Summary: During an inspection in Anhui on October 18, 2024, Xi Jinping stressed the need to build a comprehensive innovation system, integrate reforms in education, science and technology, and talent, improve financial support for technological innovation, and promote the deep integration of the innovation, industrial, capital, and talent chains. Hefei is actively implementing these directives by optimizing its science and technology innovation ecosystem, increasing the number of major science facilities, and promoting the commercialization of scientific and technological achievements. The city is also focusing on talent acquisition and development and using financial investments to stimulate innovation. The article does not discuss the United States.
Summary: The article focuses on the success of the apple industry in Yan'an, Shaanxi province, highlighting Xi Jinping's endorsement of apple cultivation as a suitable industry for the region during his 2022 visit. It emphasizes the area's commitment to high-quality apple production through technological innovation, standardized management, and advanced sorting techniques. A key aspect of the article is the "space apple" program, where Yan'an apples are sent to the Chinese space station, boosting the brand's value. The program has contributed to poverty alleviation and rural revitalization in the area. The article also alludes to future research and development of new apple varieties potentially cultivated in space.
Summary: The Hainan Free Trade Port officially initiated island-wide customs closure on December 18th, with the value of imported goods under the "zero tariff" policy reaching 360 million yuan on the first day. China's Free Trade Zones (FTZs) are contributing significantly to the nation's foreign investment and trade volume by promoting reform and development through greater openness. FTZs, such as those in Shanghai and Xinjiang, are implementing measures like negative lists for data export to facilitate cross-border data flow and are fostering innovation in key industries such as engineering machinery. These zones aim to align with international trade rules, especially in emerging areas like digital economy. A Commerce Ministry official stated that FTZs will be encouraged to conduct more explorations and achieve "three improvements" in the level of institutional opening up, the effectiveness of systemic reform, and the quality of an open economy.
Summary: The article discusses Chongqing's expansion of its occupational injury insurance pilot program for workers in new employment forms, such as delivery drivers, who are not under traditional labor contracts. Chongqing is expanding the pilot program, aiming for broader coverage and streamlined application processes. Hu Jing, a member of the Chongqing Municipal Human Resources and Social Security Bureau, emphasized the importance of improving the social security system to enhance people's sense of security and well-being. The goal is to include more industries in the pilot program by 2027. The article makes no mention of the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: China's energy sector saw robust investment growth in 2023, estimated at 3.54 trillion yuan, up 11% year-on-year, driven by nuclear power, wind, solar, and grid projects. Private sector investment played a significant role, increasing by 15%. The government established mechanisms to facilitate private sector participation in nuclear power, with new projects incorporating up to 20% private equity. Private firms were also encouraged to invest in hydropower, oil & gas pipelines, and coal mining projects. There is no mention of the United States or U.S.-China relations in the article.
Summary: The world's first commercial supercritical carbon dioxide power generation unit, "Super Carbon One," began operation at Shougang Shuigang Group in Liupanshui, Guizhou. Developed by China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC), this demonstration project signifies the commercialization of supercritical carbon dioxide power generation technology. The "Super Carbon One" utilizes supercritical carbon dioxide as a working fluid, improving power generation efficiency by over 85% and net power generation by over 50% compared to sintering waste heat steam power generation technology. Supercritical carbon dioxide is believed to be one of the most promising working fluids for medium and high heat source temperature scenarios.
Summary: Between 2020 and 2024, the number of large-scale enterprises in China's machinery industry increased from 99,000 to 132,000, reaching 137,000 by the end of October this year. The average annual growth rate of the added value of the machinery industry since the "14th Five-Year Plan" has been 7.1%, with a growth rate of 8.7% in the first three quarters of this year. The industry's operating income exceeded 30 trillion yuan for the first time in 2024, reaching 31.5 trillion yuan, accounting for 22.9% of the country's total industry. Foreign trade in the machinery industry has steadily improved, with the total import and export volume of goods exceeding one trillion US dollars for four consecutive years during the "14th Five-Year Plan" period.
Summary: This article appears to highlight two features: a lecture discussing "the Way of the Great Learning" (大学之道) and a year-end special feature titled "On the Road to a Strong Military: Time Engraves Passion and Glory." The "Great Learning" lecture is featured on the fifth page, and the military feature on the sixth. There is no indication of U.S. or U.S.-China relations in the provided information.
Summary: Li Ganjie, a member of the Politburo and head of the United Front Work Department, addressed a seminar for representatives of the private sector on studying the spirit of the 20th Fourth Plenary Session and the Central Economic Work Conference. Li emphasized the importance of understanding the historical context of China's development and aligning with the Party's major decisions to contribute to national rejuvenation through Chinese-style modernization. He also urged private sector representatives to embrace Xi Jinping's guidance on prioritizing national interests, focusing on core businesses, and fulfilling social responsibilities. The seminar, co-organized by the United Front Work Department and the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, was attended by over 80 private sector representatives, with officials from various ministries providing specialized instruction. There is no mention of the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: Li Shulei, a member of the Politburo and head of the Central Propaganda Department, addressed the National Conference on Cultural Talent Work and an awards ceremony for outstanding groups and individuals in the national propaganda system in Beijing. Attendees emphasized the importance of cultivating a large, well-structured, and innovative high-level cultural talent pool, following Xi Jinping's directives on cultural talent development since the 18th Party Congress. They stressed the need for top-level design and innovative measures to cultivate leading cultural figures and emerging talents in areas such as popular arts and cultural technology. Tie Ning, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, presided over the meeting, while State Councilor Chen Yiqin attended and announced the commendation decisions.
Summary: During a Jiangsu visit, Chen Wenqing emphasized the need for the province's legal and political organs to thoroughly study and implement Xi Jinping's directives from various key meetings, including those on the rule of law. Chen stressed strengthening political construction and upholding the Party's absolute leadership, particularly in relation to maintaining social stability and preventing risks during the year-end and beginning. Chen urged enhanced efforts in combating telecommunications fraud and drug crimes, while also improving grassroots governance and addressing juvenile delinquency. Chen also convened a meeting with provincial leaders to solicit advice on the 2026 political and legal work plan.
Summary: According to an interview with Minister of Culture and Tourism Sun Yeli, China aims to build a strong socialist culture and tourism sector, enhancing national soft power and the influence of Chinese culture. Sun emphasized promoting cultural confidence, providing high-quality cultural services, and integrating culture and tourism to drive economic and social development. The Ministry plans to strengthen international cultural exchanges, promote Chinese culture globally, and improve inbound tourism through enhanced services and promotion. This includes focusing on traditional festivals and utilizing digital platforms to broaden the reach of Chinese cultural symbols. The interview did not mention the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: The China National Democratic Construction Association (CNDCA) convened its 17th Central Committee's fourth plenary session in Beijing on December 20th. Chairman He Wei delivered a work report on behalf of the Standing Committee, outlining the CNDCA's activities in 2025, including studying the spirit of the 20th CPC Central Committee's fourth plenary session and launching an education campaign focused on conduct and image. He Wei stated that in 2025, the CNDCA focused on serving the overall situation and leveraging its unique advantages in advising on the "15th Five-Year Plan" and cultivating new quality productive forces. He Wei emphasized that in 2026, the CNDCA will continue to contribute to the successful implementation of the "15th Five-Year Plan." Yang Zhen, Executive Vice Chairman of the CNDCA Central Committee, presided over the meeting.
Summary: China's National Development and Reform Commission, State Administration for Market Regulation, and Cyberspace Administration of China jointly issued the "Internet Platform Price Behavior Rules" to promote innovation and healthy development in the platform economy. The rules, finalized after a public consultation period, aim to regulate price competition, protect business pricing autonomy, and safeguard consumer rights regarding pricing transparency and automatic payment services. Implementation is slated for April 10, 2026, allowing platforms time to adjust their practices. Major platform operators will conduct self-inspections to ensure compliance with the new regulations. The article does not reference the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: A winter solstice folk parade featuring boat drums and fish lanterns was held in Zhenhai District, Ningbo City, Zhejiang Province, attracting locals and tourists. The event aimed to showcase local customs. The article does not mention specific officials or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: The inaugural "Little CIIE" trade fair, officially named the "Imported Excellent Products Fair," was held in Shanghai from December 19-21, extending the impact of the main CIIE event. According to China International Import Expo Bureau Deputy Director Wu Zhengping, the event aims to expand imports, amplify the CIIE's spillover effects, and promote consumption upgrades. Over 700 companies from more than 60 countries and regions participated, showcasing consumer goods like food and daily necessities. The fair is open to the public, allowing consumers to purchase imported goods and promoting the transformation of exhibits into commodities. The article does not mention the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: A Chinese company is constructing a 72-kilometer ring road in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, a project jointly overseen by President Félix Tshisekedi and Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka. Financed by Sino-Congolese cooperation, the project aims to alleviate severe traffic congestion in the capital, where the existing infrastructure is overwhelmed. The Chinese team adapted construction techniques to local conditions, including developing heat-resistant asphalt and stabilizing slopes. The project has already created over 3,000 local jobs and provided skills training, with newly completed sections already improving commute times and boosting local business. The new ring road is expected to divert 30% of Kinshasa's traffic flow, improving transport efficiency.
Summary: The article highlights China's commitment to fostering international understanding through the "New Sinology Plan." This plan, initiated in 2013, supports the training of young sinologists worldwide, aiming to cultivate experts who can bridge cultural understanding. Xi Jinping responded to a letter from young sinologists, encouraging them to be ambassadors between China and the world. The "New Sinology Plan" has sponsored research programs, courses, and conferences, fostering a new generation of scholars to promote cross-cultural dialogue. The author emphasized the need for China to continue implementing the plan to cultivate more sinologists who can promote mutual understanding.
Summary: An event was held in Algiers to recognize young Algerian and Chinese "cultural ambassadors" who shared stories of China-Algeria cooperation through new media. Organized by Sinopec, the event awarded five Algerians the title of "China-Arab Youth Cultural Ambassador" after a competition involving short videos. Algerian Minister of Culture and Arts Malika Bendouda, who attended the event, highlighted the importance of cultural exchange in building bridges between the two nations. Guo Jianjun, Economic and Commercial Counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Algeria, emphasized the long-standing friendship between China and Algeria and the importance of youth in continuing this relationship.
Summary: Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo JiaKun stated that Japan should acknowledge and reflect on its history, addressing historical issues with sincerity and responsibility to gain the trust of its Asian neighbors and the international community. This statement came in response to a question about Japan's report to UNESCO regarding the Sado gold mine, which did not mention the forced labor of Koreans. Guo emphasized that the forced labor of Chinese, Korean Peninsula, and other Asian laborers was a serious crime committed by Japanese militarism during its aggression and colonial rule. Guo further said that Japan should take concrete actions to earn the trust of its neighbors. The article does not mention the United States or US-China relations.
Summary: AIIB President Jin Liqun stated that the AIIB is committed to multilateralism, improving people's livelihoods, promoting sustainable development, and contributing to global sustainable development. He highlighted China's support for the AIIB, emphasizing President Xi Jinping's vision of it as a professional, efficient, and clean multilateral development bank. Jin noted the AIIB's expansion to 111 members and its approval of 360 projects with over $69 billion in financing. Jin also mentioned the AIIB's focus on connectivity, climate change, and sustainable development, and its collaboration with other institutions to address global challenges. No mention of the United States or U.S.-China relations was made in the article.
Summary: The 2025 International Forum on the Dissemination of Chinese Culture was held in Beijing under the theme of "Confidence, Inclusiveness, and Innovation," focusing on enhancing the communication and influence of Chinese civilization. The forum included the release of the "Research Report on the International Dissemination of Chinese Culture (2025)" and the launch of an "integrated space-ground interactive cultural communication platform" centered around the "Youxi" satellite. Participants discussed innovative approaches for Chinese culture to "go global," including parallel forums on music, poetry, and intangible cultural heritage. The forum was jointly hosted by organizations including the China Foreign Languages Publishing Administration's Cultural Communication Center and the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles' International Liaison Department. The event did not address US-China relations or the United States directly.
Summary: The article discusses a free vocational skills training program in Lanzhou, Gansu, organized by the Gansu Women's Federation and implemented through "March 8th Red Flag" domestic service stations. The program aims to improve the skills of domestic workers, offering training in areas like infant care, etiquette, communication, and appliance operation. One beneficiary, Gao Xin, used the training to obtain an "Advanced Infant Caregiver" certificate and secure more stable employment. Over 10,000 women have participated in the training this year, with over 80% passing the assessment.
Summary: The article discusses the importance of vocational skills training for improving employment prospects and career development in China. It highlights how practical and effective skills training can increase employment quality and enable individuals to pursue professional goals, using the example of a domestic worker in Lanzhou. The piece emphasizes that skills training should align with market demands and offer opportunities for advancement. Ultimately, the article advocates for expanded and improved vocational training to support individual livelihoods and contribute to broader economic and social development in China. There is no discussion or allusion to the United States or U.S.-China relations in this article.
Summary: Two highway toll stations in Zunyi, Guizhou were renamed to promote the Wujiang Village tourist area, which had been a tourism-driven poverty alleviation project. The project stalled in 2019 due to funding shortages after initial construction began in 2016. To revive the project, authorities restructured management and introduced private capital, leading to the establishment of a mixed-ownership operation mechanism. The revitalized Wujiang Village, with a focus on local culture and experiences, has boosted tourism and local employment, integrating nearby towns to develop tourism. The success of Wujiang Village is being replicated across Guizhou to revitalize other idle tourism assets.
Summary: Macau celebrated the 26th anniversary of its return to China with a flag-raising ceremony and reception. Macau SAR Chief Executive Cen Haohui stated that Macau will proactively align with national development strategies, following Xi Jinping's directives, to contribute to China's development and rejuvenation. Cen also emphasized prioritizing national security, promoting administrative reform, and building a modern legal system for improved governance. The reception was attended by approximately 1,000 people, including NPC Vice Chairman He Houhua, Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in Macau Zheng Xincong, and other officials. Cen called for building a "clean, efficient, and promising" service-oriented government.
Summary: The "Most Painting - The 4th Chinese Youth Oil Painting Exhibition" opened at the Inner Mongolia Art Museum in Hohhot on December 20th. Co-sponsored by the Chinese Oil Painting Society and the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Federation of Literary and Art Circles, the exhibition features 216 selected oil paintings. The article includes a photograph of visitors viewing the artwork. No officials were mentioned as attending, and the U.S. and U.S.-China relations were not discussed.
Summary: The 2026 Global Times Annual Conference was held in Beijing under the theme "The World Can Trust China: New Journey, New Opportunities," with People's Daily Deputy Editor-in-Chief Cui Shixin delivering a keynote speech. The conference featured discussions on China's role as a predictable, empowering, civilized, and symbiotic nation, focusing on China's governance and its global impact, particularly regarding the "15th Five-Year Plan." During the conference, the Global Times released survey results on "Chinese People's Views of the World". The annual forum, in its 15th year, serves as a platform for dialogue between Chinese academia and the media.
Summary: During an inspection in Anhui on October 18, 2024, Xi Jinping emphasized the need to construct mechanisms supporting comprehensive innovation, integrate reforms in education, science, technology, and talent, improve financial support for technological innovation, and deeply integrate the innovation, industrial, capital, and talent chains. Hefei is implementing these directives by optimizing its science and technology innovation ecosystem, focusing on major scientific facilities and emerging industries like quantum information and fusion energy. The city is also promoting the commercialization of scientific and technological achievements through new models and fostering talent development. Financial support, including venture capital funds, is being used to nurture innovative enterprises and drive industrial growth.
Summary: The article focuses on the development of the apple industry in Yan'an, Shaanxi province, highlighting Xi Jinping's endorsement of apple cultivation as a suitable industry for the region during his October 2022 visit. It details how Yan'an is working to develop a high-quality apple industry, including cultivating new breeds and improving quality control. The article also mentions how Yan'an apples have been sent to space with Shenzhou spacecrafts, and the apples' contribution to the end of poverty in the region. Finally, the article looks forward to further development of the apple industry and the potential for space-cultivated apples.
Summary: Beijing added 115 new postdoctoral research stations this year, primarily in technology-driven enterprises. Over 60% of these new stations focus on strategic emerging industries like new energy, AI, and biomedicine. The Beijing Municipal Human Resources and Social Security Bureau provided training on management policies and operational strategies for the new stations. The city aims to optimize support systems and integrate resources to stimulate postdoctoral innovation and promote the integration of industry, academia, and research. The article does not mention the United States or U.S.-China relations.
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Summary: The article discusses the popularity of lectures among Chinese university students, highlighting their proactive pursuit of knowledge and skill development beyond coursework. Students seek lectures on cutting-edge technology like AI and brain-computer interfaces, career planning, and personal growth. Several universities, including Renmin University, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Zhengzhou University, Xiamen University, and Nanchang University, are mentioned for their lecture series. Experts emphasize that lectures should be tailored to student needs, encouraging dialogue and incorporating modern technological tools. The article makes no mention of the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: A recent article discusses the increasing popularity of theater, particularly traditional plays and operas, among Chinese youth (post-90s and 00s). Young people are drawn to theaters not only for entertainment but also for social connection, emotional release, and exploration of personal anxieties. Traditional theatrical forms are attracting younger audiences through innovative and modern adaptations, addressing contemporary issues and incorporating youth preferences. The trend signifies a mutually beneficial relationship, as theaters adapt to attract young audiences, and young people inject vitality into the performing arts. The article does not mention the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: An unnamed "post-95" community worker in Shanghai's Yangpu District, Changhai Road Subdistrict, reflects on their four years of experience, emphasizing the importance of balancing practical matters with emotional needs in community work. The worker describes mediating disputes over renovations, assisting residents with housing problems, and organizing volunteer services like haircuts and medical consultations. They highlight the significance of building trust and treating residents like family. The article does not mention the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: The article reports on the impact of a program that has placed over 8400 young, university-educated doctors in rural Chinese villages. These village doctors are utilizing technology like smart health management platforms and telemedicine to improve healthcare access and manage chronic diseases. They focus on preventative care and health education, using accessible language and tailored approaches to improve patient adherence. The program provides training and resources to these doctors, enabling them to treat common illnesses and chronic conditions within the villages. The initiative aims to improve the quality and accessibility of healthcare in rural areas by attracting and retaining younger, more educated medical professionals.
Summary: Please provide the article you would like me to summarize. I need the text of the article to provide an accurate and relevant summary tailored for professional analysts of Chinese politics.
Summary: This article highlights key moments in the PLA's modernization efforts in 2025, emphasizing loyalty, dedication, and the pursuit of military dreams. It mentions the commissioning of China's first electromagnetic catapult-equipped aircraft carrier, the Fujian, and successful launch and recovery drills of J-15T and J-35 warplanes. The article also touches on border defense, flood control, and international peacekeeping missions, showcasing the commitment and sacrifices of ordinary soldiers. It concludes by stressing the importance of accelerating the PLA's transformation into a world-class military to achieve the centennial goal, while underscoring the importance of technological innovation.
Summary: Please provide the article you would like me to summarize. I need the text of the article to be able to provide a summary tailored to professional analysts of Chinese politics, focusing on key details and US-China relations where relevant.
Summary: China UnionPay officially launched the "Nihao China" app at the China International Travel Mart on December 19th, designed to address issues faced by inbound travelers related to currency exchange, payment, and communication. The app aims to streamline the inbound travel experience through digital integration, offering a comprehensive platform with payment, travel, and lifestyle services. It supports international bank cards like Visa and Mastercard, covers various online and offline payment scenarios, and offers real-time currency conversion. The app also includes features like transportation codes for multiple cities, tax refunds, and integration with scenic spot reservation systems. The initiative is intended to support China's opening-up policy and facilitate international exchanges.
Summary: An exhibition titled "A Century of Chinese Sketching" showcases the evolution of sketching in China since the 20th century, highlighting its integration into the Chinese art education system and the debates surrounding realism versus modernism. The exhibition explores the integration of Western sketching techniques with traditional Chinese art, focusing on how Chinese artists adapted Western concepts of line, form, and space to incorporate Chinese aesthetics and philosophies. It emphasizes the transformation of "xie sheng" (描绘, sketching from life) and the creative process, demonstrating how sketching has enriched Chinese painting, particularly in figure painting, and influenced the sinicization of other Western art forms. The author reflects on the struggles and efforts of art predecessors in the exploration of the integration of Chinese and Western art. The author argues that the integration shows the cultural tradition of China, which is not afraid of the challenges of heterogeneous factors, but can transform them into artistic nutrition for their own evolution with their broad mind and super digestive ability.
Summary: This article discusses the significance of the winter solstice in Chinese culture, drawing upon historical records, paintings, and poems. It highlights the traditions of observing natural phenomena, celebrating with friends, and commemorating ancestors through rituals and art. The article references paintings such as Qianlong Emperor's "Dissection of Deer Antlers" and Shen Zhou's "Tomb Scenery," illustrating the cultural importance of the winter solstice, and the ways it was memorialized by people such as Gu Ying, a Yuan Dynasty poet. The author reflects on the enduring power of these traditions and their connection to themes of remembrance and the anticipation of spring. There is no mention of the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: The article discusses the "Eight Views of Xidi" album painted by Hu Guangshuo in 1691, showcasing the beauty of the ancient Anhui village of Xidi through different artistic techniques and seasonal depictions. It analyzes how Hu constructed an aesthetic representation of Xidi's natural landscapes and cultural elements, reflecting his appreciation of nature and literati interests. The article connects Hu's work to the broader tradition of landscape album painting in the Ming and Qing dynasties, emphasizing the integration of poetry and painting. It argues that while modern transportation has broadened people's horizons, it raises the question of whether contemporary artistic expression can match the depth and significance of traditional landscape painting. There is no mention of the United States or U.S.-China relations in this article.
Summary: A Sino-Italian cultural exchange project, the "Contemporary Glass Art Workshop," was jointly hosted by Tsinghua University's Academy of Arts & Design and the Berengo Foundation of Italy to promote innovation in glass art. The workshop brought together glass art masters from Murano, Italy, alongside Chinese and foreign artists, designers, and students. Participants explored the artistic potential of glass, emphasizing its capacity for cultural expression and aesthetic value beyond mere functionality. The event underscored the importance of craftsmanship and cross-cultural collaboration in pushing the boundaries of glass art. No mention of the United States was present in the article.
Summary: Recent years have witnessed a surge in "写意" (xieyi, or freehand/expressive) oil painting exhibitions and a growing community of artists dedicated to its creation and research, forming regionally distinct academic groups. This trend signifies a continued exploration of the sinicization of oil painting, with artists drawing inspiration from traditional Chinese culture and aesthetics. Prominent figures such as 范迪安, 戴士和, and 张冬峰 are contributing to this movement through their unique approaches to brushwork and color. The movement emphasizes capturing the spirit of subjects rather than mere representational accuracy, aligning with traditional Chinese artistic principles. The article frames this as a conscious effort by Chinese oil painters to uphold cultural subjectivity and connect with local culture and the spirit of the times.
Summary: This query requires an article to summarize. Please provide the article content so I can generate the summary for professional analysts of Chinese politics.
Summary: This brief notice from the *People's Daily* provides contact information for the "Military Perspective" (军事锋芒) section of the newspaper, including an email address for submissions and feedback. It also includes a design credit for the section's header image. There is no discussion of Chinese politics, specific events, officials, or U.S.-China relations.
By: 本报记者 张志锋 田先进
"Build a system and mechanism to support comprehensive innovation, coordinate the integrated reform of the education, science and technology, and talent systems and mechanisms, improve the policies and mechanisms for financial support of scientific and technological innovation, and promote the deep integration of the innovation chain, industrial chain, capital chain, and talent chain."
——October 18, 2024, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) pointed out during his inspection in Anhui (安徽)
The orange-red fire ring is "locked" into the tank, and it continuously generates energy as it spins rapidly.
This year, the "artificial sun" of Hefei (合肥) Science Island (科学岛), Anhui (安徽)—the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST)—achieved a high-confinement mode plasma operation of 1066 seconds at 100 million degrees Celsius. Around EAST, the Comprehensive Research Facility for Key Systems of Fusion Reactor Host, and the Compact Fusion Energy Experimental Device, Hefei (合肥) is laying out the construction of an Energy Research Institute, and a hundred-billion-level fusion energy industry cluster is accelerating its formation.
On October 18, 2024, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) pointed out during his inspection in Anhui (安徽): "Build a system and mechanism to support comprehensive innovation, coordinate the integrated reform of the education, science and technology, and talent systems and mechanisms, improve the policies and mechanisms for financial support of scientific and technological innovation, and promote the deep integration of the innovation chain, industrial chain, capital chain, and talent chain."
Deeply implementing the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping's (习近平) important instructions, Hefei (合肥) continues to optimize the scientific and technological innovation ecosystem. The total number of large scientific installations that have been built, are under construction, and are in pre-research has reached 13. The three major science and technology innovation highlands of quantum information, fusion energy, and deep space exploration continue to enhance the city's innovation capabilities. The number of national high-tech enterprises in the city remains stable at over 10,000, and the intensity of R&D investment exceeds 4%.
Integrating science, education, and industry to accelerate the transformation of achievements from "bookshelves" to "shelves."
Hefei (合肥) Zhongke Zhiqi Information Technology Co., Ltd. has a "box" suspended above a bed. Users do not need to wear electrodes or remove clothing to complete an electrocardiogram monitoring while lying in bed.
