·博内尔), director of the National Museum of World Cultures, Leiden (荷兰莱顿世界博物馆), said: "This return is not only about the return of specific objects, but also about connection and efforts for a common future." According to van Bommel, the Dutch cultural relic return policy emphasizes the concept of "cooperation first," that is, not regarding the return of cultural relics as the "end point," but as the starting point for future continuous cooperation. To this end, the Netherlands and Nigeria jointly held a digital heritage expert seminar, bringing together experts from the two countries and West Africa to jointly explore how to digitally preserve the Benin Bronzes and the development strategies of online cultural relic display platforms.

Return to Top

This page editors: Zou Zhipeng, Zhao Yipu, Chu Jun

Original Article Return to Top
Return to Top

Page 17版:国际

Decoding the Secrets of China's Steady Economic Growth (Authoritative Forum)

Original Article Return to Top

In the first half of 2025, China's economy withstood pressure and maintained stable growth, maintaining a development trend of stability with progress and stability with improvement. This was achieved against the backdrop of drastic changes in the international situation and significantly increased external pressure since the second quarter, fully demonstrating the resilience and strong tenacity of the Chinese economy. Recently, international investment banks such as Deutsche Bank, Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, and Barclays have successively raised their forecasts for China's economic growth this year. We invited four foreign experts and scholars to interpret the secret to China's stable economic growth.

Promoting Global Green Transition

Marco Aurelio D’Eça de Mendoça

In the fight against climate change, which concerns the survival of mankind, the world needs China's concept and solutions for green and low-carbon development.

China is an important force in promoting the green transformation of global production methods. Whether it was during the first BRICS Think Tank International Seminar in Beijing (北京), or at the international seminar on global green development held in Anji County (安吉县), Huzhou (湖州), Zhejiang (浙江), my repeated trips to China have allowed me to understand China's determination in protecting the environment and promoting green development.

I have seen China's great efforts to improve the ecological environment, and I have also seen China's great achievements in green development. Taking Huzhou (湖州), Zhejiang (浙江) as an example, as one of China's first pilot zones for green finance reform and innovation, Huzhou (湖州) has introduced a series of incentive measures, including providing loan interest subsidies to enterprises that meet the schedule of transformation goals, and providing rewards for loans that meet the requirements of carbon emission reduction support tools. It has also promulgated local regulations such as the "Huzhou (湖州市) Green Finance Promotion Regulations" to play a guiding role in deepening green finance reform and innovation. These incentive measures have brought significant results. Huzhou's (湖州市) green credit has grown at an average annual rate of 41%, and the balance of green credit accounts for more than 33% of all loans.

From an economic point of view, green development has a positive impact on economic resilience and long-term growth potential. On the one hand, the green economy stimulates the development of industries such as renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and sustainable construction, reducing dependence on carbon-intensive industries; on the other hand, investing in green infrastructure will reduce a country's vulnerability to extreme weather events. In addition, green development encourages research and development of new technologies and more efficient production processes, bringing about sustainable improvements in productivity, which has a more significant long-term impact on economic growth.

In recent years, China has made significant achievements in green development, making remarkable progress in green technology fields such as wind power, photovoltaics, carbon capture systems, energy storage systems, green hydrogen, and electric vehicles, and is in a leading position worldwide. Not long ago, the first vehicle rolled off the production line at the BYD (比亚迪) passenger car factory in Brazil, and Chinese brand electric vehicles are becoming more and more common on the streets of Brazil. In 2024, China's exports of new energy vehicles exceeded 2 million for the first time. In the first half of 2025, the output of China's new energy vehicles and lithium-ion power battery products for automobiles increased by 36.2% and 53.3% year-on-year, respectively, and the green industry maintained a high growth rate.

Brazil and China have highly aligned agendas in green development, and cooperation with China has become one of the important driving forces for Brazil's economic development. Brazil has unique clean energy resources and a long history in the use of biofuels, while China is a world leader in innovative technologies in power transportation and sustainable development of oil and gas resources. Key minerals are of strategic significance to the global energy transition and the development of new energy industries. China has significant advantages in the smelting and processing of key minerals, and Brazil has abundant mineral resources and hopes to improve its processing capabilities, create employment opportunities and development opportunities. Adhering to the concept of mutual benefit and win-win results, cooperation between the two countries will help the long-term economic growth of both sides.

At the end of this year, the 30th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change will be held in Belém (贝伦), Brazil, where parties will discuss how to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate change. In the fight against climate change, which concerns the survival of mankind, the world needs China's concept and solutions for green and low-carbon development. I look forward to working with China to create a more prosperous green future.

(The author is a senior researcher at the Institute for Applied Economic Research of Brazil)

A Hot Spot for Foreign Investment

Bernard Dewit

China welcomes foreign investment, needs foreign investment, and highly values the role of foreign investment in economic and social development.

Against the backdrop of continued intensification of global economic uncertainty, China has demonstrated strong development resilience and attractiveness, becoming an important hot spot for foreign investment. China's broad market space, continuously deepening reform and opening-up measures, and strategic direction of high-quality development provide tangible development opportunities for multinational companies that are ambitious and enterprising.

China's continuous optimization of the business environment and promotion of high-quality development and high-level opening-up are of great significance to multinational companies. The Central Economic Work Conference in December last year clearly proposed deepening the reform of the foreign investment promotion system and mechanism, and continuing to build the "Invest in China" brand. These measures reflect China's determination to expand its opening up to the outside world. In order to stabilize foreign investment expectations and improve investment convenience, governments at all levels in China are constantly optimizing the business environment. From simplifying approval procedures and strengthening intellectual property protection to promoting the improvement and expansion of free trade pilot zones, a series of measures reflect China's high regard for the role played by multinational companies in promoting technological progress, industrial upgrading and employment promotion. In many key areas such as finance, education, and healthcare, the threshold for foreign investment access continues to be lowered, and multinational companies are increasingly deeply integrated into China's new development pattern. In the first half of 2025, the import and export volume of foreign-invested enterprises in China was 6.32 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 2.4%, maintaining growth for five consecutive quarters; the number of foreign-invested enterprises with import and export performance reached 75,000, a record high since 2021.

As China's new round of high-level opening-up continues to advance, Belgian companies' advantages in medical health, biopharmaceuticals, advanced manufacturing, green energy, food processing, and logistics are becoming increasingly apparent, which is highly consistent with China's policies of promoting economic green transformation, digital empowerment, and consumption upgrading. Taking the silver economy as an example, the Chinese market's demand for high-quality medical services and smart health solutions continues to increase, and there is huge room for cooperation between Belgium and China in biotechnology, medical equipment, and professional nursing. In addition, technological innovation and joint research and development are becoming new engines for Sino-European cooperation. China's rapid development in artificial intelligence, new energy vehicles, and renewable energy provides more opportunities for both sides in joint research and development, technology sharing, and joint investment.

It should be noted that some European companies operating in China still face some practical challenges, especially in industries such as technology, pharmaceuticals, and finance, where it still takes time to become familiar with and adapt to the regulatory system. Some multinational companies still face operational difficulties in terms of equity structure and license approval. A more mature, transparent, and predictable market system will inject more confidence into Sino-European economic and trade cooperation.

China welcomes foreign investment, needs foreign investment, and highly values the role of foreign investment in economic and social development. With the continuous introduction of China's new round of high-level opening-up measures, multinational companies will usher in broader development space in the future, and China's high-quality economic development will bring more new opportunities to all countries.

(The author is the Chairman of the Belgian-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and a senior partner at Dewit Law Firm)

Technological Innovation Reshapes Core Competitiveness

Jeremy Stevens

"Technology-driven" and "innovation-driven" have become new growth models for the Chinese economy. China's cultivation and development of new quality productive forces bring significant spillover effects.

For more than 10 years, my research has focused on the Chinese economy and the interaction between Africa and China in the fields of economy, trade, and investment. I advise African policymakers on the performance of the Chinese economy and introduce opportunities in the African market to Chinese companies.

In the past two years, "new quality productive forces" has become a key word for observing the Chinese economy. New energy, artificial intelligence, unmanned driving, aerospace... China's breakthroughs in a series of cutting-edge fields show that technological innovation is reshaping the core competitiveness of the Chinese economy.

Research shows that the gap in innovation capabilities between China and the United States and the European Union is gradually narrowing. This is due to China's continued increase in R&D investment, vigorous training of R&D talents, and cultivation of specialized industrial clusters, which provide favorable conditions for the transformation of innovative achievements. In 2024, China's total social R&D expenditure exceeded 3.6 trillion yuan, ranking second in the world. Among them, more than 77% of R&D investment comes from enterprises, and enterprises have become an important force in promoting innovation. China has the world's largest R&D personnel team. In the fields of artificial intelligence, new materials, and equipment manufacturing, a large number of innovative enterprises have emerged, helping China become a global innovation center.

China's cultivation and development of new quality productive forces bring significant spillover effects. Thanks to the technological advantages brought about by innovation, China has become a global leader in the field of new energy. Taking the photovoltaic industry as an example, in the first five months of this year, China added 196 million kilowatts of new photovoltaic installed capacity, and the total photovoltaic installed capacity has now exceeded 1 billion kilowatts. While building a clean energy system, China has also cultivated a photovoltaic industry chain with international competitiveness. From equipment manufacturing to technology research and development, to power station construction and operation, China's photovoltaic industry shows a trend of scale, specialization, and clustering, which is a successful example of innovation-driven development.

"Technology-driven" and "innovation-driven" have become new growth models for the Chinese economy. China is increasing investment in emerging fields, and the development of these fields not only provides people with higher-quality products and services, but also has a positive guiding effect on other fields, creating more domestic demand. China promotes large-scale equipment upgrades, uses big data, artificial intelligence and other technologies and automated production lines to automate and intelligently transform traditional manufacturing industries, and has achieved positive results. In the first half of 2025, the added value of China's high-tech manufacturing industry increased by 9.5%, and the output of 3D printing equipment and industrial robots increased by 43.1% and 35.6% year-on-year, respectively.

Of course, the transformation of the economic growth model requires adaptation and adjustment of the labor market. Automation and intelligence put higher demands on the quality of workers. China should take industrial transformation and upgrading as an opportunity to create more employment opportunities. At the same time, the whole society should increase investment in workers' skills to help workers adapt to the innovation-driven growth model.

The development of China's new quality productive forces also brings new opportunities for Sino-African cooperation. Currently, the African continent is promoting the green energy transition, but it faces technical difficulties and funding gaps. In 2024, about 47% of China's exported photovoltaic modules flowed to countries in the Global South, a record high. Thanks to the competitive advantages brought about by innovation, Chinese new energy companies provide Africa with lower-cost and more reliable energy solutions, helping local sustainable development. African countries look forward to carrying out more cooperation with China in knowledge sharing and technology transfer.

