People's Daily - October 13, 2025

People's Daily - October 13, 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:广告

Page 09版:理论

Page 10版:特别报道

Page 11版:特别报道

Page 12版:政治

Page 13版:生态

Page 14版:体育

Page 15版:专题

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

Every woman is a writer of the times and a striver in pursuit of dreams.

By: 新华社记者

Original Article Return to Top

Women are creators of both material and spiritual civilization and an important force in promoting social development and progress.

Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping (习近平) at its core has been standing at the strategic height of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, planning and promoting the cause of women and the work of the All-China Women's Federation (全国妇联), leading the development of women's cause in the new era to achieve historic achievements, and injecting new impetus into the development of the global women's cause.

Embarking on a new great journey, the broad masses of women are firm in their historical confidence, bravely shoulder historical responsibilities, stride forward at the forefront of the times, and continue to write a new and colorful chapter in promoting gender equality and the comprehensive development of women.

"The cause of women and the work of the All-China Women's Federation (全国妇联) must always adhere to the correct political direction and be of one heart and one mind with the Party."

Dressed in camouflage, holding steel guns, with firm eyes and high spirits!

On September 3, 2025, at the parade commemorating the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, the heroic female militia phalanx marched vigorously across Tiananmen Square (天安门广场), gloriously accepting the review of General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) and the review of the Party and the people.

In the 1930s and 1940s, in the flames of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (中国共产党), the broad masses of women fought bravely and unyieldingly, willingly pouring their blood to nourish China, making outstanding contributions to saving the nation from peril and realizing national independence and people's liberation, fully demonstrating their heroic responsibility.

"Women can hold up half the sky. What a heroic statement this is!" In October 2013, during a collective talk with the new leadership of the All-China Women's Federation (全国妇联), General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) reviewed the "elder sisters" such as Soong Ching Ling (宋庆龄), He Xiangning (何香凝), and Cai Chang (蔡畅) who made outstanding contributions to the country and the nation, praising them as "models of a generation and heroines who emerged in the tide of the times."

Marx believed that there could be no great social change without the enzyme of women.

From Comrade Mao Zedong's (毛泽东) proposal that "the day when women all over the country rise up will be the time when the Chinese revolution triumphs," to Comrade Deng Xiaoping's (邓小平) advocacy that "women are a decisive force in promoting social progress and economic development," and then to General Secretary Xi Jinping's (习近平) emphasis that "the Chinese dream is the dream of the Chinese nation, and it is also the dream of all Chinese women"...

For more than a century, the Communist Party of China (中国共产党) has always adhered to writing the realization of women's liberation and development, and the realization of gender equality on its banner of struggle, always regarding the broad masses of women as an important force in promoting the development of the Party and the people's cause, always placing women's work in an important position, leading the broad masses of women to gain liberation, seek progress, and seek development, and opening up a path of women's development with Chinese characteristics.

Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (中国共产党), General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平), proceeding from the overall situation of the development of the Party and the country, has delivered important speeches and made important instructions and approvals on women's work on many occasions, pointing the direction, setting the position, and clarifying the guidelines for promoting the development of women's cause—

Emphasizing that "adhering to the Party's leadership is the fundamental guarantee for doing a good job in the Party's women's work" and "grasping the theme of the times of the Chinese women's movement to realize the Chinese dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation";

Pointing out that "creating an environment, removing obstacles, and creating conditions for the comprehensive development of women in accordance with laws and regulations" and "striving to make respecting women and caring for children a common practice in the whole society";

Requiring "paying attention to the unique role of women in social life and family life, and giving play to the unique role of women in promoting the family virtues of the Chinese nation and establishing good family traditions";

Calling on "developed countries to increase financial and technical assistance to developing countries, narrow the gap in women's development in various countries" and "accelerate the realization of gender equality and promote the development of the global women's cause";

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General Secretary Xi Jinping's (习近平) important expositions profoundly expound a series of directional, fundamental, and strategic issues concerning the development of women's cause in the new era, deepen our Party's understanding of the laws of women's work, and open up a new realm of the Sinicization and modernization of Marxist women's theory.

The All-China Women's Federation (全国妇联) is the most reliable and effective assistant for our Party to carry out women's work.

Since the new era, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) has attached great importance to the work of the All-China Women's Federation (全国妇联), presided over the first Central Party Group Work Conference in the history of the Party, personally approved the reform plan of the All-China Women's Federation (全国妇联), and held collective talks with the new leadership of the All-China Women's Federation (全国妇联) three times, requiring strengthening and improving the self-construction of women's organizations with the spirit of reform and innovation.

Based on the present and looking to the future, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping (习近平) at its core has been far-sighted and made overall plans, and a series of major decisions and deployments with pioneering, overall, and long-term significance have been implemented—

"Adhering to the basic national policy of equality between men and women and protecting the legitimate rights and interests of women and children" has been continuously written into the reports of the 18th, 19th, and 20th National Congresses of the Communist Party of China (中国共产党), and "paying attention to family education and family style construction and protecting the rights and interests of women and children" has been written into the Party's third historical resolution;

Compiling the Civil Code, amending the Criminal Law, and formulating the Anti-Domestic Violence Law, etc., to build a legal system based on the Constitution, with the Law on the Protection of Women's Rights and Interests as the main body, including more than 100 laws and regulations;

The "13th Five-Year Plan" and the "14th Five-Year Plan" outlines have special chapters on promoting the development of women and children, and the "14th Five-Year Plan" outline has established a special section on "strengthening family construction" for the first time;

On the basis of the basic realization of the goals and tasks of the Outline for the Development of Chinese Women (2011-2020), the "Outline for the Development of Chinese Women (2021-2030)" was issued to continue to deploy the main goals and strategies for women's development in different stages...

Putting the promotion of gender equality and the comprehensive development of women in the overall pattern of coordinating the promotion of the "five-in-one" overall layout and coordinating the promotion of the "four comprehensive" strategic layout, and raising women's work to the political height of consolidating the Party's ruling class foundation and mass foundation, the top-level design of women's cause is more perfect, and the institutional advantages of socialism with Chinese characteristics are fully demonstrated.

The broad masses of women are of one heart and one mind with the Communist Party of China (中国共产党), resonate with the call of the times, and gather the mighty force to promote the construction of a strong country and the great rejuvenation of the nation.

"We must make unremitting efforts to open up broad avenues for the development of women's cause."

In early spring, magnolias bloom and everything sprouts anew.

Before the "March 8th" International Women's Day in 2025, at the joint group meeting of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (全国政协), General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平), on behalf of the CPC Central Committee, extended festive greetings and best wishes to the broad masses of women: "I hope that the broad masses of women will better play the role of holding up half the sky and demonstrate their heroic demeanor in the process of advancing Chinese-style modernization."

When the people's grand meeting arrived as scheduled, female representatives and members of the CPPCC walked into the Great Hall of the People (人民大会堂), actively participated in democratic practice, and actively contributed their strength. Data shows that the proportion of women among the deputies to the 14th National People's Congress (全国人大), members of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (全国政协), and delegates to the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (中国共产党) all reached a new historical high.

Since the new era, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping (习近平) at its core has promoted the close integration of the course of national development and progress with the course of promoting gender equality and development, promoted the synchronous development of women's cause and economic society, and women's cause is in the best period with a better development environment, a broader stage for doing things, and more guaranteed rights and interests.

Sharing the fruits of modernization construction, women in the new era continue to realize their aspirations for a better life—

The road to prosperity is constantly expanding: Winning a complete victory in the battle against poverty, continuing to support women who have been lifted out of poverty and rural low-income women to develop production, expand employment, and increase income, giving priority to ensuring special groups such as pregnant women and children, paying attention to ensuring vulnerable groups such as elderly women and disabled women, and effectively breaking the bottlenecks in women's development.

The flowers of health continue to bloom: From 2012 to 2023, the average annual growth rate of health technicians in maternal and child health institutions exceeded 6%, and the maternal and child health service system continued to improve; China's core maternal and child health indicators ranked among the top among middle- and high-income countries in the world, and were listed by the World Health Organization as one of the 10 countries with high performance in maternal and child health.

The light of education is shining brighter: The net enrollment rate of primary school-age girls has remained above 99.9%; in 2024, girls accounted for 50.76% of students enrolled in higher education, of which female graduate students accounted for 50.01%; women enjoy higher quality vocational education and lifelong education.

The foundation of the rule of law is more solid: Improving the legal protection of rural women's land rights; severely cracking down on illegal and criminal acts that infringe on the personal rights of women and girls in accordance with the law, and the number of cases of trafficking in women and children nationwide in 2024 decreased by 95% compared with 2013.

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One pragmatic measure after another continues to evolve from "having" to "excellence" and from "broad" to "deep," and the sense of gain, happiness, and security of the broad masses of women is more substantial, more guaranteed, and more sustainable.

Giving play to the role of "holding up half the sky," women in the new era have watered out fruitful results with hard work—

In Qiandongnan (黔东南), the autumn scenery is picturesque. In the Liping Dongpin Yuan Traditional Craft Farmers Professional Cooperative (黎平侗品源传统工艺农民专业合作社), Lu Yongmei (陆勇妹), the person in charge, is sitting around with her sisters, using beeswax as ink and wax knives as pens to draw exquisite patterns on native cloth.

In March 2025, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) came here during his inspection in Guizhou (贵州). "The General Secretary greeted us kindly and stopped to watch us paint with wax knives," Lu Yongmei (陆勇妹) recalled.

"Did you learn the skills from a young age?" "Are the products popular?" "How many members are there in the cooperative?"... The General Secretary asked carefully, and his earnest care greatly encouraged everyone.

The cooperative continues to carry out manual skill training, driving more and more women from surrounding villages to join in, increasing income and becoming rich through their fingertips, with an output value of 18 million yuan in 2024.

People are the main body of social practice, and the social nature of people determines that they need to realize their own development in the process of promoting social development.

Since the new era, from winning a comprehensive victory in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects and winning the battle against poverty, to fighting the COVID-19 epidemic and building a safe China, and then to promoting scientific and technological innovation and helping green development... the broad masses of women have fully played their main role, shining brightly in the north and south of the country and in all walks of life with the heroic posture of women not yielding to men.

Women are not only promoters of social progress, but also inheritors of family virtues.

"Women should play a greater role in society, and they should play a key role in the family." From the height of the Chinese civilization's "nation-state world," General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) guides women to actively participate in family education and family style construction, and hopes that everyone will "be a new era woman who is responsible to society and contributes to the family."

The family is the smallest country, and the country is thousands of families.

Actively responding to the new expectations and new needs of the people for family construction, earnestly studying the new situations and new problems that have emerged in the family field, and helping women handle the relationship between family and work... Since the new era, the women's work mechanism led by the Party committee, with the government as the main responsible party, coordinated by the Women and Children's Work Committee, linked by the All-China Women's Federation (全国妇联), with the cooperation of multiple departments, and the participation of the whole society has been increasingly improved, and the broad masses of women have played an important role in the construction of family virtues, demonstrating unique wisdom in the integration of family and national responsibilities.

Consolidating the "bridge and link," the All-China Women's Federation (全国妇联) organizations at all levels unswervingly carry out the reform to the end—

In April 2007, less than a month after Comrade Xi Jinping (习近平) took office as the Secretary of the Shanghai Municipal Party Committee (上海市委书记), he made a special trip to the Shanghai Municipal Women's Federation (上海市妇联) for investigation and research.

"As soon as he entered the conference room, he shook hands with each of us." Recalling the scene at that time, Zhang Lili (张丽丽), the then Secretary of the Party Group of the Shanghai Municipal Women's Federation (上海市妇联), still could not hide her excitement.

"We attach importance to the work of the All-China Women's Federation (全国妇联)." "If we do this half of the work well, it will affect the overall situation and the whole," Comrade Xi Jinping's (习近平) exhortation made Zhang Lili (张丽丽) and other comrades attending the meeting deeply feel the heavy responsibility.

The times are changing, the environment is changing, and the women's group is changing. The All-China Women's Federation (全国妇联) organizations adhere to the problem-oriented approach, make up for shortcomings, strengthen weaknesses, lay the foundation, and steadily promote the Party's various constructions.

In 2016, the General Office of the CPC Central Committee issued the "Reform Plan of the All-China Women's Federation (全国妇联)". In 2021 and 2025, the All-China Women's Federation (全国妇联) successively issued the "Reform Plan for Deepening the All-China Women's Federation (全国妇联) System during the 14th Five-Year Plan Period" and the "Opinions on Further Comprehensively Deepening the Reform of the All-China Women's Federation (全国妇联) Organization Construction and Giving Full Play to the Role of the Party and the Government as a Bridge and Link Connecting Women." Focusing on the fundamental question of "who to represent, who to contact, and who to serve," establishing a clear orientation of grasping the grassroots level, guiding the use of mass work methods under the new situation, a series of major measures are pragmatic and effective, and the political, advanced, and mass nature of the All-China Women's Federation (全国妇联) organizations are constantly enhanced.

Women's groups, "Women's Homes," "Women's Micro-Homes," and women's councils are all over urban and rural communities; the All-China Women's Federation (全国妇联) organizations in new economic organizations, new social organizations, and new employment groups are developing rapidly, becoming an important front for contacting and serving women; executive committee members of the All-China Women's Federation (全国妇联) at all levels are active at the grassroots level and serve the broad masses of women; a large number of advanced models such as March 8th Red Banner Bearers, "Five Good Families," and "Most Beautiful Families" convey the power of role models, turning into a beautiful landscape on the road to modernization...

Adhering to the use of the Party's innovative theory to condense the soul, the All-China Women's Federation (全国妇联) organizations at all levels are courageous in reform and innovation, serve the overall development situation, enhance unity and union, and women's work is always new and full of vitality.

"We must unswervingly follow the path of women's development with Chinese characteristics. This is the correct path to realize women's equal exercise of democratic rights in accordance with the law, equal participation in economic and social development, and equal enjoyment of the fruits of reform and development," General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) solemnly pointed out.

"There is no liberation and progress of mankind without the liberation and progress of women."

"Let the two of us continue to work hard in the north and south of the motherland! Truly achieve 'a single heart facing the sun'!"

Before the "July 1st" in 2025, Lu Shengmei (路生梅) and Zhang Guimei (张桂梅), two "red plums" deeply rooted in the north and south of the motherland, once again sent letters to each other to encourage each other.

One is a benevolent doctor, and the other is a torch-lighting principal. General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) personally awarded them medals and awards. Today, from the Loess Plateau to the mountains of western Yunnan, they are still fighting in the places where the Party and the people need them most.

Behind the two outstanding women is the magnificent picture of the Chinese women's group carrying on the past and forging ahead.

"Today, we are facing more arduous tasks and more ambitious goals, and we need the broad masses of women in our country to contribute their wisdom and strength." General Secretary Xi Jinping's (习近平) deep expectations inspire women in the new era to move forward on the road of national rejuvenation.

Opening an organic life experience hall, developing ecological pastures, and leisure agriculture... Wang Yinxiang (王银香), the secretary of the Wulidun Village (五里墩村) Party Branch in Caoxian County (曹县), Heze City (菏泽市), Shandong Province (山东省), is working non-stop to lead the villagers to promote the comprehensive revitalization of the countryside. The old lady in her 60s is full of energy.

"It was the General Secretary who encouraged us! The General Secretary said to me, 'A good play depends on the actors.'" Wang Yinxiang (王银香) will never forget that unforgettable exchange.

On March 8, 2018, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) participated in the deliberation of the Shandong delegation to the National People's Congress (全国人代会). Wang Yinxiang (王银香) spoke on the spot: "Party members must take the lead in dedication, and the branch secretary must rush to the front."

An unprecedentedly broad stage, an unprecedented historical opportunity.

"In the process of the Chinese people pursuing a better life, every woman has the opportunity to shine in her life and realize her dreams." General Secretary Xi Jinping's (习近平) deep expectations give women the confidence and strength to move forward and pursue their dreams.

The autumn wind blows across the vast black land. Liu Fengyan (刘凤艳), an agricultural science expert in Heilongjiang (黑龙江), is running around in the fields, "smelling the soil and loving the seedlings," using sweat and wisdom to guard the granary of a great power;

On the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (青藏高原) with an average altitude of more than 4,000 meters, Qide (其德), the secretary of the Porongtang Village (坡荣塘村) Party Branch in Jiangmian Township (江绵乡), Baqing County (巴青县), Nagqu City (那曲市), visits households to learn about the people's conditions, engraving the oath of "benefiting this land with a lifetime" into the towering snow-capped mountains;

On the hot land of reform and opening up, Huang Hui (黄惠), the dean of the School of Computer and Software of Shenzhen University (深圳大学), leads a "heroic team" to pursue their dreams in the tide of innovative development, striving to achieve better economic and social benefits through digital technology;

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Self-respect, self-confidence, self-reliance, and self-improvement: the vast number of women promote the spirit of patriotism and dedication, transforming the Party's propositions into conscious pursuits and practical actions. On the new journey of comprehensively building a modern socialist country, they strive to be "builders of a great cause, advocates of civilized customs, and strivers who dare to pursue dreams."

They not only develop themselves but also actively embrace the world, contributing feminine wisdom and strength to the global women's cause with a broader international perspective.

On the eve of the 2023 "June 1st" International Children's Day, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) replied to a letter from Bangladeshi girl Alifa Chin, encouraging her to study hard, pursue her dreams, and carry forward the traditional friendship between China and Bangladesh.

This special friendship began with a life-saving mission by the Chinese Navy's "Peace Ark" hospital ship. In Chittagong (吉大港), Bangladesh, a Chinese female military doctor used her superb skills to protect the life of a high-risk pregnant woman, and the newborn was named Alifa Chin.

The girl aspires to be an envoy of friendship between China and Bangladesh when she grows up, and hopes to study medicine in China in the future, to heal the wounded and rescue the dying like her "Chinese mother"—this is a seed of dream, and also a beam of light shining towards the future.

"There can be no liberation and progress of mankind without the liberation and progress of women."

"There is still a long way to go and greater efforts are needed to build a world where women are free from discrimination and to create an inclusive and developing society." General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) called on all countries to continue to work together and widely carry out international development cooperation in the field of women.

In 1995, the *Beijing Declaration* and the *Platform for Action* adopted by the Fourth United Nations World Conference on Women profoundly influenced the development of the global women's cause.

In 2015 and 2020, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) attended the Global Women's Summit and the High-level Meeting of the United Nations General Assembly on the 25th Anniversary of the Beijing World Conference on Women, respectively, and put forward four proposals, outlining a blueprint for the development of the global women's cause.

This year, to implement the important initiative proposed by General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平), the Global Women's Summit will be held again in Beijing (北京) to work with all parties to discuss the major plan for global women's development, accelerate the new process of women's comprehensive development, and let the sunshine of equality and development shine on every corner of the world.

"Build and share a better world for all women and for all people!" The Chinese Communists of the new era have erected a new milestone in the history of the international women's movement with the broad mind of "a community with a shared future."

On February 24, at the thematic seminar "Commemorating the Thirtieth Anniversary of the *Beijing Declaration* and the *Platform for Action*" at the 58th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, Liu Yang (刘洋), China's first female astronaut to enter space, delivered a keynote speech via video as a representative of outstanding women in the world: "When the Shenzhou spacecraft engine is ignited, what I feel is not only the shock of 600 tons of thrust, but also the power of hundreds of millions of Chinese women holding it up."

More than five months later, in the Gobi Desert (戈壁) in Northwest China, the "Chinese Women" rocket rose into the sky, drawing a magnificent arc in the blue sky. The Milky Way is hot, and the journey is like a song.

Under the strong leadership of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping (习近平) at its core, the vast number of women are striding forward. The Chinese women's cause and the global women's cause are working together to create new glories and write new honors on the road of promoting the construction of a community with a shared future for mankind!

(Xinhua News Agency, Beijing (北京), October 12)

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Multilingual Editions of "Excerpts from Xi Jinping's Discourses on Women, Children, and the Work of the Women's Federation" and "Excerpts from Xi Jinping's Discourses on Emphasizing Family, Family Education, and Family Traditions" Published

Original Article Return to Top

Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, October 12th. The Russian, French, Spanish, and Arabic versions of "Excerpts from Xi Jinping's (习近平) Discourses on Women, Children, and the Work of the All-China Women's Federation" and "Excerpts from Xi Jinping's (习近平) Discourses on Emphasizing Family, Family Education, and Family Traditions," translated by the Institute of Party History and Literature of the CPC Central Committee (中共中央党史和文献研究院), have recently been published by the Central Compilation & Translation Press (中央编译出版社) and are being distributed both domestically and internationally.

"Excerpts from Xi Jinping's (习近平) Discourses on Women, Children, and the Work of the All-China Women's Federation" and "Excerpts from Xi Jinping's (习近平) Discourses on Emphasizing Family, Family Education, and Family Traditions" were compiled by the Institute of Party History and Literature of the CPC Central Committee (中共中央党史和文献研究院) and respectively include a series of important discourses by General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) focusing on women, children, and the work of the All-China Women's Federation (全国妇女联合会), and on emphasizing family, family education, and family traditions. This series of important discourses represents a significant achievement in adhering to the "integration of two aspects" and promoting theoretical innovation in the fields of women, children, and families, providing a powerful ideological weapon and scientific action guide for the high-quality development of the cause of women and children and the work of family, family education, and family traditions in the new era.

On the eve of the Global Summit of Women, the publication and distribution of the Russian, French, Spanish, and Arabic versions of these two works, along with the previously published English version, will help foreign readers deeply understand the rich connotations of General Secretary Xi Jinping's (习近平) relevant important discourses, gain an in-depth understanding of Chinese wisdom, Chinese propositions, and Chinese solutions for promoting global gender equality and the comprehensive development of women, and will be of great significance for further enhancing the international community's common understanding of strengthening global cooperation in women's affairs, promoting the development of global women's affairs, and working together to build a community of common destiny for mankind.

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Pioneering a New Landscape of Integrated Urban-Rural Development (Striving Ahead, Decisively Winning the "14th Five-Year Plan")

By: 本报记者 邓剑洋

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"We basically have everything the city has; we even have some things the city doesn't have." In Taoyuan Village (桃园村), Yanguan Town (盐官镇), Haining City (海宁市), Zhejiang Province (浙江省), villagers are full of praise when talking about their new lives.

From muddy and potholed roads and silted river channels to clean roads and pleasant scenery, with professional sports venues, B&Bs, bookstores, and camping bases built... Living in Taoyuan Village (桃园村), one can enjoy a convenient life similar to that in the city. Today, Taoyuan Village (桃园村) attracts waves of tourists and also attracts many young people who have gone out to work to return to their hometowns to start businesses.

The changes in Taoyuan Village (桃园村) reflect the profound changes in China's urban-rural relations.

General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) emphasized: "To do a good job in this grand article of the rural revitalization strategy, we must take the road of integrated urban-rural development."

Integrated urban-rural development is an inevitable requirement of Chinese-style modernization. Promoting integrated urban-rural development is not only a key measure to solve the problem of unbalanced urban-rural development and insufficient rural development, but also an inevitable choice to promote high-quality economic and social development and achieve common prosperity for all the people.

In recent years, all regions and departments have planned cities and villages as a whole in terms of planning layout, factor allocation, and industrial development, promoted the construction of new urbanization with counties as important carriers, solidly promoted the comprehensive revitalization of the countryside, enabled urban and rural residents to share a high-quality and beautiful life, and built a new pattern of integrated urban-rural development.

——Coordinate the promotion of new urbanization and comprehensive rural revitalization, focusing on grasping the counties located at the "tail of the city and the head of the countryside," and promote industrial revitalization, county strengthening, and people enrichment in an integrated manner.

Driving south from Feixi County (肥西县) in Anhui Province (安徽省), you will soon arrive at Jianggang Village (蒋岗村). In the pond,游船(yóuchuán) are fully loaded with tourists; on the ridges, students participating in study tours hold paintbrushes, and a rural picture jumps into view.

"Land has rent, work has wages, and there are dividends at the end of the year. You can earn money at your doorstep," said villager Zheng Chengsheng (郑成胜). Jianggang Village (蒋岗村) promotes the integration of agriculture, culture, and tourism through party organizations leading cooperatives, and the village's collective income is expected to exceed 6.5 million yuan this year.

In Feixi County (肥西县), where the regional GDP exceeds 100 billion yuan, it is not only the cultural tourism industry that is booming. The new energy vehicle industry has gathered nearly 200 upstream and downstream industrial chain enterprises, with a full production value of over 200 billion yuan; the bio-pharmaceutical industry is accelerating its development, and the construction of the Yangtze River Delta G60 Science and Technology Innovation Corridor Pharmaceutical Valley Science and Technology Industrial Park is accelerating...

Small counties contain great opportunities. "Trillion-yuan counties" are an important window for observing the county economy, and county economies with their own characteristics write a new chapter in integrated urban-rural development.

——Adhere to a people-centered approach, respond to urgent needs and difficulties, and new policies and measures allow migrant workers to live a better life in the city.

In the afternoon, in the knitting hut of Jinpeng Community (金鹏社区), Xiyuan Street (西园街道), Dalate Banner (达拉特旗), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region (内蒙古自治区), migrant worker Hao Xia (郝霞) is carefully knitting handmade coasters.

Coming from the countryside to work in the city, Hao Xia (郝霞) established a studio with her love for handmade knitting, driving hundreds of women to achieve employment and income growth. However, working in the city, problems such as children's schooling and family medical treatment once troubled her.

With the orderly promotion of the urbanization of agricultural transfer population in the local area, Hao Xia's (郝霞) family bought a house in the city. "My child was admitted to university, and I have medical insurance and pension insurance. I feel much more at ease," she said.

Currently, China is further deepening the reform of the household registration system and implementing a new round of action to urbanize the agricultural transfer population. At the end of 2024, the urbanization rate of China's permanent residents reached 67%, and the proportion of migrant workers' children in compulsory education attending public schools or enjoying government-purchased places reached 97%. The national basic pension insurance covers 1.07 billion people. Foreign builders are better integrated into the city and share the fruits of reform and development.

——Focusing on accelerating the efforts to make up for the shortcomings in rural people's livelihoods, we will continue to promote the integration of urban and rural infrastructure and the equalization of public services, and improve the level of modern life in rural areas.

Turn on the tap, and clear tap water flows out. "In the past, we drank well water, which was troublesome to fetch and the water quality was unstable; now the tap water has stable pressure and clear water quality, so we can drink it with peace of mind," said Tursunjiang Kurbanjiang (吐尔逊江·库尔班江), a villager in Xiaonai Village (肖乃村), Jinghe County (精河县), Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (新疆维吾尔自治区).

In the Jinghe County (精河县) urban-rural integrated water plant, gurgling clear water flows from here to thousands of households. "We have established an efficient water supply chain covering urban and rural areas, serving a total population of 134,000 people. The popularization rate of tap water and the water quality compliance rate in the county have reached 100%," said the relevant person in charge of the Jinghe County (精河县) Water Conservancy Bureau.

Rural construction actions are steadily advancing. At present, the popularization rate of rural sanitary toilets in the country is about 76%, the popularization rate of rural tap water has reached 94%, 100% of administrative villages have access to broadband, and more than 90% have access to 5G... One reform measure after another is being implemented in detail, infrastructure and public services are accelerating their extension to rural areas, and the appearance of rural areas is constantly improving.

By deeply studying and applying the experience of the "Thousand Villages Demonstration, Ten Thousand Villages Renovation" Project ( “千万工程”), improving the system and mechanism for integrated urban-rural development, coordinating new urbanization and comprehensive rural revitalization, and better leveraging the role of counties in connecting cities and driving villages, we will surely steadily promote common prosperity in integrated urban-rural development.

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The dialectics of high-quality development on China's high-speed rail (New development philosophy leads high-quality development - stories from the front lines)

By: 本报记者 李心萍

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"Flying close to the ground," the superconducting electric high-speed maglev train makes a dazzling debut.

At the 12th World High-Speed Rail Congress, CRRC (中国中车) exhibited its 600 km/h superconducting electric high-speed maglev train for the first time. At low speeds, the train travels on rubber wheels. Once the speed reaches 150 km/h, the rubber wheels retract, and the train levitates.

In Hubei (湖北) in the middle of this year, the CR450 EMU prototype was very quiet. As the numbers on the display screen climbed to 450 kilometers per hour, applause erupted in the carriage, and the world's fastest high-speed train successfully reached its speed target.

From scratch, from introduction, digestion, absorption, and re-innovation to independent innovation and leading the world, high-speed rail has achieved "acceleration" on Chinese soil.

President Xi Jinping (习近平) has repeatedly praised it with deep affection: "High-speed rail is a bright calling card for China's equipment manufacturing," "The Fuxing (复兴号) high-speed train has taken a key step from catching up to leading," and "High-speed rail technology has set an international benchmark."

From this, we can read the dialectic of high-quality development in the new era, where China insists on unifying quality and scale effects.

From Scratch

Leveraging Scale Effects to Achieve Industrial Breakthroughs

On August 22, CRRC (中国中车) disclosed its semi-annual report, showing that its net profit attributable to the parent company increased by 72.48% in the first half of this year, with newly signed overseas orders of approximately 30.9 billion yuan, maintaining its position as the world's largest supplier of rail transit equipment.

Looking back, it feels even more difficult.

In 1964, while China was still committed to developing and upgrading steam locomotives and internal combustion locomotives, Japan had already built the Shinkansen. This was the world's first high-speed railway, with a maximum operating speed of 210 kilometers per hour, a full 44 years earlier than China.

Change began with an ambitious plan.

In January 2004, the "Medium and Long-Term Railway Network Plan" was introduced, proposing the construction of a "four vertical and four horizontal" passenger dedicated line network, with a mileage of 12,000 kilometers.

"The proposal of this grand blueprint made rail transit manufacturers around the world realize that an unprecedented huge market was about to be born in China," said Sun Yongcai (孙永才), Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of CRRC (中国中车).

A large market attracts visitors from all directions.

French Alstom joined hands with CRRC Changchun (中车长客), Japanese Kawasaki cooperated with CRRC Sifang (中车四方). Through joint ventures and joint construction, CRRC (中国中车) learned from each other's strengths and studied various advanced technologies; adhering to the 1:7 principle, that is, for every 1 yuan of funds used to introduce technology, 7 yuan of funds must be invested in independent innovation... Adhering to the concept of introduction, digestion, absorption, and innovation, the Harmony (和谐号) EMU train was officially launched in 2007, and China began to emerge in the global rail transit market.

Since then, CRRC (中国中车) has ushered in a period of rapid development.

As a country with a huge population and vast land area, people's expectations for convenient travel have spurred China's huge market demand for high-speed rail. Since the "14th Five-Year Plan," China's fixed asset investment in railways has been nearly 4 trillion yuan.

As of the end of last year, China's high-speed rail operating mileage exceeded 48,000 kilometers, covering 97% of cities with a population of more than 500,000, becoming the country with the longest high-speed rail operating mileage in the world, with more than 4,800 standard EMU trains put into operation.

Driven by the large market, CRRC (中国中车) has become the world's largest supplier of rail transit equipment, and its products have gone from China to the world, selling to more than 30 countries and regions in the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Europe, and other regions.

From learning to walk to becoming the world's largest, a history of CRRC's (中国中车) development reflects a history of rail transit.

From Good to Excellent

Adhering to Quality First, Opening the Road to Self-Reliance

"Key core technologies cannot be obtained, bought, or begged for. The purpose of introducing, digesting, and absorbing is independent innovation," said Sun Yongcai (孙永才).

Without a testing platform, we developed our own; unable to buy network chips, we developed our own; steel rails did not meet the standards, domestic steel companies jointly tackled the problem and broke through more than 100 patented technologies... Finally, among the 254 important standards adopted by the Fuxing (复兴号) EMU train, Chinese standards accounted for 84%.

In order to reduce the train's 3-decibel passenger compartment noise, more than 3,000 tests were conducted; in order to reduce aerodynamic resistance, more than 40 solutions were compared... For a full 5 years, after 503 simulation calculations, 5,278 ground tests, and 2,362 line tests, the Fuxing (复兴号) became the first in the world to achieve commercial operation at a speed of 350 kilometers per hour.

"The advent of the Fuxing (复兴号) marks that China's railway equipment technology has reached the world's leading level, opening a new era of leading the development of high-speed railway passenger transport equipment in the world," said Sun Yongcai (孙永才).

Relying on technological innovation, China's high-speed rail technology has set an international benchmark.

At present, China Railway has presided over or participated in the formulation of more than 300 international standards, and all 13 system-level standards in the high-speed rail field of the International Railway Union are presided over by China Railway.

Development never stops. "In recent years, we have insisted on an average annual R&D investment of more than 10 billion yuan, continuously strengthening our strengths and making up for our weaknesses, and striving to achieve effective improvement in quality and reasonable growth in quantity," said Sun Yongcai (孙永才).

Striving to reach the peak of technological innovation - in March this year, CRRC (中国中车) developed China's high-speed EMU aerodynamic intelligent simulation large model, promoting high-speed train aerodynamic simulation calculation from "day-level" to "second-level," and China's high-speed train research and development has entered a new stage of artificial intelligence.

Thickening the background color of green development - developing carbon fiber subway trains, reducing the weight of the entire train by 13%, and saving 1.5 kWh of electricity per kilometer; rolling off the production line of hydrogen energy (hybrid) powered locomotives, using "drainage" instead of "carbon emissions," each locomotive reduces carbon emissions by an average of the equivalent of planting 60,000 trees per year.

Sailing overseas to serve the world - the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway (雅万高铁) has been in operation for a full year, with an occupancy rate of 99.6%; the first EMU train of the Hungary-Serbia Railway (匈塞铁路) officially debuted, and China's high-speed EMU train served Europe for the first time; successfully won the Dubai Metro Blue Line project... Data shows that CRRC's (中国中车) new international business orders in 2024 are approximately 47.2 billion yuan, breaking the historical record.

From "CRRC looking at the world" to "the world looking at CRRC," China's high-speed rail has achieved a gorgeous transformation from following to leading.

From Excellent to Strong

Coordinating Quality and Quantity to Achieve Greater Development

Looking at China's high-speed rail through CRRC (中国中车), adhering to quality first and achieving qualitative change through the accumulation of quantitative change, China's high-speed rail has stood in the center of the world stage.

Looking at the total amount, data from the State Railway Association shows that China's high-speed rail mileage currently accounts for more than 70% of the world's total high-speed rail mileage.

Looking at the quality, the CR450 EMU is leading the global high-speed rail trend. "The CR450 EMU is not only fast, but also smarter and greener," said Feng Jianghua (冯江华), chief scientist of CRRC (中国中车).

Smarter - The CR450 EMU is equipped with intelligent monitoring and intelligent diagnosis systems. More than 4,000 monitoring points throughout the train collect data such as axle temperature and pressure in real time, achieving self-perception, self-diagnosis, and self-decision-making.

Greener - Using new materials such as carbon fiber composite materials and magnesium alloys, the CR450 EMU reduces weight by about 10%, and the operating resistance and energy consumption indicators are reduced by 22% and 20% respectively.

Looking at China's manufacturing through China's high-speed rail, the ballast stone of the real economy is becoming more and more solid.

The scale continues to expand. Since the "14th Five-Year Plan," the added value of manufacturing has exceeded 30 trillion yuan every year, and it has been firmly sitting on the "top spot" of global manufacturing for 15 consecutive years, with the output of more than 200 major industrial products ranking first in the world.

The level is constantly improving. The first domestically produced large cruise ship "Adora Magic City" (爱达·魔都号), the first Chinese space station "Tiangong" (天宫), the first domestically produced large aircraft C919 developed in accordance with international common airworthiness standards... These "first ship," "first station," and "first time" demonstrate major breakthroughs in Chinese manufacturing. Today's China is making fewer and fewer things that it cannot make, and better and better things that it can make.

Looking at the Chinese economy through Chinese manufacturing, we see the quantitative increase and qualitative improvement of the Chinese economy.

Quantity, reasonable growth. In 2024, China's economic aggregate will exceed 130 trillion yuan, and the increase is equivalent to the annual total of a medium-sized economy. In the first half of this year, the gross domestic product increased by 5.3% year-on-year, which is higher than the level of the same period last year and the whole year of last year. It ranks among the top among major economies in the world, and the growth is stable and rising.

Quality, effective improvement. In 2024, China's innovation ranking in the world will be eleventh, and it is one of the economies with the fastest increase in innovation in the past 10 years; it has 26 global top 100 science and technology innovation clusters, ranking first in the world. On the basis of maintaining a reasonable growth in quantity, the Chinese economy is promoting demand upgrading, structural upgrading, and kinetic energy upgrading, and constantly expanding new spaces.

"Unifying effective quality improvement and reasonable quantity growth in the entire process of high-quality development." At present, although the international environment is complex and volatile, as long as we maintain our strategic focus and unswervingly do our own thing well, we will definitely be able to turn crises into opportunities and promote the steady and long-term development of the Chinese economy.

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China's express delivery volume exceeds 150 billion this year

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This newspaper Beijing (北京) October 12th (Reporter Han Xin (韩鑫)) State Post Bureau (国家邮政局) monitoring data shows that as of October 11th, China's express delivery volume this year has exceeded 150 billion pieces, 37 days earlier than in 2024. This not only demonstrates the steady growth of China's consumer market and the development trend of economic stability and progress, but also reflects the important role played by the postal express industry in serving the construction of a unified national market.

In Kashgar (喀什), Xinjiang (新疆), a new type of logistics system is constantly being improved, and more commodities such as refrigerators and washing machines are being delivered to various towns and villages. In Liupanshui (六盘水), Guizhou (贵州), the "source live broadcast + logistics linkage" mechanism ensures that kiwis are quickly delivered to the whole country... Since the beginning of this year, the postal express industry has continued to strengthen the construction of a rural delivery logistics system, building a three-level logistics system of counties, townships, and villages, and the gap between urban and rural residents' consumption patterns and service experience has gradually disappeared.

(Related reports on page 6)

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Photo Report

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On October 11th, a dedicated grain train consisting of 50 wagons and loaded with over 3,200 tons of corn departed from Shengchang Station (升昌站) in Shuangyashan City (双鸭山市), Heilongjiang Province (黑龙江省), heading towards Dalian City (大连市), Liaoning Province (辽宁省). After arriving in Dalian (大连), the goods will be transshipped to Shanghai (上海), Sichuan (四川), Yunnan (云南) and other places. This is the first scheduled direct freight train for grain aggregation and port transportation launched in Heilongjiang Province (黑龙江省) this year, helping to transport grain from the north to the south. The railway department will subsequently organize multimodal transport trains and intercity trains for regular and large-scale operation based on the collection of goods, helping to accelerate the outward transportation of high-quality agricultural products from Heilongjiang (黑龙江).

The picture shows the grain train in transit.

Photo by Ma He (马赫) (Image China).

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China Approves and Releases 891 New National Standard Reference Materials

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This newspaper's Beijing (北京) October 12th dispatch (Reporter Lin Lili (林丽鹂)): The State Administration for Market Regulation (市场监管总局) released data: In the first three quarters, China newly approved and released 891 national standard substances, a year-on-year increase of 75.7%. Among them, 48 national first-class standard substances accounted for 5.4%, a year-on-year increase of 23.1%; 843 national second-class standard substances accounted for 94.6%, a year-on-year increase of 80.1%.

Standard substances are indispensable "rulers" and "weights" for carrying out chemical, biological and other testing activities, and are key elements in the construction of national metrological capabilities. As of now, the State Administration for Market Regulation (市场监管总局) has cumulatively approved and released 19,349 national standard substances.

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Introduction

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Theory

Scientifically and accurately grasp and carry out criticism and self-criticism with dialectical thinking.

Ninth Edition

Special Report

Take good care of, promote, and develop the treasures of Chinese civilization.

Tenth and Eleventh Editions

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Page 02版:要闻

"Hardworking Women" of Hongsipu

By: 本报记者

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Where is Hongsipu (红寺堡)?

Wuzhong (吴忠), Ningxia (宁夏), at the foot of Mount Luoshan (罗山), is the largest relocation and resettlement area in the country.

What does "Zan Jin (攒劲)" mean?

It's a Northwestern dialect, meaning capable, daring, unwilling to admit defeat, and not believing in fate.

In the golden autumn season, the "Zan Jin (攒劲) Women" of Hongsipu (红寺堡) are busy and bustling—

With a bumper grape harvest, winemaker Wu Xiuyong (吴秀勇) is working day and night for her "purple dream"; in the poverty alleviation workshop, Xu Haixia's (徐海侠) wolfberries are being packaged and shipped to various places; at the daylily base, Li Zhiqiao (李志巧) leads her sisters in field management, preparing for next year...

Most of them moved from Xihai Gu (西海固), once known as the "most bitter place in the world." In this new era, in their new homes, what they are waving goodbye to is not just poverty.

"The Chinese dream is the dream of the Chinese nation, and it is also the dream of all Chinese women."

"On the new journey, every woman is a writer of the times and a striver for dreams."

Earnest exhortations lead and encourage.

Effective connection between poverty alleviation and rural revitalization, with a 5-year transition period, this year is the last year. Walking into Hongsipu (红寺堡), you can hear them say—

"Bury yourself in hard work, and live your life as a comma; stand up straight, and you are an exclamation point."

In Hongsipu (红寺堡), "Zan Jin (攒劲) Women" was first used by locals to praise Li Yaomei (李耀梅).

Her hometown is Tongxin County (同心县), where there is little rain and poor harvests, and a layer of sand at the bottom of the bowl after eating.

"Turning around the stove, turning around the children, turning around the cattle and sheep." Strangled by poverty, "three-turning women" became another name for women in Xihai Gu (西海固) at that time.

Ecological migration and poverty alleviation change destiny. Who knew that a serious illness and a car accident would leave Li Yaomei (李耀梅) with 300,000 yuan in debt.

The local poverty alleviation working group and the Women's Federation provided timely assistance. Li Yaomei (李耀梅) took out a loan of 50,000 yuan and started a family workshop, making brooms with *jiji* grass, and gradually gained fame. The *jiji* grass became a "golden stalk."

In the spring of 2019, Li Yaomei (李耀梅) paid off her debts. The villagers gave her a thumbs up, "This woman is very *zan jin*!"

"Bury yourself in hard work, and live your life as a comma; stand up straight, and you are an exclamation point!" said Li Yaomei (李耀梅).

"What's your name? Don't you have your own name?"

Wang Qin (王琴), 52 years old this year, also comes from Tongxin County (同心县). Many years ago, she signed a document and subconsciously wrote her husband's name. A casual question kept her awake all night.

A new village rises from the barren beach. In 2009, ecological migrants moved to Hongsipu (红寺堡). Selling spicy skewers, working as a gas station attendant, carrying bricks on construction sites... The stubborn Wang Qin (王琴) wanted to "live out her own life."

When the opportunity came, Wang Qin (王琴) seized it and took over the ZTO Express station in Hongsipu District (红寺堡区).

"At first, I couldn't afford a freight car, so I could only share a car with others. The goods were delayed for several days and couldn't be sent out, and I was so anxious that my heart was on fire."

Without a truck, she rode a tricycle. Picking up goods, sorting, delivering goods, answering customer service calls... She took on all the tasks.

"Sweet days come from bitter days. Look now, we have 9.6-meter and 4.2-meter large trucks!"

Twelve years have passed, and the dry sandy beach of Hongsipu (红寺堡) has turned into a golden sandy beach. Wang Qin's (王琴) express station now has more than 20 employees and more than 30 rural express outlets. This year, she also bought a new factory building to use as an intelligent sorting workshop.

Ma Huijuan (马慧娟) also wants to live a new life. Moving from Hei Yan Wan Village (黑眼湾村) in Xihai Gu (西海固), she no longer worries about food and clothing, but new troubles have trapped her.

"I don't want to become a grain of sand in the yellow wind, gone with a gust of wind," said Ma Huijuan (马慧娟). An old mobile phone became her "spiritual window." During breaks from farm work, she would lie on the *kang* and type with her thumb.

Immigrant stories, essays, poems, and novels, 3 million words in 13 years.

"Whispers in the Stream," "Way Out," and "The Village That Flew Up" have been published one after another. Ma Huijuan (马慧娟) became a writer and was also elected as a deputy to the National People's Congress.

"When the country has important events, women are never absent. I will bring the voices of grassroots women to a larger stage," said Ma Huijuan (马慧娟).

The hot land of the new era provides a stage for every dreamer. Wang Yanhua (王燕华), chairman of the Women's Federation of Hongsipu District (红寺堡区), said with emotion—

"It is the Yellow River water and the Party's good policies that have truly allowed the women of Hongsipu (红寺堡) to stand up."

"My name is Xu Haixia (徐海侠), the *xia* from *daxia* (大侠, great hero)."

The "great hero" had her left leg amputated 25 years ago due to illness. That year, she was 26 years old. With 3,000 yuan, she moved to Hongsipu (红寺堡), learned beauty and hairdressing from CDs, and opened the first hair salon in the area.

"I don't want to be a burden to others. How can I find a way out if I don't work hard?" With her superb skills, her business became more and more prosperous. She successively founded 11 enterprises, driving employment for hundreds of disabled people and people lifted out of poverty.

Walking into the Entrepreneurship (E-commerce) Incubation Park of the Hongsipu District (红寺堡区) Disabled Persons Comprehensive Service Center, packing, labeling, customer service... each person is in their respective positions.

In the "Wan Xia Hong (万侠红)" e-commerce live broadcast room, Wu Xiaolan (吴小兰) is recommending rose jam produced by her own factory.

Xiaolan (小兰) has difficulty walking, "It was Sister Xu (徐大姐) who made me believe that disabled people can also get things done."

The Hongsipu District (红寺堡区) Disabled Persons Federation innovated its mechanism, and the "Forget-Me-Not" Disabled Persons Care Center introduced social forces and entrusted Xu Haixia (徐海侠) with full operation. With day care, rehabilitation training, and assisted employment, 160 severely disabled people have a "second home."

People who have been rained on know better how to hold an umbrella for others. The "great hero" said that the big umbrella is the era.

At 5 a.m., Li Zhiqiao (李志巧), the head of the Taiyangshan Yinqiao Agricultural and Forestry Professional Cooperative (太阳山银巧农林专业合作社) in Hongsipu District (红寺堡区), bent down and pinched off a daylily bud, "I can pick hundreds of pounds today!"

In 2016, her husband died unexpectedly, and Li Zhiqiao (李志巧) made up her mind: "I have to stand up so that there is a pillar in the family."

The former Taiyangshan Town (太阳山镇) in Hongsipu (红寺堡) was a barren beach with stones flying in the wind. The Yanghuang Project (扬黄工程) is here! The four-stage pumping station injects Yellow River water into the wilderness stage by stage.

With water, Li Zhiqiao (李志巧), who is optimistic about daylily planting, dares to work hard.

In the first year of flowering, she took her sisters to the ground at 3 a.m., and their fingers were stained black by the flower juice.

Some people cried from exhaustion, and she encouraged them: "Think about the dry days in the past, and now the Yellow River water has reached the fields. What reason do we have not to be competitive?"

The cooperative now has an annual output value of 4 million yuan, and more than 400 villagers have increased their income as a result. Taiyangshan Town (太阳山镇) is also known as the "Chinese Daylily Star Production Area."

"The Yellow River water is sweet, the Communist Party is good, and the General Secretary is kind." In the *zan jin* stories, the melody of the times echoes.

"Look at this daylily, it's like the people of our Hongsipu (红寺堡), always facing the sun, always shining brightly!"

When Li Zhiqiao's (李志巧) daylilies are harvested, Wang Hangdi's (王航弟) wolfberries are also bearing fruit.

Coming from the mountain gullies of Xiji County (西吉县), she went out to work before graduating from elementary school. Around 2000, the family moved to Hongsipu (红寺堡).

Developing characteristic industries, Wang Hangdi (王航弟) set her sights on wolfberries. She wanted to plant 50 acres, but only raised 20,000 yuan of the 70,000 yuan cost.

As the days for planting seedlings approached, Wang Hangdi (王航弟) squatted on the ground and shed tears. The village committee director reminded her: "The district Agricultural Bank has entrepreneurial loans for women, and the government provides interest subsidies!"

With a try-it-and-see attitude, she went to the Hongsipu District (红寺堡区) Agricultural Bank, and a few days later, 50,000 yuan arrived.

In March 2018, Wang Hangdi (王航弟) registered a family farm, and subsequently applied for the "Xue Zhong Hong (雪中红)" and "Wang Hangdi (王航弟)" trademarks. During the busy farming season, she has to hire more than 200 people, and last year's sales exceeded 6 million yuan.

"It's not that we are so capable, it's that we have caught up with a good time."

The red fruits are full of branches. Boxes of wolfberry puree are sold to various places, and Wang Hangdi (王航弟) is starting new plans—

"Zan Jin (攒劲) is a verb. Living means running forward, and a better life is still ahead."

"It's done! Look quickly!"

At the foot of Mount Luoshan (罗山), the wind blows across the wilderness. Behind Kou Qifang (寇启芳), a group of Tan sheep are particularly eye-catching.

In 2003, Kou Qifang (寇启芳) came to Hongsipu (红寺堡) after being laid off. A graduate of animal husbandry, she plunged into Tan sheep breeding.

Growing slowly and producing few lambs, Tan sheep, once known as the "Three Treasures of Ningxia (宁夏三宝)," are being neglected by the villagers.

Kou Qifang (寇启芳) wants to break new ground. She consulted experts from all over the country. With the government's help, she cooperated with Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University (西北农林科技大学) and other universities.

After more than 10 years of exploration and thousands of experiments, "Snowflake Tan Sheep (雪花滩羊) is here!" "Multiple births per litter are here!" The largest and most complete Tan sheep breeding system in China has taken root in the Jiangnan (江南) region of the frontier.

The new era has allowed the barren beaches of Hongsipu (红寺堡) to create something from nothing, full of creation and surprise.

As autumn deepens, the 10,000-acre vineyard under Mount Luoshan (罗山) welcomes a bumper harvest.

"In the beginning, not to mention planting, many farmers here had never even eaten grapes." Winemaker Wu Xiuyong (吴秀勇) shuttles through the fields. This is her tenth year in Hongsipu (红寺堡).

Located in the golden latitude zone for winemaking, Hongsipu (红寺堡) is uniquely endowed for growing grapes. Rooting in Hongsipu (红寺堡) also has another meaning—

"The Yellow River water is sweet, but it is also limited. Adopting drip irrigation and promoting the grape industry can effectively save water."

From serving as a quality inspector at the winery to working as a technician in the workshop, and then to independently fermenting wine, she has continued to study.

In June 2025, the wine brewed by Wu Xiuyong (吴秀勇) won the highest award at the Decanter World Wine Awards.

Wu Xiuyong (吴秀勇) cannot forget that 5 years ago, when General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) inspected Ningxia (宁夏), he pointed out that with the continuous improvement of people's living standards, the wine industry has great prospects.

Unlike the immigrants from Xihai Gu (西海固), Wu Xiuyong (吴秀勇) came "against the tide" from Yinchuan (银川).

"Have you ever regretted it?"

Wu Xiuyong (吴秀勇) shook her head. She was determined to stay, valuing the ecology.

Yao Yifan (姚一凡), chairman of the Liuquan Township People's Congress (柳泉乡人大) in Hongsipu District (红寺堡区), who has long been concerned about the "Zan Jin (攒劲) Women" phenomenon, hit the nail on the head—

"A good ecology is not the success of one person, but the growth of a group of people."

During the autumn harvest season, in Liu Kerei's (刘克瑞) wooden teahouse in Hongde Village (弘德村) in Hongsipu (红寺堡), people exchange and share over a cup of tea. These irregular tea gatherings have become an unwritten tradition for the "Zan Jin (攒劲) Women" of Hongsipu (红寺堡).

"The sisters in Hongsipu (红寺堡) each have their own ups and downs, and each has their own stubbornness. Encouraging each other is true *zan jin*."

Turning one's own light and heat into a lamp to illuminate others. Along the way, the women of Hongsipu (红寺堡) have a deeper understanding of "zan jin (攒劲)."

In the winery at the foot of Mount Luoshan (罗山), Wu Xiuyong (吴秀勇) established the "Wu Xiuyong (吴秀勇) Model Worker Innovation Studio," cultivating 7 assistant winemakers and more than 20 technical backbones for the industry.

Zhao Xiulan (赵秀兰), a representative inheritor of intangible cultural heritage embroidery at the autonomous region level, has lived in Hongsipu (红寺堡) for more than 20 years, training more than 8,000 impoverished women through "workshop + base + farmers."

Hu Jing (胡静), a young writer, raised 5,000 books and turned her wedding room into a farmhouse bookstore, becoming a "spiritual gas station" for the women in the village.

There is also a lot of new news—

Liang Qiaohong (梁巧红), the party branch secretary of Nanyuan Village (南源村), has grown from a "young girl" in the eyes of the villagers to the "head of the family" of the entire village, and the per capita annual income of the village has jumped from less than 1,800 yuan to more than 13,900 yuan;

Lei Jinxia (雷金霞), deputy secretary of the Party General Branch of the Hongsipu District People's Hospital (红寺堡区人民医院), was among the first employees when the hospital was built 20 years ago, witnessing the annual number of outpatient visits increase from 24,000 to more than 250,000 today;

…………

Individual "zan jin (攒劲)" is to gain a firm foothold, and the "forward" movement of the group can make a hundred flowers bloom.

In June 2020, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) walked into Hongde Village (弘德村) in Hongsipu (红寺堡) and encouraged everyone, "After the villagers relocate, a better life is still ahead."

Today's Hongsipu (红寺堡), 235,000 immigrants work hard and live in peace and contentment, with an average of 27.5 square meters of public green space per capita in the urban area, and the per capita disposable income of rural residents has increased from 500 yuan before relocation to 15,258 yuan.

In today's Hongsipu (红寺堡), women account for nearly 90% of the residents who have won national and provincial-level honors.

Not long ago, the autonomous region organized a roving lecture, and the story of the "Zan Jin (攒劲) Women" spread throughout Ningxia (宁夏).

(Reporters Xu Yuanfeng (徐元锋), Zhang Wen (张文), Jiao Siyu (焦思雨), and Tang Luwei (唐露薇) of this newspaper)

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Training Enhances Skills, Job Hunting Provides Confidence (Employment Services for College Graduates in Action)

By: 本报记者 李 蕊

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"Pay attention to maintaining flight altitude!" At the training ground of Shandong Zhongyu Aviation Technology Development Co., Ltd. (山东中宇航空科技发展有限公司), drone pilot Fu Ming (付明) is leading his students in agricultural plant protection operation exercises. Accompanied by bursts of "buzzing" sounds, the drone steadily rises and precisely lands under his skilled control.

This "gold medal coach" who leads more than 1,200 students was, five years ago, still a college graduate wandering on the job search path - "I majored in mechanical engineering, but after leaving school, I changed several jobs, and none of them went very smoothly," said Fu Ming (付明).

By chance, Fu Ming (付明) learned that Shandong Province (山东省) had included drone piloting in the vocational skills training catalog, allowing drone piloting training to be carried out. Moreover, the Liaocheng (聊城) Human Resources and Social Security Department (人力资源社会保障部门) subsidized college graduates who participated in the training. "At that time, my intuition told me that this was the future." Fu Ming (付明) keenly captured the potential of this industry and decisively signed up for a drone pilot training class.

The opportunity was hard-won, and Fu Ming (付明) put in all his effort. "Flight principles, meteorological knowledge, airspace regulations, emergency response... there are many things we need to learn. Every knowledge point must be repeatedly pondered," said Fu Ming (付明).

After unremitting efforts, Fu Ming (付明) systematically studied flight theory, practical skills, and emergency response, successfully obtained multi-category drone pilot licenses issued by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (中国民航局), passed the advanced vocational skill level evaluation for drone pilots, and successfully joined Zhongyu Aviation (中宇航空), becoming a professional drone operator.