"The 'box' is based on our independently developed non-contact ECG generation technology, which uses millimeter-wave radar technology to achieve high-precision heart activity monitoring," said Chen Yan (陈彦), professor at the University of Science and Technology of China (中国科学技术大学) and chairman of Hefei (合肥) Zhongke Zhiqi Information Technology Co., Ltd.
Thanks to the school's new model of promoting scientific and technological achievements of duty-related inventions with "empowerment + transfer + agreed income," the technology completed the relevant procedures in 3 months and gradually realized industrial application.
"About 80% of the ownership of duty-related scientific and technological achievements is granted to scientific researchers, which fully stimulates their enthusiasm," said Wang Fengchao (王奉超), deputy director of the Technology Achievement Transformation Office of the University of Science and Technology of China (中国科学技术大学). At present, scientific researchers throughout the school have transferred 76 scientific and technological achievements through the new model, and 69 new or capital-increased enterprises have been established. This innovative model is being promoted to 106 scientific research institutes throughout the province.
"Attracting talents" and "cultivating talents" go hand in hand. Hefei (合肥) has added more than 30,000 high-level talents in the past three years. The innovation and entrepreneurship platform, USTC (中国科学技术大学) Silicon Valley (科大硅谷), has precisely connected with more than 15,000 alumni. Connecting production, learning, research, and application, scientific research institutions and enterprises send personnel to each other for temporary positions. Matching talent supply and demand, about 70% of the majors closely related to emerging industries in Hefei's (合肥) provincial undergraduate colleges and universities...
Using investment to attract investment, financial "living water" nourishes innovation.
Through the scanning electron microscope independently developed by Hefei (合肥) Guojing Instrument Technology Co., Ltd., every tiny hibiscus pollen is clearly visible. "At the beginning of the company's establishment, there was a lack of financial support. USTC (中国科学技术大学) Silicon Valley (科大硅谷) directly invested 5 million yuan, and subsequently connected many commercial investments," recalled Fang Xiaowei (方小伟), the person in charge of the company. In 2023, the company settled in USTC (中国科学技术大学) Silicon Valley (科大硅谷) and completed the leap from laboratory technology to application products in just one year. "The total amount of orders this year is expected to exceed 10 million yuan."
BOE (京东方), Changxin Memory (长鑫存储), NIO (蔚来汽车)... Multiple hundred-billion-level "industrial landmarks" are all irrigated by financial "living water." Hefei (合肥) has established a total of 4 billion yuan of angel and seed fund groups, investing in more than 360 projects, with a cumulative capital amplification factor of more than 7 times. Created a "common growth plan" for financial support of technology-based enterprises to help banks and enterprises cooperate; 17 science and technology financial workstations integrate financing docking and policy publicity, achieving full coverage of counties and districts.
"Adhering to long-termism, Hefei (合肥) uses state-owned capital as the lead investment to drive social capital to follow suit, cultivate leading enterprises, and drive the development of the entire industrial chain," said Jiang Xin (江鑫), secretary of the Party Committee and chairman of Hefei (合肥) Industry Investment Group.
Hardcore support to strengthen scientific and technological soft services.
"Professor Gong Wei's (龚伟) team, which is committed to the research of passive high-precision sensing systems, has finally established a company." Wang Ruifang (王瑞芳), a technology manager at the Anhui (安徽) Innovation Hall (安徽创新馆), could not hide her excitement, behind which is her three consecutive years of professional service: when there is a lack of scenarios for technology verification, she strives to promote extensive testing; when there is a lack of funds for start-ups, she helps to contact government-guided funds...
"We have trained nearly 4,000 certified technology managers like Wang Ruifang (王瑞芳). They are a key link in helping the deep integration of the innovation chain and the industrial chain," said Chen Lin (陈林), director of the Service Management Center of the Anhui (安徽) Innovation Hall (安徽创新馆). "We always adhere to the principle of market-oriented allocation of scientific and technological elements, build an efficient and collaborative scientific and technological achievement transformation service system, and promote the transaction amount of scientific and technological achievement transformation to exceed 167 billion yuan."
Hefei (合肥) continues to promote the development of the science and technology service industry, establish a professional science and technology service network, and has cumulatively served nearly 200 industrial parks in the province. It took the lead in initiating the establishment of the National Science and Technology Market Alliance, and the first batch of member units covers institutions in many places across the country, such as the China Technology Exchange and the Shanghai Technology Exchange.
The "15th Five-Year Plan" proposal puts forward the idea of "laying out the construction of regional science and technology innovation centers and industrial science and technology innovation highlands." The Central Economic Work Conference proposed to "adhere to innovation-driven development and accelerate the cultivation and expansion of new driving forces."
"Bearing in mind General Secretary Xi Jinping's (习近平) earnest entrustment, Hefei (合肥) will focus on the industrial chain, adhere to investing early, investing in small businesses, investing for the long term, and investing in hard technology, and continue to optimize the scientific and technological innovation ecosystem," said Fei Gaoyun (费高云), member of the Standing Committee of the Anhui (安徽) Provincial Party Committee and Secretary of the Hefei (合肥) Municipal Party Committee.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 张 铁 张丹华
"The climate, sunlight, latitude, and altitude of northern Shaanxi are very suitable for developing apple cultivation." "Vigorously developing the apple planting industry can be described as having the right timing, geographical advantages, and harmonious human relations. This is the best and most suitable industry, with great prospects."
——Xi Jinping (习近平) emphasized during his inspection in Yan'an (延安), Shaanxi (陕西) on October 26, 2022.
At 12:11 on November 25, the Shenzhou-22 (神舟二十二号) spacecraft soared into the sky. Among the "space express" deliveries to the space station were apples from Yan'an (延安), Shaanxi (陕西). This marks the twelfth "heavenly journey" for Yan'an (延安) apples.
In June 2021, the Shenzhou-12 (神舟十二号) spacecraft carried Yan'an (延安) apples on their first "heavenly journey," making the statement "astronauts can only eat freeze-dried fruit in space" a thing of the past.
"'Flying apples' have become our new gold standard!" said Wang Ying (王颖), a researcher at Shaanxi Huasheng Modern Agriculture Group Co., Ltd. (陕西华圣现代农业集团有限公司), with great pride. The apples carried by the Shenzhou-22 (神舟二十二号) spacecraft came from Huasheng Modern Agriculture Group's (华圣现代农业集团) planting base in Huangling County (黄陵县), Yan'an (延安).
In Nangou Village (南沟村), An'sai District (安塞区), Yan'an (延安), the year's apple harvest in the mountain orchards has been completed. Fruit farmer Zhao Yongdong (赵永东) recalled the scene from more than three years ago—
On October 26, 2022, when General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) inspected Yan'an (延安), Shaanxi (陕西), he walked into the orchard in Nangou Village (南沟村) and had a cordial exchange with the villagers, saying, "This is agricultural modernization. You have found a suitable direction for industrial development."
Bearing in mind the General Secretary's earnest instructions, Yan'an (延安) is focusing on building a pilot zone for high-quality apple development. The "flying apples" contain the secret to Yan'an's (延安) high-quality apple development.
To have good apples, you must first "grow" them well.
More than 4,000 apple germplasm genes, more than 600 new and superior varieties... In the Yan'an (延安) Apple Germplasm Resource Nursery (Gene Bank), rows of apple trees stretch their branches under the sunlight. "This is the 'chip' for our new variety research and development," said Du Jingbin (杜敬斌), head of the germplasm resource nursery.
Next to it, on the exhibition stand of the Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University Luochuan Apple Experimental Station (西北农林科技大学洛川苹果试验站), red, yellow, and green apples are lined up. Ma Fengwang (马锋旺), chief expert of the experimental station, said that more than 10,000 hybrid apple offspring have been cultivated here. Among them, the cold-resistant new varieties have allowed Shaanxi (陕西) apples to expand 200 kilometers northward and be planted on the edge of the Mu Us Desert (毛乌素沙地).
To have good apples, you must also "manage" them well.
Changes are visible everywhere in the apple orchards. In Yunyan Town (云岩镇), Yichuan County (宜川县), apple trees are neatly arranged. On the trees, hail nets open and close electrically; between the trees, self-propelled operation platforms shuttle back and forth. There are even more tricks under the trees: intercropping with rapeseed and soybeans, covering with mulch and reflective film, and integrated water and fertilizer irrigation facilities.
Lu Shuguo (路树国), director of the Yan'an (延安) Fruit Industry Center, introduced that from orchard construction and variety selection to pruning, thinning, bagging, and harvesting, Yan'an (延安) apples have established green standardized production and management standards. This is how "flying apples" are "managed."
To have good apples, you must also "select" them well.
72 photos per second, using near-infrared spectral analysis to measure more than 20 indicators such as fruit diameter and sugar content... In the sorting workshop of Huangling Hongchang Fruit Industry Company (黄陵县宏昌果业公司), the intelligent fruit sorting line is running at full speed, and apples are individually inspected for quality.
From "selling in piles" to "selling by the catty" and then to "selling individually," graded and priced sales meet personalized needs, selling for an average of 1 to 2.4 yuan more per kilogram. There are already 198 such fruit sorting lines in Yan'an (延安).
Yan'an (延安) values apples, and apples also give back to Yan'an (延安).
In May 2019, Yanchuan County (延川县) and Yichuan County (宜川县) in Yan'an City (延安市) were removed from the list of poverty-stricken counties. Apples deserve credit for shedding the "poverty hat"—of Yan'an's (延安) more than 2.2 million people, about 1 million are engaged in apple industry-related work; 60% of farmers' income comes from apples.
For the comprehensive revitalization of the countryside, apples continue to exert their strength.
Today, Yan'an (延安) is already an "apple city." Orchards have become forests on the slopes and ridges, and stores are spread throughout the city's streets and alleys. Apples have been transformed into juice, dried fruit, and pectin, and are also exported to Central Asia and Europe on China-Europe freight trains... Yan'an's (延安) apple industry chain and value chain continue to extend. In 2024, the apple planting area will exceed 3.3 million mu, the output will exceed 5 million tons, and the total output value of the entire industry chain will exceed 55 billion yuan.
"'Flying apples' are a medal for the high-quality development of Yan'an (延安) apples," said Zhang Junqi (张军旗), deputy dean of the Yan'an (延安) Apple Research Institute.
Aerospace-grade apples have a strict set of "physical examination" standards: the fruit diameter must be moderate, the fruit shape must be upright, the sweetness and sourness must be balanced, and there must be no flaws from the inside to the outside.
Using Internet of Things equipment to monitor light, temperature, and humidity in real time; using green technology for fertilization, pest control, and field management; after harvesting, intelligent spectral sorting and sterile cleaning are also required. "Twelve 'heavenly journeys' mean that a traceable and replicable top-level quality control system has matured," said Zhang Junqi (张军旗).
"What does an apple that tastes so good it goes 'to heaven' taste like?" Astronaut Tang Hongbo's (汤洪波) video of eating apples while working in the space station aroused the curiosity of netizens. Today, "flying apples" are linked to e-commerce and "fly into" ordinary people's homes. The brand value of "Yan'an (延安) apples" has also become more substantial because of the quality of "flying apples."
Now, Ma Fengwang (马锋旺) is also pondering: Will the microgravity and strong radiation environment in space bring about wonderful changes at the genetic level for apples? In the future, will we be able to eat completely new apple varieties that originate in Yan'an (延安) and are cultivated in space?
The space journey has added infinite imagination to this "sweet career."
The "15th Five-Year Plan" proposal puts forward the idea of "accelerating the modernization of agriculture and rural areas and solidly promoting the comprehensive revitalization of the countryside." Grasping output and capacity, production and ecology, and increased production and income together, and doing technology agriculture, green agriculture, quality agriculture, and brand agriculture as a whole, facing the future, the small apple is exploring the path of "building agriculture into a modern large industry" and adding more "sweet taste" to "a happier and better life for the people."
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 罗珊珊 王东辉
On December 18th, the Hainan Free Trade Port (海南自贸港) officially launched full island customs closure operations. Haikou Customs (海口海关) released data on December 19th showing that on the first day of full island customs closure operations, the value of "zero-tariff" goods imported under customs supervision at the "front line" reached 360 million yuan.
General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) emphasized: "Steadily expand institutional opening-up and deeply implement the upgrading strategy of free trade pilot zones."
China's development environment faces profound and complex changes, and it is even more necessary to promote reform and development through opening-up. Daring to be pioneers in forging ahead and overcoming difficulties, and carrying out exploration in broader fields and at deeper levels, the construction of free trade pilot zones is moving towards a higher level.
In the Guangxi Free Trade Pilot Zone (广西自贸试验区), the Beibu Gulf Port (北部湾港) sea-rail intermodal automated terminal operates day and night, with container routes reaching 571 ports in 127 countries and regions around the world. In the Shaanxi Free Trade Pilot Zone (陕西自贸试验区), the China Western Science and Technology Innovation Harbor (中国西部科技创新港) sets sail, gathering 749 scientific research institutions and becoming a link connecting scientific and technological innovation resources.
Building free trade pilot zones is an important strategic measure for the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping (习近平同志) at its core to promote reform and opening up in the new era. From the banks of the Huangpu River (黄浦江) to the shores of the Xiangjiang River (湘江), from the land of colorful clouds in Yunnan (彩云之南) to the foot of the Tianshan Mountains (天山脚下), 22 free trade pilot zones have cumulatively contributed about 1/5 of the country's foreign investment and total import and export volume.
What reform and innovation bring is not only gratifying figures, but also changes in the logic of development.
Institutional innovation, a list promotes the free flow of factors—
The R&D of foreign-funded pharmaceutical companies involves a large amount of cross-border data collaboration and sharing. How does regulation balance security and efficiency? A list comes in handy.
In February of this year, the "China (Shanghai) Free Trade Pilot Zone (中国（上海）自由贸易试验区) and Lingang New Area (临港新片区) Data Cross-border Management List (Negative List) (2024 Edition)" was released. "With the negative list, the convenience and efficiency of data cross-border flow have been greatly improved, and it also provides companies with an efficient, clear, and low-cost data cross-border flow and regulation path," said Ren Minmin (任敏敏), a relevant person in charge of Boehringer Ingelheim (勃林格殷格翰), a German pharmaceutical company.
In the context of the deep reconstruction of the global value chain and the rapid development of the digital economy, international economic and trade rules are undergoing a profound transformation from traditional trade in goods to emerging fields such as trade in services and the digital economy. As the forefront of institutional opening-up, free trade pilot zones urgently need to establish a dynamic international rule benchmarking mechanism to adapt to changes and seize opportunities in higher-level opening-up.
At present, multiple free trade pilot zones and the Hainan Free Trade Port (海南自贸港) have released and implemented negative lists for data cross-border flow, which have played a role in promoting the cross-border flow of data in multiple fields such as automobiles, pharmaceuticals, civil aviation, and reinsurance. Some foreign companies in China have achieved efficient and convenient data cross-border flow through the negative list model.
Industrial breakthrough, a chain activates new momentum for manufacturing in the central region—
In Changsha (长沙), Hunan (湖南), in the shield tunneling machine main bearing production workshop of China Railway Construction Heavy Industry's (铁建重工) Second Industrial Park, a full series of main bearings from 3 meters to 8.61 meters are neatly arranged.
The main bearing of the shield tunneling machine is a key component that determines the equipment's tunneling efficiency and service life. "Key technologies must be firmly in our own hands. We have formed a multi-field interdisciplinary research team, and jointly built an industrial chain collaborative innovation system with universities and upstream and downstream enterprises. In the past 5 years, we have cumulatively broken through more than 100 key technologies and successfully achieved independent control of shield tunneling machine main bearings," said Chen Haolin (陈浩林), deputy director of the Design Institute of the Special Bearing Research and Design Institute of China Railway Construction Heavy Industry (铁建重工特种轴承研究设计院设计所).
Tan Haoran (谭浩然), deputy secretary of the Party Working Committee and director of the Management Committee of the Changsha Area (长沙片区) of the Hunan Free Trade Pilot Zone (湖南自贸试验区), introduced: "We are carrying out the reform of the engineering machinery remanufacturing system, empowering the equipment manufacturing industry to continuously move forward in innovation breakthroughs and digital transformation."
Channel breakthrough, a network connects the new artery of the Eurasian continent—
Walking into the comprehensive service hall of the Urumqi International Land Port Area (乌鲁木齐国际陆港区) in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (新疆维吾尔自治区), the crisscrossing transportation network on the layout map is very eye-catching. The China-Europe (Central Asia) freight train departing from here reaches 26 cities in 19 countries.
In November 2023, the China (Xinjiang) Free Trade Pilot Zone (中国（新疆）自由贸易试验区) was officially unveiled, and the Urumqi International Land Port Area (乌鲁木齐国际陆港区) is an important construction area. "The China-Europe (Central Asia) freight train gallops on the Eurasian continent, building an efficient logistics channel," said Zhong Hehua (钟荷花), head of the Land Port Service Bureau of the Management Committee of the Urumqi International Land Port Area (乌鲁木齐国际陆港区) and Airport Economic Zone.
"As China's interconnection with neighboring countries deepens, Xinjiang's channel value will continue to expand," said You Jialin (尤佳霖), deputy director of the Department of Commerce of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (新疆维吾尔自治区商务厅). The Xinjiang Free Trade Pilot Zone (新疆自贸试验区) has two land ports and two air ports, forming a three-dimensional open network, providing a broad stage for cross-border cooperation and industrial undertaking.
As the "14th Five-Year Plan" is coming to an end, the blueprint for the "15th Five-Year Plan" will be unveiled. "Bearing in mind General Secretary Xi Jinping's (习近平总书记) earnest entrustment, the Ministry of Commerce will take the upgrading strategy of free trade pilot zones as the guide, encourage and guide each free trade pilot zone to adhere to the principle of daring to take the lead and focusing on implementation, actively carry out more beneficial explorations, form more reform and opening-up results, and achieve 'three improvements' in the level of institutional opening-up, the effectiveness of systematic reform, and the quality of the open economy," said a relevant person in charge of the Ministry of Commerce (商务部).
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 沈靖然
The mountain city of Chongqing (重庆): climbing slopes, turning corners, and overcoming obstacles, another order is delivered.
"Ride slower, okay? Who will take care of you if you fall?" Since becoming a delivery driver, Wu Yuanyi's (伍远义) family always reminds him like this when he leaves the house every day.
But now it's a bit different – "There's 'new occupational injury' coverage!" Wu Yuanyi (伍远义) rides his newly bought motorcycle, traveling through the streets and alleys, "The road is stable, and my heart is even more stable."
The "new occupational injury" that Wu Yuanyi (伍远义) mentions refers to the occupational injury保障 (bǎo zhàng - "guarantee, protection") specifically for people in new forms of employment: no need to sign a labor contract, payment is based on the number of orders, and monthly order volume is declared and paid, directly by the platform enterprise.
General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) emphasized: "Strengthen the protection of the rights and interests of workers in flexible employment and new forms of employment, expand the pilot program for occupational injury保障 (bǎo zhàng - "guarantee, protection"), and promptly summarize experience and form a system."
In July 2022, China launched the first batch of occupational injury保障 (bǎo zhàng - "guarantee, protection") pilot programs for people in new forms of employment, and Chongqing (重庆) was one of the seven pilot provinces. Today, the scope of the occupational injury保障 (bǎo zhàng - "guarantee, protection") pilot program has expanded to 17 provinces, with a cumulative enrollment of over 22 million people.
Not long ago, Wu Yuanyi (伍远义) accidentally injured his waist while delivering food. He tried to report the "new occupational injury" with one click on the platform and soon received a call: "The review has passed, and the medical expenses will be credited within 3 days."
After recovering from his injury, Wu Yuanyi (伍远义) worked even harder, "Working hard for a month can earn back the cost of buying the motorcycle."
Yu Chaoqian (余朝前), Director of the Work Injury Insurance Division of the Chongqing (重庆) Municipal Human Resources and Social Security Bureau, introduced that Chongqing (重庆) is steadily expanding the scope of the "new occupational injury" pilot program based on the previous pilot program, with four new pilot enterprises this year.
The "Suggestions" of the 20th Fourth Plenary Session of the Party listed "continuous improvement of the quality of people's lives" as one of the main goals of economic and social development during the "15th Five-Year Plan" period, and proposed "a more optimized and sustainable social security system" and "establishing and improving the occupational injury保障 (bǎo zhàng - "guarantee, protection") system." "We must provide more reliable social security to make everyone's efforts more stable," said Yu Chaoqian (余朝前).
What's the next step to make the保障 (bǎo zhàng - "guarantee, protection") more reliable? Not long ago, the Chongqing (重庆) Municipal Human Resources and Social Security Bureau held a symposium.
Setting up tables to listen to opinions. "My wife does housekeeping, when can she be included in the policy?" a man asked loudly. "Can the review process be faster?" a woman interjected... Everyone spoke their minds, saying what was in their hearts.
In addition to the staff of relevant departments, representatives from the "new occupational injury" pilot enterprises were also taking notes. "The benefits of the policy are visible, and we hope to continuously improve the connection with the human resources and social security departments to make drivers feel more at ease," said Wang Song (王松), Didi Chuxing (滴滴出行) Chongqing (重庆) Local Affairs Manager.
"We put the 'new occupational injury' into the 'occupational injury保障 (bǎo zhàng - "guarantee, protection") one-thing'," said Yu Chaoqian (余朝前). "One declaration is enough, the whole process is entrusted, and the handling is integrated, making it more convenient for everyone to do things."
How to optimize in the future?
The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security and other 9 departments issued a notice proposing that by 2026, platform enterprises in the three industries of ride-hailing, instant delivery, and intra-city freight will be included in the pilot program; in 2027, explore including other industry platform enterprises with greater occupational injury risks and higher labor management intensity in the pilot program.
"We will thoroughly study, publicize, and implement the spirit of the 20th Fourth Plenary Session of the Party, improve and perfect the systematic integration and coordinated and efficient social security system, include more people in the coverage, and effectively enhance the people's sense of gain, happiness, and security," said Hu Jing (胡京), member of the Party Leadership Group and Deputy Director of the Chongqing (重庆) Municipal Human Resources and Social Security Bureau.
According to reports from the National Energy Administration, this year has seen strong growth in energy investment, trending towards green and new technologies. Focusing on expanding effective investment in key areas such as ensuring safety and promoting transformation, the total investment in key energy projects for the year is expected to reach 3.54 trillion yuan, an increase of 11% year-on-year. Investments in nuclear power, onshore wind power, distributed photovoltaic power, and power grids have been strong, while investments in new energy storage, charging and swapping infrastructure, and hydrogen energy have grown rapidly. Various investment entities have been active and enthusiastic, with private enterprises' investment completion amount increasing by 15% year-on-year.
The National Energy Administration (国家能源局) and other relevant departments have established and improved a long-term mechanism for private enterprises to participate in nuclear power projects. All 10 newly approved nuclear power units this year have introduced private capital, with the highest share reaching 20%. Efforts have been made to promote private enterprises' participation in the construction of hydropower projects such as Danba (丹巴), support participation in oil and gas pipeline projects according to market principles, and approve 4 large-scale private coal mine projects.
Return to TopBeijing, December 20th (People's Daily) --
(Reporter Gu Yekai (谷业凯)) The reporter learned from China National Nuclear Corporation (中核集团): On December 20th, the world's first commercial supercritical carbon dioxide power generation unit was successfully put into commercial operation in Shougang Shuicheng Iron and Steel Group (首钢水钢集团) in Liupanshui (六盘水), Guizhou (贵州). This is also the global demonstration project of supercritical carbon dioxide waste heat power generation technology, "Super Carbon No. 1 (超碳一号)." "Super Carbon No. 1 (超碳一号)" marks the transition of supercritical carbon dioxide power generation technology from the laboratory to commercial implementation, which will help break through the technical bottlenecks of small and medium power scales and efficient utilization of medium and high temperature heat sources worldwide.
"Super Carbon No. 1 (超碳一号)" uses supercritical carbon dioxide as the circulating working fluid. Compared with sintering waste heat steam power generation technology, the power generation efficiency is increased by more than 85%, and the net power generation is increased by more than 50%.
Supercritical carbon dioxide is considered one of the most promising working fluids in medium and high heat source temperature scenarios, and has good application prospects in solar thermal power generation, waste heat power generation, and energy storage power generation.
Return to TopAccording to the China Machinery Industry Federation (中国机械工业联合会), from 2020 to 2024, the number of mechanical industry enterprises above designated size increased from 99,000 to 132,000, and as of the end of October this year, reached 137,000.
The industrial scale has steadily increased. Since the "14th Five-Year Plan," the average annual growth rate of the added value of the mechanical industry has been 7.1%, and the growth rate in the first three quarters of this year was 8.7%, both higher than the average levels of national industry and manufacturing during the same period. The industry's operating income exceeded 30 trillion yuan for the first time in 2024, reaching 31.5 trillion yuan, accounting for 22.9% of the national industry.
Foreign trade has steadily increased. The total import and export volume of mechanical industry goods trade has exceeded one trillion US dollars for four consecutive years during the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, becoming an important factor in driving industry growth. In the first 10 months of this year, the total import and export volume of the industry's goods trade was 1.03 trillion US dollars, an increase of 7.6% year-on-year.
Reported by Li Xinping (李心萍), Beijing (北京), December 20th.
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Return to TopThis newspaper reported from Beijing on December 20th (Reporter Yang Hao (杨昊)) A special seminar for representatives of the private economy to study and implement the spirit of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee and the spirit of the Central Economic Work Conference was held in Beijing from the 18th to the 20th. Li Ganjie (李干杰), member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of the United Front Work Department of the CPC Central Committee, attended the opening ceremony and delivered a mobilization speech.
