Summary: Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter to the *Science and Technology Daily* on its 40th anniversary. The letter acknowledged the paper's role in promoting Party innovation theory, interpreting science and technology policy, reporting achievements, and popularizing scientific knowledge. Xi expressed his hope that the paper would continue to promote China's science and technology innovation, adhere to the correct political direction, and help build a strong science and technology nation, emphasizing the importance of achieving high-level technological self-reliance. The letter did not discuss the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory message to the new Swiss Federal President, Viola Amherd, highlighting the positive progress in upgrading the free trade agreement between China and Switzerland, which was initiated during his 2017 state visit. Xi emphasized that in the face of rising unilateralism and protectionism, the two countries' joint support for free trade reflects the high-level development of Sino-Swiss relations and injects certainty and stability into global development and prosperity. He expressed his desire to work with President Amherd to further expand mutually beneficial cooperation. Xi noted that 2026, the tenth anniversary of the Sino-Swiss innovative strategic partnership, marks the first year of China's 15th Five-Year Plan, presenting broad opportunities for innovation cooperation.
Summary: In 2025, China faced a complex international environment and domestic challenges, but achieved significant progress, as highlighted by Xi Jinping at the Central Economic Work Conference, which summarized the economic work of the past year. Despite a trade war initiated by the U.S. imposing tariffs, China responded with countermeasures while remaining open to negotiations. Xi Jinping met with then-U.S. President Trump 4 times over the phone to discuss trade relations. Xi also emphasized innovation, particularly in artificial intelligence, and further reform and opening-up, including the Hainan Free Trade Port. The 20th Fourth Plenary Session of the CPC adopted suggestions for the 15th Five-Year Plan, focusing on key strategic tasks and overall national security.
Summary: According to the article, in his 2026 New Year address, Xi Jinping emphasized China's commitment to global cooperation and its willingness to work with other countries to promote world peace and development, focusing on building a community with a shared future for mankind. The article asserts that China acts as a stabilizing force in the face of global instability, a reliable partner for its neighbors, and a driver of global development, offering opportunities through high-quality development and high-level openness. It highlights China's contribution to global economic growth and its efforts in global governance, including proposing global governance initiatives and promoting international cooperation. The article notes increasing international goodwill towards China and expectations for its role in global affairs.
Summary: On January 1st, a grand national flag-raising ceremony was held in Tiananmen Square, Beijing. The national anthem was played, and the national flag was raised as the audience sang. The flag guard marched towards the platform in unison. The article does not mention any officials or discuss U.S.-China relations.
Summary: The article highlights Xi Jinping's focus on improving the lives of ordinary Chinese citizens, emphasizing that national rejuvenation ultimately depends on the happiness and well-being of individual families. It discusses efforts to support vulnerable populations, including expanded social security and targeted assistance programs. Specific examples of improved living conditions for the elderly and children ("一老一小") are provided, such as renovations of older homes and increased childcare support. Xi Jinping has emphasized the importance of rural revitalization and preventing a return to poverty, with significant financial investments being made in education, healthcare, and social security. The article underscores that development is key to achieving people's happiness, reflecting Xi's consistent people-centered approach.
Summary: On December 31, 2025, Xi Jinping delivered an important speech at the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) New Year tea party, reviewing past achievements and outlining future development plans. Attendees expressed they will study Xi's speech to strengthen development confidence, achieve the "15th Five-Year Plan" goals, and contribute to building a strong nation. The speech emphasized economic development, technological innovation, and support for the private sector. Officials also noted progress in opening up, citing the Hainan Free Trade Port. The importance of national unity and cultural development were also emphasized.
Summary: A recent central rural work conference emphasized the importance of agriculture, rural areas, and farmers, calling for modernization of agriculture and rural revitalization. Key directives from Xi Jinping focused on enhancing agricultural production capacity, improving rural living conditions, and increasing farmer incomes. The conference highlighted the need for technological innovation, strengthening agricultural infrastructure, and promoting rural governance. Local officials expressed commitment to implementing these directives by focusing on increasing grain production, promoting rural industries, and improving social services. The article makes no mention of the United States or U.S.-China relations.