(The author is an Asian economist at Standard Bank Group of South Africa)

Continuing to Expand High-Level Opening Up to the Outside World

Cai Weicai

By expanding high-level opening up to the outside world, China deeply participates in the global industrial division of labor and cooperation, and tightens economic and trade ties with other countries.

In recent years, China has taken various measures to expand its opening up to the outside world and encourage foreign investment. At the level of the legal system, the Foreign Investment Law and its implementation regulations show transparency and inclusiveness in attracting foreign investment, strengthen the protection of foreign investment intellectual property rights and commercial technical secrets, and greatly enhance the attractiveness of the Chinese market to foreign investment. In the financial field, China has completely removed the restrictions on the proportion of foreign ownership in the fields of banking, securities, fund management, futures, and life insurance, and the threshold for foreign investment in China's financial industry has been greatly reduced.

On July 20, the 3rd China International Supply Chain Promotion Expo closed in Beijing (北京). 651 Chinese and foreign companies and institutions participated in the exhibition, and the proportion of overseas exhibitors increased to 35%. Against the backdrop of the difficult recovery of the global economy, as the world's second largest economy, China holds important exhibitions such as the China International Import Expo (进博会), the China International Fair for Trade in Services (服贸会), the Canton Fair (广交会), and the China International Supply Chain Expo (链博会), opening the market door to merchants from all over the world. Through these exhibition platforms, companies from various countries have obtained more market information and continue to expand business opportunities, which helps the global economic recovery.

China continues to improve its investment attraction policies and continues to provide a better business environment for foreign-invested enterprises. As a senior banking practitioner, I have noticed that China's financial market is constantly expanding its opening up to foreign investment, which provides huge business opportunities for foreign financial and insurance companies. The latest data shows that the total assets of foreign banks and insurance institutions in China exceed 7 trillion yuan, and the derivative business of foreign banks accounts for nearly 20% of the domestic market in China. In recent years, the Chinese government has actively improved the efficiency and convenience of cross-border financial services, vigorously promoted the development of cross-border remittance payment and RMB settlement and other businesses, and continued to deepen the interconnection between domestic and foreign financial markets, enabling more domestic investors to participate in international financial market investment, and allowing more compliant overseas investors to participate in fund securities options trading in China.

By expanding high-level opening up to the outside world, China deeply participates in the global industrial division of labor and cooperation, and tightens economic and trade ties with other countries, forming a virtuous circle of high-tech investment, research and development, and industrialization. Taking Thailand as an example, in recent years, Chinese companies' investment in Thailand has been more concentrated in advanced manufacturing, new energy, and information communication, including electric vehicles, 5G, e-commerce, renewable energy, and drones. These investments are very much in line with Thailand's industrial development direction and have played a positive role in Thailand's industrial upgrading.

Recent data shows that in the first half of this year, China's total import and export value of goods trade exceeded 21 trillion yuan, a record high for the same period in history. In an uncertain international economic and trade environment, China's policy of continuing to expand high-level opening up to the outside world is encouraging and will bring broader market opportunities, investment opportunities, and growth opportunities to all countries, and better achieve common development and mutual success with all countries.

(The author is a business development expert at Kasikornbank of Thailand)

Data source: National Bureau of Statistics, General Administration of Customs

(The text in this edition was compiled and sorted by reporters Shi Yuanhao (时元皓), Niu Ruifei (牛瑞飞), Dai Kairan (戴楷然), and Zhang Jinruo (张矜若) from this newspaper)

Return to Top

This section edited by: Hou Lulu, Zhang Bolan

Original Article Return to Top

Layout design: Cai Huawei (蔡华伟)

Return to Top

Page 18版:财经

Building Livable Cities: Diverse Participation of Social Forces (Financial Perspective: Providing Strong Financial Support for the New Urbanization Strategy)

By: 本报记者 屈信明 王永战 白光迪

Original Article Return to Top

The Central Urban Work Conference proposed to "focus on building comfortable and convenient livable cities," "vigorously develop lifestyle service industries, improve the level of public services, and firmly safeguard the people's livelihood." In recent years, various localities and departments have continued to explore and improve the supply models and mechanisms of public services, guiding social forces to actively participate in the field of public services, allowing more and more residents to enjoy high-quality and convenient public services.

Optimize supply, elderly meal assistance services strive to eat well and affordably.

Developing elderly meal assistance services is an important livelihood project and an important part of implementing the national strategy to actively respond to population aging. The "Action Plan for Actively Developing Elderly Meal Assistance Services" released in 2023 proposed encouraging localities to introduce preferential policies for enterprises and actively mobilize social forces to participate in elderly meal assistance services. At present, various localities are taking various measures to increase the supply of elderly meal assistance services.

In Suining City (遂宁市), Sichuan (四川) Province, a publicly built and privately operated elderly canteen is bustling with activity at mealtimes.

"Today, there's not only fish, but also braised pork, which is my favorite!" On a midsummer afternoon, upon entering the Xiangxiyuan Elderly Canteen (香溪苑长者食堂) in Longqiao Community (龙桥社区), Jiahe Street (嘉禾街道), Suining Economic Development Zone (遂宁经开区), a cool breeze immediately dispelled the summer heat. Tai'an fish, Mao Xue Wang (a spicy Sichuan dish), and preserved vegetable braised pork... The freshly cooked seven dishes and one soup were neatly arranged on the serving table, and resident Yang Lei (杨磊) carefully selected the delicious dishes.

The canteen successively welcomed many residents for meals, and everyone greeted each other familiarly. "Here, many neighbors have become friends," said Yang Lei (杨磊).

Longqiao Community (龙桥社区), with a permanent population of 28,000, has more than 6,000 elderly people over the age of 60. In order to facilitate meals for elderly, widowed, and empty-nest elderly people, in 2024, Suining Economic Development Zone (遂宁经开区) used special civil affairs funds and joined the Xiangxiyuan Community (香溪苑小区) Party Branch to pilot the construction of an elderly canteen using the community's supporting facilities, providing inclusive elderly meal assistance services for elderly people over the age of 60.

Now that the canteen has been built, who will operate it and how will it be operated? Suining Economic Development Zone (遂宁经开区) explored a public-private cooperation model, in which the government provides venues, facilities, and equipment free of charge, and introduces a third party to operate the canteen.

In March last year, the canteen held a cooking competition. Longqiao Community (龙桥社区) organized resident representatives, members of the owners' committee, etc., and through public selection, introduced Sichuan Beijiao Catering Co., Ltd. (四川省北礁餐饮有限公司), which received the most votes, as the operator.

Public-private operation reduces cost burden. "We save the cost of early-stage decoration and equipment purchase, and the expenditure is mainly on labor and raw material procurement, which is conducive to improving service quality," said Yuan Cheng (袁成), head of Beijiao Catering (北礁餐饮). The canteen can accommodate more than 200 people at the same time, and now receives an average of more than 80 meals per day, with more than 700 registered elderly people over the age of 60.

"Third-party operation is not a simple takeover, but an improvement in operating quality and efficiency through a risk-sharing and benefit-sharing mechanism," said Feng Yue (冯月), deputy secretary of the Longqiao Community (龙桥社区) Party Committee. The canteen adopts a market-oriented operation model, which not only provides meal services for elderly people over the age of 60 in the jurisdiction, but also increases income sources by opening to the public and expanding customer sources. At the same time, the operating company includes 10% of the profit into the community charity fund for providing meal subsidies to elderly people over the age of 60, reducing the cost of meals for the elderly.

"Four meat dishes and three vegetarian dishes, self-service, only 10 yuan per meal. After I injured my legs and feet, it was inconvenient to cook, so I often come here to eat. It's good and affordable," said Yu Bigui (余碧桂), a 65-year-old living alone. Eating and chatting together makes me feel much better.

Yuan Cheng (袁成) said that after subsidies from the community charity fund and civil affairs subsidies, the elderly can eat a rich and delicious lunch for 10 yuan. "We give back to the residents by giving back to the community charity fund. The residents spread the word, and the canteen business is getting better and better."

Xiangxiyuan Elderly Canteen (香溪苑长者食堂) is a microcosm of the local active exploration of introducing social forces to participate in public services. From "government solo" to "social chorus," the synergy of multiple entities injects stronger impetus into optimizing the supply of public services.

"We explore and adopt methods such as public construction and private operation, and private construction and public assistance to attract social forces to widely participate in providing inclusive non-basic public services," said the relevant person in charge of the Suining (遂宁) Municipal Finance Bureau. The local government also uses government procurement services to introduce social forces to participate in basic public services through public bidding, targeted entrustment, etc. At the same time, it has established a regulatory mechanism of "synchronized catalog preparation and budget, synchronized purchase matters and public needs, and synchronized supervision and service evaluation," and gradually improved the public service supply model of "government-led, social participation, and market operation."

Improve the mechanism, and convenient cultural spaces are opened at the doorstep.

High-quality and rich public cultural services are an indispensable part of residents' beautiful lives. Various localities have taken various measures to guide social forces to participate in the field of public cultural services, and more and more "study room +" and characteristic cultural venues have emerged in communities and streets.

During the summer vacation, Liang Bing (梁炳) and his friends often go to the Xiangshan Study (香山书房) near their home early in the morning to do their homework and read extracurricular books, staying for most of the day. In the evening, more and more elderly people come to the study - taking a walk and enjoying the cool breeze, sitting in the study, reading and communicating. The Yingyue Xiangshan Study (盈悦香山书房) in Banfu Town (板芙镇), Zhongshan (中山) City, Guangdong (广东) Province, is very popular.

"This is not just a study room, but also holds health knowledge popularization activities from time to time. Both young people and old people like to come here," said resident Chen (陈).

The relevant person in charge of the Propaganda and Culture Service Center of Banfu Town (板芙镇), Zhongshan (中山) City, introduced that the study room is located in the "Neighborhood Culture Home" invested and built by private enterprises. "Banfu Town (板芙镇) introduces social forces to create a comprehensive new public cultural space, providing diversified services such as inclusive childcare, elderly canteens, and health science education for residents in surrounding communities," the person in charge said.

In recent years, Zhongshan (中山) City has been guided by the needs of the masses and has built more than 100 Xiangshan Study (香山书房) with diverse functions and rich scenes in villages, communities, scenic spots, and business districts, creating formats such as "study room + park," "study room + cultural tourism," "study room + campus," and "study room + village." Last year alone, the city's Xiangshan Study (香山书房) had a traffic volume of more than 3 million people and held more than 800 events.