Li Ganjie (李干杰) stated that the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee and the Central Economic Work Conference made scientific plans and arrangements for doing a good job in economic and social development in the current and future periods. Representatives of the private economy must thoroughly study and implement the spirit of the conference, fully understand the historical position of China's development during the "15th Five-Year Plan" period, deeply understand the major decisions and deployments of the Party Central Committee, grasp the overall situation and trend, enhance strategic confidence, strengthen development confidence, and unite more closely around the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping (习近平) at its core, and contribute to comprehensively promoting the construction of a strong country and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation with Chinese-style modernization.
Li Ganjie (李干杰) stated that representatives of the private economy should deeply practice General Secretary Xi Jinping's (习近平) requirements of "having the ambition to serve the country, focusing on development, operating legally and skillfully, and promoting common prosperity after becoming rich," strengthen the arming of the Party's innovative theories, keep in mind the "most important affairs of the country," adhere to the main business and strengthen the real economy, strengthen independent innovation, improve the corporate governance structure, actively fulfill social responsibilities, adhere to the path of high-quality development, and unswervingly strive forward under the overall situation.
This seminar was jointly organized by the United Front Work Department of the CPC Central Committee and the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce. More than 80 representatives of the private economy from across the country participated. Responsible comrades from the Central Financial and Economic Affairs Commission Office, the Central Financial Work Commission Office, the National Development and Reform Commission (国家发展改革委), the Ministry of Science and Technology (科技部), the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (工业和信息化部), and the Ministry of Commerce (商务部) gave special lectures.
Return to TopXinhua News Agency, Beijing, December 20th. The National Conference on Cultural Talent Work and the National Commendation Conference for Advanced Collectives and Individuals in the National Propaganda System were held in Beijing on the 20th. Li Shulei (李书磊), member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of the Central Propaganda Department (中宣部), attended and delivered a speech.
The participating representatives believe that since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) has made a series of important expositions on the work of cultural talent, profoundly answering the major questions of what kind of cultural talent team to build and how to build a cultural talent team, providing fundamental guidelines for doing a good job in the work of cultural talent in the new era. Under the strong leadership of the Party Central Committee, the institutional advantages of the Party's management of talent have been continuously demonstrated, the quality of the cultural talent team has been significantly improved, and the vitality of innovation and creation has been further enhanced, providing strong talent support for promoting cultural prosperity and building a strong cultural country.
The participating representatives stated that the core of cultural creation lies in people, and it is necessary to implement the important deployments made by the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, and regard cultivating talents and building a team as an important and urgent strategic task, and build a high-level cultural talent team with a large scale, reasonable structure, and innovative spirit. It is necessary to strengthen top-level design, innovate work measures, and strive to cultivate high-level leading cultural talents. It is necessary to focus on cultivating grassroots and young cultural talents, and cultivate cultural talents in emerging fields such as new mass literature and art, and cultural technology. It is necessary to improve the talent work mechanism that conforms to the characteristics of the cultural field, and further create a good environment conducive to producing talents and achievements.
Tie Ning (铁凝), Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, presided over the meeting. State Councilor Chen Yiqin (谌贻琴) attended the meeting and announced the commendation decision. Responsible comrades from relevant central departments, relevant propaganda and cultural units, and universities, as well as representatives who were commended, attended the meeting.
Return to TopXinhua News Agency, Nanjing, December 20th (Xinhua) - Chen Wenqing (陈文清), member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Secretary of the Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission (中央政法委), stated during his research in Jiangsu (江苏) from December 18th to 19th that Jiangsu's political and legal organs should thoroughly study and implement the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping's (习近平) important speeches at the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee and the Central Economic Work Conference, thoroughly study and implement General Secretary Xi Jinping's important instructions on comprehensively governing the country according to law and the spirit of the Central Conference on Work Related to Comprehensively Governing the Country According to Law, and thoroughly study and implement General Secretary Xi Jinping's important instructions on Jiangsu's work, bearing in mind the entrustment, being grateful and striving forward, and promoting Jiangsu's political and legal work to be at the forefront and set an example for the whole country.
Chen Wenqing and his delegation visited the Huaihai Campaign Memorial Hall (淮海战役纪念馆) to receive revolutionary tradition education. He pointed out that obeying the Party's command is the fundamental political guarantee for the Huaihai Campaign to win more with less and overcome the strong with the weak. In the new era and on the new journey, political and legal organs must earnestly strengthen political construction, implement the Party's absolute leadership, profoundly understand the decisive significance of the "Two Establishments," and resolutely achieve the "Two Safeguards."
During his research at the Nanjing Municipal Public Security Bureau (南京市公安局), Chen Wenqing stated that efforts should be made to do a good job in maintaining stability at the end of the year and the beginning of the year, ensuring social stability and people's peace. Efforts should be made to prevent and resolve major risks affecting stability, strengthen the overall prevention and control of social security, and promote the strengthening of comprehensive network governance. Telecommunications network fraud should be cracked down on in accordance with the law, and efforts should be made to strengthen industry governance to effectively protect the interests of the people. We must continue to severely crack down on and strictly control drug crimes and further enhance the people's sense of security.
During his research at the Provincial Higher People's Court (省高级人民法院), the Provincial People's Procuratorate (省人民检察院), and the Jiangsu (Nanjing) Foreign-related Legal Service Center (江苏（南京）涉外法律服务中心), Chen Wenqing stated that the study and implementation of the spirit of the Central Conference on Work Related to Comprehensively Governing the Country According to Law should be combined with the study and implementation of the first volume of "Xi Jinping's Thought on the Rule of Law" and the "Study Outline of Xi Jinping's Thought on the Rule of Law (2025 Edition)," and the "Twelve Adherences" of Xi Jinping's Thought on the Rule of Law should be used to examine the work at all times and in all places, paying more attention to the coordination of the rule of law with reform, development, and stability, paying more attention to safeguarding and promoting social fairness and justice, and jointly creating a new situation in the construction of the rule of law in China.
During his research at the Xuzhou Sunshine School (徐州市阳光学校) and the Tongshan District Comprehensive Management Center (铜山区综治中心), Chen Wenqing stated that efforts should be made to consolidate the foundation at the grassroots level, strengthen the construction of grassroots people's courts, public security police stations, judicial offices, etc., improve the grassroots political and legal work system; deepen the standardized construction of comprehensive management centers to ensure that every demand of the people is handled and handled in accordance with the law; strengthen the prevention and governance of juvenile delinquency, and strengthen the service and management of relevant groups.
During the period, Chen Wenqing held a research symposium with some provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities to listen to opinions and suggestions on planning the political and legal work for 2026.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 郑海鸥
General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) emphasized, "Building a strong cultural nation is related to the overall situation of Chinese-style modernization, the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, and the enhancement of international competitiveness." The Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China deliberated and approved the "Suggestions of the CPC Central Committee on Formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development" (hereinafter referred to as the "Suggestions"), which clearly proposed "developing a new era of socialism with Chinese characteristics that has strong ideological leadership, spiritual cohesion, value appeal, and international influence," "solidly promoting the construction of a strong cultural nation," and "promoting the construction of a strong tourism nation." To thoroughly study and implement the spirit of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, our reporter interviewed Sun Yeli (孙业礼), Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and Minister of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism (文化和旅游部).
Promoting the Construction of a Strong Cultural Nation and a Strong Tourism Nation is of Great Significance
Reporter: The "Suggestions" made arrangements for promoting the construction of a strong cultural nation and a strong tourism nation. How should we understand its great significance?
Sun Yeli (孙业礼): The prosperity and flourishing of culture is an important symbol of Chinese-style modernization. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping (习近平) at its core has insisted on placing cultural construction in a prominent position in governing the country, made a series of major deployments, formed Xi Jinping's (习近平) cultural thought, promoted cultural construction to achieve historic achievements in correcting deviations and upholding the right and innovating, and taken solid steps in building a strong socialist cultural nation.
Promoting the construction of a strong cultural nation and a strong tourism nation is of great significance for enhancing the people's spiritual strength, improving the quality of people's lives, promoting high-quality economic and social development, and enhancing the country's soft power and the influence of Chinese culture.
First, it enhances the spiritual strength to promote Chinese-style modernization. Culture is the soul of a country and a nation. At present, China is in a critical period of comprehensively promoting the construction of a strong country and the great rejuvenation of the nation with Chinese-style modernization. The rejuvenation of a nation requires strong material strength and strong spiritual strength. We must continuously promote cultural confidence and self-improvement, nourish the mind and strengthen the foundation with culture, cultivate the national spirit of vigorous progress, and jointly build and protect the common spiritual home of the Chinese nation.
Second, it meets the people's needs for a high-quality life. The "Suggestions" lists "continuous improvement of the quality of people's lives" as one of the main goals of economic and social development during the "15th Five-Year Plan" period. Culture and tourism are important components of a high-quality life. We must promote the prosperity and development of culture and tourism, strive to provide richer and higher-quality products and services, better meet the people's new expectations for a better life, and continuously improve the quality of people's lives.
Third, it promotes high-quality economic and social development. General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) emphasized, "To promote high-quality development, culture is an important support point" and "Developing tourism is an important focus for promoting high-quality development." Culture and tourism are integrated with each other and play an important role in enhancing the level of social civilization, expanding effective demand, and promoting economic development. We must adhere to empowering economic and social development with culture, promote the deep integration of culture, tourism, and various fields of economic society, give full play to the spillover effect of the integration of culture and tourism, and continuously stimulate new vitality and cultivate new momentum.
Fourth, it enhances the country's soft power and the influence of Chinese culture. At present, the world's century-old changes are accelerating, and the competition for national cultural influence is becoming increasingly fierce. We must vigorously develop cultural undertakings, cultural industries, and tourism, continuously improve China's overall cultural strength and competitiveness, better promote Chinese culture to the world, and continuously enhance the communication and influence of Chinese civilization.
Let the People Enjoy a More Substantial, Richer, and Higher-Quality Cultural Life
Reporter: The "Suggestions" made a series of deployments for vigorously developing cultural undertakings. How will the Ministry of Culture and Tourism (文化和旅游部) implement them?
Sun Yeli (孙业礼): Cultural undertakings are undertakings that nourish people's minds and cultivate people's sentiments. We must adhere to cultural construction focusing on people and based on people, and strive to enable people to enjoy a more substantial, richer, and higher-quality cultural life, better protect the people's cultural rights and interests, and promote the all-round development of people.
First, create artistic masterpieces worthy of the times. Create a good cultural ecology, enhance cultural original capabilities, improve the service, guidance, and organization mechanisms for literary and artistic creation and production, and guide the vast number of literary and artistic workers to obtain rich nourishment from outstanding traditional Chinese culture and draw fresh materials from the great practice of the new era to launch more popular masterpieces. We must prosper new mass literature and art under the Internet, created by the people and shared by the people. The core of cultural creation lies in people. We must respect the laws of talent growth, improve the talent development mechanism, and cultivate a high-level cultural talent team.
Second, improve the level of public cultural services. Implement the action to improve the quality and efficiency of public cultural services, improve the coverage and applicability of basic public cultural services, and provide more high-quality cultural services that are full of the characteristics of the times, more technologically advanced, and integrated into the lives of the masses. Build quality cultural life circles according to local conditions, and create public reading and art spaces embedded in life scenes. Promote the construction of smart libraries, smart museums, and public cultural clouds to make public cultural services more accurate and accessible, and promote high-quality cultural resources to reach the grassroots and the masses directly. Widely carry out mass cultural activities, provide the masses with a stage to display themselves, communicate, and exchange ideas, and let the masses become the protagonists of cultural life.
Third, strengthen the protection and inheritance of cultural heritage. Cultural heritage is a powerful witness to the splendid Chinese civilization. We must promote the systematic protection and unified supervision and inspection of cultural heritage, build and use national cultural parks well, build a system of Chinese civilization symbols, and continue the Chinese cultural heritage in creative transformation and innovative development. Promote the implementation of major projects such as the exploration of the origin of Chinese civilization and archaeological China to provide more archaeological evidence for Chinese civilization. Improve the level of cultural relic protection and utilization, strengthen the spatial control of cultural relic resources, promote scientific and technological innovation of cultural relics, and ensure the safety of cultural relics. Improve the system and working mechanism for the protection and inheritance of intangible cultural heritage, carry out a national survey of intangible cultural heritage resources, improve the system of intangible cultural heritage inheritance and experience facilities, and promote regional overall protection. Strengthen the inheritance and utilization of cultural heritage, so that it can radiate new vitality and shine new brilliance in the new era.
Cultivate the Cultural Industry and Tourism into Pillar Industries, People's Livelihood Industries, and Happiness Industries
Reporter: The "Suggestions" made deployments for accelerating the development of the cultural industry and promoting the deep integration of culture and tourism. How will the Ministry of Culture and Tourism (文化和旅游部) implement them?
Sun Yeli (孙业礼): With the continuous deepening of the integration of culture and tourism, new forms of business are booming, consumption scenarios are being innovated, and the role of the cultural industry and tourism in driving domestic demand, promoting employment, activating the market, and boosting confidence continues to manifest. We must take promoting the deep integration of culture and tourism as the main line, vigorously develop the cultural tourism industry, and cultivate the cultural industry and tourism into pillar industries, people's livelihood industries, and happiness industries.
First, improve the cultural industry system and market system. Take stimulating innovation and creativity as the central link, improve the cultural management system and production and operation mechanism, implement a major cultural industry project-driven strategy, and cultivate influential and competitive outstanding cultural enterprises and brands. Promote the implementation of active cultural economic policies to promote the coordination and innovation of policies in finance, taxation, investment, finance, and consumption. Build a unified, open, efficient, standardized, competitive, and orderly cultural market.
Second, promote the high-quality development of tourism. Adhere to tourism for the people and tourism for the enjoyment of the people, enrich the supply of high-quality tourism products, improve the quality of scenic spots and resorts, and cultivate leisure and vacation products and characteristic tourism products. Improve the quality of tourism services throughout the entire chain, strengthen the comprehensive supervision of the tourism market and the safety management of tourism-related fields, and increase the crackdown on prominent problems. Improve tourism public services, strengthen the construction of tourism infrastructure, improve the level of services such as public information, public transportation, and emergency rescue, vigorously develop smart tourism, and continuously improve the travel experience of the people.
Third, promote the deep integration of culture and tourism. Adhere to shaping tourism with culture and highlighting culture with tourism, integrate more high-quality cultural content into tourism products and services, so that people can appreciate the beauty of culture and cultivate the beauty of the soul while appreciating the beauty of nature. Actively embrace cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence, promote the integration of culture, tourism, and technology, and cultivate and spawn more new forms of business, new applications, and new models. Deepen "culture and tourism + hundreds of industries" and "hundreds of industries + culture and tourism," cultivate the integration of culture, tourism, commerce, sports, and agriculture, effectively extend the industrial chain, and create new value. Promote the integration of cultural and tourism development into urban renewal and rural construction, create "small and beautiful" and "special and excellent" cultural and tourism projects and consumption scenarios, and strive to transform asset stock into development increment.
Deepen Civilization Exchanges and Mutual Learning, and Enhance the Communication and Influence of Chinese Civilization
Reporter: The "Suggestions" made deployments for enhancing the communication and influence of Chinese civilization. What are the important measures to promote international cultural and tourism exchanges and cooperation during the "15th Five-Year Plan" period?
Sun Yeli (孙业礼): We will thoroughly practice the Global Civilization Initiative, continue to deepen international cultural and tourism exchanges and cooperation, and make positive contributions to deepening civilization exchanges and mutual learning and enhancing the communication and influence of Chinese civilization.
First, improve the network of civilization dialogue and cooperation. Widely carry out intergovernmental bilateral cooperation dialogues. Make good use of multilateral mechanisms and platforms, and deepen cooperation with countries jointly building the "Belt and Road" and countries in the Global South. Improve the international exchange and cooperation mechanism for cultural heritage, implement joint declaration of heritage and joint archaeological projects, and promote the establishment of an international mechanism for the repatriation of lost cultural relics. Actively participate in global governance and international rule-making in the fields of culture and tourism.
Second, promote Chinese culture to better go to the world. Enrich the forms of cultural exchange and cooperation, focusing on traditional festivals such as the Spring Festival, Dragon Boat Festival, and Mid-Autumn Festival, and promote the widespread dissemination of typical symbols of Chinese culture through traditional forms such as tea art, poetry, and opera, and with the help of networked and digital modern carriers. Continue to host a series of cultural activities such as "Happy Chinese New Year," "Tea and the World," and "Mid-Autumn Poetry Festival" to create a cluster of international cultural exchange brands. Encourage more cultural enterprises and outstanding cultural products in the fields of animation, performing arts, online literature, online dramas, and online games to go to the world.
Third, improve the convenience and internationalization of inbound tourism. Improve the inbound tourism service system and continue to improve the convenience of visas, tax refunds, accommodation, and transportation. Taking international consumer center cities and key inbound tourism cities as fulcrums, establish a main network for inbound tourism, launch high-quality inbound tourism products and routes, and cultivate inbound tourism consumption agglomeration areas. Deeply carry out the "Ni Hao! China (你好！中国)" national tourism image promotion activities, and continue to send the sincere invitation of "China welcomes you" to the world.
Return to TopThis newspaper reported from Beijing on December 20th (Reporter Yi Shuran (易舒冉)) On December 20th, the Fourth Plenary Session of the 17th Central Committee of the Chinese Peasants and Workers Democratic Party (中国农工民主党) opened in Beijing (北京). The main tasks of the meeting were to thoroughly study and implement the spirit of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee and the spirit of the Central Economic Work Conference, and to review and approve the work report of the Standing Committee of the 17th Central Committee of the Chinese Peasants and Workers Democratic Party for 2025 and the work report of the Central Internal Supervision Committee for 2025, etc. He Wei (何维), Chairman of the Central Committee of the Chinese Peasants and Workers Democratic Party, delivered a work report on behalf of the Standing Committee of the 17th Central Committee of the Chinese Peasants and Workers Democratic Party, and Yang Zhen (杨震), Executive Vice Chairman of the Central Committee of the Chinese Peasants and Workers Democratic Party, presided over the meeting.
He Wei (何维) pointed out that in 2025, the Central Committee of the Chinese Peasants and Workers Democratic Party (中国农工民主党) adhered to Xi Jinping (习近平)'s Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as guidance, fully implemented General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平)'s important exposition on adhering to, developing, and improving China's new type of party system, thoroughly studied and implemented the spirit of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, and solidly carried out the theme education of "studying regulations, strengthening work style, and establishing image," so as to strengthen ideological and political guidance to drive the coordinated progress of fulfilling responsibilities and strengthening self-construction, and successfully completed the annual goals and tasks.
He Wei (何维) said that in the past year, the Chinese Peasants and Workers Democratic Party (中国农工民主党) has adhered to using Xi Jinping (习近平)'s Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era to unite the people's hearts and minds, regarded carrying out theme education as an important political task, consolidated the ideological front, and comprehensively strengthened ideological and political work; focusing on serving the central overall situation and giving play to the characteristics and advantages of the sector, it has made achievements in offering suggestions for the formulation of the "15th Five-Year Plan," made effective contributions to cultivating and developing new quality productive forces, and made improvements in offering suggestions for the reform and development of key division of labor fields. Democratic supervision has been steadily promoted, and social services have helped rural revitalization and people's livelihood security; it has thoroughly implemented the CPC Central Committee's series of deployments on the construction of socialist participating parties with Chinese characteristics, fully implemented the Chinese Peasants and Workers Democratic Party's five-year plan for self-construction, adhered to strict party governance in accordance with regulations, and made new progress in organizational construction, capacity building, work style construction, and system construction.
He Wei (何维) emphasized that 2026 is the first year of the "15th Five-Year Plan." The Chinese Peasants and Workers Democratic Party (中国农工民主党) must adhere to Xi Jinping (习近平)'s Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as guidance, grasp the correct political direction, unite and concentrate efforts to promote stable and sound economic development, continue to work hard to promote the implementation of the three basic tasks of the Chinese Peasants and Workers Democratic Party in the new era and new journey, and contribute the wisdom and strength of the Chinese Peasants and Workers Democratic Party to achieving a good start to the "15th Five-Year Plan."
Return to TopThis newspaper reported from Beijing on December 20th (Reporter Liu Zhiqiang (刘志强)). Recently, in order to promote the innovation and healthy development of the platform economy, the National Development and Reform Commission (国家发展改革委), the State Administration for Market Regulation (市场监管总局), and the Cyberspace Administration of China (国家网信办) jointly issued the "Rules on Price Behavior of Internet Platforms."
The National Development and Reform Commission (国家发展改革委), the State Administration for Market Regulation (市场监管总局), and the Cyberspace Administration of China (国家网信办) publicly solicited opinions from the public on the rules of conduct from August 23 to September 22, 2025. According to the opinions of all parties, the rules of conduct have been further revised and improved, focusing on regulating price behavior, promoting openness and transparency, enhancing coordination among all parties, and building a good platform ecosystem.
First, standardize the order of price competition. According to current laws and regulations, refine and implement regulatory requirements, provide clear price behavior guidelines for platform operators and in-platform operators, and promote the formation of a market order of high-quality and reasonable prices and benign competition.
Second, protect the independent pricing rights of operators. Improve the protection regulations for the independent pricing rights of in-platform operators, and clarify that platform operators shall not unreasonably restrict or attach unreasonable conditions to the pricing behavior of in-platform operators.
Third, protect the legitimate rights and interests of consumers. Implement the system of clearly marked prices, promote the disclosure of rules such as dynamic pricing and differential pricing, and standardize services such as password-free payment, automatic renewal, and automatic deduction, so as to better protect consumers' right to know and right to choose.
The rules of conduct will be implemented on April 10, 2026, leaving operators with the necessary time to standardize and adjust. The National Development and Reform Commission (国家发展改革委), the State Administration for Market Regulation (市场监管总局), and the Cyberspace Administration of China (国家网信办) will organize major platform operators to conduct self-inspections against the regulatory requirements of the rules of conduct, consciously regulate price behavior, and earnestly implement policies.
Return to TopOn December 20th, citizens and tourists watched a performance in Xiepu Town (澥浦镇), Zhenhai District (镇海区), Ningbo City (宁波市), Zhejiang Province (浙江省). The local area held a Winter Solstice folk parade, with boat drums, fish lanterns, and other performances taking turns on stage, attracting citizens and tourists to watch.
Photo by Zheng Kaixia (郑凯侠) (Image China)
Return to TopThe first CIIE Premium Goods Trade Fair was held at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai) (国家会展中心（上海）) in Shanghai (上海) from December 19th to 21st, according to a report in this newspaper on December 20th (Reporter Tian Hong (田泓)). This trade fair, known as a "mini-CIIE," is an extension of high-quality products in specific fields outside the CIIE period. It is also an important stop in the "Sharing the Big Market: Export to China" series of activities, focusing on exhibitions and sales to consumers while attracting purchasers, service providers, channel vendors, and other entities.
Wu Zhengping (吴政平), Deputy Director of the China International Import Expo Bureau (中国国际进口博览局), said that the holding of the "mini-CIIE" is conducive to further expanding imports, amplifying the spillover effect of the CIIE, promoting consumption upgrading, meeting consumers' needs for a quality life, and enhancing the sense of gain for exhibitors.
The trade fair brought together more than 700 companies from more than 60 countries and regions, gathering food, daily necessities, health products, and other products closely related to people's lives. It is open to the whole society, allowing consumers to purchase "CIIE New Year goods" in one stop, promoting the transformation of "exhibits into commodities," and letting global good things enter thousands of households.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 邹 松
On a construction site in the southwestern suburbs of Kinshasa (金沙萨), the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (刚果（金）), a paver slowly "spits out" hot asphalt, and a road roller closely follows, compacting the road surface, as a brand-new road extends forward.
Recently, the Kinshasa (金沙萨) Ring Road project in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (刚果（金）), undertaken by a Chinese enterprise, has cumulatively completed 60 kilometers of crushed stone base course construction, marking the entry of this important livelihood project into a stage of full acceleration. The newly built ring road is approximately 72 kilometers long, designed with four lanes in both directions, and will greatly alleviate traffic congestion in Kinshasa (金沙萨) and bring convenience to local residents' travel after completion.
"Package" cooperation to solve the congestion dilemma
Kinshasa (金沙萨) has a population of over 17 million. As the city's inter-district transportation "main artery," the N1 national highway, which runs through the city, has only two lanes in both directions, but bears 70% of the city's traffic pressure. During peak hours, a journey that originally took 10 minutes often takes more than 1 hour. Bossi, the head of a local logistics company, said helplessly: "The 22-kilometer journey from the city center to the suburbs usually takes more than 3 hours, and traffic congestion leads to an increase of at least 15% in the spoilage rate of fresh goods."
On June 22, 2024, the Kinshasa (金沙萨) Ring Road project was officially launched in the presence of the President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (刚果（金）), Félix Tshisekedi (齐塞克迪), and Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka (图卢卡). The project is divided into the southwest ring road and the southeast ring road, connecting the urban area of Kinshasa (金沙萨) with dozens of surrounding villages and towns such as Mfueti (姆富蒂) and Lutendele (卢当德里), and includes multiple bridges, culverts, and road-side management projects. The project is funded by Sino-Congolese Mining (华刚矿业股份有限公司), organized and implemented by Sino-Congolese Infrastructure (中刚基础设施建设股份有限公司), and constructed by Chinese-funded enterprises such as China Railway Eighth Group (中铁八局).