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Summary: The National Civil Affairs Work Conference reported that in 2025, China's tiered social assistance system supported 39.104 million urban and rural residents receiving minimum living allowances and 4.861 million people in extreme poverty. Disability subsidies benefitted 11.897 million persons with disabilities facing financial difficulties and 16.64 million severely disabled individuals. Additionally, 2.24 million households with elderly people in special need had completed age-friendly renovations. The conference emphasized the importance of improving civil affairs work in 2026 for a strong start to the 15th Five-Year Plan, focusing on social assistance, welfare, affairs, and governance.
Summary: The National Industry and Information Technology Work Conference reported that China's industrial economy is expected to show resilience and achieve qualitative improvement and reasonable growth by 2025. Significant progress has been made in manufacturing transformation, upgrading, industrial internet and 5G infrastructure development, including over 20,000 industrial 5G private networks and over 8,000 5G factories. Technological innovation has seen breakthroughs, with the AI core industry exceeding one trillion yuan and new energy vehicle exports exceeding 2 million units. The information and communication industry's ability to serve economic and social development continues to strengthen, with over 4.83 million 5G base stations by the end of November 2025.
Summary: China's railway system transported over 8 million vehicles in 2025, setting a new record. This achievement is attributed to enhanced services and collaborations with major domestic automakers like FAW, SAIC, BYD, and Geely. The China National Railway Group is focusing on expanding international logistics channels through rail exports and sea-rail combined transport. The railway system uses key ports like Horgos, Manzhouli, and Alashankou to facilitate automobile exports, including leveraging the China-Laos Railway to reach Southeast Asian markets. These efforts have improved transport efficiency by 10-15% and reduced logistics costs.
Summary: In his New Year's address, President Xi Jinping reviewed China's achievements over the past five years, emphasizing high-quality development and its commitment to world peace. International figures interviewed by People's Daily highlighted China's progress in areas like technological innovation and green development, citing examples like AI and electric vehicle advancements. They noted China's role in global governance and its commitment to multilateralism, with some specifically mentioning the Global Governance Initiative. The interviewees further emphasized China's dedication to improving people's livelihoods and promoting shared development, seeing China as an important and stable constructive force in the global landscape. One interviewee noted that China played a constructive role in consolidating the ceasefire between Cambodia and Thailand.
Summary: According to the article, in 2025, China's contribution to global economic growth remained around 30%, and the country experienced rapid innovation and growing soft power. Xi Jinping made four foreign visits and attended multiple international conferences. China hosted the SCO Tianjin Summit and the Global Women's Summit, and proposed global governance initiatives. The article claims that China opposes hegemonism and unilateralism and that it is committed to world peace and development, as well as a defender of the multilateral trade system.
Summary: Multiple countries and political figures, including the presidents and foreign ministers of Serbia, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Senegal, reiterated their adherence to the One China Principle. These statements affirm that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China and express support for the PRC's efforts to maintain sovereignty and territorial integrity. Russia's Foreign Ministry also reaffirmed its consistent position, noting that some countries use the Taiwan issue to contain China, despite claiming adherence to the One China principle. The statements come amidst rising tensions, as the United States has been accused of using the Taiwan issue as a tool to militarily contain China. Other nations like Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Belarus, Egypt, and Bulgaria also voiced their support for the One China principle.
Summary: Chinese firms are completing the final stages of the Red Sea Rakh-Haq link road and cross-sea bridge project in Saudi Arabia. China Harbour Engineering is building the project, while CCCC Fourth Harbor Engineering is responsible for its implementation. To protect local mangrove ecosystems, Chinese companies developed intelligent construction platforms that allow for aerial operations. This minimizes the project's impact on the mangroves and ensures their continued growth.
Summary: Iranian political analyst Imad Abshenas stated that Iran's membership in the SCO and BRICS is politically and economically significant, providing platforms for developing countries to strengthen solidarity and promote common development. Abshenas lauded China's rapid development and its commitment to modernization, suggesting Iran could learn from China's unique modernization path, which combines tradition with modernization. He highlighted the strategic trust and comprehensive cooperation plan between Iran and China, emphasizing the need for stronger strategic cooperation in the current global landscape. Abshenas criticized Western hegemony and praised China's global initiatives, including the Belt and Road Initiative, in which Iran can play a significant role, for addressing global challenges.