Now, Fu Ming (付明) has rapidly grown into a technical backbone, and his monthly comprehensive income is stable at more than 15,000 yuan. He said with emotion: "What allows me to gain a firm foothold in my position and win recognition is always the real skills honed in training."

In Shandong (山东), more and more young people like Fu Ming (付明) are establishing themselves through skills and finding employment through their abilities -

In April of this year, the Shandong Provincial Department of Human Resources and Social Security (山东省人力资源社会保障厅) jointly issued the "Notice on Deepening the Implementation of the 'Skills Illuminate the Future' Training Action" (关于深化实施“技能照亮前程”培训行动的通知) with multiple departments, planning a vocational skills training roadmap for 2025 to 2027. At the same time, Shandong Province (山东省) launched the "Learn Skills for Good Employment, Send Skills to Campus" (学技能好就业  送技能进校园) activity for college students, encouraging college students to actively participate in skills training through a package of measures such as building platforms, strengthening training, and optimizing services. As of now, Shandong Province (山东省) has organized 169 training and employment promotion service activities, and carried out subsidized training for 29,900 graduating college students.

The training content is also more precise. Shandong Province (山东省) has added the "Guidance Catalog of New Vocational Skills Training Programs for College Students" (大学生新职业技能培训项目指导目录) to the provincial training catalog for the first time, including 51 occupations (types of work), including new occupations such as drone surveying and mapping operators, generative artificial intelligence system application operators, and intelligent connected vehicle assembly, commissioning, and maintenance operators.

In terms of training models, Shandong Province (山东省) launched the "Campus Micro-Training" pilot project, carefully selecting 85 projects in 43 provincial universities and technical colleges to carry out "micro-training," which has now attracted more than 1,800 college students to participate; Liaocheng (聊城) has included skills content such as "drone piloting and application" and "new media operation" in the project-based training list, and has organized more than 3,000 project-based training sessions; Taian (泰安) City's "order class" training model effectively activates school-enterprise collaboration. The retention rate of the first "order class" students of Taian Daiyin Group (泰安岱银集团) reached 84.6%, which is a significant increase compared to the previous retention rate of college students. Liu Deqing (刘德庆), technical director of the Western-style Clothing Workshop of Daiyin Group (岱银集团), praised the students in the "order class": "Four students came to the design department. They have a solid foundation and strong learning ability."

In the evening, there are still many students spontaneously practicing on the training ground. "Looking at these young people, I seem to see myself back then," said Fu Ming (付明). "Skills training not only gives us more skills, but also increases our confidence in facing the future."

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Photo Report

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October 11th, Dianqian Village (殿前村), Ganlin Town (甘霖镇), Shengzhou City (嵊州市), Zhejiang Province (浙江省), villagers took advantage of the sunny weather to dry zha mian (榨面), a type of pressed noodle. It is understood that zha mian is one of the characteristic traditional snacks of Shengzhou (嵊州). The local government takes cultural and tourism integration as an opportunity to hold relevant cultural festivals and launch a series of cultural and creative products to promote zha mian to a wider market and help the comprehensive revitalization of the countryside.

Zhang Yongtao (章勇涛) Photo (Image China (影像中国))

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The dialectics of high-quality development on China's high-speed rail (New development philosophy leads high-quality development - stories from the front lines)

By: 本报记者 李心萍

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"Flying close to the ground," the superconducting electric high-speed maglev train makes a dazzling debut.

At the 12th World High-Speed Rail Congress, CRRC (中国中车) showcased its 600 km/h superconducting electric high-speed maglev train for the first time. At low speeds, the train travels on rubber wheels. Once the speed reaches 150 km/h, the rubber wheels retract, and the train levitates.

In Hubei (湖北) in the middle of this year, the CR450 EMU prototype was very quiet. As the numbers on the display screen climbed to 450 kilometers per hour, applause erupted in the carriage, marking the successful speed achievement of the world's fastest high-speed train.

From scratch, from introduction, digestion, absorption, and re-innovation to independent innovation and leading the world, high-speed rail has achieved "acceleration" on Chinese soil.

President Xi Jinping (习近平) has repeatedly praised it with deep affection: "High-speed rail is a bright calling card for China's equipment manufacturing," "The Fuxing (复兴号) high-speed train has taken a key step from catching up to leading," and "High-speed rail technology has set an international benchmark."

From this, we can read the dialectic of high-quality development in the new era, where China insists on unifying quality and scale effects.

From Scratch

Leveraging Scale Effects to Achieve Industrial Breakthroughs

On August 22, CRRC (中国中车) disclosed its semi-annual report, showing that its net profit attributable to the parent company increased by 72.48% in the first half of this year, with newly signed overseas orders of approximately 30.9 billion yuan, maintaining its position as the world's largest supplier of rail transit equipment.

Looking back, it feels even more difficult.

In 1964, while China was still committed to developing and upgrading steam locomotives and diesel locomotives, Japan had already built the Shinkansen. This was the world's first high-speed railway, with a maximum operating speed of 210 kilometers per hour, a full 44 years earlier than China.

Change began with an ambitious plan.

In January 2004, the "Medium and Long-Term Railway Network Plan" was introduced, proposing the construction of a "four vertical and four horizontal" passenger dedicated line network, with a mileage of 12,000 kilometers.

"The proposal of this grand blueprint made rail transit manufacturers around the world realize that an unprecedented huge market was about to be born in China," said Sun Yongcai (孙永才), Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of CRRC (中国中车).

A large market attracts visitors from all directions.

Alstom (阿尔斯通) of France joined hands with CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles (中车长客), and Kawasaki (川崎) of Japan cooperated with CRRC Sifang (中车四方). Through joint ventures and joint construction, CRRC (中国中车) learned from each other's strengths and studied various advanced technologies; it adhered to the 1:7 principle, that is, for every 1 yuan of funds used to introduce technology, 7 yuan of funds must be invested in independent innovation... Adhering to the concept of introduction, digestion, absorption, and innovation, the Harmony (和谐号) EMU train was officially launched in 2007, and China began to emerge in the global rail transit market.

Since then, CRRC (中国中车) has ushered in a period of rapid development.

As a country with a huge population and vast land area, people's expectations for convenient travel have spawned a huge market demand for high-speed rail in China. Since the "14th Five-Year Plan," China's fixed asset investment in railways has been nearly 4 trillion yuan.

As of the end of last year, China's high-speed rail operating mileage exceeded 48,000 kilometers, covering 97% of cities with a population of more than 500,000, becoming the country with the longest high-speed rail operating mileage in the world, with more than 4,800 standard EMU trains put into operation.

Driven by the large market, CRRC (中国中车) has become the world's largest supplier of rail transit equipment, and its products have gone from China to the world, selling to more than 30 countries and regions in the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Europe.

From learning to walk to becoming the world's largest, a history of CRRC's (中国中车) development reflects a history of rail transit.

From Good to Excellent

Adhering to Quality First, Opening the Road to Self-Reliance

"Key core technologies cannot be obtained, bought, or begged for. The purpose of introducing, digesting, and absorbing is independent innovation," said Sun Yongcai (孙永才).

If there is no testing platform, develop it yourself; if you can't buy network chips, develop them yourself; if the steel rails do not meet the standards, domestic steel companies will jointly tackle the problem and break through more than 100 patented technologies... Finally, among the 254 important standards adopted by the Fuxing (复兴号) EMU, Chinese standards account for 84%.

In order to reduce the train's 3-decibel passenger compartment noise, more than 3,000 tests were conducted; in order to reduce aerodynamic resistance, more than 40 solutions were compared... For a full 5 years, after 503 simulation calculations, 5,278 ground tests, and 2,362 line tests, the Fuxing (复兴号) took the lead in achieving 350 km/h commercial operation globally.

"The advent of the Fuxing (复兴号) marks that China's railway equipment technology has reached the world's leading level, opening a new era of leading the development of high-speed railway passenger transport equipment in the world," said Sun Yongcai (孙永才).

Relying on technological innovation, China's high-speed rail technology has set an international benchmark.

At present, China Railway has presided over or participated in the formulation of more than 300 international standards, and all 13 system-level standards in the high-speed rail field of the International Railway Union are presided over by China Railway.

Development never stops. "In recent years, we have insisted on an average annual R&D investment of more than 10 billion yuan, continuously strengthening our strengths and making up for our weaknesses, and striving to achieve effective improvement in quality and reasonable growth in quantity," said Sun Yongcai (孙永才).

Striving to reach the peak of technological innovation - in March this year, CRRC (中国中车) developed China's high-speed EMU aerodynamic intelligent simulation large model, which promoted the aerodynamic simulation calculation of high-speed trains from "day-level" to "second-level," and China's high-speed train R&D entered a new stage of artificial intelligence.

Thickening the green development background - developing carbon fiber subway trains, reducing the weight of the entire train by 13%, and saving 1.5 kWh of electricity per kilometer; launching hydrogen energy (hybrid) powered locomotives, using "drainage" instead of "carbon emissions," and reducing carbon emissions by an average of 60,000 trees per locomotive per year.

Sailing overseas to serve the world - the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway (雅万高铁) has been in operation for a full year, with a occupancy rate of 99.6%; the first EMU of the Hungary-Serbia Railway (匈塞铁路) officially debuted, and China's high-speed EMU served Europe for the first time; the Dubai Metro Blue Line project was successfully bid... Data shows that CRRC's (中国中车) new international business orders in 2024 were approximately 47.2 billion yuan, breaking the historical record.

From "CRRC (中车) looking at the world" to "the world looking at CRRC (中车)," China's high-speed rail has achieved a gorgeous transformation from follower to leader.

From Excellent to Strong

Coordinating Quality and Quantity to Achieve Greater Development

Looking at China's high-speed rail through CRRC (中国中车), adhering to quality first and achieving qualitative change through the accumulation of quantitative change, China's high-speed rail has stood in the center of the world stage.

Looking at the total amount, data from the State Railway Administration shows that China's high-speed rail mileage currently accounts for more than 70% of the world's total high-speed rail mileage.

Looking at the quality, the CR450 EMU leads the global high-speed rail trend. "The CR450 EMU is not only fast, but also more intelligent and greener," said Feng Jianghua (冯江华), chief scientist of CRRC (中国中车).

More intelligent - The CR450 EMU is equipped with intelligent monitoring and intelligent diagnosis systems, and more than 4,000 monitoring points in the entire train collect data such as axle temperature and pressure in real time to achieve self-perception, self-diagnosis, and self-decision-making.

Greener - Using new materials such as carbon fiber composite materials and magnesium alloys, the CR450 EMU reduces weight by about 10%, and the running resistance and energy consumption indicators are reduced by 22% and 20% respectively.

Looking at China's manufacturing through China's high-speed rail, the ballast stone of the real economy is becoming more and more solid.

The scale continues to expand. Since the "14th Five-Year Plan," the added value of manufacturing has exceeded 30 trillion yuan every year, and it has been firmly sitting on the "top spot" of global manufacturing for 15 consecutive years, with the output of more than 200 major industrial products ranking first in the world.

The level is constantly improving. The first domestically produced large cruise ship "Adora Magic City" (爱达·魔都号), the first Chinese space station "Tiangong" (天宫), and the first domestically produced large aircraft C919 developed in accordance with international common airworthiness standards... These "first ship," "first station," and "first time" demonstrate the major breakthroughs in Chinese manufacturing. Today's China is making fewer and fewer things that it cannot make, and better and better things that it can make.

Looking at the Chinese economy through Chinese manufacturing, we see the increase in quantity and quality of the Chinese economy.

Quantity, reasonable growth. In 2024, China's economic aggregate will exceed 130 trillion yuan, and the increase is equivalent to the total amount of a medium-sized economy in one year. In the first half of this year, the gross domestic product increased by 5.3% year-on-year, and the growth rate was higher than the same period last year and the whole year of last year, ranking among the top among major economies in the world, and the growth was stable and rising.

Quality, effective improvement. In 2024, China's innovation ranking in the world will be eleventh, and it is one of the economies with the fastest increase in innovation in the past 10 years; it has 26 global top 100 science and technology innovation clusters, ranking first in the world. On the basis of maintaining a reasonable growth in quantity, the Chinese economy promotes the upgrading of demand, structure, and driving force, and continuously expands new space.

"Unifying the effective improvement of quality and the reasonable growth of quantity in the entire process of high-quality development." At present, although the international environment is complex and volatile, as long as we maintain our strategic focus and unswervingly do our own things well, we will be able to turn crises into opportunities and promote the Chinese economy to move forward steadily and far.

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Launch of National Winter and Spring Assistance Work for Disaster-Affected People

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This newspaper's Beijing (北京) dispatch on October 12th (Reporter Liu Wenxin (刘温馨)) states that since the beginning of this year, natural disasters in China have involved a wide range, affected many provinces, had a deep impact, and caused heavy local losses. Recently, the Ministry of Emergency Management (应急管理部) and the Ministry of Finance (财政部) issued the "Notice on Organizing the National Winter and Spring Relief Work for Disaster-stricken People in 2025-2026," organizing various regions to conduct thorough and meticulous investigations to determine the people in need of assistance, and to effectively ensure the basic living conditions of the disaster-stricken people.

The notice emphasizes the need to plan early and act quickly, to deploy and carry out this year's winter and spring relief work in advance, to guide grassroots units to actively use information platforms to carry out work, and to urge the acceleration of fund disbursement, continuous follow-up and dispatch, to ensure that all funds are distributed to the disaster-stricken people before the Spring Festival. Efforts should be organized to go deep into the disaster areas, to fully investigate the number of disaster-stricken people, to fully and accurately implement the winter and spring relief policies, and to ensure that all those who should be rescued are rescued. The relief procedures should be standardized, and the investigation, statistics, and verification of people in need of assistance should be carried out. In accordance with the principle of "classified assistance, key assistance, and precise assistance," the categories of people to be assisted should be reasonably divided, and the classified and graded assistance standards should be refined and improved to ensure the quality and effectiveness of winter and spring relief. Special attention should be paid to special groups in disaster areas who have difficulties, giving them special care and key assistance, and ensuring the orderly connection between winter and spring relief and mechanisms such as minimum living security, temporary assistance, and assistance for the poor.

The notice requires that the main responsibility for disaster relief be strictly implemented, and that central and local relief funds and materials be rationally coordinated. Strict discipline should be enforced in the management and use of winter and spring relief funds and materials, and the interception, misappropriation, delayed distribution, or non-use of funds should be resolutely prevented. 应救尽救 (yīng jiù jìn jiù - "rescue all who should be rescued," to rescue everyone who needs help).

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First Edition Editors: Yang Xu, Zhao Zheng, Zhang Yujie; Second Edition Editors: Hu Anqi, Yang Shuobi, Chen Zhen; Third Edition Editors: Wu Gang, Zhou Zhou, Li Ming; Fourth Edition Editors: Yin Xinyu, Qi Jiarun, Han Wenrong

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Page 03版:要闻

China-Solomon Islands cooperation brings tangible benefits to both sides

By: 本报记者 刘仲华 禹丽敏

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The China-Bulgaria Local Cooperation Conference was held in Sofia (索非亚), the capital of Bulgaria, recently. The conference was co-hosted by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (中国人民对外友好协会), the Chinese Embassy in Bulgaria (中国驻保加利亚大使馆), the Bulgarian National Association "Belt and Road" (保加利亚“一带一路”全国联合会), and the Bulgarian Association of Municipalities (保加利亚城市联盟). The conference reviewed the cooperation progress since the signing of the intergovernmental cooperation document on jointly building the "Belt and Road" between China and Bulgaria 10 years ago. Participants shared experiences and sought cooperation around the theme of "Urban Cooperation to Promote the Building of a Community with a Shared Future for Mankind," signed a number of China-Bulgaria city friendship and cooperation agreements, and contributed to the high-quality joint construction of the "Belt and Road" between China and Bulgaria.

Joining Hands to Forge Friendship and Write a New Chapter of Cooperation

At the conference site, the logo of the China-Bulgaria Local Cooperation Conference, interwoven with Chinese peony and Bulgarian rose patterns, was very eye-catching. "The continuously deepening local cooperation between Bulgaria and China has brought tangible benefits to both sides," said Zahariyev (扎哈里耶夫), Chairman of the Bulgarian National Association "Belt and Road".

Yang Wanming (杨万明), President of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, said that local exchanges are an important part of the China-Bulgaria strategic partnership, and the two countries have formed an all-round, multi-field, and high-quality local exchange and cooperation system.

Rossen Zhelyazkov (基塞洛娃), Speaker of the Bulgarian National Assembly, said that Bulgaria is committed to developing relations with China. Since the beginning of this year, many high-level Bulgarian government officials, representatives of legislative bodies, and heads of local governments have visited China. She highly praised the positive dialogue and interaction between the two sides within the framework of China-Central and Eastern European Countries cooperation, "This is a bridge for Bulgaria and China to establish a long-term and fruitful cooperative relationship."

Bartyina (巴尔蒂娜), Deputy Mayor of Burgas (布尔加斯市), said that she was very pleased to witness the city reaching an intention to establish a friendship city relationship with Dalian (大连) in Liaoning (辽宁). She said: "Burgas and Dalian will strengthen cooperation in shipping technology, infrastructure construction, and waste treatment, and continuously promote cultural exchanges and people-to-people connectivity."

Dobrev (多布雷夫), Mayor of Razgrad (拉兹格勒市), said that the city signed a friendship city cooperation action plan for 2026-2028 with Yangzhou (扬州) in Jiangsu (江苏), and he had been looking forward to this agreement for a long time. "More than 20 years ago, the two cities began to contact and exchange. This conference is a rare opportunity for face-to-face exchanges. Next year, I will lead a business delegation to visit Yangzhou to further deepen friendship city cooperation." Dobrev said that the two cities will expand cooperation in economy, trade, culture, and tourism in the future.

Zahariyev said that Bulgaria-China local cooperation will usher in a new stage and achieve more positive results, pushing the traditional friendship between the two countries to a new height. "I am full of confidence in the future of Bulgaria-China local cooperation."

Mutually Beneficial and Win-Win, Consolidating the Foundation of Economy and Trade

The joint construction of the "Belt and Road" between China and Bulgaria has yielded fruitful results in the past 10 years. The volume of bilateral trade between China and Bulgaria has grown rapidly in recent years, from $2.9 billion in 2020 to $4.1 billion in 2024. Bulgarian rose essential oil, corn, sunflower seed oil, dairy products, wine and other products are popular among Chinese consumers. More and more Chinese electric buses are running in Bulgaria. Chinese photovoltaic and energy storage products are contributing to Bulgaria's green transition, and Chinese new energy vehicle brands are actively preparing to enter the Bulgarian market.

"Local cooperation has become a source of vitality for the relations between the two countries," said Dai Qingli (戴庆利), Chinese Ambassador to Bulgaria. "We plan to invite representatives from nearly 20 Bulgarian cities to visit China to explore cooperation opportunities. We will continue to hold mayor delegations to China to build more platforms for local exchanges between the two countries."

Ivanov (伊万诺夫), Bulgarian Minister of Regional Development and Public Works, said that Bulgaria is willing to continue to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation with China and other countries jointly building the "Belt and Road". He believes that the "Belt and Road" initiative will continuously enhance infrastructure connectivity among participating countries and promote economic development in various countries.

The conference featured a special "City Salon" session. In the thematic discussion on economic and trade cooperation, participants reviewed the fruitful results of China-Bulgaria cooperation: 16 years ago, Bright Dairy (光明乳业) in Shanghai (上海) introduced high-quality Bulgarian strains to China and successfully created China's first room temperature yogurt brand "Moshi'an" (莫斯利安); Tianjin Food Group (天津食品集团)'s Tianjin Nongken Bulgaria Company (天津农垦保加利亚公司) has built the first agricultural cooperation demonstration zone between China and Central and Eastern European countries; Tianjin Sino-European Animal Husbandry International Trade Co., Ltd. (天津中欧农牧国际贸易有限公司)'s Bulgarian Tian Shi Feed Co., Ltd. (保加利亚天世农饲料有限公司) has an annual output of 200,000 tons of feed, and its products are sold to China and EU countries...

Zhang Xiaofeng (张晓峰), Deputy Secretary-General of the Dalian Municipal People's Government, said that Dalian will deepen exchanges with Bulgaria in the environmental protection industry and promote cooperation in energy conservation and environmental protection, renewable energy, and solid waste utilization projects. In the field of shipping and ports, Dalian will also explore practical cooperation in shipping logistics and maritime services with Bulgarian port cities.

Exchanges and Mutual Learning, Cultivating the Flowers of Friendship

In the "City Salon" thematic discussion on cultural exchanges, Kaloyanova (卡洛娅诺娃), Secretary of the Chelopech (切洛佩奇) Municipality, showed a vivid video of Bulgarian children learning Chinese and writing Chinese characters. Kaloyanova said: "Since 2018, Chelopech has cooperated with the Confucius Institute at Veliko Tarnovo University (大特尔诺沃大学孔子学院) to offer Chinese courses to a primary school, a kindergarten, and local adults every year, and people's interest in learning Chinese is growing stronger."

In recent years, China-Bulgaria educational cooperation has continued to deepen. More than 30 Bulgarian cities rely on Confucius Institutes to carry out Chinese education, and 9 cities rely on the Sofia Chinese Cultural Center (索非亚中国文化中心) to open "China Corners". This year alone, hundreds of people from all walks of life in Bulgaria have visited China through human resources projects, and more than 200 Bulgarian students have participated in summer camps in China. Simeonoff (西梅奥诺夫), Mayor of Elin Pelin (埃林·佩林市), said: "Language is the best key to understanding a country. In the context of the current international situation, the importance of cultural exchanges is becoming increasingly prominent. I hope that young people from Bulgaria and China can understand each other and forge friendships."

Zhejiang (浙江) Ningbo (宁波) has always given active support to the Bulgarian Chinese Cultural Center. Chen Jianjun (陈坚军), Director of the Ningbo Municipal Market Supervision Administration, said: "We hope to further deepen cultural exchanges between the two countries through platforms such as the Bulgarian Chinese Cultural Center, so that more Bulgarian people can visit Ningbo and China."

In recent years, local governments and cultural and tourism departments of China and Bulgaria have actively promoted the complementarity of tourism resources and held tourism promotion conferences and cultural festivals. Elena Georgieva (伊莲娜·乔治耶娃), Deputy Minister of Tourism of Bulgaria, said at the China (Sichuan) (四川)—Bulgaria Economic and Trade Cooperation Conference held not long ago that Bulgaria has a long history, profound culture, and beautiful scenery, and Sichuan Province in China is also a major tourism province, and both sides can bring unforgettable experiences to tourists. She said that China is the world's largest outbound tourism market, and Bulgaria, with its unique cultural and natural resources, is very attractive to Chinese tourists, and there is great potential for cooperation between the two sides.

Mikhailova (米哈伊洛娃), Vice Chairman of the Bulgarian Association of Municipalities and Mayor of Troyan (特罗扬市), said: "We have held Chinese porcelain exhibitions and many Chinese cultural activities. With the support of the Chinese Embassy in Bulgaria and the Confucius Institute, more and more Bulgarian students have the opportunity to study and exchange in China." She emphasized that local cooperation is of far-reaching significance, "**文化差异不是障碍,而是创新的源泉**" (wén huà chā yì bù shì zhàng ài, ér shì chuàng xīn de yuán quán - "cultural differences are not obstacles, but a source of innovation," meaning that diversity can lead to creativity and progress). "Today, whether it is infrastructure construction, green cooperation, or cultural exchanges, it will continue to extend and deepen our friendship."

(Reported from Sofia by this newspaper)

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China: A Significant Participant, Promoter, and Leader in Global Women's Cause (International Forum)

By: 格特鲁德·蒙盖拉

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China is an important participant, promoter, and leader in the global women's cause. China has carried out fruitful international cooperation in the field of women and promoted the development of the global women's cause with practical actions.

The Global Women's Summit is about to be held in Beijing (北京). I believe that with the joint efforts of all parties, this summit will write a new chapter in the development of the global women's cause.

In 1995, the Fourth World Conference on Women was held in Beijing (北京). At the invitation of then-United Nations Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali, I served as the Secretary-General of the Beijing (北京) World Conference on Women. I felt a great sense of responsibility for this position. During the preparation for the conference, I visited China many times and had extensive and in-depth exchanges with the Chinese delegation. At the same time, I visited countries around the world to understand the development of women's causes in various countries, ensuring that the voice of protecting women's rights and promoting gender equality was spread to more places.

With the joint efforts of UN Women, the Chinese team, governments, and non-governmental organizations, the Fourth World Conference on Women was a complete success. The Beijing (北京) World Conference on Women was not only one of the largest international conferences on women's issues in the history of the United Nations, but also a milestone in the development of the global women's cause. The conference adopted the "Beijing Declaration" and the "Platform for Action," explicitly proposing the concept that "women's rights are human rights," and identified 12 areas, including education, health, economic empowerment, and prevention of violence, as key areas of concern, setting an action framework for global women's empowerment and gender equality.

After the Beijing (北京) World Conference on Women, I served successively as the United Nations Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Women's Issues and the first Speaker of the Pan-African Parliament, promoting the implementation of the "Beijing Declaration" and the "Platform for Action" in Africa and around the world. Because of the Beijing (北京) World Conference on Women, I have forged a deep friendship with China, which makes me feel very honored and inspires me to continue to work hard to protect women's rights and achieve women's empowerment.

Thirty years have passed, and the global women's cause has made positive progress. Gender equality and women's empowerment have become important goals of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. More and more women around the world are entering decision-making and leadership positions, and the social status of women around the world has been significantly improved. At the same time, we must realize that the uneven development of women in various countries still exists, the inequality in the rights, opportunities, and resource allocation between men and women still exists, and the cognitive biases of people on the abilities and talents of women still exist. Especially when facing challenges such as violence and poverty, women are more vulnerable to impact, and the development of the global women's cause has a long way to go. We still need to actively practice the spirit declared by the Beijing (北京) World Conference on Women, firmly implement the "Beijing Declaration" and the "Platform for Action," and open up broad paths for the development of the women's cause.

Since my first visit to China with the Tanzanian women's delegation in 1984, I have visited China many times and have not only seen the tremendous changes in China's economic and social fields, but also the important achievements China has made in the women's cause. Under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (中国共产党), China has established gender equality as a basic national policy and established a complete and comprehensive legal system to protect women's rights; China has eliminated absolute poverty, and the living standards of women and children have been improved; China has established the world's largest social security system, and the level of education and health of women has been continuously improved. In my opinion, one of the important reasons for the positive progress in China's women's cause is that China adheres to an independent and autonomous development path, puts economic construction in a priority position, and provides a solid material foundation for the development of the women's cause. Today, Chinese women actively participate in national governance and play a role in all areas of Chinese-style modernization, fully demonstrating the role of "women holding up half the sky."

China is an important participant, promoter, and leader in the global women's cause. China has carried out fruitful international cooperation in the field of women and promoted the development of the global women's cause with practical actions. In 2015, China and UN Women jointly held the Global Women's Summit. Over the years, China has donated 20 million US dollars to UN Women and carried out projects such as digital education and health education for girls in Africa. From 2021 to 2023, China and UNESCO cooperated to carry out the "African Girls' Health Education Project" in Nigeria, Uganda, and Botswana, promoting knowledge sharing and cooperation between African countries and China in the field of girls' health education, exploring health education models suitable for local girls, and enhancing the health and well-being of girls. In some African countries, due to lack of funding and technical support, many women are still unable to enjoy equal rights in education, medical care, and other aspects. In terms of improving women's health and protecting women's right to education, African countries look forward to strengthening cooperation with China, continuously improving the social status of African women by sharing advanced technologies and exchanging beneficial experiences.

I look forward to in-depth exchanges with people from all parties, including Chinese representatives, on issues such as women's empowerment and gender equality through this Global Women's Summit, formulating new strategies and visions, and injecting new impetus into the development of the global women's cause.

(The author is the Secretary-General of the Beijing (北京) World Conference on Women and a famous Tanzanian women's activist)

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Further Highlights the Importance of Strengthening Solidarity and Sharing Responsibility

By: 本报记者 章念生

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"We appreciate President Xi Jinping's (习近平) initiative to convene a Global Women's Summit and his firm support for promoting global gender equality and the comprehensive development of women. Gender equality is not only a national priority but also an important criterion for measuring economic and social progress." United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, said in an exclusive interview with this reporter recently, "Women hold up half the sky (妇女撑起半边天), they are not only beneficiaries of development but also promoters and agents of change."

"Since the Fourth World Conference on Women held by the United Nations in 1995, China has been an active and constructive partner of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (《北京宣言》和《行动纲领》), and has always led the dialogue on gender equality at the regional and global levels. I am deeply encouraged by China's increasing contribution to promoting the development of women's causes worldwide." Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana cited examples such as China's promotion and implementation of 100 "Maternal and Child Health Projects (妇幼健康工程)" and 100 "Happy Campus Projects (快乐校园工程)," the establishment of a Girls' and Women's Education Award in cooperation with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and the establishment of a Global Women's Development Cooperation and Exchange Training Base in Beijing (北京), actively supporting developing countries in improving the environment for women's survival and development. Last November, the "Beijing+30" Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference was held in Bangkok (曼谷), the capital of Thailand (泰国), to comprehensively review the progress of the Asia-Pacific region in implementing the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (《北京宣言》和《行动纲领》) over the past five years. The Chinese delegation called on the international community at the meeting to gather all parties to seek joint efforts for women's equal development, empower women's comprehensive development, and promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. "These matters are highly aligned with the policy agenda of ESCAP and the common aspirations of the region."

Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana said that in recent years, the Asia-Pacific region has made significant progress in advancing gender equality. At the "Beijing+30" Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference, countries shared many inspiring cases, from helping millions of people escape poverty and reducing maternal mortality rates to expanding women's access to higher education and opportunities to participate in higher-level work, vividly demonstrating the role of women's empowerment in promoting inclusive growth. "I especially appreciate China's important contribution to this process. The relevant content shared by China reflects the tangible improvements in the quality of life and development opportunities for women and girls."

Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana introduced that ESCAP has become a close partner in promoting South-South cooperation in the field of gender equality. Through common commitments and collective actions, countries are working together to strengthen national capacity building, promote policy innovation, and accelerate the building of a more equal and inclusive Asia-Pacific region. "Through the China-ESCAP cooperation project and other joint initiatives, we are jointly committed to promoting women's economic empowerment throughout the region."

"The Global Women's Summit, co-organized by China and UN Women, continues the spirit of the 1995 Beijing World Conference on Women, especially in addressing today's global challenges, further highlighting the importance of strengthening solidarity and sharing responsibilities." Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana emphasized, "The most critical thing now is to promote all parties to accelerate the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (《北京宣言》和《行动纲领》)."

"In the future, I look forward to the international community strengthening its efforts in the following areas: first, to enhance women's participation in decision-making through reforms or leadership training; second, to eliminate structural barriers and narrow the pay gap; and third, to seize new opportunities and enable women to play a leading role in areas such as digitalization, the green economy, and climate action." Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana said that ESCAP is ready to support these priorities and will continue to deepen cooperation with governments, development partners, and social organizations to ensure that gender equality remains an important part of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the region's development agenda.

(Reported from Bangkok (曼谷) by this newspaper)

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Ministry of Commerce Spokesperson Answers Questions from Reporters on Recent China's Relevant Economic and Trade Policies and Measures

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Xinhua News Agency, Beijing (北京) October 12th - A spokesperson for the Ministry of Commerce (商务部) answered reporters' questions on the recent situation of China's (中国) relevant economic and trade policies and measures on the 12th.

A reporter asked: On October 9th, the Ministry of Commerce (商务部) and the General Administration of Customs (海关总署) issued an announcement to implement export controls on relevant rare earth items. What are China's (中国) considerations?

Answer: China (中国) has issued export control measures on rare earths and other related items. This is a legitimate practice for the Chinese (中国) government to improve its own export control system in accordance with laws and regulations. The current world situation is turbulent, and military conflicts occur from time to time. China (中国) has noticed that medium and heavy rare earth-related items have important applications in the military field. China (中国) is a responsible major country, and implementing export controls on relevant items in accordance with the law is aimed at better safeguarding world peace and regional stability, and fulfilling international obligations such as non-proliferation.

China's (中国) export control is not a ban on exports, and applications that meet the requirements will be licensed. Before the measures were announced, China (中国) had notified relevant countries and regions through bilateral export control dialogue mechanisms. China (中国) is willing to strengthen export control dialogue and exchanges with various countries to better safeguard the security and stability of the global industrial chain and supply chain.

A reporter asked: We have noticed that the Ministry of Commerce (商务部) recently issued an announcement to strengthen export controls on rare earths and other related items. How will it be implemented in the future?

Answer: As a responsible major country, China (中国) has always firmly safeguarded its own national security and international common security, and has always adhered to a fair and reasonable position, prudently and moderately implementing export control measures. China (中国) has fully assessed the possible impact of the measures on the production and supply chain in advance, and is convinced that the relevant impact is very limited. Before the measures were introduced, China (中国) had notified relevant countries and regions through bilateral export control dialogue mechanisms.

In the future, the Chinese (中国) government will conduct license reviews in accordance with laws and regulations, and grant licenses to applications that meet the requirements. At the same time, it will actively consider applying various facilitation measures such as general licenses and license exemptions to effectively promote compliant trade. I want to emphasize that China's (中国) export control is not a ban on exports. As long as it is used for civilian purposes and the export application is compliant, it can be approved, and relevant companies do not need to worry. The Chinese (中国) government will, as always, work with all countries to firmly safeguard world peace and regional stability, and jointly ensure the stability of the global industrial chain and supply chain.

A reporter asked: On October 10th, US Eastern Time, the US announced that it would impose an additional 100% tariff on China (中国) in response to China's (中国) export controls on rare earths and other related items, and implement export controls on all key software. What is the Ministry of Commerce's (商务部) comment on this?

Answer: China (中国) has noted the relevant situation. On October 9th, China (中国) issued export control measures on rare earths and other related items. This is a normal act of the Chinese (中国) government to improve its own export control system in accordance with laws and regulations. As a responsible major country, China (中国) has always firmly safeguarded its own national security and international common security, and has always adhered to a fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory principle and position, prudently and moderately implementing export control measures. The US's relevant statement is a typical "double standard." For a long time, the US has generalized national security, abused export controls, and adopted discriminatory practices against China (中国), implementing unilateral long-arm jurisdiction measures on many products such as semiconductor equipment and chips. The US control list has more than 3,000 items, while China's (中国) export control list has only more than 900 items. The US has a long history of using export control minimum content rules, as low as 0%. The US's relevant measures seriously damage the legitimate rights and interests of enterprises, seriously impact the international economic and trade order, and seriously undermine the security and stability of the global production and supply chain.

In particular, since the China-US (中美) Madrid economic and trade talks in September, in just over 20 days, the US has continued to introduce a series of new restrictive measures against China (中国), adding several Chinese (中国) entities to the export control entity list and the Specially Designated Nationals list; arbitrarily expanding the scope of controlled enterprises through penetrating rules, affecting thousands of Chinese (中国) enterprises; ignoring China's (中国) concerns and goodwill, and insisting on implementing 301 measures against China's (中国) maritime, logistics, and shipbuilding industries. The US's actions seriously damage China's (中国) interests and seriously undermine the atmosphere of bilateral economic and trade talks. China (中国) firmly opposes this.

Threatening with high tariffs at every turn is not the right way to get along with China (中国). China's (中国) position on the tariff war is consistent. We do not want to fight, but we are not afraid to fight. China (中国) urges the US to correct its wrong practices as soon as possible, take the important consensus of the two heads of state's call as a guide, maintain the hard-won results of consultations, continue to give play to the role of the China-US (中美) economic and trade consultation mechanism, and resolve respective concerns through dialogue on the basis of mutual respect and equal consultation, properly manage differences, and maintain the stable, healthy, and sustainable development of China-US (中美) economic and trade relations. If the US insists on going its own way, China (中国) will also resolutely take corresponding measures to safeguard its own legitimate rights and interests.

A reporter asked: The US will impose port fees on relevant Chinese (中国) ships on October 14th. We have noticed that China (中国) has announced corresponding countermeasures. What is China's (中国) comment on this?

Answer: On April 17th, the Office of the United States Trade Representative announced the final measures of the 301 investigation into China's (中国) maritime, logistics, and shipbuilding fields, and will impose port fees on relevant Chinese (中国) ships starting from October 14th. The US's approach seriously violates WTO rules, violates the principle of equality and mutual benefit in the China-US Maritime Agreement (《中美海运协定》), and is a typical unilateralist act. China (中国) has repeatedly expressed strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition.

Since the China-US (中美) London economic and trade talks, China (中国) has been consulting and communicating with the US on the above-mentioned measures, providing the US with a written response to the unfounded accusations against China (中国) in the 301 investigation report, and putting forward suggestions on cooperation that the two sides can carry out in related industries. However, the US attitude is negative, insisting on implementing the above-mentioned measures, and issued an announcement on October 3rd, clarifying the specific requirements for charging Chinese (中国) ships. In order to safeguard its own legitimate rights and interests, China (中国) has to take countermeasures and decided to charge special port dues for US-related ships in accordance with laws and regulations such as the Regulations of the People's Republic of China on International Maritime Transportation (《中华人民共和国国际海运条例》). China's (中国) countermeasures are necessary passive defensive actions, aimed at safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese (中国) industries and enterprises, and also to maintain a fair competitive environment in the international shipping and shipbuilding market. It is hoped that the US will face up to its own mistakes, move in the same direction as China (中国), and return to the correct track of dialogue and consultation.

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Seizing the Transformational Opportunities in the Automotive Industry Together

By: 本报记者 刘仲华 徐 馨

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Recently, during the 2025 German International Motor Show and Smart Mobility Exhibition (Munich Motor Show), the 2025 World New Energy Vehicle Congress (Munich Motor Show Special) was held with the theme of "A New Stage of Sino-German Cooperation under Industrial Transformation." The conference was co-sponsored by the China Society of Automotive Engineers (中国汽车工程学会), the German Association of the Automotive Industry (德国汽车工业协会), and the World New Energy Vehicle Development Organization, attracting more than 100 representatives from the Chinese and German automotive industries. The participating guests generally believed that China and Germany should work together to seize the opportunities of the automotive industry transformation, strengthen technological innovation and market collaboration, and jointly promote the high-quality development of the global new energy vehicle industry.

Hildegard Müller (希尔德加德·穆勒), President of the German Association of the Automotive Industry, said that the German automotive industry, with its global layout advantages formed by a century of accumulation, complements the innovative vitality of the Chinese automotive industry. "The cooperation between the two sides in electrification, autonomous driving, artificial intelligence and other fields sets a benchmark for the sustainable development of the global automotive industry, and its demonstration effect will accelerate the green transformation and industrial upgrading of the global transportation sector."

Zhai Qian (翟谦), Minister Counselor of the Economic and Commercial Office of the Chinese Embassy in Germany (中国驻德国大使馆经商处), said that the Sino-German automotive industry chains are deeply intertwined and mutually beneficial. Last year, the two sides launched the climate change and green transition dialogue and cooperation mechanism for the first time, deepening cooperation in autonomous and connected driving, cross-border data flow, and other aspects. The "Chinese innovation vitality" and "German precision strength" are moving towards each other, which will become a powerful synergy to break through technological barriers, optimize the global supply chain, and lead the green transformation.

"Volkswagen Group's brands already have approximately 50 million Chinese customers. In the future, the Chinese market will remain at the core of our strategy," said Oliver Blume (奥博穆), Chairman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen Group (大众汽车集团). China is an indispensable part of the global automotive future landscape. "Cooperating with local Chinese partners is the secret to Volkswagen's success in China."

"China is not only the world's largest automotive market, but has also developed into one of the most dynamic and innovative ecosystems," said Ola Källenius (康林松), Chairman of the European Automobile Manufacturers Association and Chairman of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG (梅赛德斯—奔驰集团股份公司). Since the group started local production and R&D in China in 2005, Mercedes-Benz has achieved remarkable results in the Chinese market. "Currently, intelligence, electrification, connectivity, and sustainable development are reshaping the entire industry. Mercedes-Benz will continue to deepen its presence in China, continue to increase investment, adhere to international cooperation, and work with Chinese partners to promote the entire industry forward."

Oliver Zipse (齐普策), Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW Group (宝马集团), said that BMW has long been committed to deepening German-Chinese cooperation, has established a broad production and R&D network in China, and is working with partners throughout the supply chain to promote technological progress. "China's uniqueness lies not only in its huge market size, but also in its strong technological leadership and rapid innovation capabilities. 'China Speed' has become a globally known concept, and we are fortunate to be an important part of this success story."

Hou Fushen (侯福深), Vice President and Secretary-General of the China Society of Automotive Engineers, believes that Sino-German automotive industry cooperation has become a model for the global automotive industry to work together for mutual progress and win-win cooperation. Currently, cutting-edge technologies represented by artificial intelligence and clean energy are accelerating the reshaping of the global automotive industry, and the deep integration of low-carbonization, electrification, and intelligence has become the main direction of industrial development.

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China (Shandong) - Mozambique Natural Resources Development Cooperation Conference Held in Mozambique

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According to Xinhua News Agency, Maputo, October 10th (Reporter Liu Jie (刘杰)) The China (Shandong (山东)) - Mozambique Natural Resources Development Cooperation Conference was held on the 9th in Maputo (马普托), the capital of Mozambique (莫桑比克), providing an important platform for deepening bilateral pragmatic cooperation.

Mozambique's Secretary of State for Mines, Jorge Dauto (若热·达乌多), said that China has always been an indispensable partner for Mozambique in infrastructure, energy, and natural resource development. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Mozambique and China. Shandong Province (山东省) has strong strength in mining, metallurgy, and manufacturing, and Mozambique looks forward to deepening pragmatic cooperation with Shandong Province (山东省).

The conference was co-sponsored by the Foreign Affairs Office of the People's Government of Shandong Province (山东省人民政府外事办公室) and the Mozambique Investment and Export Promotion Agency. Representatives from the political and business circles of Shandong Province (山东省) and Mozambique (莫桑比克) attended the meeting and held policy promotion and matchmaking activities.

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Seize the Moment! On the Front Lines of the Autumn Harvest, Responding to Continuous Rain (Autumn Harvest in Progress)

By: 本报记者 郁静娴

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The busy season of autumn harvest is more hectic than the entire spring, and the autumn harvest is successively ushering in a wave of enthusiasm across various regions. As the nation's major granary, the Huanghuaihai region's grain output accounts for more than 1/3 of the country's total. The autumn harvest is in full swing, but continuous rain in the Huanghuai area, especially in Henan (河南), Shandong (山东), Anhui (安徽) and other places, is inevitably worrying.

What is the situation on the front lines of the autumn harvest, will the continuous rain affect the quality of the grain, and will it cause late sowing of autumn and winter crops?

What is the harvest situation on the front lines?

Seize the opportunity, every extra mu (亩) harvested counts

"Seize" is the keyword for this year's autumn harvest.

"The autumn wind blows, the drums of war beat; small crawler tractors, get to work. Overtime tonight, we must rush to harvest!" On the evening of October 7th, agricultural machinery operator Guo Bobo (郭波波) posted a message on WeChat. Under the night, the harvester drove at full power into a cornfield.

Guo Bobo's location, Wenshang County (汶上县) in Shandong (山东), is a major grain-producing county. "The soil in the fields is wet and sticky, and the water content is saturated, so ordinary wheeled harvesters can't get into the ground." In recent days, more than a dozen small crawler harvesters have been transferred from neighboring areas, and he is taking advantage of the sunny intervals to rush to harvest corn for the surrounding farmers.

In Zhaogang Town (赵岗镇), Fengqiu County (封丘县), in the northern Henan (河南) plain, Lü Gengzhen (吕耕珍), the head of Yongye Family Farm, worked continuously for 5 days to harvest 500 mu (亩) of land. He said that the small farmers around him have basically finished the autumn harvest, "The rain has added trouble, but fortunately the overall yield is still good."

In addition to growing his own grain, Lü Gengzhen (吕耕珍) also provides machine harvesting services. He purchased a crawler harvester three years ago: "To engage in socialized services, the equipment must be in place. Although it may not be used even once in three years, you have to rely on it when you encounter extreme weather."

In order to effectively respond to the adverse effects of continuous rain in the Huanghuaihai region, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (农业农村部) has strengthened the scheduling of soil moisture and disaster conditions, promptly initiated emergency response, strengthened the coordination and scheduling of agricultural machinery, accelerated the promotion of autumn grain rush harvesting and drying, and further clarified the subsidy matters for disaster relief machinery. At the same time, the Ministry of Finance (财政部) was consulted to promptly allocate 484 million yuan of agricultural disaster relief funds to support agricultural machinery rush harvesting, wet grain drying, farmland drainage, and winter wheat anti-humidity sowing.

In the autumn rain, everyone twisted into a rope to rush to harvest grain.

"Even if we subsidize fuel costs and labor costs, we must grit our teeth and persevere to harvest the mature rice." Ping Donglin (平东林) is a post-90s new farmer in Chajian Town (汊涧镇), Tianchang City (天长市), Anhui (安徽). The Hehe Ecological Agriculture Professional Cooperative (禾禾生态农业专业合作社) where he works has 16,000 mu (亩) of service orders. Due to the high water content in the fields, the harvest progress is about 1/3 slower than in previous years.

The machines are running, and manpower is gathering. The local towns and villages actively organized ditch digging and drainage, and the cooperative also gathered more than 10 villagers to harvest manually in some areas where machines could not keep up, "Every extra mu (亩) harvested counts." During the National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holidays, people returning to their hometowns and students on vacation in many places joined the rush to harvest.

Li Congfeng (李从锋), a researcher at the Institute of Crop Science of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (中国农业科学院作物科学研究所) and deputy head of the Corn Industry Expert Group, analyzed: "From the survey, most small farmers have completed manual harvesting, and the harvesting progress of some large growers is slower, but they are actively promoting it." He suggested that for waterlogged plots in the fields, deep ditches can be dug to drain the stagnant water in the cultivated layer as soon as possible, promote soil loosening, and buy time for agricultural machinery to enter the fields; for plots that do not yet have drying conditions or where the corn plants are not completely withered and mature, the stalks can be erected for air drying and harvesting can be appropriately delayed.

According to agricultural information scheduling, as of October 10, the autumn harvest progress in the Huanghuaihai region is nearly 80%.

What to do after rushing to harvest high-moisture grain?

Grasping drying is the top priority

After rushing to harvest high-moisture grain, it is necessary to seize the time to dry it. Since the start of the autumn harvest, many provinces have released distribution points and guarantee hotline numbers for grain drying centers.

In Nanzhan Street (南站街道), Wenshang County (汶上县), half a month ago, the street notified the surrounding farmers of the contact information and detailed location of the drying points. The county has activated 41 grain drying points to accelerate grain drying and storage; the village committees have opened courtyards, cultural squares, school playgrounds and other public areas to facilitate the ventilation and drying of corn in cages and flat storage for corn that does not have drying conditions.

Shandong Zhuorong Agricultural Service Co., Ltd. (山东卓荣农业服务有限公司) is the largest drying enterprise in Wenshang County (汶上县). "Timely drying is crucial to prevent mold and spoilage of wet corn and reduce post-production losses. We are operating at full capacity 24 hours a day for continuous drying." The company's负责人 said that they have completed the drying of more than 15,000 tons of corn.

Regional sharing of drying facilities enhances resource utilization efficiency. Before the National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holidays, the Tianchang City (天长市) Agriculture and Rural Affairs Bureau (农业农村局) sorted out 15 drying facility entities open to the public and pushed them through the local government affairs information WeChat account. Tianchang City (天长市) is located in eastern Anhui (安徽), adjacent to Jiangsu (江苏). "In addition to local farmers, many farmers from Nanjing (南京) and Huai'an (淮安) have called during this period to inquire about and connect with drying service information." Ping Donglin (平东林) said that the drying tower is running non-stop, drying 400 tons of rice per day. The moisture content of the dried rice is about 14.5%, which can be directly stored in the warehouse. The cooperative also provides a one-stop service for rice drying and purchase for farmers who come to the door.

"Grasping drying is the top priority for the harvested grain." Li Congfeng (李从锋) said that large-scale drying enterprises and cooperatives should be further coordinated to open idle factories and carry out drying services to improve drying efficiency.

Policies continue to increase efforts to open up the "last mile" from emergency harvesting to safe storage. Henan (河南), the granary of the Central Plains, has urgently arranged and allocated 30 million yuan of disaster relief funds from the provincial finance to support various localities for drying machinery rewards and autumn grain harvest subsidies, focusing on rush drying and sunning. Zhoukou City (周口市) has urgently arranged 10 million yuan of special funds from the finance to support grain loss reduction and disaster reduction and safe storage.

Recently, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (农业农村部) has sent 4 working groups to the front lines of Henan (河南), Anhui (安徽), Jiangsu (江苏), and Shandong (山东) to carry out "Sanqiu" production guidance services. One of the key points is to focus on the entire process of "harvesting, drying, selling, and planting," strengthen service guarantees, promptly make up for machinery gaps, and help farmers solve urgent problems such as harvesting, drying, sunning, and selling autumn grain.

"The proportion of grain mildew is not only related to rainfall, but also to variety characteristics." Li Congfeng (李从锋) suggested that in the future, farmers can give priority to choosing hard-grain corn varieties that are resistant to ear rot and have compact bracts, focus on preventing and controlling ear pests such as corn borers, reduce wounds, and reduce the risk of field mildew of corn kernels from the source.

Will the sowing of autumn and winter crops be delayed?

There are ways to deal with late sowing, and good management can still increase production

As the saying goes, seize the autumn to win wheat. With the arrival of Cold Dew, winter wheat in the Huanghuaihai region is successively entering the suitable sowing period, and autumn and winter sowing is about to begin on a large scale.

Lü Gengzhen's (吕耕珍) plots have been harvested and vacated. He said that the water content in the fields is too high, there is no way to prepare the land, and it needs to be dried, and it is estimated that autumn sowing will have to be postponed.

From the perspective of recent years, late sowing of winter wheat is not the first time. In 2021, autumn floods caused excessive soil moisture, leading to large-scale late sowing of winter wheat, which was finally harvested through scientific response.

Winter wheat has a long growth period and a large margin for maneuver. "There are ways to deal with late sowing, and good management can still increase production." Lü Gengzhen's (吕耕珍) tone was calm. As an old hand at growing grain, he has rich experience: for example, appropriately increasing the sowing amount, increasing the application of base fertilizer, and spraying foliar fertilizer and other plant growth regulators in a timely manner before the cold wave arrives before the New Year to enhance cold resistance and stress resistance.

In response to the current meteorological conditions and production situation, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (农业农村部) organized experts to formulate the "Technical Opinions on Responding to Continuous Rain and Anti-Humidity Late Sowing of Wheat in the Huanghuaihai Region," and proposed corresponding measures. "The later the sowing of wheat fields, the more refined the land preparation should be, and the more the sowing quality should be improved, and efforts should be made to cultivate strong seedlings before winter." Wan Kejiang (万克江), director of the Grain Crop Technology Division of the National Agricultural Technology Extension Service Center (全国农业技术推广服务中心), suggested that in the current situation, do not rush to prepare the land and sow, but give priority to soil loosening, and wait until the relative water content of the cultivated soil reaches 70% to 80% before preparing the land and sowing at the right moisture content. For late-sown plots with excessive soil moisture in the field, it is recommended to select semi-winter or semi-winter and spring varieties, increase the basic seedlings per mu (亩) by about 10,000 for each day of late sowing, improve the quality of land preparation and sowing, scientifically increase the application of base fertilizer and ensure the balance of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.

Jiang Xiang (蒋向), a senior agronomist at the Agricultural Technology Extension Station of the Henan (河南) Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (河南省农业农村厅农业技术推广总站), introduced that in response to the possible postponement of the sowing period caused by continuous rainy weather, Henan (河南) has issued technical guidance opinions, model diagrams, and clear sheets, and sent 18 provincial-level wheat expert guidance groups to work with city and county agricultural technicians to publicize and guide key technical measures for anti-humidity late sowing.

"Give play to the advantages of new agricultural business entities and do everything possible to ensure that winter wheat is planted sufficiently and well." Xu Zhe (徐喆), a member of the Party Group and Deputy Director of the Wenshang County (汶上县) Agriculture and Rural Affairs Bureau (汶上县农业农村局), introduced that the local area fully mobilized more than 1,000 specialized planting cooperatives, more than 3,200 large grain growers, and more than 100 agricultural machinery cooperatives in the county to carry out socialized services to ensure that winter wheat is planted in the appropriate sowing period without leaving a field empty.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (农业农村部) sent a working group to guide various localities to implement technical measures for anti-humidity late sowing of winter wheat, improve the quality of land preparation, select suitable varieties, scientifically increase density, increase the application of base fertilizer, and achieve late sowing with technology, late sowing with seeds, late sowing with density, and late sowing with fertilizer, so as to consolidate the foundation for next year's summer grain production.

The hope of a bumper harvest is contained in every effort, in the production capacity foundation tightly intertwined with "technology, land, and people," which is precisely the confidence that the granary of a great power is becoming increasingly stable.

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What Role Do Currency Swaps Play in China's Economy? (Policy Interpretation · Q&A)

By: 本报记者 吴秋余

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In September, the People's Bank of China (中国人民银行) renewed bilateral local currency swap agreements with the European Central Bank (欧央行), the Swiss National Bank (瑞士央行), and the Central Bank of Hungary (匈牙利央行); on August 18, it renewed a bilateral local currency swap agreement with the Bank of Thailand (泰国银行); on May 13, it renewed a bilateral local currency swap agreement with the Central Bank of Brazil (巴西央行)... In recent years, the People's Bank of China (中国人民银行) has continued to deepen foreign monetary and financial cooperation and steadily promote bilateral local currency swaps. According to statistics, the People's Bank of China (中国人民银行) has signed (including renewals) bilateral local currency swap agreements with eight foreign central banks this year.

What is a local currency swap? What is the current situation of local currency swaps in China? What impact will the increasing number of local currency swap agreements have on economic development? Regarding issues of public concern, the reporter interviewed Dong Xi Miao (董希淼), Deputy Director of the Shanghai Finance and Development Laboratory (上海金融与发展实验室) and Chief Researcher at Zhaolian.

Q: What is a local currency swap? Why conduct local currency swaps?

A: A bilateral local currency swap refers to a collateralized financing arrangement established between the central banks (monetary authorities) of two countries (regions) based on mutual trust, where one party uses its local currency as collateral to obtain the equivalent value of the other party's currency.

To facilitate understanding, we can imagine a local currency swap as a "currency credit card" opened between central banks. For example, after China and Europe sign a local currency swap agreement, when a European bank needs Renminbi (人民币) to pay for goods imported from China, the European Central Bank (欧央行) can use this "credit card" to exchange Renminbi (人民币) from the People's Bank of China (中国人民银行) at the current exchange rate. When the term expires, both parties exchange back the currencies at the original exchange rate and pay a small amount of interest.

Bilateral local currency swaps play a positive role in maintaining financial stability, providing liquidity support, and supporting bilateral trade and investment. In the past, when Chinese companies did business overseas, they generally needed to convert Renminbi (人民币) into US dollars first, and then convert US dollars into the other party's currency. Exchange rate fluctuations could affect profits, and a lot of handling fees had to be paid. With local currency swaps, both parties can use their local currencies for settlement directly, which is both convenient and immune to the impact of US dollar exchange rate fluctuations.

Q: In recent years, what progress has been made in China's local currency swap agreements?

A: Since the launch of local currency swaps, the Renminbi's (人民币) "circle of friends" has been steadily expanding and deepening. In terms of scope, as of September 30 this year, the People's Bank of China (中国人民银行) has signed effective bilateral local currency swap agreements with the central banks or monetary authorities of 32 countries and regions, covering major economies and many emerging market countries in Asia, Europe, Africa, the Americas, and Oceania. In terms of scale, the total size of local currency swap agreements is approximately 4.5 trillion Renminbi (人民币), providing stable Renminbi (人民币) liquidity to the world.