In Mfueti (姆富蒂) village in the southwestern suburbs of Kinshasa (金沙萨), a villager named Mabele (马贝莱) said: "In the past, there was only a bumpy dirt road from our village to the city. The road was muddy when it rained, and it was very inconvenient to go out. Now, this dirt road will be upgraded to a four-lane road due to the construction of the ring road." A vendor named Gatemi Ndumba (盖特米·恩东巴) also deeply felt this: "In the past, it took most of the day to go to the wholesale market to purchase goods, and it was difficult to do business. Now that some sections of the road have been repaired, business has also improved."
As a key infrastructure project under the Sino-Congolese "package" cooperation framework, the project mainly enhances local development capabilities through technology transfer and industrial linkage. Pang Long (庞龙), Chairman of Sino-Congolese Infrastructure (中刚基础设施建设股份有限公司), said that after the completion of the ring road, it will greatly improve the traffic congestion in Kinshasa (金沙萨) and improve the efficiency of urban traffic operation.
"The completion of the ring road will completely break the pattern of urban development relying solely on the central urban area." Nico Nzau Nzau (尼科·恩扎乌·恩扎乌), Director of the National Agency for Major Works of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (刚果（金）国家大型工程局), said that the project is a strategic project for the government to improve people's livelihoods and promote economic development. After opening to traffic, it is expected to divert 30% of Kinshasa's (金沙萨) traffic flow, effectively alleviate traffic congestion in the capital's main urban area, reduce transportation costs, and improve the level of interconnection between Kinshasa (金沙萨) and surrounding provinces.
Adapting to local conditions to create quality projects
During construction, the Chinese team overcame difficulties and improved construction techniques in accordance with local conditions to ensure the high-quality advancement of the project. The professional standards and dedication of the Chinese enterprises have won unanimous praise from all sectors of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (刚果（金）).
Zhang Jianbo (张剑波), head of the Kinshasa (金沙萨) project department of China Railway Eighth Group (中铁八局), said that the Chinese construction team set a goal from the beginning—to build a high-quality ring road that is flat, durable, adapted to local climate characteristics, and truly stands the test of time. During the construction period, the Chinese team overcame challenges such as tropical high temperatures and rainy season floods. "From material selection to construction technology, Chinese enterprises are going all out to ensure project quality," said Zhang Jianbo (张剑波).
In order to cope with the high temperature climate characteristics of Kinshasa (金沙萨) all year round, the Chinese team developed an asphalt formula suitable for high temperatures; in response to the characteristics of the local silty sand being too soft, the construction team erected a diamond-shaped skeleton as a "spine" in the easily loosened slope area, and then laid hexagonal blocks as "armor plates" to reduce the risk of landslides with "double insurance."
In the construction of the Mfueti (姆富蒂) Bridge on the K12 section of the ring road, 18 pile foundations with a diameter of 1.5 meters need to be drilled through four different types of rock formations. "The difficulty is like driving piles in mille-feuille." Tan Qiao (谭桥), chief engineer of the Kinshasa (金沙萨) project of China Railway Eighth Group (中铁八局), said that in order to face the characteristics of the fine sand layer being extremely easy to collapse and to steadily drill through the hard rock layer, the impact drilling technology solution adopted by the team was ultimately precisely adapted to the complex geological conditions. The Chinese side also introduced Chinese equipment such as 80-ton gantry cranes and special bridge erecting machines adapted to the local environment. The application of these large-scale equipment has pioneered the bridge construction technology in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (刚果（金）).
"The project fully demonstrates the technical strength and responsibility of Chinese enterprises." Ludovic (卢多维克), an official of the Ministry of Public Works of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (刚果（金）公共工程部), said, "I believe these roads and bridges will take root as firmly as the palm trees in Kinshasa (金沙萨)."
People's livelihood "pain points" become happiness "support points"
The steady advancement of the Kinshasa (金沙萨) Ring Road project is solving the "pain points" of life such as difficult travel and employment that once plagued local people, and providing a solid "support point" for improving people's livelihoods.
During the project construction, the Chinese construction team, while ensuring the progress and quality of the project, earnestly fulfilled its social responsibilities, and followed the "Chinese technology + local labor" model to fully absorb local people's employment during the construction process, carry out skills training, and cultivate local technical talents such as plumbers, rebar workers, electricians, welders, and mechanical maintenance workers, leaving behind "development capabilities that cannot be taken away."
He Xiuyi (何修义), general manager of Sino-Congolese Infrastructure (中刚基础设施建设股份有限公司), introduced that as of now, the project has cumulatively driven the employment of more than 3,000 local people and trained more than 400 technical talents in more than 10 types of work. "It is the Chinese enterprises that taught us road construction skills and gave us the opportunity to find employment at our doorstep." Samuel (塞缪尔), a local employee, said that he is now proficient in operating pavers.
At present, some sections of the road have been put into use, improving the travel conditions of local residents and effectively saving commuting time. "New roads bring new life." Lucy (露西), the owner of a newly built building materials market in Mitendi (米腾迪) Town, told reporters that her tile business has increased by three times compared with last year. "In the past, customers always complained that transportation costs were too high. Now wholesalers directly deliver goods through the ring road, and our prices have dropped by 15%."
Speaking of the changes brought about by the new road, Maria (玛利亚), a student at a local school, was very excited: "In the past, I always got mud on my feet on the way to school. Since this road was built, my shoes are still clean when I arrive at school." Bianfuni Lukuba (比安弗尼·卢克巴), the principal of the school, said: "The school has about 300 primary school students and 250 middle school students, and the existing 7 classrooms are not enough at all. Chinese enterprises are building 10 new classrooms for us."
As the sun sets, the Kinshasa (金沙萨) Ring Road extends into the distance in the twilight, and the car lights and the lights of the villages and towns along the route reflect each other. This road, jointly built by Chinese and Congolese builders, carries the new hope for the development of Kinshasa (金沙萨).
Return to TopBy: 郁云峰
Upholding the Sinology concept of "originating from China and belonging to the world," we will continue to implement the "Sinology Program" in depth, focusing on cultivating a group of young Sinologists who "are associated with Sinology and walk with China," to promote the prosperity of world Sinology and facilitate mutual learning among civilizations.
In the current era of accelerated changes unseen in a century, with multiple challenges and crises overlapping, human society needs more than ever to explore wisdom and build consensus through exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations. As an important discipline that studies historical China, contemporary China, and future China from an international perspective, Sinology is becoming an important window for the world to understand China and an important bridge for exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations with its unique knowledge system and civilizational values.
Sinology originates from China and belongs to the world, and is a common spiritual wealth of all mankind. From traditional textual research, textual criticism, and the study of principles to the current research on China's economy, culture, society, and other aspects, Sinology, with its profound historical accumulation, is constantly expanding its research scope and radiating vigorous vitality. In this process, young Sinologists are playing an irreplaceable role. With an open vision and professional ability, they have become an important force in connecting civilizations and communicating people's hearts.
In November of this year, the 2025 World Chinese Conference will be held in Beijing (北京). The 61 young Sinologists from 51 countries who were invited to participate in the conference wrote a letter to President Xi Jinping (习近平), sharing their experiences and insights in engaging in Chinese studies, expressing their desire to further study Chinese learning, and playing the role of a bridge for civilizational communication, reflecting the strong interest of young scholars around the world in in-depth research on China. President Xi Jinping (习近平) replied to the young Sinologists, encouraging them to "be good envoys for connecting Chinese and foreign civilizations and contribute wisdom and strength to promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind."
The Chinese government attaches great importance to the development of world Sinology and the cultivation of young Sinology talents. The Chinese Ministry of Education (中国教育部) launched the "Sinology Program" in 2013 to specifically cultivate young Sinology talents. Over the past 12 years, the "Sinology Program" has covered more than 120 countries and regions, focusing on supporting well-known Chinese and foreign universities to independently or jointly recruit and train 1,080 doctoral students in the field of Sinology and 85 master's students in translation, and has organized more than 1,500 young translators to participate in multilingual Chinese translation training, and invited more than 1,700 young scholars to China for visiting and research. At the same time, it has funded foreign universities to open more than 200 Chinese studies courses, and established Sinology chair positions, initiated the publication of more than 70 kinds of Chinese classic translations and Chinese studies works, and held more than 60 regional and national Sinology international conferences. Among them, the World Sinology Conference with the theme of "Understanding China" has been held for 9 sessions and has become a high-end international academic conference brand with important influence.
At present, the "Sinology Program" has become an important incubator for young talents in the field of world Sinology and an important academic platform in the field of mutual learning among civilizations. Many graduated doctoral students have returned to their countries to work, some are engaged in Chinese language and Sinology teaching and research in universities and research institutions, and some are working in education, culture, diplomacy, economic and trade departments, and are rapidly growing into important new forces in the field of mutual learning among civilizations and Sino-foreign cooperation. The young Sinologists who wrote to President Xi Jinping (习近平) this time are all outstanding representatives cultivated by the "Sinology Program." Many well-known Sinologists said that the "Sinology Program" has achieved remarkable results in the 12 years of its implementation, and if it is adhered to for a long time, a large number of Sinology masters and "China hands" who are proficient in Chinese, understand China, are familiar with the past and present, and integrate Chinese and foreign cultures will surely emerge.
Civilizations exchange because of diversity, learn from each other because of exchange, and develop because of mutual learning. As the overall implementation agency of the "Sinology Program," the Sino-Foreign Language Exchange and Cooperation Center of the Ministry of Education (教育部中外语言交流合作中心) will uphold the Sinology concept of "originating from China and belonging to the world," continue to implement the "Sinology Program" in depth, focusing on cultivating a group of young Sinologists who "are associated with Sinology and walk with China," to promote the prosperity of world Sinology and facilitate mutual learning among civilizations. We look forward to more young Sinologists becoming envoys of cross-civilizational communication, so that Sinology can radiate new brilliance in the new era, and let the light of civilization illuminate the common future of mankind.
(The author is the Director of the Sino-Foreign Language Exchange and Cooperation Center of the Chinese Ministry of Education (中国教育部中外语言交流合作中心))
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 郝瑞敏
The final selection and award ceremony for the "Searching for China-Arab Youth Cultural Envoys" was recently held in Algiers (阿尔及尔), the capital of Algeria (阿尔及利亚). As a concrete practice to implement the "Youth Development Joint Action" in the "Eight Major Joint Actions" of the China-Arab Cooperation Forum, the event tells the story of China-Arab cooperation from the perspective of youth, further enhancing mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples.
The event was sponsored by China Petrochemical Corporation (中国石化集团). Algerian (阿尔及利亚) youth vividly told stories of jointly building the "Belt and Road" and friendly exchanges between China and Arab countries through short videos and other new media forms. The event organizer received a total of 165 entries. After several rounds of selection, 30 entries entered the re-election, and finally 15 stood out and entered the final display stage. After fierce competition, five young people won the title of "China-Arab Youth Cultural Envoy".
Algerian (阿尔及利亚) Minister of Culture and Arts Malika Bendouda (玛莉卡·本杜达) attended the event and delivered a speech. She talked about her experience of learning Chinese culture in her youth, especially the influence of Confucianism on her. She hoped that the youth of Algeria and China would become cultural envoys, "building a bridge of mutual understanding between the two peoples through cultural exchanges and injecting youth power into Algeria-China friendship."
Guo Jianjun (郭建军), Economic and Commercial Counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Algeria (中国驻阿尔及利亚大使馆), said that the traditional friendship between China and Arab countries has a long history. From the acquaintance and friendship of the ancient Silk Road to the pragmatic cooperation in jointly building the "Belt and Road" with high quality, the two countries have always been important partners who respect each other and work together. Youth is the future of China-Arab friendship. It is hoped that the youth of the two countries will enhance understanding with an open mind and continue to write friendship with an innovative spirit.
Debache (德贝什), Chairman of the Algeria-China Friendship Association (阿尔及利亚中国友好协会), said that the "Searching for China-Arab Youth Cultural Envoys" event has built a bridge for young people of the two countries to deepen communication and understanding, and also provided an opportunity to showcase the diversity and charm of Algerian and Chinese cultures. He hoped that young people would deepen friendship and enhance consensus in exchanges.
Baila Zeineb (拜拉·济奈布), who is currently studying for a master's degree at Chongqing University of Posts and Telecommunications (重庆邮电大学), won the title of "China-Arab Youth Cultural Envoy". Her short video based on her life experience in China was highly praised by the judges. In an interview with this reporter, she said that she was initially attracted to Chinese by China's natural scenery and excellent traditional culture. "Participating in the 'Chinese Bridge' Chinese competition opened the door for me to systematically learn Chinese. The experience of going to China to participate in the competition in 2023 is unforgettable: on the streets of China, the elderly will enthusiastically teach me how to write calligraphy, the shopkeepers will take the initiative to introduce special delicacies, and people's cherishing of friendship moved me," Zeineb (济奈布) said.
Zeineb's (济奈布) short video works do not have grand narratives, but more of life's details such as food sharing and festival interaction. "Chinese friends are curious about Algerian couscous, and Algerian netizens also like to watch me learn how to make zongzi," she said. Through short videos, cross-cultural exchanges become easy and fun. "Some Chinese netizens left a message after watching the video saying 'I want to go to Algeria to see', which may be the value of my work."
Zeineb (济奈布) has planned her future actions - focusing on cultural exchanges and youth cooperation between the two countries, organizing offline activities such as folk custom experiences and cultural sharing to allow more young people to participate in cross-cultural exchanges. "I will go all out to contribute my strength to enhancing Algeria-China friendship," Zeineb (济奈布) said.
(Reported by this newspaper from Algiers (阿尔及尔))
Return to TopXinhua News Agency, Beijing, December 19th (Reporters Shao Yibo (邵艺博) and Dong Xue (董雪)) Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jia Kun (郭嘉昆) stated on the 19th that Japan should face up to and reflect on its history, properly handle historical legacy issues with an honest and responsible attitude, and gain the trust of its Asian neighbors and the international community with practical actions.
At the regular press conference that day, a reporter asked: Recently, the UNESCO World Heritage Committee announced Japan's first report on the state of conservation of the Sado Island Gold Mines. The Japanese report did not mention the history of forced labor of workers from the Korean Peninsula, and stated that "close consultations have been held with the South Korean side on this matter." The South Korean side stated that it urges Japan to earnestly fulfill the relevant resolutions of the committee, its own commitments, and the consensus between the two governments, and that South Korea will continue to maintain communication with Japan. What is China's comment on this?
"The forced conscription and enslavement of laborers from China, the Korean Peninsula, and other Asian countries was a serious crime committed by Japanese militarism during its foreign aggression and colonial rule," Guo Jia Kun (郭嘉昆) said. "Japan should face up to and reflect on its history, properly handle historical legacy issues with an honest and responsible attitude, and gain the trust of its Asian neighbors and the international community with practical actions."
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 陈熙芮 龚 鸣
Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (亚投行) President Jin Liqun (金立群) recently stated in an exclusive interview with this newspaper that the AIIB is firmly committed to multilateralism, dedicated to helping members improve people's livelihoods and enhance well-being, actively promoting sustainable development and financing, promoting green development in Asia and even the world, and contributing multilateral strength to global sustainable development.
As the initiating country, largest shareholder, headquarters host country, and development partner of the AIIB, China has always actively supported the AIIB's development and growth. Jin Liqun (金立群) stated that President Xi Jinping (习近平) proposed at the beginning of the AIIB's establishment: China is willing to work with all member states to build the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (亚洲基础设施投资银行) into a professional, efficient, and clean new type of multilateral development bank, and jointly contribute to promoting economic prosperity in Asia and the world. "The AIIB is down-to-earth and uses practical actions to prove that China keeps its word and delivers on its promises. China always safeguards the nature of the AIIB as an international institution and creates conditions for the AIIB to develop into a mature international multilateral platform. The projects implemented by the AIIB in China also provide important development experience for other countries. The development of the AIIB embodies the joint efforts and collective wisdom of all members," said Jin Liqun (金立群).
Since its establishment on December 25, 2015, the AIIB has achieved steady development, expanding from the initial 57 founding members to the current 111 members, becoming one of the most representative multilateral development banks in the world. As of December 2025, the AIIB has approved 360 projects with a total financing amount of over US$69 billion, benefiting 40 members inside and outside Asia, and many projects have become models of international cooperation. Behind these figures are tangible development results – cumulative support for over 51,000 kilometers of transportation infrastructure, improving travel convenience for 410 million people; energy projects can reduce nearly 30 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions in carbon dioxide equivalent per year; approximately 8.71 million people have access to safer drinking water supplies; and nearly 5,000 hectares of land have been protected through flood control infrastructure, benefiting over 13 million people from flood protection measures.
"The AIIB's achievements are inseparable from consistently adhering to the principles of multilateralism, operating according to international rules, and adhering to high standards," Jin Liqun (金立群) recalled that at the beginning of the AIIB's establishment, some countries took a wait-and-see attitude. However, the development process over the past 10 years shows that the AIIB has practiced its original intention of promoting connectivity and regional cooperation. One project after another has been implemented, bringing tangible benefits to many countries and continuously attracting new members to join. "This fully reflects the AIIB's attractiveness, cohesion, and appeal," said Jin Liqun (金立群).
Jin Liqun (金立群) stated that development is a common cause for everyone. The AIIB, with developing countries as the main body, is committed to improving the development level of its members. The financing support provided by the AIIB is largely used for infrastructure construction in developing member countries, such as highways, railways, ports, airports, etc., and supports members' climate transition and digital transition. "The AIIB fully supports the Global Development Initiative (全球发展倡议) and is willing to work with all parties to jointly explore multilateral solutions to promote global development and promote the achievement of sustainable development goals," said Jin Liqun (金立群).
Regarding the key areas of work that the AIIB has focused on promoting in the past 10 years, Jin Liqun (金立群) stated that connectivity, climate change, and sustainable development are all important focuses. In his view, global development requires the joint participation of multilateral institutions, private enterprises, and social capital, especially in areas such as addressing climate change and energy transition. Jin Liqun (金立群) said: "The AIIB hopes to mobilize the enthusiasm of the private sector and other parties to create a good and sustainable international development financing environment."
Jin Liqun (金立群) has repeatedly inspected projects supported by AIIB financing. He introduced that the "Landslide Hazard Reduction Project" supported by AIIB loans is being promoted in multiple high-risk mountainous areas in Sri Lanka, and is expected to benefit approximately 200 affected areas and over 1 million households. In Africa, the AIIB is cooperating with other international multilateral institutions to provide electricity to approximately 300 million people in sub-Saharan Africa. In Latin America, the AIIB is providing a US$1 billion loan to Brazil for addressing climate change and biodiversity conservation.
Not long ago, the first cross-border wind power project in Southeast Asia jointly financed by the AIIB and the Asian Development Bank (亚洲开发银行) – the 600 MW Mengsong Wind Power Project (孟松风电项目) in Laos – achieved full-capacity commercial operation, which will effectively fill the seasonal power shortage in the Southeast Asian region. "Our projects are beneficial to people's livelihoods, beneficial to sustainable development, and effectively enhance the development capabilities of our members," Jin Liqun (金立群) said that through cooperation with all parties, the AIIB actively supports members in addressing development challenges and solving development problems, striving to achieve win-win cooperation, and setting a model for multilateral cooperation.
Jin Liqun (金立群) believes that the world today faces many global challenges, and the global governance initiatives proposed by China are in line with the needs of the times. "The AIIB is firmly committed to multilateralism, actively participates in global governance, and will continue to implement the global governance concept of shared consultation, joint construction, and shared benefits, and work with development partners and all parties to pool our wisdom and efforts to contribute multilateral synergy to global governance," said Jin Liqun (金立群).
Return to TopThis newspaper reported from Beijing on December 20th (Reporter Li Zhuoer (李卓尔)) The 2025 International Forum on the Dissemination of Chinese Culture was held in Beijing (北京) on the 19th. With the theme of "Confidence, Inclusiveness, and Innovation: Enhancing the Dissemination and Influence of Chinese Civilization," the forum brought together experts and representatives from the fields of national ideology and theory, culture and art, and international communication to jointly explore the paths and innovative practices for Chinese culture to go global in the new era.
The forum released the "Research Report on the International Dissemination of Chinese Culture (2025)" jointly compiled by the Cultural Communication Center of China Foreign Languages Publishing Administration (中国外文局) and the Academy of Cultural Innovation and Communication of Beijing Normal University (北京师范大学), held the launch ceremony of the "Space-Ground Integrated Interactive Cultural Communication Platform," and released the academic monograph "Yangtze Yangtze: A Global Cultural IP Narrative of a Great River." The "Space-Ground Integrated Interactive Cultural Communication Platform" takes China's (中国) first cultural communication satellite "Youxi (有戏) Satellite" as a key node, deeply integrating aerospace technology and cultural communication, and will build a new paradigm of "space-earth co-screen, bidirectional interconnection."
This forum was co-sponsored by the Cultural Communication Center of China Foreign Languages Publishing Administration (中国外文局), the International Liaison Department of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles (中国文联), the Creation Liaison Department of the Chinese Writers Association (中国作协), and the Communication University of China (中国传媒大学), among other organizations. During the forum, parallel sub-forums on music and cultural communication, poetry and cultural communication, and intangible cultural heritage and cultural communication were also held to explore the international communication practices of Chinese culture from different fields.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 曾亦辰
Improve the lifelong vocational skills training system.
——Excerpt from the "15th Five-Year Plan" proposal
A free skills training program has added color to Gao Xin's (高新) life.
Gao Xin (高新) is a domestic service worker in Lanzhou (兰州市), Gansu Province (甘肃省), and also a mother of two children with some experience in childcare. Recently, she saw a message pushed in the chat group of her apartment building: "The 'Jingguo (巾帼) Domestic Service Station' on Jiuquan Road (酒泉路) in Lanzhou (兰州市) has opened, offering free training in domestic service skills."
"Is it reliable? Is it worth going?" Gao Xin (高新) hesitated, wanting to bring a friend who usually takes on odd jobs with her to check it out. But the friend waved her hand: "It takes several days, better to go out and earn some money."
After much consideration, Gao Xin (高新) decided to go herself, "Seeing is believing."
The 5-day skills training class was organized by the Gansu Provincial Women's Federation (甘肃省妇联). "The instructors are mainly from domestic service companies. The course content is combined with market demand, striving to ensure that everyone can use what they learn," said the head of the Women's Development Department of the Gansu Provincial Women's Federation (甘肃省妇联妇女发展部).
The training class broadened Gao Xin's (高新) horizons. "The teacher taught so many ways to hold a baby." In addition to learning childcare knowledge in the classroom, the teacher also took the students to domestic service companies for practical exercises. "Before, I relied solely on my own experience to take care of children. Now, with professional teachers teaching and guiding, I learn more scientifically and systematically," said Gao Xin (高新).
"We customize the training content according to different service scenarios and customer needs. Etiquette for entering a home, communication skills, and the use of smart home appliances are all required courses," said trainer Tang Hailan (唐海兰).
Opening skills training classes not only helps domestic service workers master and improve their skills, but also paves a career development path from entry-level to advanced for everyone.
After completing the study and passing the assessment, Gao Xin (高新) received a training certificate and was also named an outstanding student. Subsequently, based on what she learned, she obtained the "Senior Infant Caregiver" professional qualification certificate. "Before, when looking for a job, I would show customers photos of me with children. Now I can also show my certificate, which gives me more confidence," said Gao Xin (高新). "I also feel more confident at work, and I am calm and composed in everything I do."
The changes don't stop there. In the past, Gao Xin (高新) mostly took on odd jobs, and her circle was small. Now, through the station's recommendation, she has joined a domestic service company and become a colleague with more than 40 students who participated in the training together. Everyone often exchanges details to pay attention to at work, and they also introduce each other to good work and study opportunities.
Gao Xin (高新) said that she is not worried about not having work now, her income is more stable, and she plans to participate in the provincial Jingguo (巾帼) domestic service vocational skills competition next year. "I 'recharged' myself at the station, and I also want to try to pass on my skills and experience to others. When I have more experience, maybe I can become a trainer!"
"For students who want to advance to become trainers, we will strive to create conditions to support everyone in continuing to do the good deed of 授人以渔 (shòu rén yǐ yú - "teach a man to fish," to teach someone how to do something rather than just giving them the result). " said Yang Lingling (杨玲玲), the head of the Jiuquan Road (酒泉路) "Jingguo (巾帼) Domestic Service Station."
In dozens of "Jingguo (巾帼) Domestic Service Stations" in Gansu (甘肃), skills training is still ongoing. Since the beginning of this year, more than 10,000 women have mastered skills through the station's training, and more than 80% of the trainees have passed the assessment.
Recently, a notice for a new training class popped up in the chat group of the apartment building. This time, Gao Xin's (高新) friend no longer hesitated, but "instantly replied" in the group: "I'm signing up!"
Return to TopBy: 杨烁壁
In the past, I only took on odd jobs, but now I don't have to worry about finding work. In the future, I want to participate in vocational skills competitions... The story of Gao Xin (高新), a domestic service worker in Lanzhou (兰州市), Gansu (甘肃) Province, illustrates that practical and effective skills training can not only improve the quality of employment, but also provide opportunities to support professional ideals.