Summary: A send-off meeting was held at the Chinese Embassy in Vietnam for a group of Vietnamese students embarking on a "Red Study Tour" in China. Ambassador He Wei expressed hope that the tour would allow the students to appreciate the historical roots and cultural depth of the China-Vietnam friendship and inspire ideas for further cooperation. Students from Hanoi Amsterdam High School expressed their excitement for the opportunity to expand their understanding of Chinese history and culture. The study tour, sponsored by the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Education Department and organized by Guangxi Normal University, will take 18 Vietnamese students and teachers to Nanning and Guilin.
Summary: The Lao 230kV Tavyang-Mahasai transmission and substation project, invested in, constructed, and operated by the Sino-Lao joint venture Lao National Transmission Network Company, held a commencement ceremony in Vientiane. Lao Vice Prime Minister Saleumsay Kommasith and Chinese Embassy Commercial Counselor Li Xizhen, among others, attended the event. The project, funded by the Lao National Transmission Network Company, aims to strengthen the power grid structure connecting northern and central Laos. Li Xizhen stated that the project would significantly enhance Laos' grid capacity and resilience, helping Laos leverage clean energy for growth, and that the Lao National Transmission Network Company is an important platform for energy cooperation between the two countries.
Summary: According to the Ministry of Commerce, China's 2025 "trade-in" program yielded significant results, generating over 2.6 trillion yuan in sales and benefiting over 360 million people. The program boosted overall retail sales and spurred upgrades in various sectors, with new energy vehicles comprising 60% of car trade-ins. This initiative also contributed to green economic transition, with increased recycling and reduced carbon emissions. Subsidies exceeding 480 million were distributed to consumers, facilitating the adoption of green, low-carbon, and intelligent products.
Summary: In 2025, China faced internal and external challenges, including a trade war initiated by the U.S., which prompted swift retaliatory measures from China. Despite these pressures, Xi Jinping emphasized high-quality development and innovation, particularly in AI, and called for continued reform and opening up, including the launch of full operations at the Hainan Free Trade Port. The 20th Fourth Plenary Session of the CPC Central Committee approved the "15th Five-Year Plan," prioritizing key strategic tasks such as modernizing the industrial system and strengthening national security. Xi Jinping also proposed a Global Governance Initiative at the SCO summit. Xi Jinping met with President Trump in Busan, South Korea, in October.
Summary: The "2025 People's Finance Forum," hosted by People.cn, was held in Beijing on December 30, 2025, focusing on seizing opportunities for a new beginning. Xu Dongning, Deputy Director of the Central Financial and Economic Affairs Commission Office, and Zhou Xing, Deputy Minister of Natural Resources, attended and spoke at the forum, while People's Daily Vice President and People.cn Chairman Ye Zhenzhen delivered a speech. Participants emphasized the resilience and vitality of the Chinese economy, highlighting the need to expand domestic demand and drive industrial upgrading through technological innovation. The forum also released the "2025 People's Ingenuity Brand" and "2025 Innovative Practices in Building a Financial Power" cases.
Summary: Ningdu County in Jiangxi province is promoting socialist values and discouraging extravagance through "old opera, new songs" performances of Ningdu tea-picking opera. These performances, featuring themes like simplified weddings and respect for the deceased, aim to educate the public in a joyful way, and are delivered directly to rural villages. According to Ningdu County Party Secretary Fu Xiaoxin, the goal is to transform local stages into platforms for disseminating socialist core values. The Ningdu County Culture, Radio, Television and Tourism Bureau Tea-Picking Opera Protection and Inheritance Center is innovating traditional opera, incorporating new ideas and reaching younger audiences through online platforms. The article does not discuss the United States or U.S.-China relations.