What are the tricks to promote the expansion and quality improvement of Xiangshan Study (香山书房)? The local government actively revitalizes idle property resources, reduces investment and operating costs, and introduces multiple social forces to participate in operation and management. Data show that more than 90% of the hundred or so Xiangshan Study (香山书房) are upgraded and built using existing venues. This diversified construction model not only revitalizes idle resources and reduces the financial burden, but also better stimulates the enthusiasm of social forces to participate in public cultural services.

More and more places are launching real and practical measures to introduce social forces to participate in improving the supply level of public cultural services. Longgang (龙港) City, Wenzhou (温州), Zhejiang (浙江) Province, innovated the "Cultural Space Partner" model, supporting youth innovation and entrepreneurship through policies such as low-interest loans, rent reductions, and traffic empowerment; increasing the supply of facilities and services through diversified co-construction mechanisms such as enterprise self-construction, community fundraising, and public welfare construction. The local government also launched policies such as "reward instead of subsidy" and "service for venue" to attract social forces to participate in the construction of cultural venues such as the Longgang Xiaoyi Art Museum (龙港箫逸美术馆).

Experts said that encouraging social forces to participate and form a diversified supply model is conducive to improving the accessibility and equalization level of public cultural services. In the next step, financial and tax, financial and other policy support can be increased to further mobilize social forces to participate, while encouraging cultural service operating institutions to launch diversified and inclusive services to create new consumption scenarios, which can not only better meet residents' personalized cultural needs, but also help create new growth points for cultural consumption and achieve stable operation.

Professional operation, online car-hailing drivers have service cabins.

At 6:00 a.m., online car-hailing driver Zhang (张) drove his car into the charging station of the Beihuan New Energy Service Cabin (北环新能源服务舱) in Tianning District (天宁区), Changzhou (常州) City, Jiangsu (江苏) Province, and skillfully plugged in the charging gun.

"In the past, I had to run a long way to charge, but now it's cheaper to charge here, and I can also get a hot meal," he pointed to the service cabin rest area. "I did my pre-job training and got my certificate here. It's my 'base camp.'"

The "base camp" in Zhang's (张) mouth is a comprehensive space transformed from urban prefabricated house plots. In 2024, the Beihuan New Energy Service Cabin (北环新能源服务舱) in Tianning District (天宁区) was officially opened. Through the operation mode of "government setting the stage, enterprises performing the opera, and public welfare adding color," and the introduction of professional institutions for micro-profit circulation operation, it has created a service place integrating charging, rest, and training.

This benefits from the investment model innovation of public service facilities. "Public service facilities are usually funded and built by local government departments. At the beginning of the service cabin project construction, we actively introduced social forces to participate, which released the space for continuous development and operation in the later stage of the project to a greater extent," introduced Xu Feng (徐丰), director of the Hongmei Street Office (红梅街道办事处) in Tianning District (天宁区), Changzhou (常州) City.

In the project transformation, two private enterprises undertook important tasks. New energy enterprise Suwen Electric Energy (苏文电能) injected "green energy" and deployed intelligent charging piles and photovoltaic storage and charging equipment; local enterprise Changzhou Xingcheng Tongcheng Chuxing (常州行同城出行) carefully built a "Driver's Home" - from pre-job training to hot meal supply, from temporary rest to simple maintenance, more than 10 intimate services are equipped in a "one-stop" manner here.

How can social forces better achieve the balance between profitability and public welfare when participating in public services? "We adopt the 'public welfare + low compensation' operation model to guide cooperative enterprises to transform part of the income into community public welfare funds, which are specifically used for volunteer services and community construction, which not only allows residents to enjoy real benefits, but also creates a new path for community self-hematopoietic function," Xu Feng (徐丰) told reporters. The service cabin revenue has become a community public welfare fund, and the community uses the public welfare fund to carry out various community activities, which not only solves the actual difficulties of online car-hailing drivers, but also ensures the reasonable operating income of enterprises.

"We value the location advantage here. Although it requires a higher initial investment, in the long run, it has stable and reasonable income, and also has good social benefits," introduced the person in charge of Changzhou Xingcheng Tongcheng Chuxing (常州行同城出行).

Small space carries great livelihood. At present, the second phase of the service cabin project is being carried out in full swing. Xu Feng (徐丰) introduced that after the project is completed in September this year, it will add charging guns, battery swap stations, and shared repair work stations, etc. At that time, online car-hailing drivers can complete simple repairs by themselves. In addition, through the "Xinyi Repair" and other mutual assistance models, the new employment group will be transformed from service objects to participants in community governance, further improving the effectiveness of social governance.

(Wang Dongdong (王栋栋) participated in the writing)

Return to Top

How to Further Improve Departure Tax Refund Services (Economic Perspective)

By: 关 望

Original Article Return to Top

To maintain the "consumption fever" brought about by the "tourism boom," there is still room for further improvement in the departure tax refund policy. It is necessary to take experience as the core, continuously transform policy dividends into consumer attraction; and take technology as the support, and continuously strengthen the digital and intelligent upgrading of departure tax refunds.

"This is my first time in China. I just tasted Chinese tea and I like it very much. I happened to catch up with the tax refund preferential policy today. I feel very lucky and plan to buy some tea to take back to my friends and family." On July 1st, the first day of the implementation of the departure tax refund policy in Dalian (大连), Russian tourist Tatyana bought her favorite goods in a shopping mall and received a tax refund of more than 100 yuan on the spot.

Since July 1 this year, Dalian (大连) and Hubei Province (湖北省) have begun to implement the departure tax refund policy for overseas tourists. Since the implementation of the policy, Dalian (大连) has actively established a multi-party joint mechanism of "taxation + commerce + bank + merchant" and completed the filing of 50 comprehensive shopping malls and brand merchants as tax refund stores. Hubei Province (湖北省) has a total of 91 departure tax refund stores included in the policy scope, including 45 "buy and refund" stores, covering 11 cities including Wuhan (武汉), Yichang (宜昌), and Enshi (恩施). With the addition of Dalian (大连) and Hubei Province (湖北省), there are a total of 30 regions in the country that implement the departure tax refund policy. Having more good stores to visit and more good things to buy will bring richer and more diverse experiences to overseas tourists, and will further stimulate the vitality and potential of inbound consumption.

Since the beginning of this year, riding on the hot trend of "China tourism," the development of departure tax refunds has also entered a fast lane. In terms of policy design, the "lower starting point for refunds" superimposed with "buy and refund" allows overseas tourists to achieve easy consumption and double the happiness. In terms of commodity types, international famous brands, domestic trendy products, "time-honored brand" features, and "must-buy cities" have been launched one after another, making the shopping list of overseas tourists more abundant. In terms of service processing, from smoother order placement and payment to faster tax refunds and verification, the entire process has been improved for convenience, and the tax refund experience is full. The further optimization of the departure tax refund policy has become an important bonus for "China tourism," further igniting the consumption enthusiasm of overseas tourists.

To maintain the "consumption fever" brought about by the "tourism boom" and better realize the transformation of "traffic" into "increment," there is still room for further improvement in the departure tax refund policy.

On the one hand, it is necessary to take experience as the core and continuously transform policy dividends into consumer attraction. For example, the layout and access conditions of departure tax refund stores should be further optimized, and tax refund stores should be encouraged to be added in large business districts, tourist attractions, airports, hotels and other areas where overseas tourists are concentrated, and support the creation of departure tax refund characteristic blocks to form a consumer agglomeration effect. While promoting the "buy and refund" service, efforts should continue to be made to set up centralized refund points in popular areas such as large business districts and scenic spots to reduce the travel of overseas tourists and improve the tax refund experience.

On the other hand, with technology as the support, the digital and intelligent upgrading of departure tax refunds should be continuously strengthened. For example, using technologies such as blockchain and big data to achieve automatic acquisition and verification of invoice information, launching mobile real-time declaration, electronic invoice data interconnection, expanding tax refund payment channels, and adding multilingual tax refund guides and other services to further improve the convenience of tax refunds. Regions with conditions can also rely on the national departure tax refund comprehensive information service platform to explore cross-regional and cross-institutional cooperation and set up tax refund points that can handle cross-regional transactions offline to continuously improve tax refund efficiency.

Departure tax refund is an important tool to boost inbound consumption. "China shopping" is more popular, which is not only a consumer event, but also another highlight of "Made in China" and "Intelligent Manufacturing in China." Nowadays, from the rapid development of cross-border e-commerce to the holding of various exhibitions, and the smooth flow of multimodal transport, international buyers are provided with more choices and convenience. In the future, it is necessary to further optimize the business environment, expand market opening, and improve product and service quality to build a more convenient and reliable communication platform for global consumers and enterprises, so that "China shopping" can become the preferred choice for global consumers, and more Chinese brands can shine in the global market.

Return to Top

What is "Reverse Invoicing"? (Financial Literacy)

By: 本报记者 王 观

Original Article Return to Top

When you sell scrap to a recycling company, as the seller, can you get an invoice from them? "I am the seller, will the buyer issue an invoice to me?"

That's right, this is exactly "reverse invoicing"——

In April last year, the State Taxation Administration (国家税务总局) issued the "Announcement on Relevant Matters Concerning 'Reverse Invoicing' by Resource Recycling Enterprises to Natural Person Sellers of Scrapped Products," clarifying the specific measures and operating methods for resource recycling enterprises to "reverse invoice" to natural person sellers of scrapped products.

Under normal circumstances, the invoice is issued by the seller (recipient) to the buyer (payer), which is the common "forward invoicing"; the so-called "reverse invoicing" means that the invoice issuance process is the reverse of the conventional process, and the invoice is issued by the buyer (payer) to the seller (recipient).

For example, recently, Changzhou Jinyong Technology Materials Co., Ltd. (常州金涌科技材料有限公司) purchased 30 tons of waste plastic from Mr. Mu (穆先生), a natural person. In this case, how should the invoice be issued?

"The company recycles about 5,000 tons of waste plastic per month, most of which is purchased from individuals. In the past, many individual sellers often found it troublesome and were unwilling to go to the tax bureau to issue invoices on their behalf or pay relevant taxes and fees as required," Wu Jianguo (吴建国), financial director of Changzhou Jinyong (常州金涌), admitted frankly that for enterprises, without purchase invoices, they cannot deduct the input tax amount of value-added tax, nor can they obtain the basis for listing cost expenses before enterprise income tax.

In the resource recycling industry, the situation of Changzhou Jinyong (常州金涌) is very common. "Reverse invoicing" directly addresses this pain point. After "reverse invoicing" is possible, the buyer obtains the proof of purchase cost, and the seller also has proof of tax payment.