Looking at market demand, the service industry is showing a trend of high-quality and diversified development, which puts higher skill requirements on related employment groups. Skills training with precision can be more closely aligned with market demand, helping workers build stronger "diamonds" and take on more "porcelain work."
Looking at individual needs, while pursuing labor remuneration, workers are also pursuing longer-term development paths and broader career prospects. Skills training with depth opens up a channel for workers from entry-level to advanced, allowing them to explore more possibilities.
Employment is the biggest livelihood issue, concerning personal life and economic and social development. We look forward to the continuous expansion of the precision and depth of skills training, so that the light of skills can illuminate the professional future of more people.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 苏 滨
This year, two highway toll stations in Bozhou District (播州区), Zunyi City (遵义市), Guizhou (贵州) Province, changed their names—Shangji (尚嵇) and Goujiang (芶江) were renamed Wujiangzhai East (乌江寨东) and Wujiangzhai West (乌江寨西), respectively. The surrounding people were happy to hear this: "This is to make our Wujiangzhai (乌江寨) more and more prosperous!"
Wujiangzhai (乌江寨) is a tourist resort located at the junction of Goujiang (芶江), Shangji (尚嵇), and Xinmin (新民) towns in Bozhou District (播州区). During the day, the pottery street and chili workshop are full of tourists experiencing intangible cultural heritage skills; at night, the bonfire party has melodious songs, and drone performances adorn the starry sky...
Since the beginning of this year, the Wujiangzhai (乌江寨) scenic area has received more than 1.17 million tourists. But a few years ago, the scene here was quite different.
Funding Shortage, Project Stalled
Wujiangzhai (乌江寨) was once a local tourism poverty alleviation project. In 2016, Bozhou District (播州区) set its sights on the tourism industry and introduced Top Ideal Group Co., Ltd. (顶度集团有限公司), planning to jointly build the Wujiangzhai (乌江寨) scenic area.
The district selected Wujiang Village (乌江村) in the deep mountains. Wujiang Village (乌江村) was still a poor village at that time, with little development, well-preserved natural landscapes, green mountains and clear waters, wooden walls and blue tiles, quaint and elegant features, and a splendid and colorful ethnic culture.
However, the local area was designing, constructing, and submitting for approval at the same time when promoting the project, and the budget changed again and again, and the construction period was delayed again and again. In October 2019, a funding gap appeared, and the project was successively suspended.
"At that time, the main structure had been completed, and it could be put into operation after decoration, and the return of funds was only a 'last-mile kick' away, but unfortunately, money was lacking at this critical juncture," said Chen Yi (陈羿), chairman of Guizhou Guiyao Tourism Development and Investment Co., Ltd. (贵州贵耀旅游开发投资有限公司), which is now responsible for the operation of the Wujiangzhai (乌江寨) scenic area.
The local area reflected and looked for the crux of the problem, and held relevant responsible persons accountable for problems such as unsound project demonstration and non-standard review.
Accountability is not the end, the key is to revitalize the project. In 2021, Wujiangzhai (乌江寨) was listed as a idle and inefficient tourism project in Guizhou Province (贵州省), and the project revitalization work was launched simultaneously.
Introducing a Team to Optimize Operations
In order to effectively revitalize the Wujiangzhai (乌江寨) project, under the guidance and help of special classes at the provincial, municipal, and district levels, Bozhou District (播州区) clarified the idea of promoting the revitalization work and appropriately reduced the construction scale.
First, in accordance with the model of separating government and enterprises, separating affairs and enterprises, and enterprise-oriented operation, the existing assets were optimized: supporting infrastructure and other assets were handed over to the district-owned state-owned platform company; the scenic area's operating assets were operated by Guizhou Guiyao Tourism Development and Investment Co., Ltd. (贵州贵耀旅游开发投资有限公司), a state-owned company established by the district government.
How to revitalize the scenic area's operating assets? First, sort out the difficulties hindering the opening and operation: funding shortages, incomplete licenses, imperfect supporting facilities... There were more than 100 problems of all sizes, and solutions needed to be developed one by one.
The most critical thing was to solve the funding shortage. In November 2021, Top Ideal Group (顶度集团) purchased 40% of the equity of Guizhou Guiyao Tourism Development and Investment Co., Ltd. (贵州贵耀旅游开发投资有限公司), establishing a mixed-ownership operation mechanism of "state-owned capital + private capital." At the end of the same year, a new loan arrived.
"Top Ideal Group (顶度集团) purchased equity and also assumed corresponding debts. We agreed that no dividends would be distributed before the debt was cleared," Chen Yi (陈羿) said. Wujiangzhai (乌江寨) introduced a professional management team responsible for operating well-known scenic spots to undertake the scenic area's daily operation, human resources, and brand marketing management.
The management team optimized the scenic area's management and layout around differentiated positioning. "We adopt a model of 60% self-operated scenic spots, 20% cooperative operation, and 20% external leasing to create a northern Guizhou village integrating 'residential houses, folk customs, and folk food' to enhance the tourist experience," Chen Yi (陈羿) said.
After the completion of construction, the Wujiangzhai (乌江寨) scenic area was put into trial operation during the Spring Festival in 2022, and officially opened for operation during the "May Day" holiday of the same year. In the following two years, the revenue of the Wujiangzhai (乌江寨) scenic area reached new levels, with the annual number of tourists exceeding one million, and in March 2024, it successfully removed the hat of idle and inefficient tourism project.
"For every 100 million yuan invested, 5 million yuan in revenue must be generated, and the scenic area operation must be profitable. These are the two key revitalization standards set by the government, and Wujiangzhai (乌江寨) fully meets them," Chen Yi (陈羿) said. As of now, Wujiangzhai (乌江寨) has received more than 3.9 million tourists, and its revenue this year is close to 300 million yuan.
Overall Planning to Improve Business Formats
How can the revitalized Wujiangzhai (乌江寨) scenic area play a greater role?
Zhu Xianzhi (朱显志), a poverty-stricken household in Wujiang Village (乌江村), has made a living from "tourism": he works in a music bar in the scenic area, and his son manages a Miao clothing rental shop at home.
"Before, almost every household in the village went out to work. Now, there are more and more tourists in the scenic area, and we have work to do at our doorstep, and our lives are more promising," Zhu Xianzhi (朱显志) said.
"We adhere to the principle of integrating the scenic area inside and outside, focusing on the six elements of 'eating, living, traveling, shopping, and entertainment' to drive the surrounding three towns to improve the tourism business format," Chen Yi (陈羿) said. Through self-operation, cooperative operation, and external investment promotion, Wujiangzhai (乌江寨) has 175 shops, including catering, homestays, and handicrafts, which have opened successively, directly driving nearly 1,000 jobs, more than half of which are local people. The scenic area's income has changed from a single ticket to a composite income, with tickets, catering and homestays, conferences, and experiences each accounting for 1/3.
In addition to Wujiangzhai (乌江寨), many idle and inefficient assets in Guizhou (贵州) have "awakened": by introducing enterprises, 10 idle pig farms in Hezhang County (赫章县), Bijie City (毕节市), have resumed breeding; with the help of bundled leasing, three idle projects such as greenhouses and cold storage in Gui'an New District (贵安新区) have regained income... Relying on revitalization paths such as attracting strong investment, flexible reorganization, and streamlining and increasing efficiency, Guizhou (贵州) accurately resolves the difficulties and pain points of idle and inefficient projects with a "one case, one policy" approach.
At the same time, in order to prevent "half-finished" projects from appearing, Guizhou (贵州) issued the "Guizhou Province Government Investment Project Budget Management Measures" (《贵州省政府投资项目概算管理办法》) to strengthen the budget management of government investment projects and improve the quality and efficiency of government investment. For incremental projects, strict checks are carried out during project approval, and approval and supervision are strengthened. Projects with poor social benefits, poor technical feasibility, and unsecured funding sources are not allowed to be approved.
As of now, the Wujiangzhai (乌江寨) scenic area has driven the surrounding area to develop more than 400 homestays, more than 200 restaurants, and more than 90 retail stores.
Return to TopThis report Macao December 20th (Reporter Fu Zimei (富子梅)) The Macao Special Administrative Region (澳门特区) government held a flag-raising ceremony and reception on December 20th to celebrate the 26th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland.
The reception celebrating the 26th anniversary of the establishment of the Macao Special Administrative Region (中华人民共和国澳门特别行政区) of the People's Republic of China was held at 9:30 a.m. at the Complex of the Commercial and Trade Service Platform between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries. Macao Special Administrative Region Chief Executive Chui Sai On (岑浩辉) delivered a speech, stating that Macao will follow the important instructions of President Xi Jinping (习近平), more actively connect with national development strategies, formulate and implement the Macao Special Administrative Region's "Three-Five" Plan, and achieve better development in the new journey of serving the construction of a strong country and the rejuvenation of the nation.
Ho Hau Wah (何厚铧), Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (全国政协), Zheng Xincong (郑新聪), Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Macao Special Administrative Region (中央政府驻澳门联络办公室), former Macao Special Administrative Region Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng (贺一诚), Liu Xianfa (刘显法), Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the Macao Special Administrative Region (外交部驻澳门特派员公署), Yu Changjiang (于长江), Commander of the People's Liberation Army Macao Garrison (解放军驻澳门部队), Zhang Yongchun (张永春), President of the Legislative Assembly of the Macao Special Administrative Region (特区立法会), Song Minli (宋敏莉), President of the Court of Final Appeal of the Macao Special Administrative Region (特区终审法院), major officials of the Macao Special Administrative Region government, members of the Executive Council, members of the Legislative Assembly, deputies to the National People's Congress and members of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference from Macao, and people from all walks of life, totaling about 1,000 people, attended the reception.
Chui Sai On (岑浩辉) said that it is necessary to always take safeguarding national security as the first principle, unswervingly promote public administration reform, build a modern legal system, consolidate the foundation of grassroots governance, comprehensively improve governance effectiveness, and build a "clean, efficient, and promising" service-oriented government.
Before the reception, about 550 government officials and guests attended the flag-raising ceremony held at the Golden Lotus Square (金莲花广场).
Return to TopOn December 20th, the "Most Painting - The 4th Chinese Youth Oil Painting Exhibition" opened at the Inner Mongolia Art Museum (内蒙古美术馆) in Hohhot (呼和浩特市). The exhibition was co-sponsored by the Chinese Oil Painting Society (中国油画学会) and the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Federation of Literary and Art Circles (内蒙古自治区文学艺术界联合会), showcasing 216 works selected from the shortlisted entries.
The picture shows visitors viewing oil paintings at the exhibition on that day.
Photo by Ding Genhou (丁根厚) (Image China).
Return to TopThis newspaper reported from Beijing on December 20th (Fan Wei (樊巍)). On December 20th, the 2026 Global Times Annual Conference, themed "The World Can Trust China: New Journey, New Opportunities," was held in Beijing (北京). Cui Shixin (崔士鑫), Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the People's Daily (人民日报社), attended and delivered a keynote speech.
The annual conference featured four topics: "A Forward-Looking Nation: How Important is 'Predictability' to the World?", "An Empowering Nation: What Global Dividends Will the '15th Five-Year Plan' Release?", "A Civilizational Nation: Why is the Chinese Solution the Most Likely to be Implemented?", and "A Symbiotic Nation: A New Exploration of How Major Powers Interact with Their Neighbors." More than one hundred well-known figures, experts, and scholars from political, academic, and business circles at home and abroad discussed from different perspectives how the mature and stable "Chinese Governance" can become an anchor of stability in a changing world and a source of confidence in a chaotic situation.
During the annual conference, the Global Times (环球时报社) also released the results of the "Chinese People's View of the World" survey and the "Global Times 2025 China Port Vitality, Resilience, and Development Confidence Annual Report," and held two dialogue sessions focusing on "Looking Ahead to the World in 2026" and "Looking Ahead to China in 2026."
The Global Times Annual Conference has been held for 15 consecutive years and has become an intellectual feast of "mutual奔赴" (双向奔赴) (shuāng xiàng bēn fù - "two-way rush," a mutual and enthusiastic engagement) between the Chinese academic and media circles, and an important window for understanding China and the world.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 张志锋 田先进
"We will build a system and mechanism to support comprehensive innovation, coordinate the integrated reform of the education, science and technology, and talent system and mechanism, improve the policies and mechanisms for financial support of scientific and technological innovation, and promote the deep integration of the innovation chain, industrial chain, capital chain, and talent chain."
——October 18, 2024, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) pointed out during his inspection in Anhui (安徽)
The orange-red fire ring is "locked" into the tank, and in rapid rotation, it continuously generates energy.
This year, the "artificial sun" of Science Island (科学岛) in Hefei (合肥), Anhui (安徽) — the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST) — achieved a high-confinement mode plasma operation of 1066 seconds at 100 million degrees Celsius. Around EAST, the Comprehensive Research Facility for Key Systems of Fusion Reactor Host, and the Compact Fusion Energy Experimental Device, Hefei (合肥) is laying out the construction of an Energy Research Institute, and a hundred-billion-level fusion energy industrial cluster is accelerating its formation.
On October 18, 2024, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) pointed out during his inspection in Anhui (安徽): "We will build a system and mechanism to support comprehensive innovation, coordinate the integrated reform of the education, science and technology, and talent system and mechanism, improve the policies and mechanisms for financial support of scientific and technological innovation, and promote the deep integration of the innovation chain, industrial chain, capital chain, and talent chain."
Deeply implementing the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping's (习近平) important instructions, Hefei (合肥) continues to optimize the scientific and technological innovation ecosystem. The total number of large scientific installations built, under construction, and pre-researched has reached 13. The three major science and technology innovation highlands of quantum information, fusion energy, and deep space exploration continue to enhance the city's innovation capabilities. The number of national high-tech enterprises in the city remains stable at over 10,000, and the intensity of R&D investment exceeds 4%.
Integrating science, education, and industry accelerates the promotion of achievements from "bookshelves" to "shelves."
Hefei (合肥) CAS Zhiqitech Information Technology Co., Ltd. has a "box" suspended above a bed. Users can complete electrocardiogram monitoring by lying on the bed without wearing electrodes or removing clothing.
"'The box' is based on our developed non-contact electrocardiogram generation technology, which uses millimeter-wave radar technology to achieve high-precision heart activity monitoring," said Chen Yan (陈彦), professor at the University of Science and Technology of China (中国科学技术大学) and chairman of Hefei (合肥) CAS Zhiqitech Information Technology Co., Ltd.
Thanks to the school's new model of promoting scientific and technological achievements of duty-related inventions through "empowerment + transfer + agreed-upon income," the technology completed the relevant procedures in three months and is gradually realizing industrial application.
"About 80% of the ownership of duty-related scientific and technological achievements is granted to scientific researchers, fully stimulating their enthusiasm," said Wang Fengchao (王奉超), deputy director of the Technology Achievement Transformation Office of the University of Science and Technology of China (中国科学技术大学). Currently, scientific researchers throughout the school have transferred 76 scientific and technological achievements through the new model, and 69 new or increased capital enterprises have been established. This innovative model is being promoted to 106 scientific research institutes throughout the province.
With equal emphasis on "attracting talent" and "cultivating talent," Hefei (合肥) has added more than 30,000 high-level talents in the past three years. The University of Science and Technology of China (科大) Silicon Valley (硅谷) innovation and entrepreneurship platform has precisely connected with more than 15,000 alumni. Connecting production, learning, research, and application, scientific research institutions and enterprises send personnel to each other for temporary positions. Matching talent supply and demand, about 70% of the majors closely related to emerging industries in Hefei's (合肥) provincial undergraduate colleges and universities...
Using investment to attract investment, financial "living water" nourishes innovation.
Through the scanning electron microscope independently developed by Hefei (合肥) Guojing Instrument Technology Co., Ltd., every tiny hibiscus pollen is clearly visible. "At the beginning of the company's establishment, there was a lack of financial support. The University of Science and Technology of China (科大) Silicon Valley (硅谷) directly invested 5 million yuan, and subsequently connected us with many commercial investments," recalled Fang Xiaowei (方小伟), the person in charge of the company. In 2023, the company settled in the University of Science and Technology of China (科大) Silicon Valley (硅谷), completing the leap from laboratory technology to application products in just one year. "The total amount of orders this year is expected to exceed 10 million yuan."
BOE (京东方), Changxin Memory (长鑫存储), NIO (蔚来汽车)... Many hundred-billion-level "industrial landmarks" are all irrigated by financial "living water." Hefei (合肥) has established a total scale of 4 billion yuan of angel and seed fund groups, investing in more than 360 projects, with a cumulative capital amplification factor of more than 7 times. It has created a "common growth plan" to support financial support for technology-based enterprises, helping banks and enterprises cooperate. 17 science and technology financial workstations integrate financing docking and policy publicity, achieving full coverage of counties and districts.
"Adhering to long-termism, Hefei (合肥) uses state-owned capital as the lead investment to leverage social capital to follow up investment, cultivate leading enterprises, and drive the development of the entire industrial chain," said Jiang Xin (江鑫), Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of Hefei (合肥) Industry Investment Group.
Hardcore support strengthens scientific and technological soft services.
"Professor Gong Wei's (龚伟) team, which is dedicated to the research of passive high-precision sensing systems, has finally established a company." Wang Ruifang (王瑞芳), a technology manager at the Anhui (安徽) Innovation Hall, could not hide her excitement, behind which was her three consecutive years of professional service: when there was a lack of scenarios for technology verification, she worked hard to promote extensive testing; when there was a lack of funds for start-ups, she helped contact government-guided funds...
"We have trained nearly 4,000 certified technology managers like Wang Ruifang (王瑞芳). They are a key link in helping the deep integration of the innovation chain and the industrial chain," said Chen Lin (陈林), director of the Service Management Center of the Anhui (安徽) Innovation Hall. "We always adhere to the principle of market-oriented allocation of scientific and technological elements, build an efficient and collaborative scientific and technological achievement transformation service system, and promote the transaction amount of scientific and technological achievement transformation to exceed 167 billion yuan."
Hefei (合肥) continues to promote the development of the science and technology service industry, establish a professional science and technology service network, and has cumulatively served nearly 200 industrial parks in the province. It took the lead in initiating the establishment of the National Science and Technology Market Alliance, and the first batch of member units covers institutions in many places across the country, such as the China Technology Exchange and the Shanghai Technology Exchange.
The "15th Five-Year Plan" proposal proposes to "lay out the construction of regional science and technology innovation centers and industrial science and technology innovation highlands." The Central Economic Work Conference proposed to "adhere to innovation-driven development and accelerate the cultivation and expansion of new kinetic energy."
"Bearing in mind General Secretary Xi Jinping's (习近平) earnest entrustment, Hefei (合肥) will focus on the industrial chain, adhere to investing early, investing in small businesses, and investing for the long term, investing in hard technology, and continuously optimizing the scientific and technological innovation ecosystem," said Fei Gaoyun (费高云), member of the Standing Committee of the Anhui (安徽) Provincial Party Committee and Secretary of the Hefei (合肥) Municipal Party Committee.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 张 铁 张丹华
"The climate, sunlight, latitude, and altitude of northern Shaanxi are very suitable for developing apple cultivation." "Vigorously developing the apple planting industry can be described as having the right timing, geographical advantages, and harmonious human relations. This is the best and most suitable industry, with great prospects."
——Xi Jinping (习近平), General Secretary of the Communist Party of China, emphasized this during his inspection in Yan'an (延安), Shaanxi (陕西) on October 26, 2022.
At 12:11 on November 25th, the Shenzhou-22 (神舟二十二号) spacecraft soared into the sky. Among the "space express deliveries" sent to the space station were apples from Yan'an (延安), Shaanxi (陕西). This marks the twelfth "flying to space" journey for Yan'an (延安) apples.
In June 2021, the Shenzhou-12 (神舟十二号) spacecraft carried Yan'an (延安) apples on its first "flying to space" mission, making "astronauts only being able to eat freeze-dried fruit in space" a thing of the past.
"'Flying apples' have become our new gold standard!" said Wang Ying (王颖), a researcher at Shaanxi Huasheng Modern Agriculture Group Co., Ltd. (陕西华圣现代农业集团有限公司), with great pride. The apples carried by the Shenzhou-22 (神舟二十二号) spacecraft came from the Huasheng Modern Agriculture Group's (华圣现代农业集团) planting base in Huangling County (黄陵县), Yan'an (延安).
In Nangou Village (南沟村), Anse District (安塞区), Yan'an (延安), the year's apple harvest in the mountain orchards has been completed. Fruit farmer Zhao Yongdong (赵永东) recalled the scene from more than 3 years ago—
On October 26, 2022, when Xi Jinping (习近平), General Secretary of the Communist Party of China, inspected Yan'an (延安), Shaanxi (陕西), he walked into the orchard in Nangou Village (南沟村) and had cordial exchanges with the villagers, saying, "This is agricultural modernization. You have found a suitable direction for industrial development."
Remembering the General Secretary's earnest instructions, Yan'an (延安) is focusing on building a high-quality apple development pilot zone. The "flying apples" contain the secret to Yan'an's (延安) high-quality apple development.
To have good apples, you must first "grow" them well.
More than 4,000 apple germplasm genes, more than 600 new and superior varieties... In the Yan'an (延安) Apple Germplasm Resource Nursery (Gene Bank), rows of apple trees stretch their branches in the sunlight. "This is the 'chip' for our new variety research and development," said Du Jingbin (杜敬斌), head of the germplasm resource nursery.
Next to it, on the exhibition stand of the Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University Luochuan Apple Experimental Station (西北农林科技大学洛川苹果试验站), red, yellow, and green apples are lined up. Ma Fengwang (马锋旺), chief expert of the experimental station, said that more than 10,000 hybrid apple offspring have been cultivated here. Among them, the cold-resistant new varieties have allowed Shaanxi (陕西) apples to expand 200 kilometers north, planting them on the edge of the Mu Us Desert (毛乌素沙地).
To have good apples, you must also "manage" them well.
Changes are visible everywhere in the apple orchards. In Yunyan Town (云岩镇), Yichuan County (宜川县), apple trees are neatly arranged. On the trees, hail nets open and close electrically; between the trees, self-propelled operation platforms shuttle back and forth. There are even more tricks under the trees: interplanting rapeseed and soybeans, laying mulch and reflective film, and water and fertilizer integrated irrigation facilities.
Lu Shuguo (路树国), director of the Yan'an (延安) Fruit Industry Center, introduced that from orchard construction and variety selection to pruning, thinning, bagging, and harvesting, Yan'an (延安) apples have established green standardized production management standards. This is how "flying apples" are "managed."
To have good apples, you must also "select" them well.
72 photos per second, using near-infrared spectroscopy to analyze and measure more than 20 indicators such as fruit diameter and sugar content... In the sorting workshop of Huangling Hongchang Fruit Industry Company (黄陵县宏昌果业公司), the intelligent fruit sorting line is running at full speed, and apples are individually inspected for quality.
From "selling by the pile" to "selling by the kilogram" and then to "selling by the piece," graded and priced sales meet personalized needs, with an average of 1 to 2.4 yuan more per kilogram of apples. There are already 198 such fruit sorting lines in Yan'an (延安).
Yan'an (延安) values apples, and apples also give back to Yan'an (延安).
In May 2019, Yanchuan County (延川县) and Yichuan County (宜川县) in Yan'an (延安) City were removed from the list of poverty-stricken counties. Apples deserve credit for shedding the "poverty hat"—of Yan'an's (延安) more than 2.2 million people, about 1 million are engaged in apple industry-related work; 60% of farmers' income comes from apples.
For the comprehensive revitalization of the countryside, apples continue to exert their strength.
Today, Yan'an (延安) is already an "apple city." Orchards are forested on the gullies and ridges, and stores are spread throughout the city streets. Apples are transformed into juice, dried fruit, and pectin, and are also exported to Central Asia and Europe on China-Europe freight trains... Yan'an's (延安) apple industry chain and value chain are constantly extending. In 2024, the apple planting area will exceed 3.3 million mu, the output will exceed 5 million tons, and the total output value of the entire industry chain will exceed 55 billion yuan.
"'Flying apples' are a medal for the high-quality development of Yan'an (延安) apples," said Zhang Junqi (张军旗), deputy director of the Yan'an (延安) Apple Research Institute.
Aerospace-grade apples have a strict set of "physical examination" standards: the fruit diameter must be moderate, the fruit shape must be upright, the sweetness and sourness must be balanced, and there must be no flaws from the inside to the outside.
Using Internet of Things equipment to monitor light, temperature, and humidity in real time; green technology must be used for fertilization, pest control, and field management; after harvesting, they must also undergo intelligent spectral sorting and sterile cleaning treatment. "Twelve 'flights to space' mean that a traceable and replicable top-level quality control system has matured," said Zhang Junqi (张军旗).
"What does an apple that tastes so good it can 'go to heaven' taste like?" Astronaut Tang Hongbo's (汤洪波) video of eating apples while working in the space station has made netizens curious. Now, "flying apples" are joining hands with e-commerce and "flying into" ordinary people's homes. The brand value of "Yan'an (延安) apples" has also become more substantial because of the quality of "flying apples."
Now, Ma Fengwang (马锋旺) is also pondering: Will the microgravity and strong radiation environment in space bring about wonderful changes at the genetic level for apples? In the future, can we eat completely new apple varieties that originate in Yan'an (延安) and are cultivated in space?
The space journey has added infinite imagination to this "sweet career."