Q: What promoting effects can local currency swaps bring to economic development?

A: Local currency swaps can promote the facilitation of cross-border trade and investment, which has an important promoting effect on international economic and trade development.

Taking the local currency swap agreement between the People's Bank of China (中国人民银行) and the Central Bank of Brazil (巴西央行) as an example, in 2013, the two countries signed their first bilateral local currency swap agreement, with a Renminbi (人民币) swap fund size of 190 billion yuan. In recent years, Sino-Brazilian economic and trade relations have become increasingly close. China has remained Brazil's largest trading partner for 15 consecutive years, and Brazil is also China's largest trading partner in Latin America. This year, the two sides renewed the bilateral local currency swap agreement, which will help deepen trade exchanges between the two countries, enhance market confidence, and maintain regional and global financial stability.

Q: What impact will local currency swaps have on enterprise production?

A: For enterprises engaged in overseas production and operation, when doing import and export trade, they can apply to local banks for local currency funds under the swap, and directly quote and settle with customers in Renminbi (人民币) or the other party's local currency, locking in costs and profits, and not being affected by US dollar exchange rate fluctuations, making production and operation more stable. Enterprises can use this to achieve more precise pricing, which is conducive to long-term planning for operations and enhancing international market competitiveness.

Q: What does the continuous expansion of the scale and scope of local currency swaps mean for the Renminbi (人民币)?

A: The continuous expansion of the scale and scope of local currency swaps, with more countries and regions willing to hold and use Renminbi (人民币), means that the international recognition of the Renminbi (人民币) is increasing.

In the current international situation, local currency swaps have become an important part of the global financial safety net, enhancing the financial autonomy and stability of various countries. In the future, with the improvement of the level of bilateral monetary cooperation and mutual trust between the People's Bank of China (中国人民银行) and the central banks (monetary authorities) of other countries (regions), the internationalization process of the Renminbi (人民币) will steadily and practically move forward.

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"Every woman is a writer of the times and a striver in pursuit of dreams."

By: 新华社记者

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Women are creators of both material and spiritual civilization and an important force in promoting social development and progress.

Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping (习近平) at its core has been standing at the strategic height of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, planning and promoting the cause of women and the work of the All-China Women's Federation (全国妇联), leading the development of women's cause in China in the new era to achieve historic achievements, and injecting new impetus into the development of the global women's cause.

Embarking on a new great journey, the vast number of women are firm in their historical confidence, bravely shoulder historical responsibilities, stride forward at the forefront of the times, and continue to write a new and colorful chapter in promoting gender equality and the comprehensive development of women.

"The cause of women and the work of the All-China Women's Federation (全国妇联) must always adhere to the correct political direction and be of one heart and one mind with the Party."

Wearing camouflage uniforms, holding steel guns, with firm eyes and high spirits!

On September 3, 2025, at the parade commemorating the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, the heroic female militia phalanx marched vigorously across Tiananmen Square (天安门广场), gloriously accepting the review of General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) and the review of the Party and the people.

In the 1930s and 1940s, in the flames of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (中国共产党), the vast number of women fought bravely and unyieldingly, willingly watering China with their blood, making outstanding contributions to saving the nation from peril and realizing national independence and people's liberation, fully demonstrating their dedication.

"Women can hold up half the sky. What a heroic statement!" In October 2013, during a collective talk with the new leadership of the All-China Women's Federation (全国妇联), General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) reviewed the "elder sisters" such as Soong Ching Ling (宋庆龄), He Xiangning (何香凝), and Cai Chang (蔡畅) who made outstanding contributions to the country and the nation, praising them as "models of a generation and heroines born in the torrent of the times."

Marx believed that there could be no great social change without the leaven of women.

From Comrade Mao Zedong's (毛泽东) proposal that "the day when women all over the country rise up will be the day of victory for the Chinese revolution," to Comrade Deng Xiaoping's (邓小平) advocacy that "women are a decisive force in promoting social progress and economic development," to General Secretary Xi Jinping's (习近平) emphasis that "the Chinese dream is the dream of the Chinese nation, and it is also the dream of all Chinese women"...

For more than a hundred years, the Communist Party of China (中国共产党) has always adhered to writing the realization of women's liberation and development and the realization of gender equality on its banner of struggle, always regarding the vast number of women as an important force in promoting the development of the Party and the people's cause, always placing women's work in an important position, leading the vast number of women to gain liberation, seek progress, and seek development, and opening up a path of women's development with Chinese characteristics.

Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (中国共产党), General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平), proceeding from the overall situation of the development of the Party and the country, has delivered important speeches and made important instructions and approvals on women's work on many occasions, pointing out the direction, defining the orientation, and clarifying the principles for promoting the development of women's cause—

Emphasizing that "adhering to the Party's leadership is the fundamental guarantee for doing a good job in the Party's women's work" and "grasping the theme of the times for the Chinese women's movement of realizing the Chinese dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation";

Pointing out that "creating an environment, removing obstacles, and creating conditions for the comprehensive development of women in accordance with laws and regulations" and "striving to make respecting women and caring for children a social trend";

Requiring "paying attention to the unique role of women in social life and family life, and giving play to the unique role of women in promoting the family virtues of the Chinese nation and establishing good family traditions";

Calling on "developed countries to increase financial and technical assistance to developing countries, narrow the gap in women's development in various countries" and "accelerate the realization of gender equality and promote the development of the global women's cause";

…………

General Secretary Xi Jinping's (习近平) important expositions profoundly expound a series of directional, fundamental, and strategic issues concerning the development of women's cause in the new era, deepen our Party's understanding of the regularity of women's work, and open up a new realm of the Sinicization and modernization of Marxist women's theory.

The All-China Women's Federation (全国妇联) is the most reliable and effective assistant for our Party to carry out women's work.

Since the new era, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) has attached great importance to the work of the All-China Women's Federation (全国妇联), presided over the first Central Party Mass Work Conference in the history of the Party, personally approved the reform plan of the All-China Women's Federation (全国妇联), and held collective talks with the new leadership of the All-China Women's Federation (全国妇联) three times, requiring to strengthen and improve the self-construction of women's organizations with the spirit of reform and innovation.

Based on the present and looking to the future, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping (习近平) at its core has been far-sighted and made overall plans, and a series of major decisions and deployments with pioneering, overall, and long-term significance have been implemented—

"Adhering to the basic national policy of equality between men and women and protecting the legitimate rights and interests of women and children" has been continuously written into the reports of the 18th, 19th, and 20th National Congresses of the Communist Party of China (中国共产党), and "paying attention to family building, family education, and family traditions, and protecting the rights and interests of women and children" has been written into the Party's third historical resolution;

Compiling the Civil Code, amending the Criminal Law, and formulating the Anti-Domestic Violence Law, etc., to build a legal system based on the Constitution, with the Law on the Protection of Women's Rights and Interests as the main body, including more than 100 laws and regulations;

The "13th Five-Year Plan" and the "14th Five-Year Plan" outlines have special chapters on promoting the development of women and children, and the "14th Five-Year Plan" outline has established a special section on "strengthening family building" for the first time;

On the basis of the basic realization of the goals and tasks of the Outline for the Development of Chinese Women (2011-2020), the "Outline for the Development of Chinese Women (2021-2030)" was issued to continue to deploy the main goals and strategies for women's development in different stages...

Putting the promotion of gender equality and the comprehensive development of women in the overall pattern of coordinating the promotion of the "five-in-one" overall layout and coordinating the promotion of the "four comprehensives" strategic layout, and raising women's work to the political height of consolidating the Party's ruling class base and mass base, the top-level design of women's cause is more perfect, and the institutional advantages of socialism with Chinese characteristics are fully demonstrated.

The vast number of women are of one heart and one mind with the Communist Party of China (中国共产党), resonate with the call of the times, and gather the mighty force to promote the construction of a strong country and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

"We must make unremitting efforts to open up broad avenues for the development of women's cause."

In early spring, magnolias bloom and everything is new.

Before the "March 8th" International Women's Day in 2025, at the joint group meeting of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (全国政协), General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) extended festive greetings and best wishes to the vast number of women on behalf of the CPC Central Committee: "I hope that the vast number of women will better play the role of 'holding up half the sky' and demonstrate their heroic demeanor in the process of advancing Chinese-style modernization."

As the people's grand meeting arrived as scheduled, female representatives and members of the CPPCC walked into the Great Hall of the People (人民大会堂), actively participated in democratic practice, and actively contributed their strength. Data shows that the proportion of women among the deputies to the 14th National People's Congress (全国人大), members of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (全国政协), and delegates to the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (中国共产党) has reached a new historical high.

Since the new era, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping (习近平) at its core has promoted the close integration of the course of national development and progress with the course of promoting gender equality and development, promoted the synchronous development of women's cause and economic society, and women's cause is in the best period of development with a better environment, a broader stage for doing things, and more guaranteed rights and interests.

Sharing the fruits of modernization construction, women in the new era continue to realize their yearning for a better life—

The road to prosperity is constantly expanding: winning the battle against poverty in an all-round way, continuing to support women who have been lifted out of poverty and rural low-income women to develop production, expand employment, increase income, give priority to ensuring special groups such as pregnant women and children, pay attention to ensuring difficult groups such as elderly women and disabled women, and effectively break the bottleneck of women's development.

The flower of health continues to bloom: from 2012 to 2023, the average annual growth rate of health technicians in maternal and child health institutions exceeded 6%, and the maternal and child health service system continued to improve; China's core indicators of maternal and child health rank among the top among middle- and high-income countries in the world, and are listed by the World Health Organization as one of the 10 countries with high performance in maternal and child health.

The light of education is shining more and more: the net enrollment rate of school-age girls in primary schools remains above 99.9%; in 2024, girls accounted for 50.76% of students in higher education, of which female graduate students accounted for 50.01%; women enjoy higher quality vocational education and lifelong education.

The foundation of the rule of law is more solid: improving the legal protection of rural women's land rights; severely cracking down on illegal and criminal acts that infringe on the personal rights of women and girls in accordance with the law, and the number of cases of trafficking in women and children nationwide in 2024 decreased by 95% compared with 2013.

…………

One pragmatic measure after another continues to evolve from "having" to "excellent" and from "broad" to "deep", and the sense of gain, happiness, and security of the vast number of women is more substantial, more guaranteed, and more sustainable.

Giving play to the role of "holding up half the sky", women in the new era have watered fruitful results with hard sweat—

In Qiandongnan (黔东南), the autumn scenery is picturesque. In the Liping Dongpin Yuan Traditional Craft Farmers Professional Cooperative (黎平侗品源传统工艺农民专业合作社), Lu Yongmei (陆勇妹), the person in charge, is sitting around with her sisters, using beeswax as ink and wax knives as pens to draw exquisite patterns on native cloth.

In March 2025, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) came here during his inspection in Guizhou (贵州). "The General Secretary greeted us kindly and stopped to watch us paint with wax knives," Lu Yongmei (陆勇妹) recalled.

"Did you learn the skills from an early age?" "Are the products popular?" "How many members are there in the cooperative?"... The General Secretary asked carefully, and his earnest care greatly encouraged everyone.

The cooperative continues to carry out manual skill training, driving more and more women from surrounding villages to join in, increasing income and becoming rich through their fingertips, with an output value of 18 million yuan in 2024.

People are the main body of social practice, and the social nature of people determines that they need to realize their own development in the process of promoting social development.

Since the new era, from winning the decisive victory in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects and winning the battle against poverty, to fighting the COVID-19 epidemic and building a safe China, to promoting scientific and technological innovation and helping green development... the vast number of women have given full play to their main role, shining brightly in the north and south of the country and in all walks of life with the heroic posture of not yielding to men.

Women are not only promoters of social progress, but also inheritors of family virtues.

"Women should play a greater role in society, and they should play a key role in the family." From the height of the Chinese civilization's "family, country, and world", General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) guides women to actively participate in family building, family education, and family traditions, and hopes that everyone will "be a new era woman who is responsible to society and contributes to the family."

The family is the smallest country, and the country is thousands of families.

Actively responding to the new expectations and new needs of the people for family building, earnestly studying the new situations and new problems that have emerged in the family field, and helping women handle the relationship between family and work... Since the new era, the women's work mechanism led by the Party committee, with the government as the main responsibility, coordinated by the Women and Children's Work Committee, linked by the All-China Women's Federation (全国妇联), with the cooperation of multiple departments, and the participation of the whole society has been increasingly improved. The vast number of women play an important role in the construction of family virtues and demonstrate unique wisdom in the integration of family and national responsibilities.

Consolidating the "bridge and link", the All-China Women's Federation (全国妇联) organizations at all levels unswervingly carry out the reform to the end—

In April 2007, less than a month after Comrade Xi Jinping (习近平) became the Secretary of the Shanghai Municipal Party Committee (上海市委), he made a special trip to the Shanghai Municipal Women's Federation (上海市妇联) for investigation and research.

"As soon as he entered the conference room, he shook hands with each of us." Recalling the scene at that time, Zhang Lili (张丽丽), the then Secretary of the Party Group of the Shanghai Municipal Women's Federation (上海市妇联), still could not hide her excitement.

"We attach importance to the work of the All-China Women's Federation (全国妇联)." "If this half of the matter is done well, it will affect the overall situation and the whole." Comrade Xi Jinping's (习近平) instructions made Zhang Lili (张丽丽) and other participants feel a great sense of responsibility.

The times are changing, the environment is changing, and the women's group is changing. The All-China Women's Federation (全国妇联) organizations adhere to the problem orientation, make up for shortcomings, strengthen weaknesses, lay the foundation, and steadily promote the Party's various constructions.

In 2016, the General Office of the CPC Central Committee (中办) issued the "Reform Plan of the All-China Women's Federation (全国妇联)". In 2021 and 2025, the All-China Women's Federation (全国妇联) successively issued the "Reform Plan for Deepening the All-China Women's Federation (全国妇联) System during the 14th Five-Year Plan Period" and the "Opinions on Further Comprehensively Deepening the Reform of the Organizational Construction of the All-China Women's Federation (全国妇联) and Giving Full Play to the Role of the Party and the Government as a Bridge and Link Connecting Women". Focusing on the fundamental question of "who to represent, who to contact, and who to serve", establishing a clear orientation of grasping the grassroots level, guiding the use of mass work methods under the new situation, a series of major measures are pragmatic and effective, and the political, advanced, and mass nature of the All-China Women's Federation (全国妇联) organizations are constantly enhanced.

Women's groups, "Women's Homes", "Women's Micro-Homes", and women's councils are all over urban and rural communities; the All-China Women's Federation (全国妇联) organizations in new economic organizations, new social organizations, and new employment groups are developing rapidly, becoming an important front for contacting and serving women; executive committee members of the All-China Women's Federation (全国妇联) at all levels are active at the grassroots level and serve the vast number of women; a large number of advanced models such as March 8th Red Banner Bearers, "Five Good Families", and "Most Beautiful Families" convey the power of role models and turn into a beautiful landscape on the road to modernization...

Adhering to the use of the Party's innovative theory to condense the soul, the All-China Women's Federation (全国妇联) organizations at all levels are courageous in reform and innovation, serve the overall situation of development, enhance unity and union, and women's work is always new and full of vitality.

"We must unswervingly follow the path of women's development with Chinese characteristics, which is the correct path to realize women's equal exercise of democratic rights in accordance with the law, equal participation in economic and social development, and equal enjoyment of the fruits of reform and development." General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) solemnly pointed out.

"There is no liberation and progress of mankind without the liberation and progress of women."

"Let the two of us continue to work hard in the north and south of the motherland! Truly achieve 'a single heart facing the sun'!"

Before the "July 1st" in 2025, Lu Shengmei (路生梅) and Zhang Guimei (张桂梅), two "red plums" deeply rooted in the north and south of the motherland, once again sent letters to each other to encourage each other.

One is a benevolent doctor and the other is a torch-lighting principal. General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) personally awarded them medals and awards. Today, from the Loess Plateau (黄土高原) to the mountains of western Yunnan (滇西), they are still fighting in the places where the Party and the people need them most.

Behind the two outstanding women is a magnificent picture of the Chinese women's group carrying on the past and forging ahead.

"Today, we are facing more arduous tasks and more distant goals, and we need the vast number of women in our country to contribute their wisdom and strength." General Secretary Xi Jinping's (习近平) deep expectations inspire women in the new era to move forward on the road to national rejuvenation.

Opening an organic life experience hall, developing ecological pastures, leisure agriculture... Wang Yinxiang (王银香), the secretary of the Wulidun Village (五里墩村) Party Branch in Caoxian County (曹县), Heze City (菏泽市), Shandong Province (山东省), is working non-stop to lead the villagers to promote the comprehensive revitalization of the countryside. The old lady in her 60s is full of energy.

"It was the General Secretary who encouraged us! The General Secretary said to me, 'A good play depends on the actors'." Wang Yinxiang (王银香) will never forget that unforgettable exchange.

On March 8, 2018, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) participated in the deliberation of the Shandong (山东) delegation to the National People's Congress (全国人代会). Wang Yinxiang (王银香) spoke on the spot: "Party members must take the lead in dedication, and the branch secretary must rush to the front."

An unprecedented broad stage, an unprecedented historical opportunity.

"In the process of the Chinese people pursuing a better life, every woman has the opportunity to shine in life and realize her dreams." General Secretary Xi Jinping's (习近平) deep expectations give women the confidence and strength to move forward and pursue their dreams.

The autumn wind blows across the vast black land. Liu Fengyan (刘凤艳), an agricultural science expert from Heilongjiang (黑龙江), is running around in the fields, "smelling the soil and loving the seedlings", using sweat and wisdom to guard the granary of a great power;

On the Tibetan Plateau (藏北高原) with an average altitude of more than 4,000 meters, Qide (其德), the secretary of the Porongtang Village (坡荣塘村) Party Branch in Jiangmian Township (江绵乡), Baqing County (巴青县), Nagqu City (那曲市), visits households to learn about the people's conditions and integrates the oath of "benefiting this land with a lifetime" into the towering snow-capped mountains;

On the hot land of reform and opening up, Huang Hui (黄惠), the dean of the School of Computer and Software of Shenzhen University (深圳大学), leads the "heroic team" to pursue their dreams in the tide of innovative development and strive to achieve better economic and social benefits through digital technology;

…………
Self-respect, self-confidence, self-reliance, and self-improvement: the vast number of women promote the spirit of patriotism and dedication, transforming the Party's propositions into conscious pursuits and practical actions. On the new journey of comprehensively building a modern socialist country, they strive to be "builders of a great cause, advocates of civilized customs, and strivers who dare to pursue dreams."

They not only develop themselves but also actively embrace the world, contributing feminine wisdom and strength to the global women's cause with a broader international perspective.

On the eve of the 2023 "June 1st" International Children's Day, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) replied to a letter from Bangladeshi girl Alifa Chin, encouraging her to study hard, pursue her dreams, and carry forward the traditional friendship between China and Bangladesh.

The special friendship began with a life-saving mission by the Chinese Navy's "Peace Ark" hospital ship. In Chittagong (吉大港), Bangladesh, a Chinese female military doctor used her superb skills to protect the life of a high-risk pregnant woman, and the newborn was named Alifa Chin.

The girl aspires to be an envoy of friendship between China and Bangladesh when she grows up, and hopes to study medicine in China in the future, to heal the wounded and rescue the dying like her "Chinese mother"—this is a seed of dream, and also a beam of light shining towards the future.

"There can be no liberation and progress of mankind without the liberation and progress of women."

"There is still a long way to go and greater efforts are needed to build a world where women are free from discrimination and to create an inclusive and developing society." General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) called on all countries to continue to work together and widely carry out international development cooperation in the field of women.

In 1995, the *Beijing Declaration* and the *Platform for Action* adopted by the Fourth United Nations World Conference on Women profoundly influenced the development of the global women's cause.

In 2015 and 2020, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) attended the Global Women's Summit and the High-level Meeting of the United Nations General Assembly to Commemorate the 25th Anniversary of the Beijing World Conference on Women and put forward four proposals, outlining a blueprint for the development of the global women's cause.

This year, to implement the important initiative proposed by General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平), the Global Women's Summit will be held again in Beijing (北京) to work with all parties to discuss the major plan for global women's development, accelerate the new process of women's comprehensive development, and let the sunshine of equality and development shine on every corner of the world.

"Build and share a better world for all women and for all people!" The Chinese Communists of the new era have erected a new milestone in the history of the international women's movement with their broad mind of "shared destiny."

On February 24, at the thematic seminar "Commemorating the Thirtieth Anniversary of the *Beijing Declaration* and the *Platform for Action*" at the 58th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, Liu Yang (刘洋), China's first female astronaut to enter space, delivered a keynote speech via video as a representative of outstanding women in the world: "When the engine of the Shenzhou spacecraft is ignited, what I feel is not only the shock of 600 tons of thrust, but also the power of hundreds of millions of Chinese women holding it up."

More than five months later, in the northwest Gobi Desert, the "Chinese Women" rocket soared into the sky, drawing a magnificent arc in the blue sky. The galaxy is hot, and the journey is like a song.

Under the strong leadership of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping (习近平) at its core, the vast number of women are striding forward, and the Chinese women's cause and the global women's cause are working together to create new glories and write new honors on the road of promoting the construction of a community with a shared future for mankind!

(Xinhua News Agency, Beijing (北京), October 12)

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Page 05版:评论

Overcoming bottlenecks and scaling new heights despite suppression (Commentator's Observation)

By: 李 拯

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Science and technology invigorate the nation, and strong science and technology make the country strong. General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) emphasized: "Chinese-style modernization must be supported by the modernization of science and technology, and high-quality development must rely on scientific and technological innovation to cultivate new driving forces." From today onwards, this edition will launch a series of commentaries focusing on major scientific and technological innovation achievements during the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, and deeply observe the achievements and experiences of high-quality development.

——Editor

Every breakthrough in "chokehold" technologies, every transformation of "impossible" into "definitely possible," enhances the entire society's spirit of fearlessly resisting suppression and forging ahead, shaping a collective belief and psychological expectation of becoming more courageous as difficulties increase and more resilient as setbacks occur.

The "Zuchongzhi No. 3 (祖冲之三号)" is 15 orders of magnitude faster than the fastest supercomputer currently available. The world's first use of allogeneic universal CAR-T cell therapy for autoimmune diseases. The extra-large diameter shield machine breaks the foreign technology monopoly... Not long ago, Science and Technology Daily launched the "My Favorite '14th Five-Year Plan' Hardcore Achievement Collection and Display Activity." Every increase in "heartbeat value" is full of pride, reflecting the powerful steps of high-quality economic and social development during the "14th Five-Year Plan" period.

Among the scientific and technological innovation achievements of the "14th Five-Year Plan," many are solutions to "chokehold" problems. "Aiming at key core technologies, especially 'chokehold' problems, and accelerating technological breakthroughs," General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) has a broad vision, guiding the great Eastern power to bravely climb the peak of innovation. One by one, gaps are filled, one by one, core technologies are conquered, the list of "chokehold" problems is getting shorter and shorter, and more and more original scientific and technological innovation achievements are emerging. The innovation capability of a nation is demonstrated here, and the ambition to adhere to self-reliance and self-improvement is built on this.

After the innovation breakthroughs during the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, the pressure brought by "decoupling and breaking chains" and technological containment has been transformed into a sense of pride and confidence!

Solving the "chokehold" problem and placing the development of the country and the nation on the basis of our own strength allows us to have more strategic autonomy. Domestic operating systems are moving from "usable" to "easy to use," helping us to firmly grasp the autonomy of digital economic development. The research and development of high-end bearings makes important industries such as industrial equipment and aerospace more confident. Transforming external suppression into an opportunity for breakthrough is the courage to "do what we say," and even more the strategic determination to "firmly grasp the destiny of China's development and progress in our own hands."

Solving the "chokehold" problem allows us to continuously open up new fields and new tracks, and open up greater space for developing new quality productive forces. Mastering how to manufacture diaphragms as thin as cicada wings, China's lithium battery industry has embarked on a path of counterattack. The localization of lidar technology lays the technological foundation for intelligent assisted driving. From being subject to others to being independent and controllable, technological breakthroughs not only significantly reduce costs, but also promote China to move from being a follower to a parallel runner and a leader in more and more fields.

Only by mastering core technologies in our own hands can we truly master the initiative in competition and development. Not being a technological appendage of other countries, not following others step by step, but unswervingly taking the path of independent innovation, reflects the strategic clarity and development methodology of promoting Chinese-style modernization.

Along the direction of independent innovation, a joint force for tackling key problems is formed from top to bottom. To make up for shortcomings, accelerate the layout of national strategic scientific and technological forces, give full play to the advantages of the new national system, and concentrate efforts on tackling key areas such as integrated circuits, industrial mother machines, and basic software; to remove obstacles, deepen the reform of the scientific and technological system, and promote reform measures such as breaking "four onlys (四唯)," the horse racing system, loosening funding, and transforming achievements to a deeper level, and continuously release the vitality of scientific and technological innovation; to strengthen applications, enterprises give full play to the role of innovation subjects, so that every domestic substitution will set off a "national trend." Giving full play to institutional advantages and mobilizing all parties' forces, there are no difficulties that cannot be overcome and no difficulties that cannot be overcome.

What is particularly important is that every breakthrough in "chokehold" technologies, every transformation of "impossible" into "definitely possible," enhances the entire society's spirit of fearlessly resisting suppression and forging ahead, shaping a collective belief and psychological expectation of becoming more courageous as difficulties increase and more resilient as setbacks occur. Facing the "chokehold" problem of chips, Huawei (华为) has been firmly committed to independent innovation for many years. The Kirin (麒麟) chip has broken through and been reborn, and the number of terminals equipped with the HarmonyOS (鸿蒙) 5 operating system continues to refresh. Facing tariff pressure, Yiwu (义乌), Zhejiang (浙江) has continued to transform and upgrade, with exports increasing by 24.6% against the trend in the first half of the year, becoming a vivid portrayal of the resilience of a major country's foreign trade. The V-shaped reversal after surviving desperate situations and the transformation from cocoon to butterfly in response to challenges demonstrate the strong resilience of China's industrial chain and supply chain.

The courageous climb in overcoming "chokehold" technologies is also a microcosm of striving to achieve the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Of course, there are still some "chokehold" technologies that need to be broken through, but with the strong leadership of the Party Central Committee, the institutional advantages of socialism with Chinese characteristics, the determination to be self-reliant and strong and to overcome storms, and the heroic march of knowing the importance of bearing the burden and advancing despite difficulties, those "roadblocks" of today will eventually become stepping stones for tomorrow's amazing leap, and we will eventually cross mountains and seas to reach the other side of building a strong country and national rejuvenation.

The World Intellectual Property Organization's recently released "Global Innovation Index 2025" shows that China (中国) has entered the top ten for the first time. A China (中国) that has mastered the historical initiative is striding forward on the road of Chinese-style modernization; an innovation-driven China (中国) will make greater contributions to global development and human civilization.

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Culture Nourishes Hearts the Most (On-the-Spot Commentary: New Atmosphere from the Tianshan Mountains to the North and South)

By: 蒋云龙

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This year marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (新疆维吾尔自治区). Seventy years of singing and seventy years of striving forward. When General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) listened to the work reports of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (新疆维吾尔自治区) Party Committee and the government, he emphasized, "Strive to build a united and harmonious, prosperous and wealthy, civilized and progressive, peaceful and happy, and ecologically sound socialist modern Xinjiang." Starting today, this edition will launch a series of commentaries to showcase the tremendous changes in the north and south of the Tianshan Mountains, and to gather the strength to jointly build a beautiful Xinjiang.

-- Editor

The sound of Uyghur (维吾尔族) herdsman Kurban Asim's (库尔班·阿西木) motorcycle cuts through the sound of the wind in the Gobi Desert. He led us with his sheepdog, leading us over a stone bridge, to see the "Liu Pingguo Zhiguan City Ode Stone Carving" (刘平国治关城诵石刻) on the rock wall.

More than 1,800 years ago, Liu Pingguo (刘平国), the Left General of Qiuci (龟兹) under the Eastern Han Dynasty's Western Regions Chief Administrator's Office, came here with 6 Han (汉人) and Qiang (羌人) people to consolidate the border defense and carved stones to record it. The short 108 characters have become a powerful testimony to the joint development of the Western Regions by people of all ethnic groups.

When Kurban (库尔班) first started guarding this site, he was still a young man riding a horse and waving a whip, but now he has a house full of children and grandchildren. Pointing to the words "Solidarity for ten thousand years, people rejoice, longevity for hundreds of millions of years, suitable for descendants" on the stone carving, his words are simple and firm, "We must guard the history of our Chinese nation and hand it over to the children in the future."

The vast Xinjiang (新疆) has a profound history. The excavated Han (汉) and Tang (唐) steles, silks, coins and other archaeological achievements all confirm the effective jurisdiction of the central government over the Western Regions. The Chinese civilization is diverse and integrated, and Xinjiang (新疆) has been an inseparable part of China since ancient times.

Excavating history is to better protect history. In Baicheng County (拜城县), the staff of the Kizil Grottoes Research Institute (克孜尔石窟研究所) have been sticking to their posts for 40 years, not only to protect the murals, but also to spread the stories of the cultural relics. In the past, tourists could only see them on the spot; now, using digital means, the restored grotto forms are presented in a multi-channel and three-dimensional way. Letting cultural relics speak and letting history speak is one of the powerful ways to enrich Xinjiang (新疆) with culture. Protecting cultural relics has become a consensus among all ethnic groups: cultural relics carry a splendid civilization, inherit historical culture, and maintain national spirit.

Enriching Xinjiang (新疆) with culture enriches daily life and nourishes the heart. Farmers and painters from Baicheng County (拜城县) went to the Kizil Grottoes (克孜尔石窟) to sketch, leaving more than 100 paintings. These works have been exhibited in many counties and cities in Xinjiang (新疆), entered many tourist attractions, and have also been made into wall paintings, exhibition boards and refrigerator magnets. Village resident Mairmu Keremu (买热木·克热木) and his relatives and friends studied the Qiuci (龟兹) music and dance, "When I was a child, I saw these stone carvings, which turned out to be treasures left by our ancestors. Now we also dance the same Qiuci (龟兹) music and dance, which is very beautiful and proud." From the perspective of inheriting the excellent traditional Chinese culture, the active participation and immersion of the masses tightly binds the cultural identity.

To enable the masses to participate and be willing to participate, we must make full use of the rich cultural heritage and resources. In recent years, Xinjiang (新疆) has held a large number of cultural festivals, historical relic exhibitions and other activities, integrating ethnic festivals, cultural bazaars, folk customs experiences and other activities into the lives of people of all ethnic groups. For example, the Samawar dance evolved from the ancient Qiuci (龟兹) people's ceremony of receiving guests. The inheritors took out their unique skills, and senior domestic directors and choreographers improved and transformed the dance. New Qiuci (龟兹) music and dance works continue to emerge, and young dancers from Kuqa (库车) are heading to stages across the country. The integration of traditional art into modern trends, turning "traffic focus" into "cultural landmarks," promotes the deep and solid integration of culture and tourism, which can not only attract people from all over the world to Xinjiang (新疆), but also help to continuously build a common spiritual home for people of all ethnic groups.

Culture is the most nourishing to the heart. With the help of literary and artistic activities, item exhibitions, and concrete demonstrations, culture enriches the material life and spiritual world of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang (新疆), and also unites people's hearts. In Kuqa City's (库车市) Qiuci Alley (龟兹小巷), strolling through the unique historical and cultural city, tourists will more sincerely agree that the history of Xinjiang (新疆) is a part of Chinese history, and the cultures of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang (新疆) are a part of Chinese culture. Cultural unity, people's hearts gather. Chinese culture has always been the emotional support, spiritual home and spiritual home of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang (新疆), and the sense of community of the Chinese nation is becoming stronger and stronger.

General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) pointed out, "Strengthen the enrichment of Xinjiang (新疆) with culture and pay attention to influencing people with culture." Enriching the heart with culture, the splendid flower of "all ethnic groups holding together like pomegranate seeds" can continue to bloom at the foot of the Tianshan Mountains. Today, cadres and the masses of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang (新疆) are uniting their ideological consensus and gathering their strength for struggle. The history of Xinjiang (新疆) is rich and colorful, and the future of Xinjiang (新疆) is even more worthy of expectation.

(The author is a reporter from this newspaper's Xinjiang Branch (新疆分社))

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"Being Needed" is a Kind of Happiness (Heartwarming News & Hot Takes)

By: 王 博

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Retired Professor Liu Xiaosheng (刘晓生)

[Story] Every summer vacation, clear and loud reading voices of children can be heard from a simple farmhouse courtyard in Shuijing Community (水井社区), Tongzi County (桐梓县), Zunyi (遵义), Guizhou (贵州). During a summer vacation, Liu Xiaosheng (刘晓生), a retired professor from Chongqing (重庆), accidentally discovered that the children here had a weak foundation in English. Since then, he has been tutoring the children for free for more than 10 consecutive years. A few simple desks and a small blackboard have ignited the spark of dreams for hundreds of children. When asked why he can persevere, he said, "The happiest thing is to be needed."

[Commentary]

Making his own phonetic symbol cards and correcting the children's pronunciation over and over again; exploring the "situational teaching method" and using role-playing and English songs to stimulate the children's interest; teaching 6 days a week, 4 hours a day, the intensity is even greater than before retirement... With limited conditions and a weak foundation for students, Liu Xiaosheng (刘晓生) relies on decades of experience to strive for excellence in teaching quality.

Although the starlight is faint, it can illuminate the wilderness; although the classroom is small, it can carry dreams. Since 2011, batches of children have completed the transformation from daring not to speak to confident expression, and some have even been admitted to key universities.

"As long as the children want to learn, I will work hard" - sincere and simple words contain profound wisdom of life. As the poet said: "We must dedicate ourselves to life in order to gain life." Dedication is never a one-way payment, but an exploration and pursuit of the world of meaning, and a higher level of emotional satisfaction. The silkworm tirelessly spins silk, and can also usher in the highlight of the spirit. Continuing his teaching career with chalk and dedicating his life's learning to those in need, Liu Xiaosheng's (刘晓生) choice is not only a concern for the "infinite distance," but also a nourishment for his own spiritual roots.

Every dream deserves to be held up, and every dedication should be remembered. "Torchbearer Principal" Zhang Guimei (张桂梅) illuminates the life path of girls in mountainous areas, Wan Zuocheng (万佐成) and Xiong Gengxiang (熊庚香), the founders of "Love Kitchen" (爱心厨房), warm the families of patients with stoves, and the elderly Li Guijiang (李贵江) teaches calligraphy free of charge under the street lights in the community... Those moving stories repeatedly interpret to us that anchoring the value of life to broader social needs, the limited life will bloom with more extraordinary brilliance in the infinite cause.

In the vast countryside, there are many more "Liu Xiaosheng" (刘晓生). Perhaps their names are not well known, but those silent efforts jointly hold up people's ardent expectations for educational equity. The power of individuals is ultimately limited, and further changes in the uneven distribution of high-quality educational resources require more action in institutional construction and policy supply.

In recent years, from the special post plan for teachers in rural compulsory education schools to the Silver Age Teaching Plan (银龄讲学计划), a series of measures are promoting the flow of high-quality educational resources to rural areas. To make up for shortcomings, the key lies in systematicness. Establishing and improving a more reasonable and efficient educational resource allocation mechanism, and better stimulating the endogenous power of rural education development, more substantial educational equity is worth looking forward to.

In Tongzi County (桐梓县), locals lamented: "Professor Liu (刘教授) brought not only knowledge, but also a trend. Now in the community, people are comparing whose children are making progress faster, neighbors are helping each other more enthusiastically, and the rural customs are more civilized and harmonious. This is a wealth that money can't buy." Education is an important way to prevent the intergenerational transmission of poverty, and it is also a key support for promoting the comprehensive revitalization of the countryside. When thousands of "Liu Xiaosheng" (刘晓生) are seen and supported, and when more and more good laws and policies go in the same direction as trickling love, the quality of rural education will continue to improve, and the pace of comprehensive rural revitalization will become more and more solid.

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Photo Report

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Baoshan Small Grain Coffee (保山小粒咖啡), Fengjie Navel Orange (奉节脐橙), Qianxi Chestnut (迁西板栗)... Geographical indications are an important type of intellectual property. Data shows that China has identified more than 4,000 geographical indication products, registered more than 7,000 collective trademarks and certification trademarks using geographical indications, and approved more than 46,000 business entities using special geographical indication signs. The direct annual output value of geographical indication products has exceeded 960 billion yuan.

This is precisely:

Mountains and fertile fields brew abundant harvests,
Ingenious craftsmanship cultivates success.
Transformed into a wealth-generating finishing touch,
Fame spreads far and wide, increasing benefits.

Liao Yuanwen (廖沅文)

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Let laughter resonate with the tides.

By: 鞠 实

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For thousands of years, fishermen have collected fish, shrimp, and shellfish on tidal flats and rocky areas after the tide recedes, making "ganhai" (chasing the sea) their way of life. Today, some places have developed ganhai into tourism projects, and integrated formats such as "ganhai + study tours" and "ganhai + homestays" have emerged. Ganhai videos are widely disseminated, and industrial chains such as seafood processing, catering, and transportation have been extended... Ganhai drives cultural tourism economy and brings many positive effects.

It should also be noted that some tourists use high-pressure water guns, rakes, and other tools to violently chase the sea, destroying the habitats of benthic organisms such as sand crabs and clams; hammering operations in rocky areas directly damage corals and seaweed beds, weakening the natural protection function of the coastline; plastic fishing nets and chemical sunscreens left by tourists spread through tides, damaging water quality and even causing marine life to die. Related behaviors damage the ecology and violate the requirements for protecting marine biodiversity.

The frequent occurrence of chaotic phenomena in ganhai tourism is due to the collision between short-term interests and long-term values. For coastal areas, ganhai tourism is a "low-cost breakthrough" for the integration of agriculture, culture, and tourism - relying solely on natural resources, without large-scale investment, it can attract customers. However, the crude and simple ganhai method brings ecological problems, reduces the tourist experience, damages the regional cultural tourism image, and even turns "relying on the sea to eat" into 竭泽而渔 (jié zé ér yú - "drain the pond to catch the fish," to kill the goose that lays the golden eggs).

The solution is to take ecological protection as the bottom line and the tourist experience as the starting point to build a collaborative mechanism of protection-development-sharing. For example, delineate ecological red lines and zone the ganhai area: the core protected area prohibits all human activities, the ecological restoration area restricts the type of tools and the intensity of operations, and the leisure experience area "limits the quantity, time, and tools" to better balance ecological protection and tourism development. For another example, formulate service specifications, require travel agencies to equip ecological guides, promote degradable tools, and prohibit destructive equipment to better achieve "no-trace ganhai."

To protect the ecology, it is necessary to give play to the enthusiasm of ganhai participants. Explore the establishment of incentive mechanisms such as "garbage for souvenirs" to guide tourists to actively participate in beach cleaning; establish a benefit-sharing mechanism, incorporate fishermen into the cultural tourism industry chain, train fishermen to serve as ecological guides, and develop derivative projects such as "fishermen's fun" and "seafood processing experience" to achieve a virtuous cycle of ecological protection and economic income.

Ganhai is a "dialogue" between people and the ocean. When the laughter of tourists resonates with the rhythm of the tide, and the improvement of fishermen's lives is synchronized with ecological restoration, this "dialogue" can continue. It is hoped that relevant departments, enterprises, and tourists will protect the ocean with awe, develop resources with innovative wisdom, and unite efforts with a shared vision to promote the healthy development of ganhai tourism.

(Excerpted from "Workers' Daily" (《工人日报》), originally titled "Adhere to the Bottom Line of Ecological Protection and Promote the Healthy Development of Ganhai Tourism")

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Empowering Talent Growth Through Skills Training

By: 杨 春

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In a warehouse in Funan Economic Development Zone (阜南经开区), Anhui (安徽), migrant worker Zhang Hu (张虎) walks around with his mobile phone, filming as he goes. Watching the sales in the live broadcast room rise, he feels very at ease. Through job skills training, his video shooting skills have become more and more proficient, and his product selection is more accurate, and now he has also gained considerable traffic.

In Shanxi Huaxiang (Hongtong) Intelligent Technology Industrial Park (山西华翔(洪洞)智能科技产业园), college student Li Wei (李伟) was busy with repetitive processes such as loading and unloading materials and adjusting tools when he first joined the company. After participating in systematic training and keeping up with the pace of digital transformation, he went from "using brute force" to "relying on skills," and became a technical supervisor after six years of work.

After participating in Shu embroidery (蜀绣) skills training, Jia Chunmei (贾春梅), a disabled person, not only acquired skills but also became a "winner" in the Sichuan Provincial Disabled Persons Vocational Skills Competition (四川省残疾人职业技能竞赛).

For many workers, participating in vocational skills training plays a key role in helping them find jobs, increase their income, and even change the trajectory of their lives.

Employment is the foundation of people's livelihood, and skills are the foundation of a career. Strengthening vocational skills training and comprehensively improving workers' employment and entrepreneurial abilities are important measures to alleviate the structural contradiction of the coexistence of "difficulty in employment" and "difficulty in recruiting workers." It is also an inherent requirement for cultivating new quality productive forces and promoting high-quality economic development. For enterprises, skills training also helps to optimize the talent structure, promote technology implementation, and help enterprises gain a firm foothold in market competition.

The previously issued "Guiding Opinions on Carrying out Large-scale Vocational Skills Improvement Training Actions" proposed that from 2025 to the end of 2027, more than 30 million subsidized trainings will be carried out focusing on high-precision and cutting-edge industries, urgently needed industries, and key employment groups. Around key groups such as enterprise employees, college graduates, and migrant workers, we will continue to strengthen vocational skills improvement training. Using large-scale vocational skills training to improve workers' quality and job adaptation capabilities can not only promote fuller and higher-quality employment but also help consolidate the bottom line of people's livelihood and boost consumer demand.

Highlighting the word "new." The rapid development of new quality productive forces requires the creation of a new type of workforce that matches it. Emerging industries such as artificial intelligence, integrated circuits, high-end equipment manufacturing, and the low-altitude economy have spawned a large number of jobs, but the existing knowledge reserves and skill structures of some workers are not well adapted to these job requirements. Facing new industries, new business formats, and new models, expanding the skilled workforce through vocational skills training will achieve a win-win situation for workers' employment and income growth and high-quality industrial development.

Focusing on the word "practical." What to train and how to train must be seamlessly connected with enterprise needs and industrial needs to achieve synchronous progress. Jiangsu (江苏) develops new vocational training suitable for college graduates to participate in, and customizes the training of skilled talents for enterprises; Guangxi (广西) adopts a "job demand + skills training + skills evaluation + employment service" four-in-one project-based training model to consolidate the talent foundation for industrial development. The more demand-oriented it is, the more it can improve the quality and effectiveness of vocational skills training and promote the deep integration of the talent chain and the industrial chain.

To carry out vocational skills training, enterprises must play a major role, because enterprises know best their own talent shortcomings and demand gaps. Launching targeted training programs will make enterprises' talent work more effective. Enterprises' good practices and explorations, and training institutions' good projects and experiences, can all become catalysts for promoting workers' skilled employment, skilled income increase, and skilled happy employment.

Training empowers growth, and skills illuminate the future. At present, China's "demographic dividend" is being upgraded to a "talent dividend," and the "human resource advantage" is accelerating its transformation into a "talent resource advantage." Further improving vocational skills training and vocational education, continuously improving the quality structure of the labor force, and cultivating more high-quality technical and skilled personnel will continuously optimize China's labor force structure and provide strong support for promoting high-quality development.

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Editor in charge of this edition: Li Zheng, Shi Ling, He Juan

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This edition's email: rmbpl@peopledaily.cn (Please indicate the column name when submitting articles)

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Page 06版:要闻

Lifting the People's "Solid Happiness" (Vibrant China Research Trip)

By: 本报记者 吴 君 李 洋

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Recently, our newspaper reporters went to many places in Hubei (湖北) for interviews. On the land of Jingchu (荆楚), the spirit of hard work can be seen everywhere.

In northern Hubei (湖北), in the Beijing Yiqing Food (Danjiangkou) Industrial Park (丹江口市北京一轻食品(丹江口)产业园区) in Danjiangkou City (丹江口市), bottles of soda are packaged and sent to many parts of the country, and "a reservoir of good water" has become a source of wealth.

In southwestern Hubei (湖北), in the Songzi City Cultural Innovation Industrial Park (松滋市文化创新产业园), 11 musical instrument manufacturing companies, including Tongxin Musical Instruments (桐馨乐器), have settled in, driving neighbors and villagers to become "guitar workers."

Employment is the most basic livelihood, connecting thousands of homes on one end and the overall development situation on the other. Strengthening industries, grasping training, and optimizing services, Hubei (湖北) is taking multiple measures to promote employment.

Industry Leads Employment

In the production workshop, the "da da" sound of sewing machines rises and falls.

"I returned to my hometown to start a business in 2020, and the company had only a dozen people. Now the management team has 150 people, and there are 2,000 sewing workers," said Liu Jianyong (刘建勇), general manager of Tianmen Yuezi Garment Co., Ltd. (天门悦姿服饰有限公司), while checking the production line.

In recent years, local garment workers who have returned to their hometowns to start businesses have helped Tianmen's (天门) garment industry grow into a "10-billion-yuan industrial cluster," driving 160,000 people to achieve employment at their doorstep. Zhang Ming (张明), a villager from Hujui Village (胡咀村), Pengshi Town (彭市镇), Tianmen City (天门市), is one of them. Three years ago, he came to Yuezi Garment Company (悦姿服饰公司) and became a pattern maker. "As long as you are willing to work hard and have good skills, your income is guaranteed, and you can take care of your family," said Zhang Ming (张明).

The process of high-quality development is also the process of improving the quality and expanding the scope of employment.

Huandao Biotechnology Co., Ltd. (环岛生物科技有限公司) is located in Wuhan (武汉) and works in the Hubei Qingchuang Park (Guanggu) Demonstration Park (湖北青创园(光谷)示范园). It used to be a basic experimental outsourcing company, but now it is committed to the research and development and production of biological instruments and laboratory equipment, and is eager for talents.

Li Min (李敏), the company's general manager, introduced: "Recently, we have recruited four or five new young talents. Wuhan (武汉) has many college students, and the park regularly recommends excellent graduates to us through the talent reserve pool." Since 2022, the demonstration park has incubated a total of 254 emerging enterprises, driving more than 2,500 college students to find employment.

Data shows that Hubei's (湖北) new urban employment has exceeded 900,000 people for four consecutive years, and the number of college graduates and other young people staying in Hubei (湖北) to find employment and start businesses has exceeded 400,000 for three consecutive years.

Training Revolves Around Employment

In the golden autumn season, picking, sorting, and packaging in his own shiitake mushroom shed, Zhang Jicheng's (张继成) dark face is filled with joy.

Zhang Jicheng (张继成), a villager from Yuhuangmiao Village (玉皇庙村), Wanfudian Farm (万福店农场), Suixian County (随县), Suizhou City (随州市), became connected with shiitake mushrooms last year. At that time, the county provided free shiitake mushroom cultivation training, and Zhang Jicheng (张继成) and several fellow villagers signed up.

"How to choose strains, how to control temperature and humidity, and how to prevent pests and diseases, every link has scientific guidance." After passing the assessment, Zhang Jicheng (张继成) bought 10,000 mushroom sticks, and his income was higher than working outside, "This year, I bought another 30,000 mushroom sticks!"

Suixian County (随县) has polished the name card of "shiitake mushroom grower" and carried out skills training in planting, sales, and other aspects. Now, one in three people in Suixian County (随县) is engaged in the shiitake mushroom industry, and there are more than 300,000 related jobs in the county.

Master new skills and expand employment space.

In Yichang Guangsheng Vocational Skills Training School (宜昌广盛职业技能培训学校), students wear VR (virtual reality) equipment, as if they are immersed in various scenes on the construction site.

"The construction industry is developing towards intelligence, greening, and digitalization, and construction workers must also transform into skilled talents," said Kuang Ling (匡玲), honorary principal of the school. Through "order-based training," the school has cumulatively sent more than 30,000 construction skilled talents to Hong Kong (中国香港), Dubai (阿联酋迪拜), and other places.

It is understood that Hubei (湖北) carries out more than 400,000 subsidized skills trainings every year.

Service Weaves a Dense Employment Network

In the China International Food Industry New City (华中国际食品产业新城) in Xiaonan District (孝南区), Xiaogan City (孝感市), electronic settlement clerk Liu Boyuan (刘博远) often logs into a small program in his spare time.

Liu Boyuan (刘博远) is a veteran who released his job search information on the "Wei Xiao Employment" (微孝就业) mini-program last year and found his current job. "I have benefited, and I also help my friends look for good positions," said Liu Boyuan (刘博远).

At present, this mini-program has more than 140,000 registered users, and more than 2,000 active employment companies have settled in. After job seekers release job search information, the mini-program automatically recommends highly matched positions, and they can directly communicate with companies online.

Weaving a dense public employment service network requires innovative policies.

In Yulong Fungi Co., Ltd. (裕农菌业有限责任公司) in Donggong Town (东巩镇), Nanzhang County (南漳县), Xiangyang City (襄阳市), the workers on the shiitake mushroom sorting line are skilled. In the "托管室" next door, several children are concentrating on doing their homework. "I used to worry the most about no one taking care of my two children after school, but now the children are next door, and I feel particularly at ease at work," said Yang Shixiu (杨世秀), an employee of the company.

"We invest 4 million yuan every year to offer more than 40 popular skills training courses for related groups for free," said Tian Weidong (田卫东), director of the Nanzhang County Human Resources and Social Security Bureau (南漳县人社局). The local area has built a three-level guarantee system of "court + trade union + human resources and social security" to protect the legitimate rights and interests of workers.

It is reported that Hubei (湖北) has built 4,761 employment service outlets in places such as "at the doorstep," "at the factory gate," and "at the store entrance."

(Zhou Qianwen (周倩文) participated in the writing)

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How "Small Packages" Achieve "Accelerated Runs"

By: 本报记者 韩 鑫

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The State Post Bureau (国家邮政局)'s monitoring data shows that as of October 11, China's express delivery volume has exceeded 150 billion pieces this year.

How large is this scale? 150 billion express deliveries are equivalent to nearly 80% of the global express parcel volume in 2022.

How quickly was the goal achieved? This year, exceeding 150 billion pieces was 37 days earlier than last year. On top of a high base, China's express delivery volume continues to achieve high growth, becoming the "power source" of the global express parcel market.

Small express deliveries connect thousands of cities and hundreds of industries, linking online and offline. Through the "accelerated run" of small parcels, one can explore the surging vitality of the Chinese economy.

The flowing parcels demonstrate the development potential of the domestic market.

Recently, Kurban Maihemuti (库尔班·麦合木提), a villager in Qiongkule Village (琼库勒村), Dunkuotan Township (墩阔坦乡), Yuli County (尉犁县), Bayingolin Mongol Autonomous Prefecture (巴音郭楞蒙古自治州), Xinjiang (新疆), received a box of rice, flour, grain, and oil sets purchased online.

In vast Xinjiang (新疆), this scene of receiving goods has become a daily occurrence. Through the "centralized transportation and distribution" model, free shipping has become a reality in Xinjiang (新疆). Currently, more than 80% of products on the JD.com (京东) platform offer free shipping to Xinjiang (新疆), driving a year-on-year increase of over 100% in orders from Xinjiang (新疆) this year.

The westward movement of the "free shipping zone" is a vivid microcosm of the postal express industry building a unified national market and expanding rural market consumption through services. In Kashgar (喀什), Xinjiang (新疆), a new three-tier logistics system of counties, townships, and villages is constantly being improved, and more home appliances are being delivered to various towns; in Nyingchi (林芝), Tibet (西藏), centralized transshipment and postal-express cooperation models are widely used, significantly reducing the cost of online shopping for farmers and herdsmen... In the first half of this year, the revenue and volume of express delivery services in China's central and western regions increased by 13.6% and 25.5% year-on-year, respectively, significantly higher than the national average, and the shortcomings in delivery services in remote areas are becoming a "potential board" for promoting the growth of express delivery services and activating rural market consumption.

The flowing parcels reflect the strong driving force of new quality productive forces.

Checking goods and loading vehicles, one-click departure, the unmanned vehicle slowly starts and drives to the community a few kilometers away. Since June of this year, the No. 2 branch of Jiangxi Zhongtong (江西中通) Nanchang County (南昌县) has cumulatively put 20 new energy unmanned vehicles into use, serving 30 surrounding communities.

"Compared with traditional trucks, it is flexible in loading and runs frequently, with a shift every half hour," said Li Feng (李锋), the head of the branch. Since its operation, the average daily shipment volume of the branch has increased by more than 20% year-on-year. From trying it out to using it frequently, as of now, more than 250 Zhongtong Express (中通快递) branches across the network have put thousands of unmanned vehicles into operation, with a cumulative mileage of over 10 million kilometers.

New equipment such as drones and unmanned vehicles are accelerating their implementation, and new technologies such as 5G and artificial intelligence are constantly integrated into various links of collection, sorting, and transportation... Since the beginning of this year, the postal express industry has shown a good momentum of innovative development, strongly supporting the continuous rise in business volume.

The flowing parcels show the powerful and effective macroeconomic policies.

"Waiting for the courier to come to the door, opening the box on the spot to verify the 'national subsidy' information, it's cost-effective and convenient!" At the end of the National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holidays, Ms. Huang (黄女士), a citizen of Dali (大理), Yunnan (云南), received a new refrigerator she had ordered. Delivery, unpacking, verification, uploading... the signing was completed in a few minutes.

"At the end of last year, we specifically built a management plan based on logistics vouchers to better serve the 'national subsidy' needs," said Zhou Yundan (周运丹), senior manager of communication and high-tech solutions at SF Group (顺丰集团). In the first three quarters of this year, the company has cumulatively carried tens of millions of "national subsidy orders."

From one-way delivery to integrated delivery and installation, from traditional business to non-standard personalized services... Since the beginning of this year, China has continued to increase its efforts to expand domestic demand and promote consumption policies, expanding the categories of consumer goods trade-in policies, driving the continuous rise in express delivery volume, and also helping the express delivery industry accelerate its transformation and upgrading.

Relevant负责人 of the State Post Bureau (国家邮政局) stated that the postal express industry, through its nationwide and globally accessible network system, effectively connects all links of production, distribution, circulation, and consumption, providing solid support for smooth national economic circulation. The postal express industry will accelerate the cultivation of new quality productive forces, take technological innovation as the lead, and make greater contributions to serving and supporting high-quality economic development and building a unified national market.

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The 2025 "Writing Youthful Chapters on the Land of the Motherland" National Ideological and Political Education Online Theme Promotion and Interactive Guidance Campaign Held at Hohai University

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This newspaper Nanjing (南京) October 12th (Our newspaper reporters Wang Hanchao (王汉超) and People's Daily Online reporter Tang Jiayi (唐嘉艺)) In order to thoroughly implement the important instructions of General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) on water management and the construction of great ideological and political courses, the 2025 "Write the Chapter of Youth on the Land of the Motherland" online theme publicity and interactive guidance activities for great ideological and political courses, jointly sponsored by the Central Cyberspace Administration of China (中央网信办), the Ministry of Education (教育部), the Ministry of Water Resources (水利部), People's Daily (人民日报社), the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League (共青团中央), and the Cyberspace Administration of the Jiangsu (江苏) Provincial Party Committee (江苏省委网信委), were held at Hohai University (河海大学) on the evening of October 12th.

The event closely focused on the theme of youth patriotism and struggle, combined with the great practice of water management and national security, and benefiting the people through water conservancy in the new era. Through various forms such as thematic speeches, situational演绎, music and dance, and interactive sharing, a great ideological and political course was conducted online and offline simultaneously. Teachers and students of Hohai University (河海大学) vividly demonstrated the legendary story of "where there is water, there are Hohai (河海) people" based on the 110-year history of Hohai University (河海大学).