"Reverse invoicing" has far-reaching effects. The implementation of the "reverse invoicing" policy not only adds momentum to the resource recycling industry while reducing the operating costs of enterprises, but also activates the consumption vitality of end consumers for "trading in old for new."

In order to better implement "reverse invoicing" and reduce the burden on taxpayers, the tax authorities have introduced many measures. For example, natural person sellers of scrapped products are allowed to apply the value-added tax reduction and exemption policy for small-scale taxpayers, and resource recycling enterprises can not only "reverse invoice" through the electronic invoice service platform, but also "reverse invoice" through the value-added tax invoice management system without replacing the current invoicing system.

Return to Top

Cattle Data Transforms into Collateral (Financial Story)

By: 刘珈如

Original Article Return to Top

"A family fortune is worth ten thousand strings of cash, but livestock doesn't count." Li Feng, a large-scale breeder in Fanrong Village, Luhe Township, Longjiang County, Heilongjiang Province, has heard this old saying for half his life. Live cattle and sheep are prone to disease, and market prices fluctuate greatly. In the eyes of banks, these "living assets" are high-risk and difficult to use as collateral. However, recently, this veteran with 17 years of cattle breeding experience successfully applied for a 3 million yuan loan guaranteed by Heilongjiang Provincial Agricultural Financing Guarantee Co., Ltd. (龙江农担) (hereinafter referred to as "Longjiang Agricultural Guarantee") with his stock of more than 430 cattle.

"I never dared to think that 'livestock' could be counted as solid assets!" Li Feng said with emotion, looking at the strong cattle in the shed, "If there had been such a guarantee company and big data platform earlier, my breeding scale could have been expanded several times."

Li Feng's remarks reveal the common bottlenecks in traditional breeding financing. As a major animal husbandry county in Heilongjiang, Longjiang County has a high number of beef cattle, which is an important foundation for the Qiqihar (齐齐哈尔) barbecue industry. However, the shortage of funds has always been a shackle on the necks of breeders and industrial development.

How much value does a cow's data have?

The turning point came from a big data platform. Longjiang County seized the policy opportunity of the "Provincial Beef Cattle Quality Improvement and Expansion Project" and the "Beef Cattle Big Data Management Platform" invested and constructed by Longjiang Agricultural Guarantee came into being. Ear tag number, breed, front photo, frozen semen breeding date, expected calving date... The platform has established detailed digital files for most of the cattle raised by breeders in the county.

"In the past, when reviewing loans, we not only had to look at bank statements, but also send people to the site to count them one by one. But the cows look almost the same, and it is easy to make mistakes by just looking with the naked eye." Meng Fanwei, general manager of Longjiang Branch of Longjiang Agricultural Guarantee, introduced, "Now with the big data platform, the system can intelligently screen and verify the breeder's actual stock, and then we conduct targeted due diligence, which is not only accurate, but also greatly reduces labor costs."

Data has become a new "collateral." Relying on the platform, Longjiang Agricultural Guarantee has innovatively launched the "Beef Cattle Data Guarantee" product, guaranteeing and granting credit to breeders based on 7,000 yuan per cow, turning the cattle in the shed into assets recognized by the bank. As of now, the platform has guided credit granting of 500 million yuan for the beef cattle industry in Longjiang County.

Longjiang County is not an isolated case. This "data + finance" model is being rapidly replicated. In Huanan County (桦南县), Jiamusi City (佳木斯市), the same platform has been established, and 60% of the cattle raised by breeders in the county have digital files, which effectively strengthens the risk prevention and control capabilities of the local beef cattle financing guarantee business.

This year's No. 1 Central Document clearly proposed to promote the beef cattle and dairy cattle industries to overcome difficulties and stabilize basic production capacity. As an important tool for fiscal and financial synergy to support agriculture, the national agricultural guarantee system actively responded. A series of products such as "Breeding Guarantee" and "Beef Cattle Easy Loan" developed by Longjiang Agricultural Guarantee have provided a total of 279 million yuan in guaranteed loans in the first four months of this year alone.

In the first five months of this year, the national agricultural credit guarantee system has provided guarantees for more than 210,000 family farms, farmer cooperatives and other agricultural business entities, guiding more than 120 billion yuan of low-cost loans to precisely flow to grain production and the supply of important agricultural products, injecting vitality into the development of rural characteristic industries and increasing farmers' income.

Return to Top

Editor in Charge for This Section: Ge Mengchao

Original Article Return to Top

Layout Design: Zhang Danfeng (张丹峰)

Return to Top

Page 19版:科技

Making Robots "Skilled and Dexterous" (Science and Technology Perspective: Innovation from the Front Lines)

By: 本报记者 谷业凯

Original Article Return to Top

General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) emphasized, "To advance Chinese-style modernization, science and technology must lead the way, and technological innovation is the only path." "In the face of fierce international competition, if we want to open up new areas and new tracks for development, and shape new drivers and new advantages for development, we must fundamentally rely on technological innovation."

In universities, research institutes, and enterprise workshops, frontline researchers are focusing on the forefront of science and technology, dedicating themselves to research and innovation, and continuously striving to accelerate the construction of a strong science and technology nation and achieve high-level self-reliance and self-strengthening in science and technology. Starting today, this edition will launch a series of reports titled "Exploring Innovation on the Frontline," through reporters' firsthand experiences and close observations on the scientific research frontline, to experience and understand the gestation process of innovative achievements.

——Editor

Robots picking up coffee cups, threading needles, and even playing the piano all fall under the category of embodied manipulation, which is supported by a set of hardware and software systems. As one of the key technologies of embodied intelligence, the goal of the embodied brain is to make robots "skillful," thereby achieving interaction with the outside world.

Today, this technology that gives robots a sense of "agility" is entering a critical breakthrough and fierce competition stage. In Beijing (北京) Haidian (海淀) DongSheng Science and Technology Park (东升科技园), the "geeks" of Beijing Lingbao Robotics Technology Co., Ltd. (北京中科慧灵机器人技术有限公司) (hereinafter referred to as "Lingbao Robotics") are striving to run and continuously break through on this new track.

Let robots master skills through "imitation learning."

The research and development site of Lingbao Robotics is like both a not-so-"standardized" laboratory and a not-so-"standard" production workshop. The tracks on the ceiling crisscross, and various operating tables are scattered throughout. The reporter often had to sidestep and lift his feet while walking through it, as there was too much equipment to accommodate a fixed walking "trajectory."

Lingbao Robotics was founded in 2023 by Zhang Zhengtao (张正涛), a researcher at the Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences (中国科学院自动化研究所), focusing on the research and development of general-purpose humanoid robots and embodied intelligence products for scenario implementation. Embodied manipulation is one of Lingbao Robotics' technical specialties. Their developed embodied intelligent robots can use a 0.3 mm screwdriver to assemble a laptop motherboard, with an accuracy that can even reach 1/5 of a hair's breadth.

Like human hands, embodied manipulation requires both perception and operational capabilities. Visual Language Action (VLA) models are an important way to achieve these two capabilities—by integrating visual perception, language understanding, and action control to create an "end-to-end" decision system, and carry out "generalized learning," like an action version of a large language model.

At the research and development site, the reporter saw Wang Sicheng (王思成), an embodied algorithm engineer at Lingbao Robotics, using a visual language action model and an end effector to simulate training grasping actions for a two-finger gripper robot.

Grasping is one of the most basic actions of the human hand. On the operating table is a plate containing tennis balls, bananas, and kiwis. "Grasp the tennis ball." Wang Sicheng first typed a few lines of code into the computer, and then got up and came to the robot to read out a voice command.

The seemingly clumsy training process has extremely high technical goals. "Traditional robot grasping requires first detecting the target, then calculating the spatial coordinates, and finally completing the action. The operation process is relatively fixed," Wang Sicheng explained. "But we know that humans don't operate this way when grasping objects. We don't 'detect' or calculate spatial coordinates, but rather use intuition and feedback to generate actions. We want to give robots this ability."

Without setting a fixed algorithm process, just input visual images and let the robot learn which elements in the visual images are related to the operation. After a few simple demonstrations, it can imitate and learn human grasping actions. "We let robots master skills through 'imitation learning'," Wang Sicheng said.

Currently, the algorithm is not so advanced, and a lot of data needs to be collected to allow the robot to skillfully grasp. "It's definitely clumsier than humans. The difficulty lies in how to use as little data as possible to let it learn more skills," Wang Sicheng said. "Taking grasping as an example, using a general open-source model requires collecting thirty to forty data points to learn. We are constantly improving the algorithm, and now it only takes 5 to 10 data points to learn."

Similarly, for humans, there are subtle differences in the actions and strength used to grasp different objects. With the efforts of Wang Sicheng and his team, these subtle differences can also be achieved on the robot's two-finger gripper. "This is a self-adaptive force-controlled gripper. When it encounters a soft object, its strength will also be adjusted accordingly. That is to say, its strength is also slightly different when grasping a tennis ball and a kiwi," Wang Sicheng said.

This development work has been going on for nearly a year. "We have already published relevant paper results." What makes Wang Sicheng even more accomplished is that the system is also ranked among the best on the "benchmark" platform, and some performance indicators have reached the leading level in the industry.

Achieve grasping, taking, and placing in dynamic scenarios.

A shoe is repeatedly placed on a conveyor belt, and the robot picks it up and places it on a special shoe-pressing machine. Sun Jianyong (孙建涌), an imitation learning algorithm engineer at Lingbao Robotics, uses a 3D mouse to operate the robot for grasping training. "This is a standard action in the shoe-making scenario. Now it can grasp it, but it doesn't grasp it so tightly or so well."

Automated equipment is not uncommon in domestic manufacturing, but it is still rare in the shoe-making field. Zhang Miao (张淼), head of the commercialization center of Lingbao Robotics, explained: "We have done research and found that an automated shoe-making production line requires an investment of over 10 million yuan, which is only suitable for producing some 'popular shoes' with large sales. Due to insufficient flexibility, the cost of 'switching' the production line between different shoe styles is very high, which has become a major obstacle to improving the automation rate."

The robot trained by Sun Jianyong is precisely to adapt to the flexible shoe-making process. He told reporters: "Shoes are divided into left and right feet, and shoe sizes range from size 35 to size 45. Grasping, taking, and placing must be completed in dynamic scenarios. These are all achieved through real-machine online reinforcement learning."