The "15th Five-Year Plan" proposal puts forward the idea of "accelerating the modernization of agriculture and rural areas, and steadily promoting the comprehensive revitalization of the countryside." Grasping output and capacity, production and ecology, and increased production and income together, and working together on scientific and technological agriculture, green agriculture, quality agriculture, and brand agriculture, facing the future, the small apple is exploring the path of "building agriculture into a modern large industry" and adding more "sweet taste" to "a happier and better life for the people."
Return to TopThis newspaper reported from Beijing on December 20th (Reporter Pan Junqiang (潘俊强)) that the reporter learned from the Beijing Municipal Human Resources and Social Security Bureau (北京市人社局) that Beijing has added 115 new postdoctoral research stations this year, including 7 postdoctoral workstations and 108 park sub-stations. The scale of station establishment has steadily expanded, and the service effectiveness has continued to improve. The newly established stations are mainly technology innovation-oriented enterprises, of which strategic emerging industries such as new energy, new materials, aerospace, artificial intelligence, and bio-manufacturing account for more than 60%, and the effectiveness of technology enabling the cultivation of new quality productive forces has been significantly improved.
The Beijing Municipal Human Resources and Social Security Bureau (北京市人社局) organized special training to interpret relevant policies on postdoctoral station management, core operational points, etc., to provide precise guidance for newly established stations. At the same time, it invited the person in charge of postdoctoral work from Zhongguancun Science Park Haidian Park (中关村科技园区海淀园) and the Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences (北京市农林科学院) to share the park's clustered operation experience, postdoctoral talent training, and practical experience in achievement transformation. Beijing will continue to optimize the service guarantee system for postdoctoral work, strengthen policy empowerment and resource integration, stimulate the innovation and creativity of postdoctoral talents, and promote the deep integration of industry, academia, and research and the transformation of achievements.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 易舒冉 闫伊乔
The so-called university is not about having big buildings, but about having great masters. In university life, the scenes that bring spiritual pleasure are not only the lights in the library and the evening breeze on the playground, but also a series of dazzling lectures by famous teachers and experts.
In university life, some people queue for hours in advance to get a seat in order to listen to the sharing of famous experts and big names up close; some people rush between schools just for a forum full of useful information in order to capture the cutting-edge trends in their professional fields; and some people gradually dispel the confusion of learning and career choices in a series of lectures and find their own direction forward.
In the era of mobile internet, massive amounts of information are readily available online. Why are people still keen to grab the front row in classrooms to listen to lectures? Let's listen to these college students talk about their "chasing" lectures and what kind of "university之道" (dào - "the way," the fundamental principles or philosophy of university education) is contained in the lectures.
Lectures are not a passive task of "collecting credits."
"I got a ticket to Mo Yan's (莫言) lecture!" Zhang Zetian (张泽天), a 2022 undergraduate student majoring in trade economics at the Business School of Renmin University of China (中国人民大学), happily told her friend.
Not long ago, Mo Yan (莫言), Vice Chairman of the Chinese Writers Association (中国作家协会) and Nobel Prize winner in Literature, Yuan Yaxiang (袁亚湘), Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (中国科学院), and Wu Guosheng (吴国盛), Director of the Department of History of Science at Tsinghua University (清华大学), came to the Zhongguancun (中关村) campus of Renmin University of China (中国人民大学) to discuss "Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Humanity." "Tickets are first-come, first-served. As soon as the college announced it, I signed up quickly," Zhang Zetian (张泽天) said.
On the day of the lecture, half an hour before the event started, a long queue had formed outside the teaching building. "Can AI write real literary works?" "Will human jobs be replaced by technology?" After the lecture, the students were still enthusiastic and kept asking questions. "I have been following the topic of AI and I was worried about AI replacing humans. I really wanted to hear the experts' opinions," Zhang Zetian (张泽天) said.
On the same campus, Cao Mingzijie (曹明子杰), a 2022 undergraduate student at the School of Sociology of Renmin University of China (中国人民大学), attends lectures almost every week. "In order to get lecture information in a timely manner, I follow the official accounts of various colleges, and I add lectures that I am interested in to my schedule," Cao Mingzijie (曹明子杰) said.
Sometimes, Cao Mingzijie (曹明子杰) also "chases" lectures across schools. He found that not all lectures are packed, "Some lectures have grand themes and vague content, and are far from the students' study and life, so they are easy to be deserted. On the contrary, real and vivid content can always ignite the enthusiasm of the students."
For many college students, listening to lectures is no longer a passive task of "collecting credits," but an active appointment for growth.
From undergraduate to master's student, and now pursuing a doctoral degree, Zhang Yuhang (张宇航), a doctoral student majoring in materials science and engineering at Wuhan University of Science and Technology (武汉科技大学), has always been a "regular" at lectures. "Listening to more lectures not only allows me to understand the cutting-edge trends in academics, but also allows me to see the broad application prospects of the discipline, which strengthens my determination to continue my studies in the field of materials science," Zhang Yuhang (张宇航) said.
No matter how the content of the lecture changes, Zhang Yuhang (张宇航) always maintains the habit of bringing a pen and notebook to listen to the lecture, and uses his mobile phone to take pictures and save important content. For Zhang Yuhang (张宇航), lectures are a "source of fresh water" for doing research, providing both cutting-edge information and stimulating sparks of inspiration.
"We have found that from the post-90s to the post-00s, college students' interest in lectures is also changing. Today's college students generally favor three types of lectures: first, cutting-edge technology lectures such as embodied intelligence and brain science to expand cognitive boundaries; second, career planning lectures to seek development paths; and third, growth lectures such as psychology, which can alleviate the tension in their studies," said Zhang Shiqi (张施琦), a professor at the School of Materials Science and Engineering at Wuhan University of Science and Technology (武汉科技大学). The post-00s grew up in the digital age and have a stronger desire for high-quality intellectual exchange.
In Zhang Shiqi's (张施琦) view, in order to attract the attention of post-00s college students, lectures need to break the traditional "sense of preaching" and build an equal dialogue field. In terms of form, it can integrate light salons, scenario interactions, or cross-border dialogues; in terms of content, it can avoid grand narratives, start from hot topics, and pursue emotional resonance; in terms of expression style, it is necessary to integrate youth vocabulary and leave enough time for interaction, "so that lectures become a warm 'intellectual social interaction' rather than a one-way output."
Beyond regular courses, seeing a broader picture of knowledge.
From "why listen attentively" to "how to return fully loaded," college students' enthusiasm for lectures is an active pursuit of knowledge expansion, horizon extension, and self-growth.
"In the video, several spinal cord injury patients and ALS patients who have almost lost the ability to interact with the physical world are able to use brain-computer interfaces to control computer cursors, play games, and even write with robotic arms with their minds..." In a classroom at Beihang University (北京航空航天大学), the "Theory and Practice of Philosophy of Science and Technology" forum was held as scheduled. Zhou Cheng (周程), a professor in the Department of Philosophy at Peking University (北京大学), used a series of rich cases to discuss the innovation and limitations of the development of brain-computer interface technology with the students.
Under the stage, Du Hongyi (都洪艺), a first-year graduate student at the Institute for Advanced Studies in Humanities and Social Sciences, sitting in the front row, listened very carefully. "There is a deep and multi-layered relationship between brain-computer interfaces and the philosophy of science and technology. It is not only a technological breakthrough, but also a philosophical experimental field that touches the boundaries of cognition and technological ethics." Du Hongyi (都洪艺) had been looking forward to this lecture for a long time.
"Professor Zhou's (周教授) sharing allowed us to learn about the latest developments in brain-computer interfaces in a timely manner, and at the same time reminded us to remain rational when facing emerging technologies and hot issues, and to use the thinking of the philosophy of science and technology to 'coldly think' about 'hot phenomena'." Du Hongyi (都洪艺) did not miss a single lecture in the "Theory and Practice of Philosophy of Science and Technology" forum series held by the college.
Du Hongyi (都洪艺) believes that compared to classroom teaching that focuses on theoretical knowledge, lectures expand his knowledge boundaries. It is more like a bridge between basic theory and practical application, helping everyone to deepen their understanding of their major knowledge and expand their ways of thinking about problems.
Nearly a hundred students immersed in the lecture included not only students majoring in the philosophy of science and technology like Du Hongyi (都洪艺), but also students from different colleges and grades. Wang Ziyuan (王梓渊), a freshman at the School of Artificial Intelligence, is one of them.
"Previously, my understanding of brain-computer interfaces was limited to a few science fiction works. In the lecture, the teacher used these cases to explain the professional knowledge involved, which made it easier for everyone to understand," Wang Ziyuan (王梓渊) said. Lectures are like a treasure mine of knowledge that can satisfy students' curiosity.
From the animation director analyzing the creation process of "Langlang Mountain Little Monster" (《浪浪山小妖怪》), to experts analyzing the "Tao" (道) and "Art" (术) behind the large model, to this brain-computer interface lecture that integrates medical imaging, engineering principles, and philosophical speculation... Wang Ziyuan (王梓渊) has listened to more than 10 lectures before the end of his first semester of freshman year. "They allow me to see a broader picture of knowledge outside of regular courses," Wang Ziyuan (王梓渊) said.
"Today's cutting edge is tomorrow's foundation. The insights from experts and scholars are 'tacit knowledge' that is not found in textbooks." Wang Yan (王妍), a professor at the Institute for Advanced Studies in Humanities and Social Sciences at Beihang University (北京航空航天大学), introduced that as an interdisciplinary subject connecting philosophy, natural sciences, social sciences, and engineering technology, the philosophy of science and technology is very important for improving college students' thinking abilities. The purpose of opening the "Theory and Practice of Philosophy of Science and Technology" forum is to comprehensively improve students' humanistic literacy, logical thinking, professional knowledge, and creative imagination.
When listening to lectures, capture core viewpoints and sort out logical context; in the question and answer session, listening to the questions raised by others can reflect on the depth of one's own thinking... In Wang Yan's (王妍) view, lectures not only trigger students' active learning and exploration of professional knowledge, but also subtly exercise students' various abilities.
Lectures should become a "customized feast" that accurately meets the growth needs of students.
In recent years, in order to make lectures more palatable to students, many universities have focused on the actual needs of students' learning and employment, carefully planned and boldly innovated, so that lectures are not "self-talking" academic output, but a "customized feast" that accurately meets the growth needs of students.
Some universities focus on characteristic fields and form a series of lecture brands. For example, Zhengzhou University's (郑州大学) "Songyang Grand Lecture Hall" (嵩阳大讲堂) has invited more than 30 top academic masters, with guests covering multiple disciplines such as science, engineering, and history, building a high-quality platform for teachers and students to directly communicate with academic giants; Xiamen University's (厦门大学) "Qunxian Grand Lecture Hall" (群贤大讲堂) and "Boya Tea House" (博雅茶座) have been combining aesthetic education and general education since their establishment in 2021, aiming to make students have profound humanistic literacy and noble aesthetic taste; Nanchang University (南昌大学) invites outstanding alumni from various industries to return to the school to share content covering career planning, industry selection, innovation and entrepreneurship, and other aspects.
Faced with abundant lecture resources, some post-00s who are new to college sometimes fall into a "choice dilemma."
Some people say that they want to make up for their professional shortcomings by listening to lectures, and also want to broaden their interests and horizons, fearing that they will miss "treasure sharing"; some people say that they rush to listen to lectures with the mentality of "listening to more is always right," but they do not clarify the relationship between the lecture logic and their own needs. After listening, they neither digest and absorb nor transform it into practical abilities, leaving only a string of "participation records"; some students also said that professional course assignments, exam preparation, and club activities have occupied a lot of spare time, and high-quality lectures are often concentrated in the evening or on weekends. Choosing to participate means sacrificing rest time or other arrangements, and many students are torn between "wanting to listen" and "not having time."
"Lecture resources are an important channel for college students to supplement their learning, and they can quickly learn about knowledge outside of daily learning. Students can use these resources from the directions of their own major, learning interests, and future needs." Ye Jianhong (叶建宏), a teacher at the Faculty of Education of Beijing Normal University (北京师范大学), said that students need to think about their career development path after graduation and what professional skills they need to have, so that they can choose lectures more purposefully, which can not only avoid insufficient energy, but also achieve the goal of improving their abilities by listening to lectures.
In Ye Jianhong's (叶建宏) view, in recent years, new digital and intelligent tools and methods have emerged, gradually widening the gap between students in terms of information acquisition and practical experience. "Most majors do not set up separate courses for a certain new technology, but place it in the existing curriculum structure. Although this arrangement maintains the integrity of the curriculum structure, it also means that students must have the ability to update themselves independently in order to understand the logic behind the technology in each course, rather than just staying at the operational level. Therefore, it is extremely important to open lectures or workshops on digital and intelligent technologies for college students," Ye Jianhong (叶建宏) said.
(Xu Yi (徐一) participated in the writing)
Return to TopBy: 胡笑源
"Big teahouse, old Yutai (裕泰), the business is booming, really good..." Recently, the classic drama "Teahouse (茶馆)" performed at the Beijing People's Art Theatre (北京人民艺术剧院) has "attracted" a group of young audiences. On social platforms, many people "squat" to grab tickets, "binge-watch" multiple shows, and exchange viewing experiences. Feng Yuanzheng (冯远征), director of the Beijing People's Art Theatre (北京人民艺术剧院), admitted frankly that those born in the 90s and 00s have become the mainstream audience of the Beijing People's Art Theatre (北京人民艺术剧院).
It's not just "Teahouse (茶馆)." In recent years, there have been more and more young audiences in theaters. A report released by the China Association of Performing Arts (中国演出行业协会) in conjunction with relevant institutions shows that those born in the 00s account for more than 23% of the audience for immersive performances, musicals, and stand-up comedy; young people aged 25-29 have become the main audience for comedy and suspense dramas. "Going to the theater with a suitcase," willingly becoming "theater special forces," and "dating for a play rather than a meal" have become popular among young people.
How does the theater "attract" young people? Not long ago, I watched a drama at a university. After the performance, several young creators, including the actors, director, and playwright, took to the stage and engaged in an immediate dialogue with the young students present. "Can a language model replicate deceased relatives through learning?" "Can algorithms answer the confusion of young people?" Around the performance just now, an in-depth dialogue unfolded. The on-site exchange was still not enough, and everyone built a group chat "face-to-face," and the discussion extended from the theater to the Internet. It turns out that going to the theater is not only about watching a play, but also about talking about life, solving problems, talking about feelings, and meeting soulmates. Watching plays, talking about plays, and dating for plays have become new ways for young people to socialize.
Taking emotional value as the driving force for consumption and social empowerment as an important need, the theater has "attracted" more and more young people.
The joys, angers, sorrows, and joys of young people need emotional outlets, but also deep resonance. In the stand-up comedy theater, the actors use a relaxed and humorous way to accurately "吐槽" (tǔ cáo - "roast," to comically criticize or complain about) the predicaments that young people encounter in the workplace and family life. Young people who have had the same experience laugh heartily, and the pressure is relieved; small theater performances touch the loneliness and anxiety in the depths of young people's spirits, helping them find solutions in "immersive experiences." More and more works pay attention to the living conditions and spiritual world of young people, the real emotions of young people are seen, and sincere expressions trigger resonance.
The beautiful encounter between young people and the theater is a two-way 奔赴 (bēn fù - "rush to," to head to a destination with enthusiasm). The theater attracts young people with high-quality content, and young people also help high-quality plays "break the circle" with new expressions. In recent years, some traditional operas have injected innovative vitality into their performance forms, and have captured the "cultural taste buds" of young people with a youthful attitude: the premiere of the youth Yue Opera "My Grand View Garden (我的大观园)" had 98% young audience; the youth version of Kunqu Opera "The Peony Pavilion (牡丹亭)" is popular on university campuses... The keywords "youth" and "new" reveal the reasons why they "attract" young people. Whether it is breaking the traditional narrative mode, reconstructing classic scripts, or incorporating contemporary aesthetics into stage art and makeup, or driving traffic with excellent young actors, it is essentially a patient listening of traditional art to the cultural preferences of young people, and an equal dialogue with young people through artistic innovation. When young people discover that traditional opera can also be injected with youthful atmosphere, they have the motivation to go to the theater.
When more and more works focusing on youth topics are brought to the stage, when traditional art actively embraces youth power, when flexible small theater formats and rich drama festivals provide diverse choices for more young people who love drama, when student tickets and public welfare performances become warm admission tickets from the theater, the door of the theater is always open to young people, and young people also inject a continuous stream of vitality into the prosperity of the theater.
What is the charm of the theater? Perhaps, only by actually walking into the theater can you know. The curtain will rise in the new year, let's also "see you at the theater."
Return to TopBy: 贾 倩
Four years ago, in the summer, I came to work in the community, and the first thing I did was participate in the "Beautiful Homeland" renovation of the residential area.
Adding new rainwater pipes to the old buildings was a good thing, but doing it was like "passing levels." The residents gathered together to discuss: "Will the awning leak if it's punched with a hole?" "The pipes are too conspicuous and unsightly!" I quickly invited the construction manager to explain on-site and promised a 5-year warranty, which reassured everyone a little. But Aunt Zhang on the third floor still shook her head: "The pipe is right in front of my window." Aunt Yang on the second floor was also worried: "There are already too many pipes on the exterior wall." I stopped Aunt Yang and said, "You are the building leader, so you have to set a good example. If the pipes are installed well, the entire building will benefit, and the construction will be as neat and beautiful as possible." She thought for a moment and nodded. Seeing that the second floor agreed, Aunt Zhang also relented. The rainwater pipe was finally successfully installed, and I also touched the simple wisdom of community work - many problems are superficially about "things," but the core is the balance of "emotion" and "reason." The residents have a scale in their hearts, with a little inconvenience to their own homes on one end and the long-term convenience of the entire building on the other. My job is to bend down, explain the principles thoroughly with my heart, and balance both ends with emotion.
Community work sometimes requires not only solving problems but also comforting people. In the area I am responsible for, there is an "Old He (老何)." One day, he came to the neighborhood committee and said that the landlord suddenly took back the house, giving him only a week to find a new place. He had to find a temporary shelter in an old garage, but the dim and humid environment was impossible to live in for a long time. So, I screened housing resources online, accompanied him to see the houses in person, and helped him communicate the details of rent and signing contracts. Later, Old He (老何) said that seeing me was as intimate as seeing a relative. As community workers, when we put the urgent needs of the residents in our hearts, we become the "own children" they can entrust. This recognition is more precious than any reward.
Under the leadership of the general Party branch of the residential area, we, together with the volunteer team, provide free haircuts, small appliance repairs, and traditional Chinese medicine consultations for the residents. Once, when giving a haircut to an elderly man who had suffered a stroke, he couldn't sit still, so we chatted with him while carefully cutting his hair, which took half an hour to complete. After the haircut, he touched his refreshed hair and showed a childlike smile. At that moment, all the fatigue melted into a warm current in my heart, which is also a vivid microcosm of community co-construction, co-governance, and sharing under the leadership of the Party.
As a post-95s community worker, my struggle is hidden in these seemingly trivial daily routines: a caring word during mediation, a coordination during renovation, and careful preparation before an event. From being at a loss when facing conflicts to learning to resolve them with heart and emotion, I have touched the most real and warm pulse of grassroots governance - treating residents as family members and community affairs as family affairs. In the future, I will continue to measure every inch of the community with my footsteps, listen to the stories behind every door with my sincerity, and safeguard the warmth of this homeland with the power of youth.
(The author is a community worker in Changhai Road Street (长海路街道), Yangpu District (杨浦区), Shanghai (上海). This article was compiled and edited by Yang Hao (杨昊), a reporter from this newspaper.)
Return to TopBy: 健康时报记者 王振雅 谭琪欣
At 7:30 in the morning, Beiniantou Village in Xisu Town, Handan City (邯郸市), Hebei Province (河北省), is still shrouded in a thin mist. The day of Song Xinming (宋欣明), a village doctor born after 2000, has already begun. She neatly opens the medicine cabinet, checks the expiration dates of medicines, counts inventory, and updates electronic records.
Song Xinming, 25, is the youngest member of the first batch of college student village doctors in Handan City (邯郸市). Since the implementation of the Special Program for College Student Village Doctors in 2023, more than 8,400 college student village doctors have taken root in rural areas and served rural communities, changing the old face of rural medical care with their wisdom and enthusiasm.
"The old village doctor told me that the most important thing in treating villagers is to exchange sincerity for sincerity." During a home visit, Song Xinming faced a dilemma with an 83-year-old living alone. The elderly man took medication irregularly, and no amount of education would make him listen. He even shouted at her, "Little girl, I'm already 83 years old, how much longer can I live? Save some money for medicine and leave it for the children."
Faced with the old man's distrust, Song Xinming remembered the words of the old village doctor. Instead of lecturing him harshly, she carefully designed a set of "bedside + stove" medicine placement methods: put the morning and evening medicine by the bedside, and the lunch medicine by the stove, "seeing the medicine reminds you to eat." Her sincerity finally moved the old man, and now he has developed a habit of taking medication regularly.
In the Oriental Community Health Center in Yaodu Town (姚渡镇), Qingbaijiang District (青白江区), Chengdu City (成都市), Sichuan Province (四川省), Xiong Qian (熊迁), a 25-year-old college student village doctor, logs into the smart health management platform, enters blood pressure, blood sugar, and blood lipid data of patients with chronic diseases, and manages them in a graded manner.
On the large screen of the health center, the health data of the villagers is updated in real time. "Through the smart health management platform, we can monitor the key health data of community residents such as blood pressure and blood sugar in real time. Once abnormalities are found, we will take immediate action and provide home services," said Xiong Qian.
"For difficult and complicated diseases, the Oriental Community Health Center, together with Yaodu Town (姚渡镇) Health Center and Qingbaijiang District People's Hospital (青白江区人民医院), has built a three-level remote consultation platform and opened a two-way referral green channel to ensure that patients can receive the support of advanced medical resources in a timely manner," Xiong Qian introduced. Now, the frequency of use of intelligent equipment in village health centers has increased, and digital empowerment has made the descent of high-quality medical resources to the grassroots level smoother. In February of this year, the clinic where Xiong Qian works was rated as a "5A-level Village Health Center," and the number of outpatient visits exceeded 10,000.
Many college student village doctors told reporters that if chronic diseases are well managed, most of the grassroots medical care will be done well. Nowadays, college student village doctors no longer just prescribe medicine and give injections, but actively carry out health interventions and concept updates for villagers. They use language that the villagers can understand to spread the concept of "prevention is greater than treatment": Luo Man (罗曼), a village doctor in Dongbaiyan Village (东白岩村), Jugezhuang Town (巨各庄镇), Miyun District (密云区), Beijing (北京市), translates "low-salt diet" into "two grams of salt is about the amount of a bottle cap"; in Pengzhou City (彭州市), Sichuan Province (四川省), Li Tiancheng (李天成), a village doctor in Guihua Community (桂花社区) Health Center in Guihua Town (桂花镇), uses what he has learned to innovate and practice a chronic disease management model of "acupoint application + medicinal diet guidance + personalized medication"...
Not only that, with the addition of college student village doctors, village clinics that could only treat minor ailments such as headaches and fever in the past can now also provide standardized diagnosis and treatment of common diseases and chronic disease management.
Kong Xianglong (孔祥龙), a college student village doctor in Handan City (邯郸市) who joined the job in March 2025, has completed advanced studies and multiple trainings, effectively improving his medical service capabilities. He told reporters, "There are many training opportunities for college student village doctors. I have learned a lot of chronic disease diagnosis and treatment knowledge from experts, and I am more confident in seeing patients in the village." Now, common diseases such as hypertension and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease can be treated in a standardized manner in Shangsanli Village (上三里村) Health Center, Beianle Township (北安乐乡), Wu'an City (武安市), Hebei Province (河北省).
The health center where Song Xinming works has also undergone changes. The health center, which used to lack doctors and medicines, now has hundreds of commonly used medicines neatly arranged. Villagers can get medicine by swiping their medical insurance cards in the village clinic, and common diseases and chronic diseases are basically realized "small illnesses do not leave the village."
The Special Program for College Student Village Doctors, through policies such as "township recruitment and village employment," inclusion in the establishment management of health centers, and medical insurance designation, has allowed more than 8,400 knowledgeable and ambitious young people to settle down in rural areas with peace of mind. According to reports, the average age of college students recruited by the special program in 2023 is 24 years old, and 97% are concentrated in 35 years old and below. The special program has added fresh strength to the village doctor team and has also played a role in improving the educational level and optimizing the age structure of the village doctor team.
"Returning to the hometown is worth it!" What thousands of college student village doctors have prescribed is a prescription for hope and the future. At night, the lights of the village gradually light up, and those carefully managed chronic disease files, efficiently operating remote diagnosis and treatment systems, and the smiles on the faces of the elderly jointly outline a new picture of rural health.
Return to TopListen, the Resounding Footsteps of Strengthening the Military
Li Longyi (李龙伊)
Time surges forward, and there are always moments worth remembering. Looking back at 2025, those unforgettable moments belonging to the People's Army converge into a symphony of loyalty, struggle, and dreams.
Some moments reflect the original aspiration.
At the grand Nine-Three Parade, the iron torrent was mighty. In the equipment phalanx, the battle flag of the "Liu Laozhuang Company" (刘老庄连) fluttered. On the bright red battle flag, the character "Zhuang" (庄) had an extra dot, written as "庒". This was consistent with the writing on the 1943 flag. "We cannot let the heroes not find their troops!" netizens said, expressing the voice of hundreds of millions of people. After the great waves wash away the sand, the real gold will not perish; after the wind and rain, the red flag will be even more gorgeous. Every tribute to history is a inheritance of genes and a baptism of the soul. This is our unshakable confidence when facing challenges.