The builders of the Red Flag Canal (红旗渠) and their descendants immersively reproduced the touching story of fighting against nature in those years; frontline water conservancy workers shared stories of protecting and revitalizing water on the spot; art workers jointly performed "Ode to the Yangtze River (长江之歌)", praising the vivid practice of a clear river benefiting future generations and benefiting the people in the new era.

Olympic champion Zhang Yufei (张雨霏), Wang Xingxing (王兴兴), the founder of Yushu Technology (宇树科技), and actor Liu Haoran (刘昊然) combined their own experiences to encourage young students to pursue their dreams in the new era with their passionate and bloody stories of struggle. The enthusiasm of "Happy Su Chao (快乐苏超)" in Jiangsu (江苏) and the warmth of the rapid resumption of the "Village Super League (村超)" in Rongjiang (榕江), Guizhou (贵州) intertwined, showing a vibrant and happy China.

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Anti-Japanese War. Wang Chenyi (王宸一), the flag bearer of the Nine-Three Parade battle flag phalanx, Yan Pengfei (严鹏飞), a representative of the parade, and art workers reproduced the heroic epic of the "Liu Laozhuang Company (刘老庄连)". Young students felt the spiritual monument behind the safety of the country under the high-flying battle flag.

This event was organized by the Cyberspace Administration of the Jiangsu (江苏) Provincial Party Committee (江苏省委网信办), Hohai University (河海大学), the Cyberspace Administration of the Nanjing (南京) Municipal Party Committee (南京市委网信委), People's Daily Online (人民网), and China Youth Daily (中国青年报社).

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Harvesting Wax Gourd

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In the winter melon planting base in Jinfeng Village, Fengshan Town, Fuquan City, Qiannan Buyi and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Guizhou Province (贵州省黔南布依族苗族自治州福泉市凤山镇金凤村), villagers are busy harvesting black-skinned winter melons.

Haizhu District (海珠区), Guangzhou City (广州市), Guangdong Province (广东省), provides group-style assistance to Fuquan City (福泉市). The two regions continuously deepen industrial and consumer cooperation, establish a "market + base" industrial cooperation mechanism, vigorously develop the planting industry, and drive local villagers to increase their income and become rich.

Photo by Huang Huan (黄欢) (Image China)

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Pavilion of Prince Teng: A Millennium of Literary Spirit in New Beams (A Cultural Journey Through China: Ancient Architecture in Tang Poetry and Song Lyrics)

By: 本报记者 杨颜菲

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On the banks of the Gan River (赣江), stands a tall pavilion, magnificent and unique.

Bai Juyi (白居易) ascended the pavilion and gazed into the distance, writing, "Green curtains and red banquets rise high into the clouds, a single song from the bells heard by ten thousand homes"; Wang Anshi (王安石) rubbed inscriptions in the pavilion, lamenting, "White waves churn the river without end, where have Chen Fan (陈蕃) and Xu Ru (徐孺) gone?"; Xin Qiji (辛弃疾) climbed the pavilion and drank heartily, wielding his brush, "Painted beams and pearl curtains, matters of that day, no longer see the morning clouds and evening rain"...

This pavilion is none other than the Pavilion of Prince Teng (滕王阁), a meeting place of wind and clouds, filled with the fragrance of ink, bearing the joys and sorrows of countless literati.

In the fourth year of the Yonghui era of the Tang Dynasty (唐朝) (653 AD), Prince Teng Li Yuanying (李元婴) built the pavilion for feasting and entertainment. "Approaching the long island of the imperial son, obtaining the old residence of heavenly beings," Wang Bo (王勃) ascended the pavilion and composed the "Preface to the Pavilion of Prince Teng" (滕王阁序). In this profound prose, he lamented his own "ill-fated destiny" (命途多舛), these four words also being a historical portrayal of the Pavilion of Prince Teng.

For over a thousand years, the Pavilion of Prince Teng has been built and repaired, repaired and destroyed, destroyed and rebuilt, experiencing 28 cycles of destruction and revival. Each version of the Pavilion of Prince Teng has an average lifespan of less than 46 years, with master craftsmen of each era combining the characteristics of the times to continuously give the Pavilion of Prince Teng new life.

In 1942, Liang Sicheng (梁思成) meticulously drew eight "Reconstruction Plan Sketches of the Pavilion of Prince Teng" based on Song Dynasty (宋朝) paintings, but due to the turbulent times, there was no follow-up.

The baton was passed to the next generation. The twenty-ninth reconstruction began in 1985, using Liang Sicheng's sketches as a blueprint. Chen Xingwen (陈星文), the chief architect of the reconstruction project, hoped that the new pavilion would both inherit the style of the Tang and Song dynasties and stand tall with modern strength.

Today's Pavilion of Prince Teng, with its green tiles and red pillars, is particularly exquisite in that the pavilion body has three distinct sides, "breaking the ancient tradition of famous buildings having four identical sides, subtly matching Wang Bo's description of 'passing through embroidered towers, overlooking carved eaves,' with changing scenery at every step." Chen Fang (陈方), Chen Xingwen's son and an expert in ancient architecture, introduced that the construction also gathered the best from various regions, with the Xiangshan Gang (香山帮) of Suzhou (苏州) providing exquisite wood carvings, Fujian (福建) craftsmen chiseling stone work, and Xi'an (西安) painters using court-level polychrome to adorn the beams and rafters, the Pavilion of Prince Teng, integrating the essence of the north and south, finally stood on the riverbank in 1989.

"The extraordinary aspect of the Pavilion of Prince Teng lies even more in its immortal literary soul. This pavilion has long surpassed the physical existence of bricks, wood, tiles, and stones, becoming an active carrier of civilization's genes," said Mei Lianhua (梅联华), a researcher at the Nanchang (南昌) Museum.

The holographic projection on the 4th floor showcases the changes in the pavilion through the ages, the copperplate engraving of the "Preface to the Pavilion of Prince Teng" from the "Wuxiangtang Su Tie" (《晚香堂苏帖》) on the 5th floor, and the VR experience center in the basement recreates the grand banquet of the Tang Dynasty in a digital space, innovative designs making the traditional cultural experience full of modern interest.

In front of the intelligent "Recitation Pavilion," tourists are like weaving. "The 'Recite the Preface to the Pavilion of Prince Teng for Free Admission' activity has always been very popular, especially after the launch of the 'children can recite, parents are free' service," said Mao Qi (毛琦), head of the comprehensive management department of the Pavilion of Prince Teng tourist area, adding that the number of tourists admitted free of charge for reciting the preface has exceeded 54,000 this year.

On the nearby promenade, Li Jianping (李建平), a 73-year-old Nanchang citizen, said with a smile: "In the past, we walked around the walls, but now the pavilion is right next to us." In 2024, the Pavilion of Prince Teng scenic area removed barriers, expanded the free tour area, and allowed the old city and the scenic area to deeply integrate.

On Rongmen Road (榕门路) at the entrance of the scenic area, Xiao Qi (小祺), the owner of a Hanfu (汉服) shop, is tidying up the clothes for a customer: "We've been **爆单** (bào dān - "exploding orders," extremely busy with a large influx of orders) every day recently." More than 50 Hanfu shops along the street weave a flowing picture of ancient charm.

In the twilight, the flying eaves catch a ray of sunlight, the river breeze brushes past the solitary duck-patterned roof tiles, carrying the tinkling of the jade pendants of the Hanfu girls. A three-dimensional painting, a solidified poem, the Pavilion of Prince Teng integrates into history and culture, and also leaps into modern life...

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Xinjiang's Strategic Emerging Industries Gather Momentum (Forging Ahead for 70 Years: Chapters of Development Across Tianshan Mountains)

By: 本报记者 蒋雪鸿 韩立群

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On the Gobi Desert at the eastern edge of the Junggar Basin, the Xinjiang Changji Converter Station (新疆昌吉换流站), covering an area equivalent to 59 standard football fields, is located. Overhead, silver lines crisscross, iron towers soar into the clouds, and the converter transformers emit a continuous low hum. As the sending end starting point of the Changji-Guquan ±1100 kV ultra-high voltage DC transmission project, the Changji Converter Station has cumulatively transmitted 368 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity since it was put into operation in September 2019, with 51.2 billion kilowatt-hours transmitted this year.

The safe and stable operation for more than 2,000 days and nights is inseparable from the 24-hour operation and maintenance guarantee provided by the operation and maintenance personnel. Wang Hong (王鸿), the stationmaster, came to this Gobi Desert when the Changji Converter Station started construction. "Watching the Changji Converter Station gradually built and operating stably, I am both proud to be involved in this project and always remember the heavy responsibility on my shoulders." More than 30,000 pieces of equipment work day and night, and the incoming current from all directions is continuously boosted, and finally rushes out of the converter station and is stably transmitted to the eastern region, lighting up thousands of homes.

The ±1100 kV ultra-high voltage DC converter transformer used in the Changji Converter Station is independently developed by TBEA Co., Ltd. (特变电工股份有限公司). Zhang Guoyun (张国云), winner of the National May 1st Labor Medal and the "National Craftsman of the Year" in 2023, is the chief technician of TBEA Xinjiang Transformer Factory (特变电工新疆变压器厂). One of the technologies he has overcome is the winding of the coils of ±1100 kV ultra-high voltage DC converter transformers.

Since graduating from TBEA in 1999, Zhang Guoyun has worked on the production front line for 26 years. He said with emotion: "The company initially produced small low- and medium-voltage products, and now it manufactures major national equipment; I am fortunate to have participated in dozens of major projects, including the Jiquan DC project—its development and changes are inseparable from the country's strong investment in the power industry. In the future, I will continue to do my job better in a down-to-earth manner, lead the team well, and pass on the spirit of craftsmanship from generation to generation."

Driving west from Ürümqi (乌鲁木齐) for about an hour and a half, you will reach Shihezi City (石河子市), an important town at the northern foot of the Tianshan Mountains. Speaking of his research work, Zhang Ruoyu (张若宇), a professor at Shihezi University (石河子大学), is full of enthusiasm. Zhang Ruoyu is committed to promoting the development and research of digital technology and equipment for intelligent cotton production in Xinjiang, focusing on solving the problems in the green, efficient, and sustainable development of the cotton industry.

Cotton is a bright name card in Xinjiang's modern agriculture. Chen Xuegeng (陈学庚), an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and a researcher at Shihezi University, introduced that in 2024, the average yield of lint cotton in Xinjiang was 154.9 kg/mu, with a total output of 5.686 million tons, accounting for 92.2% of the country. As a core member of Academician Chen Xuegeng's team, Zhang Ruoyu has been deeply involved in the cotton field for many years, and Xinjiang has provided him with the best stage for starting a business. "I have lived and worked in Shihezi for nearly 20 years, and it has long become my new home—our career is here, and our feelings are here," said Zhang Ruoyu.

Xinjiang Tianyu Hangtong Technology Co., Ltd. (新疆天域航通科技有限公司), also located in Shihezi City, was established in 2023. The Hongyan large-sized unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) it produces has great potential in Xinjiang's agricultural and forestry plant protection market. The person in charge of Tianyu Hangtong told reporters that Xinjiang has vast agricultural land and a huge demand for the development of the low-altitude economy; in addition, Xinjiang is sparsely populated and the airspace management is extremely suitable for large UAV companies to explore new businesses. The person in charge is full of confidence in the "high flying" of the low-altitude economy: "The domestic infrastructure is increasingly perfect—there is Beidou (北斗) in the sky, 5G networks on the ground, plus policy support, the low-altitude economy will usher in rapid development."

Continuing west is a modern city that thrives on oil—Karamay (克拉玛依). Countless oil pumping units work rhythmically in the Gobi Desert.

Chen Qiliang (陈其亮), a national model worker, has been sticking to the oil production front line in the Gobi alkali beach since graduating from technical school in 1994, and has personally experienced the significant improvement of the oil field's technical level. "The team used to rely on walking to repair each oil well, but now it can efficiently complete the repairs by driving new energy vehicles; the oil field equipment inspection has changed from 'routine inspection' to 'abnormal inspection'. In the future, we will continue to improve our technology and contribute to ensuring national energy security," said Chen Qiliang. In 2025, Karamay's oil and gas equivalent is expected to exceed 20 million tons, of which crude oil production will be 15 million tons, achieving a stable production of 10 million tons for 24 consecutive years.

As a traditional oil town, Karamay regards the digital economy as an engine for achieving high-quality economic development and urban transformation. In 2012, Karamay built Xinjiang's first cloud computing industrial park. In 2022, driven by the national "Eastern Data and Western Computing" project, Karamay's computing power industry has entered a period of rapid development, and six large data centers have been built so far.

千帆竞发,百舸争流 (qiān fān jìng fā, bǎi gě zhēng liú - "a thousand sails race, a hundred barges compete," a scene of vigorous competition and development). On the vast land of Xinjiang, traditional industries are being upgraded and renewed, and strategic emerging industries representing new quality productive forces are gathering momentum. At the foot of the Tianshan Mountains, scientific researchers, technical experts, and front-line workers are working hard with dreams in mind. State-owned enterprises, private enterprises, and scientific research institutes are jointly joining the wave of Xinjiang's industrial development, riding the wind and waves, and moving steadily and far.

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This edition's editors: Cheng Chen, Xu Yang, Ma Ruishan

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Page 07版:读者来信

Platform competition should not exploit merchants (Jin Tai Perspective)

By: 本报记者 金 歆

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The platform economy, as an important component of the digital economy, has become a key link connecting millions of merchants and hundreds of millions of consumers.

However, some merchants have reported that some platforms force merchants to subsidize consumers, or have unreasonable rules in terms of traffic promotion and recommendation scores, which damage the interests of merchants and affect the healthy development of the industry and the interests of consumers.

Merchants report:

Situations such as "being participated" in subsidies, price reductions without notification, and "choose one of two" have not been eliminated.

"10 yuan off for every 10 yuan spent," 10 cents for a cup of milk tea, 1 yuan for a braised pork rice... Not long ago, the "subsidy war" of food delivery platforms attracted attention, attracting many consumers to "薅羊毛" (hāo yáng máo - "pluck the wool," to take advantage of loopholes to gain petty advantages). However, "some platforms force or indirectly force merchants to jointly bear discounts, and even push prices below cost, resulting in 劣币驱逐良币 (liè bì qū zhú liáng bì - "bad money drives out good," Gresham's Law, where inferior products drive out superior ones)." Huang Yong (黄勇), a professor at the School of Law of the University of International Business and Economics (对外经济贸易大学), said that some merchants may reduce the quality of their goods to "make up for subsidy losses."

"I clearly did not participate in the platform's subsidy activities, so why does the order show that I need to provide subsidies to customers?" Li (李) from Zhejiang (浙江) runs a fruit and vegetable supermarket and also takes orders for food delivery on the platform. Recently, he suddenly discovered that the money he received for each food delivery order on a certain platform was far lower than the marked price of the goods. He quickly checked and found that he had participated in the platform's "Supermarket Fruit and Vegetable Red Envelope" promotion without his knowledge.

"Look, the total price of this order is 180 yuan, and I have to subsidize the customer 43 yuan. Among them, the merchant bears 34.25 yuan, and the platform subsidizes 8.75 yuan," Li (李) showed the reporter the "Merchant Commodity Subsidy Details" page.

Li (李) then complained to the platform's customer service. The customer service stated that there was no mandatory participation in subsidies at the platform level and that they would intervene in the investigation. If the relevant situation does exist, Li (李) will be compensated.

Coincidentally, Wang (王), who runs a pig's feet rice restaurant in Changzhou (常州), Jiangsu (江苏), told reporters that he was "participated" in the "10 Billion Subsidy Coupon" event on another food delivery platform.

"If the price before the coupon is 10 yuan, the merchant will subsidize up to 5 yuan; if the price before the coupon is 15 yuan, the merchant will subsidize up to 7 yuan..." After Wang (王) found out, he wanted to modify the subsidy amount, but after clicking the relevant button, two lines of gray text popped up on the screen: "This event is issued from the brand dimension. Please contact the brand负责人/商户运营 (fù zé rén/shāng hù yùn yíng - "person in charge/merchant operation") to assist in modifying the additional subsidy amount."

Forcing merchants to "choose one of two" between platforms is also one of the headaches for merchants.

In May of this year, Xiao Xu (小徐), an employee of a food delivery platform, negotiated a cooperation agreement with a catering store in Hubei (湖北). However, not long after settling in, Mr. Zhang (张), the person in charge of the store, contacted Xiao Xu (小徐) and said that he wanted to close the account and give up the platform's food delivery business. Mr. Zhang (张) introduced that he had previously signed a so-called "exclusive agreement" with another platform, which required him not to carry out food delivery business on other platforms.

Yang Shangdong (杨尚东), an associate professor at Southwest University of Political Science & Law (西南政法大学), introduced that if the platform uses its market dominance to force merchants to "choose one of two" for the platform, it is suspected of violating the relevant provisions of the Anti-Monopoly Law.

It is understood that as early as 2021, the State Administration for Market Regulation (国家市场监管总局) made an administrative penalty for the monopoly behavior of a food delivery platform: the platform used its dominant position in the online catering and food delivery market in China (中国) to force merchants on the platform to sign exclusive cooperation agreements by implementing differential fee rates and delaying the launch of merchants. The "Annual Report on Anti-Monopoly Law Enforcement in China (2024)" (《中国反垄断执法年度报告(2024)》) released in June this year still shows that the relevant departments are deeply evaluating the platform's rectification progress and "requiring rectification within a time limit."

Why do problems that infringe on the rights and interests of merchants still occur on food delivery platforms under such strict supervision?

Mr. Cheng (程), a relevant person in charge of a food delivery platform, told reporters: "The platform level usually does not blatantly force merchants to 'choose one of two' or force subsidies. However, at present, food delivery platforms are represented by franchisees in some regions. Some front-line employees may have similar problems in order to complete their performance, and even take fraudulent and coercive measures."

Mr. Cheng (程) introduced that, for example, when opening a merchant account, regional managers require merchants to check the "Manager Authorization" option, and some even have offline staff directly help merchants set up account passwords. Without the merchant's knowledge, the staff may privately sign up the merchant for subsidy activities.

Not only food delivery, but also life services, hotel and tourism platforms have situations where merchants are forced to give up profits. Previously, many hotel merchants reported that they were forced to open a "Price Adjustment Assistant" function on the Ctrip (携程) platform, and the platform could directly modify the merchant's pricing in the background without the merchant's consent.

Li (李), the manager of a hotel in Jiaxing (嘉兴), Zhejiang (浙江), said, "For example, we mark the price of a room at 500 yuan, and Ctrip (携程) directly adjusts it to 400 yuan in the background, or adds red envelopes, or adjusts promotions, without our consent or knowledge."

"Not only Ctrip (携程), but other platforms also have similar 'Price Adjustment Assistant' functions." Mr. Liu (刘), who runs a hotel in Zhengzhou (郑州), Henan (河南), opened the "Price Adjustment Assistant" page of another hotel and travel booking platform and introduced to reporters that merchants can turn off this function or modify the price adjustment range, but "the page is difficult to find and the operation is more complicated."

Industry observation:

Unreasonable rule settings create traffic anxiety, leading to "bad money drives out good."

Sometimes, the platform does not directly infringe on the rights of merchants, but unreasonable traffic rules or insufficient awareness of protecting the rights and interests of merchants also lead to damage to the interests of merchants and even the development of the industry.

The evaluation mechanism of e-commerce platforms on return rates has been "complained" by many merchants. "The products I sell have very few negative reviews, but the return rate is very high." Mr. Ji (纪), who sells clothing on an e-commerce platform, could only smile wryly when he looked at the 80% return rate of a certain product in his store that day.

Mr. Ji (纪) introduced that in recent years, with the prevalence of rules such as "seven-day no-reason return," some consumers have become accustomed to "buy first, then choose," "buy 3 pieces, choose 1 piece they like and keep it, and return the rest." During the "Double 11" promotion last year, a famous brand of clothing even became a "full discount artifact": some consumers bought clothing at a low price, and in order to get the "400 off for every 1000 spent" discount, they ordered another expensive one, enjoyed the discount, and then returned the expensive one.

"The return rate will affect the store's reputation, score, and platform recommendation priority. Many customers leave directly when they see that the store has a high return rate." Mr. Ji (纪) said that seven-day no-reason return is a right granted to consumers by law, but it should not cause unreasonable losses to the store. The platform should optimize the rules to reduce the impact of such returns on merchants.

Under unreasonable recommendation mechanisms, "traffic anxiety" generally surrounds platform merchants.

"I now have to spend thousands of yuan on '×× Express' every month. 'Traffic cost' has become an important expenditure." Ms. Zhuang (庄), who sells outdoor products on an e-commerce platform, introduced that the so-called "×× Express" is a service tool for e-commerce platforms to participate in bidding rankings and conduct traffic promotion. "I am a small merchant, and those big merchants spend much more money on promotion than I do."

"Many merchants use a lot of funds to buy traffic, which inevitably squeezes production and operating costs, leading to a decline in quality." Ms. Zhuang (庄) lamented that this trend may also lead to "bad money drives out good," and in the end, it is not who has good quality goods who sells well, but who has a lot of traffic who sells well.

In this regard, relevant staff of the e-commerce platform explained to reporters that the basic operating mechanism of both "×× Express" and other promotion tools is that the platform's data model helps merchants push products to matching potential consumers based on user consumption habits and historical delivery data to promote transactions. "It is not that spending more money will get more traffic and sales. In the end, it depends on the product itself."

Liu Cheng (刘诚), a researcher at the Institute of Finance, Economics and Strategy of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (中国社会科学院), said that the promotion, ranking, and exposure mechanisms formulated by the platform are not open and transparent enough, and it is difficult for merchants to grasp the real path to optimize traffic. Although advertising is packaged as a positive tool to "increase exposure," the platform actually induces merchants to invest infinitely through "bidding ranking," while the marginal conversion of traffic continues to decrease, forming a vicious circle of "traffic dependence - traffic anxiety - advertising bidding - reinvestment."

Not only e-commerce platforms, but also merchants on other platforms have "traffic anxiety" in order not to fall behind in the competition.

"Business volume of 7207 yuan, merchant's activity subsidy to customers of 2209 yuan, and accumulated bill amount of 3587 yuan..." Mr. Zhang (张) from Chengdu (成都), Sichuan (四川), showed reporters his food delivery income for the month.

"Participating in platform subsidy activities requires a lot of investment from merchants, and even the more they sell, the less they earn." Mr. Zhang (张) said that if they do not participate, the platform may reduce the recommendation priority, and consumers prefer similar products with subsidies. "Some merchants therefore reduce quality to save costs."

Governance recommendations:

Improve rules, innovate supervision, and build a harmonious and healthy market ecosystem.

"The platform has a dual identity as an operating entity and a market infrastructure provider, which makes it possible for the platform to form de facto unfair transactions with other operating entities through many hidden methods when trading." Liu Cheng (刘诚) believes.

"This characteristic leads to complex and diverse relationships between the platform and different types of users on the platform, and spontaneous order is difficult to effectively regulate its relationships." Yang Shangdong (杨尚东) said that this requires further improvement of rules and strengthening of regulatory innovation.

The innovation and optimization of supervision has been continuing. In the first half of this year, in response to the prominent problem that platforms condone consumers' abuse of the "refund only" rule, resulting in merchants losing both goods and money, market supervision departments urged platforms to clarify the scope of application and specific circumstances of the rules to protect the legitimate rights and interests of merchants. Soon, Pinduoduo (拼多多), Taobao Tmall (淘宝天猫), JD.com (京东), and others effectively governed the behavior of harming the rights and interests of merchants by means of "refund only without returning goods" by optimizing the rules.

In July this year, the State Administration for Market Regulation (国家市场监管总局) interviewed three food delivery platform companies, requiring companies to abide by laws and regulations such as the E-Commerce Law, implement the main responsibility, and regulate promotional activities.

On September 17, the Zhengzhou (郑州) Market Supervision Administration (郑州市市场监督管理局) conducted an administrative interview with the operating entity of Ctrip Travel Network (携程旅行网) in accordance with the law. Prior to this, many hotels stationed on the Ctrip (携程) platform reported problems such as the platform's mandatory intervention in hotel pricing through the "Price Adjustment Assistant" and obstruction of the cancellation of the price adjustment function.

Rule improvement is also ongoing. The newly revised Anti-Unfair Competition Law will come into effect on October 15, which stipulates that platform operators shall not force or indirectly force operators on the platform to sell goods at prices below cost in accordance with their pricing rules, disrupting market competition order.

"Not only 'prohibiting low prices,' but also 'prohibiting forcing others to lower prices,' focusing on regulating platforms' coercion of merchants with traffic leverage. This grasps the essence of the problem." Huang Yong (黄勇) said.

On September 24, the "Basic Requirements for Service Management of Food Delivery Platforms (Draft for Solicitation of Comments)" (《外卖平台服务管理基本要求(征求意见稿)》) was publicly solicited for comments from the public. The draft for solicitation of comments focuses on key issues such as platform fees and promotional activities, helping food delivery platform companies standardize service management, improve service quality, reduce the operating burden of merchants, and guide platform companies to compete openly and orderly.

"The essence of the platform economy is multi-party participation and co-creation of value." Liu Cheng (刘诚) said that therefore, platforms should pay more attention to the integration of merchant interests and social interests in the future.

In this regard, various platforms are also constantly improving rules to reduce the "accidental injury" to merchants caused by rules.

For example, in response to the "return affecting evaluation" problem reported by many merchants, Taobao Tmall (淘宝天猫) platform proposed "real experience score" at the end of June this year. "Simply put, if the order is not a refund caused by product quality problems, such as undelivered refunds caused by凑单 (còu dān - "bundling orders," combining orders to reach a minimum for discounts), consumers' no-reason returns, etc., it will not affect the merchant's score." said the relevant person in charge of Taobao Tmall (淘宝天猫).

Liu Cheng (刘诚) suggested that food delivery platforms should build a more inclusive and fair governance framework through the dual-wheel drive of system and technology. For example, establish a merchant representative mechanism, establish an information feedback and bargaining system between the platform and merchants, and form a systematic dialogue channel; establish a "诚信商户档案 (chéng xìn shāng hù dàng àn - "honest merchant file")" system, break the "one-size-fits-all" algorithm for traffic distribution, and give continuous incentives to merchants with good historical credit and stable service.

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On-site Supervision and Guidance to Promote Geological Disaster Management (Feedback)

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People's Daily:

On September 15th, your newspaper's "Letters to the Editor" section published an article titled "Xinhua Township, Jinsha County, Bijie City, Guizhou Province, Wuxing Village, Geological Disasters Caused by Coal Mining in 2017, More Than 70 Villagers Failed to Relocate Due to Not Accepting the Compensation Plan. The County Has Been Coordinating, But the Problem Has Not Been Solved." Provincial, municipal, and county leaders attached great importance to this and successively demanded that relevant issues be handled quickly and properly to effectively protect the safety of people's lives and property and their legitimate rights and interests.

The county government's responsible person in charge immediately interviewed the actual person in charge of the enterprise involved, solemnly demanding that the enterprise shoulder the main responsibility for handling geological disasters. The main person in charge of the county government led relevant departments to Wuxing Village (五星村) to conduct on-site inspections of the mountain threat and the living and production conditions of the masses. Relevant persons in charge of the municipal government rushed to the scene to conduct on-site supervision and guidance on the progress of the disposal work.

We will fully promote the implementation of the following key tasks to achieve effective results. First, comprehensively strengthen communication and connection. Actively, proactively, truthfully, and objectively report the judgment execution situation to the Municipal Intermediate People's Court (市中院), request the Municipal Intermediate People's Court (市中院) to recognize the county's performance of its organizational relocation and avoidance responsibilities and its effectiveness, and refine the judgment execution standards and measures. Second, tighten and solidify the enterprise's main responsibility. Take compensation and relocation measures for the remaining Category D houses, provide preferential policies for the masses to purchase houses in the city, and minimize the relocation burden on the masses. For Category B and C houses, urge coal mining enterprises to complete reinforcement and maintenance work as soon as possible to completely eliminate safety hazards. Third, promote the implementation of work scientifically and efficiently. Urge the Second Engineering Exploration Institute Co., Ltd. of the Guizhou Provincial Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources (贵州省地矿局第二工程勘察院有限公司) to accelerate the investigation and evaluation of geological disasters in the Niugunpo (牛滚坡), Majiapo (马家坡), and Taoyangpo (太阳坡) areas of Wuxing Village (五星村), scientifically delineate dangerous areas, and promote subsequent disposal work scientifically, accurately, and with classified policies.

Jinsha County People's Government (金沙县人民政府)

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Road used by villagers is damaged in multiple places but no one is repairing it (Local News)

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I am a villager from Jinzhu Town (筋竹镇), Cenxi City (岑溪市), Wuzhou City (梧州市), Guangxi (广西). The road connecting Jinzhu Town (筋竹镇) with Shuangdan Village (双担村) and Shiqin Village (石芹村) is the only road for several nearby villages to reach the town. In recent years, there have been more than a dozen serious damages (see the picture) on several kilometers of the road, which seriously affects traffic safety. A traffic accident occurred not long ago. We have reported this many times, but have not been effectively resolved. We hope that relevant departments will repair the road in a timely manner to ensure the safety of villagers' travel.

Mr. Tao (陶先生), Wuzhou City (梧州市), Guangxi (广西)

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Rural toilets must not only be built well, but also managed well (suggestion)

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I live in a rural area. In recent years, the rural living environment has been significantly improved, especially with the vigorous promotion and popularization of sanitary toilets. However, in some places, the location of the toilets is unreasonable, and villagers cannot find them or are unwilling to go because they find it troublesome; in some places, reconstruction is emphasized over management, and the toilets quickly become dirty and messy; in other villages, in order to reduce the number of management personnel, the toilets are built but not allowed to be used, and sanitary toilets become a form of "formalism."

Good things must be done well. I suggest that for the rural sanitary toilets that have already been built, management should be emphasized even more than reconstruction. This can be resolved by including them in public welfare positions, village cadres contracting them, and other methods. For toilets that have not yet been built, they should be scientifically laid out, adapted to local conditions, and implemented with classified policies. Sanitary toilets should use water where water is suitable and be dry where dryness is suitable, and a toilet renovation model that is simple, practical, moderately priced, technologically mature, and acceptable to the masses should be selected to ensure that farmers are willing to use, know how to use, can use, and love to use them.

Shangqiu City, Henan Province, Bi Dongsheng (毕东社)

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"Customized Bus Service for Elementary School Students Sparks Controversy (Exposure)"

By: 本报记者 赵 兵 徐 靖

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In recent days, a reader's letter has reflected a situation in Huaiyuan County (怀远县), Bengbu City (蚌埠市), Anhui Province (安徽省), where "buses are being used illegally as school buses to transport elementary school students to and from school, posing serious safety hazards." In response, reporters visited Huaiyuan County (怀远县) to conduct on-site investigations.

Around 16:00 on September 23, reporters arrived near the Liucheng Experimental School (榴城实验学校), a nine-year consistent system school in Huaiyuan County (怀远县). At this time, nine new energy buses were already parked in front of the school. These buses had different numbers and routes, such as the D18 bus, which runs the route "Liucheng School (榴城学校) - Zhanggou Dayao (张沟大窑)"; the D21 bus, which runs the route "Liucheng School (榴城学校) - Xinhua Sanxiang (新化三巷)," etc. There were only drivers on the buses, with no other staff.

When the dismissal bell rang, many students got directly onto the buses. The reporter saw that the D21 bus, which had about 20 seats, had approximately 30 students boarding, many of whom were elementary school students. Because all the seats were full, some students chose to sit on small red plastic chairs in the middle of the aisle inside the bus.

Subsequently, the reporter followed the D21 bus from Liucheng Experimental School (榴城实验学校) through Sanxiang Village (三巷村) to Xinhua Village (新化村), a journey of about 15 kilometers. The D21 only stopped at two locations: by the Sanxiang Village Committee (三巷村村民委员会) roadside and at the T-junction next to the Xinhua Village Committee (新化村村民委员会). Until all the students got off, no passengers boarded the bus along the way. There were no obvious bus stop signs at the stopping points, and many parents were picking up their children from school at the stopping points.

Are buses like the D21 compliant for picking up and dropping off elementary school students? According to the "School Bus Safety Management Regulations" promulgated by the State Council (国务院) in April 2012, a school bus refers to a passenger car with more than 7 seats that has obtained a usage permit and is used to pick up and drop off students receiving compulsory education. School buses should obtain a school bus license plate, which specifies the vehicle's license plate number, the owner of the vehicle, the driver, the route, the operating time, and the stopping points. Lu Zhiwei (陆知伟), the head of the School Bus Office of the Huaiyuan County Education Bureau (怀远县教育局), told reporters that according to relevant regulations, school buses have strict requirements for vehicles, such as not being able to use new energy vehicles. To ensure safety, the vehicle body must be heavier, have better impact resistance, and must have a forward-extending hood design. They must be equipped with camera equipment and seat belts, and there are strict requirements for seat height and material.

According to the reporter's observation, buses like the D21 are not significantly different from ordinary buses, with ordinary seats inside and no seat belts. Liu Wenchun (刘文春), the general manager of Huaiyuan County Urban and Rural Bus Company (怀远县城乡公交公司), confirmed this, saying that these buses are "customized buses" and are currently no different from ordinary buses.

Regarding the practice of placing small chairs in the middle of the bus aisle, Liu Wenchun (刘文春) said that the current demand is high, the remaining capacity of the buses is limited, and some rural roads only allow small vehicles to pass. Placing chairs is to allow students to ride. When the reporter asked "Is it safe for students to sit on small chairs?", Liu Wenchun (刘文春) remained silent.

Why use buses to pick up and drop off students? Tan Zhishui (谭志水), Deputy Director of the Huaiyuan County Transportation Bureau (怀远县交通局), introduced that in the second half of 2024, some primary and secondary schools in Huaiyuan (怀远) were merged, and many parents reported difficulties with transportation to and from school. After coordination, Huaiyuan County Urban and Rural Bus Company (怀远县城乡公交公司) successively opened a batch of commuter customized bus routes in February and September 2025. As of now, a total of 25 commuter customized bus routes have been opened, covering more than 10 primary and secondary schools, with 37 vehicles put into operation, ensuring the travel of approximately 800 students per day.

"As long as school bus services are provided, the 'School Bus Safety Management Regulations' should be followed, and relevant qualifications and licenses should be obtained in accordance with relevant procedures." Ye Hongying (叶红英), the head of the Bailianpo (白莲坡) area of Huaiyuan County Future School Bus Service Co., Ltd. (怀远县未来校车服务有限公司), believes that ordinary buses picking up and dropping off elementary school students pose safety hazards, "The price of customized buses picking up and dropping off students is low." She said, "The government subsidizes bus companies. 'Customized buses' provide public transportation services while picking up and dropping off students, incurring almost no additional costs." General school bus companies are at a disadvantage in the competition.

Ye Hongying (叶红ying) had reported this issue, and the local transportation management department's response was: Article 3 of the general provisions of the "School Bus Safety Management Regulations" clearly states that priority should be given to the development of public transportation, and students should be guaranteed access to school bus services when public transportation cannot meet the demand. The D11 and other routes opened by Huaiyuan County Urban and Rural Bus Company (怀远县城乡公交公司) are commuter customized buses, not dedicated school bus services as stipulated in the "School Bus Safety Management Regulations," and their operating model complies with the "Several Opinions on Promoting the Healthy and Sustainable Development of Urban Public Transportation" and relevant provisions of the "Urban Public Transportation Regulations."

Li Mingle (李明乐), a senior partner at Beijing HaoTian (Shanghai) Law Firm (北京浩天(上海)律师事务所), said, "Customized buses are used to centrally pick up and drop off students receiving compulsory education, which essentially meets the definition of the aforementioned school buses and should be subject to the provisions of the 'School Bus Safety Management Regulations.' They must comply with the two mandatory national standards of 'Safety Technical Conditions for Dedicated School Buses' and 'Strength of Student Seats and Their Vehicle Fasteners for Dedicated School Buses.'"

Li Mingle (李明乐) believes that the "School Bus Safety Management Regulations" have been in effect for many years, and whether some of the provisions comply with the changed reality needs to be determined by relevant departments based on professional evaluation of whether to revise the laws and regulations.

What is the attitude of the local education department on this? Lu Zhiwei (陆知伟) said that the education department can only manage school buses and has no right to manage buses. Customized buses are a service voluntarily agreed upon by students' parents and the bus company. The education department cannot forcibly intervene and neither encourages nor promotes customized buses for commuting to school.

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Seeking Submissions

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The People's Daily "Letters from Readers" page and the People's Daily Online "Leaders' Message Board" are jointly conducting a collection of urgent and difficult problems and concerns of the masses. Readers are welcome to provide clues and suggestions.

Email: rmrbdzlx@126.com

dzlx@peopledaily.cn

Mobile terminal: People's Daily (人民日报) client "Exposure Platform"

People's Daily Online "Leaders' Message Board" client

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Page 08版:广告

vivo X300 Series: Massively Great Photos, Massively Produced

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Page 09版:理论

Grasping and Conducting Criticism and Self-Criticism Scientifically and Accurately with Dialectical Thinking (In-Depth Study and Implementation of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era)

By: 陈和香

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General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) pointed out in the report to the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China: "Enhance the political, contemporary, principled, and combative nature of intra-Party political life, make good use of the weapon of criticism and self-criticism, and continuously purify the intra-Party political ecology." This is not only a profound summary and theoretical sublimation of our Party's self-purification experience, but also provides scientific guidance for Party members and cadres in the new era to enhance their abilities and skills. Looking back at history, in different stages of revolution, construction, and reform, criticism and self-criticism have always played a key role as the "surgeon's scalpel for dissecting lesions" and the "whetstone for sharpening Party spirit," and have become our Party's fine tradition and political advantage, and an important force for promoting the development of Party organizations and the growth of individual Party members.

Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) has put forward a series of insightful new ideas, new judgments, and new requirements on vigorously promoting the fine tradition of criticism and self-criticism, systematically answering important questions such as why we should attach importance to criticism and self-criticism and how to do a good job in criticism and self-criticism, raising our Party's understanding of criticism and self-criticism to a new height, and providing fundamental guidelines for ensuring the health of the Party's body, purifying the intra-Party political ecology, and promoting the growth of Party members and cadres.

Currently, the entire Party is constantly consolidating and expanding the learning and education results of thoroughly implementing the spirit of the Central Eight-Point Regulation. We must deeply understand and faithfully practice General Secretary Xi Jinping's (习近平) important exposition on criticism and self-criticism, deeply understand its value connotation, master the important methods of criticism and self-criticism, and consciously apply this powerful weapon to our daily work, and constantly promote the normalization and long-term effectiveness of work style construction.

Dialectically Grasping the Multiple Values of Criticism and Self-Criticism

General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) emphasized: "Criticism and self-criticism are the sharp weapons for our Party to strengthen itself, cure diseases, and maintain the health of its body, and also an important means to strengthen and regulate intra-Party political life." This important exposition profoundly reveals the essential characteristics and core values of criticism and self-criticism. The reason why criticism and self-criticism have become "sharp weapons" lies not in the sharpness of their content, but in the dialectical logic they contain: revealing contradictions and pointing out methods to resolve them. This inherent power enables criticism and self-criticism to play an irreplaceable multiple value in the development of the Party's cause.

From the perspective of epistemological function, criticism and self-criticism is the "corrector" leading to truth. Comrade Mao Zedong (毛泽东) pointed out: "The changing movement of the objective real world never ends, and people's understanding of truth in practice never ends." The dialectical nature of cognitive activity is mainly manifested as the cycle of "practice-knowledge-re-practice-re-knowledge." Criticism and self-criticism is not a one-time, end-point confirmation. By introducing diverse perspectives and heterogeneous information, it breaks the subject's thinking inertia and cognitive blind spots, thereby prompting subjective cognition and objective laws to reach a new unity at a higher level of abstraction. In this regard, the epistemological function of criticism and self-criticism is reflected in a dual dimension: first, as a "developer" of truth, revealing the internal contradictions of the cognitive system, making hidden contradictions explicit, and providing a breakthrough for deepening understanding; second, as an "upgrade package" of cognitive structure, introducing new explanatory variables and cognitive dimensions, systematically revealing and dynamically correcting existing cognitive biases, and then promoting cognitive sublimation and more accurately grasping the essence of things. For Party members and cadres, criticism and self-criticism is equivalent to a "corrector," which is a real-time calibration of the coordinate system of specific practice, preventing cognitive deviations from accumulating into systemic risks, and making cognition in a spiral rise from relative truth to approaching absolute truth.

From the perspective of dialectical function, criticism and self-criticism is the "negative intermediary" that promotes sublation. General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) pointed out: "Criticism and self-criticism are powerful weapons for resolving intra-Party contradictions, and also powerful weapons for removing various political dust and political microorganisms within the Party." This profoundly clarifies the dialectical function of criticism and self-criticism. Materialist dialectics emphasizes grasping affirmation in negation and achieving development in opposition. Criticism and self-criticism is precisely through negative revelation, breaking the original balance and revealing the internal contradictions of things, and achieving the leap from the old quality state to the new quality state with "negation of negation." In this sense, criticism and self-criticism is by no means a simple negation, but a constructive negation. Its internal operating mechanism presents a progressive model of "status quo negation-improvement expectation-reconstruction generation," effectively promoting individual Party members and Party organizations to achieve spiral development in continuous reflection and dynamic adjustment. Therefore, the dialectical value of criticism and self-criticism lies in: creating conditions for sublation with negative feedback, making negation the premise of a higher level of affirmation, transforming opposition into a new unified driving force, and ultimately achieving a virtuous cycle of "unity-criticism-unity." For Party members and cadres, criticism and self-criticism is a major investigation, overhaul, and cleaning of the malpractices and behaviors, constantly washing away dust and killing germs, helping Party members and cadres improve their abilities and skills in self-revolution, and promoting Party organizations to enhance their cohesion and combat effectiveness in purifying the political ecology.

From the perspective of practical function, the effect of criticism and self-criticism has a dual nature. In response to the prominent problems existing in criticism and self-criticism in reality, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) pointed out: "The 'sharp weapon' of criticism and self-criticism has become a 'blunt weapon' in many places, rusty and unable to touch or deeply touch the problem." An important reason why criticism and self-criticism has become a "blunt weapon" lies in cognitive bias, specifically manifested as: narrowing criticism to "picking faults" and "labeling," weakening the constructive nature of criticism; avoiding criticism on the grounds of "maintaining unity," leading to the failure of criticism; discussing matters as they are, lacking follow-up, making criticism a mere formality; and so on. The root cause of these problems lies in the lack of dialectical thinking and the failure to fully recognize the duality of "criticism" itself as a means and tool - both constructive and destructive. A systematic distinction between constructive criticism and destructive criticism can be made from the following 6 aspects: whether the goal is to focus on improvement or to determine the outcome; whether the object is focused on the "matter" itself or on the "person"; whether the attitude is respect and care or contempt and ridicule; whether the content can provide specific improvement suggestions or is empty and general; whether the communication method is two-way interaction, allowing defense, or one-way venting, prohibiting rebuttal; whether the resulting consequences promote cognitive upgrading and trust enhancement or lead to strained relationships and trust loss. It can be seen that constructive criticism can correct errors through benign interaction and maintain the vitality of the Party organization; destructive criticism may trigger internal friction, induce strained relationships and efficiency degradation, and hinder the realization of the Party organization's goals. Therefore, criticism and self-criticism need to accurately grasp the scale and method, and scientifically use criticism tools, in order to maximize its constructive effectiveness and avoid destructive risks, so that criticism and self-criticism can truly become a powerful weapon for promoting the development of the Party and the country's cause.

Dialectical Methods and Strategies for Carrying Out Criticism and Self-Criticism

General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) emphasized: "Criticism should be based on public interest, sincere attitude, and attention to methods. It should be based on facts, distinguish right from wrong, and distinguish truth from falsehood. Avoid looking at things and treating people from the perspective of personal grievances, gains and losses, interests, and closeness." This profoundly clarifies the important principles that criticism should follow. In specific practice, the choice of criticism methods is a key variable affecting the effectiveness of criticism and the acceptance of the criticized. Party members and cadres should master the correct criticism methods and adopt appropriate strategies according to the goals and nature of the criticism.

Grasp the inner and outer of the objects of criticism and self-criticism, and pay attention to two-way nature. "Looking in a bright mirror, flaws will not remain on the body; listening to frank words, past actions will not burden the body." Criticism and self-criticism is a whole, and the two are like the two wings of a bird and the two wheels of a car, complementing each other and indispensable. When carrying out criticism and self-criticism, Party members and cadres should adhere to both internal and external cultivation and two-way efforts, in order to carry out profound ideological cleansing and spiritual baptism in the combination of external examination and internal reflection, and achieve self-transformation and self-improvement. When the flashlight shines on others, Party members and cadres must show the courage to be serious, not only dare to use it on subordinates, but also dare to use it on colleagues, especially on superiors, dare to point out problems with real swords and guns, dig to the root, point to the key, and poke at the pain, and not engage in cherishing feathers or protecting oneself wisely. When the flashlight shines on oneself, one must dare to conduct internal examination, deeply dig and carefully examine problems, not avoid or cover up, and not do superficial articles of "scratching the surface." For the "head-on blow" of comrades, Party members and cadres should have the consciousness of "examining oneself as if not reaching," regard criticism as a "catalyst" for improving work, be happy to hear about mistakes and accept them with humility, and take this as an opportunity to draw inferences about other cases from one instance, actively find their own shortcomings, and transform criticism into a driving force for growth.

Grasp the fast and slow rhythm of criticism and self-criticism, and pay attention to timeliness. General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) pointed out: "Self-criticism should be done three times a day, and mutual criticism should be done anytime and anywhere. Don't wait until small problems develop into big problems before raising them." This requires Party members and cadres to pay attention to grasping the rhythm when criticizing and self-criticizing. After a problem occurs, Party members and cadres should "cut the Gordian knot" and immediately point out the mistakes of others, or reflect on their own problems in a timely manner. This method is suitable for dealing with simple, clear, and highly repetitive errors, which can quickly correct deviations and demonstrate the initiative of self-reflection. However, when facing problems that are complex in nature and the causes are temporarily unclear, it is necessary to adopt the method of "slowing down" to provide the necessary time buffer for calm analysis and in-depth investigation, carefully tracing the causes of things, exploring the key to the problem, and analyzing the crux of the error, in order to avoid misjudgment or intensifying contradictions.

Grasp the public and private occasions of criticism and self-criticism, and pay attention to propriety. General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) emphasized: "We must boldly carry out criticism in the spirit of being highly responsible to the Party, to the cause, and to comrades, help comrades discover shortcomings and correct mistakes, and unite comrades to move forward together." Party members and cadres conducting criticism and self-criticism in public have high efficiency and wide influence, which can transform the shortcomings and errors of individual Party members into opportunities for collective learning and improvement, effectively convey the Party organization's code of conduct and value bottom line, strengthen organizational norms and maintain organizational order, and trigger widespread attention and collective reflection among Party members. In contrast, private criticism and self-criticism are more suitable for dealing with sensitive topics, especially when facing criticized individuals with weak psychological endurance. Conducting criticism in private is more conducive to honest communication, thereby shifting the focus from "punishing mistakes" to "solving problems." It should be noted that if Party members and cadres over-rely on private criticism, it may lead other Party members to mistakenly believe that they are turning a blind eye to certain errors, thereby weakening the seriousness of organizational rules.

Grasp the direct and indirect methods of criticism and self-criticism, and pay attention to flexibility. General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) pointed out: "Criticism and self-criticism are a good medicine, and a true love for comrades and oneself." In criticism and self-criticism, direct criticism is like a face-to-face gong and drum, directly pointing out the problem, which helps to quickly correct errors. This method is suitable for situations where the problem is clear, the responsibility is clear, and the criticized can rationally accept and agree, but when it involves subjective judgment, complex causes, etc., if direct criticism is still adopted, it may trigger the criticized's resistance, or even stimulate a confrontational mentality, causing the criticized's attention to shift from "how to improve work" to "how to defend oneself," resulting in a greatly reduced effect of criticism. Indirect criticism guides the criticized to discover problems and actively improve through heuristic questioning, euphemistic expression, etc. This shifts the focus of criticism from "blaming mistakes" to "caring about the reasons" and "solving problems together," which helps to maintain good working relationships and stimulate the inner potential of individual Party members.

The Art of Transforming "Opposition" into "Unity"

General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) pointed out: "The common problems existing in criticism and self-criticism are that self-criticism is difficult, and mutual criticism is even more difficult. The difficulty lies in being trapped by human feelings and confused by interests, fearing to make enemies and cause trouble, and ultimately being dominated by selfish thoughts and lacking Party spirit and responsibility." This profoundly points out the difficulties and challenges in carrying out criticism and self-criticism in practice. Criticism and self-criticism is a compulsory course for every Party member and cadre. To make good use of this sharp weapon, we must achieve the goal of both learning from past mistakes and uniting comrades.

Grasp the balance between principle and flexibility. General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) pointed out: "Whether it is criticism or self-criticism, it must be based on facts, out of public interest, and kind to others. Do not engage in the 'ostrich policy,' do not be perfunctory, do not cover up mistakes, and do not vent personal grievances." This requires Party members and cadres to properly handle the relationship between principle and flexibility when carrying out criticism and self-criticism. Principle is reflected in the adherence to basic principles and value standards in the process of criticism, while flexibility is manifested in adjusting the method of criticism according to specific circumstances. Criticism lacking principle is prone to degenerate into emotional accusations, while criticism lacking flexibility may fall into rigidity. Both will lead to criticism failing to achieve the expected results. On the one hand, we should adhere to principles, and criticism should be both "spicy" and not change its flavor. Party members and cadres must abandon the "good old man" mentality, talk about Party spirit and not personal feelings, talk about truth and not face, dare to expose shortcomings and ugliness, dare to be serious and tough, dare to express their position on major principled issues, dare to carry out powerful criticism and struggle against wrongdoings, without personal prejudice, without personal intentions, and without taking the opportunity to seek personal gain, and maintain the Party's advanced nature and purity with a firm position and attitude. On the other hand, we need to handle it flexibly, and criticism should be both "powerful" and "warm." In reality, everyone's personality, experience, and psychological endurance are different. We should fully respect individual differences, and on the basis of fully understanding the situation and analyzing the reasons, comprehensively evaluate the implementation path, expected results, and potential risks of criticism, accurately distinguish between fault and intention, accidental errors and systemic errors according to the nature of the problem, clarify the focus of criticism and the direction of rectification, adhere to "one key opens one lock," thereby enhancing the acceptance and actual effect of criticism. It can be seen that principle and flexibility seem to be opposed but are actually complementary. The key lies in Party members and cadres accurately grasping the "heat" and achieving a dynamic balance between the two to prevent the randomness and blindness of criticism.

Grasp the balance between the overall and the partial. The world is a complex and dynamically developing system. The various parts that make up the whole and the relationship between the whole and the parts are related and interactive. When carrying out criticism and self-criticism, Party members and cadres should be good at grasping the dialectical relationship between the overall and the partial. On the one hand, pay attention to the "partial," and promote the achievement of overall goals by solving partial problems. Start from the partial, accurately identify and resolve contradictions, and solve problems in the bud. This can not only prevent small problems from evolving into major contradictions, but also lay the foundation for the realization of overall goals through partial optimization. On the other hand, gain insight into the "overall," and lead partial optimization with overall thinking. Party members and cadres should have a macro vision, examine partial problems in the overall goals and development chain of the Party organization, weigh partial interests in the overall interests, and use criticism and self-criticism to identify the blockages and difficulties in the work, solve problems from point to surface, and achieve the transformation from partial optimization to overall improvement. It can be seen that to achieve a dynamic balance between the overall and the partial, Party members and cadres should adhere to the unity of the two-point theory and the key-point theory, both abandon the "one-size-fits-all" thinking mode, and accurately identify the main contradictions and key links, constantly adjust the thinking perspective in specific situations, and find the best combination point between the partial and the overall, to ensure that criticism is both targeted and effective.
Grasp the balance between the present and the long-term. General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) emphasized: "We must make criticism and self-criticism a normal part of Party life and a required course for every Party member and cadre." Materialist dialectics emphasizes the dynamic development of things; the past, present, and future are closely linked. This requires Party members and cadres to use dialectical thinking to systematically plan when conducting criticism and self-criticism, organically combining current work with long-term planning. On the one hand, base oneself on the long-term, deal with current problems with a developmental perspective, and lay the foundation for future development. If current problems are not resolved in a timely manner, they may drag on into old problems, or even overlap with other problems, forming more complex and thorny contradictions, bringing obstacles to future development. When carrying out criticism and self-criticism, Party members and cadres should not only focus on resolving immediate contradictions, but also combine them with the long-term goals of the Party organization, propose forward-looking solutions, and build a solid foundation for future continuous improvement. On the other hand, transcend short-term behavior, prevent errors from a long-term perspective, and promote the continuous development of Party organizations and Party member cadres. What criticism and self-criticism pursue is not only temporary effect, but also long-term effect. Party members and cadres should regard it as a continuous improvement process, use in-depth analysis of current problems to realize the discovery of common problems from individual problems, optimize behavior from a medium- and long-term perspective, and extract essential laws from similar events, thereby realizing a virtuous cycle from problem-solving to ability improvement, and promoting the overall effectiveness of the Party organization. It can be seen that to achieve an organic balance between the present and the long-term, Party members and cadres need to have a strategic vision and systematic thinking, find the best combination point between the present and the long-term, and make criticism and self-criticism a powerful lever to promote the healthy development of the Party organization and the smooth progress of work.

The courage to engage in self-revolution is the most distinctive quality and greatest advantage of our Party, and criticism and self-criticism are sharp weapons for maintaining the Party's advanced nature and purity. General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) pointed out: "The weapons of criticism and self-criticism should be used more, used frequently, used sufficiently and well, so that they become a habit, a consciousness, and a responsibility." On the new journey of building a strong country and national rejuvenation, every Party member and cadre must adhere to using the weapons of criticism and self-criticism well and flexibly, effectively enhance the Party's ability to self-purify, self-improve, self-innovate, and self-enhance, thereby continuously improving the Party's creativity, cohesion, and combat effectiveness.

(Author is a professor at the Party School of the Shenzhen (深圳市) Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China (中共))

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Only by prioritizing "preparation" can we better fulfill our duties and responsibilities (Thought & Perspective)

By: 刘书畅

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General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) emphasized: "Leading cadres should have the ability to 草摇叶响知鹿过 (cǎo yáo yè xiǎng zhī lù guò - "when the grass and leaves rustle, know the deer is passing," be keenly aware of subtle changes), 松风一起知虎来 (sōng fēng yī qǐ zhī hǔ lái - "when the pine wind rises, know the tiger is coming," be alert to impending danger), and 一叶易色而知天下秋 (yī yè yì sè ér zhī tiān xià qiū - "one leaf changes color and know autumn is coming to the world," from a small sign, one can foresee the trend of the times) – the ability to understand the significant by observing the subtle." 见微知著 (jiàn wēi zhī zhù - "seeing the small and knowing the great," understanding the significant by observing the subtle), embodies forward-looking thinking and is a kind of insight and foresight. Facing arduous and complex reform, development, and stability tasks, party members and cadres must not only want to work and dare to work, but also know how to work and succeed. They cannot be pushed forward by their superiors or the masses, but must enhance their forward-looking thinking, foresee the momentum of opportunities, the changes in needs, and the subtlety of risks, and enhance their ability to promote high-quality development, serve the masses, and prevent and resolve risks, so as to perform their duties more proactively and consciously.