According to past ideas, this set of actions required on-site data collection and then designing a set of instructions. Now, with visual data and real-machine online reinforcement learning, ordinary workers can use a 3D mouse to "teach" the robot to operate "hand-in-hand." "It's a bit like 'clawing dolls'. After the system slowly learns, just correct a few errors. It can quickly 'switch' between different styles, which also greatly reduces the threshold for training," Sun Jianyong explained.

Now, it only takes about 1 hour to train such a robot to grasp a shoe. "If it doesn't grasp it or grasps it off-center, the robot can automatically adjust. This is a major advantage of reinforcement learning compared to imitation learning," Sun Jianyong said. Imitation learning is often based on "successful experience," while reinforcement learning, in addition to relying on "fed" successful experience, can also explore and cover various situations on its own.

In the past 3 months, Sun Jianyong's team has often run between the laboratory and the factory. "Many problems have to be solved on the production frontline. For example, some conveyor belts are relatively smooth, and reflections will affect visual judgment," Sun Jianyong cited an example. Other factors, such as the speed of the conveyor belt and the density of shoes in the camera's field of view, need to be improved little by little at the algorithm level.

More flexible to be compatible with more application scenarios.

At the research and development site, the "C position" is occupied by a humanoid robot, with many cables still hanging on its body. As an experimental model, many "extreme tests" are carried out on it. At the same time, it is also one of the few contestants in this year's Beijing Humanoid Robot Half Marathon that did not fall.

Based on the previous research and development, many of Lingbao Robotics' achievements have been used in humanoid robots. In November last year, the company released its first full-size bipedal humanoid robot, Lingbao CASBOT 01, which is equipped with a five-finger bionic dexterous hand that combines embodied intelligence, compliant force control, and precision operation technologies, and can perform operations such as two-finger twisting and inter-finger gripping.

Zhang Miao introduced that as a key component for performing operational tasks, the five-finger bionic dexterous hand weighs 800 grams per hand and has a rated load of 5 kilograms. It integrates a multi-source perception system of tactile, force, and visual senses. By optimizing control algorithms and action planning, the dexterous hand can simulate the flexibility of human hands, and can effectively solve the two major problems of "dexterity" and "operation" in refined operation scenarios.

"Operation is the core capability of embodied intelligence, which is of great significance for industrial development." In the view of Zhou Mingcai (周明才), head of the embodied operation center of Lingbao Robotics, embodied intelligence has currently achieved "similarity in form," but how to make it perceive and operate like humans is still a gradual development process. In particular, with the increasing number of personalized needs, making embodied intelligence more flexible to be compatible with more application scenarios is an important goal of research and development.

"In recent years, the development of domestic embodied intelligence has been very rapid, especially the continuous improvement of the industrial chain. Like common tactile sensors, there are piezoresistive and capacitive types, and some new devices are gradually being added. It can be said that it is in a state of 百花齐放 (bǎi huā qí fàng - "letting a hundred flowers bloom," a metaphor for a flourishing of diverse ideas and talents). Which technical route is the best? I think this is also a gradual 'convergence' process. But it is precisely because of these foundations that we can develop algorithms more easily," Zhou Mingcai said.

Lingbao Robotics has a deep understanding of the integration of industry, academia, and research. Zhou Mingcai said: "We will apply some of the latest research results to our products. At the same time, our latest products will also be provided to the academic community for cutting-edge research. This is a closely interactive, spiraling upward process."

Return to Top

Why Lunar South Pole Research is Accelerating (Innovation Talk)

By: 吴月辉

Original Article Return to Top

The state-led systematic layout is a key factor in breaking through major scientific problems, and the spirit of scientific researchers bravely venturing into the scientific "no-man's land" is an important driving force for achieving scientific research results.

Revealing for the first time that there was volcanic activity on the far side of the moon about 4.2 billion years ago and 2.8 billion years ago; obtaining information on the ancient magnetic field on the far side of the moon for the first time; obtaining the water content of the lunar mantle on the far side of the moon for the first time... Not long ago, the Chinese Academy of Sciences (中国科学院) released the latest series of research results on the Chang'e-6 (嫦娥六号) lunar samples, revealing the evolutionary history of the far side of the moon for the first time.

Since Chang'e-6 (嫦娥六号) returned with samples from the far side of the moon in June 2024, researchers have produced a number of significant results in just one year (four of which were published in "Nature" as cover articles). This efficient speed of scientific transformation far exceeds similar international missions.

Why has the study of Chang'e-6 (嫦娥六号) samples achieved "acceleration"? Among them, the "organized scientific research" model has played an important role.

The "organized scientific research" model is a new organizational paradigm that differs from the traditional "free exploration" type of scientific research, and is aimed at the current trends in scientific and technological development and major challenges. This model breaks through the bottlenecks of decentralized scientific research and lack of effective coordination through systematic layout, multi-institutional collaboration, and innovative mechanism design. In particular, for major scientific and technological problems that need to be solved urgently and key core technologies that need to be overcome, the "organized scientific research" model can break down disciplinary barriers and institutional barriers, concentrate superior forces to carry out systematic research, avoid resource dispersion and low-level duplication, and achieve rapid breakthroughs.

When initially setting scientific goals for the Chang'e-6 (嫦娥六号) mission, researchers locked in the South Pole-Aitken Basin on the far side of the moon, focusing on solving the world mystery of lunar "dichotomy." This task planning, which takes key scientific issues as the "bullseye," avoids the dispersed consumption of scientific research resources. In addition, in the process of Chang'e-6 (嫦娥六号) sample research, the Chinese Academy of Sciences (中国科学院) took the lead, and united with Nanjing University (南京大学), China Academy of Space Technology (中国空间技术研究院) and dozens of other units to carry out collaborative research, with deep cross-integration of multiple disciplines. Scientists and engineers with different disciplinary backgrounds worked together, which greatly promoted the collision of ideas and innovation. For example, the joint dating, water content, source area analysis and magnetic field measurement of the same batch of basalt debris were completed by multidisciplinary teams of geochemistry, geology, and geophysics.

While adopting the "organized scientific research" model, the spirit of bravely venturing into the scientific "no-man's land" is also an important reason why the research team has quickly achieved significant results.

Before Chang'e-6 (嫦娥六号), all lunar sampling missions were only carried out on the near side of the moon, and the far side of the moon can be said to be a veritable scientific "no-man's land." Wu Fuyuan (吴福元), Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (中国科学院) and Researcher at the Institute of Geology and Geophysics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (中国科学院地质与地球物理研究所), once admitted frankly that the far side of the moon is an area that humans have never sampled, and it is completely unknown what it will bring back. "This awe of the unknown and the 'anxiety' of missing important information runs through the entire research." Although every step is full of unknowns and challenges, the research team did not choose to retreat and give up because of this, but firmly moved forward towards the scientific research goal, and finally achieved a major breakthrough "from 0 to 1."

The scientific research practice of Chang'e-6 (嫦娥六号) shows that the state-led systematic layout is a key factor in breaking through major scientific problems, and the spirit of scientific researchers bravely venturing into the scientific "no-man's land" is an important driving force for achieving scientific research results. With the continuous deepening of the new round of scientific and technological revolution, scientific problems are becoming increasingly complex, and the scientific research model of a single discipline, a single research team or an individual is no longer able to meet the needs of solving complex scientific problems and major technological challenges. It is increasingly necessary to strengthen organized scientific research and carry out research and exploration aimed at the forefront of science and technology. It is believed that the successful exploration and practice of Chang'e-6 (嫦娥六号) sample research can provide a demonstration and reference for solving more major scientific and technological problems.

Return to Top

News Flash

Original Article Return to Top

Scientific Research Tackles Key Problems, Supporting Allulose as a New Food Ingredient

Recently, the National Health Commission (国家卫生健康委员会) issued the "Announcement on 20 Kinds of 'New Foods' such as D-Allulose," and D-allulose was officially approved as a new food ingredient. Allulose is a natural, low-calorie sweetener found in figs, raisins, wheat, corn, and other foods. Its sweetness is 70% of that of sucrose, while its calories are only 1/10 of that of sucrose. Due to its extremely stable structure and characteristics, it is regarded by the market as a potential substitute for sucrose. According to reports, D-allulose is generally produced by microbial fermentation or enzymatic conversion. Its large-scale production, especially the enzymatic conversion method, has long been restricted by technical bottlenecks.

In order to solve the problem, COFCO Bio-tech (中粮生物科技) and COFCO Nutrition and Health Research Institute (中粮营养健康研究院) have jointly tackled key problems independently for many years and successfully developed the allulose enzymatic production technology using corn starch sugar as raw material, and have applied for a number of patents. The "D-Allulose-3-Epimerase" successfully developed by the research team was approved in 2023 as the first domestic enzyme preparation for the food industry of its kind, laying the foundation for the safe and compliant entry of allulose into the field of new resource foods.

(Liu Jiaru (刘珈如))

Research Suggests Improving Early Monitoring and Warning of Invasive Alien Species

Recently, the scientific research team of the Institute of Plant Protection (植物保护研究所) of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (中国农业科学院), together with the Université Paris-Saclay (法国巴黎萨克雷大学) and the National Agro-Tech Extension and Service Center (农业农村部农业生态与资源保护总站) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (农业农村部), focused on major agricultural and forestry invasive species in China. Using internationally advanced economic loss assessment methods and based on 40 years (1980-2020) of invasive species hazard data in China, they systematically assessed the economic losses of invasive alien species in China for the first time. The research content was published in the top international entomology journal "Pest Management Science." The research suggests that relevant management departments should accelerate the improvement of the early intelligent monitoring and warning system for invasive alien species, strengthen international quarantine cooperation, reduce the risk of invasive species introduction, and promote the transformation of prevention and control strategies from "**灾后治理的被动防御**" (zāi hòu zhì lǐ de bèi dòng fáng yù - "passive defense of post-disaster management," shifting from reactive measures after a disaster to proactive prevention) to "**前瞻预警的主动预防**" (qián zhānɡ yù jǐnɡ de zhǔ dònɡ yù fánɡ - "proactive prevention of forward-looking early warning," shifting to proactive prevention through early warning).

(Yu Sinan (喻思南))

Return to Top

When Agriculture Meets Cutting-Edge Biotechnology (Weekly Science & Technology Watch)

By: 喻思南

Original Article Return to Top

Cotton is not only an important raw material for textiles, but also can be used to produce expensive astaxanthin. Not long ago, the Cotton Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (中国农业科学院棉花研究所) and the Biotechnology Research Institute (生物技术研究所) jointly worked with the Western Agricultural Research Center (西部农业研究中心), using plant synthetic biology and other technologies to open up the astaxanthin synthesis pathway and create engineered cotton for producing astaxanthin.