Some moments condense dreams.
In the vast sea and sky, China's first electromagnetic catapult aircraft carrier, the Fujian (福建舰), was officially commissioned, and J-15T (歼-15T), J-35 (歼-35) and other fighter jets successfully completed catapult take-off and landing training. This leap in the deep blue is a solemn answer to winning the future battlefield. In recent years, China's aircraft carrier-based aircraft career has achieved a huge leap from single aircraft to system, from shore-based to ship-based, from ski-jump to catapult, and from being able to fly to being able to fight. Through the roar of the carrier-based aircraft engine, we seem to be able to hear the footsteps of generations overcoming difficulties and marching forward. Today, the People's Army is stronger in steel and richer in spirit, with a firmer determination to seek combat effectiveness from scientific and technological innovation, and full of confidence in winning future wars.
Some moments engrave responsibility.
The dream of a strong military ultimately depends on ordinary officers and soldiers and their daily ordinary efforts. At the top of the snow-capped mountains, the footprints of border guards are engraved in the glaciers, and they use their youth to guard the front line of the motherland's border; on the banks of rivers, facing the滔天洪水, the soldiers built an indestructible Great Wall with their flesh and blood; in the distant overseas, the "Chinese Blue Helmets" peacekeeping officers and soldiers use professionalism and benevolence to convey peace and friendship; in every brightly lit duty room and laboratory, countless figures work day and night to plan for victory... Resilient and lasting power is hidden in those seemingly ordinary persistence, telling the loyalty to the Party and the people.
"The Chinese People's Liberation Army is always a heroic force that the Party and the people can fully trust." One moment after another records the sonorous footsteps of strengthening the military and rejuvenating the army, witnessing the People's Army moving forward step by step.
History moves forward in tempering, and the times are written in struggle. 2026 is the opening year of the "15th Five-Year Plan". Go all out to fight the tough battle to achieve the centenary goal of the army, and accelerate the building of the People's Army into a world-class army. The closer the goal, the more difficult the task. Those who are capable should bear the responsibility of mountains. Only by stimulating an energetic mental state with a stronger sense of urgency, keeping a close eye on the situation and tasks, focusing on key points of tackling key problems, vigorously grasping the implementation of work, and improving the strategic ability to safeguard national sovereignty, security, and development interests can we run out of the accelerating speed of striving to strengthen the military and play the strong voice of the era of strengthening the military and rejuvenating the army.
Xiao Yao (肖遥), squad leader of the "Red First Company" (红一连) of a brigade of the 83rd Group Army of the Army:
Battle Flag Fluttering on the Parade Ground
Whenever I gaze at the "Hundred Battles, Hundred Victories" (百战百胜) battle flag, my thoughts always fly back to that glorious moment - in this year's Nine-Three Parade, I passed through Tiananmen Square (天安门广场) with a full spirit and standard movements, holding this battle flag high, and accepted the review of the Party and the people. At that moment, I seemed to feel the gaze of the company's predecessors.
I put in a lot of effort for the perfect presentation of this moment. When practicing military posture, the nearly 5-kilogram metal flagpole must be motionless in the hand, and it is common to practice until the arm is sore and numb.
At first, my movements were unfamiliar and mistakes continued. The coach held up the loudspeaker and said sternly: "You are a descendant of the Red Army. If you are eliminated, the battle flag will have to go back with you!" This sentence made me sleepless all night. Until one day, I saw the 20 reserve battle flags on the sidelines, and I had a stronger sense of crisis.
At that moment, I thought of more than 80 years ago, when the company's predecessors rushed dozens of kilometers overnight in a desperate situation where the enemy's situation was unknown and the troops were outnumbered. Facing the large and powerful enemy army, no one retreated and they forcibly tore apart the enemy's encirclement. It was that bloody battle that made the company famous and was awarded this "Hundred Battles, Hundred Victories" battle flag by the superior.
I told myself: I must never admit defeat like my predecessors. One extreme assessment was hours of standing in military posture training. Time passed by minute by minute, 10 minutes, 1 hour... My legs and feet gradually lost consciousness. "Behind the battle flag is the mission and glory of the entire company. As a soldier of the 'Red First Company', the battle flag cannot be dusted." Thinking of this, a surge of heat welled up from the bottom of my heart, and I gritted my teeth and told myself, "Hold on, persevere to the end!"
From then on, in collective training, I was always the last to leave the training ground. I made a plan for extra training: do 100 more dumbbell lifts, 100 more spring rope pulls, and 100 weighted push-ups every day. With this energy, my movements quickly reached excellence and I became a training pacesetter, and finally successfully completed the parade mission.
After the parade, I took the battle flag back to the company and devoted myself to the trial training of new equipment. Facing the brand-new command system and complex tactical subjects, my comrades and I soaked in the training ground and repeatedly studied and practiced. Late at night, staring at the parameters on the screen, I always remembered the heavy feeling in my hand when I held the flag, and my heart was full of strength.
The bright red of the battle flag is dyed with the blood of heroes; the peace of the mountains and rivers is exchanged for life. From the predecessors holding the flag and charging, to us continuing to move forward, what is inherited is not just a piece of history, but also the responsibility to fight to the end. Under the honor, there is only struggle. The officers and soldiers of the "Red First Company" in the new era will surely continue to write new glory under the encouragement of the "Hundred Battles, Hundred Victories" battle flag.
Bao Yu (暴宇), officer of the take-off and landing squadron of the Navy's Fujian (福建舰):
Following the Aircraft Carrier to the Deep Blue
For the People's Navy, this is a day of special significance - November 5, 2025, the commissioning and flag-giving ceremony of China's first electromagnetic catapult aircraft carrier, the Fujian (福建舰), was held at a military port in Sanya (三亚), Hainan (海南).
The sea is wide and the sky is high, and the blue waves are vast. The Fujian (福建舰) stands on the sea and is full of flags. At the ceremony site, staring at the slowly rising five-star red flag, we sang the national anthem loudly. When singing the national anthem, I felt that everyone was not singing it, but roaring it from the bottom of their hearts, and many comrades were in tears.
The solemn ceremony and the grand declaration wrote a strong and colorful stroke in the history of the development of the People's Navy. At this moment, the scenes of fighting side by side with my comrades flashed in my mind.
"Take off!" During a test voyage this year, I carefully checked and judged the take-off conditions, and then pressed the "catapult" button. The J-35 (歼-35) fighter jet then accelerated sharply and roared into the air, and the roar resounded through the sea and sky. China's first catapult aircraft carrier completed the first catapult launch of carrier-based aircraft. "Success!" Everyone was excited and embraced each other when they saw the fighter jet successfully leave the ship.
On the day of the mission, the take-off assistant who was in charge of the first launch operation got up especially early. When washing up, he said that he was "nervous, excited and looking forward to it, and didn't sleep much all night"; the sergeant who cooperated with me in the operation watched the carrier-based aircraft slowly drive into the take-off position and sighed, "The familiar feeling is back again." These two colleagues used to serve on the Liaoning (辽宁舰) and were "old ski-jumpers" with thousands of carrier-based aircraft launch experience, but now they are all "catapult rookies." In order to be foolproof, everyone familiarized themselves with the operation process and emergency response plan over and over again, and finally handed in a qualified answer sheet.
Behind the successful take-off and landing of carrier-based aircraft is the innovative spirit of the scientific research team, the craftsmanship of the engineering staff, and the spirit of all the crew members who are fighting for war and bravely breaking into new fields.
As the first batch of crew members, it is our bounden duty to ensure that the ship's equipment is in the best condition. For a period of time, all the crew members threw themselves on the engineering front line and concentrated their efforts to carry out equipment maintenance and inspection. One day, we returned to the cabin after finishing work in the early hours of the morning, but the passage was still brightly lit, and there were still many busy crew members shuttling back and forth. For a time, I couldn't tell whether the clock on the cabin wall was 1 p.m. or 1 a.m.
In order to form a system combat capability as soon as possible, the Fujian (福建舰) completed the training of qualified personnel for the post and successfully carried out various tests under the conditions of "new ship, new aircraft, and new people." In the new year, we will take root in our positions, be sincere, refine our skills and strengthen our abilities, and brave the wind and waves to continue to advance to the deep blue.
Yang Kai (杨凯), pilot of an aviation regiment of the Air Force of the Southern Theater Command:
Bravely Winning the "Golden Dart" in the Air
This year is the thirteenth year that I have been driving war eagles to defend the blue sky of the motherland, and it is also the most fulfilling and challenging year of my military career.
As a front-line emergency response force, my comrades and I are ready to go, guarding the air defense front line in the state of **一年三百六十日，多是横戈马上行** (yī nián sān bǎi liù shí rì, duō shì héng gē mǎ shàng xíng - "three hundred and sixty days a year, mostly marching on horseback with spears," describes a life of constant warfare and readiness). The most unforgettable thing for me is the "Golden Dart" trophy, which symbolizes the highest honor of the Air Force's breakthrough and assault capabilities, which I won in the Northwest Desert not long ago.
That morning, in the temperature of more than 10 degrees Celsius below zero, breathing turned into frost and water dripped into ice. I took the helmet from the hands of my aircraft maintenance comrades and sat in the cockpit. Pushing the throttle, the fighter jet jumped out of the runway like an arrow, and my comrades followed closely. We formed a formation according to the coordinated tactics and rushed to the established "battlefield".
After a close encounter with the "enemy" aircraft, the real test came. The "enemy" radar locked on my aircraft, and several advanced models flanked from the side. Our aircraft rolled and turned sharply in the dense firepower, and each maneuver was close to the limit.
"Enemy tracking", "enemy locking"... The dense alarm sound mixed with the roar of the low-altitude and high-speed airflow exploded in my ears. At this moment, the air commander decisively decided to strategically retreat, using electronic interference and high-speed maneuvering to successfully disrupt its formation deployment. As soon as the "enemy aircraft" formation was disrupted, we quickly turned from defense to offense and broke through the "enemy aircraft" one by one; then, we precisely implemented the strike and effectively eliminated the "enemy" ground air defense firepower.
In the smoke-filled air, we seized the breakthrough, aimed at the target, and decisively pressed the launch button. At that moment, the entire airspace seemed to stand still, leaving only the roar of the fighter jet engine. "Completely destroyed, full marks!" My comrade's cheers came from the headset. At that moment, the boredom of thousands of late-night reviews and the sweat paid for "one hit" were all meaningful.
The sharpness of the "Golden Dart" is polished by the hands of the aircraft maintenance comrades; the trajectory of the "Golden Dart" is woven by the firepower network of the air control and early warning comrades; the weight of the "Golden Dart" is forged by the sleepless lights of all the comrades... This victory belongs to our team's "system victory"!
In recent years, the People's Air Force has obeyed orders, going to islands and reefs, going to distant seas, going abroad, and fighting in the Gobi, flying farther, hitting more accurately, and connecting more closely. As a witness, participant, and witness, I deeply know that the victory of future wars depends on whose system integration is closer, whose coordinated response is faster, and whose information flow is smoother. In the future, my comrades and I will continue to fly harder and engrave the magnificent trajectory belonging to this era in this blue sky that we love.
Lan Kang (兰康), a second-level sergeant of a detachment of the First Mobile General Team of the Armed Police:
Writing Responsibility on the Embankment in the Rainy Night
One summer night, the urgent emergency assembly number tore through the tranquility of the camp area. The order came from the walkie-talkie: "The water level of the Chao River (潮河) downstream of the Miyun Reservoir (密云水库) in Beijing (北京) has risen sharply, and there is a dangerous situation on the dam. Go immediately to reinforce it!"
When we arrived at the dam, the river water was frantically hitting the bank, splashing turbid waves half a person high. The instructor was soaked all over, clutching the loudspeaker and shouting hoarsely: "The water level is still rising, hurry! Pile up materials and hold this place!" The drone cast a faint light, and the muddy bank had been soaked soft. If the operation was not careful, the equipment might fall into the river.
"I am a Party member, let me do it!" I shouted this sentence and climbed into the driver's seat. Rainwater poured in along the seams of the car window, and I wiped the instrument panel dry with my sleeves and gripped the operating lever tightly. The first time I pushed forward, the loader tilted slightly and the wheels got stuck in the mud. My heart beat faster, and I forced myself to calm down, gently stepped on the accelerator with my right foot, and fine-tuned the direction with my left hand, pulling the machine out of the mud little by little.
"Lan Kang has stabilized. Party member commando team, follow his route." The commander's voice came from the walkie-talkie. More than 10 figures boarded the car in turn, forming a moving "dam" in the rainstorm. Transfer, fill, compact... The familiar movements on weekdays became extremely difficult in the rainy night. The rain blurred my vision, so I wiped my face every few tens of seconds; the operating lever was slippery and I couldn't hold it, so I wrapped it tightly with my sleeves and gripped it tightly.
Sweat mixed with rainwater, constantly dripping from my chin. The platoon leader's voice rang in the walkie-talkie: "Lan Kang, you've been working continuously for too long, take a break!" I looked up at the opposite side of the dam - at 5 a.m., the lights of the city were dotted, and this scene reminded me of the expectant eyes of countless people. "Platoon leader, I'm familiar with the route, changing people will delay time!" My waist was already stiff and my shoulders felt like they were pressed by stones, but the two words Party member were imprinted in my heart. As an old operator, I have experienced many rescues and I know clearly that every second we grab, the dam is one point safer.
When the sky was getting brighter, the command post sent a message: "The water level has dropped and the dangerous situation is under control!" Turning off the engine, I staggered to push the door and almost fell, but fortunately a comrade held me up. Later, I learned that in 8 hours, our Party member commando team filled more than 8,000 cubic meters of materials, blocked more than 10 gushing points, and guarded this section of the dam that was related to the safety of the city.
After the Chao River (潮河) returned to calm, the war songs written by our comrades seemed to still echo on the embankment: "Loyalty is like a rock, and rescue is like a cornerstone..." The songs hide the voices of every one of our officers and soldiers. What is a soldier of the people? It is the person who shouts "I'll go first" when danger comes, and it is the person who carries the safety of the people on his shoulders. As long as the people need it, we will always be the "dam" that stands in front of the flood.
(Hu Ruizhi (胡瑞智), Long Chi (龙驰), Hou Kaiwen (侯凯文), Duan Chengdou (段成铎), Qin Li (秦丽), Li Mingheng (李明恒), Long Xitao (龙喜涛), Jiao Mengmeng (焦梦梦), and Wang Xuechao (汪学潮) participated in the writing)
Thoughts
Different Positions, Same Protection
When the first ray of sunshine appeared in the morning, my comrades and I had already embarked on the patrol road. The cold wind was like a knife, scraping painfully on my face, but our steps were firm, measuring the border of the motherland step by step. In order to build an unbreakable steel defense line in the northern border, we repeatedly honed our tactics in the vast snowfield where the snow was knee-deep, and engraved every boundary marker, every ridge, and every gully on the patrol route in our hearts. In the future, I will continue to take root in the northern border and protect every inch of land here with more solid skills. With us on the border, please rest assured, motherland and people!
- Wang Ting (王挺), a first-level sergeant of the Sanjiaoshan Border Defense Company (三角山边防连) of a certain brigade of the Army
After changing to new equipment, we initially lacked experience and felt uneasy when operating. Disassembly, testing, maintenance... After day and night of deepening professional theoretical study, my comrades and I gradually became able to independently determine the cause of the fault and independently solve equipment problems through sound and phenomenon changes. This year, the 5 operating procedures we developed were put into actual combat. In the "Four Meetings" coach competition organized by the superior, I won the first place in the technical group. I will be like a rivet, taking root in the deep mountain position, working hard and training hard, and guarding the take-off of the great power's sword.
- Wang Guohui (王国辉), a second-level sergeant of a certain brigade of the Rocket Force
In the department where I work, there are many elderly veterans. Some of them still have scars on their bodies, which are the marks engraved by the years of war. They once charged on the battlefield and dedicated their youth and blood to the Party and the people. Now, as time passes and heroes grow old, it has become our responsibility to protect their health. Every careful care and every warm greeting is to protect the red history. We will continue to carry out nursing work with benevolence and medical skills, so that the spirit of heroes can be passed on in warm protection.
- Gao Rui (高锐), head nurse of the Northern Theater General Hospital
Return to TopLayout Design: Zhang Danfeng (张丹峰)
Return to TopOn December 19th, China UnionPay (中国银联) officially launched the "Nihao China" APP at the 2025 China International Travel Mart (中国国际旅游交易会), aiming to systematically solve the practical problems faced by foreigners coming to China in terms of currency exchange, payment, communication, etc. Relying on digitalization and platform-based methods, it aims to connect the "last mile" of inbound services. This move not only enhances the convenience for inbound tourists but also optimizes the "China Tour China Buy" experience through synergistic innovation of "culture and tourism + finance."
China (中国) boasts a globally leading mobile payment ecosystem, but registration processes, language barriers, and switching between multiple applications also create usage barriers for some international tourists and business people. The "Nihao China" APP is a comprehensive solution targeting this pain point. It is not just a single payment tool but a cross-border comprehensive service platform integrating payment, travel, life, accommodation, and other functions, committed to enabling foreigners coming to China to integrate into China's (中国) digital life more conveniently and comfortably.
Focusing on payment services, achieving broad compatibility and comprehensive coverage
Payment is the starting point of consumption activities and the foundation of service experience. The "Nihao China" APP achieves key breakthroughs in the payment process, focusing on building a payment service system with broad compatibility and comprehensive coverage.
The "Nihao China" APP fully leverages the hub role of China UnionPay (中国银联). While supporting overseas UnionPay cards, it innovatively supports the binding and recharge use of international mainstream bank cards such as Visa and Mastercard, reducing the initial usage threshold for overseas users. In terms of scenario coverage, the "Nihao China" APP has achieved extensive integration of online and offline channels. Currently, the payment function of the "Nihao China" APP covers most high-frequency consumption scenarios for inbound tourism, such as transportation, accommodation, and shopping. Online payment supports pull-up payment for more than 300 mainstream applications such as 12306, Ctrip (携程), Meituan (美团), and JD.com (京东); offline payment relies on the vast merchant acceptance network of "UnionPay (银联) + WeChat (微信) + Alipay (支付宝)," covering tens of millions of merchants, enabling "one-code scanning, worry-free payment."
Addressing the issue of exchange rate transparency that overseas users are concerned about, the "Nihao China" APP has a built-in real-time exchange rate query function, supporting automatic conversion of more than 160 currencies such as US dollars and euros. It clearly displays the converted amount during payment, making the consumption process more transparent and consumers more confident.
Expanding service scenarios to meet high-frequency needs for life and tourism
On the basis of ensuring smooth payment, the "Nihao China" APP further integrates the high-frequency life service scenarios used by inbound people, promoting the upgrade of services from "payable" to "easy to use in all scenarios."
In terms of travel, the "Nihao China" APP's ride code service has covered subways in 43 key cities in China (中国) and urban buses in 1760 county-level and above cities, enabling "one-code travel," and can provide convenient navigation to surrounding ATMs, foreign currency exchange points, and other facilities, improving the travel convenience for inbound tourists. Departure tax refund services have been launched in cities such as Beijing (北京), Shanghai (上海), Haikou (海口), and Sanya (三亚). Users can use the APP to identify invoices and submit tax refund applications online, simplifying the process and speeding up the efficiency of funds arrival.
Currently, the "Nihao China" APP is accelerating the connection to the national popular scenic spot reservation system. In the future, inbound tourists can directly use the APP to book tickets, obtain tour guide information, plan itineraries, and enjoy a more integrated and intelligent tourism experience.
Applying intelligent technology to enhance service warmth and convenience
In order to overcome the obstacles caused by language and cultural differences, the "Nihao China" APP focuses on using intelligent technology to enhance the friendliness of services and the convenience of applications.
The "Nihao China" APP provides multilingual translation tools and a full English operation interface, effectively reducing the language usage threshold. Its intelligent recommendation system can proactively provide practical information such as surrounding restaurants, attractions, and transportation routes based on the user's location and behavior habits, acting as a caring "digital travel assistant." The addition of intelligent Q&A and navigation functions enables users to obtain instant help, further enhancing the convenience of living in China (中国).
Serving major strategies and helping to open up to the outside world at a higher level
The launch of the "Nihao China" APP coincides with the important node of the official launch of the full island customs closure operation of the Hainan Free Trade Port (海南自由贸易港). The customs closure operation puts forward higher requirements for the facilitation of cross-border flow of people on the entire island of Hainan (海南). By integrating payment, consumption, cultural tourism resources, the "Nihao China" APP helps to enhance the service capacity of Hainan International Tourism Consumption Center (海南国际旅游消费中心) and is a reflection of financial infrastructure serving major strategies.
From a broader perspective, this is also an innovation in which China's (中国) payment industry promotes the extension of its global service capabilities to the domestic market. As a globally deployed card organization, China UnionPay's (中国银联) acceptance network has extended to 183 countries and regions and is actively promoting cross-border QR code interconnection. The launch of the "Nihao China" APP is precisely to use this global network advantage to promote the connection of domestic and foreign payments, explore a new service model of "global payment, local experience," and contribute financial technology to smooth the domestic and international dual circulation.
"Nihao China," a greeting, an application, conveys China's (中国) sincerity and efforts in continuously expanding opening up and optimizing the business environment. The "Nihao China" APP integrates the ecosystem of "payment + scenario + culture and tourism," and collaborates with governments, enterprises, and international partners to jointly build a sustainable and mutually beneficial service ecosystem. It not only solves the specific pain points of inbound users but also provides new ideas for the internationalization and digital upgrade of China's (中国) service industry.
In the future, with the continuous improvement of application functions and the continuous expansion of application scenarios, the "Nihao China" APP is committed to becoming one of the digital bridges connecting China (中国) and the world, injecting new digital momentum into promoting cultural exchanges and economic cooperation.
Data source: China UnionPay (中国银联)
Return to TopBy: 孙震生
Since the 20th century, sketching in China has undergone a complex journey from the introduction of new learning to localized development, successfully participating in the construction of an art education system adapted to local needs, and giving rise to a large number of masterpieces reflecting the spirit of the times. At the same time, the development of sketching in China has always been accompanied by fierce ideological collisions. The debate between realism and modernity, and the contention between foundation and shackles, are a vivid microcosm of the search for its own path in modern Chinese art. Recently, the "A Century of Chinese Sketching - Academic Invitational Exhibition (First Session)," co-sponsored by the Chinese National Academy of Arts (中国国家画院) and the Central Academy of Fine Arts (中央美术学院), takes time as the thread, following the three historical dimensions of "Western Learning Spreading Eastward," "Painting After Sketching," and "Multicultural Integration," slowly unfolding a vivid panorama of the century-long development of Chinese sketching. It not only sorts out the evolution of sketching art in China, but also deeply explores its cultural connotations and innovative possibilities in the contemporary context.
The two characters of "sketching" ("素描") can be broken down into "simplicity" ("朴素") and "drawing" ("描画"). Its essence is the externalization of the most authentic impulse of human beings to observe the world, capture the spirit, and construct patterns. The Song people's saying "nine times decaying, one time abandoning," repeatedly deliberating on the form on plain silk, overlapping decayed drafts, and finally determining the line with one stroke, is it not a kind of "sketching" in the Eastern context? The magnificent atmosphere of the Dunhuang murals (敦煌壁画), and the solemn array of the Yongle Palace murals (永乐宫壁画), the precision of their shapes and the vividness of their charm, have all undergone such painstaking management of "simple drawing." Therefore, whether it is tracing lines on plaster statues in Western painting studios, or Chinese painters fixing shapes on powder drafts, they all originate from the same desire: to condense the fleeting visual reality, or the vigorous image in the chest, on a two-dimensional plane, giving it a tangible "bone structure."
When the tide of "Western Learning Spreading Eastward" ("西学东渐") swept in at the beginning of the 20th century, the systematic sketching training method from the West, as a heterogeneous and powerful modeling system, was consciously introduced by pioneers such as Xu Beihong (徐悲鸿) and Wu Zuoren (吴作人), and its purpose at the beginning went far beyond technical supplementation. It brought rigorous anatomical knowledge, scientific laws of spatial perspective, and realistic expression of light and shadow volume. This introduction aimed to inject a "modeling cardiotonic" into traditional Chinese painting, especially figure painting, which was facing difficulties in expression. Mr. Xu Beihong (徐悲鸿) keenly felt the lifelessness and 陈陈相因 (chén chén xiāng yīn - "repeating the old ways," sticking to conventions and lacking innovation) of the literati painting, and called for "lifelike," advocating that "sketching is the foundation of all modeling arts." Mr. Jiang Zhaohe's (蒋兆和) "Refugee Map" (《流民图》) long scroll melts the profound insight of sketching with the unrestrained rendering of ink, and every wrinkle on each face, every undulation of every fold of clothing, is soaked with the suffering and perseverance of the nation, and the power of art reaches a shocking height here.
The foreign modeling method met with China's profound artistic tradition, the spirit of the times, and the keen wisdom of Chinese painters, opening a creative process of integration and transformation. In the Chinese painting teaching of the China Academy of Art (中国美术学院) and the Central Academy of Fine Arts (中央美术学院), the light and dark tones are weakened, and attention is paid to the structure and interpenetration of shapes, so that the expressiveness of lines can be liberated and highlighted, and a unique "linear sketching" system has been developed successively.