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Summary: China's "MAZU" (妈祖) cloud platform, an AI-powered early warning system for meteorological events, is being deployed in over 40 countries across Asia, Africa, and Oceania. The platform offers tailored "toolboxes" for various countries to address climate change challenges, providing solutions for meteorological risk monitoring, early warning, and response. Countries like Pakistan and Mongolia are already utilizing customized versions of MAZU for specific weather hazards. The system, which promotes open-source AI models, shared platforms, and open data, also provides training to professionals in other countries. China aims to contribute its wisdom and experience to global disaster prevention, mitigation, and climate change adaptation through the "MAZU" initiative.
Summary: The article emphasizes China's commitment to addressing climate change through resilient infrastructure development and advanced early warning systems, positioning itself as a model for developing nations. China is sharing its expertise and technology globally through the "Mazu" program, aiding other countries in enhancing their early warning capabilities. The "Mazu" initiative, named after a Chinese sea goddess, reflects China's dedication to a shared future and its traditional values of respecting nature and mutual assistance. It promotes international cooperation in tackling climate change. The article calls for global collaboration and action to create a better future for humanity through shared sustainable development efforts.
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 for professional analysts of Chinese politics.
Summary: Dariya Boyi village in Xinjiang's Hotan region has undergone a significant transformation through a relocation project from the desert interior to a new settlement. Villagers have moved into modern housing with amenities and access to education and healthcare, enabled by a newly constructed road. The local government is promoting economic development through herding, the cultivation of *Cistanche deserticola*, and tourism, with both the old and new villages incorporated into a scenic area. The changes have led to increased income and new employment opportunities for residents. The article does not mention the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: The article discusses the rise of "on-demand delivery" services in China's tourism sector, highlighting its impact on traveler convenience and business growth. Examples include luggage delivery in Sanya, oxygen delivery to tourists experiencing altitude sickness in Lhasa, and Hanfu return services in Xi'an. These services improve tourist experiences and create new opportunities for local businesses. According to Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, "Tourism + on-demand delivery" not only opens up more growth space for the traditional logistics industry, but also quietly changes the service form of modern tourism. The article does not mention the United States.
Summary: The article discusses the purpose of sugar in sugar-roasted chestnuts, highlighting that it's primarily for caramelization, aroma, and preventing burning rather than sweetness. It advises consumers on how to select good chestnuts by examining their color, shape, and cracks. The article also provides tips for easily peeling chestnuts, including microwaving or soaking them briefly in hot water to separate the inner skin from the flesh.
Summary: The article describes Eastern Han dynasty stone carvings from Xuzhou depicting scenes of ancient weightlifting and strength training, including "扛鼎" (lifting a tripod cauldron), similar to modern weightlifting. The carvings show detailed depictions of muscular physiques and various training methods. The author connects this ancient practice to modern fitness trends and the continuing pursuit of physical strength. There is no mention of the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: Please provide the article you would like me to summarize. I need the text of the article to be able to provide a summary according to your instructions.
Summary: Located in Gansu's Longnan region, Liangdang county is leveraging its ecological and cultural resources to boost tourism and rural economies. The county has invested in infrastructure, cultivated new "cultural tourism+" business models, and seen seven villages added to the list of traditional Chinese villages in 2023. Liangdang boasts natural attractions like white pine forests and the Yunping Three Gorges, alongside intangible cultural heritage such as the Liangdang "labor call" folk song, which the county is actively preserving and promoting through various initiatives, including incorporating it into educational programs and performances. The Liangdang folk songs have also been updated to cover contemporary topics such as public safety and corruption.
Summary: An unearthed Han dynasty silk toy garment from a military outpost in Dunhuang offers insights into children's lives and clothing styles on the frontier. The 9cm-long garment, discovered with other toys, suggests children's entertainment was present even in remote outposts. Analysis suggests the garment was likely made by wives or mothers of soldiers from leftover silk, demonstrating family life and resourcefulness. The garment's design, mirroring Han Chinese clothing styles while adapted for the harsh environment, shows cultural influence and localized adaptation. The artifact highlights the spread of Han culture and the sophistication of textile production in the Hexi Corridor.