Developing new quality productive forces in accordance with local conditions and promoting high-quality development is one of the important tasks for party members and cadres to implement the decisions and deployments of the Party Central Committee (党中央) at present. Whether this work is done well depends on whether we can seize development opportunities. Opportunities never appear in clusters, but more often flash by quietly. It may be the germination of a new idea, or it may be an attempt at a new model. If it is not captured in time and actively undertaken, it will be fleeting. The key to foreseeing opportunities lies in being a transformer of opportunities, daring to be the "first to eat crabs," identifying development trends from scattered information, and being good at building platforms for opportunities to land, changing the passivity of "waiting for opportunities to come to the door" into the initiative of "chasing opportunities." Party members and cadres should use their insight to see things in detail and early, enhance the predictability and forward-looking nature of seizing opportunities, and see opportunities from the "micro-changes" and "small openings" in network hotspots, consumption habits, and life scenarios, and seize the "golden window" for transforming opportunities in combination with the actual conditions of their regions and units.

People's livelihood concerns and enterprise needs are not static "lists." The small things that are talked about today may be the big things that must be paid attention to tomorrow. If we only respond passively to the demands of the masses, we will easily fall into a cycle of solving one problem and another emerging, which will affect the Party's image among the masses over time. Foreseeing "changes in needs" is essentially a true practice of the people-centered development thought, requiring party members and cadres to do their work before the masses speak and deliver services to the masses. For example, some local courts learned during visits to grassroots judicial offices that the proportion of work-related injury cases accepted locally by migrant workers was relatively high. After careful research, they promoted the pilot project of accidental injury insurance for rural construction workers, promoting "insurance must be purchased for all employment" locally, and effectively solving the worries of migrant workers. Some local governments have launched the "Code Connect" application scenario, allowing companies to easily obtain relevant information by scanning a code, and then sending specialists to provide on-site services, quickly eliminating the policy blind spots of enterprises. The majority of party members and cadres should enhance their awareness of being "half a beat ahead" and their enthusiasm for "sending charcoal in the snow," take the initiative to take steps to go deep into the front line, and keenly grasp the needs of the masses and enterprises through big data analysis, front-line squatting research, and running once in another's shoes. Facing the opinions and suggestions of the masses and enterprises, be good at "extracting silk from cocoons," learn to sort out common trends from individual demands, transform temporary coping strategies into regular institutional arrangements, promote the transformation from "solving one thing" to "solving a class of things," change the service from "following behind demands" to "rushing ahead of needs," and make the background color of benefiting the people and enterprises more and more intense.

In the process of performing their duties, party members and cadres often encounter unexpected tasks and potential challenges. If they wait until problems arise before responding hastily, they will not only easily fall into passivity, but the effectiveness of solving problems will also be greatly reduced. Only by transforming the difficulties that seem to be encountered by chance into the work focus that is actively foreseen can we seize the opportunity and grasp the initiative in our work. Foreseeing problems is not foreknowledge, but an accurate grasp of the laws of risk transmission. Party members and cadres must clearly recognize that it is easier to eliminate hidden dangers than to prevent them, and a timely "mine clearance" is better than ten hasty "firefighting." We must enhance our awareness of potential dangers, strengthen our bottom-line thinking, develop a keen eye for discovering problems, and have a clear understanding of the various risks and challenges that may occur, implement classified policies, and accurately defuse bombs. Put the effort of "mending the fold" before "losing the sheep," adhere to moving the gate forward and preventing in advance, make the first move well, and fight the battle proactively.

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Exploring Effective Pathways for Ecological Civilization Education

By: 李红恩

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General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) emphasized: "We must strengthen publicity and education on ecological civilization, enhance citizens' environmental awareness, promote the formation of a thrifty and moderate, green and low-carbon, civilized and healthy lifestyle and consumption pattern, and create a good atmosphere for the entire society to participate together." In January 2024, the *Opinions of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council on Comprehensively Promoting the Construction of a Beautiful China* was released, clearly proposing: "Promote the integration of ecological civilization education into the cadre education, Party member education, and national education systems." The construction of ecological civilization is a fundamental plan concerning the sustainable development of the Chinese nation, and ecological civilization education is the basic project of ecological civilization construction, which is related to the overall situation of building a modern society where humans and nature coexist in harmony. We must adhere to Xi Jinping's (习近平) thought on ecological civilization as the fundamental guideline, adhere to systematic planning and overall advancement, explore effective paths for ecological civilization education, and consolidate the mass base and provide talent support for building a beautiful China.

Ecological civilization education is an educational activity that shapes modern citizens with ecological civilization literacy. Its purpose is to establish the ecological civilization concept of harmonious coexistence between humans and nature, and to enhance people's conscious action to respect, conform to, and protect nature. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, under the strong leadership of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping (习近平) as the core, and under the scientific guidance of Xi Jinping's (习近平) thought on ecological civilization, China's ecological civilization education has made significant progress in top-level design, system construction, and educational effectiveness. The ecological awareness of the people has been continuously improved, continuously injecting spiritual动力 into the construction of ecological civilization. At the same time, we must also soberly see that the current construction of ecological civilization is still in a critical period of superimposed pressure and **负重前行** (fù zhòng qián xíng - "carrying a heavy load forward," to advance with difficulty under a heavy burden), and ecological civilization education still has some shortcomings and weaknesses in terms of institutional guarantees, social support, teaching staff, and educational methods. To solve these problems, we must deeply study and implement Xi Jinping's (习近平) thought on ecological civilization, adhere to the concept of systems, and promote the reform, innovation, and high-quality development of ecological civilization education with systematic thinking.

Extend the education chain and consolidate the foundation of education. Ecological civilization education is a systematic project that requires continuous extension of the education chain to promote ecological civilization education to cover all people and run through their entire lives. We must strengthen the main position of school education. Implement the requirements of incorporating ecological civilization education into the national education system, so that ecological civilization education for primary, secondary, and university students is organically connected and integrated. Among them, universities should, in response to national strategic needs, rely on disciplinary advantages to optimize the layout of ecological civilization-related majors, develop interdisciplinary subjects such as ecological environment engineering, ecological economics, and environmental law, and strengthen the training of specialized talents for ecological civilization construction. Pay attention to the unity of knowledge and action, strengthen practical education, not only permeate ecological civilization education into the teaching work of various disciplines, but also carry out practical education activities such as green and low-carbon living and garbage classification, so that the concept of ecological civilization can take root in people's hearts through the practice process, and enhance students' ability to solve practical problems in strengthening practical experience. Extend education to extracurricular activities, actively build campus ecological culture carriers, carry out ecological science popularization, knowledge competitions, and literary and artistic performances, integrate the concept of ecological civilization into campus culture, create an educational environment of "education everywhere, and edification at all times," and cultivate a deep ecological cultural foundation. Relying on new era civilization practice centers, science popularization venues, and other positions, popularize ecological civilization education to the whole society through thematic exhibitions, public lectures, and science popularization activities, cultivate the public's awareness of conservation, environmental protection awareness, awareness of the rule of law, and sense of responsibility, and create a good atmosphere of caring for the ecological environment.

Optimize the curriculum system and improve the quality of education. Curriculum is an important carrier for implementing ecological education goals. We must take into account historical conditions and realistic needs, and promote the optimization of the curriculum system from multiple dimensions such as goals, content, and evaluation. Following the laws of students' cognitive development, always closely focus on the fundamental task of establishing morality and cultivating people, integrate Xi Jinping's (习近平) thought on ecological civilization into the entire process of education and teaching, integrate the cultivation of knowledge, ability, and quality, focus on ecological common sense enlightenment in the primary school stage, highlight ecological civilization concept education in the middle school stage, focus on improving practical ability in the university stage, form a curriculum system that connects academic stages and progresses step by step, and guide students to integrate personal development into the overall situation of building a beautiful China. Grasp the comprehensive, related, and practical characteristics of ecological civilization education, take ecology, geography, environmental science, etc. as support, integrate content modules such as ecological ethics, ecological rule of law, ecological science, and ecological practice, deeply explore and promote the excellent traditional Chinese ecological culture, enhance the era atmosphere and cultural heritage of the curriculum, and promote the organic combination of value leadership, knowledge transfer, cultural immersion, and practical exercise. Improve the curriculum evaluation mechanism, adhere to the correct guidance, realize the concretization of evaluation content, the diversification of evaluation standards, the diversification of evaluation methods, the full participation of evaluation subjects, and the dynamic evaluation process, and effectively achieve evaluation to promote construction and evaluation to improve quality, so as to better promote the improvement of talent training quality.

Strengthen collaborative education and gather educational synergy. Ecological civilization education must rely on the joint promotion of schools, families, and society, draw a concentric circle of collaborative education, and form a strong synergy of all-round, whole-process, and all-round education. We must gather consensus on collaborative education, schools, families, and society should jointly strengthen ecological civilization education, and strive to cultivate more new people of the era who can shoulder the great responsibility of building a beautiful China. Schools should play a leading role, fulfill the main responsibility of educating people, strengthen the organization and coordination of education and teaching, actively strengthen family connections, make good use of social resources, and improve the mechanism and methods of collaborative education. Families and society should actively play their own roles, parents should lead by example, cultivate a green family style, and cultivate children's green and low-carbon living habits; society should provide strong help, and social forces such as enterprises and social organizations should actively provide practical platforms, professional resources, and public opinion support, and create a good atmosphere for the whole society to care about, support, and participate in ecological civilization education. Innovate collaborative paths, rely on digital technology to build information platforms, and further unblock online and offline communication channels through methods such as "Parent Open Day," "Social Open Day," and "Online Cloud Classroom" to promote knowledge exchange and experience sharing among all parties. Integrate and utilize social resources, such as inviting environmental protection experts, industry backbones, and outstanding parents to enter the campus, and establish a shared resource library for ecological civilization education, so as to promote the co-construction and sharing of curriculum content, practical platforms, and teaching staff, and continuously enhance the systematicness, integrity, and synergy of ecological civilization education.

(Author's unit: Chinese Academy of Educational Sciences (中国教育科学研究院))

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Page 10版:特别报道

Protect, promote, and develop the treasures of Chinese civilization.

By: 管璇悦 王 珏 宋 宇

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On October 10, 2025, the Palace Museum (故宫博物院) will celebrate its 100th anniversary. This ancient wooden structure palace complex, the largest and most well-preserved in the world, is a unique symbol of historical China and an important marker of Chinese civilization. The Palace Museum (故宫博物院) emerged in the great tide of social change in modern China and has kept pace with the times in the process of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, passing through 100 years of sincerity, respect, classical preservation, and ingenious craftsmanship. This is an immortal achievement in Chinese cultural history and human cultural history.

"To promote the cultural subjectivity of the Chinese nation and to care for, promote, and develop the cultural treasures of Chinese civilization that have been left behind through the vicissitudes of life is the historical responsibility and sacred mission of contemporary Chinese Communists." Coming from the depths of history and moving towards national rejuvenation, the 100-year-old Palace Museum (故宫博物院) is in its prime.

-- Editor

More than five thousand years of civilization and bloodline, more than six hundred years of turbulent changes, condensed in a museum belonging to the people of the whole country - the Palace Museum (故宫博物院).

The pinnacle of ancient palace architectural complexes, a national museum with the highest annual number of visitors, nearly 20 million, and a "must-visit place in life" in the hearts of countless people... There are a thousand Palace Museums (故宫博物院) in a thousand people's eyes.

It is 100 years old. Having experienced the baptism of time, today's Palace Museum (故宫博物院) is in its prime.

I

The Beijing Central Axis (北京中轴线), the majestic Duanmen (端门) stands quietly, watching over the ancient capital's vicissitudes.

Duan (端) means upright and beginning.

On October 10, 1925, the Palace Museum (故宫博物院) was established. On that day, Beijing (北京) citizens flocked in to see this once heavily guarded palace forbidden area.

100 years later, the Palace Museum (故宫博物院) has become a cultural coordinate for the Chinese people and a common civilizational treasure for mankind.

"We must recognize our own treasures and not belittle them," General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) earnestly urged.

A museum, linking together a brilliant galaxy of civilizations.

Overlooking from the air, a central axis runs through it, with the Hall of Supreme Harmony (太和殿), the Hall of Central Harmony (中和殿), and the Hall of Preserving Harmony (保和殿) standing in the light, bringing together the great achievements of ancient Chinese traditional palace architecture and embodying the continuous philosophical thought of "centrality" (中) and "harmony" (和).

Observing up close, the inscriptions on oracle bones, the patterns on bronzes, the colors of porcelain, and the charm of calligraphy and painting, the more than 1.95 million pieces (sets) of cultural relics collected within encompass everything, weaving together the splendid and colorful material life and spiritual pursuits of the Chinese nation for thousands of years.

The collections of the Palace Museum (故宫博物院) cover all kinds of ancient Chinese art treasures, and some have come from overseas, becoming an important resource for inheriting Chinese culture and enhancing cultural confidence.

A museum, building a bridge for mutual learning among civilizations.

Duanmen (端门), the Gate of Rites, witnesses the myriad phenomena of major-country diplomacy in the new era. In exhibitions such as "Encounter of Civilizations - Exchange and Mutual Learning between Ancient Chinese and West Asian Civilizations" and "The Forbidden City and Versailles - Sino-French Exchanges in the 17th and 18th Centuries," Chinese and Western treasures shine together, stirring up the echoes of exchange and mutual learning. Jointly conduct on-site archaeological excavations with world-renowned archaeological research institutions, and attract scholars from home and abroad to jointly participate in the study of Palace Museum (故宫) studies.

Culture is the boat, crossing mountains and seas. Chinese civilization and other civilizations meet and achieve each other, painting a picture of beauty and harmony.

II

The Meridian Gate (午门), the former main gate of the Forbidden City (紫禁城). Today, as an important exhibition hall of the Palace Museum (故宫博物院), the East and West Goose Wing Buildings and the Meridian Gate Exhibition Hall have been renewed. Whenever there is a major exhibition, it is crowded with people. On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the museum's founding, the exhibition "Centennial Guardianship - From the Forbidden City to the Palace Museum" exhibits 200 pieces (sets) of cultural relics, attracting visitors from all over the world.

The ancient and the modern converge here, reflecting a century of change.

Looking back on the past, the 100 years of the Palace Museum (故宫博物院) are 100 years of sharing weal and woe with the fate of the country and the survival of the nation.

How arduous the journey was! During the Anti-Japanese War, hundreds of thousands of precious cultural relics were moved south to avoid the enemy. In the midst of the flames of war, the cultural relics were basically undamaged, and "people are with the cultural relics," creating a great miracle of human protection of cultural heritage.

After the founding of the People's Republic of China, the construction of the Palace Museum (故宫博物院) opened a new chapter. In 1961, it became one of the first national key cultural relics protection units, in 1987 it was included in the "World Heritage List," and in 2002 it began overall protection and renovation... Generations of people have taken over the responsibility of guarding it, so that the pearl can regain its glory.

"What I care most about is the most precious things left behind by Chinese civilization through the vicissitudes of life." Protecting cultural relics and cultural heritage is what General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) has in mind.

Entering the new era, adhering to the Marxist soul and based on the roots of outstanding traditional Chinese culture, the "two combinations" activate the "pool of spring water" of Chinese culture. What is the Palace Museum (故宫博物院) for?

One unchanging keyword is the people.

Tourists have found that in recent years, the open area has been continuously expanded, and more and more national treasures have been "unlocked." Exhibitions such as "What is China - Special Exhibition of Ancient Chinese Civilization" have been continuously "updated." In the newly opened first and second courtyards of the Qianlong Garden (乾隆花园), visitors can appreciate the Xi Shang Pavilion (禊赏亭) from the Preface to the Orchid Pavilion, the Guhua Xuan (古华轩) named after the ancient catalpa tree, and the Suichu Tang (遂初堂) with profound meaning.

One evolving keyword is youth.

Named after "the old," it inherits the old and opens up the new. Empowered by technology, an equally magnificent "Digital Palace Museum" is growing in the cloud and entering thousands of households; Corner Tower Cafe (角楼咖啡), Palace Museum Lipstick (故宫口红), cultural creativity and profound heritage collide with fresh expressions; Hong Kong Palace Museum (香港故宫文化博物馆), Macao Palace Museum Cultural Heritage Protection and Inheritance Center (澳门故宫文化遗产保护传承中心), and the Palace Museum North Area (故宫博物院北院区) under construction, build a more three-dimensional and multi-dimensional cultural living room... The Palace Museum (故宫) is entering the fiery life with a youthful attitude.

The "breadth" of the museum lies in its breadth, but also in the temperature of people's perception. Meeting the people's new expectations for a better cultural life and stimulating more love and resonance is the most beautiful echo of the times for the continuation of civilization.

III

Starting from the Palace Museum (故宫博物院) and heading north, the central main hall of the National Archives of Publications and Culture (中国国家版本馆) stands majestically, echoing the branch halls in Xi'an (西安), Hangzhou (杭州), and Guangzhou (广州), forming a national cultural palace in the new era.

Under the scientific guidance of Xi Jinping's (习近平) thought on culture, the land of China is rising with a grand atmosphere of "'How rich and elegant is its culture!'" "'The two combinations' are our greatest magic weapon for success." Great practice gives rise to great thought, and great thought guides great practice.

From the publication of the large-scale historical document series "Revitalization Library" (《复兴文库》) to the implementation of the major cultural project "Chinese Painting Series of Past Dynasties" (《中国历代绘画大系》), from the new progress of major projects such as the Wu Wangdun Tomb (武王墩墓) in "Archaeological China" (“考古中国”) to the revision of the Law on the Protection of Cultural Relics... We will certainly be able to "continue to pass on the only civilization in the world that has not been interrupted."

Jingdezhen (景德镇), Jiangxi (江西), the roaring kiln fire has been burning for thousands of years; the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal (京杭大运河), museums and cultural parks have sprung up one after another along the waterfront. The enthusiasm for cultural and museum activities and cultural and creative activities has become a trend, interpreting "from ancient times to the present" in the vivid practice of innovation and creation.

Ancient streets face high-tech enterprises, intangible cultural heritage elements are integrated into trendy toys, and cultural inheritance empowers high-quality development, weaving a "double-sided embroidery" of cultural prosperity and economic prosperity; feeling the traditional virtue of valuing harmony in the Six-Foot Lane (六尺巷), and understanding the classic exposition of people-orientedness in Zhu Xi Garden (朱熹园), outstanding traditional Chinese culture cultivates integrity and shapes people.

"China, with its vast territory, has a long history and a broad and profound civilization. This is the foundation of our confidence and the source of our strength." The centennial Palace Museum (故宫博物院) is a contemporary footnote to this assertion.

In 100 years, looking back at the changes in the Palace Museum (故宫博物院), we can see the spiritual roots of Chinese culture, the vivid microcosm of the "two combinations," and even more the ever-changing Chinese-style modernization.

In the next 10 years, looking forward to the magnificent picture of a strong socialist culture in 2035, we are full of expectations and ambitions.

"Continuing to promote cultural prosperity, build a strong cultural country, and build a modern civilization of the Chinese nation on a new starting point is our new cultural mission in the new era." Coming from the depths of history and moving towards national rejuvenation, we will stride forward and witness it!

Time Imprint

1925

The Palace Museum (故宫博物院) was officially established, and the royal palace was opened to the public for the first time.

1933

In order to avoid the impact of the war, the Palace Museum (故宫博物院) began to take the lead in organizing the southward relocation of cultural relics.

1961

The Palace Museum (故宫) was listed as one of the first national key cultural relics protection units.

1987

The Palace Museum (故宫) was included in the "World Heritage List" by UNESCO.

2002

The "Century Renovation" overall renovation and protection project of the Palace Museum (故宫) was launched.

2004-2010

A 7-year cultural relics inventory was carried out to comprehensively and thoroughly check and sort out the collections of the entire museum.

2013

The "Safe Palace" project was launched.

2015

The "Shiqu Baoji Special Exhibition" was held in Wuying Hall (武英殿) and Yanxi Palace (延禧宫).

2019

The annual number of visitors exceeded 19 million.

2020

The environmental improvement and overall protection of the ancient buildings inside and outside the Palace Museum (故宫) were basically completed.

2022

The Palace Museum North Area (故宫博物院北院区) project was launched.

2025

The Palace Museum (故宫博物院) will celebrate its 100th anniversary. The exhibition "Centennial Guardianship - From the Forbidden City to the Palace Museum" will be held in the main hall of the Meridian Gate and the East and West Goose Wing Buildings.

The information and materials are provided by the Palace Museum (故宫博物院).

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Continuing the Chapter of Cultural Inheritance, Practice, and Innovation

By: 故宫博物院

Original Article Return to Top

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Palace Museum (故宫博物院). Since its establishment, the Palace Museum (故宫博物院) has always taken it as its mission to protect, research, inherit, and promote the outstanding Chinese traditional culture carried by the Forbidden City (故宫) and its collections. Looking back on the past century, the Palace Museum (故宫博物院) has experienced many ups and downs, sharing the same breath and destiny with the Chinese nation, and has made unremitting efforts to explore the development path of museums with Chinese characteristics. Entering the new era, it has formed a development system of "Safe Palace (平安故宫), Academic Palace (学术故宫), Digital Palace (数字故宫), and Vibrant Palace (活力故宫)," demonstrating the responsibility of contemporary museum professionals.

In 1925, the Palace Museum (故宫博物院) was established and began to perform the duties of a modern museum, including collection, preservation, display, research, and publication. The transformation of the imperial palace into a public museum and the transformation of the forbidden garden and secret treasures into national heritage are all embodied in the word "public." On New Year's Day in 1933, the Japanese army invaded Shanhaiguan (山海关), and Beiping (北平) was in a state of emergency. The Council of the Palace Museum (故宫博物院) decided to move the cultural relics to the south. Under the successive leadership of two directors, Yi Peiji (易培基) and Ma Heng (马衡), starting in 1933, more than 19,000 boxes of cultural relics from the Palace Museum (故宫博物院), the Antiquities Exhibition Hall (古物陈列所), the Summer Palace (颐和园), the Imperial College (国子监), and other institutions were moved south in five batches. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, the Palace Museum (故宫博物院) adhered to the goal of serving the people. The original "three halls and two offices" were reorganized into a department system, strengthening the museum's service functions and the construction of cultural relic protection and research capabilities. The mountains and rivers regained their glory, and the Palace Museum (故宫) was reborn. The cultural relics moved south began to return north successively from January 1950. From the southward movement to the northward return, the journey was long and fraught with dangers. The heavy boxes not only contained national treasures but also carried the firm belief in the continued existence of the Chinese national culture.

Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the Palace Museum (故宫博物院) has entered a new stage of development. In November 2019, the Palace Museum (故宫博物院) officially proposed the "four palaces" construction system of "Safe Palace (平安故宫), Academic Palace (学术故宫), Digital Palace (数字故宫), and Vibrant Palace (活力故宫)," striving to build the Palace Museum (故宫博物院) into a world-class museum, a model for the protection of world cultural heritage, a leader in the integration of culture and tourism, and a Chinese cultural living room for civilization exchange and mutual learning. Integrate resources from multiple departments such as cultural relics, archaeology, and architecture to promote the systematic and holistic protection of the Palace Museum's (故宫博物院) cultural heritage; build a three-in-one system of platform, project, and talent for the academic development of the Palace Museum (故宫博物院) to promote academic talents to the world; actively explore in collecting and sharing digital cultural relic resources, developing and utilizing cutting-edge digital technologies, and strengthen the construction of high-precision cultural relic digitization, multi-dimensional digital technology integration, and intelligent platforms; combine cultural heritage protection with social services, through exhibition innovation, educational practice, cultural product development, digital communication, talent training, and overseas cooperation, to realize the creative transformation and innovative development of cultural heritage.

Learning from the past and knowing the future, striving for excellence. In the turbulent century-long river, from the southward movement of cultural relics during the war to the academic in-depth research in peacetime, from the painstaking repair and protection to the activation and innovation in the digital age, every step forward of the Palace Museum (故宫博物院) is imprinted with the resilience and wisdom of the continuous development of Chinese civilization. At present, the development of various undertakings of the Palace Museum (故宫博物院) has received unprecedented attention and support from the whole society, and it has also ushered in the best period of development in history. Facing the future, we must consciously shoulder the cultural mission of the new era. We must accelerate the completion of the revision of the "Overall Protection Plan of the Palace Museum (故宫) (2026-2040)," and build a scientific, efficient, and scalable quality management system for cultural and museum institutions; optimize the existing academic research system and mechanism, and encourage experts and scholars from all walks of life to widely carry out interdisciplinary research focusing on the museum's collection of cultural relics, ancient building complexes, and history of the Ming and Qing dynasties; we must firmly follow the path of digital technology empowering cultural development, and promote the comprehensive upgrading of "hardware" and "software" with the support of digitization, networking, and intelligent technologies; adhere to integrity and innovation, and on the basis of protecting the Forbidden City (紫禁城) and protecting precious cultural relics, provide people with richer spiritual and cultural nourishment with more distinctive exhibitions, higher-level communication and promotion, and higher-quality and convenient open services.

The transformation of the Palace Museum (故宫) from a royal forbidden garden to a people's museum is itself a microcosm of China's journey towards modernization and the great rejuvenation of the nation. Standing at the historical node of the centennial, the Palace Museum (故宫博物院) will take Xi Jinping (习近平) Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, especially Xi Jinping's (习近平) thought on culture, as its guidance, adhere to the Marxist soul and the roots of outstanding Chinese traditional culture, improve the level of cultural relic protection research and cultural heritage protection and inheritance of the Palace Museum (故宫), and continue to write the chapter of cultural inheritance and practical innovation of the Palace Museum (故宫博物院) in protection.

(Reported and compiled by reporters Li Fang (李舫) and Kang Yan (康岩))

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Reflections

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Red walls and golden tiles, roof ridges with mythical animal ornaments and latticed windows, treasured cultural relics and auspicious patterns... In May of this year, the United Nations Postal Administration officially issued a special event stamp sheetlet for the "100th Anniversary of the Founding of the Palace Museum," the first time the United Nations Postal Administration has issued stamps for a single museum. The Palace Museum's cultural and creative products are striving to forge a new path of development, allowing sleeping cultural relics to be revitalized through creative transformation and innovative development. We are concerned not only with market response, but also with turning cultural and creative products into a special symbol, allowing history and the future, China and the world to interact.

-- Wu Di (吴迪), Director of the Cultural and Creative Business Department of the Palace Museum (故宫博物院)

During this period, the "Centennial Guardianship" exhibition is on display, and the explanation and guided tour content embodies the hard work of me and several colleagues over the past three months. In recent years, museum explanation and guided tour work has been shifting from the past procedural approach to a personalized one. In my opinion, what is important is to combine the characteristics and needs of the audience to provide targeted explanation content. It can be said that every explanation and guided tour resonates with the audience's cognition. In 2015, I came to work at the Palace Museum (故宫博物院). In the past 10 years, I have witnessed the increasing enthusiasm of tourists for the Palace Museum (故宫). I believe that we will do a better job in future explanation and guided tour work.

-- Deng Chenyu (邓晨钰), Head of the Education and Guided Tour Group of the Social Education Department of the Palace Museum (故宫博物院)

This year is my twenty-fifth year repairing cultural relics at the Palace Museum (故宫). I remember when I first started working, I was making a replica of a bronze ware by hand. I used to grind castings with files and sandpaper every day. When it was hot, my sweat was mixed with copper rust, and I would grind for almost half a year. My master said that grinding by hand is mainly to temper your temperament, to be able to calm down, so that you can sit still in the future. What remains unchanged in cultural relic restoration is the enduring craftsmanship and the inheritance of skills, and what changes is a more scientific concept and the exploration of new technologies. We must continue to improve our skills and contribute to protecting the Palace Museum (故宫).

-- Gao Fei (高飞), Deputy Head of the Metal Cultural Relic Restoration Group of the Cultural Relic Protection and Restoration Department of the Palace Museum (故宫博物院)

When I first started working, I was responsible for transcribing the archives of the museum's history, such as the letters of the first director Yi Peiji (易培基) and the work reports of the second director Ma Heng (马衡). By interpreting these handwritten documents, I realized the spiritual inheritance of the Palace Museum (故宫博物院). The most unforgettable thing was participating in the project of sorting out historical materials and protecting historical sites of the southward relocation of cultural relics from the Palace Museum (故宫). Every small progress and discovery made me feel the charm of doing academic research in the Palace Museum (故宫)! When I get tired from work, I will walk out of the office and stroll among the palace walls. The afternoon sun shines into the red walls, cutting the mythical animal ornaments on the roof into semi-bright and semi-dark, which is the trace of time.

-- Xu Wanling (徐婉玲), Research Librarian of the Archives of the Palace Museum (故宫博物院)

I was born in Beijing (北京). As a younger generation of the Palace Museum (故宫博物院), I feel sincerely proud to have the opportunity to become one of the protectors of the historical culture of the Palace Museum (故宫).

From the digital management of cultural relic information and image data to the collection, processing and utilization of two-dimensional and three-dimensional data resources of cultural heritage, the Palace Museum (故宫) has been carrying out digital work on cultural heritage data for more than 20 years. At present, the team is also carrying out research on digital twin technology and the use of artificial intelligence to quickly create three-dimensional models of cultural heritage. Looking to the future, I look forward to the joint efforts of me and my colleagues to allow more experts, scholars and audiences to appreciate these exquisite cultural relics that can embody the excellent traditional Chinese culture across time and space.

-- Wang Shengkun (王圣焜), Staff Member of the Applied Research Group of the Digital and Information Department of the Palace Museum (故宫博物院)

(Reporters Bai Zhiyu (白之羽), Kang Yan (康岩), Song Yu (宋宇), Liu Juanxi (刘涓溪), and Zhang Zhiqi (张智琪) of this newspaper interviewed and compiled)

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This edition's editors: Kang Yan, Song Yu, Liu Juanxi, Guan Xuanyue, Chen Shihan, Dong Yingxue

Original Article Return to Top

This edition coordinated by: Yang Xuan (杨暄), Zhang Yanchun (张彦春), Zhi Chunli (智春丽)

Layout design: Cai Huawei (蔡华伟)

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Page 11版:特别报道

Protect, promote, and develop the treasures of Chinese civilization.

By: 管璇悦 王 珏 宋 宇

Original Article Return to Top

On October 10, 2025, the Palace Museum (故宫博物院) will celebrate its 100th anniversary. This ancient wooden structure palace complex, the largest and most well-preserved in the world, is a unique symbol of historical China and an important marker of Chinese civilization. The Palace Museum (故宫博物院) emerged in the great tide of social change in modern China and has kept pace with the times in the process of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, passing through 100 years of sincerity, respect, classic guardianship, and ingenious craftsmanship. This is an immortal achievement in the history of Chinese culture and human culture.

"To promote the cultural subjectivity of the Chinese nation and to care for, promote, and develop the cultural treasures of Chinese civilization left behind after experiencing vicissitudes is the historical responsibility and sacred mission of contemporary Chinese Communists." Coming from the depths of history and moving towards national rejuvenation, the 100-year-old Palace Museum (故宫博物院) is in its prime.

-- Editor

More than five thousand years of civilization and bloodline, more than six hundred years of turbulent history, are condensed in a museum belonging to all the people – the Palace Museum (故宫博物院).

The pinnacle of ancient palace architecture, a national museum that receives nearly 20 million visitors annually, and a "must-visit place in life" in the hearts of countless people... There are a thousand Palace Museums (故宫博物院) in a thousand people's eyes.

It is 100 years old. Having experienced the baptism of time, today's Palace Museum (故宫博物院) is in its prime.

I

The Beijing Central Axis (北京中轴线), the majestic Duanmen (端门) stands quietly, guarding the vicissitudes of the ancient capital.

Duan (端) means upright and beginning.

On October 10, 1925, the Palace Museum (故宫博物院) was established. On that day, Beijing (北京) citizens flocked in to see this once heavily guarded palace forbidden area.

100 years later, the Palace Museum (故宫博物院) has become a cultural coordinate for the Chinese people and a common treasure of human civilization.

"We must recognize our own treasures and not take them lightly," General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) earnestly urged.

A museum connects a brilliant galaxy of civilization.

Overlooking from the air, a central axis runs vertically, and the three main halls of Taihe (太和), Zhonghe (中和), and Baohe (保和) stand bathed in light, embodying the great achievements of ancient Chinese traditional palace architecture and reflecting the continuous philosophical thought of "centrality" (中) and "harmony" (和).

Upon closer observation, the inscriptions on oracle bones, the patterns on bronzes, the colors of porcelain, and the charm of calligraphy and painting, the more than 1.95 million pieces (sets) of cultural relics stored within encompass everything, weaving together the splendid and colorful material life and spiritual pursuits of the Chinese nation for thousands of years.

The collections of the Palace Museum (故宫博物院) cover all kinds of ancient Chinese art treasures, and some have come from overseas, becoming an important resource for inheriting Chinese culture and enhancing cultural confidence.

A museum builds a bridge for civilization exchange and mutual learning.

Duanmen (端门), the gate of etiquette, witnesses the myriad phenomena of major-country diplomacy in the new era. In exhibitions such as "Encounter of Civilizations - Exchange Exhibition of Ancient Chinese and West Asian Civilizations" and "The Forbidden City and Versailles - Sino-French Exchanges in the 17th and 18th Centuries," Chinese and Western treasures shine together, stirring the echoes of exchange and mutual learning. Jointly conduct on-site archaeological excavations with world-renowned archaeological research institutions, and attract scholars from home and abroad to participate in the study of Palace Museum (故宫博物院) studies.

Culture is a boat that crosses mountains and seas. Chinese civilization and other civilizations meet and achieve each other, painting a picture of shared beauty and harmonious coexistence.

II

Wu Gate (午门), the main gate of the Forbidden City (紫禁城) in the past. Today, as an important exhibition hall of the Palace Museum (故宫博物院), the East and West Goose Wing Buildings and the Wu Gate (午门) Exhibition Hall have been焕然新生. Whenever there is a major exhibition, it is crowded with people. On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the museum's founding, the exhibition "Centennial Guardianship - From the Forbidden City to the Palace Museum (故宫博物院)" exhibited 200 pieces (sets) of cultural relics, attracting visitors from all over the world.

The ancient and the modern converge here, reflecting a century of change.

Looking back on the past, the 100 years of the Palace Museum (故宫博物院) are 100 years of sharing weal and woe with the fate of the country and the survival of the nation.

How arduous the journey was! During the Anti-Japanese War, hundreds of thousands of precious cultural relics were moved south to avoid the enemy. Amidst the raging war, the cultural relics were basically undamaged, and "people and cultural relics are together," creating a great miracle of human protection of cultural heritage.

After the founding of the People's Republic of China, the construction of the Palace Museum (故宫博物院) opened a new chapter. In 1961, it became one of the first national key cultural relics protection units, in 1987 it was included in the "World Heritage List," and in 2002 it began overall protection and renovation... Generations of people have taken over the guardianship, so that the pearl can regain its brilliance.

"What I care about most is the most precious things left behind by Chinese civilization after experiencing vicissitudes." Protecting cultural relics and cultural heritage is what General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) always has in mind.

Entering a new era, adhering to the Marxist soul and based on the roots of outstanding traditional Chinese culture, the "two combinations" activate the "pool of spring water" of Chinese culture. What is the Palace Museum (故宫博物院) for?

One unchanging keyword is the people.

Tourists have found that in recent years, the open area has been continuously expanding, and more and more national treasures have been "unlocked." Exhibitions such as "What is China - Special Exhibition of Ancient Chinese Civilization" have been continuously "updated." In the newly opened first and second courtyards of the Qianlong Garden (乾隆花园), visitors can appreciate the Xi Shang Pavilion (禊赏亭), which is based on the "Preface to the Orchid Pavilion Collection (兰亭序)," the Guhua Xuan (古华轩), named after the ancient catalpa tree, and the Suichu Tang (遂初堂), which has profound implications.

One evolving keyword is youth.

Named "Gu (故)," but inheriting the old and opening up the new. Empowered by technology, an equally magnificent "Digital Palace Museum (数字故宫)" grows in the cloud and enters thousands of households; Corner Tower Cafe (角楼咖啡), Palace Museum (故宫博物院) lipsticks, cultural creativity and profound heritage collide with fresh expressions; Hong Kong Palace Museum of Culture (香港故宫文化博物馆), Macao Palace Museum Cultural Heritage Protection and Inheritance Center (澳门故宫文化遗产保护传承中心), and the Palace Museum (故宫博物院) North District, which is under construction, construct a more three-dimensional and multi-dimensional cultural living room... The Palace Museum (故宫博物院) is entering a hot life with a youthful attitude.

The "breadth" of a museum lies in its breadth, but also in the temperature of people's perception. To meet the people's new expectations for a better cultural life and to stimulate more love and resonance is the most beautiful echo of civilization's continuation.

III

Starting from the Palace Museum (故宫博物院) and heading north, the central main hall of the National Archives of Publications and Culture (中国国家版本馆) stands majestically, echoing the branch halls in Xi'an (西安), Hangzhou (杭州), and Guangzhou (广州), forming a new era of national cultural palace.

Under the scientific guidance of Xi Jinping's (习近平) cultural thought, the land of China is rising with a grand atmosphere of "flourishing culture." "'The two combinations' are our greatest magic weapon for success." Great practice gives rise to great thought, and great thought guides great practice.

From the publication of the large-scale historical document series "Revitalization Library (复兴文库)" to the implementation of the major cultural project "Chinese Painting Series of Past Dynasties (中国历代绘画大系)," from the new progress of major projects such as the Wuwangdun Tomb (武王墩墓) and other "Archaeological China (考古中国)" to the revision of the Law on the Protection of Cultural Relics... We will certainly be able to "continue to pass on the only civilization in the world that has not been interrupted."

Jingdezhen (景德镇), Jiangxi (江西), the roaring kiln fire has been burning for thousands of years; the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal (京杭大运河), museums and cultural parks have sprung up one after another along the waterfront. The cultural expo craze and the cultural creation craze have become a trend, interpreting "eternal and ancient" in the vivid practice of innovation and creation.

Ancient streets face high-tech enterprises, intangible cultural heritage elements are integrated into trendy toys, and cultural inheritance empowers high-quality development, weaving a "double-sided embroidery" of cultural prosperity and economic prosperity; feeling the traditional virtue of valuing harmony in the Six-Foot Lane (六尺巷) and understanding the classic exposition of people-orientedness in the Zhu Xi Garden (朱熹园), outstanding traditional Chinese culture cultivates integrity and influences people.

"China is so vast, its history is so long, and its civilization is so broad and profound. This is the foundation of our confidence and the source of our strength." The centennial Palace Museum (故宫博物院) is precisely the era footnote to this assertion.

In 100 years, looking back at the changes of the Palace Museum (故宫博物院), we can see the spiritual roots of Chinese culture, the vivid epitome of the "two combinations," and even more the ever-changing Chinese-style modernization.

In the next 10 years, looking forward to the magnificent picture of building a strong socialist cultural country in 2035, we are full of expectations and aspirations.

"Continuing to promote cultural prosperity, build a strong cultural country, and build a modern civilization of the Chinese nation on a new starting point is our new cultural mission in the new era." Coming from the depths of history and moving towards national rejuvenation, we will stride forward and witness it!

Time Imprint

1925

The Palace Museum (故宫博物院) was officially established, and the royal palace was opened to the public for the first time

1933

In order to avoid the impact of the war, the Palace Museum (故宫博物院) began to take the lead in organizing the southward relocation of cultural relics

1961

The Palace Museum (故宫博物院) was listed as one of the first national key cultural relics protection units

1987

The Palace Museum (故宫博物院) was included in the "World Heritage List" by UNESCO

2002

Launched the "Century Renovation" overall renovation and protection project of the Palace Museum (故宫)

2004-2010

Carried out a 7-year cultural relics inventory work to comprehensively and thoroughly investigate and sort out the collections of the entire museum

2013

Launched the "Safe Palace Museum (平安故宫)" project

2015

The "Shiqu Baoji Special Exhibition (石渠宝笈特展)" was held in Wuying Hall (武英殿) and Yanxi Palace (延禧宫)

2019

The annual number of visitors exceeded 19 million

2020

The environmental improvement and overall protection of the ancient buildings inside and outside the Palace Museum (故宫) were basically completed

2022

Launched the Palace Museum (故宫博物院) North District project

2025

The Palace Museum (故宫博物院) will celebrate its 100th anniversary. The exhibition "Centennial Guardianship - From the Forbidden City to the Palace Museum (故宫博物院)" will be held in the main hall of Wu Gate (午门) and the East and West Goose Wing Buildings

The data and materials are provided by the Palace Museum (故宫博物院)

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Continuing the Chapter of Cultural Inheritance, Practice, and Innovation

By: 故宫博物院

Original Article Return to Top

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Palace Museum (故宫博物院). Since its establishment, the Palace Museum (故宫博物院) has always taken it as its mission to protect, study, inherit, and promote the outstanding Chinese traditional culture carried by the Forbidden City (故宫) and its collections. Looking back on the past century, the Palace Museum (故宫博物院) has experienced many hardships, sharing the same breath and destiny with the Chinese nation, and has made unremitting efforts to explore the development path of museums with Chinese characteristics. Entering the new era, it has formed a development system of "Safe Palace (平安故宫), Academic Palace (学术故宫), Digital Palace (数字故宫), and Vibrant Palace (活力故宫)," demonstrating the responsibility of contemporary museum professionals.

In 1925, the Palace Museum (故宫博物院) was established and began to perform the duties of a modern museum, including collection, preservation, display, research, and publication. The transformation of the imperial palace into a public museum and the transformation of the forbidden garden secrets into national heritage are all embodied in the word "public." On New Year's Day in 1933, the Japanese army invaded Shanhaiguan (山海关), and Beiping (北平) was in a state of emergency. The Council of the Palace Museum (故宫博物院) decided to move the cultural relics south. Under the successive leadership of two directors, Yi Peiji (易培基) and Ma Heng (马衡), starting in 1933, more than 19,000 boxes of cultural relics from the Palace Museum (故宫博物院), the Antiquities Exhibition Hall (古物陈列所), the Summer Palace (颐和园), the Imperial College (国子监), and other institutions were moved south in five batches. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, the Palace Museum (故宫博物院) adhered to the goal of serving the people. The original "three halls and two offices" were reorganized into a department system to strengthen the museum's service functions and the construction of cultural relic protection and research capabilities. The mountains and rivers regained their glory, and the Palace Museum (故宫) was reborn. The cultural relics moved south began to return north successively from January 1950. From the southward migration to the northward return, the journey was long and fraught with dangers. The heavy boxes not only contained national treasures but also carried the firm belief in the continued existence of the Chinese national culture.

Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the Palace Museum (故宫博物院) has entered a new stage of development. In November 2019, the Palace Museum (故宫博物院) officially proposed the "four palaces" construction system of "Safe Palace (平安故宫), Academic Palace (学术故宫), Digital Palace (数字故宫), and Vibrant Palace (活力故宫)," striving to build the Palace Museum (故宫博物院) into a world-class museum, a model for the protection of world cultural heritage, a leader in the integration of culture and tourism, and a Chinese cultural living room for civilization exchange and mutual learning. Integrate resources from multiple departments such as cultural relics, archaeology, and architecture to promote the systematic and holistic protection of the Palace Museum's (故宫博物院) cultural heritage; build a three-in-one academic development system of platforms, projects, and talents for the Palace Museum (故宫博物院) to promote academic talents to the world; actively explore in collecting and sharing digital cultural relic resources, developing and utilizing cutting-edge digital technologies, and strengthen the construction of high-precision cultural relic digitization, multi-dimensional digital technology integration, and intelligent platforms; combine cultural heritage protection with social services, through exhibition innovation, educational practice, cultural product development, digital communication and talent training, and overseas cooperation, to realize the creative transformation and innovative development of cultural heritage.

Learning from the past and knowing the future, and striving for excellence. In the turbulent century-long river, from the southward migration of cultural relics during the war to the academic in-depth research in peacetime, from the painstaking repair and protection to the activation and innovation in the digital age, every step forward of the Palace Museum (故宫博物院) is imprinted with the resilience and wisdom of the continuous development of Chinese civilization. At present, the development of various undertakings of the Palace Museum (故宫博物院) has received unprecedented attention and support from the whole society, and it has also ushered in the best period of development in history. Looking to the future, we must consciously shoulder the cultural mission of the new era. We must speed up the completion of the revision of the "Overall Protection Plan of the Palace Museum (故宫) (2026-2040)" and build a scientific, efficient, and scalable quality management system for cultural and museum institutions; optimize the existing academic research system and mechanism, and encourage experts and scholars from all walks of life to widely carry out interdisciplinary research focusing on the museum's collections, ancient building complexes, and the history of the Ming and Qing dynasties; we must firmly follow the path of digital technology empowering cultural development, and promote the comprehensive upgrading of "hardware" and "software" under the support of digitization, networking, and intelligent technology; adhere to integrity and innovation, and on the basis of protecting the Forbidden City (紫禁城) and protecting precious cultural relics, provide people with richer spiritual and cultural nourishment with more distinctive exhibitions, higher-level communication and promotion, and higher-quality and convenient open services.

The transformation of the Palace Museum (故宫) from a royal forbidden garden to a people's museum is itself an epitome of China's journey towards modernization and the great rejuvenation of the nation. Standing at the historical node of a century, the Palace Museum (故宫博物院) will take Xi Jinping (习近平)'s Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, especially Xi Jinping (习近平)'s Thought on Culture, as its guide, adhere to the Marxist soul and the roots of outstanding Chinese traditional culture, improve the level of cultural relic protection research and cultural heritage protection and inheritance of the Palace Museum (故宫), and continue to write the chapter of cultural inheritance and practical innovation of the Palace Museum (故宫博物院) in protection.

(Reported by Li Fang (李舫) and Kang Yan (康岩))

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Reflections

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Red walls and golden tiles, roof ridges with mythical animal ornaments and latticed windows, treasured cultural relics, auspicious patterns… In May of this year, the United Nations Postal Administration officially issued a special event stamp sheet for the "100th Anniversary of the Founding of the Palace Museum," the first time the United Nations Postal Administration has issued stamps for a single museum. The Palace Museum's cultural and creative products are striving to forge a new path of development, allowing sleeping cultural relics to be revitalized through creative transformation and innovative development. We are concerned not only with market response, but also with turning cultural and creative products into a special symbol, allowing history and the future, China and the world, to interact.

— Wu Di (吴迪), Director of the Cultural and Creative Business Department of the Palace Museum (故宫博物院)

During this period, the "Centennial Guardianship" exhibition is on display, and the explanation and guided tour content embodies the hard work of me and several colleagues over the past three months. In recent years, museum explanation and guided tour work has been shifting from past routines to personalization. In my opinion, what is important is to combine the characteristics and needs of the audience to provide targeted explanation content. It can be said that every explanation and guided tour resonates with the audience's cognition. In 2015, I came to work at the Palace Museum (故宫博物院). In the past 10 years, I have witnessed the growing enthusiasm of tourists for the Palace Museum. I believe that we will do a better job in future explanation and guided tour work.

— Deng Chenyu (邓晨钰), Head of the Education and Guided Tour Group of the Social Education Department of the Palace Museum (故宫博物院)

This year is my twenty-fifth year of repairing cultural relics at the Palace Museum (故宫博物院). I remember when I first started working, I made a replica of a bronze ware by hand. I used a file and sandpaper to polish the castings every day. When it was hot, my sweat was mixed with copper rust, and I polished it for almost half a year. My master said that hand-polishing is mainly to磨性子 (mó xìng zi - "temper one's character," to cultivate patience and perseverance), so that you can calm down and sit still in the future. What remains unchanged in cultural relic restoration is the enduring craftsmanship and the inheritance of skills, while what changes is a more scientific concept and the exploration of new technologies. We must continue to improve our skills and contribute to safeguarding the Palace Museum.

— Gao Fei (高飞), Deputy Head of the Metal Cultural Relic Restoration Group of the Cultural Relic Protection and Restoration Department of the Palace Museum (故宫博物院)

When I first started working, I was responsible for transcribing the archives of the museum's history, such as the letters of the first director Yi Peiji (易培基) and the work reports of the second director Ma Heng (马衡). By interpreting these handwritten documents, I realized the spiritual heritage of the Palace Museum (故宫博物院). The most unforgettable thing was participating in the project of sorting out historical materials and protecting historical sites of the southward relocation of cultural relics from the Palace Museum. Every small progress and discovery made me feel the charm of doing academic research in the Palace Museum! When I am tired from work, I will walk out of the office and stroll between the palace walls. The afternoon sun shines into the red walls, cutting the mythical animal ornaments on the roof into semi-bright and semi-dark, which is the trace of time.

— Xu Wanling (徐婉玲), Research Librarian of the Archives of the Palace Museum (故宫博物院)

I was born in Beijing (北京). As a younger generation of the Palace Museum (故宫博物院), I feel sincerely proud to have the opportunity to become one of the protectors of the historical culture of the Palace Museum.

From the digital management of cultural relic information and image data to the collection, processing, and utilization of two-dimensional and three-dimensional data resources of cultural heritage, the Palace Museum has been carrying out digital work on cultural heritage data for more than 20 years. Currently, the team is also conducting research on digital twin technology and using artificial intelligence to quickly create three-dimensional models of cultural heritage. Looking to the future, I look forward to the joint efforts of me and my colleagues to allow more experts, scholars, and audiences to transcend time and space and appreciate these exquisite cultural relics that can embody the excellent traditional Chinese culture.

— Wang Shengkun (王圣焜), Staff Member of the Applied Research Group of the Digital and Information Department of the Palace Museum (故宫博物院)

(Reported and compiled by Bai Zhiyu (白之羽), Kang Yan (康岩), Song Yu (宋宇), Liu Juanxi (刘涓溪), and Zhang Zhiqi (张智琪), reporters of this newspaper)

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This edition's editors: Kang Yan, Song Yu, Liu Juanxi, Guan Xuanyue, Chen Shihan, Dong Yingxue

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This edition coordinated by: Yang Xuan (杨暄), Zhang Yanchun (张彦春), Zhi Chunli (智春丽)

Layout design: Cai Huawei (蔡华伟)

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Page 12版:政治

How to Truly Implement the Requirement of "Living a Tight Life" (New Observations on Cadre Status)

By: 本报记者

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Editor's Note: General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) pointed out: "The Party and the government take the lead in living frugally, with the aim of ensuring that the people live a good life. This is determined by the purpose and nature of our Party. No matter what level our country develops to, no matter how much the people's lives improve, the spirit of hard work and thrift must never be abandoned."

The newly revised "Regulations on Practicing Economy and Opposing Waste by Party and Government Organs" once again clearly requires Party and government organs to take the lead in living frugally. This is not only a continuation of our Party's glorious tradition of hard work and thrift, but also reflects the warmth of people's livelihood behind "careful calculation."

However, some people equate "living frugally" with a hard life or a lazy life, and oppose "living frugally" to a good life, believing that "living frugally" will affect work efficiency. How to implement the requirements of "living frugally" and cultivate good work style with good systems? This edition invites grassroots cadres to talk about their feelings and practices in order to enhance consensus and implement them well.

Dialogue with Cadres:

Zhang Xia (张霞), Member of the Standing Committee of the Licheng District Committee of Jinan City, Shandong Province (山东省济南市历城区委), and Minister of the Organization Department

Li Huxiao (李虎啸), Director of the Party and Government Office of the Xiabu Subdistrict Office of the Xinjiang New District of Yingtan City, Jiangxi Province (江西省鹰潭市信江新区夏埠街道办事处)

Chen Liji (陈丽姬), Director of the Party Style and Government Style Supervision Office of the Discipline Inspection Commission and Supervision Commission of Dongfang City, Hainan Province (海南省东方市纪委监委)

Sheng Huijuan (盛慧娟), Secretary of the Party Working Committee of the Huaxi Subdistrict, Banan District, Chongqing (重庆市巴南区花溪街道)

Ren Qianwei (任千伟), Member of the Standing Committee of the Xihe District Committee of Fuxin City, Liaoning Province (辽宁省阜新市细河区委), and Minister of the Organization Department

Ling Bo (凌波), Director of the Party Style and Government Style Supervision Office of the Discipline Inspection Commission and Supervision Commission of Cuiping District, Yibin City, Sichuan Province (四川省宜宾市翠屏区纪委监委)

The requirement of "living frugally" is efficient, honest, and standardized, and does not reduce the reasonable income of cadres.

Reporter: Why should we "live frugally"? Does "living frugally" mean reducing daily expenses and lowering the salaries of grassroots cadres?

Zhang Xia (张霞): From the "single lamp wick" on Jinggang Mountain (井冈山) and the earthen kang in Yan'an (延安) during the revolutionary war years, to the "running everything with diligence and thrift" after the founding of the People's Republic of China, and then to the introduction of the Central Eight-Point Regulation and its implementation rules in the new era, our Party's fine tradition of diligence and thrift has been passed down in one continuous line.

"Living frugally" does not mean not spending money, nor does it mean simply reducing daily expenses, let alone lowering the salaries of cadres. Rather, it means scientific spending and rational spending on the basis of overall planning, careful calculation, and standardized order, enhancing the budget management and use management of funds, and improving the efficiency of fund use. In this sense, "living frugally" requires us to inherit fine traditions, scientifically allocate resources, and improve governance effectiveness.

Li Huxiao (李虎啸): "Living frugally" emphasizes reducing those daily extravagant and wasteful, and ineffective expenditures, rather than reducing the reasonable income and welfare guarantees of cadres. In recent years, our subdistrict's per capita public expenditure has decreased from 5,000 yuan/year in 2022 to 4,000 yuan/year in 2025. Although the per capita public expenditure has been decreasing, the subdistrict has rationally arranged various expenditures without affecting daily operations. At present, the wages and benefits of our subdistrict community cadres have been improved, which has stimulated their enthusiasm for work and consolidated the foundation of their work.

Chen Liji (陈丽姬): "Living frugally" requires efficiency, honesty, and standardization. The salary and benefits stipulated by the state for cadres are the remuneration that cadres are entitled to by law, and are the basis for maintaining the stability and enthusiasm of the team. "Living frugally" is by no means to deduct cadres' legal wages, but to resolutely cut off those illegal allowances and subsidies, excessive welfare benefits, and "hidden corruption" expenditures.

In the process of daily supervision, we have found that some units do not have a firm understanding of the concept of integrity and thrift, and the phenomenon of illegally issuing allowances and subsidies still occurs from time to time. We should pay more attention to whether grassroots organs and units have implemented the requirements of "living frugally" in terms of material procurement and resource conservation, and whether they have internalized the concept of practicing economy and opposing waste and externalized it into action.

"Wasteful money" that is divorced from reality should be reduced, and "effective money" that serves development and empowers cadres should be guaranteed.

Reporter: In practicing economy and "living frugally," which money should be saved and which money should be spent?

Sheng Huijuan (盛慧娟): To implement the requirements of "living frugally," we must calculate the balance between "saving" and "spending." Our subdistrict is tightening public expenditure and "three public" expenditures. Official receptions are all in the unit canteen, strictly controlling standards and eliminating extravagance; meetings are not held separately if they can be merged, and online meetings are held if they can be held online; office supplies have been changed from "decentralized procurement" to "centralized procurement + shared reuse"; the subdistrict has also built an equipment sharing pool, and cameras, laptops, etc. are allocated as needed to avoid duplicate purchases. The money and resources saved are transformed into "special funds" for serving the masses. This year, the subdistrict plans to invest 25 million yuan for serving the people's livelihood, all of which will be broken down into problems with high public demand such as the renovation of old residential areas and the renovation of pipe networks.

Ren Qianwei (任千伟): "Wasteful money" that is divorced from reality should be reduced, and "effective money" that serves development and empowers cadres should be guaranteed. We provide business training for grassroots Party branch secretaries, Party affairs workers, and village (community) cadres, and invite experts from the Provincial Academy of Agricultural Sciences to conduct on-site guidance in the fields. This money is well spent and meaningful, and is a necessary investment.

Zhang Xia (张霞): We have adopted the form of "department declaration + organization department review and overall planning" to reduce the number of training courses with duplicate training objects and homogenized content, targeting the characteristics of positions in various fields. At the same time, we have integrated the training needs of various units such as the Development and Reform Commission, the Industry and Information Technology Department, and the Investment Promotion Department to hold comprehensive classes for high-quality economic development, improve training efficiency, and save training costs.