The awakening and reconstruction of "line" is the primary point of integration in the Sinicization of sketching. The line in Western sketching often serves as the boundary between the surface and the body, serving the construction of light and shadow volume. The line in Chinese painting is itself the trajectory of charm and life, and has independent aesthetic value. Thus, we see a wonderful transformation: the rational line of analyzing structure in sketching is absorbed and transformed into the expressive line of charm. Mr. Li Keran's (李可染) landscape paintings in his later years reveal a strong sense of modeling in their thick and vastness, and the support of the relationship between the sketch body and surface can be seen in the depths of his brush and ink; and the texture of his brush lines, such as the traces of leaking roofs and cones drawing sand, is entirely calligraphic and oriental. The explorations of Mr. Li Zhenjian (李震坚), Gu Shengyue (顾生岳) and others in the Zhejiang School of Figure Painting (浙派人物画) have internalized the anatomical knowledge of sketching in their hearts and externalized it in their brushwork and ink, creating a new style of "entering brush and ink with structure."
"Body and surface" and "space" have been reinterpreted in the Sinicization of sketching. Western sketching shapes a solid three-dimensional sense through light and dark tones, pursuing visual truth. Chinese painters take its "bone," that is, the internal structure, and dilute its "shadow," that is, the strong light and dark under a fixed light source. They often use "imagistic light source" or "structural rubbing" to transform the relationship between body and surface into the density and dryness of brush and ink, and the virtual and real interlacing of rubbing. Mr. Zhou Sicong's (周思聪) and Lu Chen's (卢沉) "Miner's Map" (《矿工图》) series of paintings, the figures are as heavy as rocks, and their sense of volume does not depend on the projection of external light, but is squeezed out from the inside through the expressive brush and ink rubbing and deformation processing, full of tragic tension. Spatial processing is no longer just the physical space of focal perspective, but also the psychological and imagistic space of "viewing the small from the large" and being comfortable with overlooking and looking up. In Wang Yingchun's (王迎春) and Yang Lizhou's (杨力舟) work "Taihang Iron Wall" (《太行铁壁》), the mountain is the person, and the person is the mountain. The solid modeling given by sketching is perfectly combined with the "unity of man and nature" in landscape painting, creating a magnificent and sublime spiritual field.
The Sinicization of sketching has profoundly recreated the concepts of "sketching from life" and "creation." Sketching, as a means of collecting materials and deliberating on composition, has been given new dimensions by Chinese painters. Traditional Chinese painting emphasizes "searching all the strange peaks to make drafts," focusing on the memorization and imagistic dictation after observation. After integrating sketching consciousness, direct sketching of scenes and people has further become the key to capturing the fresh atmosphere of the times and honing modeling ability. Of course, this kind of sketching is by no means passive copying. The dancing figures under Mr. Ye Qianyu's (叶浅予) pen are incredibly vivid in their instantaneous dynamics, and behind them is the accumulation of a large number of sketches, which are refined to the picture, and then there are a few flexible lines that are simple and flying. This is the transformation of the "investigation of things" spirit and "writing the heart" tradition of Chinese painting in sketching.
After nearly a century of exploration, from the foundation of the "Xu Jiang System" ("徐蒋体系") to the glory of thematic creation in New China, to the diversified expansion of artistic language after the reform and opening up, and the review and reflection on sketching in the new era, the integration and transformation of Western sketching by Chinese painters has yielded spectacular results. It has greatly enhanced the ability of Chinese figure painting to express the depth of reality, the thickness of history, and the complexity of human nature, and has given rise to immortal works such as He Jiaying's (何家英) "Mountain Area" (《山地》) and Tang Yongli's (唐勇力) "The Birth of New China" (《新中国的诞生》), which are deeply moving and full of the atmosphere of the times. At the same time, it is also reversely nourishing the Sinicization process of foreign painting types such as oil painting, making it have the Eastern writing and artistic conception.
The curatorial experience of "A Century of Chinese Sketching - Academic Invitational Exhibition (First Session)" has given me a new understanding of the word "sketching" and made me feel how much hardship and effort the pioneers in the art world have put into the exploration of Sino-Western integration! Looking back on the past, sketching is no longer a purely imported word. It has become the spine that is hidden in the landscape rubbing, the aura that flows between the eyebrows and eyes of the characters, and the sonorous iron wall in the historical scroll. This integration and transformation proves that a truly powerful cultural tradition is never afraid of the challenge of heterogeneous factors, but can transform it into its own artistic nourishment with its broad mind and super digestive ability.
(The author is a first-class artist of the Chinese National Academy of Arts (中国国家画院))
Return to TopBy: 陆蓓容
The Winter Solstice is one of the earliest solar terms to be measured and recorded among the twenty-four solar terms. Ancient people, based on observation, summarized the "Three Signs of the Winter Solstice," believing that during these two weeks, earthworms would curl up and intertwine in the ground, male deer would shed their old antlers, and spring water would gradually resume flowing.
"Earthworms intertwining" and "spring water flowing" are difficult to depict in paintings. However, "deer shedding antlers" has images passed down through the ages. In 1762, Emperor Qianlong (乾隆皇帝) observed that deer shed their antlers in the summer, which did not align with ancient records. During the Winter Solstice of one year, he suddenly remembered the deer called "麈" raised in the Nanyuan (南苑) imperial garden and sent people to investigate whether they were shedding their antlers. The dispatched person indeed returned with a newly shed antler. Emperor Qianlong (乾隆) was both surprised and delighted, and he wrote an essay titled "Explanation of Deer Shedding Antlers" (麋角解说), lamenting that the principles of nature are inexhaustible. He also commissioned Dong Bangda (董邦达) to create a painting titled "Picture of Antler Shedding" (解角图) (partial view shown in the picture): The right end of the painting is blocked by a red wall, indicating that it is the royal garden. Pine and cypress trees remain evergreen, while other trees have withered, implying that the season is in the dead of winter. In the center of the open space are three deer. Under the tree on the left, one deer has shed both antlers; the middle one, lying down with its head raised, has only one antler remaining; the deer standing on the right has just shed one large antler. This work not only leaves us with a side note of the natural phenomena of the Winter Solstice but also indirectly proves the wisdom of the ancients in observing nature.
The winter days are quiet and the days are short. Recalling the visits of old friends at this time naturally brings joy. Gu Ying (顾瑛) was a man of letters and book collector in the late Yuan Dynasty, who made many friends and presided over the famous Yushan Gathering (玉山雅集). In his later years, he built a thatched cottage in Hexi (合溪), Jiaxing (嘉兴), and Zhao Yuan (赵原) painted the "Thatched Cottage at Hexi" (合溪草堂图) scroll for him. This work does not follow Zhao's favorite Wang Meng (王蒙)-style high mountains and steep peaks but instead depicts a sparsely spaced river with two banks. In the distance, among the islets, a small bridge spans across. In the mid-ground on the left is a three-leaf fishing boat, with the smallness of the boat contrasting with the vastness of the water. In the foreground, trees tower high, and a thatched cottage is built by the water. Two small boats are parked side by side in front of the house, and three water birds are playing nearby. Could this arrangement be hinting at the arrival of guests?
Indeed, it is so. On the right side of the painting, a total of four people are depicted. Two people are strolling and talking under tall trees, while another is leaning on a cane and stepping into the hall. The person in the room is wearing red clothes and sitting upright at a table, making eye contact with the visitor. This should be none other than Gu Ying (顾瑛), the owner of the thatched cottage. Gu Ying (顾瑛) seemed not content with merely appearing in the painting and also wrote a poem as a postscript, which includes the line "No bailiffs come to urge rent at the door, poets sit and chant verses over wine at the table," showing how particularly proud he was of this pure joy and refined interest. The poem and postscript he wrote are dated "Winter Solstice, Guimao year of Zhizheng," which is exactly 662 years ago on that Winter Solstice day.
As the saying goes, "The Winter Solstice is as important as the New Year" (冬至大如年 - dōng zhì dà rú nián - "Winter Solstice is as big as the year," emphasizing the importance of the Winter Solstice festival). In some places, on the day of the Winter Solstice, people visit each other to celebrate, but the more important and common custom is ancestor worship, to cherish the virtues of ancestors. To this day, the custom of sweeping tombs during the Winter Solstice still continues in the Jiangnan (江南) region. Under the combined effect of cultural memory and human nature, the "careful end and distant pursuit" (慎终追远) of the Winter Solstice still has a touching power.
Shen Zhou's (沈周) "Album of Dongzhuang" (东庄图册) from the Ming Dynasty was created for his fellow villager and friend Wu Kuan (吴宽), depicting the scenery of the Wu family's garden, "Dongzhuang" (东庄). Dongzhuang (东庄) was built by Wu Kuan's (吴宽) father, Wu Rong (吴融), and later passed to Wu Kuan's (吴宽) nephew, Wu Yi (吴奕), representing the efforts of three generations. Wu Rong (吴融) had already passed away when Shen Zhou (沈周) painted the album. The "Xu Gu Tang" (续古堂) opening depicts a small courtyard separated by walls and doors. Inside the small house in the middle of the painting hangs a portrait of a person wearing an official hat and red clothes. This should be the place where the Wu family worships Wu Rong (吴融). The name of the hall, "Xu Gu" (续古), further expresses the ambition to inherit the legacy of ancestors and not forget the pure fragrance of previous generations.
Shen Zhou (沈周) also has a set of four "Lumu Tu" (庐墓图) paintings, which were later combined into a single scroll. Although it is unknown for whom these four paintings were created, their theme is clearly identifiable—depicting a family cemetery from four different angles. Such paintings are a reflection of the ancient people's thoughts of benevolence and filial piety. The painter put great effort into this, not only managing the location and adjusting the perspective but also combining this important theme with the painting tradition of expressing the scenery of the four seasons. The first painting is a spring scene, depicting the Qingming (清明) Festival, with people going to sweep the tombs in groups, about to reach the front of the tomb path. The second painting is a summer scene, showing the location of the tomb pavilion from the front. Passing the autumn mountains and empty mounds of the third painting, one arrives at winter, where the snow-covered mountains decorate the world with a white glow. The path in front of the tomb is also covered with snow, leaving only the vermilion pavilion and a red tree that has not yet shed its leaves to complement each other, adding a touch of warmth to the coldness of the mountains.
The ancients had a simple dialectical perspective. The so-called "the yang is born at the Winter Solstice" (冬至一阳生 - dōng zhì yī yáng shēng - "the yang is born at the Winter Solstice," signifying the return of positive energy after the darkest day), from this day with the shortest day and longest night, the spring will eventually, quietly and slowly, return to the earth with the change of the angle of the ecliptic. In this sense, Shen Zhou's (沈周) pavilion corners and leaf tips are even more evocative and meaningful, as if they are remotely foreshadowing the next spring.
(The author is an associate researcher at the School of Fine Arts, Shanghai Normal University (上海师范大学).)
Return to TopBy: 居 瑢
Anhui's Xidi (西递), known as the "Peach Blossom Spring Village," formerly named Xixi (西溪) and Xichuan (西川), was first built during the Northern Song Dynasty's Huangyou period. It continues to attract many visitors with its unique beauty. The "Eight Views of Xidi Album" painted by Hu Guangshuo (胡光硕) of the Qing Dynasty showcases the scenery of ancient Xidi (西递) throughout the four seasons.
In 1691, Hu Guangshuo (胡光硕), a painter from Jixi (绩溪), at the invitation of a classmate, painted the eight views of "Tall Trees of Xixi (西溪乔木)," "Heavenly Horse Gushing Spring (天马涌泉)," "Huai Shade Lane (槐阴夹道)," "Cloud-Piercing Misty Peak (霭峰插云)," "Snow Accumulation on the Front Mountain (前山积雪)," "Scholarly Sounds from the藜馆 (藜馆书声)," "Woodcutter's Song on Wu Ridge (乌岭樵唱)" (see picture), and "Moon over Wutong Bridge at Night (梧桥夜月)" in album form. Each of the eight views has its own charm: there are magnificent peaks, stone embankments under dense shade, rushing springs in the heart of the lake, and warm and harmonious study rooms. Each painting is a unique piece, and each view is a unique realm, yet they are connected through techniques and composition, forming a unified album.
The "Eight Views" in Hu Guangshuo's (胡光硕) paintings are not a mere reproduction of Xidi's (西递) natural scenery, but an active aesthetic construction: "Tall Trees of Xixi (西溪乔木)" and "Heavenly Horse Gushing Spring (天马涌泉)" depict the vastness and grandeur of heaven and earth; "Snow Accumulation on the Front Mountain (前山积雪)" and "Moon over Wutong Bridge at Night (梧桥夜月)" reveal the beauty of nature; "Scholarly Sounds from the 藜馆 (藜馆书声)" and "Huai Shade Lane (槐阴夹道)" highlight the elegance of literati; and "Cloud-Piercing Misty Peak (霭峰插云)" and "Woodcutter's Song on Wu Ridge (乌岭樵唱)" fully display etherealness and vitality. The painter used different techniques such as ink, light ochre, and blue-green, combined with the scenery and natural beauty of Xidi (西递) in the four seasons, to create paintings that varied with time and place, conveying the painter's understanding of heaven, earth, and humanity.
Collecting scenic wonders in one album is a typical characteristic of landscape albums in the Ming and Qing dynasties. A single strange rock can contain the beauty of thousands of cliffs, and a single painting can encompass the power of all things. Wen Zhengming (文徵明) of the Ming Dynasty added a touch of scholarly elegance and tranquility to the "strangeness." In his "Thirty-One Views of the Humble Administrator's Garden Album (拙政园三十一景图册)," the strange rocks and ancient trees are transformed into ancient elegance, and the danger is incorporated into a secluded realm, making the "strange scenery" a part of the overall poetic space of the painting. During the transition between the Ming and Qing dynasties, the "Four Monks" pushed the spiritual capacity and expressive intensity of landscape albums to an unprecedented level. The "strange scenery" in their paintings was no longer a leisurely embellishment of wandering in forests and springs, but a reflection of a vast inner world and an unconventional personality. For example, in Hongren's (弘仁) "Huangshan Album (黄山图册)," he used cold and steep lines and light and simple ink to condense the tranquility and aloofness of Huangshan's (黄山) strange rocks and cliffs.
"Mountains and rivers meet with my spirit, and traces are transformed." The landscapes and forests and springs within the square inch of the album, with their unique privacy and flexibility, became an excellent field for literati painters to express their spirituality and explore strange realms. In the small world of the album, the painter selected outstanding scenery and combined the strange scenery, painting intent, and poetic realm into one, casting them together in the same album, using the strangeness of a corner in front of them to observe the strangeness of the creation of heaven and earth.
The tradition of integrating poetry and painting is particularly prominent in landscape albums. Painting is the visual image of poetry, and poetry is the extension of the artistic conception and emotional annotation of painting. In the "Eight Views of Xidi Album (西递八景图册)," Hu Guangshuo (胡光硕) paired each album page with corresponding poems and colophons. For example, "It seems to be cut and can only be painted, and it must be carefully discussed" conveys the painter's careful observation when facing strange peaks; "I imagine wild plum blossoms, sending subtle fragrance from time to time" lets us know the painter's elegant state of mind in winter. In the娓娓道来 娓娓道来 (wěi wěi dào lái - "narrating slowly," to narrate or talk about something patiently and in detail) words, viewers not only appreciate the four seasons of Xidi (西递) more than 300 years ago, but also feel the painter's encounters, sights, thoughts, and feelings at that time. This reflects the aesthetic implication of the mutual reflection of poetic realm, painting realm, and mental realm in traditional literati painting.
Today, high-speed trains and airplanes have become daily transportation tools, and the ancient people's dream of "traveling to the North Sea in the morning and Cangwu in the evening" is no longer out of reach. The threshold of the "strangeness" of scenery is also constantly increasing with the broadening of people's horizons. What about our poetic heart and painting realm? I hope that we can also write them into the annals of painting history like the ancients.
(The author is an associate professor at the School of Art, Hebei Agricultural University (河北农业大学).)
Return to TopBy: 李 静
In recent years, glass art experience stores have appeared in many cities, and "glass blowing" has become a new trend favored by young people. This phenomenon not only reflects the unique charm of glass art, but also once again draws people's attention to glass art. This year marks the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Italy. The Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University (清华大学美术学院) and the Berengo Foundation of Italy jointly hosted the "China-Italy Cultural Exchange Project - Contemporary Glass Art Workshop." Glass art masters from Murano (穆拉诺) Island, Italy, along with Chinese and foreign artists, designers, and students, gathered together to open a door for glass art innovation through in-depth cross-cultural and interdisciplinary exchanges.
Glass is a highly expressive material with transparent, sparkling, and colorful visual characteristics. It has witnessed the evolution of human civilization, and has been endowed with different ideological connotations and formed different aesthetic systems in different cultures. After thousands of years of development, glass craftsmanship has gradually become enriched, and techniques such as blowing, casting, lampworking, painting, inlaying, and carving have continuously expanded the aesthetic expression of glass art. The "Studio Glass Movement," which originated in Europe and the United States in the mid-20th century, introduced glass from industrial production into artist studios, prompting artists to independently explore the potential of glass art. Since then, universities at home and abroad have successively established related majors and constructed teaching systems. The Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University (清华大学美术学院) took the lead in opening a glass art major in China in 2000, vigorously cultivating glass art talents and promoting related international exchanges.
With the opening of majors in higher education institutions, the value judgment of glass art no longer lies in whether the material is expensive or the complexity of the craftsmanship, but in whether it has aesthetic meaning, whether it has depth of thought, whether it can respond to the concerns of the times, and whether it helps to promote broader academic discussions in the fields of craftsmanship, design, and art. The refraction, reflection, and transmission characteristics of glass under light, as well as its different physical properties under different temperatures and states, naturally give it the ability to evoke people's cultural imagination, providing a unique space for contemporary artistic expression. Artists continuously deepen their thinking in continuous dialogue with materials, enabling glass art works to transcend the limitations of "functionality" and "decoration" and enter a broader space.
As glass art continues to strengthen its pursuit of artistry, people pay more attention to the connection between materials and craftsmanship. From a historical and practical perspective, craft beauty is the foundation of the existence of glass art. In the current era of continuous innovation in industrialization and digital technology, the production methods and application fields of glass are constantly being updated and expanded, while at the level of artistic creation, the irreplaceability of its manual skills is becoming increasingly prominent. Traditional glass craftsmanship embodies the wisdom of long-term interaction between humans and materials, demonstrating the value of manual labor in the present. Especially in international exchanges, creators from different cultural backgrounds use glass blowing techniques to pursue different artistic goals, making glass a medium for communicating diverse cultures.
Today, glass art is constantly absorbing the formal language of painting and sculpture, the practical wisdom of design, and the technological charm of digital art, breaking people's inherent perceptions of glass art. This glass art workshop promotes glass art to expand in the direction of cross-media and cross-cultural, based on adhering to craftsmanship and art, through the collision of craftsmanship and concepts. Participating artists and designers integrate their professional experience into their creations. For example, the painter Gu Liming (顾黎明) embeds "glass stones" with folk aesthetic characteristics into mixed-media paintings, making glass a part of the picture; the sculptor Zou Feng (邹锋) "writes with glass," transforming the scorch marks of hot glass on paper into calligraphic forms, so that the brushstrokes and charm of traditional calligraphy are extended in another medium... These creations not only expand the expressive space of glass materials, but also make it present a more inclusive and innovative posture in the contemporary context.
In the context of increasingly frequent global cultural interactions, interdisciplinary and cross-field cooperation can bring important assistance to artistic innovation. Like the creative vitality stimulated by this glass art workshop, artistic creation will become more rich and colorful in the dialogue between Chinese and foreign cultural exchanges.
(The author is an associate professor at the Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University (清华大学美术学院).)
Return to TopBy: 仲清华
In recent years, from solo exhibitions to group exhibitions, from research exhibitions to national exhibitions, various kinds of freehand oil painting exhibitions have emerged. The group of painters engaged in related creation and research has continued to grow, and academic organizations with regional characteristics have been formed, which has attracted attention and is worth thinking about.
This upsurge can be regarded as the continuous exploration of the nationalization of oil painting by art workers in the new era. In fact, after oil painting was introduced into China, generations of art workers have been constantly looking for the development direction of Chinese oil painting. Especially after the founding of New China, the art world launched a major discussion on the "nationalization of oil painting." Oil painting shifted from the initial localization of content and themes to the oriental aesthetics of the spiritual level, and a group of outstanding oil painters such as Dong Xiwen (董希文), Wu Guanzhong (吴冠中), Jin Shangyi (靳尚谊), Zhan Jianjun (詹建俊), and Wen Lipeng (闻立鹏) emerged. They not only vigorously promoted Chinese culture and national spirit, but also opened up new paths for the development of Chinese oil painting. In the new era, in the process of promoting the creative transformation and innovative development of outstanding Chinese traditional culture, the spirit of freehand brushwork has once again been valued. Oil painters have drawn nourishment from traditional cultural concepts and visual methodologies, promoting "freehand oil painting" to become a new academic phenomenon.
The proposal of concepts such as "oil painting landscape" and "Chinese Freehand Oil Painting School" reflects the academic community's active exploration of landscape views and subjective consciousness in oil painting landscapes. In addition to the China Oil Painting Society (中国油画学会), a number of representative freehand oil painting groups have emerged in the north and south, which is a true reflection of the vivid practice of oil painters in various places based on the spirit of the times and regional culture. In the north, there is the "Beijing Contemporary Chinese Freehand Oil Painting Research Institute" (北京当代中国写意油画研究院), which brings together a group of famous artists such as Fan Di'an (范迪安), Dai Shihe (戴士和), Yan Ping (闫平), Ding Yilin (丁一林), Wang Hui (王辉), Yang Canjun (杨参军), and Zhao Peizhi (赵培智). In the south, there are the "Landscapes of the South" painter group, the "Southern China Oil Painting Landscape School" (中国南方油画山水画派), and the "Tropic of Cancer Oil Painting Group" (北回归线油画群体), represented by famous oil painters such as Zhang Zuying (张祖英), Zhang Dongfeng (张冬峰), Lei Wuwu (雷务武), and Chen Hexi (陈和西). The creations of these artists are mostly based on landscapes and figures, advocating going out of the studio, emphasizing realistic sketching, integrating the sense of presence and improvisation into the picture, opening up a new artistic appearance full of Chinese cultural characteristics, and promoting the construction of the Chinese freehand oil painting system.
The common characteristics of these artistic explorations are first reflected in conveying the spirit with the brush - the awakening of writing consciousness. In the use of brushstrokes, many works reflect a writing style with a rich personal style. Dai Shihe (戴士和), who is famous for freehand oil painting, mostly uses palette knives and pointed brushes, and even uses brushes to paint. He uses a palette knife to scrape out large flat color blocks, shapes with short and energetic brushstrokes, and emphasizes the writing of brushwork and the sense of painting traces. Ding Yilin (丁一林) pays more attention to the rhythm of brushstrokes and the creation of the overall atmosphere of the picture. Mr. Wen Lipeng (闻立鹏) once commented that his works have "musicality." The painter Yan Ping (闫平) likes to use extremely thick pigments and brushstrokes to deal with the structural space and density rhythm of the picture. In her works, unrestrained brushstrokes are not only an emotional expression, but also enhance the dynamism and expressiveness of the picture, implying the inheritance of the Chinese traditional aesthetic principle of "qi rhyme and vividness."
Expressing meaning with color is another important feature of freehand oil painting. In color processing, freehand oil painting constantly strengthens aesthetics and expressiveness, and tries to get rid of the limitations of the light and shadow logic of Western oil painting. The development of Western oil painting mainly revolves around visual representation, while Chinese oil painting pays more attention to the cultural metaphor and emotional expression of color, and creatively uses the traditional aesthetic concept of "assigning colors according to categories." For example, Zhang Dongfeng (张冬峰), a painter from Guangxi, transforms the misty atmosphere of Lingnan landscapes into soft color levels, and uses low-saturation green tones to render the meaning of "mist-locked green hills." This color processing deeply integrates the Chinese concept of "expressing meaning with color" with the material characteristics of oil painting colors.
Using intention to unify form allows freehand oil painting to transcend concrete depiction, and through the method of "intention arrives even if the brush does not," it jumps out of the cognitive misunderstanding of "freehand brushwork is rough" and achieves poetic spiritual expression. Taking Yang Canjun (杨参军) as an example, his sketches are not limited to details, but use rapid brushstrokes to express objects, and accurately convey the spiritual temperament of the objects through the combination of color blocks and the contrast between virtual and real, and find a visual balance between realistic and freehand artistic languages. Chen Hexi (陈和西), a painter from Hunan, is good at capturing moving images from nature such as fields, villages, jungles, and gardens, and weaving the most beautiful scenery in his heart into a peaceful and distant poetic realm through colorful oil paints, showing the poetic beauty of Chinese culture.
The current exploration of freehand oil painting is no longer a simple dispute between artistic schools, but reflects the conscious adherence of Chinese oil painters to cultural subjectivity. Their sketching has also transcended the level of recording reality and become a creative method of "cultural presence." Positioning freehand oil painting with a poetic artistic orientation makes it deeply connected with emotional expression, local culture, and the spirit of the times. Chinese oil painting will surely bloom with new brilliance.
(The author is an associate professor in the Department of Art and Design, Beijing University of Chemical Technology (北京化工大学).)
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Title image design: Wang Zheping (汪哲平)