Summary: This article discusses the optimal way to refrigerate leftover food for safety and health. It argues that food should be placed in the refrigerator while still warm to minimize the time spent in the "danger zone" temperature range (4-60 degrees Celsius) where bacteria thrive. The article suggests dividing food into small, sealed containers, separating raw and cooked items, and allowing space for air circulation within the refrigerator. It also advises limiting the storage time of vegetables to 24 hours and meat to 2 days.
Summary: This article explains the unique color variations in Yixing Zisha clay teaware, known as "one color into the kiln, myriad colors out." The phenomenon results from the varying iron and silicon content in clay from different mineral layers in Yixing, which react differently during firing depending on the kiln's oxidation-reduction environment. The uncontrollable variables of the kiln atmosphere create a unique color variance. Artisans further influence the colors by blending different clays and adjusting the kiln's atmosphere during firing. The article does not mention the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: Please provide the article you would like me to summarize. I need the text of the article to provide a concise and accurate summary for professional analysts of Chinese politics, adhering to your specific instructions.
Summary: Liu Changyu, a Peking Opera artist, reflects on Xi Jinping's 2025 letter to the National Peking Opera Company, emphasizing the importance of preserving and innovating Peking Opera traditions. Min Junrong, a Palace Museum restorer, discussed presenting at a US conference on lacquerware protection, highlighting the need to promote Chinese lacquer and guqin culture internationally. Director Shen Ao notes his 2025 film *Nanjing Photography Studio* was screened overseas, allowing international audiences to learn about this history. He emphasized that AI cannot replace the emotional resonance in art.
Summary: The article emphasizes China's cultural confidence and dynamism, highlighting the blending of tradition and modernity in its arts, culture, and technological advancements. It notes the increasing global recognition of a "cool China," exemplified by the popularity of Chinese films, cultural trends, and technological innovations. The piece underscores the importance of cultural exchange and sharing China's perspective with the world, advocating for overcoming prejudices and embracing diversity. It highlights the role of the younger generation in contributing to and celebrating this cultural renaissance. The article ultimately conveys optimism about China's future and its ongoing modernization.
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Congratulatory Letter
On the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the founding of Science and Technology Daily, I would like to extend my congratulations to all the comrades of the newspaper!
Over the past 40 years, Science and Technology Daily has played a positive role in publicizing the Party's innovative theories, interpreting science and technology policies, reporting on scientific and technological achievements, and popularizing scientific knowledge, focusing on the central work of the Party and the state. At this new starting point, I hope that you will thoroughly study and implement Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, adhere to the correct political direction, innovate carriers and methods, promote the spirit of scientists, strive to tell the story of China's (中国) scientific and technological innovation well, reflect the voices of science and technology workers, and gather more wisdom and strength for achieving high-level self-reliance in science and technology and building a strong country in science and technology.
Xi Jinping (习近平)
January 1, 2026
(Xinhua News Agency, Beijing (北京), January 1)
Xinhua News Agency, Beijing (北京), January 1 On the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the founding of Science and Technology Daily, Xi Jinping (习近平), General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, President of the State, and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, sent a congratulatory letter to express his congratulations to all the comrades of the newspaper.
Xi Jinping (习近平) pointed out in his congratulatory letter that over the past 40 years, Science and Technology Daily has played a positive role in publicizing the Party's innovative theories, interpreting science and technology policies, reporting on scientific and technological achievements, and popularizing scientific knowledge, focusing on the central work of the Party and the state.
Xi Jinping (习近平) emphasized that at this new starting point, I hope that you will thoroughly study and implement Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, adhere to the correct political direction, innovate carriers and methods, promote the spirit of scientists, strive to tell the story of China's (中国) scientific and technological innovation well, reflect the voices of science and technology workers, and gather more wisdom and strength for achieving high-level self-reliance in science and technology and building a strong country in science and technology. (The full text of the congratulatory letter will be sent separately.)
Science and Technology Daily was founded on January 1, 1986. After 40 years of development, it has become a comprehensive media organization with newspapers, periodicals, websites, client terminals and other communication platforms.
Return to TopXinhua News Agency, Beijing, January 1st (Xinhua) January 1st, Chinese President Xi Jinping (习近平) sent a congratulatory message to the newly appointed Swiss Federal President Viola Amherd (帕姆兰), congratulating her on taking office as the Swiss Federal President.