Ling Bo (凌波): Reasonable salaries for cadres, efficiency improvement, risk resolution, and ecological protection are all money that should be spent. Official receptions and celebration activities should be saved where possible, especially the problems of using public cars for private purposes and using public funds to maintain private cars should be eliminated.

In the cases we have investigated, individual schools illegally purchased official cars, and the related expenses such as tolls, fuel costs, and maintenance costs were all paid by the schools, squeezing out normal educational and teaching expenditures. We also found that individual celebration activities cost hundreds of thousands of yuan at every turn, but the economic and social benefits generated were not proportional to the investment. We must fulfill our supervisory responsibilities to ensure that "what should be saved is saved in place, and what should be spent is spent clearly," prevent "one-size-fits-all" laziness, and also prevent squeezing out people's livelihood and grassroots security funds under the banner of "living frugally."

Strictly distinguish between extravagance and waste and ensuring basic needs, and do not use living frugally as an excuse for not taking responsibility or not taking action.

Reporter: How can grassroots Party and government organs "live frugally," and at the same time, stimulate the work efficiency of cadres and empower the grassroots while practicing economy?

Li Huxiao (李虎啸): We start with small things to reduce the burden on grassroots cadres, so that grassroots cadres have more time and energy to serve the masses.

Streamline meetings, reduce meetings by 70%, and reduce meeting expenses such as water and electricity bills and material documents; streamline reports, promote "one form sharing" and "paperless office," which saves paper and ink and reduces the burden on cadres. The subdistrict can save more than 100,000 yuan every year, and the work style of cadres has also changed significantly. They are more energetic and have higher enthusiasm for work.

Sheng Huijuan (盛慧娟): "Living frugally" also requires being good at mobilizing the masses. Wangjiaba Community (王家坝社区) has long faced the problem of "difficulty in parking." Community cadres did not wait for financial allocations, but organized resident representative meetings and car owner consultation meetings to jointly determine a plan to plan idle sites as parking spaces, and also used parking fees to implement practical things that benefit the people.

Zhang Xia (张霞): Leading cadres should develop habits from small things and small details, and implement saving a drop of water, a kilowatt of electricity, and a piece of paper; maintain a clear head on major issues of principle, and resolutely abandon "image projects" and "vanity projects." In addition, we should explore incorporating the practice of economy into the performance evaluation system of leading bodies and leading cadres, guide Party members and cadres to firmly establish a correct view of performance, and use limited financial resources to focus on grasping reform, promoting development, and benefiting people's livelihood.

Ling Bo (凌波): We must not only correct deviations, but also escort, and use supervision to establish a clear orientation, draw a clear line for cadres, and prevent "living frugally" from being misinterpreted by some cadres. On the one hand, we must have zero tolerance for wasteful behavior and leave no room for extravagance; on the other hand, we must support and encourage cadres who dare to take responsibility and are good at taking action. We must strictly distinguish between "illegal consumption" and "normal official activities," "extravagance and waste" and "ensuring basic needs," and never use "living frugally" as an excuse for not taking responsibility or not taking action.

At the same time, the effectiveness of "living frugally" should be included in the important content of daily supervision. Those units and individuals who are careful in their calculations and have outstanding effectiveness should be commended and encouraged; those who go their own way and are seriously wasteful should be held accountable.

(Reporters from this newspaper Wang Zhe (王者), Zhou Huan (周欢), Dong Zeyang (董泽扬), Wang Xinyue (王欣悦), Liu Hongchao (刘洪超), Li Kaixuan (李凯旋))

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Implementing the "Measures for the Administration of Electronic Seals" to Better Serve Government Activities and the Digital Development of the Economy and Society

By: 国家密码管理局

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On September 27, 2025, the General Office of the State Council issued the "Measures for the Administration of Electronic Seals" (hereinafter referred to as the "Measures"). The "Measures" are guided by Xi Jinping (习近平)'s Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, thoroughly implement the strategic deployment of the Party Central Committee and the State Council on accelerating the construction of a cyber superpower and a digital China, implement the requirements of laws such as the "Electronic Signature Law of the People's Republic of China" and the "Cryptography Law of the People's Republic of China," and provide an important institutional guarantee for further standardizing the administration of electronic seals, promoting the universal application of electronic seals, and better serving government affairs activities and the digital development of the economy and society.

I. Fully Recognize the Important Significance of Formulating and Implementing the "Measures"

The formulation and implementation of the "Measures" will help better promote the construction of Digital China. Electronic documents are an important data form and basic carrier for the construction of Digital China, bearing important strategic resources for the Party's governance, economic and social development, and historical and cultural inheritance. Managing and using electronic documents well and fully releasing the value of electronic documents are inevitable requirements for digital development. The essence of electronic seals is to use cryptographic technology to achieve reliable electronic signatures of electronic documents, which can effectively ensure the authenticity and integrity of electronic documents. The formulation and implementation of the "Measures" will further standardize and strengthen the management and use of electronic seals, promote the widespread application of electronic documents in government affairs activities and various fields of the economy and society, improve information sharing and business collaboration efficiency, improve the effectiveness of government services, and help build a cyber superpower and Digital China.

The formulation and implementation of the "Measures" will help better build a trust system in the digital era. As a symbol of identity and a symbol of credit, physical seals have always been an important cornerstone of social trust in China. With the deepening of digitalization, electronic seals with the image characteristics of physical seals rely on cryptographic technology to provide credible authentication marks for the identity of units (organizations) and become a key element of the trust system in the digital era. The formulation and implementation of the "Measures" will further clarify the definition, connotation, management requirements, and technical characteristics of electronic seals, which will help ensure the function of electronic seals, strengthen their legal effect, promote the universal recognition and use of electronic seals in various fields and aspects, and consolidate the institutional foundation for building a trust system in the digital era.

The formulation and implementation of the "Measures" will help better build a unified national market. For a long time, due to the lack of national-level management systems, the main bodies of electronic seal management have not been clear enough, and there are blockages and difficulties in mutual trust and mutual recognition across regions and departments, which affect and restrict the effectiveness of electronic seal applications. The formulation and implementation of the "Measures" will promote mutual trust and mutual recognition of electronic seals in government affairs activities and related socialized service scenarios, promote the mutual recognition of various electronic documents such as electronic licenses and electronic contracts, strongly support "one-stop government services" and "efficiently handling one thing," reduce administrative costs and market transaction costs, and promote the optimization of the business environment and the construction of a unified national market.

II. Accurately Grasp the Main Spirit and Connotation of the "Measures"

The "Measures" consist of 8 chapters and 38 articles, which stipulate the connotation and effectiveness of electronic seals, the responsibility system, management requirements, and mutual trust and mutual recognition.

Clarify the connotation and effectiveness, and consolidate the application foundation of electronic seals. The "Measures" explain the connotation of electronic seals from two dimensions: technical essence and functional role, and clarify that electronic seals are specific format data that represent seals based on cryptographic technology and related digital technologies, and are used to achieve reliable electronic signatures of electronic documents; standardize the types and scope of application of electronic seals such as legal name seals and internal agency seals, and clarify the conceptual definitions of electronic seal owners and electronic signatures; according to the "Electronic Signature Law of the People's Republic of China," it is clarified that "electronic seals that comply with these Measures have the same legal effect as physical seals," providing solid institutional and normative support for the use of electronic seals in government affairs activities and various fields of the economy and society.

Improve the responsibility system and consolidate the management responsibility of electronic seals. The "Measures" clarify the main bodies of electronic seal management and service, and stipulate the responsibilities and tasks of the State Cryptography Administration (国家密码管理局), the General Office of the State Council (国务院办公厅), the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (工业和信息化部), as well as public security organs and local cryptography management departments in the management of electronic seals; require all regions and departments to strengthen the standardized management and promotion and application of electronic seals in their respective regions and departments (systems), and determine the electronic seal issuing departments and production management units in light of actual conditions; clarify the providing institutions of electronic authentication services and e-government electronic authentication services involved in electronic seals, and construct a complete electronic seal management work responsibility system to ensure that relevant management responsibilities are implemented.

Clarify management requirements and standardize the entire process management of electronic seals. The "Measures" clarify that the management of electronic seals should be done in a coordinated manner, with classified management, standardized standards, and safe and controllable; according to the entire life cycle operation law of electronic seals, clarify the management and safety requirements of all links in the entire process of electronic seal application, production, filing, use, and cancellation; based on the effective use of electronic seals, emphasize that electronic seal owners should properly keep and standardize the use of electronic seals, and standardize the process requirements for electronic signatures and verification; according to relevant laws and regulations, clarify the illegal and non-compliant responsibilities of relevant subjects of electronic seals, and delineate the bottom line of electronic seal management.

Strengthen support and guarantees, and promote mutual trust and mutual recognition of electronic seals. Achieving mutual trust and mutual recognition is a necessary condition for improving the application effectiveness of electronic seals and promoting the universal application of electronic seals, which requires all relevant parties to increase support and guarantees and overall coordination, and comprehensively implement policies and coordinate efforts from multiple aspects such as support capabilities, standard specifications, and system support. The "Measures" stipulate that the state promotes the construction of electronic seal cross-regional and cross-departmental mutual trust and mutual recognition support capabilities, and all regions and departments strengthen the construction of electronic seal mutual trust and mutual recognition support capabilities in their respective regions and departments (systems); the State Cryptography Administration (国家密码管理局) shall, in conjunction with relevant departments, actively promote the construction of electronic seal mutual trust and mutual recognition standard specifications; administrative organs and enterprises, public institutions, and social organizations that perform social management and public service functions shall support the access and use of electronic seals that comply with the "Measures" in business activities, and strive to create a good environment for mutual trust and mutual recognition of electronic seals.

III. Grasp the Publicity, Implementation and Implementation of the "Measures"

The promulgation of the "Measures" provides a basic institutional basis for doing a good job in the management of electronic seals in the new era. All regions and relevant departments should, in accordance with the decisions and deployments of the Party Central Committee and the State Council, effectively grasp the implementation of the "Measures," promote the standardized management and universal application of electronic seals, and actively serve the construction of Digital China.

Deeply carry out the publicity and popularization of the "Measures." All regions and relevant departments should strengthen the publicity and training of the "Measures," promote the in-depth understanding and accurate mastery of the various requirements of the "Measures" by staff in departments such as cryptography, government services, data, and information management, and improve their ability to carry out electronic seal management work in accordance with laws and regulations. Actively use new Internet media and other channels to carry out targeted publicity and interpretation to the society, and guide the whole society to standardize the use of electronic seals.

Effectively grasp the implementation of the "Measures." Relevant functional departments for electronic seal management should effectively perform their duties and implement the relevant requirements of the "Measures." All regions and relevant departments should strengthen the overall coordination of electronic seal management work, refine institutional measures in light of actual conditions, further clarify the relevant responsible entities and responsibilities and tasks for electronic seal management, and further standardize the management processes and operational requirements for electronic seal application, production, filing, etc., to ensure that the various requirements of the "Measures" are implemented effectively.

Accelerate the universal application of electronic seals. Actively promote online and mobile handling of electronic seal application, production, filing, and other links to provide convenience for units (organizations) to apply for and use electronic seals. Strengthen the construction of electronic seal mutual trust and mutual recognition support capabilities, accelerate the application of electronic seals in government affairs activities, government services, public services, and related socialized services, promote a wider range of "one seal for multiple uses," "universal recognition of one seal," and cross-regional and cross-departmental "seal use," and better demonstrate the functional value of electronic seals.

All regions and relevant departments should take the promulgation of the "Measures" as an opportunity to effectively do a good job in the use and management of electronic seals in their respective regions and departments (systems), effectively give play to the enabling role of electronic seals in digital development, and contribute to driving Chinese-style modernization with informatization!

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Joint training exercises

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On October 10th, a brigade of the Eastern Theater Command Army (东部战区陆军) organized an air-ground coordinated training exercise in conjunction with neighboring units to test the multi-aircraft formation assault and air-ground coordination capabilities. This training included multiple subjects such as underwater infiltration, armed transport, and airborne operations, accumulating air-ground coordinated training data and laying the foundation for improving three-dimensional combat capabilities.

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Devoting More Resources to Grassroots Governance

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Harbin, October 12th (People's Daily reporter Cui Jia (崔佳) and Liu Mengdan (刘梦丹)) Daqing City (大庆市), Heilongjiang Province (黑龙江省), takes the "City Foundation Building" project as the main starting point. By meticulously cultivating the Party building "responsibility field" through seven special actions such as "weaving a network to strengthen the fortress" and "regional joint construction," it effectively clears the "capillaries" of the grassroots and continuously transforms Party building advantages into grassroots governance effectiveness. Daqing City (大庆市) is focusing on organizational systems, grassroots teams, and working mechanisms to strive to achieve "minor issues not leaving the grid, major issues not leaving the community," allowing the masses to truly feel that "the Party organization is right beside them." Currently, the city has 2,460 grid members and 2,822 community workers serving the community, and has built more than 500 warm-hearted service stations.

In response to problems such as grassroots cadres being "unable to be retained" and having "weak motivation," Daqing City (大庆市) has introduced a "three-position eighteen-level" system for community workers and a "basic salary + performance bonus" compensation system for grid members, and has smoothed promotion channels. 56 outstanding community (village) Party organization secretaries have entered the public institution establishment, and 636 grid members have grown into community backbones. In response to the capacity shortcomings of grassroots cadres, Daqing City (大庆市) has built training platforms such as "Grid Party School" and "Homeland Saying and Doing Classroom" to deliver learning to their doorsteps. Some communities have implemented the "I Work with the Community" mechanism, inviting Party members and the masses to participate in decision-making, enhancing the service capabilities of cadres and residents' sense of belonging.

Based on local realities, Daqing City (大庆市) promotes the integration of local comprehensive grids and Daqing Oilfield (大庆油田) red grids, absorbing 514 oilfield cadres to serve concurrently in the community. Local and enterprise jointly build 380 projects, solving more than 1,200 livelihood problems. Lvzhou Community (绿洲社区) in Yongjun Street (拥军街道) has four operating areas of Daqing Third Oil Production Plant (大庆第三采油厂) and many other units such as China Construction Eighth Engineering Division Northeast Company (中建八局东北公司). The community Party branch has explored a "six-linkage" mechanism of joint management of Party members, joint use of venues, joint organization of activities, joint construction of the environment, joint provision of services, and joint grasping of safety, promoting joint solutions to problems between the local area and enterprises.

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Internet Courts to Centrally Adjudicate Four New Types of Online Cases

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This newspaper reported from Beijing (北京) on October 12th (Reporter Wei Zhezhe (魏哲哲)) The Supreme People's Court (最高人民法院) released the "Provisions of the Supreme People's Court (最高人民法院) on the Jurisdiction of Cases of Internet Courts" on the 11th, making adjustments and improvements to the scope of case jurisdiction of Internet courts. The "Provisions" will come into effect on November 1, 2025.

The "Provisions" add four new categories of online cases to be centrally administered by the Internet courts, including "network data ownership, infringement, and contract disputes," "network personal information protection and privacy disputes," "network virtual property rights ownership, infringement, and contract disputes," and "network unfair competition disputes" into the scope of jurisdiction of the Internet courts. After the implementation of the "Provisions," the above-mentioned cases within the municipal districts of Beijing (北京市), Hangzhou (杭州) in Zhejiang (浙江), and Guangzhou (广州) in Guangdong (广东) that should be heard by the primary courts will be centrally administered by the three Internet courts respectively.

At the same time, the "Provisions" adjust some cases out of the jurisdiction of the Internet courts, deleting "financial loan contract disputes and small loan contract disputes where the signing and performance behaviors are completed online" and "copyright or related rights ownership disputes for works first published on the Internet" which were under the jurisdiction of the Internet courts. After the implementation of the "Provisions," the above-mentioned cases within the municipal districts of Beijing (北京市), Hangzhou (杭州), and Guangzhou (广州) will be accepted by relevant primary courts in accordance with standards such as territorial jurisdiction and designated jurisdiction, realizing that general and traditional online cases are heard in other primary courts, and new types, cutting-edge, and complex online cases are heard in Internet courts.

The "Provisions" retain four categories of cases to continue to be administered by the Internet courts, specifically including: "network domain name ownership, infringement, and contract disputes," "disputes arising from the signing or performance of online shopping contracts through e-commerce platforms," "network service contract disputes where the signing and performance behaviors are completed online," and "network public interest litigation cases filed by the procuratorial organs." By continuing to centrally administer the above-mentioned cases suitable for online trial, the Internet courts continue to consolidate and improve the "online dispute online trial" working mechanism, providing judicial convenience for litigation.

The person in charge of the Research Office of the Supreme People's Court (最高人民法院) stated that the centralized administration of relevant new types of cases by the Internet courts will help protect citizens' new online rights and interests, improve the rules for adjudicating data-related disputes, and regulate various new types of network unfair competition behaviors such as traffic hijacking, data crawling, fake transactions and reputation boosting, and platform "choose one from two" in accordance with the law, promote the systematic governance of algorithm discrimination, algorithm manipulation, algorithm-induced addiction, and algorithm illegal processing of data, and promote the orderly and healthy development of the platform economy and the digital economy.

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Editors of this page: Ji Jianming, Xu Leipeng, Li Peiyang

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Page 13版:生态

Ancient cypress trees: passing on cultural value through generations (befriending ancient trees)

By: 本报记者 张丹华

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Ancient and famous trees are known as "green national treasures" and "living cultural relics." General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) attaches great importance to the protection of ancient and famous trees, emphasizing the need to protect them well and to inherit China's outstanding traditional culture. The "Regulations on the Protection of Ancient and Famous Trees" came into effect on March 15 this year, marking the first time China has explicitly defined the behavioral norms to be followed in the protection and management of ancient and famous trees in the form of administrative regulations.

To better popularize knowledge about ancient and famous trees, we are launching a series of integrated media reports titled "Making Friends with Ancient Trees" starting today. Through written reports, hand-drawn posters, and videos, we will create contemporary records of ancient and famous trees. We will also use the "Meet Ancient Trees" mini-program to showcase information about ancient and famous trees from various regions, providing the public with a "portable museum of ancient trees."

Let us, in the stories of each branch and leaf, jointly protect ancient and famous trees and feel the charm and inheritance of Chinese culture.

-- Editor

Stepping into the Cangjie Temple (仓颉庙) in Baishui County (白水县), Weinan City (渭南市), Shaanxi Province (陕西省), a towering ancient cypress comes into view—its trunk thick, requiring five or six people to encircle it; its bark mottled, cascading like a waterfall, outlining textures of varying depths, as if engraving the secrets of a thousand years.

This is the Cangjie Hand-Planted Cypress (仓颉手植柏)—16 meters high, with a diameter at breast height of 2.48 meters and a ground circumference of 9.9 meters, having stood on this Loess Plateau for about 5,000 years.

Strolling through Cangjie Temple (仓颉庙), ancient cypresses are scattered, each carrying a profound history. "There are more than 40 ancient cypresses over a thousand years old, with an average age of about 3,000 years. In addition to this Cangjie Hand-Planted Cypress (仓颉手植柏), which is about 5,000 years old, there are also 3 cypresses over 4,000 years old and 14 cypresses over 3,000 years old," explained guide Liang Ni (梁妮), pointing to the scattered ancient cypresses in the forest, as if counting her own family treasures.

The results of the Second National Survey of Ancient and Famous Tree Resources show that Shaanxi (陕西) currently has more than 727,000 ancient and famous trees, including more than 11,000 scattered trees and 271 ancient tree clusters with more than 716,000 trees.

As the autumn wind blows, the branches and leaves of the ancient cypresses rustle, as if telling ancient stories. Legend has it that in ancient times, Cangjie (仓颉) served as the historian for the Yellow Emperor (黄帝), responsible for recording important tribal events. At that time, the method of recording events by tying knots was no longer sufficient to cope with increasingly complex affairs. Cangjie (仓颉) racked his brains and created the earliest Chinese characters. And this ancient cypress, according to legend, was planted by Cangjie (仓颉) himself. Today, tourists stop under the tree, touching the rough trunk and gazing at the unique textures, all marveling at the profoundness that transcends thousands of years.

To protect the ancient cypresses, the local area has woven a tight protection network. In 2019, the "Regulations on the Protection of Cangjie's Tomb and Temple in Weinan City (渭南市仓颉墓与庙保护条例)" was introduced, formally including the ancient cypresses in the temple within the scope of legal protection. The formal promulgation of the "Regulations on the Protection of Ancient and Famous Trees" has added strength to their protection.

Technological empowerment makes protection more intelligent. Staff have established a "one tree, one file" system for the Cangjie Hand-Planted Cypress (仓颉手植柏), covering information such as its physical condition, maintenance measures, and growth environment, and have connected it to a real-time monitoring system shared by the national, provincial, municipal, and county levels. The local area has hired authoritative experts in the fields of ancient and famous tree protection and cultural relic protection to form an expert group, regularly "taking the pulse" of the ancient cypresses and forming a "one tree, one team" protection model of "expert technical guidance + county-level competent department + maintenance responsibility unit."

"Through the digital monitoring system, we can monitor the growth dynamics of the ancient cypresses in real time. Once we find yellowing leaves, abnormal bark, or other conditions, the expert team will rush to diagnose and take timely rejuvenation measures," said Li Min (李敏), deputy director of the Cangjie Temple Cultural Relics Management Office (仓颉庙文物管理所).

While protecting them, we also allow the cultural value carried by the ancient trees to be passed down from generation to generation. Every year during the Grain Rain season, a grand cultural event is held in Cangjie Temple (仓颉庙)—this day is both the "United Nations Chinese Language Day" determined by the United Nations and the day when the local area commemorates Cangjie (仓颉). Young people experience woodblock printing under the shade of the ancient cypresses, watching the strokes of Chinese characters slowly take shape at their fingertips, feeling the unique charm of traditional culture. Cultural exhibition rooms are set up, displaying pictures, texts, and objects, allowing tourists to learn about the origin and development of Chinese characters while visiting the ancient cypresses.

This ancient cypress, about 5,000 years old, has come through the mists of history and is opening a dialogue with the future.

In the spring of 2012, staff discovered a small sapling under the Cangjie Hand-Planted Cypress (仓颉手植柏). "It is proof that the seeds of the Cangjie Hand-Planted Cypress (仓颉手植柏) have been naturally propagated. It is now 13 years old and growing very well," said Ren Zhigang (任志刚), the relevant person in charge of the Cangjie Temple Cultural Relics Management Office (仓颉庙文物管理所). "The ancient tree has such strong vitality that it can reproduce under natural conditions. Therefore, we are thinking about whether we can carry out space breeding to continue the excellent genes of the Cangjie Hand-Planted Cypress (仓颉手植柏)."

In early 2020, the local area contacted the Shaanxi Aerospace Breeding Engineering Technology Research Center (陕西省航天育种工程技术研究中心) to discuss space breeding work. "Space breeding provides new scientific and technological means for the protection and rejuvenation of Cangjie Hand-Planted Cypress (仓颉手植柏) germplasm resources, and is expected to obtain more vigorous and resistant offspring, which is of great significance for protecting the variety," said Ren Zhigang (任志刚).

In May of that year, the seeds of the Cangjie Hand-Planted Cypress (仓颉手植柏) collected by the staff were carried into space by the Long March rocket. Today, in the Cangjie Hand-Planted Cypress (仓颉手植柏) breeding base in Baishui County (白水县), the space-bred seedlings are stretching their tender green branches and leaves, full of vitality. Some of the seedlings have been transplanted to Cangjie Temple (仓颉庙), taking over the "gene relay baton" of the ancient tree.

Oriental Arborvitae

Oriental arborvitae can grow up to more than 20 meters tall. The crowns of young trees are mostly pyramidal, while the crowns of old trees are mostly broadly rounded. The cones are oval-elliptical and brown when mature. It prefers light, is drought-resistant and barren-tolerant, and can grow in acidic, neutral, and slightly saline-alkali soils.

This issue is coordinated by: Chen Juan (陈娟) He Yuche (何宇澈)

Integrated media production: Zhang Yixuan (张意轩) Zhong Jinye (钟金叶) Feng Huiwen (冯慧文)

Drawn by: Meng Baiyang (孟柏杨)

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The Three Gorges Project Operated Well in the First Three Quarters of This Year

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(People's Daily, Beijing, October 12) (Reporter Wang Hao (王浩)) The reporter learned from China Three Gorges Corporation (中国长江三峡集团有限公司): In the first three quarters of this year, the Three Gorges Project (三峡工程) operated well. The operation and management units coordinated the needs of flood control, shipping, water supply, and ecological water replenishment, giving full play to the comprehensive benefits of the Three Gorges Hub Project.

On September 20, affected by the autumn rain in western China, the Three Gorges Reservoir (三峡水库) experienced its largest inflow of the year, reaching 42,500 cubic meters per second. China Three Gorges Corporation (三峡集团) strictly adjusted the outflow according to the dispatch order of the Changjiang Water Resources Commission (长江水利委员会) of the Ministry of Water Resources (水利部), controlled the water level of the Three Gorges Reservoir (三峡水库), and realized the orderly connection between flood control dispatch and water storage dispatch.

The Three Gorges Dam ship lock (三峡船闸) maintained safe, stable, and efficient operation. In the first three quarters, the cumulative cargo throughput exceeded 125 million tons, helping to fully realize the shipping benefits of the Yangtze River (长江) "golden waterway." The fifth planned outage maintenance of the Three Gorges ship lift (三峡升船机) was completed on September 29 and resumed navigation, providing a solid guarantee for the continued safe and efficient operation of the navigation structures.

During the drawdown period, the Three Gorges Reservoir (三峡水库) cumulatively replenished 11.67 billion cubic meters of water, and according to the irrigation water replenishment needs of the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River (长江), carried out three special irrigation water replenishment dispatches, replenishing 6.2 billion cubic meters of water, effectively improving the water intake conditions of the main irrigation pumping stations along the river, alleviating the farmland irrigation water replenishment needs of Hunan (湖南) and Hubei (湖北) provinces, and ensuring water supply security. This year, relevant departments and units carried out three ecological dispatching experiments to promote fish reproduction. During the experiment response period, spawning peaks appeared in the monitored river sections. Among them, the total spawning scale of drifting egg fish in the Shashi (沙市) river section was about 69.6 billion, and the total spawning scale of the "Four Major Chinese Carps" (四大家鱼) was about 41.8 billion, both setting new historical records.

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Heavy Rainfall Expected in Eastern Sichuan Basin to Southern Huanghuai Region

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This newspaper's Beijing (北京) October 12th dispatch (Reporter Jiang Xuehong (蒋雪鸿)): Meteorological monitoring shows that on the 12th during the day, significant rainfall occurred in Sichuan (四川), Shaanxi (陕西), Henan (河南), Shanxi (山西), Hebei (河北) and other places, while parts of Jiangxi (江西), central and southern Zhejiang (浙江), Fujian (福建) and other places experienced high temperatures of 35-38 degrees Celsius.

The Central Meteorological Observatory (中央气象台) predicts that from the 13th to the 14th, there will be light to moderate snow or sleet, and locally heavy snow, in northern Xinjiang (新疆) and the Tianshan (天山) area, western Gansu (甘肃), eastern and southern Qinghai (青海), and other places; affected by cold air, northern and eastern Xinjiang (新疆), western Gansu (甘肃), western Inner Mongolia (内蒙古) and other places will experience temperature drops of 4-8 degrees Celsius successively, with local drops of around 10 degrees Celsius.

It is predicted that from 20:00 on the 12th to 20:00 on the 13th, some areas in southeastern Shaanxi (陕西), northeastern Sichuan (四川), central and northern Chongqing (重庆), western Hubei (湖北), southwestern Henan (河南) and other places will experience heavy to torrential rain, including locally torrential rain (100-120 mm) in northern Chongqing (重庆) and other places. In addition, local heavy rain or torrential rain (50-80 mm) is expected in eastern and southwestern Guangdong (广东), southern Guangxi (广西), western Hainan Island (海南岛), southern Hunan (湖南), southern and eastern Jiangxi (江西), western Fujian (福建) and other places. The aforementioned areas will be accompanied by short-term heavy precipitation (maximum hourly rainfall of 20-40 mm, locally exceeding 50 mm), and local strong convective weather such as thunderstorms and strong winds. At 18:00 on the 12th, the Central Meteorological Observatory (中央气象台) continued to issue a blue alert for heavy rain.

Meteorological experts remind that it is predicted that in the next 3 days, there will still be more rainfall in the eastern Sichuan Basin (四川盆地), southern Shaanxi (陕西), western Hubei (湖北), the Huanghuai (黄淮) area and other places. Attention needs to be paid to the impact on autumn harvesting and planting, transportation, and possible secondary disasters. Jiangxi (江西), Zhejiang (浙江) and other places need to pay attention to high temperatures and their impact.

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Heilongjiang Promotes the Realization of Ecological Product Value in Rivers, Lakes, and Reservoirs

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This newspaper Harbin (哈尔滨) October 12th (Reporter Guo Xiaolong (郭晓龙)) Heilongjiang Province (黑龙江省) recently issued the "Implementation Opinions on Expanding the Realization Path of Ecological Product Value of Rivers and Lakes in the Construction of Happy Rivers and Lakes," proposing to adhere to protection as the mainstay and rational utilization, relying on the construction of happy rivers and lakes to create benchmark projects such as cold-water fish ecological aquaculture, waterfront homestays, waterfront campsites, and resource utilization of reservoir silt, demonstrating and leading various regions to actively expand the realization path of ecological product value of rivers and lakes.

The "Opinions" require accelerating the improvement of a sustainable river and lake ecological product value realization path led by the government, with the participation of enterprises and all sectors of society, and market-oriented operation. Clarify the three basic processes of information census, accounting evaluation, and public trading for the realization of ecological product value of rivers and lakes; the four realization paths of rights and interests trading, ecological protection compensation, industrial integration, and mortgage financing; and the five promotion measures of accounting result application, precise supply and demand docking, establishment of an ecological benefit-oriented mechanism, green finance support, and water conservancy project rights confirmation and registration, to thoroughly open up the "resource-asset-capital-wealth" transformation channel, form a virtuous cycle of "ecological governance-resource transformation-industrial development-ecological feedback," and achieve a win-win situation for river and lake protection and governance and economic and social development.

The "Opinions" emphasize that risk prevention and control should be implemented throughout the entire process of realizing the ecological product value of rivers and lakes, establishing a normalized information sharing and risk assessment mechanism, strengthening supervision and guidance in all aspects of the entire process, and strictly prohibiting the conversion and trading of ecological product value of rivers and lakes at the expense of the ecological environment and project safety.

The "Opinions" propose that by 2030, the institutional framework, support policies, standard system, and working mechanism for realizing the ecological product value of rivers and lakes in Heilongjiang Province (黑龙江省) will be basically constructed, promoting the development of a number of river and lake ecological product value conversion transactions, and effectively solving problems such as the "difficulty in measuring, mortgaging, trading, and realizing" the ecological products of rivers and lakes.

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Breakthrough in Black Stork Migration Research at Heihe Wetland in Zhangye, Gansu

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This newspaper Zhangye (张掖) October 12th (Reporter Song Chaojun (宋朝军)) The Zhangye Heihe Wetland National Nature Reserve Administration (张掖黑河湿地国家级自然保护区管理局) in Gansu (甘肃) recently released a message stating that after continuous scientific research and tracking, a phased breakthrough has been achieved in the study of black stork migration.

Since the launch of the black stork migration research in 2022, the reserve has successfully installed satellite tracking devices on a total of 25 black storks. The research team found that the black stork population has relatively fixed "flight corridors" and stopover sites. The team has initially grasped the migration routes and activity patterns of the black stork population that breeds in Zhangye (张掖) and passes through the local area, and revealed the habitat selection preferences of black storks and the main threats they face during migration. This provides an important scientific basis for the protection of this endangered species.

In 2022, the reserve successfully installed satellite tracking devices on 2 black storks for the first time. In order to further expand the sample size and improve research accuracy, 15 black storks were equipped with positioning devices in 2025 to continuously promote the migratory ecology research of this species. Since the start of the research, the reserve has analyzed the returned data and drawn the migration trajectories of black storks in spring and autumn.

Next, the reserve will deepen cooperation with scientific research institutions, and on the basis of continuous research on the living habits and migration patterns of black storks, focus on strengthening the protection and restoration of key habitats, and actively promote the establishment of a cross-regional joint protection mechanism.

Zhangye Heihe Wetland (张掖黑河湿地) is an important breeding ground and migratory stopover point for black storks in China, and plays an important role in the migratory bird migration network. It is also an ideal area for carrying out black stork ecological research.

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Voiceprint recognition allows more people to "hear" nature.

By: 本报记者 沈靖然

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Black bulbuls chirp "jiu jiu," crisp and bright; Chinese hwameis call more urgently, "ji ya ji ya"; long-tailed shrikes "zhi ga zhi ga" a few times, joining the fun... In the early morning at Liangping Shuang桂 Lake National Wetland Park (重庆梁平双桂湖国家湿地公园) in Chongqing (重庆), the calls of different birds rise and fall, interweaving into a wetland symphony.

Through acoustic fingerprint recognition technology, these sounds of nature can also be "understood," becoming quantifiable and analyzable dynamic data on the "Soundscape China" platform, covering everything from species records to activity monitoring, providing data support for wetland biodiversity conservation.

This year, the Institute of Zoology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (中国科学院动物研究所), the Detection Center of the China Meteorological Administration (中国气象局探测中心), and other units jointly launched the "Soundscape China" research project, deploying domestically produced acoustic fingerprint sensors in many parts of the country to systematically collect natural sounds such as bird songs, insect chirps, and frog croaks, and build an open and shared soundscape database. Liangping Shuang桂 Lake (梁平双桂湖) was selected as one of the locations, and three sets of acoustic fingerprint recognition equipment were installed. Since the trial operation in July, the equipment has recorded the sounds of more than 40 species of birds, including black bulbuls, Chinese hwameis, and long-tailed shrikes, accumulating more than 3,000 acoustic fingerprint data records.

"Just like human fingerprints are unique, bird calls also have unique acoustic fingerprints." Yu Xianhuai (余先怀), a senior engineer at the Liangping District Wetland Protection Center (梁平区湿地保护中心), introduced that acoustic fingerprint recognition is to determine which organism is vocalizing by the undulation, frequency, and rhythm characteristics of sound waves. Separating and identifying these subtle differences in a noisy natural sound field requires establishing a high-quality acoustic fingerprint database. "Only when the database is richer, the samples are more numerous, and the annotations are more accurate, can the algorithm continuously improve, learn and compare, thereby improving the accuracy of recognition and making 'identifying birds by their sound' more reliable."

Yu Xianhuai (余先怀) introduced that building the database requires collecting audio samples, generally in two ways: one is to directly download audio from the Internet to quickly expand the sample; the other requires staff to record in the forest. As the number of samples continues to expand, the algorithm will repeatedly "listen" to these audios, extract the frequency, rhythm, and undulation characteristics of the sound waves, and compare them with the already labeled acoustic fingerprints, continuously adjusting the parameters of the recognition model. Through this process of continuous training and optimization, the database is gradually improved, and the recognition accuracy of the algorithm will also steadily increase. Currently, the system can recognize the sounds of more than 1,500 domestic species and more than 400 foreign birds, with an overall recognition rate of up to 85%.

Compared with traditional monitoring methods, the advantage of acoustic fingerprint recognition is that it is all-weather. In the past, researchers relied on telescopes to observe and identify bird songs based on experience, which was inevitably limited by time, weather, and energy, while automated collection equipment can work 24 hours a day without interruption.

"Now, the three sets of acoustic fingerprint recognition equipment in the wetland automatically start recording when they recognize bird songs. The collected audio is first stored on a memory card and then transmitted to Beijing (北京) through a 4G IoT card, relying on background algorithms to separate, filter, and analyze the bird songs," Yu Xianhuai (余先怀) introduced.

What is the significance of acoustic fingerprint recognition for monitoring bird activity? On the one hand, wetland birds are important indicator species of the wetland ecological environment. By comparing acoustic fingerprint changes, researchers can analyze bird migration patterns, habitat preferences, and population changes, and assist in judging the health of the wetland ecosystem. On the other hand, in the future, the "Soundscape China" platform will be deeply integrated with ecological tourism, nature education, and other fields, relying on acoustic fingerprint data to develop wetland "soundscape guides," ecological slow live broadcasts, bird watching check-ins, and other cultural and tourism products, allowing more people to "hear" nature and participate in ecological protection.

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Editor in Charge for This Edition: Zhang Ye, Yang Xiaoyu, Qin Ruijie

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Page 14版:体育

Squash: More Than Just a Workout – It Burns Fat and Challenges the Mind (Fitness Focus · Service Station)

By: 本报记者 白光迪

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The 2025 National Squash Championships were held in Longyan (龙岩), Fujian (福建) Province recently. Although squash balls are small, playing squash tests a player's reaction ability, making it both fat-burning and brain-teasing. Since officially becoming a competition event at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, squash has gradually entered the public eye.

Zhang Hengyuan (张恒源), head coach of the Yancheng (盐城) Youth Squash Team in Jiangsu (江苏) Province, introduced that if a novice wants to get started as soon as possible, ball sense is the threshold, movement is fundamental, and mobility is key. Mastering the basics is essential for gradual improvement.

Cultivating Ball Sense to Find Harmony

In the initial learning stage, you can cultivate ball sense through different scenarios inside and outside the court to help you more accurately control the strength and direction of your shots.

Practice outside the court includes freehand throwing and catching, throwing and catching against a wall, and catching the ball after it bounces off the wall.

When throwing and catching freehand, hold the ball with both hands and throw it vertically upwards about 1.5 meters. When the ball falls, catch it steadily with both hands, with 10 to 15 repetitions as a set. Once proficient, try throwing and catching with one hand, first practicing with your dominant hand and then with your non-dominant hand, focusing on feeling the weight of the ball and its falling speed.

When throwing and catching against a wall, find a flat, hard wall (avoid glass or fragile materials), stand 1.5 to 2 meters away from the wall, and throw the ball towards the wall with one hand. After the ball rebounds, catch it with your dominant hand to adapt to the speed at which the ball bounces off the wall.

When catching the ball after it bounces off the wall, stand 1.5 to 2 meters away from the wall, throw the ball towards the wall with your hand, and catch it after it bounces off the ground. In the initial stage, you can slow down the speed and observe the trajectory of the ball's rebound. Later, you can gradually increase the force of the throw or increase the number of times the ball rebounds off the wall to improve reaction speed and adapt to changes in the ball's path.

Ball sense practice inside the court is divided into single-wall basic juggling and ground-bounce hitting.

Single-wall basic juggling starts with forehand juggling, then backhand, and later you can practice a forehand-backhand hitting rhythm. Once proficient, you can face the front wall (main wall) of the squash court and gently hit the ball with the racket. After the ball bounces off the wall, hit it continuously. In the initial stage, there is no need to pursue power, but focus on ensuring that the ball rebounds stably and that the hitting point is as consistent as possible each time, cultivating the rhythm of "hit-rebound-re-hit."

When hitting the ball after it bounces on the ground, face the front wall of the squash court and gently hit the ball with the racket. After the ball bounces off the wall, it lands in the court near the front of the service box, and hit the ball again after it bounces up. In the initial stage, there is also no need to pursue power, but focus on controlling the power of the racket, adapting to the ball's elasticity, and the hitting rhythm. Later, you can gradually increase the power, increase the running space, and improve the training effect.

Master Skills to Prevent Injuries

When playing squash, the grip, backswing, and swing are interlinked, and standardized movements help improve the hitting effect.

The grip is the foundation for stable power. Align the tiger's mouth of your right hand with the right edge of the racket handle (align the left edge for left-handed players) to form a natural handshake-like posture. Keep your wrist cocked and fixed to ensure wrist stability and control the racket face angle.

The backswing is a key power-gathering action before hitting the ball. The key points are to turn sideways, sink your shoulders, and raise your elbows. When the ball flies to one side of your body, quickly turn your body to the side, with the hitting side facing the direction of the incoming ball. Stand with your feet forward and backward, with your front foot pointing towards the side wall and your back foot at a 45-degree angle to your front foot. Bend your knees slightly and lower your center of gravity. At the same time, raise the racket backward and upward, with your elbow naturally bent at about 90 degrees. Feel a certain pulling sensation in your shoulder as you draw back, accumulating power like drawing a bow.

The swing should follow a trajectory from back to front and from top to bottom, focusing on the coordinated power of the wrist and arm. When hitting the ball, start from the backswing position, move your arm to swing the racket forward and downward, and slightly exert force with your wrist at the moment of hitting the ball to "flick" the racket, ensuring that the racket face is perpendicular to the direction of the incoming ball. Control the hitting point 30-50 centimeters in front of your body, with the height level with your chest being the best. Do not stop the racket immediately after hitting the ball, but let the racket naturally follow through to the other side of your body, while shifting your body weight forward to maintain a smooth movement.

Squash courts have limited space, and players need to receive the ball while moving quickly. Mastering movement skills is key to avoiding injuries.

Maintain a state of "ready to start at any time." Keep your feet shoulder-width apart, bend your knees slightly, lean your body slightly forward, and let your arms hang naturally or open slightly to ensure that you can move quickly in any direction, forward, backward, left, or right, avoiding standing upright or keeping your feet together.

The core movement skills are small steps for adjustment and large steps for striding. When the ball's landing point is close, use small steps to quickly adjust your position and align your body with the direction of the incoming ball, avoiding large strides that can lead to loss of balance. When the ball's landing point is far away, take a large step towards the landing point on the basis of small steps, while extending your arm to hit the ball. After hitting the ball, quickly return to the "T-spot" (i.e., the center of the court) with small steps to prepare for the next movement.

If you and another person are moving towards the same area at the same time, you need to clarify the timing and space for receiving the ball. Whether you are receiving the ball or giving way, you should pay attention to avoiding collisions. Do not turn your back to the incoming ball when moving, always face the front wall, and use your peripheral vision to observe the trajectory of the ball to prevent being hit by the rebounding ball. Once another person enters your swing space or appears in your intended hitting line, stop all movements immediately and penalize points or replay the rally according to the rules. Avoid quick stops or changes of direction in the court. If you need to change direction, slow down first and then adjust to reduce the pressure on your knees and ankles.

Progress Scientifically and Avoid Pitfalls

Shen Feng (沈枫), director of the Jiangsu Squash Association and sports teacher at Zhangjiagang Foreign Language School (张家港外国语学校), has been teaching squash for 12 years. He reminds beginners that the most important thing is to maintain the rationality of their movements, hit the ball stably, and avoid injuries. Do not blindly imitate the movements of professional players in high-intensity confrontations.

Common mistakes that novices tend to make include:

Pursuing speed and power, ignoring movement stability. Many beginners like to "smash the ball hard" when they get on the court, thinking that the more power the better, but they ignore the stability of the racket face angle and hitting trajectory. As a result, they not only make frequent mistakes, but also easily strain their wrists or shoulders due to deformed movements.

Failing to return to the "T-spot" in time after hitting the ball. Squash emphasizes "hit-reset-restart." If you only focus on hitting the ball out and forget to quickly return to the "T-spot," you will easily be restrained in the corner by your opponent and become passive.

Lacking systematic planning and blindly imitating skills. Many beginners are eager to imitate the difficult fancy moves they see on online platforms without judging whether they are suitable for their level. Improvement in squash must be gradual, first stabilizing the basics and then gradually advancing.

Shen Feng (沈枫) suggests that beginners can regularly film their training videos, compare them with standardized movements, and identify problems in time. From interest practice to systematic training, you can follow the "333 rule": practice 3 times a week, at least 30 minutes each time, and persist for 3 months to gradually develop a habit without overdoing it. In addition, finding squash "partners" with similar levels who can supervise each other will make training more effective.

In addition, scientific warm-up is a prerequisite for avoiding injuries. Perform 5-10 minutes of dynamic stretching and movement and ball sense practice before each training session. After training, pay attention to cool-down walking, static stretching, and timely hydration.

Tips

How to Choose Squash Equipment

Racket: For beginners, it is recommended to choose a racket weighing 110-130 grams, with a slightly lighter head and a balance point towards the back, which is conducive to controlling the stability of the racket face. The racket face should be 470-500 square centimeters, which has a higher fault tolerance rate.

Ball: The blue dot squash ball has the strongest elasticity and the slowest ball speed. The rebound height after landing is higher, which is convenient for finding the hitting point and is suitable for beginners. The red dot squash ball has medium elasticity and medium ball speed, which is the choice for the advanced stage. The yellow dot or double yellow dot squash ball has the weakest elasticity and the fastest ball speed, which is suitable for professional players or high-level enthusiasts.

When choosing a squash ball, beginners also need to pay attention to two points: one is to look at the hardness of the ball. It is advisable to gently pinch the squash ball with your fingers and feel that it has slight elasticity but does not collapse. A ball that is too hard will have an unstable rebound trajectory, while a ball that is too soft will lack explosive power; the other is to look at the degree of wear of the ball. It is recommended that beginners choose a new ball with a smooth surface and no obvious scratches or dents.

Shoes: Wear professional squash shoes or indoor sports shoes such as badminton or volleyball shoes. The soles should be non-marking rubber or non-marking soles to avoid damaging the court. The sides of the shoes should have good support, and running shoes should not be used as a substitute.

Clothing: Breathable, quick-drying, and loose sportswear is preferred.

Protective gear and goggles: Wear wrist guards and knee pads as needed. Wearing goggles can reduce accidental injuries on the court for beginners.

(Reported by Bai Guangdi (白光迪))

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What's the Difference Between Aerobic and Anaerobic Exercise? (Sports Explained in Seconds)

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The main difference between aerobic and anaerobic exercise lies in the different ways energy is supplied. Aerobic exercise relies on oxygen to break down fat for energy, is low in intensity, and lasts for a long time, making it an endurance exercise. Anaerobic exercise, on the other hand, breaks down glycogen for energy in an oxygen-deficient state, is high in intensity, and lasts for a short time, mostly being explosive power exercises. Jogging, brisk walking, swimming, and cycling are all aerobic exercises; sprinting and weightlifting are anaerobic exercises.

There is a simple way to distinguish between these two types of exercise, namely the "talk test." When performing aerobic exercise, participants generally breathe steadily and can say a complete sentence, or can chat intermittently; when performing anaerobic exercise, participants breathe rapidly, have a faster heartbeat, and find it difficult to communicate coherently with others.

Experts say that scientifically combining aerobic and anaerobic exercise can help strengthen the body. If you want to lose weight and burn fat, you can do more aerobic exercise; if you want to build muscle and shape your body, you can do more anaerobic exercise. It is recommended that beginners start with aerobic exercise to improve their basic fitness and avoid blindly pursuing high intensity.

(Reported by Ji Fang (季芳) of this newspaper)

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Resources Gathered, Traffic Becomes Increment

By: 本报记者 王明峰

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"The park is beautifully built, giving us a great place to exercise!" Standing at the entrance of the Hongshi Outdoor Sports Park (红石户外体育公园) in Xinjin District (新津区), Chengdu (成都市), Sichuan Province (四川省), nearby resident Mr. Zhan (詹先生) told reporters. This sports park is built along the West River (西河), connecting sports spaces such as football fields, basketball courts, and children's play areas with a winding ecological green corridor, meeting the diversified fitness needs of citizens. The light food salad shops and creative dessert houses and other new business formats in the "commercial boxes" in the park are even more impressive.

In a lemon tea shop, the owner Si Yu (司宇) is busy preparing drinks. After working in other places, she saw the investment promotion information of the sports park and returned to her hometown to start a business. "The environment here is beautiful, the flow of people is stable, and the development potential is great." More and more young people like Si Yu (司宇), who are attracted by high-quality public spaces, are gathering in Xinjin District (新津区).

Since the beginning of this year, Xinjin District (新津区) has gathered resources from various aspects to host a series of events such as the Dragon Boat Race, Cycling Fan Race, and Rowing Championship, and carried out a variety of cultural and tourism activities to continuously stimulate urban vitality. Several local brands have taken this opportunity to **出圈** (chū quān - "out of the circle," to become popular or well-known beyond a specific group), attracting many citizens and tourists to "check in." One competition after another, one activity after another, not only attracted a large number of athletes and tourists, but also allowed more entrepreneurs to see opportunities.

From dragon boat racing to national fitness, from local competitions to international exchanges, Xinjin District (新津区) promotes the deep integration of culture, commerce, tourism, and sports, and the flow of competition is accelerating into an incremental economic development.

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This edition's editors: Lin Lin, Tang Tianyi, Cheng Huan

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Page 15版:专题

Meeting the Future Through Technological Innovation

By: 本报记者 王永战

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From September 26th to 30th, the 13th China (Mianyang) Science and Technology City International Science and Technology Expo (hereinafter referred to as "CSTC Expo"), themed "Collaborative Innovation, Integrated Development, and Open Cooperation," was held in Mianyang (绵阳), Sichuan Province (四川省).

Showcasing scientific and technological innovation achievements and gathering the views of academicians and experts. Looking at Mianyang (绵阳) from the CSTC Expo, and examining the practices and explorations of the China (Mianyang) Science and Technology City. In recent years, Mianyang (绵阳) has actively integrated into and promoted the construction of the Chengdu-Chongqing (成渝) regional science and technology innovation center, and new progress has been continuously made in scientific and technological innovation and the transformation of scientific and technological achievements.

Displaying new technologies and strengthening exchanges and cooperation between industry, academia, research, and application.

For the China (Mianyang) Science and Technology City, the CSTC Expo has extraordinary significance. The CSTC Expo, born with the innovation-driven development strategy, provides a new perspective for observing the new round of technological revolution.

At the opening ceremony of the CSTC Expo, the Institute of Scientific and Technical Information of China (中国科学技术信息研究所) released the "Foresight on Disruptive Technologies (2025)" report, which covers 40 technologies with the most breakthrough value in the near future and may breed future disruptive innovation directions.

Wang Zhuohao (王卓昊), Chief Engineer of the Institute of Scientific and Technical Information of China (中国科学技术信息研究所), introduced that among the 40 technologies released in the report, many are in line with the key industrial directions of Sichuan (四川). Among them, Mianyang (绵阳) has layouts in several cutting-edge fields such as controlled nuclear fusion, robotics, nuclear medicine, and aerospace.

At the CSTC Expo, one can intuitively feel the surging power of scientific and technological innovation.

Opening the exhibition display map of the 13th CSTC Expo, the exhibition area covers an area of more than 32,000 square meters, with three theme pavilions A, B, and C, and a "D Pavilion + Outdoor Plaza" supporting service area, constructing an integrated space layout of "display-experience-exchange," covering artificial intelligence, low-altitude economy, and science popularization interaction, comprehensively presenting scientific and technological innovation achievements.

Small in size, but with great effect. In Pavilion A, a "low-altitude drone autonomous perception obstacle avoidance airborne module" with a length of only 10 centimeters can implant a high-speed reaction "smart brain" that surpasses conventional vision into drones.

Large in size, but with fast response. The high-rise rapid-response fire extinguishing drone system can be operated by only two people, and it can be deployed for rapid response in 3 minutes. With the light CAFS (compressed air foam system) carried in the pickup truck, it can accurately suppress early fires in high-rise buildings.

Tao Xiongbing (陶雄兵), Chairman of Dongguan Shenghong Laser Advanced Equipment Co., Ltd. (东莞盛雄激光先进装备股份有限公司), who participated in the conference, said that the CSTC Expo helps merchants understand more cutting-edge technologies and development concepts, jointly witness the upward growth of scientific and technological power, so as to strengthen exchanges and cooperation in industry, academia, research, and application.

Opening a new vision and enabling technology to empower production and life.

Accelerating innovation allows scientific and technological achievements to accelerate from bookshelves to shelves, empowering production and life.

Walking into the artificial intelligence exhibition area of the CSTC Expo, an "Mianyang-made" intelligent robot dog attracted the attention of the public. This product was developed by Jiuzhou Group (九洲集团), equipped with lidar, which can realize real-time decimeter-level precise navigation and three-dimensional mapping, and can process video data in real time, identify abnormal situations and actively avoid obstacles.

"In the actual scene demonstration, the robot dog can accurately identify obstacles that suddenly appear in front and immediately detour, showing reliable autonomous movement and response capabilities." Zhao Jun (赵浚), the person in charge of the Jiuzhou Group (九洲集团) exhibition area, introduced that the "smart core" carried by the robot dog is the "Jiuzhang Intelligent Control Platform" independently developed by the enterprise.

The annual CSTC Expo is where many scientific and technological innovation achievements start from and enter the public eye.

At the opening ceremony, four companies, including China兵器装备集团自动化研究所有限公司, Sichuan Tianlian Robot Co., Ltd. (四川天链机器人股份有限公司), Urechi Robot Technology (Sichuan) Co., Ltd. (优理奇机器人科技(四川)有限公司), and Mianyang Leju Robot Technology Co., Ltd. (绵阳乐聚机器人技术有限公司), brought 21 "Mianyang-made" robots to make a collective appearance, bringing a wonderful performance to the participating guests. In this exhibition, multiple companies and multiple models of robots performed situational dramas on the same stage, highlighting the deep integration of "artificial intelligence + cultural innovation."

Outside the venue, Mianyang (绵阳) continues to expand the application scenarios of artificial intelligence. On the manufacturing front line, the A2-W general-purpose embodied robot completed the live broadcast of the robot factory operation, realizing the transportation of 15 kg boxes in 14 seconds and zero-error operation in 3 hours; in the office building, the cleaning robot flexibly travels through the office space, autonomously avoids obstacles, dynamically schedules, automatically adds clean water, and automatically discharges sewage, and orderly completes the cleaning work...

Behind the continuous expansion of application scenarios is Mianyang's (绵阳) long-term industrial accumulation. The local area is accelerating the construction of a "587" industrial system layout for key industrial chain construction and strengthening - 5 industrial chains that are the main carriers of Sichuan Province's (四川省) chain construction and strengthening, 8 industrial chains that are the coordinated development of Sichuan Province's (四川省) chain construction and strengthening, and 7 new tracks for Mianyang's (绵阳) characteristic industries. More and more innovative application scenarios are moving from the laboratory to the production line, and scientific and technological achievements are continuously transformed into industrial projects.

Finding new directions and facilitating the landing of more scientific and technological projects.

Promoting scientific and technological innovation is inseparable from the deep integration of the innovation chain and the industrial chain.

During the CSTC Expo, through project roadshows, investment and financing matchmaking activities, 28 industrial projects were signed, with an amount of more than 400 million yuan; 55 projects were signed at the Investment Sichuan (投资四川) · China (Mianyang) Science and Technology City Chain Construction and Strengthening Industrial Investment Promotion Conference, with a total agreed investment of 27.535 billion yuan.

Let more innovative seeds grow into industrial giants. Wang Yu (王羽), Vice Chairman and Secretary-General of the China Productivity Promotion Center Association (中国生产力促进中心协会), one of the organizers of the CSTC Expo, said that the CSTC Expo closely focuses on scientific and technological innovation and the development requirements of new quality productivity, and takes "achievement transformation and open cooperation" as the core goals, and related resource integration and event planning are carried out around the landing of the science and technology industry.

Inside the arena, the two-day 2025 World Robot Competition Mianyang (绵阳) Championship attracted more than 1,600 teams from all over the country, with nearly 3,000 players who had been selected through layers of selection. Outside the arena, tens of thousands of primary and secondary school students walked into the CSTC Expo exhibition hall to visit a variety of scientific and technological products and experience scientific and technological projects full of whimsy.

"Every year, the CSTC Expo gives me a different feeling, and it also allows me to appreciate the most cutting-edge and advanced technology." Yang Lin (杨林), a citizen of Mianyang (绵阳), took his children to visit the CSTC Expo again this year, "I hope the CSTC Expo can plant a seed of science and technology in the hearts of children."