As a high-quality natural antioxidant, astaxanthin can scavenge oxygen free radicals in the body, enhance cell regeneration, and also maintain body balance and reduce the accumulation of aging cells in the body. It is widely used in food, feed, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and other fields. This achievement will further tap the potential of cotton resources and promote the transformation of cotton from "single output" to "multi-functional and high-value."

It's not just cotton; some familiar agricultural products are showing increasingly broad application prospects.

A common method to increase the added value of citrus peel is to make it into dried tangerine peel, but now it is also expected to become a "savior" for wounds in diabetic patients. A high-sugar environment can lead to vascular lesions, nerve damage, and immune cells also enter a state of "strike," causing slow wound healing after scratches in some diabetic patients. In response to this problem, recently, researchers from the Institute of Bast Fiber Crops of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (中国农业科学院麻类研究所) extracted natural ingredients from citrus aurantium and developed a natural hydrogel with antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and healing-promoting functions, increasing the wound healing speed of diabetic patients by 2.7 times.

In-depth exploration of the value of agricultural products, new technologies such as gene editing are key support. In recent years, the application of cutting-edge biotechnology has opened up new space for agricultural development. Researchers at the Wuhan Botanical Garden of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (中国科学院武汉植物园) recently discovered that a special protein plays a key role in the accumulation of sucrose in peaches. This research not only helps us understand the molecular mechanism of peach fruit becoming sweet, but also provides a theoretical basis for cultivating new varieties that are sweeter and have better flavor.

Researchers not only discovered why peaches are so sweet, but also found the gene that makes peaches "soft." In the later stages of ripening, the pulp of peaches undergoes a solute process, causing the flesh to soften rapidly. The "slow-dissolving peach," whose softening speed after ripening is "slowed down" and can stay crisp longer, has the characteristics of long hanging time on the tree, full flavor accumulation, juicy and tender after full ripening, and resistance to transportation. Finding this key gene and systematically elucidating its biological function will help cultivate high-quality peach varieties that are resistant to storage and transportation.

Colliding with animal husbandry, cutting-edge biotechnology also brings many surprises. Recently, using single-cell transcriptome sequencing technology, the College of Animal Science and Technology of China Agricultural University (中国农业大学动物科学技术学院) jointly with domestic and foreign research institutions, constructed the first multi-tissue single-cell transcriptome map of buffalo. The open and shared single-cell transcriptome map online database constructed by scientists simultaneously provides an important reference resource for agricultural animal functional genomics and molecular design breeding research.

The National Beef Cattle Improvement Center of Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University (西北农林科技大学国家肉牛改良中心) jointly with related technology companies, using bioinformatics and other technologies, successfully developed the "China Yellow Cattle No. 1" (中国黄牛1号) 50K breeding chip and officially released it to the public. The chip has the characteristics of low detection cost and high selection accuracy, realizing rapid, accurate, and efficient breeding of Chinese yellow cattle, and providing strong technical support for the protection, directional breeding, and efficient utilization of local yellow cattle breeds.

Releasing the first panoramic quantitative proteome map of soybeans, constructing a genotype database of registered tea varieties in China... Recently, there have been many more eye-catching agricultural scientific research achievements. We look forward to cutting-edge biotechnology sparking more sparks with agriculture, and breakthroughs in the laboratory will inject more impetus into agricultural modernization.

Return to Top

Editor in Charge for This Section: Gu Yekai

Original Article Return to Top

Layout Design: Shen Yiling (沈亦伶)

Return to Top

Page 20版:副刊

The Ink Seems Hardly Dry (Rereading Letters from the War of Resistance)

By: 邓跃东

Original Article Return to Top

At this moment, I am penniless and unable to help the family because we are all serving the revolution and the nation with the spirit of martyrs. Perhaps some will say we are too foolish, but there should be some foolish people like us in the world. Please don't worry about the future, because China is undergoing great changes. If China's resistance against Japan succeeds, we won't have to worry about food. If the resistance unfortunately fails, we will all become slaves of a conquered nation. Therefore, I hope the family can think more broadly in this regard and forgive me..."

I have been here several times, and I have long been familiar with the deeds of the people. Today, I came to visit again with the study group, and I am still filled with emotion when I see the three letters he left behind. Through the thick smoke of war and the long years, the ink seems to still have a wet luster!

The letter was written by Martyr Yuan Guoping (袁国平). A photocopy is displayed in the Shaoyang Party History Exhibition Hall (邵阳党史陈列馆) in Hunan (湖南), and the original is kept in the former residence of Yuan Guoping (袁国平故居) in Shaodong City (邵东市), 20 kilometers away.

The letter was written in the spring of 1939. Yuan Guoping (袁国平) had just returned to the headquarters of the New Fourth Army (新四军) from the front line of the Anti-Japanese War in Jiangning (江宁) and received a rare letter from home, written by his nephew Yuan Zhenpeng (袁振鹏). How delightful! Upon opening it, the nephew informed him that the family had no food. As the Director of the Political Department of the New Fourth Army (新四军政治部主任), he hoped for a swift relief.

Yuan Guoping (袁国平) felt a pang of sorrow. He knew the family's situation very well. From the early years, to send him to Hunan First Normal School (湖南一师), enter the Huangpu Military Academy (黄埔军校), and provide travel expenses for revolutionary activities, the family had exhausted all their resources, and their lives were becoming increasingly difficult. How should he reply? His elder brother, mother, and the rest of the family were eagerly waiting for him.

Yuan Guoping's (袁国平) pen was heavy, and the bitter reality made him unsure how to respond. Since joining the Nanchang Uprising (南昌起义) and dedicating himself to the Red Army (红军), he had not been home to see his relatives for more than 10 years. His father died when he was young, and his mother and elder brother struggled to support the family, also worrying about him fighting everywhere and being wanted by the government. For many years, he dared not write home, fearing that he would implicate the family. It was not until the Kuomintang-Communist cooperation against Japan that Yuan Guoping (袁国平) re-established contact with his family.

In July 1938, Yuan Guoping (袁国平) wrote to his elder brother Yuan Zuiru (袁醉如): "The national affairs are such that I am willing to contribute the last drop of blood to the nation. Family matters must rely on my brother's independent support. Knowing me as you do, you should not blame me... I am very concerned about my mother, but with you taking care of her, I am very relieved. Please advise her not to worry about us and to live a good and happy life. I can only repay the nation, and I cannot but give up the responsibility of serving her at her side." At that time, he already felt very guilty that he could not give a penny to his family, and he could not even fulfill his responsibility to support his mother. He could only make up for the regret of family matters by wishing to shed the last drop of blood for the country. He believed his brother would not resent him.

However, this time, the letter from his nephew clearly represented the expectations of the family, or even his mother. Could he ignore his mother going hungry? According to Yuan Sumin (袁素民), Yuan Guoping's (袁国平) niece: "There was no rice, so we relied on sweet potatoes to fill our stomachs. There was no oil, so we had to boil some chili peppers in water to eat with rice. Grandmother was old and weak, and it was difficult for her to swallow. However, she loved her son and understood him, and never allowed the family to write to tell her uncle." This time, the nephew secretly wrote for help because the family was truly helpless.

After some consideration, Yuan Guoping (袁国平) felt that his mother would not blame him. More than ten years ago, he had expressed his willingness to sacrifice himself to his mother, and his mother sent him to school, hoping that one day he could repay the country.

In May 1927, Yuan Guoping (袁国平) was ordered to go with the army to western Hubei (鄂西) to participate in the battle. Before leaving, he sent his mother a photo and wrote a farewell letter on the back of the photo.

Dear Mother:

In May 1927, counter-revolutionaries plotted to attack Wuhan (武汉), and the situation was precarious. Revolutionary patriots were all filled with indignation and willing to sacrifice themselves to fight the enemy.

At that time, I was serving in the Political Department of the Eleventh Army (第十一军政治部) and was also ordered to depart for western Hubei (鄂西) to resist the powerful bandits. On this trip, I am willing to fight to the death on the battlefield with my hot blood and head, in order to gain a moment of joy. If I become a martyr and take righteousness, take this photo as a memorial to our death.

If I return in triumph and reunite with my mother one day, and see this image and talk about these words again, how much greater will the joy be!

Your son, Zuihan (醉涵), in Wuchang Zuoqi (武昌左旗), preparing to depart, May 25, 1927.

Deep maternal love, life and death separation. I don't know how heartbroken his mother was after seeing it. He analyzed the situation to his mother, expressed his determination, and believed that his mother could understand him.

Probably remembering this incident, Yuan Guoping's (袁国平) reply to his nephew was frank and open. There should be some not-so-smart people in the world, and he was one of them. Family and friends should not become too smart, because smart people are too calculating and unwilling to give, and cannot achieve great things. The "not-so-smart" he believed in was to devote oneself to the pursuit of one's cause with the spirit of a martyr.

In the New Fourth Army (新四军), Yuan Guoping (袁国平) always encouraged everyone in this way: If we have a hundred bullets, we must use ninety-nine to shoot at the enemy, and leave the last one for ourselves. He himself did it in the end. At the beginning of 1941, during the "Wannan Incident" (皖南事变), he was wounded and broke through the encirclement. In order not to burden the team, he fired all the bullets in his gun and gave himself the last bullet he had left. That year, he was 35 years old, his son Yuan Zhenwei (袁振威) was two years old, and his mother was 65 years old...

Walking out of the Party History Exhibition Hall (党史陈列馆), I was still thinking about that letter. I even tried to put myself in his shoes and think about how I would reply if I received such a letter of request for help, and whether I could become a not-so-smart person!

Return to Top

Calm down and immerse yourself in writing (Literary Thoughts)

By: 安武林

Original Article Return to Top

In recent years, I have often been asked by friends: "What children's literature books sell well, and what kind of books are easy to become bestsellers?" I said, "Just write well, and readers will naturally come." My friends were not satisfied and felt that I was holding back, so they asked again: "I heard that animal novels sell very well?" Now it has changed to: "Is science fiction very popular?" After hearing this, I didn't know how to answer for a while, and I also had some feelings.

In the current children's literature circle, there seems to be a phenomenon of **急功近利** (jí gōng jìn lì - "eager for quick success and instant benefits," seeking instant success and quick profits). Catering to children, as long as children like it, blindly pursuing children's interests, beautifully named: child-centered. But in fact, it is often to pursue market effects and big sales of works, and does not regard children's literature creation as a serious and responsible spiritual pursuit.

Children's literature without personality has no creativity. The child-centered consciousness of children's literature should be based on a deep understanding of children, and the efforts made should be guidance and closeness, not catering. American writer E.B. White's "Charlotte's Web" is deeply loved by children all over the world. He once expressed a point of view that he would not bend down to talk to children, nor would he deliberately lower his language expression for children. In other words, he would not flatter children in his works, nor would he pinch his nose to learn to speak like children.