Xi Jinping (习近平) pointed out that during my state visit to Switzerland in 2017, the two countries announced the launch of a joint study on upgrading the free trade agreement. Under the promotion of President Viola Amherd (帕姆兰), the negotiations on upgrading the agreement have made positive progress. At present, with the rise of unilateralism and protectionism, the two countries working together to support free trade is a true reflection of the high-level development of Sino-Swiss relations, and also injects more certainty and stability into the world's development and prosperity. The year 2026 marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the Sino-Swiss innovative strategic partnership and the first year of China's "15th Five-Year Plan," and innovative cooperation between the two countries faces broad opportunities. I attach great importance to the development of Sino-Swiss relations and am willing to work with President Viola Amherd (帕姆兰) to continuously expand mutually beneficial cooperation, promote Sino-Swiss relations to a new level, and better benefit the people of both countries.
Return to TopBy: 新华社记者
At the historical juncture, there is always a myriad of phenomena.
2025 is an important year for further comprehensively deepening reforms, the last year of the 5-year transition period after the completion of the poverty alleviation task, the year of concluding the "14th Five-Year Plan" and planning the "15th Five-Year Plan."
Faced with the complex and volatile international situation and the arduous and heavy domestic reform, development, and stability tasks, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping (习近平) at its core united and led the entire Party and the people of all ethnic groups across the country, rising to challenges and forging ahead, writing an "extraordinary" chapter in the journey of building a strong country and national rejuvenation.
In response to the drastic changes in the external environment and the numerous internal challenges and difficulties, China's economy has moved forward against pressure and developed towards new and better directions, and the main goals of the "14th Five-Year Plan" are about to be successfully completed; based on the new era and orientation, we are taking advantage of the momentum to draw a grand blueprint for continuing to promote the construction of Chinese-style modernization; facing the accelerated evolution of the century-old changes, the four major global initiatives are intertwined, injecting stability and certainty into the world; the grand commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War has greatly boosted national spirit, stimulated patriotic enthusiasm, and gathered the strength to struggle...
"The great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is unstoppable! The noble cause of human peace and development will surely be victorious!" The bold declaration of General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) reveals the general trend of history, the trend of the times, and the will of the people.
Moving Forward Against Pressure, Developing Towards New and Better Directions—
"Responding to Various Uncertainties with the Certainty of High-Quality Development"
At the end of 2025, at the Jingxi Hotel (京西宾馆) in Beijing (北京), General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) attended the Central Economic Work Conference.
A comprehensive summary of the economic work of the past year: "China's economy has moved forward against pressure and developed towards new and better directions, demonstrating strong resilience and vitality."
A high evaluation of the development achievements of the past 5 years: "We have effectively responded to various shocks and challenges, promoted new major achievements in the cause of the Party and the country, and achieved a good start in the new journey towards the second centenary goal."
Success seems easy, but it is hard-won.
"Extraordinary"—just four words outline the dangers of wading through waters, the difficulties of climbing slopes, and the challenges of tackling tough problems in 2025.
In the closing year of the "14th Five-Year Plan," the international situation is turbulent and changing, and cyclical and structural contradictions in the domestic economic operation are relatively prominent. The heavy tasks of reform, development, and stability, and the numerous contradictions, risks, and challenges, all test the wisdom of the Party Central Committee in governing the country.
Time comes to the beginning of the year.
Faced with profound and complex changes in the domestic and international situation, how can we ensure the realization of the annual economic and social development goals and tasks in the crucial year, and draw a successful conclusion to the "14th Five-Year Plan"?
General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平), with the "major affairs of the country" in mind, coordinates the "two overall situations," and uses profound historical vision to observe the times and the situation, pointing out the direction of development for the Chinese economy.
Attending the symposium for private enterprises, injecting a "strong heart stimulant" to promote the high-quality development of the private economy. At the National People's Congress, he emphasized technological innovation and industrial innovation, pointing out the basic path for developing new quality productive forces; clarifying the focus of major economic provinces to shoulder the heavy responsibilities, allowing the "pillar" to become the "locomotive" driving development; proposing "empowering economic and social development with culture," providing a deeper foundation and lasting impetus for high-quality development...