Through the CSTC Expo, a grand event and a city achieve each other in a two-way rush, allowing innovative seeds to be widely sown.

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Building a platform to achieve synergy in science and technology innovation resources

By: 本报记者 李凯旋

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On September 25th, the 13th China Science and Technology Expo concurrent event – the 4th China (Mianyang) Science and Technology City Laser Technology Innovation Industry Conference · "Young Scientists' Hundred Cities Tour" entered Sichuan and the "Photon Science and Technology Innovation City" Promotion Conference was held, marking the start of the construction of a "Photon Science and Technology Innovation City."

The "Photon Science and Technology Innovation City" revolves around a spatial layout of one zone and two parks, developing the laser and terahertz, microwave, particle beam and other technology application industries across the entire chain, striving to be initially completed in 2027, forming an industrial scale of 50 billion yuan by 2030, and building a photon science and technology innovation city with national influence.

Releasing policy dividends and pursuing the light of science and technology. Mianyang (绵阳) has formulated 10 incentive policies, including encouraging tackling key core technologies, supporting the construction of high-energy innovation platforms, promoting the transformation of scientific and technological achievements, and promoting supply chain aggregation, providing a maximum reward of 20 million yuan for innovative teams, attracting more high-quality enterprises, experts and young talents to "come for the light."

"The Science and Technology Expo is a multi-disciplinary exchange platform, attracting many enterprises, research institutes, and universities to exchange and communicate in depth every year." Fan Guobin (范国滨), Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and Chairman of the Mianyang Association for Science and Technology, said that here, all parties share innovative practices and actively promote collaborative innovation and development.

Laser, known as the "brightest light" in manufacturing. Since 2022, during the Science and Technology Expo, Mianyang (绵阳) has held the Laser Technology Innovation Industry Conference simultaneously.

From original technology to achievement transformation and gathering momentum, the roadmap for Mianyang (绵阳) to develop the laser industry has gradually become clear. While vigorously promoting the transfer and transformation of scientific and technological achievements represented by laser technology, Mianyang (绵阳) is cooperating with the China Academy of Engineering Physics to jointly build collaborative innovation platforms for the laser industry such as the High-Power Fiber Laser Technology Joint Innovation Center and the Photon Technology Research Institute, and create a laser technology industrial park.

Data shows that as of now, the laser technology industrial park has introduced a total of 35 projects, with a total investment of 12.829 billion yuan, covering multiple fields such as laser interception systems and intelligent equipment production.

Zhongjiu Daguang (中久大光), as one of the first enterprises to settle in the Mianyang (绵阳) Laser Industrial Park, has witnessed the development of the local laser industry. "With the help of the Science and Technology Expo, we can display our products and the innovative achievements of the Mianyang (绵阳) laser industry to the outside world, so as to coordinate with domestic and foreign science and technology innovation resources and accelerate the pace of innovation." Wang Simin (汪思敏), Deputy Manager of Marketing and Sales Department of Zhongjiu Daguang (中久大光), introduced, "Now the products developed by the company are very popular in the market."

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Accelerate transformation and promote the implementation of disruptive technologies.

By: 本报记者 游 仪

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On September 26th, at the 13th China Science and Technology Fair's "Fu River Science and Technology Exchange - Disruptive Technology and Future Industrial Development" event, presenter Li Huian (李惠安) wore AI glasses. The screen behind him dynamically displayed the "Disruptive Technology Industrialization Index Report (2025)." The report's "technology-industry-region" three-dimensional penetration framework clearly marked the development trends of eight cutting-edge fields, such as high-temperature superconducting materials, controlled nuclear fusion, brain-computer interfaces, and quantum technology, in 31 provinces. As China's Science and Technology City, Mianyang (绵阳), Sichuan (四川) has layouts in several cutting-edge fields such as controlled nuclear fusion, robotics, nuclear medicine, and aerospace.

Disruptive technology is undoubtedly a "**高频词**" (gāo pín cí - "high-frequency word," a term that appears often) at this year's China Science and Technology Fair. Recently, Jiang Tianzi (蒋田仔), a foreign academician of the European Academy of Sciences and director of the Beijing Key Laboratory of Brain Network Group and Brain-Computer Interface, has visited Sichuan (四川) multiple times. He found that Sichuan (四川) is closely monitoring the frontier trends of these technologies. Jiang Tianzi (蒋田仔) believes that the prospects in these fields are very broad. In the view of Yang Shanlin (杨善林), an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and an expert in management science and information system engineering, with the key technological breakthroughs in advanced unmanned aerial vehicle systems, future industrial internet, new-generation communication technologies, and artificial intelligence, it will help promote the low-altitude economy from theory to reality, injecting new vitality into economic and social development.

At the event, Yu Dapeng (俞大鹏), an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, offered suggestions for Mianyang (绵阳) to promote more innovative scenarios from the laboratory to the production line, "Mianyang (绵阳) has a profound foundation in nuclear technology, electronic engineering, and other fields, which is a unique soil for the development of quantum technology." In his view, Mianyang (绵阳) can deploy quantum computing application scenarios on existing industries, such as medical health, new materials, etc., and dare to take the lead in opening up application scenarios to provide test fields for the landing of new technologies and new products.

Representatives of the investment community are more concerned about the construction of an innovation ecosystem. Zhang Sishen (张思申), managing director of CAS Star (中科创星), believes: "A good innovation ecosystem needs to create talent supply, financial supply, a technology manager system, and a good business environment. We have established cooperation with Mianyang (绵阳) and are willing to set up a special science and technology investment fund in Mianyang (绵阳) in the future."

Mianyang (绵阳) is also exploring new paths on how to land disruptive technologies. The local government has established the Tianfu Industrial Technology Research Institute (天府产业技术研究院), the Advanced Technology Research Institute (先进技术研究院), and the Science and Technology Innovation Investment Company (科技创新投资公司) to accelerate the transformation and application of scientific and technological achievements, forming a "research institute responsible for selecting and transforming + science and technology innovation investment responsible for investing early and small 'dual-wheel drive' achievement transformation model," accelerating the construction of a "project origination - achievement incubation - formation of industrialization" full-chain scientific and technological achievement transformation system.

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Deep Integration: Cultivating and Fertilizing the Seeds of Innovation

By: 本报记者 宋豪新

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From September 29th to 30th, as a concurrent event of the 13th China Science and Technology Expo (科博会), the 2025 World Robot Contest Mianyang (绵阳) Championship attracted nearly 3,000 young contestants from all over the country. They brought their carefully crafted robot "partners" to participate in 9 major categories, 20 sub-categories, and 34 group competitions at the championship.

In the competition challenge area, a boy wearing glasses held his breath, watching his robot accurately complete the last instruction. Then, cheers erupted from his teammates. Zhang Yue (张悦), the leading teacher from the Beijing Haidian District Science and Technology Activities Service Association (北京海淀区科技活动服务协会), said: "The China Science and Technology Expo allows us to feel the pulse of the country's technological development. More importantly, participation is a process, and students' personal growth should be integrated into the country's technological progress."

On the field, every debugging and every attempt is fertilizing the seeds of innovation. Zhang Chun (张纯), director of the executive committee of the 2025 World Robot Contest Mianyang Championship, said that this is the first time the World Robot Contest has landed in Mianyang (绵阳). The two-day competition ignited the innovative sparks of young technology enthusiasts, injecting youthful energy into this city of science and technology, and accelerating the two-way empowerment of technological innovation and urban development.

When the China Science and Technology Expo "sent" many young talents, Mianyang (绵阳) also showed its desire and sincerity for talents: iterating and upgrading talent policies, establishing a post list system to accurately introduce high-end and scarce talents, focusing on the development of key industrial systems, and introducing a group of leading talents and innovation and entrepreneurship teams to carry out key core technology research, and transformation of scientific and technological achievements.

Such a two-way rush also happened outside the venue. In recent days, the "Science and Technology Mianyang (绵阳) · City Recruits Talents" talent recruitment activity has entered Beijing (北京), Tianjin (天津), Harbin (哈尔滨), Heilongjiang (黑龙江), Wuhan (武汉), Hubei (湖北), Changsha (长沙), Hunan (湖南) and other places, delivering job opportunities to the door and providing a stage for the majority of talents to display their talents.

Introducing high-end talents to drive innovative industries. Taking Youxian District (游仙区) in Mianyang City (绵阳市) as an example, in 2024, Zhongjiu Flash Medical Technology Co., Ltd. (中玖闪光医疗科技有限公司) introduced a doctor of nuclear technology application from Tsinghua University (清华大学) through a flexible talent introduction policy. In March of this year, the company's e-Flash radiotherapy equipment has officially entered the clinical trial stage.

Building a deeply integrated innovation ecosystem allows more innovation and entrepreneurship "seeds" to break ground and become forests. Mianyang (绵阳) allocates more than 200 million yuan annually to support talents in local innovation and entrepreneurship, establishes a 20 billion yuan industrial guidance mother fund, and creates a practical plan for the deep integration of the innovation chain, industrial chain, capital chain, and talent chain.

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Editor in Charge for This Edition: Lü Zhongzheng, Han Chunyao, Wu Kai

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Layout Design Zhang Fangman (张芳曼)

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Page 16版:国际

Inspiring Boundless Interest in Exploring China (International Perspective)

By: 本报记者 任皓宇

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The 10-day 2025 Riyadh International Book Fair concluded on October 11 in Saudi Arabia. As one of the most influential book fairs in the Arab world, this year's event attracted more than 2,000 publishers from over 20 countries and regions. During the book fair, several Chinese publishing institutions participated as a group, organizing multiple cultural exchange activities to inject more vitality into Sino-Arab civilization exchange and mutual learning.

Walking into the Chinese book exhibition area at Princess Nourah University (努拉公主大学), the venue of the book fair, the festive Chinese red color, the adorable pandas, and the booth design featuring traditional Chinese architectural elements were particularly eye-catching, attracting a constant stream of readers to browse and purchase books. "Can you recommend a book that introduces China's development?" "Do you have other series of this book about Chinese culture? I want to buy a few copies for my friends." "I am familiar with the cities in this 'Beautiful China' series; I have already been to several places."... Many readers carefully read while sharing their connections with China.

The reporter saw at the scene that the Chinese book exhibition area, themed "Reading China," showcased over 1,000 types and 2,000 copies of books, with a focus on promoting the Chinese, English, and Arabic versions of "Selected Works of Xi Jinping (习近平著作选读)" and the "Xi Jinping: The Governance of China (习近平谈治国理政)" series, which attracted much attention. In addition, traditional cultural readings such as the "Grand Compendium of Chinese Paintings Through the Ages (中国历代绘画大系)" and the "Grand Compendium of Chinese Silk Art (中国丝绸艺术大系)" displayed by Chinese publishing institutions, as well as numerous humanities and social sciences and Chinese language teaching books, also attracted local readers to stop and read.

"I have been studying Chinese for many years and have been to China many times, but seeing the dazzling array of Chinese books here, I feel that my understanding of China and Chinese culture is still not enough," Sadim Tuwaim, a Chinese major at Princess Nourah University (努拉公主大学), told reporters. "These exquisite Chinese books allow us to learn more about China and stimulate our infinite interest in exploring China."

Several new books were launched at this year's book fair. Beijing Yanshan Press (北京燕山出版社) and Digital Future, a well-known publishing institution in the Arab region, jointly hosted the "Arabic Version Launch of 'Wandering the Central Axis' and Launching Ceremony of the 'Medical Humanities on the Central Axis' Series Cooperation Plan." The launched Arabic version of "Wandering the Central Axis" was created by cultural relics expert Gao Xiaolong (高小龙). Through concise text introductions and exquisite hand-drawn illustrations, it vividly showcases the essence of the Beijing Central Axis (北京中轴线), a world cultural heritage site, allowing local readers to deeply understand Beijing's historical heritage and urban landscape.

Guangdong Publishing Group (广东省出版集团) and its 11 publishing houses focused on displaying publications on contemporary Chinese development and Lingnan culture, organizing the "Cantonese Charm, Encountering Arabia" series of activities, allowing local readers to experience the rich Lingnan style. In the new book release segment, the Arabic version of "China Bridge: The Dream Road of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (中国桥——港珠澳大桥圆梦之路)" officially met with readers. This documentary work recording the construction of the super project showcases China's outstanding achievements in infrastructure construction and conveys the spirit of daring to pursue dreams and diligently fulfilling them. During the book fair, Flower City Publishing House (花城出版社) and Guangdong Economic Publishing House (广东经济出版社) reached an agreement with Saudi Madarik Publishing House on the Arabic version output of works such as "Aspiration of Micro-Light: Decoding the Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory, a National Mega-Science Project (微光志——解码国之重器江门地下中微子实验)" and "RMB Internationalization (人民币国际化)." Guangdong Economic Publishing House (广东经济出版社) reached a cooperative publishing agreement with Lebanese Digital Future Publishing Company on "Promoting the Formation of a New Pattern of Comprehensive Opening-Up (推动形成全面开放新格局)."

Saudi local publisher Abdulaziz Al-Mutairi said, "Our cooperation with Chinese publishing institutions has exceeded 10 years, and we have introduced many excellent Chinese books." Al-Mutairi has visited China many times and witnessed the great achievements made in the construction of Chinese-style modernization. "Currently, the pragmatic cooperation between Saudi Arabia and China is deepening, and cultural exchanges are becoming closer. We look forward to the continuous deepening of cooperation between us and our Chinese partners in the future, and to promoting book publishing cooperation in more fields and on more themes."

During the book fair, the Chinese participating institutions also held many activities to jointly promote Sino-Arab civilization exchange and mutual learning. At the "Bishēng Printing Cooperation Dialogue·Riyadh" event, themed "New Opportunities, New Cooperation, New Future," enterprise representatives, experts, and scholars from the printing and publishing fields of China and Arab countries conducted in-depth dialogues on industrial development, capacity cooperation, and cultural exchanges. Arab guests put forward suggestions on cooperation in related fields between China and Arab countries, based on the status quo, development history, and market demand of the printing and publishing industries in various countries. Chinese guests focused on sharing the latest achievements and experiences on topics such as green development, talent cultivation, and technological empowerment.

At the "Imprints of the Times·Echoes of Humanity" Sino-Saudi literary salon, well-known writers and literature enthusiasts from both countries gathered to jointly explore the humanistic spirit and contemporary value in literary creation. Osama Ghamdi, Vice President Assistant of King Saud University (苏欧德国王大学), said that Saudi Arabia and China have carried out extensive exchanges and cooperation in the field of book publishing, continuously promoting the mutual translation and publication of excellent works, sharing their respective ideas and successful experiences with the world, and working together to build a better future. Lian Mingxiang, Chief Representative of China Petrochemical Middle East Representative Office (中国石化中东代表处), one of the organizers of the event, said that he hopes to lay pipelines for the mutual understanding of the people of the two countries and continue to help cultural exchanges between the two countries.

At the "Sino-Saudi Humanistic Exchange and Modernization Dialogue" event, Chinese and Saudi scholars conducted dialogue and exchanges on the theme of "Building the Road to Modernization Together: Sino-Saudi Exploration and Practice" to explore multi-field cooperation. Haisam Al-Saeed, Director of the China Research Department of the Saudi Research and Knowledge Exchange Center (沙特科研与知识交流中心), said that although China and Saudi Arabia have different national conditions, both countries pay attention to inheriting civilization, pursuing comprehensive development, and exploring development paths that suit their own national conditions on the road to modernization, which undoubtedly contributes valuable development experience to the world.

Chinese Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Chang Hua (常华) said that in recent years, Sino-Saudi and Sino-Arab humanistic exchanges have become increasingly close, and the "Chinese language craze" and "China craze" have continued to heat up. The Chinese books exhibited this time are diverse in variety and rich in content, opening a window for local people to better understand Chinese culture and gain an in-depth understanding of China in the new era.

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China's experience offers inspiration for the development of women's causes in the Global South.

By: 本报记者 尚凯元

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"China's women's cause is developing rapidly, with well-organized and effective implementation. China's experience provides inspiration for the development of women's cause in the Global South." On the occasion of the Global Summit of Women held in Beijing (北京), Christine Bernardeau, President of the French Love and Organization, received an exclusive interview with a reporter from this newspaper. For more than 10 years, she has traveled to China many times to conduct research and actively undertake liaison and public welfare promotion work between China and European countries in the field of women's affairs.

In 2013, Bernardeau departed from France and arrived in China by land, conducting research on the theme of "Women and Water." In Nangou Village (南沟村), Yan'an (延安), Shaanxi (陕西), she observed that local women actively developed grape cultivation, which drove migrant workers to return to their hometowns for employment, and developed a characteristic economy through e-commerce, revitalizing the village. In the Zouma River (走马河) Basin in Chengdu (成都), Sichuan (四川), she learned that women, as daily water resource managers, have achieved significant results in promoting water conservation and pollution reduction. These cases have become typical examples that she often mentions in her books and lectures. In 2016, Bernardeau conducted field research in Xinjiang (新疆), Gansu (甘肃), and other places. She observed that the participation and influence of Chinese women in grassroots governance continued to increase, maternal and child health services and grassroots rescue investment were more solid, and women's federations at all levels demonstrated efficient mobilization and execution capabilities in emergencies. "The work of the Women's Federation has clear goals, a clear division of labor, and a working network that penetrates into the countryside, as well as medium- and long-term plans that are promoted in stages, which makes many projects not only 'get off the ground' but also 'catch, stand, and stabilize'," Bernardeau said.

In Bernardeau's view, China has incorporated the goals and tasks of women's development into the five-year plans for national economic and social development, and has provided supporting and operable policies and measures to ensure that they are implemented. For example, the Chinese government attaches great importance to women's education and health, and takes poverty reduction and employment as the starting point to form a closed loop of "initiative-implementation-evaluation." At the same time, China actively carries out practical cooperation in the field of women with international organizations such as the United Nations, and cooperates with UNESCO to establish the Girls' and Women's Education Award, and carries out projects such as girls' digital education and health education in Africa. "China always does what it says, implements these measures, and amplifies the spillover effect through multilateral mechanisms." Bernardeau said, "Pragmatic, continuous, and stable rhythm are my overall impressions of China's multilateral work. Women's cause has become an important area for China to promote high-quality joint construction of the 'Belt and Road' and South-South cooperation."

As a witness and participant in the development of women's cause in China, Bernardeau often holds China-themed lectures in many parts of Europe. In the autumn of 2024, during the China-Africa Women's Exchange event held in Beijing (北京), she had in-depth exchanges with female diplomats from many African countries on topics such as handicrafts, girls' education, and green energy.

"China regards women's cause as one of the important areas of international cooperation." Bernardeau said, "The Global Summit of Women will bring together women representatives from various countries to share experiences and discuss countermeasures, which is an important contribution to global governance." She expects the Global Summit of Women to respond to the requirements of the times, promote all parties to accelerate the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and the Platform for Action, seize the opportunity of technological change, and empower women's comprehensive development.

(Reported from Paris (巴黎) by this newspaper)

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China Pavilion at Osaka Expo Wins Gold Award in Large Self-Built Pavilion Category

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According to Xinhua News Agency, Osaka, October 12 (Reporters Li Ziyue (李子越) and Yang Zhixiang (杨智翔)) On the evening of the 12th, the China Pavilion at the Osaka World Expo won the gold medal in the exhibition category for large self-built pavilions awarded by the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) at the World Expo awards ceremony. This is the first time China has won a gold medal for participating in a comprehensive World Expo overseas, and it is also the fifth consecutive time that the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (中国贸促会) has won an important World Expo award since 1982, when it began organizing China's participation in overseas World Expos on behalf of the Chinese government.

The awards for this World Expo were jointly reviewed by the Expo organizers and 9 international experts from the fields of architecture, exhibition, and art, according to 3 categories: display, architecture, and thematic interpretation, and awards were set according to the size of the pavilions.

The large self-built pavilion award is a highly competitive and closely watched award in previous World Expos. At this World Expo, the China Pavilion stood out from the competition with 25 large self-built pavilions and won the gold medal in the exhibition category for large self-built pavilions. The Saudi Arabia Pavilion and the Italian Pavilion won the gold medals in the architecture and thematic interpretation categories for large self-built pavilions, respectively.

Secretary General of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), Dimitri Kerkentzes, commented that the China Pavilion closely follows the theme of the World Expo, not only allowing visitors to feel China's thousands of years of history and culture, but also showcasing China's outstanding development solutions and responsibility for the future society.

The China Pavilion at the Osaka World Expo covers an area of approximately 3,500 square meters and is one of the largest foreign self-built pavilions at this World Expo. With the theme of "Building a Community of Life for Man and Nature - A Future Society of Green Development," it takes the three chapters of "Harmony between Man and Nature (天人合一)," "Lucid Waters and Lush Mountains (绿水青山)," and "Continuous Development (生生不息)" as the narrative thread, showcasing the traditional ecological wisdom nurtured by more than 5,000 years of Chinese civilization, the concept and achievements of green development in the new era, and looking forward to China working with other countries in the world to jointly build a beautiful vision of a community of life for man and nature.

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Uruguay's Exports Maintain Growth Momentum

By: 本报记者 时元皓

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The Uruguay XXI Institute for Investment and Export Promotion recently released a report showing that as of July this year, the country's total merchandise exports reached US$7.668 billion, an increase of 5.4% year-on-year. Data also shows that in 2024, the country's total merchandise exports were US$12.845 billion, an increase of 13% year-on-year. Uruguayan President Luis Lacalle Pou (亚曼杜·奥尔西) stated that one-fifth of the country's jobs are related to exports, and increasing internationalization is the key to achieving sustainable and inclusive growth. In recent years, while consolidating traditional commodity exports, Uruguay has actively promoted export diversification, providing support for export growth.

Uruguay continues to consolidate the export of traditional commodities such as meat. According to statistics from the National Meat Institute of Uruguay, the country's meat exports in the first half of this year were approximately US$1.5 billion, an increase of nearly 20% year-on-year. If export volumes continue to maintain their growth momentum, a new record will be set by the end of this year. Among them, beef is the main export category, with exports reaching US$1.2155 billion in the first half of the year, an increase of 22.5% year-on-year. In order to enhance awareness in overseas markets, the Uruguayan government and the National Meat Institute are cooperating to promote the "Uruguayan Meat" brand. In 2023, a brand logo and official website were launched. The website currently has 6 language versions and adopts different promotion methods for different markets. For example, in Brazil, the concept of "World Meat Boutique" is mainly promoted, emphasizing the refinement of lamb production; in China, the focus is on introducing the "chilled fresh" characteristics and strengthening cooperation with e-commerce platforms. Pulp is also an important export commodity for Uruguay, with exports of US$2.545 billion in 2024, an increase of 35% year-on-year. This increase is related to increased production capacity. In 2023, the multinational forestry company UPM's new factory in Uruguay went into operation, with an annual production capacity of 2.1 million tons, further consolidating the position of pulp in export commodities.

Uruguay is also actively exploring emerging export markets such as the Middle East and Southeast Asia. In 2001, Uruguay's exports to the Gulf Cooperation Council (海合会) countries were only US$8 million. In 2024, this figure increased to US$61 million. In 2023, Uruguayan dairy products gained access to the Saudi Arabian market, and more Uruguayan specialty products such as beef have also begun to enter the Middle East market. In Asia, a Uruguayan agricultural delegation recently visited ASEAN countries such as Indonesia to negotiate export matters. Uruguayan Ambassador to Indonesia, the Philippines and ASEAN, Cristina González (克里斯蒂娜·冈萨雷斯), said that recent tariff policies in the United States have led some food importing countries in Southeast Asia to start looking for new trading partners, which has brought opportunities for Uruguay to expand its Asian market.

China has been Uruguay's largest export market for many consecutive years, and trade cooperation between the two sides continues to advance. The latest data shows that in July this year, Uruguay's exports to China were US$345 million, accounting for 30% of the country's total exports that month. In addition to traditional export commodities to China such as soybeans, pulp, and beef, more categories of Uruguayan commodities have also entered the Chinese market: in 2024, China became the largest buyer of Uruguayan wool, accounting for 43% of its wool exports; from January to April this year, the quantity of Uruguayan dairy products imported by China increased by 8.9% year-on-year, which Uruguayan media believes is a growth highlight for the country's dairy industry. In May this year, Uruguayan Minister of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries, Fernando Mattos (阿尔弗雷多·弗拉蒂), led a delegation to visit China. The two sides reached a number of agreements on commodity access and agricultural cooperation, expanding the scope of Uruguayan exports to China.

"We feel an unprecedented opening up in China," said Mattos (弗拉蒂). China is an important partner for Uruguay in the fields of agricultural innovation, sustainable development and food security. These agreements will help expand Uruguayan exports and deepen bilateral economic and trade relations.

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Egypt to Host "Peace Summit" on Gaza Strip Ceasefire Negotiations

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According to Xinhua News Agency Cairo, October 11th (Reporter Yao Bing (姚兵)) The Egyptian Presidential Palace announced on the evening of the 11th that Egypt is scheduled to hold a "peace summit" in Sharm el-Sheikh (沙姆沙伊赫), a Red Sea coastal city and the location of ceasefire negotiations in the Gaza Strip, on the 13th, which will be attended by "leaders of more than 20 countries."

The Egyptian Presidential Palace said in a statement that the "Sharm el-Sheikh (沙姆沙伊赫) Peace Summit" aims to end the fighting in the Gaza Strip, accelerate the promotion of peace and stability in the Middle East, and open a new chapter of regional security and stability. The summit will be co-chaired by Egyptian President Sisi (塞西) and U.S. President Trump (特朗普).

The American Axios news website reported on the 10th that the leaders or foreign ministers of Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Indonesia will attend the summit.

Hamas (哈马斯) and Israel (以色列) began a new round of Gaza ceasefire negotiations in Sharm el-Sheikh (沙姆沙伊赫) on the 6th. According to a report by Egypt's Cairo News Television (开罗新闻电视台) in the early morning of the 9th, Egypt, Qatar and other mediators announced that Israel (以色列) and Hamas (哈马斯) had reached an agreement on all terms and implementation mechanisms of the first phase of the ceasefire agreement. The Israel Defense Forces (以色列国防军) issued a statement on the 10th saying that the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement took effect at 12:00 local time on the 10th.

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Agricultural Technology Extension Helps South Africa Improve the Quality and Efficiency of its Agriculture

By: 本报记者 郑 翔

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This year marks the 100th anniversary of the official establishment of agricultural extension services in South Africa. At the recent inaugural South African Agricultural Extension Week and the 58th Annual Conference of the South African Agricultural Extension Association, the South African Minister of Agriculture, Thoko Didiza (斯廷黑森), stated that agriculture plays an important role in the South African economy, and the modernization of agriculture is related to the livelihoods of many farmers. The South African government has always been committed to placing agricultural technology extension at the core of rural inclusive development, food security, and knowledge and technology transfer. "Providing farmers with practical and personalized advice to help them increase yields, promote sustainable farming practices, mitigate risks, and expand markets is particularly important for small farmers who rely on technical guidance and policy support," said Didiza (斯廷黑森).

The theme of this conference was "Using Innovation and Technology to Enhance Agricultural Extension and Consulting Services to Develop Sustainable Agriculture, Improve Livelihoods and Ensure Food Security." It aimed to promote the sustainable development of South African agriculture by promoting communication, cooperation, and knowledge sharing between technology extension personnel and agricultural practitioners. In recent years, South Africa has accelerated the digital transformation of agriculture, and drones, remote sensing technology, and intelligent irrigation systems have been widely used in agriculture. Data from the market research firm, Ellison (艾力森), shows that from 2020 to 2025, the average annual growth rate of the South African small drone market will reach 22.35%, and the market size is expected to reach 138 million US dollars in 2025. In terms of agricultural technology talent development, South Africa, with the support of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, is carrying out the "Farmer Field School" project, which plans to add 260 assistant agricultural technicians by 2025 to provide technical guidance to farmers and help them apply advanced technologies to actual production.

South Africa and China have deepened cooperation in the field of agricultural technology, and Chinese agricultural technology has provided support for the green development of South African agriculture. In the sugarcane growing area of KwaZulu-Natal Province (夸祖鲁—纳塔尔省), local farmers use drones produced by XAG (极飞科技), a Chinese company, for operations. With manual operation, 30 people can complete the spraying task of 40 hectares of farmland in one day; the maximum daily operation volume of a single drone can reach 170 hectares. Through precise spraying, the sugarcane borer disaster has been effectively controlled. "Chinese drone technology has freed us from inefficient manual spraying methods," said Deon Boogers (德翁·布格尔), agricultural manager of Fountainhill Estate (方廷希尔庄园), which is also the common feeling of local farmers.

In Limpopo Province (林波波省), Sino-South African agricultural technology cooperation is also advancing to a deeper level. In September 2024, the China-Africa Beidou Satellite Navigation System (北斗卫星导航系统) and Remote Sensing Application Joint Laboratory was officially launched; in October of the same year, the first data receiving station was installed and put into operation at the University of Venda (文达大学) farm. "The Beidou system (北斗系统) is not only an upgrade of equipment, but also helps South African agriculture connect to the global digital agriculture network," said Kutama (库塔玛), manager of the University of Venda (文达大学) experimental farm. The system will provide all-weather technical support for agricultural precision planting and disaster early warning, and help South African agriculture better integrate into global digital development.

Chinese agricultural technology has provided assistance for the modernization of South African agriculture through localized practice. Ramokgopa (拉莫科普), an official from the Gauteng Province (豪登省) Department of Agriculture, said that the challenges currently facing global food security are increasing, and the achievements made by China and South Africa in agricultural technology cooperation provide a useful reference for other developing countries to promote sustainable agricultural development.

(Reported from Johannesburg (约翰内斯堡) by this newspaper)

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This edition's editors: Zhang Mengxu, Yue Linwei, Liu Gang, Zhang Kaifeng

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Page 17版:国际

A Brilliant Dialogue Fostering Understanding

By: 本报记者 王 远

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Not long ago, the 9th China-France Young Leaders Forum was held in Paris and Marseille, France. More than 50 young representatives from the governments, industries, commerce, science, technology, culture, and sports of China and France visited the French National Assembly, Albert College, Marseille Fos Port, Marseille Apartment, and other places, and conducted in-depth discussions on topics such as artificial intelligence supervision, China-France economic and trade cooperation, and China-France creative design, making positive contributions to enhancing mutual understanding and friendship between the two countries' youth and consolidating the public opinion foundation of the China-France comprehensive strategic partnership.

On "Intelligence" -

Making Artificial Intelligence More Inclusive and Beneficial

Albert College, located at 18 Paradise Street, 10th District, Paris, was built in the 1890s as a ceramic product manufacturing store integrating headquarters, warehouse, and store. Entering the college along the eye-catching street-facing ceramic facade, most of the building's interior walls and floors are still decorated with glazed tile paintings. The rich colors, textures, and images witness the prosperity of the ceramic industry in the past.

Today, the ceramic shop has become a business school characterized by data empowerment. Named after Albert Einstein, the college incorporates mathematics, programming, and data processing courses into the traditional business school teaching content, reflecting the industry trends with the characteristics of the times.

As an important driving force for a new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation, how can artificial intelligence be better integrated into social development? In historical buildings connecting old and new industries, Chinese and French youth exchanged views on the development and governance of artificial intelligence, shared their experiences in empowering their respective fields with artificial intelligence, and envisioned a more inclusive and beneficial intelligent revolution.

In February 2025, the Artificial Intelligence Action Summit was held in Paris, France. More than 60 countries and regions, including France, China, India, and the European Union, and international organizations jointly signed the "Declaration on Developing Inclusive and Sustainable Artificial Intelligence for the Benefit of Humanity and the Earth," reaching a consensus on priorities such as narrowing the digital divide, building a trustworthy artificial intelligence ecosystem, and deepening global governance cooperation.

"When I visit various countries and meet with people from governments, businesses, the scientific community, and non-governmental organizations, all parties express their desire to establish their own national artificial intelligence ecosystem," said Anne Bouverot, French Presidential Envoy and artificial intelligence expert, sharing her thoughts on the development of artificial intelligence based on her experience in preparing for the Artificial Intelligence Action Summit. She said that all countries are willing to invest in and develop artificial intelligence and hope to play a role in the global governance of artificial intelligence.

Manon Bach-Lazarovici, a professor at Sorbonne University (巴黎索邦大学) and a practicing pediatric orthopedic surgeon, said that her team felt the strict supervision and protection of data by government agencies in the process of developing application software to apply artificial intelligence to clinical practice. How to ensure the safety of data transmission while ensuring that the pace of innovation in public areas such as medical care is not restricted is a question worth considering.

"Although the development of artificial intelligence will be affected by geopolitical, economic, and other factors, we still need to understand this revolution from a scientific perspective," Bouverot said. "China's progress in the field of artificial intelligence has impressed me deeply." Earlier this year, DeepSeek, an artificial intelligence large model launched by the Chinese company DeepSeek (深度求索), attracted global attention. "DeepSeek completed model training at a cost of only 6 million US dollars, reaching the leading level in the global artificial intelligence field, stimulating people's widespread interest in artificial intelligence and bringing unlimited possibilities for the development of artificial intelligence."

Liu Gang, Algorithm Department Manager of Aubo (Beijing) Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd. (遨博(北京)智能科技股份有限公司), said that in the era of artificial intelligence, continuous learning is essential for mastering new skills and applying new technologies. "China has recognized the importance of using artificial intelligence technology, and many universities have opened relevant courses. I am currently a science and technology course instructor in two middle schools in Shandong (山东), teaching teenagers robotics technology and artificial intelligence knowledge. Such capacity building is very necessary for young people."

"I have observed that as countries that attach importance to network construction, China and France are actively embracing emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, and the efficiency improvements they bring, and have also given a lot of thought to the ethics, supervision, and security of artificial intelligence," said Zhang Menghan, President of Hexuan Capital Group (和暄资本集团), which invests in multiple artificial intelligence projects globally. "The development of artificial intelligence should not become a competition between countries, but requires cooperation at the global level. The main theme of international artificial intelligence dialogue should be cooperation and win-win, not competition and confrontation."

Connecting "Ports" -

Making the Mediterranean Gateway More Green and Efficient

On the blue and bright Mediterranean coast, Marseille (马赛), the second largest city in France, surrounded by mountains on three sides and facing the sea on one side, has a history of city construction as early as the 6th century BC. It is a node city on the ancient Silk Road and an important gateway connecting Europe, Asia, and Africa.

With its geographical advantages of being surrounded by mountains and the sea, deep water and wide ports, Marseille Fos Port (马赛福斯港) is now the second largest port in the Mediterranean, the largest container transport port and cruise port in France, with an annual cargo throughput of 80 million tons, and one of the largest industrial port areas in Europe. In recent years, the number of containers coming to and from China at Marseille Fos Port has steadily increased. In 2024, the total container throughput of Marseille Fos Port reached 1.45 million TEUs, of which the throughput to and from China increased by 12% year-on-year.

Christophe Castaner, former French Minister of the Interior and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Marseille Fos Port, introduced to Chinese and French youth that the port has carried out a series of specific actions to promote energy transition in recent years, and has established an ecological transition industry by using clean energy sources such as solar energy, hydrogen energy, and wind energy. Marseille Fos Port has become the first port in France to provide power connections for docked ships, and ferries to and from Corsica (科西嘉岛) are using clean energy; in 2024, nearly half of Marseille Fos Port's approximately 99 million euros of facility investment will be used for green transition-related projects, including shore power supply, solar power generation, and sewage treatment.

"We used to only use fossil energy, but now we know the importance of clean electricity. China is actively promoting energy transition and using a large amount of clean energy. There is huge potential for cooperation between France and China in this regard," Castaner said.

In recent years, Marseille Fos Port has been committed to building an international shipping center and a smart city port area, carrying out green transformation, and developing the cruise economy and high-end shipping, which is in line with the development goals of many port cities in China, and the two sides have broad cooperation space. In 1992, Marseille Fos Port and Shanghai Port (上海港) became sister ports and carried out a series of cooperation in port affairs, shipping, and other fields, and have maintained friendly cooperation with Chinese port cities such as Tianjin (天津) and Qingdao (青岛) for a long time.

Ding Peizhi, Deputy Director of the Management Committee Office of Tianjin Port Free Trade Zone (天津港保税区), introduced to Chinese and French youth: "At present, Tianjin Port has business dealings with ports such as Marseille Fos Port in France through transit and other methods. Tianjin Port and Fos Port each have their own strengths in creating efficient logistics channels and synergistic development with park industries. We hope to expand cooperation with the French port group. In addition, Tianjin Port has mature cases in the construction of smart zero-carbon terminals and hydrogen energy applications, and hopes to further strengthen cooperation with the French side in this field."

Chen Wei, Vice Chairman of Chongqing Federation of Industry and Commerce (重庆市工商联) and Chairman of Chongqing Yucun Technology Co., Ltd. (重庆誉存科技有限公司), said that Chongqing (重庆) has the largest iron, road, and waterway combined transport port in inland China. In recent years, it has deeply integrated ecological protection and intelligent development concepts in the construction of smart ports, with remarkable results. It is hoped that in the future, ports in China and France will carry out more cooperation in intelligent unmanned operations, multi-modal transport system upgrades, and other aspects.

Enjoying "Art" -

Making Cultural Creativity More Exciting and Diverse

In the suburbs of Marseille, there is a building called "Marseille Apartment" (马赛公寓) - a rough and simple concrete exterior with small areas of color embellishment. This public housing project, completed in 1952, was designed by the French modernist architect Le Corbusier (勒·柯布西耶) to address the housing shortage in France after World War II. At that time, its huge volume provided housing for about 1,600 people. In 2016, it was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Architectural features such as the elevated ground floor, horizontal long windows, and roof gardens reflect Le Corbusier's important architectural concept - integrating residential, commercial, and public service functions through high-rise buildings. This community practice has inspired many countries, including China, to explore public living spaces and urban planning.

At the art center on the top floor of the Marseille Apartment, a discussion was held on how design concepts transcend the changes of the times. French graphic designer Jörg Rupa said, combining his many years of brand identity design experience: "Many successful brand identities have the significant characteristics of monochrome, geometric shape, flatness, easy-to-cut shape, and polysemy, ensuring that they have high recognition and constructability. These characteristics can transcend the changing elements of the times and last for a long time."

"These characteristics have similarities with the aesthetic tastes of Chinese painting," Yu Haiyan, Deputy Dean of the School of Economics and Management of East China Jiaotong University (华东交通大学), introduced the Chinese artistic expression of leaving blank space to Rupa and asked whether this oriental charm gave him inspiration.

"Of course. I have noticed the traditional aesthetic characteristics of China, and the design of some brands contains the artistic conception of landscape painting," Rupa listed some Chinese brand designs with blank space characteristics that he observed. "Some Chinese car brand logo designs have also impressed me. They are very simple and clear. I look forward to carrying out creative cooperation with Chinese companies."

When asked whether the impact of artificial intelligence on the design industry is an empowerment or a challenge, Rupa said that in his work, artificial intelligence software often cannot quickly achieve the requirements put forward by designers, and currently it is more of an auxiliary tool.

Faced with the enthusiastic exchange that was still not over, Kong Quan (孔泉), head of the Chinese delegation, Standing Director of the China Economic and Social Council (中国经济社会理事会), and former Chinese Ambassador to France, told the Chinese and French youth that cross-departmental and cross-field visits and exchanges have expanded both sides' understanding of each other and helped the youth of the two countries to better think about and build the future.

"I am very happy that through in-depth exchanges, a deep connection has been established between French and Chinese youth," said Marion Bertagna, co-founder of the France-Asia Foundation (法国—亚洲基金会) and China Representative of the France-China Foundation (法国—中国基金会). "I hope that we will continue to maintain our curiosity about each other and create more incredible interactions."

"This trip skillfully established connections and fostered friendship. We had in-depth discussions on issues in various fields and sparked a wonderful dialogue to enhance understanding." "France and China can cooperate in many fields. We must use our creativity to make more contributions to bringing the two sides closer." Cross-field and cross-cultural exchanges have made Chinese and French youth full of expectations for future cooperation between the two countries.

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This edition's editors: Hou Lulu, Zhang Bolan

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Layout design: Cai Huawei (蔡华伟)

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Page 18版:财经

Financial Wings Lift the "Light" of Innovation (In-depth Observation: Focusing on the "Five Major Articles" of Finance)

By: 本报记者 赵展慧

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General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) pointed out: "In order to provide high-quality financial services, the financial system should focus on doing a good job in five major areas: technological finance, green finance, inclusive finance, pension finance, and digital finance."

Doing a good job in the "five major articles" of finance is an important focus for the high-quality development of financial services for the real economy. In recent years, the financial system has solidly done a good job in the "five major articles" of finance, strongly supporting major national strategies and key areas and weak links in economic and social development. During the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, the average annual growth rate of loans to technology-based small and medium-sized enterprises, inclusive small and micro loans, and green loans exceeded 20%. China is at the forefront of the world in green finance, inclusive finance, and digital finance.

Starting today, this edition will launch a series of investigative reports titled "In-depth Observation: Doing a Good Job in the 'Five Major Articles' of Finance," vividly showcasing the new atmosphere and new achievements in the development of technological finance, green finance, inclusive finance, pension finance, and digital finance, and pooling wisdom and efforts to further improve the "five major articles" of finance.

——Editor

Born from light, gathering light into a valley. The East Lake High-tech Development Zone (东湖新技术开发区) in Wuhan (武汉), Hubei (湖北), known as "Optics Valley of China (中国光谷)," is the only national independent innovation demonstration zone named after "light."

Walking in Optics Valley, one can feel its openness at all times. It is China's largest optoelectronic information industry base and the world's largest R&D and manufacturing base for optical fibers and cables.

Walking in Optics Valley, one can also feel its concentration at all times. From the simple laboratory that produced the first optical fiber to the current science and technology innovation city with more than 5,000 high-tech enterprises, the "concentration" of innovation is so high that an average of 10 invention patents are born every day.

It is also a city of technological finance with rich financial formats. The financial density is high, with more than 1,100 various science and technology innovation financial institutions, complete with financial formats such as credit, insurance, venture capital, private equity funds, financial leasing, and commercial factoring.

Deeply rooted in the rich advantages of technological resources, and doing a good job in the major article of technological finance, the "light" of innovation in Optics Valley continues to shine under the support of the wings of finance.

Providing a full-chain financial service to help the ship of innovation **乘风破浪** (chéng fēng pò làng - "ride the wind and break the waves," to brave the wind and the waves; to have high ambitions).

A preform can draw more than 10,000 kilometers of optical fiber.

Climbing the 30-meter-high drawing tower, a crystal-clear optical fiber preform is suspended at the top. Under high-temperature baking, the preform melts into silk and pours down. "This is currently the world's largest optical fiber preform. The optical fiber made from one preform can be drawn from Beijing (北京) to London," said Zheng Xin (郑昕), Vice President of Yangtze Optical Fibre and Cable Joint Stock Limited Company (长飞光纤光缆股份有限公司).

Yangtze Optical Fibre and Cable (长飞), named after "Philips (飞利浦) by the Yangtze River (长江)," was a joint venture established in the 1980s between China and Philips (飞利浦) of the Netherlands (荷兰), bearing the mark of the era of "using the market to exchange for technology." However, key technologies cannot be "exchanged" for. Entering the new century, "mastering key technologies in our own hands" became the new mission of Yangtze Optical Fibre and Cable (长飞).

From introduction to independent research and development, and then to reverse export of new technologies, Yangtze Optical Fibre and Cable (长飞) has now become the world's largest supplier of optical fiber preforms, optical fibers, and optical cables. "Without financial support, relying only on 'private money,' Yangtze Optical Fibre and Cable (长飞) could not have grown bigger and stronger," said Zheng Xin (郑昕).

Supporting strategic emerging industries, policy-based finance takes the lead. "In the absence of collateral guarantees, we issued the first medium and long-term credit loan of 47 million US dollars to Yangtze Optical Fibre and Cable (长飞) to help the company open up an independent innovation situation," said Zhu Fei (祝飞), head of the Science and Technology Finance Department of the Hubei Branch of the China Development Bank (国家开发银行). At that time, the company's innovation prospects were unclear, and the issuance of this loan was not easy. "With the advantage of the expert bank, after repeated evaluations and research, we firmly believed in the company's future."

This loan helped Yangtze Optical Fibre and Cable (长飞) master the preform preparation technology and consolidate its leading position in the domestic market. However, new challenges followed. How to respond to market fluctuations and dumping by overseas manufacturers? Still innovation! Yangtze Optical Fibre and Cable (长飞) built a production base in Qianjiang (潜江), Hubei (湖北), mastered all preform preparation technology routes and achieved mass production, building a high-tech "moat" while greatly reducing production costs.

"We supported Yangtze Optical Fibre and Cable (长飞) to achieve full coverage of mainstream preform preparation technologies through loans and the CDB Development Fund (国开发展基金)," said Cao Shiyun (曹石蕴), a customer manager at the Science and Technology Finance Department of the Hubei Branch of the China Development Bank (国家开发银行). With investment and loan linkage, the Hubei Branch of the China Development Bank (国家开发银行) has cumulatively provided more than 5 billion yuan in financial support.

Technological accumulation has promoted the transformation from "bringing in" to "going out." In 2019, the Hubei Branch of the Bank of China (中国银行) provided 680 million yuan in cross-border guarantees, and the Hubei Branch of the People's Insurance Company of China Property and Casualty (人保财险) provided nearly 3 billion yuan in risk protection. With the financial "escort," Yangtze Optical Fibre and Cable (长飞) began to reverse export products, equipment, and technology, and participated in drafting dozens of international standards.

Technological innovation is also expanding to upstream and downstream. Special credit lines from Bank of Communications (交通银行), Bank of China (中国银行), Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (工商银行), and Agricultural Bank of China (农业银行) have been successively issued, and 500 million yuan of science and technology innovation bonds have been successfully issued. This year, finance has increased its support for Yangtze Optical Fibre and Cable (长飞) semiconductor component research and development projects.

Merger and acquisition loans, project loans, cross-border loans, letters of credit, domestic and international guarantees, corporate bonds, listing... Yang Sheng (杨晟), manager of the Funds and Taxation Department of Yangtze Optical Fibre and Cable (长飞), listed: "We use all available technological finance products."

"Independent innovation has broken the monopoly, and our optical fiber prices have dropped to 1/10 of what they were more than 20 years ago," said Zheng Xin (郑昕). High-quality and low-priced domestic optical fibers have flown into ordinary people's homes, allowing hundreds of millions of users to embark on the information highway.

One optical fiber can achieve 112.8 billion simultaneous calls.

On the east side of Optics Valley Avenue (光谷大道), the sailboat-shaped building of FiberHome Telecommunication Technologies Co., Ltd. (烽火通信科技股份有限公司) is particularly eye-catching. "Light" starts from here, radiating globally and providing communication services to nearly 5 billion people.

From optical fiber manufacturing to optical chip production and communication applications, FiberHome Telecommunication (烽火通信) is an "all-around player" covering the entire optical communication industry chain. "Financial services are seamlessly embedded in the research and development of the entire industry chain," said Li Dawei (李大伟), head of the Financial Management Department of FiberHome Telecommunication (烽火通信).

"We innovated the loan model, focusing not on financial statements but on innovation capabilities, and providing financing credit based on future orders and expected income. We handled 1.1 billion yuan of special loans for technological innovation to support the server research and development project of FiberHome Telecommunication (烽火通信)'s subsidiary," said Yang Mingjie (杨名杰), head of the Wuhan Science and Technology Finance Center of the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (中国工商银行).

From raising 1.6 billion yuan in funds through listing on the Shanghai Stock Exchange (上交所) in 2001 to various loan supports such as innovation point loans, science and technology innovation loans, and specialized and new loans, FiberHome Telecommunication (烽火通信) is taking two-pronged approach of direct financing and indirect financing, fueling innovation throughout the entire industry chain. The company's annual R&D investment accounts for more than 14%.

One optical fiber pulls out a world-class optoelectronic information industry base. Deploying the capital chain around the innovation chain, a full-chain science and technology innovation financial service system is also gathering, providing all-round, multi-level innovation power for innovation "giant ships" such as Yangtze Optical Fibre and Cable (长飞光纤) and FiberHome Telecommunication (烽火通信), riding the wind and waves on the optoelectronic information technology track.

Covering the entire life cycle, nurturing the growth of science and technology innovation seedlings.

In the innovation forest of Optics Valley (光谷), there are lush trees and thriving seedlings. 1,741 innovative small and medium-sized enterprises, 808 specialized and new small and medium-sized enterprises, and 151 specialized and new "little giants" are growing here in sequence, accompanied by the nourishment of financial living water throughout their entire life cycle.

Automatically identifying illegal behaviors, intelligently controlling traffic signals... Wuhan East Railway Station (武汉东站), with its heavy traffic, has improved its traffic efficiency by 25% after adopting the holographic intersection solution developed by Wuhan Zhongke Tongda High-tech Co., Ltd. (武汉中科通达高新技术股份有限公司).

"Rooted in Optics Valley Software Park (光谷软件园) for more than 10 years, from a software 'engineering team' of 7 people to a listed company," Chairman Wang Kaixue (王开学) clearly remembers that the first loan at the beginning of the business came from the "neighbor" - Hankou Bank (汉口银行) was next door to the company at that time, thus starting a "fate" of more than 10 years of cooperation.

"We adjust the credit granting plan in a timely manner according to the company's growth stage, from providing the first 10 million yuan of intellectual property pledge loan to the current maximum credit line of 100 million yuan," said Shen Jing (沈静), Deputy Director of the Science and Technology Finance Service Center of Hankou Bank (汉口银行).

Different development stages require different financial "nutrients." "We have established a three-level project library to classify financing for enterprises," said Shen Jing (沈静). Hankou Bank (汉口银行) has also jointly launched a "Investment and Loan Alliance" cooperation platform with securities companies and investment institutions to provide one-stop financial services for enterprises.

In the initial stage, Zhongke Tongda (中科通达) is located in the basic layer project library, accessing investment institutions and counseling securities companies through the platform, and obtaining AB round financing of 20 million yuan each; in the growth stage, Zhongke Tongda (中科通达) is upgraded to the selected layer of the project library, and obtains 3-year 50 million yuan low-interest financial leasing support through platform referrals.

In 2019, the Science and Technology Innovation Board (科创板) opened, positioning itself to cultivate "hard technology." Hankou Bank (汉口银行) launched the "Science and Technology Innovation Listing Loan," and Zhongke Tongda (中科通达) was the first to "taste the new," obtaining a 50 million yuan credit line. Wang Kaixue (王开学) said that with the support of this fund, the company launched projects such as the smart transportation construction platform, which quickly improved the operating scale and innovation strength.

In 2021, Zhongke Tongda (中科通达) successfully landed on the Science and Technology Innovation Board (科创板). "After listing, our bank upgraded Zhongke Tongda (中科通达) to the core layer project library. In addition to providing supporting credit products such as M&A loans and equity pledge loans, it also provides comprehensive financial services such as market value management and M&A consulting," said Shen Jing (沈静).

Converting technical patents into development dividends is the key to financial support for the growth of technology-based enterprises.

Wuhan Yuanguang Technology Co., Ltd. (武汉元光科技有限公司) is a smart transportation service provider relying on big data analysis. The "Where is My Bus (车来了)" APP developed by the company can provide real-time bus information and has covered 2.9 billion users in more than 200 cities across the country. In the process of enterprise development, Wuhan Rural Commercial Bank (武汉农商行) helped the company's 7 patents to be converted into development funds, realizing a qualitative breakthrough in the transformation of technological achievements.

"Intellectual property is the core competitiveness of innovative enterprises and an important anchor for technological finance to support enterprise growth," said Liu Xin (刘新), head of the Science and Technology Finance Center of Wuhan Rural Commercial Bank (武汉农商行). Wuhan Rural Commercial Bank (武汉农商行) has cumulatively issued loans of 30 million yuan to Yuanguang Technology (元光科技) through intellectual property pledge.

How to identify the "gold content" of intellectual property and turn "intellectual property" into assets? "Internally strengthen due diligence, and externally cooperate with intellectual property departments to introduce a patent evaluation system, combining internal and external comprehensive assessment of the company's intellectual property layout, development status, and prospects," said Liu Xin (刘新). Now, it only takes up to two days to apply for an intellectual property pledge loan online.

Behind product innovation and business transformation is the fundamental change in the underlying logic. "Financial institutions must truly change their concepts, from looking at 'bricks' to looking at patents, understanding technology, and accurately identifying innovation in order to do a good job in technological finance," said Liu Xin (刘新).

Promoting innovation with reform and promoting a virtuous cycle of "technology-industry-finance."

No counters, no ATMs, replaced by open-style card seats and display boards for characteristic financial products - walking into the Science and Technology Finance Service Center of Hankou Bank (汉口银行) located in Optics Valley Financial Center (光谷金融中心) is like walking into a warm living room.

"We are set up to serve technological innovation," said Shen Jing (沈静). In 2016, Hankou Bank (汉口银行) established the first licensed science and technology finance specialized institution in Optics Valley (光谷), closely focusing on the layout of technological innovation from department design to product planning. The head office established a first-level science and technology finance department, and then established a science and technology finance service center and a science and technology characteristic branch. An independent science and technology finance "skeleton" was built from top to bottom; jointly introducing venture capital, securities companies, guarantee companies, insurance companies, and other institutions, a one-stop science and technology finance service was connected into a network; matching financing needs at different development stages, developing more than 30 characteristic products such as "Knowledge Value Credit Loan," "Science and Technology Enterprise Loan," "Win-Win Loan," "Ezhi Loan," and "Science and Technology Talent Loan," and constantly enriching the "flesh and blood" of science and technology finance...

"The focus of developing technological finance is to guide more financial resources to gather towards the development of new quality productive forces, accelerate the construction of a technological finance system and mechanism adapted to technological innovation, and actively help key areas such as the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries, strategic emerging industries, and future industries, and smooth the 'funds-capital-assets' cycle," said Pang Xuefeng (庞雪峰), Director of the Hubei Regulatory Bureau of the National Financial Regulatory Administration (国家金融监督管理总局). Currently, many national financial reform pilots such as equity investment by financial asset investment companies (AIC), M&A loans for technology enterprises, and innovative demonstration zones for technology insurance have taken root in Hubei (湖北), and the "Hubei Practice" of technological finance is constantly blooming and bearing fruit.

——Playing the "specialized" card and opening up a new track for financial services.

Like Hankou Bank (汉口银行), financial institutions rooted in Optics Valley (光谷) are constantly deepening their understanding of the laws of technological innovation, exploring a new logic of technological finance by establishing specialized institutions, dedicated service teams, exclusive approval processes, proprietary financial products, and specialized assessment systems.

Zhu Fei (祝飞) believes that a professional talent team is the foundation for the development of technological finance. "The Hubei Branch of the China Development Bank (国家开发银行) has formed a dedicated service team in accordance with the principle of 'technology + finance' composite talents, so that finance can 'understand' technology better."

Yang Mingjie (杨名杰) introduced that the assessment system activates the driving force for development. "The Hubei Branch of the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (工商银行) has increased the tolerance for non-performing loans to small and micro technology innovation enterprises by 3 percentage points, and at the same time increased the proportion of science and technology finance indicators in performance assessment."

——Doing a good job in the "special" brand, serving the innovation chain in accordance with local conditions.

Starting from "light" and expanding to "chip-screen-end-network," financial institutions are based on Wuhan's (武汉) electronic technology innovation chain and information industry cluster to create a characteristic service mechanism.

"Only by deeply cultivating the local characteristic industrial chain innovation chain can we more deeply understand the technology path, business model, capital pain points, and development prospects of technology enterprises," said Yang Mingjie (杨名杰).

"As small and medium-sized financial institutions, we must base ourselves on local characteristics to carry out characteristic operations, constantly sink services, cover more small and micro enterprises, and link more first-time borrowers," said Shen Jing (沈静).

——Reciting the "cooperation" formula, working together to solve problems and promote win-win results.