The writer Cao Wenxuan (曹文轩) also has a point of view that I very much agree with. He said: Talk about children's literature under the big system of literature. My understanding is that if a children's literature writer wants to create excellent children's literature works, he or she needs a profound literary accomplishment. Children's literature is a branch of literature, not an independent kingdom outside of literature. The world's excellent children's literature writers, such as E.B. White, Roald Dahl, Marcel Aymé, Tove Jansson, etc., all have deep literary accomplishments. It is difficult for a writer without deep literary accumulation to create excellent children's literature works. Therefore, it is extremely important for a children's literature writer to improve his or her literary accomplishment. It is a very important foundation for writers to spend a lot of time on literary reading and self-cultivation to write good children's literature.

Excessive attention to the market and excessive attention to bestsellers can easily make writers lose themselves. Therefore, my personal answer to my friend's question "Are animal novels very popular?" is: "Not all animal novels are bestsellers, but Shen Shixi's (沈石溪) animal novels have readers." Shen Shixi is a writer I respect, and I have almost preserved all of his early works. His personal growth path and literary creation path are typical examples. He spent almost decades of effort creating children's animal novels. His early animal novels had a minimum print run of only 1,000 copies. Shen Shixi's animal novels sat on the sidelines in the market for many years, but he did not give up. He has been deeply cultivating the fields he likes and is familiar with, and finally his animal novels are loved by young readers.

Good children's literature authors, I have found that there is a common characteristic: a quiet heart. It is excellent for authors to maintain a calm and tranquil creative state. They are rarely disturbed by the outside world and can immerse themselves in their writing world. Words will not deceive people. Their pursuits, their styles, their tendencies, and the kindness and care, love and care they dedicate to children are all sincere and ardent, and can be felt in their works.

Some children's literature authors are keen to accept new ideas, new technologies, new trends, and new forms, but excessive attention to the "changing" content and themes often ignores the "unchanging" things, and these unchanging things are very valuable and eternal. Such as the elements of truth, goodness and beauty. In this regard, Jin Bo (金波) is a typical example. His decades of creation have not fluctuated much, have not changed much, have been pursuing an elegant writing style, pursuing exquisite creation, and conveying warmth and beauty in his words. In fact, this is also the most valuable thing about this generation of writers. They have a spirit of creation: the craftsman spirit. In my eyes, they are like working in workshops of words. Their names, their words, and their works have become distinct "brands." This is the brand won by their carefully crafted works. This spirit is a rich wealth for our younger generation of writers.

With the rapid development of science and technology and the dizzying pace of life, it seems a bit harsh to ask a children's literature author to calm down and bury himself in writing. However, a person who really wants to create excellent works for children must calm down, cultivate himself, and bury himself in creation. In fact, the world's classic works are all conceived in this way.

Return to Top

The Hunchback Lacquerer (Encounter)

By: 少 一

Original Article Return to Top

No one knows which family in the residential complex hired someone to paint their furniture. The owner didn't buy any of the fashionable furniture on the market, but insisted on hiring an old painter from the countryside to repaint the old furniture as if it were new, displaying it in the complex, filling the whole courtyard with the smell of paint.

Our wooden stove frame had been used for many years, and the paint on the cover had peeled off in several places. Since the opportunity was rare, my wife suggested taking the opportunity to ask the painter to repaint it. I took the cover to the painter, and only then did I get a good look at him. His mouth protruded slightly outward, with a few teeth showing. The fine lines on his face were like cracks in dry earth. His coarse, stiff stubble was yellowish-white. The most striking thing was his hunched back, which pushed his blue cloth jacket up high.

"Put it there." He didn't look at me, but just stooped over and worked hard to scrape the base of the old furniture. His thin body moved back and forth, his eyes darting left and right with his hands, his expression very focused. I didn't say much to him either, and left after putting down the cover.

"Hey, come back!" Hearing the shout, I turned around and saw him staring at the cover, his fingers constantly scraping on it, muttering, "Is there any alcohol?" He poked at a few stains on the cover with his finger: "Look, it's all soaked in oil. Oil and paint don't mix. It won't last long if you paint it on. It needs to be burned off."

I was worried. Where could I find alcohol? I was also a little unhappy: Isn't that what you should have prepared? He probably saw my mood and said to himself, "Forget it, I'll go back and figure out a way." I asked him how much it would cost, but he couldn't give me a definite number for a long time, and finally replied, "We'll talk about it later."

The next morning, I passed by the courtyard and found that the cover had been painted and placed there. Just as I was about to take it away, the painter said, "Don't rush, after it dries, it needs to be painted a second and third time. One coat won't do." As he said this, he still didn't look at me, but just buried himself in his work.

On the afternoon of the third day, when I went downstairs to get the cover, I found the courtyard empty. The furniture was gone, and there was no sign of the hunchbacked painter. He must have finished the work, settled the bill with the employer, and left. I asked a few people, but they all said they didn't know who the employer was, and no one knew the whereabouts of the hunchbacked painter. I regretted it very much. At that time, I was only concerned with asking him for help, and I didn't leave any information about the painter. Now, where could I find him? When I asked about the wages, the hunchbacked painter was easy to talk to about everything, but now that he's gone, it's no use saying anything!

Two days later, I passed by the entrance of the guard room and was stopped by the security guard, Old Chen (老陈). Old Chen (老陈) actually took out the painted cover from the side of the wall in the back room and told me that it was entrusted to him by the hunchbacked painter. Old Chen (老陈) said that after finishing the work that afternoon, the painter asked everyone he met about the owner of the cover, but everyone shook their heads and said they didn't know. He sat in the guard room waiting until Old Chen (老陈) came to take over the shift when it was almost dark, and then handed the cover to Old Chen (老陈). Because Old Chen (老陈) knew that I had asked the painter to paint the cover, he agreed to keep it for me. He was still not at ease, and stubbornly insisted that Old Chen (老陈) write a blank receipt before entrusting the cover to him. "Tell me, isn't this person a bit strange?" Old Chen (老陈) was very puzzled.

"How much?" I asked Old Chen (老陈).

Old Chen (老陈) looked blank: "What money?"

"The wages."

"I thought you had already settled the bill." Old Chen (老陈) suddenly realized, "He didn't say anything, and I didn't ask."

My heart was suddenly struck by something, and my throat felt blocked, unable to speak. I picked up the cover and went home dejectedly.

To this day, I still don't know the hunchbacked painter's name or where he lives. However, every winter when I sit near the red-covered stove frame, I feel a special warmth, and the figure of the old man seems to reappear before my eyes...

Return to Top

Many years later.

By: 王富祥

Original Article Return to Top

Years later, green and rivers

  Reconciled

  Planning those raised sand dunes into banks

  Exclusively for migrating birds to perch

  Slightly lower terrain, accumulating some rainwater

  When the wind is calm and the waves are still, raising large and plump clouds

  In flat terrain, plant large fields of wheat

  Plant large fields of organic plants

  Leave a small piece of farmland, to openly sculpt a group of

  Desertification control workers who have passed away

  Let the passing breeze linger

Return to Top

Photo Story

Original Article Return to Top

Chinese painting "A Curtain of Subtle Fragrance," by Wang Deshun (王德舜).

Return to Top

That Star in the Sky

By: 陈涌泉

Original Article Return to Top

Whenever the moon of the sixteenth day of the lunar month rises, I think of my mother, gazing at the bright moon, as if I see my mother in the clouds, watching me with loving eyes, her gentle gaze turning into moonlight, comforting the longing in my heart.

From the time I can remember, my family was very poor. My father was weak and often went out to make a living, so the burden of the family fell on my mother. The four of us brothers were mainly raised by our mother. In order to earn more work points, my mother often carried a young child in one arm and a manure bucket of the production team on one shoulder to fertilize the fields; sometimes she had to take the child to the fields to work, hoeing one row of land and quickly going to the edge of the field to breastfeed. After a busy day, after the children were asleep, my mother would sit down to spin cotton.

In that era of food scarcity, our staple food was sweet potato. My mother could make sweet potatoes in many ways: steamed sweet potatoes, roasted sweet potatoes, boiled sweet potatoes, and shredded sweet potatoes. Steamed sweet potatoes were cut into slices, dried in the sun, and given to us as snacks, further processed, mixed with sand and fried in a pot, becoming crispy, fragrant, and sweet. Sweet potato dried and ground into flour could be used to make soup, noodles, and steamed buns. Perhaps because of eating sweet potatoes for a long time, my mother developed a stomach illness, and stomach pains often occurred. She endured the pain, holding her stomach with one hand, while still not delaying her work. Even the work usually done by men, she could still do: drawing water from the well, weaving mats with sorghum stalks, making jars out of mud to store grain...

In order to supplement the family income, my mother opened a small vegetable garden on our homestead, planting amaranth, peppers, and eggplants. My family lived at the intersection of the village, and whenever passing villagers wanted vegetables, my mother always gave them to them with a smile. However, once, my older brother had a high fever, and my mother wanted to borrow two scallions from someone else's house to reduce the fever for her child, but they only gave her a few leftover dried scallion roots. My mother did not change herself because of other people's stinginess, and afterwards, she continued to generously give away the vegetables she grew to her neighbors.

My mother was illiterate, but she could tell many opera stories and folk tales. On summer nights after the rain, the Milky Way was like a ribbon, and the sounds of frogs and insects intertwined into beautiful melodies. Lying on a small bed temporarily set up in the small courtyard, looking up at the starry sky, my mother would point out to me which one was Altair, which one was Vega, and tell me the tragic love story of the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl. My mother also told me that a star in the sky corresponds to a person on the ground, and bright stars correspond to important people, while small stars correspond to unimportant people. My mother's stories aroused my curiosity, and I listened while widening my eyes and trying to find in the sky which star corresponded to me. On long winter nights, after the kerosene lamp was extinguished, lying in bed, my mother would tell me "Zhu Yuanzhang (朱元璋) Seeking a Bride," "Wang Baochuan (王宝钏) Guarding the Cold Kiln"... Especially the story of the old monkey spirit, the plot was full of ups and downs, and my mother told it vividly, taking me into a magical world. Many years later, when I saw the Brothers Grimm's "Little Red Riding Hood," I still felt that it was not as wonderful as my mother's "Old Monkey Spirit." Those stories about courage and wisdom not only dispelled the cold, but also sowed seeds of perseverance and kindness in my young heart, and unconsciously completed my literary enlightenment.