The Financial Bureau of the East Lake High-tech Zone (东湖高新区) organized various institutions to "hold their fingers into a fist," promoting 8 leading insurance companies to establish the first technology insurance community in the country, establishing a 1 billion yuan angel mother fund to invest early, invest small, and invest in technology, and the highest reward for financial institutions to settle in is 200 million yuan;

The Hubei Financial Regulatory Bureau (湖北金融监管局) formulated an action plan to enhance the service capacity of technological finance, focusing on organizational framework, product innovation, assessment incentives, and other aspects to clarify 16 tasks, promote the establishment of 6 AIC funds with a total scale of 6.6 billion yuan, and guide the issuance of 732 million yuan of M&A loans for technology enterprises;

…………

Walking in Optics Valley (光谷), there are stories of chasing light everywhere. Under the support of finance, this light is brighter and more shining. In the process of chasing light, finance is also constantly reshaping new concepts and new advantages.

"The tolerance for innovation is higher, but the non-performing rate has decreased," "The financing structure is constantly optimized"... Many financial institutions said that writing a good article on technological finance is not only a requirement for developing new quality productive forces and building a strong country in science and technology, but also increasingly internalized as the need for high-quality development of financial institutions themselves.

Under the guidance of Xi Jinping's (习近平) economic thought, writing a good article on technological finance presents a new atmosphere and new actions. In the first half of this year, the loan balance of technology-based enterprises in Optics Valley High-tech Zone (光谷高新区) was 227.789 billion yuan, accounting for nearly 1/4 of Hubei Province (湖北省), an increase of 14.08% compared with the beginning of the year; technology insurance has provided 442.474 billion yuan of risk protection for 4,984 (times) key technology enterprises in Optics Valley (光谷)... Pursuing light and forging ahead, a beautiful picture of mutual shaping, close coupling, and virtuous cycle of finance, technology, and industry is slowly unfolding.

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Strengthening Financial Services for the Entire Lifecycle of Technology-Based Enterprises (Reporter's Notes)

By: 屈信明

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Not long ago, relevant departments issued a notice organizing the implementation of the 2025 first (set) major technical equipment insurance (hereinafter referred to as "first (set) insurance") compensation policy and carrying out the 2025 first batch of new material insurance (hereinafter referred to as "first batch insurance") compensation fund application and 2026 qualification review work, which has attracted the attention of business operators.

During the investigation, many enterprises said that innovative research and development of large equipment, high value-added parts and components, etc., may face market promotion problems—buyers worry that the expensive new equipment has not been tested by the market, and once damaged, they may face greater losses, and are unwilling to be "the first to eat crabs." The difficulty in promoting innovative achievements affects the enthusiasm of manufacturers for research and development innovation to a certain extent. The first (set) insurance and the first batch insurance are the "prescriptions"—if the equipment fails or the enterprise suffers losses, the insurance can "compensate" and also provide safety testing and other services. In this way, buyers are more confident to "try" new products, and manufacturers also reduce after-sales pressure. Innovative achievements can be better promoted, strengthening confidence and adding impetus to enterprises to take the road of independent innovation. Therefore, related insurance products are welcomed by the market.

The "Decision" of the 20th Third Plenary Session of the Communist Party of China (中国共产党) proposed to "improve the application policy of the first (set), first batch, and first version." Since 2015, China (中国) has begun to implement the compensation mechanism for the first (set) major technical equipment insurance. In recent years, various regions have actively implemented relevant policies to help promote the first (set) equipment and the first batch of new materials. The "Opinions on Further Improving the Compensation Policy for the First (Set) Major Technical Equipment and the First Batch of New Material Insurance," released last year, optimized the scope of protection, insurance rates, application procedures, etc., to better help innovative products take the "key step" towards the market and promote the transformation of scientific and technological achievements.

The first (set) and first batch insurance are the epitome of optimizing the full life cycle of science and technology finance services. From project establishment and research and development to testing and market promotion, innovation requires a long cycle and goes through various stages. The development of technology-based enterprises also goes through different stages such as the start-up period and the growth period, and each step is inseparable from the nourishment and care of financial services. In recent years, combined with the full life cycle financial insurance needs of technology-based enterprises, different types of financial institutions have continued to innovate products and increase support. For example, PICC Property and Casualty (人保财险) recently launched a batch of concept verification and pilot insurance and pilot verification insurance to protect scientific and technological achievements from "laboratory solutions" to "production line products"; evaluation systems such as "technology flow" and "technology scorecard" help more start-ups get financing "knocking bricks"; more than 90% of the newly listed companies in recent years are technology companies and companies with high technology content... More targeted services help each "seed" and each "sapling" grow strong.

It should also be noted that the pace of scientific and technological innovation is accelerating, and new industries and new business forms are booming, which puts higher demands on science and technology finance. Compared with market demand, the supply of financial services still has some weaknesses and shortcomings. For example, innovation is the process of generating new things, and the lack of relevant data accumulation, accurate pricing, and design of protection plans put higher demands on the risk management and evaluation pricing capabilities of the insurance industry; accurately judging the "gold content" of patents also requires banks to increase the training of "knowledgeable" talents and the market to cultivate more professional evaluation institutions. For example, basic research fields require large capital investment and long return cycles, which requires financial institutions to tailor more suitable service plans.

To further improve the major article on science and technology finance, we should also strengthen policy coordination and gather multi-party synergy. Providing financial compensation for the first (set) insurance and the first batch insurance reflects the concerted efforts of fiscal and financial policies, which is conducive to enhancing enterprises' willingness to insure and expanding service coverage. Strengthening cross-departmental and cross-field data sharing also provides strong support for banks to accurately support innovative enterprises. It is expected that relevant departments will continue to optimize policies and measures, combine the difficulties in the development of science and technology finance, solve one problem after another, and better support the high-quality development of science and technology finance.

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This edition's editor: Wang Guan

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Layout Design: Shen Yiling (沈亦伶)

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Page 19版:科技

Innovation in China as Seen Through the "Cosmic-Level Group Photo" (Talking Innovation)

By: 北 湖

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Obtaining a "cosmic group photo" reflects China's continuously improving deep-space exploration capabilities, demonstrates its determination to achieve high-level scientific and technological self-reliance, and showcases its perseverance and tireless pursuit, using long-termism and a pragmatic spirit to continuously scale the peaks of scientific and technological innovation.

On National Day, the China National Space Administration (国家航天局) released an image of the Tianwen-2 (天问二号) probe in orbit, featuring the probe and the Earth in a group photo. In the picture, the bright Five-Star Red Flag (五星红旗), the white return capsule, and the distant blue Earth are in the same frame, which netizens excitedly described as a "cosmic group photo."

Obtaining a "cosmic group photo" reflects China's continuously improving deep-space exploration capabilities, demonstrating its determination to achieve high-level scientific and technological self-reliance. The main mission objective of Tianwen-2 (天问二号) is to explore and sample the asteroid 2016HO3 and return to Earth, and then conduct scientific exploration of the main-belt comet 311P. The entire mission is designed to last about 10 years. This process requires sampling under weak gravity conditions and overcoming ultra-long-distance measurement and control problems. The mission has a long cycle, high technical difficulty, and high risk. It is the common support of more intelligent probes, more reliable carrier rockets, and more powerful measurement and control communications that allows Tianwen-2 (天问二号) to live up to its "ten-year agreement" and allows Chinese innovation to shine in space.

Exploring the vast universe, developing the space industry, and building a space power are our unremitting space dreams. From "Dongfanghong-1 (东方红一号)" traveling in space to the "Chang'e Family (嫦娥家族)" writing a wonderful chapter in lunar exploration, from building China's own space station to Tianwen-2 (天问二号) heading towards asteroids, China's aerospace dream-chasing pace has never stopped. All of this stems from the belief in self-reliance and hard work. In those days, China's manned spaceflight started from scratch, moving forward in challenges, and overcoming cutting-edge technologies such as manned round-trip to space, space extravehicular activities, and rendezvous and docking. Landing on the far side of the moon had not been done by foreign countries. When the project was established, someone asked, "Do you want to take this risk?" It was precisely by getting rid of the 亦步亦趋 (yì bù yì qū - "imitating every step," blindly imitating) "following" thinking that the Chang'e-4 (嫦娥四号) mission was able to create "human first."

Today, in fields such as integrated circuits, high-end equipment, and industrial software, innovative creations that are changing with each passing day can be seen everywhere on the land of China. Beidou Navigation (北斗导航) provides global precision navigation and positioning services, the C919 large aircraft has achieved commercial flight, the production and sales of new energy vehicles rank first in the world, the CR450 EMU consolidates and expands the world-leading advantages of high-speed rail technology, and new progress has been continuously made in new energy, new materials, artificial intelligence and other fields... Climbing to higher places and tackling difficult problems, China's high-level scientific and technological self-reliance is making solid and powerful steps.

Obtaining a "cosmic group photo" also demonstrates perseverance and tireless pursuit, using long-termism and a pragmatic spirit to continuously scale the peaks of scientific and technological innovation. The aerospace system is large in scale, complex in system, intensive in technology, and strong in comprehensiveness, and technological leaps require long-term precipitation. To realize the lunar exploration dream, China has determined the overall plan of "orbiting, landing, and returning." After 20 years of continuous efforts, it has overcome technologies such as lunar night survival, communication between the far side of the moon and the ground, and intelligent sampling on the far side of the moon, and has embarked on a high-quality and efficient lunar exploration path. Tianwen-1 (天问一号) made its debut on Mars, Tianwen-2 (天问二号) has started asteroid exploration, and in the future, Tianwen-3 (天问三号) and Tianwen-4 (天问四号) will carry out Mars sample return missions and Jupiter system exploration missions respectively... From the very beginning of China's planetary exploration project, a long-term development plan was envisioned, which led to the 厚积薄发 (hòu jī bó fā - "accumulate richly, burst forth greatly," great accumulation leads to great achievements) after a long period of hard work.

In recent years, China has strengthened the systematic layout of basic research, and has provided long-term and stable support for a number of innovation bases, advantageous teams, and key directions; it has encouraged the improvement of long-cycle evaluation mechanisms to allow researchers to focus on studying "big problems"; it has developed patient capital to inject vitality into scientific and technological innovation fields with long cycles and large investments... Looking far ahead, innovation pays more attention to originality, and industries are tackling deeper problems, laying a solid foundation for cultivating and developing new quality productive forces and seizing the commanding heights of science and technology.

Looking up at the stars and being down-to-earth, the pace of exploring space will be more steady and farther. When launching Tianwen-2 (天问二号), the rocket's orbital accuracy requires a speed of 11.2 kilometers per second, while the speed deviation cannot exceed 1 meter. On the basis of adopting iterative guidance technology, the research and development team used terminal velocity correction technology to adjust the rocket's speed, attitude, etc. in real time before separation to ensure that the orbital accuracy requirements are met. From "Chang'e (嫦娥)" embracing the moon to "Tianwen (天问)" exploring Mars, and then to "Xihe (羲和)" chasing the sun, aerospace personnel regard every journey to explore space as the starting point of a new mission, and continue to climb the peaks of science and technology, which gives them the confidence to advance to deeper and farther space.

Today, science and technology are developing rapidly, and the impact of scientific and technological innovation on economic and social development is becoming increasingly profound. This requires the vast number of scientific and technological personnel in our country to adhere to the "four orientations," focus on scientific research, and wholeheartedly seek innovation. It also requires the whole society to vigorously promote the spirit of scientists, cultivate an innovative ecology, use practical work to make up for shortcomings and strengthen strengths, develop new quality productive forces in accordance with local conditions, and continuously shape new momentum and new advantages for high-quality development.

Great undertakings begin with dreams, are based on innovation, and are achieved through hard work. Tianwen-2 (天问二号) is soaring in the vast universe. Let us look forward to more good news from it and look forward to innovative China bringing us more surprises.

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How This Small Northwestern City Produced 28 Academicians (Science & Technology Perspective)

By: 喻思南 唐生辉

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The "Decision" of the 20th Third Plenary Session of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee proposed that "education, science and technology, and talent are the fundamental and strategic support for Chinese-style modernization." As the first national-level agricultural high-tech industrial demonstration zone in China, how does Yangling (杨凌) coordinate the integrated development of education, science and technology, and talent, and how does it set up a benchmark for revitalizing agriculture through science and technology? Our reporter recently went to the field for an on-the-spot investigation and research.

——Editor

The Yangling Demonstration Zone (杨凌示范区), located in the hinterland of the Guanzhong Plain (关中平原), carries significant weight in China's agricultural scientific research landscape—

It boasts scientific and educational institutions such as Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University (西北农林科技大学) (hereinafter referred to as "NWAFU"), Shaanxi Vocational and Technical College of Agriculture and Forestry (陕西农林职业技术大学), and gathers more than 100 provincial and ministerial-level scientific research platforms and more than 7,000 agricultural science, education, and talent personnel...

Zhao Hongzhang (赵洪璋), Zhu Xianmo (朱显谟), Shan Lun (山仑), Li Zhensheng (李振声), Li Zhenqi (李振岐), Yu Hongzheng (虞宏正), Kang Zhensheng (康振生), Zhang Yong (张涌), Kang Shaozhong (康绍忠), Li Peicheng (李佩成)... 28 academicians of the two academies have taken root here.

"Bima No. 1" ("碧蚂1号"), "Xiaoyan No. 6" ("小偃6号"), "Shaanxi Oil No. 8" ("陕油8号"), "Shaanxi Single 609" ("陕单609"), Qin Guan Apple (秦冠苹果), a panoramic map of wheat stripe rust resistance genes... A series of far-reaching agricultural scientific and technological achievements have gone from here to the whole country and the world.

From a small town of only 4 square kilometers to a highland of agricultural science and technology innovation covering an area of 135 square kilometers, where does the driving force come from?

Walking on the front line of innovation in Yangling, we are looking for answers.

True Colors of Loving Agriculture

"Planting" Scientific and Technological Achievements in the Fields

"Look, this is the 'XN511' we cultivated." Professor Ji Wanquan's (吉万全) office at NWAFU is filled with wheat materials and seeds.

"XN511" ("西农511") does not fall behind in good years and has advantages in disaster years. More than 10 years ago, Ji Wanquan learned about the farmers' troubles and decided to cultivate this characteristic variety: "When growing wheat, you can't expect good weather every year. If you encounter drought or rotten field rain, the yield must be stable."

Selecting seeds, hybridizing, observing, harvesting wheat... Observing wheat conditions during the day and sorting out data at night, after more than 10 years of hard work, Ji Wanquan's team selected and bred "XN511" with strong stress resistance and excellent quality. Since passing the national review in 2018, it has been promoted to more than 40 million mu in the Huanghuai wheat area, and is very popular among farmers.

Ji Wanquan's team has been deeply involved in the field of wheat breeding for many years. As early as 1956, his teacher, Academician Li Zhensheng (李振声), took the initiative to come to Yangling and worked there for 23 years, leading the team to innovatively use wheat and long-spiked wheatgrass for distant hybridization to cultivate a new high-yield and high-quality variety—"Xiaoyan No. 6" ("小偃6号"). Taking this as the backbone parent, more than 80 wheat varieties have been derived, with a cumulative promotion of more than 300 million mu.

In the next laboratory, the reporter met Li Tingdong (李停栋), who was excavating wheat trait genes. After graduating with a doctorate in 2021, Li Tingdong joined Ji Wanquan's team and engaged in molecular breeding work. Because he often goes to the field, he has become an expert in driving harvesters and seeders, and he has also become clearer about his research direction.

From wheat and corn breeding to the cultivation of economic crops such as apples and kiwis, and then to cattle and sheep breeding, serving agricultural needs, Yangling's scientific and technological achievements are all "planted" in the fields.

Professor Zhao Zhengyang (赵政阳) of NWAFU, who stays at the Baishui Apple Experimental Station all year round, has tanned skin. As soon as he met, he told reporters that the "Ruiyang" ("瑞阳"), "Ruixue" ("瑞雪"), and "Ruixianghong" ("瑞香红") (hereinafter referred to as "Sanrui") cultivated by the team have been promoted to more than 1 million mu nationwide.

Twenty years ago, in order to change the situation that many fruit farmers in Baishui County (白水县), Shaanxi Province, had no confidence in growing apples, Zhao Zhengyang and his colleagues rented three houses, took root in Baishui, and established the first apple professional experimental demonstration station in the country, and also began the arduous journey of cultivating high-quality new apple varieties.

In 2006, Zhao Zhengyang proposed the "thinning and reshaping" technology for arbor-type closed orchards, which was demonstrated and promoted in Baishui, initially attracting a lot of doubts. Zhao Zhengyang mobilized Cao Xiehu (曹谢虎), a fruit farmer in Kexian Village (可仙村), Lingao Town (林皋镇): "First try to transform one mu of land, and I will compensate you for the loss of this land."

Zhao Zhengyang's sincerity moved Cao Xiehu. When the autumn harvest came that year, due to the reduction of fruit trees, the yield of Cao Xiehu's trial planting of this mu of land decreased, but the quality of the commodity was greatly improved, and the income did not decrease but increased, which immediately set a model for the promotion of technology.

"We must have true feelings for farmers, be friends with them, and truly help them." Living in farmers' homes, Zhao Zhengyang's team trained village by village. Today, more than 80% of the population in Baishui eats "apple meals." During the harvest season, fruit farmers come to NWAFU to give Zhao Zhengyang apples to express their gratitude.

At present, Zhao Zhengyang's team has also established experimental demonstration stations in Qingyang (庆阳), Gansu (甘肃), and Suide (绥德), Shaanxi, to promote the Baishui experience. "Farmers get rich by planting 'Sanrui', which is the best compliment to us," Zhao Zhengyang said.

In Yangling, there are many such stories. Firmly believing that "breeding cannot be separated from the land and farmers," Zhao Yu (赵瑜), a 90-year-old researcher at Shaanxi Vocational and Technical College of Agriculture and Forestry, is still busy on the front line of breeding at Doucun Farm (豆村农场) in Fufeng County (扶风县), Shaanxi Province; Li Like (李立科), a researcher at NWAFU, devoted himself to dryland agriculture for more than 50 years, taking the Ganjing Town (甘井镇) Experimental Station in Heyang County (合阳县), Shaanxi Province, as his home and working until the last moment of his life...

Wang Jun (王军), Deputy Secretary of the Party Working Committee of Yangling Demonstration Zone, said: "The older generation of agricultural experts took root in Yangling and cultivated for agriculture, and the spiritual heritage they left behind has cast the background color of Yangling's innovative development."

At present, tens of thousands of NWAFU students conduct internships and scientific research at experimental stations across the country every year, inheriting and carrying forward the tradition of knowing and loving agriculture.

Pursuit of Excellence

From "Cave Dwelling" to the Forefront of Disciplines

Many people say to us: "When you come to NWAFU, you must see this 'cave dwelling'."

The "cave dwelling" is actually the Southeast Kiln Rust Disease Experimental Station, located at the foot of Wutai Mountain (五台山) in the southeast of the North Campus of NWAFU, which used to be a teacher's dormitory. "Must see" is because Li Zhenqi (李振岐) and Kang Zhensheng (康振生), two academicians, have come out of the "cave dwelling", which is a "treasure land" for studying wheat stripe rust.

Following Professor Zhan Gangming (詹刚明) of NWAFU, stepping into the mouth of the "cave dwelling", bursts of cool breeze blow from the cave. The "cave dwelling" is about 1.8 meters high, barely enough for two people to walk side by side. On both sides of the tunnel, small cave dwellings have been transformed into low-temperature laboratories, where various forms of wheat grow under the lights.

Stripe rust is the "cancer" of wheat and a class of crop diseases in China. "Rust pathogens grow on living wheat at 10 to 20 degrees Celsius. It is warm in winter and cool in summer here, which is very suitable for the reproduction and growth of pathogens," Zhan Gangming said.

In the Southeast Kiln Exhibition Room, photos record the years of scientific researchers tackling stripe rust.

With the help of this special laboratory, in the early 1980s, Li Zhenqi's team found the reason for the loss of stripe rust resistance in wheat varieties and proposed control countermeasures, recovering a large number of losses.

Studying under Li Zhenqi, Kang Zhensheng took the "cave dwelling" as his home from the master's stage, looking for a breakthrough in the sustainable control of wheat stripe rust. After more than 30 years of hard work, he led the team to successfully reveal the "mystery" of the crazy mutation of wheat stripe rust. The "shovel, cover, spray" three-character method developed has become the "key" to preventing and controlling wheat stripe rust.

**善于继承才能善于创新** (shàn yú jì chéng cái néng shàn yú chuàng xīn - "good at inheriting then good at innovating," only by being good at inheriting can one be good at innovating), maintaining the quality of being willing to endure hardship, and cultivating the spirit of pursuing excellence.

After 18 years of continuous exploration, in 2022, Kang Zhensheng's student Wang Xiaojie (王晓杰) published an article in "Cell", for the first time discovering the "culprit" that assists stripe rust fungus infection in wheat. He also used gene editing technology to propose a method for wheat to be less susceptible to stripe rust fungus invasion, opening up a new way for breeding disease-resistant wheat.

The "cave dwelling" is also "evolving." "After being transformed into a modern intelligent greenhouse, there are 30 glass greenhouses here, doing different topics," Zhan Gangming couldn't hide his pride, "Focusing on one thing, stripe rust, many scientific researchers have gone from the 'cave dwelling' to the forefront of disciplines."

One side is crisscrossed with gullies, and the other side is lush with vegetation. In the artificial simulated rainfall hall of the Soil and Water Conservation Institute of NWAFU, scientific researchers study the impact of vegetation cover on soil erosion through hydraulic variable slope experimental troughs.

The Soil and Water Conservation Institute of NWAFU, formerly known as the Soil and Water Conservation Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Ministry of Water Resources, has been rooted in Yangling for nearly 70 years. "We ridicule ourselves that our major is both 'water' and 'soil', but in fact, soil and water conservation research has a high gold content," said Wang Fei (王飞), deputy director of the institute, "If you can't endure hardship, don't put in stupid effort, and lack comprehensive thinking, it is difficult to make valuable achievements."

Inspecting the gullies and ridges of the Loess Plateau, Academician Zhu Xianmo (朱显谟) proposed the "28-character strategy," which has become the main basis for soil and water conservation and land consolidation on the Loess Plateau; analyzing the main factors limiting crop yield in the Loess hilly area, Academician Shan Lun (山仑) proposed new viewpoints such as "it is fertilizer, not water," which have achieved significant economic and social benefits in Guyuan (固原), Ningxia (宁夏), and other places...

"Shan Lun, Tang Keli (唐克丽) and other older generation experts still pay attention to the forefront of the industry after retirement. They often call the institute to remind us to face the major needs of the country and organize cutting-edge research," Wang Fei said.

Tempering innovative consciousness will naturally reap the affirmation of the industry.

Entrusted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), researcher Li Rui (李锐) organized Chinese and foreign scientists to draw the first quantitatively analyzed "Global Soil Erosion Mapping." At the beginning of this year, the research team has submitted a technical manual, and data sorting and analysis are being carried out in an orderly manner.

Forming Synergy

Providing More High-Quality Scientific and Technological Supply for Agricultural New Quality Productivity

At the Shaanxi Qinchuan Cattle Industry Co., Ltd. (陕西秦川牛业有限公司) ranch, NWAFU associate researcher Cheng Gong (成功) was busy all day collecting blood samples for chip testing. In July this year, the team led by Cheng Gong developed the "China Yellow Cattle No. 1" 50K breeding chip, achieving a major breakthrough in beef cattle molecular breeding.

"With the independent chip, the selection time can be shortened from 3 to 5 years to less than 3 months, supporting the protection, directional selection and efficient utilization of local yellow cattle breeds," Cheng Gong said.

Why can it break the monopoly? "It depends on the team's long-term hard work, but also on the support of the Yangling Demonstration Zone," said Zan Linsen (昝林森), head of the NWAFU Cattle Industry Science and Technology Innovation Team and director of the National Beef Cattle Improvement Center, Qin Chuan Cattle Industry (秦川牛业), Qinbao Cattle Industry (秦宝牛业) and other companies in Yangling have large-scale beef cattle breeding bases, accumulating rich phenotypic data and gene allele information. The Yangling Demonstration Zone provides special research and development funds, and the two complement each other's advantages, helping research and development run out of "acceleration."

The integration of the district and the school is a characteristic of Yangling's innovative development and a driving force for the integration of education, science and technology, and talent. Zan Linsen said: "The team teachers serve as technical directors in enterprises, bringing subject research into the front line of enterprises; enterprise scientific researchers serve as off-campus tutors for graduate students in schools, imparting front-line experience and helping students grow comprehensively."

Walking into the molecular design breeding laboratory of the Shaanxi Hybrid Rapeseed Research Center (陕西省杂交油菜研究中心), different vegetable experimental rooms are closely connected. Li Ping (李萍), executive deputy director of the Yangling Seed Industry Innovation Center (杨凌种业创新中心), introduced: "We jointly established a seed industry innovation center with universities and co-built a breeding sharing platform with scientific research institutions. The microspore culture technology explored in rapeseed hybrid research has been extended from rapeseed to chili peppers, cabbage, and small green vegetables, shortening the breeding period by about 2/3."

In Yangling, locals say that universities and demonstration zones are like tea and water. Good water activates good tea, and good tea sublimates good water.

In the cultivation display area of the Yangling International Kiwi Innovation and Entrepreneurship Park (杨凌国际猕猴桃创新创业园), Gao Zhixiong (高志雄), the head of the park, introduced that scientific researchers are escorting almost every link from variety improvement, cultivation management to orchard ecology, preservation and ready-to-eat.

The park is planted with new varieties selected by Professor Liu Zhande's (刘占德) team of NWAFU. To solve the pain point that kiwis are difficult to "eat immediately," in 2023, the company and NWAFU experts jointly tackled key problems and developed an oxygen-increasing temperature-controlled pre-ripening warehouse. The pulp fiber is softened, ready to eat, tastes good, and has a shelf life of up to 15 days, which is also convenient for transportation and sales.

At the end of 2024, Yangling will form 10 agricultural science and technology achievement transformation consortia in the form of "enterprise + team + base" and lay out the construction of 50 achievement transformation or demonstration and promotion bases. The coordinated development of districts, schools and enterprises will shorten the distance from technology to the market.

Reform is an indispensable ignition system for igniting a new engine of scientific and technological innovation. In July this year, "China Yangling Agricultural Innovation and Entrepreneurship Fair" ("中国杨凌农创汇") was fully launched. Xue Haibing (薛海兵), director of the Science and Technology Innovation and Transformation Promotion Bureau of the Yangling Demonstration Zone, talked about the vision: to open up the entire chain from research and development, pilot testing and verification to incubation and acceleration, and industrial application, and build an "agricultural innovation T stage" so that scientific and technological innovation achievements can take the "C position" in the industry.

From the establishment of the Yangling Demonstration Zone in 1997 to further optimize the allocation of Yangling's science and technology and education resources, to the Yangling Demonstration Zone taking the lead in piloting in 2009, exploring advanced business models such as moderate-scale agricultural operations and the integrated development of the primary, secondary and tertiary industries in rural areas, Yangling has always been at the forefront of reform. Wang Jun said: "In the future, Yangling will also shoulder the heavy responsibility of developing agricultural new quality productivity and supporting the development of agriculture in arid areas, and it still needs to seek impetus from reform."

Promoting the deep integration of scientific and technological innovation and industrial innovation, high-quality scientific and technological supply is the key.

On the west side of the North Campus of NWAFU, the construction of the Future Agriculture Research Institute is in full swing. The Arid Area Crop Biological Breeding Research Center and the Chemical and Synthetic Biology two scientific research complexes have been completed and will be put into use by the end of this year. "Adapting to the development trend of agriculture, the Future Agriculture Research Institute will build a source of agricultural new quality productivity and support Yangling to become a world education center, talent center and innovation highland for arid area agriculture," said Yu Fei (郁飞), executive deputy director of the NWAFU Future Agriculture Research Institute.

Not long ago, NWAFU established the first Artificial Intelligence and Robotics College in national agricultural and forestry universities to create an innovation engine of "agriculture + intelligence." "Relying on the Future Agriculture Research Institute, we will also continue to optimize the professional layout and promote the integration of discipline settings and industrial needs," said Fang Yulin (房玉林), vice president of NWAFU.

Scientific and technological innovation depends on talent, and talent cultivation depends on education. Education, science and technology, and talent are inherently consistent and mutually supportive. Yangling will continue to move forward in coordinating the integrated development of education, science and technology, and talent.

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Photo Report

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Recently, the "Unmanned Vehicle-Drone" collaborative power inspection system was put into trial operation in Wuhan Economic & Technological Development Zone (武汉经开区), Hubei (湖北). This system, developed by State Grid Wuhan Electric Power Company (国网武汉供电公司), employs an unmanned vehicle to carry a drone, achieving fully automated collaborative operation. It can conduct intelligent inspections of overhead distribution lines. Compared to traditional manual inspections, the number of poles covered per day has increased from 80 to 200, and the efficiency of artificial intelligence image recognition can reach 1050 to 1350 images per day, greatly improving the efficiency and accuracy of power inspections.

Wang Xin (王欣), Mao Sizhe (毛思哲) Photography Report

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Editor in Charge for This Edition: Gu Yekai

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Layout Design: Zhang Danfeng (张丹峰)

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Page 20版:副刊

Dear Football

By: 毕飞宇

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As a "Jiangsu Super League" fan, I admit I felt a bit awkward during the inaugural year of the "Jiangsu Super League." My father's ancestral home originally belonged to Yangzhou (扬州), but was later assigned to Taizhou (泰州); my mother's ancestral home is Nantong (南通); I myself graduated from Yangzhou Normal University (扬州师范学院); I married a wife from Xuzhou (徐州); and I have lived in Nanjing (南京) for 38 years.

Dear "Jiangsu Super League," who am I supposed to support?

On September 6th, the second-ranked Nanjing team and the third-ranked Xuzhou team met at the Nanjing Olympic Sports Center (南京奥体中心). When I left to watch the game, my wife gave me a meaningful look. I yearned to cheer for my Nanjing (南京), but what about my dinner? I couldn't let my mouth, having just demonstrated its shouting function at the Olympic Sports Center (奥体中心), immediately lose its chewing function. Watching the game is one thing, but I can't be 缺心眼 (quē xīn yǎn - "lacking a heart/mind," foolish or thoughtless).

Nanjing Olympic Sports Center (南京奥体中心), Nanjing (南京) versus Xuzhou (徐州), 1-1. There couldn't have been a better result; nothing was delayed.

This match set a new "Jiangsu Super League" record at our Nanjing Olympic Sports Center (南京奥体中心): the number of fans, 60,817. I remember that on October 20, 2012, the attendance record for the Chinese Super League was also set at this venue, with 65,769 people. That day, my son and I were both there, in section 19. As an aside, in our Nanjing Olympic Sports Center (南京奥体中心), section 19 is quite special; every wave of people starts from there. When the fans decide to do something, the 19th section is like a nine-foot wave even without wind. The wave is clockwise, surging along the oval stands. There are no mountains, but the mountains are calling; there is no sea, but the sea is roaring.

The Nanjing (南京) fans can really shout. Then again, where in the world are there fans who don't shout? Unless you're a fake fan. But in this matter of shouting, our "Jiangsu Super League" is unique, because of "competition first, friendship fourteenth," the organizers of the "Jiangsu Super League" have made it a bit more flexible, setting up a procedure at each venue to cheer for the opposing team. This task is usually completed by the stadium's master of ceremonies. Just that night, the emcee said loudly into the microphone: "Let's cheer for the Xuzhou (徐州) team." The Nanjing (南京) fans were very benevolent, cheering for the Xuzhou (徐州) team three times. After those three times, the most touching thing happened: the Nanjing (南京) fans began to shout "jia you" for their own team three times. The emcee said: "Nanjing (南京) team—" and the scene suddenly fell silent, a kind of oppressive, thrilling, fleeting silence; nearly 60,000 people were as quiet as crows and sparrows. Why was it so quiet? As a seasoned fan, I'll reveal the answer: the Nanjing (南京) fans were taking a deep breath. To go all out, a deep breath is essential. The deep breath of nearly 60,000 people brought unparalleled explosive power, rising from the ground, almost since the beginning of time. My goosebumps immediately "stood up like match heads." Yes, that's us Nanjing (南京) people; we pay attention to etiquette, but we won't forget what we should do. If you must ask how much the Nanjing (南京) fans love their team, my answer is this: hey—, it's no big deal, just a deep breath.

In 2025, in the past few months, I have always been asked a question: why is your "Jiangsu Super League" so popular? I have not been able to provide an answer. In fact, I have also asked others this question, and I have not been able to get an answer. But, there is something I know: Jiangsu (江苏), especially Nanjing (南京), has particularly fertile soil for football. How good is it? Let me give you an example: there is a Jiangsu (江苏) writer who lives in Nanjing (南京), and he has written many novels in Nanjing (南京), but in fact, this is a guy who doesn't do his job properly. He pretends to be an intellectual, but spends a lot of time and energy on the football field. He tries his best in every game, often out of breath. Compared to a panting dog, his only difference is that he doesn't stick out his tongue. This person is me.

I came to Nanjing (南京) in the summer when I was 23 years old. How could I have imagined that as soon as I opened the window of my room, there would be a football field of the Nanjing Special Education Normal School (南京特殊教育师范学校) under the window, with withered grass, weeds, and potholes. However, it was standard, upright, and a world of its own. It's no exaggeration to say that, except for the Spring Festival, I didn't have a day when I didn't play football, regardless of wind or snow. As my body aged, I went from playing forward to midfield, and from midfield to defense. But I must say that I played standard amateur football, and when I had some understanding of football, I was already nearly forty years old. It was my amateur refereeing career that helped me—when I was running along the "S" shaped line on the field with a whistle in my hand, as an outsider, I saw the whole picture. I finally saw the direction of the ball, and I think I knew a little bit about what football is. However, what did Mr. Lao She (老舍) say? When you have teeth, you don't have peanuts; when you have peanuts, hey, you don't have teeth.

The most absurd thing in my amateur football career finally came: I actually became a football coach. The matter is not complicated; a group of young people started their own "league," and they asked me to "guide" them. This is a big deal; clearly, I can't run anymore, but my "status" has gone up. But what can I "guide"? There's always a way. I took them to Wutaishan Stadium (五台山体育场), and we watched a Jiangsu (江苏) football team game together. This is how I "guided" them: don't watch the ball, watch the people. What position do you play on the field, you "watch" that position, how they run, you run the same way, who they cooperate with, you cooperate with the same person. Decades have passed, and Hu Wei (胡伟), Wang Shunbao (汪顺宝), and Li Weiqun (李维群), who played in the professional league at Wutaishan Stadium (五台山体育场) back then, are now my friends. How could they have imagined that I, this self-taught "coach," had studied them. I still remember many of their matches vividly.

Because I became a reporter for the *Nanjing Daily* (*南京日报*), I really became a "formal player" in the amateur football world a few times. I also didn't do my job properly at the *Nanjing Daily* (*南京日报*). I always yearned to perform well in "tricky" places. I didn't have the ability to write news, but I was very active in playing football, and I finally represented the *Nanjing Daily* (*南京日报*) to play in the "Mayor's Cup." I still remember the first final I played in; the referee in black led us to the center circle, and we were so nervous that we couldn't breathe. Breathing, what a simple, what a primitive thing, those who have not experienced it can't understand what "can't breathe" is all about. I just want to say to today's "keyboard warriors," respected heroes, many things need to be experienced; the world under your feet is the world, the world under your butt is not. When you have experienced it, it is never too late. Right there on the seven-a-side football field of Gongjiao Yicun (公教一村), we, the *Nanjing Daily* (*南京日报*), won our first championship. There was no award ceremony, no prize money, no audience, but our eyes were filled with tears. —To be honest, football has never brought me anything, except for a body full of injuries, except for the tears in my eyes that fall out with a bump. If you must ask me, what exactly has football given you? I want to say, for the tears in my eyes, everything is worth it. The blurred world is infinitely glorious.

Thank goodness, my son is also a football fan. I am very gratified. On the night before my son went to college, as a father, I talked to him about football for most of the night.

—Do your best to improve your competitiveness and strive for victory. Football is a game, all competitive sports are games, no one plays football to lose. Football satisfies human competitiveness. Bertrand Russell once ruthlessly criticized humanity's desire for competition, which is why football, as a competitive game, is particularly valuable. The boundary of football is the game; everything starts on the field, and everything ends on the field. When a person frantically displays his competitiveness in a game, he is likely to be particularly calm when he leaves the field. Football imitates life, but life is never football. Life happens only once, but football can be repeated over and over again, constantly trying and correcting mistakes, until you are exhausted.

—Accept failure. There is no team that never wins, and there is no football that never loses. The prescribed action for accepting failure is to congratulate the victor; this is not a matter of style, it is related to whether you can go to the field again. The field is used to pursue victory, not to seek revenge. It is difficult to do this, and it is difficult for me to do it myself. It doesn't matter if you can't do it, but when you fail, you must force yourself to go to the victor; this must be done.

—The reason why football is called football is not determined by the ball, but by the rules that define it. You can choose not to play, but if you want to go on the field, you must abide by and maintain these rules. This is the case with a referee, and this is the case without a referee. The rules are sometimes beneficial to you, and sometimes detrimental to you, but, overall, the benefits and disadvantages add up to approximately zero. This zero is not nihilistic; on the contrary, it is fairness.

—You must take responsibility, and sometimes you must stand up. A wonderful football game has a prerequisite: someone will definitely stand up. It can be you, or it can not be you. If it is you, don't be coy.

—Always believe in your teammates, even if they are wrong, continue to believe. There are no eternal friends, but there are eternal teammates. Teammates can be friends, and teammates can not be friends. Opponents may not be friends, but opponents are very likely to become real friends.

—Don't complain. When you are dribbling the ball, someone will definitely block you; this is football. The greater your role on the field, the greater the range and intensity of the defense against you. Not accepting this is not accepting football.

—There is no need to study what a red card is and what a yellow card is. They have nothing to do with football; on the contrary, they are common sense in life. There are many rules in the world, in various forms, but their underlying logic is common sense in life. Spitting on someone's face, kicking someone's crotch, no need to ask, this is a red card. Football is a special kind of life; what life does not allow, football cannot allow either.

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Talking About "Leisure" and "Busy" (Jin Tai Musings)

By: 马 达

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For some time now, I have been pondering a question: how should we handle the relationship between "leisure" and "busy-ness"? The more I think about it, the more I realize there is much to learn. To a certain extent, whether or not we can correctly treat "leisure" and "busy-ness" is actually whether or not we can learn to grasp and utilize time. This concerns the depth and breadth of life and should not be ignored.

Mr. Lu Xun (鲁迅) once said, "Where does genius come from? I use the time others spend drinking coffee on work." This illustrates that his prolific writings relied on busy-ness and diligence. The great painter Qi Baishi (齐白石) even revealed the secret: "Never let a day pass idly." He persisted in creating even at the advanced age of over 90, leaving behind classic works such as "Peonies" (牡丹). Qian Xuesen (钱学森), hailed as the "Father of Chinese Aerospace" and "Father of Chinese Missiles," made tremendous contributions to the motherland in multiple fields such as "Two Bombs, One Satellite" (两弹一星), aerodynamics, and engineering cybernetics. Of course, this also stemmed from diligence far exceeding that of ordinary people. Their experiences tell us that there is no suffering in the world that is not rewarded, nor is there any success that comes easily. 一分耕耘,一分收获 (yī fēn gēng yún, yī fēn shōu huò - "one point of plowing, one point of harvest," you reap what you sow). Whether or not one can master "leisure" and "busy-ness" leads to two completely different realms of life.

In how to treat "leisure" and "busy-ness," the ancients also had some experiences that are quite worthy of our consideration. Let's first talk about "leisure." How did the ancients treat "leisure"? What is impressive is Wang Wei (王维) retiring to Wangchuan (辋川), brewing tea and listening to the rain in the bamboo forest, and watching the hibiscus and sunset in Wangchuan Villa (辋川别业), turning leisure into poetry and painting. Su Shi (苏轼) was demoted to Huangzhou (黄州), where he planted rice seedlings in the fields and enjoyed the moon and boating at Red Cliff (赤壁), turning the leisure of adversity into a breakthrough in life. Obviously, their leisure was not empty dissipation, but an opportunity for the soul to dialogue with heaven and earth, a storage of spiritual energy. It is like the old farmer in his hometown sitting on the ridge smoking during breaks from farming, seemingly doing nothing, but actually observing the growth of the seedlings—a pause connected to the roots of life.

What were the ancients like when they were busy? Li Shizhen (李时珍) traveled all over the mountains and tasted hundreds of herbs, spending 27 years compiling the *Compendium of Materia Medica* (*本草纲目*), every stroke of which was infused with the sincerity of helping the world; Xu Xiake (徐霞客) wore out his straw sandals measuring mountains and rivers, writing *Xu Xiake's Travels* (*徐霞客游记*) through more than 30 years of wind and rain, every step of which was engraved with the persistence of exploring the unknown. Their busy-ness was not blind or impetuous, much like a craftsman polishing jade, every carving moving further towards perfection. They had clear goals, knew why they were busy, and therefore were busy in a down-to-earth and meaningful way.

Looking back at reality, some people's leisure seems very uninteresting. Some people stay up all night playing online games, killing monsters and leveling up in the virtual world, dragging their tired bodies to face the mess of reality at dawn. Some people are addicted to gambling and playing cards, devoting their leisure to the gambling table of desire, ecstatic when they win, and decadent when they lose, eventually losing the confidence to live. There are also people who cannot find their coordinates and position in leisure, immersed in the shackles of fame and fortune, hesitating left and right, with heavy ideological burdens, insufficient discretion in behavior, and some even failing to maintain their integrity in their later years, embarking on the path of illegal and criminal activities.

Some "busy-ness" also seems worth considering. Some primary and secondary school parents blindly encourage their children to attend various extracurricular classes, turning textbooks into memorization templates, but forgetting that knowledge is originally a window to understand the world, ignoring the all-round development of morality, intelligence, physical fitness, aesthetics, and labor. Some people in the workplace spend their energy on endless formalism: implementing meetings with meetings, implementing documents with documents, endless reports to fill out, and endless reports to write. This kind of busy-ness is like a headless fly, seemingly flying fast, but always spinning in place, ultimately leaving only a body of fatigue and a heart full of emptiness.

Busy-ness and leisure should complement each other. Meaningful leisure is a post station for busy-ness, allowing people to settle and think in the pause, accumulating strength for the journey ahead; valuable busy-ness is the foundation of leisure, allowing people to realize themselves in action, adding breadth and depth to life. Like the zither and lute complementing each other, a harmonious movement can only be played with urgency and slowness. Leisure that is elegant and busy-ness that is solid are the chords of the years.

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Moonlight on the Sampan Dwellers' Boats

By: 沈 念

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A row of boats, large and small, were moored in the backwater. I jumped onto the outermost, slightly mottled boat and felt no swaying at all, as if stepping onto a new piece of land.

That was a very special interview in my journalism career, going to East Dongting Lake (东洞庭湖) to write about fishermen celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival.

The interviewee was an old man with a bronze face, his wrinkles like the shimmering waves on the lake under the setting sun.

"Uncle Chen (陈大爹), aren't you resting even during the festival?"

Uncle Chen (陈大爹) looked up and saw me, immediately put down the work of mending the fishing net, turned around and went back to the cabin, took out a mooncake and handed it to me. It was an old-fashioned mooncake sold at the Meixi Bridge (梅溪桥) Market, wrapped in oiled paper and still warm.

The mooncake was brought back by his grandson, Xiaolong (小龙). Xiaolong (小龙) is studying at a university in Changsha (长沙) and is a role model that fishermen in this area often mention when educating their children. The children studying ashore also came back, chasing each other from one boat to another—these boats were connected end to end, tied together with cables, floating on the lake.

"This is called a Lianjia boat," Xiaolong (小龙) told me. "When I was a kid, I always felt embarrassed. Others admired the moon on the rooftop balcony, but we could only look at the moon on the boat." Xiaolong (小龙) was a little shy when he spoke, but his eyes were bright, "But now I think this is the coolest Mid-Autumn Festival in the world."

After dark, the clear light sprinkled down, and the hull seemed to be plated with a layer of silver foil. Some children released lotus leaf lanterns, which was a game for the children. They inserted a small section of red candle in the middle of the lotus leaf, lit it, and gently pushed it into the water. The light flickered, as if a galaxy had fallen into the lake. Xiaolong (小龙) also played this when he was a child. Watching a lantern float by, he squatted by the boat and silently made a wish. I asked him what he wished for. He was silent for a while and said, "I hope Grandpa will agree to live ashore sooner." Xiaolong's (小龙) parents work outside, and they have already bought a house in the county town. The policy also encourages fishermen to go ashore, but Uncle Chen (陈大爹) is reluctant to part with this boat.

The moon rose again. Uncle Chen (陈大爹) changed into a washed-out blue cloth shirt, moved out a small square table, placed a steamed bream in the middle, and prepared to worship the moon. He pointed the head of the fish towards the bow of the boat and said, "I went to the lake at the age of 16, and the people on the boat have followed this custom, symbolizing 'smooth sailing from the start'." The white wine bought from the town was slowly poured on the deck, and the aroma of the wine diffused. "Safe waterways, full of fish and shrimp," Uncle Chen (陈大爹) repeated. The moonlight fell on his graying temples and also covered the deck under his feet, as if the lake was listening to his prayers.

"Time to eat!" With a shout, the Lianjia boats became lively. Each family brought their own dishes—steamed mandarin fish, braised grass carp, silver fish steamed with eggs... The capable fishermen's wives brought the dishes to the cabin of the central open-air boat. Adults took their seats, and children sat on the gunwale with bowls in their hands. After a few drinks, the fishermen sang Dongting (洞庭) fishing songs. Before I knew it, more boats returned, some local and some from other places, crowding the entire backwater. Uncle Chen (陈大爹) said, "If you stand in a high place and look, this bay is like a lotus flower, and a boat is a petal. Tonight, it is in full bloom." At that moment, I suddenly understood that so-called reunion is not necessarily sticking to one place and one house. The reunion of fishermen is interdependence in drifting, and gathering in mobility.

After the joyful meal, someone took out a piece of cut fish-shaped mooncake, with detailed "scales" visible on it. "My old lady would also make this when she was around," Uncle Chen (陈大爹) said, gently stroking the surface of the cake with his fingers. He looked at the twinkling fishing lights on the boat, pointed to Xiaolong's (小龙) back and said, "My grandson asked me to go ashore, but..." He paused, looked up at the moon, and his voice was as soft as the evening breeze, "Once ashore, is the moon still the same moon?"

Not long after, I received a text message from Xiaolong (小龙): "Grandpa agreed to live ashore, but he requires that he must return to the boat to worship the moon every Mid-Autumn Festival."

Many years have passed, and the moonlight on the Lianjia boats is still bright in my heart. That night on the boat became the brightest and most moving night in my Mid-Autumn Festival memories.

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Charming Autumn Scenery

By: 凸 凹

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This is the golden autumn threshing ground.

The thresher rattled, and the winnowing machine called out even more cheerfully—da da, da da da... Like rain, the grains of rice spilled down, proudly arranged in rows, in patches, in layers, and piled into mountains, as if painting the earth with a golden glaze, full and delightful.

An old farmer stood in this world composed of husks, grains, chaff, and dust. He held a bamboo broom in his hand, running back and forth, constantly sweeping back the grains that splashed into the distance. His face was covered with sweat and dust. Dirty sweat flowed into his neck from time to time, and several black, deep sweat marks appeared from his cheeks to the base of his neck. His eyelashes were covered with husks, and his earth-gray trousers and jacket were also covered with husks. His entire head was gray and white, making it difficult to distinguish between his silver hair and the husks. But he was always grinning, smiling so naturally, smiling so heartily, as if all the happiness and joy of his life had suddenly concentrated at this moment and in this place. Sometimes, sweat flowed into his mouth, and he smacked his lips, carefully tasting its flavor, and then grinned again. He said to me, "Who says sweat is salty? I say it's fragrant and sweet, more fragrant than stewed meat on New Year's Eve, and sweeter than rock candy water in the dog days!"

How apt, simple, and real! A careful taste reveals a touch of poetry. No wonder poets with a land complex say: on the land, everyone is a poet. But this poetry is the poetry of labor, the poetry built by sweat. Only laborers can deeply and accurately understand the true meaning of this poetry!

Laborers have the most real feelings for sweat. When sweat flows down, they hardly have time to pay attention to it. Only when their eyes are blurred by sweat do they gently wipe it away. Laborers have never disliked sweat, and even hope that their sweat will flow more, because they know that only by sweating more will the shame of gaining without labor be less.

In fact, people swallow sweat every day. It is sweat that nourishes our bodies, and it is sweat that enriches our spirits.

A seed is sown with sweat, the plant is irrigated green with sweat, the flower is watered open with sweat, and the fruit is condensed with sweat. All year round, what laborers sprinkle on the land is sweat, what nourishes the seedlings is sweat, and what is harvested on the land is also sweat. Every grain of rice, every drop of sweat—sweat is the spiritual food that people depend on for survival!

The sweat that one sows is finally harvested, and one's labor is exchanged for fruit. This is the deepest meaning of that old farmer, smiling happily with sweat!

Saying goodbye to the old farmer and leaving the boiling threshing ground, I walked on the ridge, facing the rustling autumn wind. In autumn, the crops are all harvested, and the earth sleeps quietly. I thought, does the earth not need sweat at this time? But the rumbling sound of mechanized farming coming towards me broke my thoughts. Hardworking people are still shedding sweat. Next spring, will sweat melt the frozen soil again and cultivate the earth's green dream?

In the open space, the autumn wind is blowing tighter and tighter, cool and chilly, able to penetrate thin clothes, making me, who is gradually entering old age, shrink involuntarily. Although my back is to the wind, my eyes are stimulated and become moist. I can't help but think, if the autumn wind could call out a drizzle, wouldn't that be just right, because after the autumn harvest, it is the sowing of winter wheat, and the rain can moisten this dry earth, allowing it to have the ability to re-bloom with new buds, silently nurturing the forbearance and warm spring-like vitality...

A few brown-spotted, wrinkled, and withered yellow leaves chased each other, frolicking in the wind. They seem not to understand the arrival of autumn, or believe that the land itself has power—constantly nurturing the dream of regeneration in silence. The land draws moist green filaments from the desolate withered yellow, and it wants to weave a warm bed.

Looking out over the fields, in the distance, patches of copper-colored fields glow dimly, forming the background color of a grand painting: this is the vastness of the boundless, the boundless of the vastness. In this vast sea, red sails rise, these are seeders, singing cheerful songs in the autumn wind, crocheting huge waves of the sea. The waves raised here, bubbling with bubbles, exuding rising heat, instantly make the ridges, which appear barren due to exposure, become fertile like ointment, and glow with fertile beauty. What a solemn, deep, fulfilling, beautiful, and romantic autumn plowing picture this is!

The autumn wind is still blowing in one go, and a slight warmth is constantly teasing my heart. A vigorous, solid voice suddenly sounded: "The autumn wind is intentional, it calls for the new life!"

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Photo report

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Watercolor Illustration IV from "Jeweled Hairpin," by Zhou Lingzhao (周令钊), collection of the National Art Museum of China.

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Prairie Youth

By: 李 振

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Bite down on a single hoofbeat

And you can read a single strand of mane

That has galloped across the prairie

Past lives and present existences

Each rebirth of vegetation

Is in the moon's silhouette

Covered in silver radiance

This is the uneven descent of the zither's sound

This is the wind's excuse for exile to the ends of the earth

This is the sunset striking the sky

Forcing it to drop

A reason to let fall a sinking sand

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The Jujube Tree in My Hometown

By: 樊希安

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My younger sister came to see me from my hometown of Wen County (温县), Henan (河南), bringing a bag of jujubes, saying they were freshly picked from our family's tree. I ate a few, and they were indeed delicious, crisp and sweet. Eating the jujubes reminded me of the jujube trees in my hometown.

My father was a carpenter who loved planting trees all his life. In my childhood memories, there were more than a dozen trees in the yard behind our main room, four of which were jujube trees. They bloomed with tiny, rice-like flowers every year and bore jujubes every year. The trunks were not very tall or thick, but they were very strong, with an iron-like color. The contribution of the jujube tree lies in its fruit. The trunk is not suitable for timber, but it is very strong and durable when made into handles for various tools and farm implements.

When I was a child, I loved to climb trees, and the jujube tree was not tall, so I could climb up and pick jujubes to eat. When I grew up, I realized that jujube trees don't need to be climbed to pick the jujubes. Most people harvest jujubes by hitting them with wooden poles and bamboo poles. My father said that jujube trees are not afraid of being hit, the more you hit them, the more vigorous they become, and the more jujubes they bear the following year. People have a saying, 有枣没枣打三竿 (yǒu zǎo méi zǎo dǎ sān gān - "whether there are jujubes or not, hit three times with a pole," indicating that jujubes are indeed knocked down from the tree).

The fruits borne by our family's four jujube trees were also different, some large and some small, and different in shape. The tree in front of the mill bore small jujubes, called "Ling Jujubes (灵枣)," I don't know if it is an abbreviation for Lingbao Jujubes (灵宝小枣). The jujubes borne by the oldest jujube tree were called "Kangbudan (糠不蛋)," which were larger and had a crispy taste. The jujubes produced by our family's jujube trees, in addition to being eaten by ourselves, were mostly given to relatives, friends, and neighbors. In addition to being eaten fresh, they were also dried and used for steaming buns during the New Year and festivals. They can be made into jujube cakes or steamed jujube mountains, changing various patterns, which are not only delicious but also beautiful. A red jujube is inlaid on top of a large steamed bun, which is bright red and immediately invigorates the bun.

Jujube trees are not common in every rural household. My neighbor, Uncle Dashan (大山), had a large yard and planted many jujube trees. He didn't install a gate, and during the jujube ripening season, anyone could pick them. The yard was full of people, just like the "picking" that is popular today. The old clan chief, Grandpa Wan Kui (万魁), had a large jujube tree in his backyard, which was very old, probably several decades or hundreds of years old. The jujubes it bore were very large, each the size of a child's fist. Because there was no courtyard wall in his backyard, some of us teenagers often went to "steal" jujubes to eat. The tree was too tall, and the poles couldn't reach, so we picked up broken bricks and threw them at the jujube tree, dropping more than a dozen jujubes each time. Every time he heard the noise, Grandpa Wan Kui (万魁) would come out of the back door of the house with a cane, standing and scolding with a smile: Which rascal is stealing jujubes again! But he didn't chase us, letting people pick up the jujubes and leave. Later, it was discovered that the bricks used to throw the jujubes were actually provided by Grandpa Wan Kui (万魁). When no one was around, he would gather the scattered bricks on the ground with his cane and place them where the jujube pickers could easily reach them. From this, we can see the kindness of a rural old man.

In previous years, our family's old courtyard house was renovated, and some of the original trees, including the jujube trees, were cleared away. The original scenery is gone, and the jujube trees have become my memory. A few years ago, my nephew planted two jujube trees in the front yard. The current jujube tree varieties are good, and they bear fruit quickly. They bore fruit in the same year they were planted, and they were very lush, with the fruits breaking the branches. I told him that this was the result of him not "pressing the jujube branches." In order to prevent the jujube trees from growing too tall or "growing wildly," we used to "press the jujube branches" every spring in our hometown. "March 3rd, press the jujube branches," every time this happened, my father would use an axe to cut a few times on the lower part of the jujube tree trunk, so that the nutrients of the tree could not be transported to the upper part too quickly. This is common sense passed down from the older generation. My nephew said, I know, I will press the jujube branches next spring.

The branches of the jujube tree have thorns, which we call "thorn bumps (刺疙针)" in our hometown, and it hurts a lot when they prick people. It has both sweet fruits and its own sharp edges, which is the character of the jujube tree.

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This edition's editors: Zhang Jian, Zhou Shuyi

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This edition's email: dadi@peopledaily.cn

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