When I was in elementary school, during festivals and slack farming seasons, our village and the surrounding villages would perform operas, and my mother took me to see many performances. When the characters in my mother's stories suddenly stood vividly before my eyes, it was truly a wonderful feeling. At that time, most of the rural performances were serial dramas, such as the "Investiture of the Gods" series, the "Generals of the Yang Family" series, and the "Bao Gong (包公)" series. The colorful facial makeup and costumes on the stage opened up a colorful world for me, and the actors' wonderful performances made me fascinated, sometimes generous and tragic, sometimes humorous, and the ups and downs of the plot made me burst into tears at times and couldn't help but laugh at others. When I didn't understand something, my mother would explain it to me in a soft voice. Under my mother's influence, I gained a preliminary understanding of the breadth and depth of Chinese opera and fell deeply in love with opera. After graduating from university, when opera was at its lowest ebb, I took the initiative to choose to join the troupe to write plays, largely thanks to my mother's subtle influence and silent nurturing in those years.

But what I never expected was that many years later, because of the play, my mother dedicated her last life to me!

In the spring of 2004, "Cheng Ying Saves the Orphan" (程婴救孤), which I created for the Henan Yu Opera Troupe II (河南省豫剧二团), was selected as an entry for the 11th Wenhua Award (文华奖), and the entire troupe was determined to launch an assault on the Wenhua Grand Prize. I repeatedly revised the script, striving for perfection in every detail. At that time, my son was only half a year old, and my wife was teaching in middle school, leaving early and returning late, which was very hard. In order to support me in devoting myself to creation, my 75-year-old mother, regardless of her old age, came to Zhengzhou (郑州) to help me take care of the child and do housework. She comforted me and said, "You can write your play with peace of mind, I'll take care of the family." During those tense days, my mother was my strong backing. But what I never expected was that the script of fate was so cruel - when the play was finally revised and put on the stage, my mother fell ill before she had time to take a look at it. At first, it was just a headache and fever, and I thought it was a cold. When I took my mother to the hospital, I still had the train ticket to Hangzhou (杭州) in my pocket, optimistically thinking that a shot and some medicine would be fine. Unexpectedly, the doctor diagnosed it as encephalitis! I was immediately thunderstruck and anxious. The crew set off, and I had to cancel the train ticket and stay by the bedside day and night, praying for a miracle to happen. However, my mother became weaker and weaker, and her condition deteriorated rapidly. The hospital issued several critical illness notices in succession.

News kept coming from the front. "Cheng Ying Saves the Orphan" was successfully staged in Hangzhou, winning the top spot in the "Wenhua Award," achieving a breakthrough of zero in Henan (河南). When the lead actor Li Shujian (李树建) and director Zhang Ping (张平) raised the trophy high at the awards ceremony, when the cast and crew cheered, thousands of miles away in Zhengzhou, I was guarding my unconscious mother in the ward, silently shedding tears, watching my hardworking and kind mother about to reach the end of her life.

The next morning, I walked out of the ward to get some air and saw that the newspaper published the news of "Cheng Ying Saves the Orphan" winning the award in a prominent position. I bought a newspaper at the newsstand and brought it to the ward, intending to tell my mother this news, because her great efforts were in this achievement. But after entering the ward, I didn't mention a word, and I had no interest in saying anything at all. No achievement was worth mentioning in the face of my mother's life! I silently stuffed the newspaper under my mother's pillow, hoping that my sleeping mother could feel something.

My brothers and I knew that our mother wanted to **落叶归根** (luò yè guī gēn - "fallen leaves return to their roots," to return to one's origin). Seeing that the doctors were helpless, we had no choice but to decide to take our mother home. That day was the fourteenth day of the eighth lunar month. When the car left Zhengzhou, a bright moon was slowly rising, and the bright moonlight sprinkled on the vast Central Plains (中原) land, accompanying us all the way to the land that my mother dreamed of - her hometown Tanghe (唐河). I watched my mother in the car and couldn't stop crying, constantly telling the driver to drive steadily. Four months ago, my mother came to Zhengzhou healthy; four months later, she returned to her hometown in this state! If it weren't for this play, my mother might not have left her peaceful rural life; if I hadn't rushed to revise the script and made my mother so tired, my mother might not have gotten sick... I regretted it so much! I knew that the closer I got to my hometown, the farther my mother would be from me.

Back in Tanghe, it was the morning of the fifteenth day of the eighth lunar month. We sent our mother to the county hospital, more to quietly await that moment than to expect a miracle to happen.

On the evening of the sixteenth day of the eighth lunar month, when the moon rose, my mother, who had worked hard all her life and suffered all her life, passed away peacefully, her breath blending into the moonlight outside the window...

That night, on the way back to the village, a bright moon hung high in the sky, and the white and clear moonlight illuminated the entire earth, as if it were white silk falling from the sky, mourning my hard-working mother. Sitting next to my mother, stroking her still warm body, my mind was blank, and I only heard my brothers and sisters-in-law calling out as the car turned and crossed the bridge: "Mom, we're home! Mom, we're crossing the bridge!"

My mother returned to the earth, and a new grave was added to the fields north of Chengang Village (陈岗村). My tears had probably already run out, and I didn't cry again when my mother was buried. The autumn wind was bleak in the wilderness. I knelt in front of my mother's grave and burned the script of "Cheng Ying Saves the Orphan." The paper ashes swirled and scattered in the green smoke, and my heart was full of desolation. A year ago, my father had just passed away, and now my mother had left me again. Cheng Ying saved the orphan in the play, but outside the play, I became an "orphan"!

What can be comforting to my mother is that "Cheng Ying Saves the Orphan" is not only loved by the audience, and the arias are sung in the streets and alleys, but it has also been performed in many countries around the world, and the melody of the Bangzi (梆子) tune resounds throughout the world. Every aria in the play echoes the son's longing for his mother, and every line conveys the son's words to his mother.

At first, my mother only told me that a star in the sky corresponds to a person on the ground. I want to know, if this person on the ground passes away, what will happen to the star in the sky? I believe the star must still be there and has been transformed into eternity, always gazing at me affectionately in the sky.

Return to Top

Yao Momo (Duo Wei Zhai)

By: 乔忠延

Original Article Return to Top

Speaking of staple foods, everyone says Shanxi (山西) is the best. Having tasted Shanxi (山西) staple foods, who wouldn't praise Yao Momos (尧馍馍)? Yao Momo (尧馍馍) used to be a general term in my hometown, Linfen (临汾), for steamed buns, rolls, and other wheat-based foods. Linfen (临汾) was known as Pingyang (平阳) in ancient times, which was the capital of Emperor Yao (尧). Yao Momos (尧馍馍) are made at home and sold in restaurants. In recent years, some old shops have specially applied for and been awarded the title of "Time-Honored Brand."

When I was a child, I often heard adults say that thin porridge is not as good as thick porridge, and thick porridge is not as filling as a Momo (馍). Farmers are frugal in their daily lives. They drink thin porridge in the idle winter, eat thick porridge during spring planting, and only when it comes to the summer harvest and planting season do they willingly eat Momos (馍馍). Undoubtedly, Yao Momo (尧馍馍) is the most filling and delicious food in my hometown. The villagers say, "Eat one, and you want to eat another, so delicious!" The teacher explained "delicious" as "fragrant and mildly sweet." When the Momo (馍馍) is steamed, lifting the lid of the steamer releases a fragrance that spreads wherever the steam goes. In winter, with the door curtain closed, the fragrance fills the room. In summer, the fragrance drifts through the bamboo curtain, shared by neighbors. The mild sweetness is the feeling of eating Yao Momo (尧馍馍). A bite with the teeth, a touch with the tongue, and a faint sweetness instantly flows through the whole body. This fragrant and mildly sweet taste is quite in line with the identity of farmers who value both farming and reading, simple and unadorned, with pure and beautiful quality.

Yao Momo (尧馍馍) has a lingering fragrance and nourishes the body and mind. Although not precious in material value, it is still cherished. It is cherished because the villagers ingeniously incorporate their wishes and expectations into the diverse shapes of the Momos (馍馍). For example, the roll, with a square base and a rounded top, implies the rules of conduct: rectitude to establish oneself, and rules to guide actions, without abandoning rules for the sake of rectitude, nor overstepping the rules for the sake of rules. Loyalty and honesty are passed down through generations, and virtues are inherited for a long time.

During festivals, weddings, and birthdays, friends and relatives exchange gifts, and the best gift is Yao Momo (尧馍馍). The Momo (馍馍) that the younger generation offers to the elders is a longevity cake, with slices of dough wrapped in red dates, layered high, wishing the elders a long life. The Momo (馍馍) that the elders give to the younger generation of children is even more carefully made. For boys, it is a snake-child Momo (蛇娃馍), a round steamed bun with a snake symbolizing a dragon coiled on top, with the intention of hoping that the son will become a dragon; for girls, it is a fish Momo (刺鱼馍), advising them to be as gentle as a fish, but not without any vigilance, and to grow some thorns for self-defense... The people regard food as heaven, Yao Momo (尧馍馍) is not only delicious and filling, but also allows people to fully enjoy the virtues of cultivating the body and mind.

This tradition has been passed down for thousands of years. Every family eats Yao Momo (尧馍馍), and every household steams Yao Momo (尧馍馍). As everyone steams, talented and skilled people emerge, so some people specialize in steaming gift Momos (馍馍), and open Momo (馍) shops and stores with their skills. As the social division of labor becomes more and more refined, specialty stores no longer only sell gift Momos (馍馍), but also sell Momos (馍馍) that every family eats every day. Steaming Momos (馍馍) requires fermenting the dough, preparing the dough, kneading the dough, rolling the dough, shaping it, putting it in the steamer, and steaming it, which is really time-consuming and laborious, so it is better to go to the store to buy them. The sales boom is like thousands of pear trees blooming, with thousands of households vying to buy them, so that takeout has also become popular. Yao Momo (尧馍馍) has caught up with a good era, with unprecedented hot sales. However, merchants are not intoxicated by this hot sale, but further expand according to the needs of the people. The varieties are becoming more and more diverse, and the nutrition is richer. In my hometown, although the seasons cannot be like spring all year round, Yao Momo (尧馍馍) has always been like a brocade of flowers.

Return to Top

Editor in Charge for This Section: Zhou Shuyi

Original Article Return to Top

This edition's email: dadi@peopledaily.cn

  We welcome submissions from our readers. Submissions must be original and submitted for the first time, and not submitted to multiple publications (**一稿多投** (yī gǎo duō tóu - "one manuscript multiple submissions," submitting the same manuscript to multiple publications)).

Return to Top