Like a spring breeze and rain, everything is renewed. From the spring plowing and preparation for cultivation in the vast fields to the round-the-clock busyness of port terminals, from the roar of machines in workshops and factories to the breakthroughs in scientific research laboratories, hundreds of millions of people are working hard, and the land of China is showing a new atmosphere of high-quality development.
At this time, across the ocean, a "storm" is quietly brewing.
In April, the United States announced the imposition of "reciprocal tariffs" on all trading partners, including China, and continued to escalate them in just a few days, triggering a tariff war of unprecedented intensity.
China quickly counterattacked and launched multiple measures: imposing retaliatory tariffs on the United States, filing a lawsuit under the WTO dispute settlement mechanism, and implementing export controls on related items...
Fight to the end; talk with the door open. The Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping (习近平) at its core calmly and effectively responded, cultivating new opportunities in crises and opening new situations in changes, fully demonstrating the confidence and determination to remain calm despite the turbulent clouds.
Calmness comes from knowing the situation and having cards in hand; confidence comes from scientific research and accurate implementation of policies.
On April 25, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) chaired a meeting of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, clarifying the need to "focus on stabilizing employment, stabilizing enterprises, stabilizing the market, and stabilizing expectations," and deploying a package of policy measures in a targeted manner.
The accurate and decisive "出手" (chū shǒu - "to take action," to step in and address a situation) at a critical moment fully demonstrates the accurate assessment and scientific response of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping (习近平) at its core to risks and challenges, highlighting the courage and wisdom to lead the Chinese economy through storms.
President Xi Jinping (习近平) spoke with President Trump four times during the year, profoundly pointing out that "the essence of China-US economic and trade relations is mutual benefit and win-win" and "China and the United States can fully achieve each other, achieve common prosperity, benefit the two countries, and benefit the world"...
China and the United States held economic and trade consultations in Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Spain, and Malaysia, achieving a series of substantive progress and injecting stability into the turbulent international economic and trade landscape.
History and practice have repeatedly proven that daring to struggle is the foundation, being good at struggling is wisdom, and focusing on domestic affairs and concentrating on doing our own things well is the fundamental way to deal with all uncertainties.
The more we face risks and challenges, the more we must adhere to innovation to break the situation.
On the bank of the Huangpu River, the "Model Speed Space" large model innovation ecosystem community in Shanghai (上海) is accelerating its growth.
In April 2025, just as the external economic and trade environment was fluctuating sharply, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) came here to conduct on-site research on the artificial intelligence industry. Before coming to Shanghai (上海), the General Secretary chaired a collective study of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, focusing on the theme of "strengthening the development and supervision of artificial intelligence."
To promote Chinese-style modernization, science and technology must take the lead.
This year, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) repeatedly went to the most active places of scientific and technological innovation, emphasizing the importance of high-level scientific and technological self-reliance and self-improvement for Chinese-style modernization, and made important deployments for coordinating the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries and the cultivation and expansion of strategic emerging industries.
"We must place the development of new quality productive forces in accordance with local conditions in a more prominent strategic position";
"Different regions have different resource endowments, basic conditions, etc. The transformation and upgrading of industries should proceed from reality, follow economic laws, and highlight their own characteristics";
"We must never regard traditional industries as 'low-end industries' or 'backward industries' and simply eliminate them"...
General Secretary Xi Jinping's (习近平) important instructions and earnest exhortations contain a dialectical grasp of the new and the old, the breaking and the establishing, and the advancing and the stabilizing, clarifying the direction for developing new quality productive forces in accordance with local conditions.
This year, domestic artificial intelligence large models have attracted global attention, embodied intelligence development has entered a fast track, "Eastern Super Ring" and "Zu Chongzhi III" have created new world records, and the global electronic communications industry has ushered in an ultra-high-speed signal "Chinese standard"... One shining moment after another witnesses China's solid steps in innovation-driven development.
Only innovators advance, only innovators are strong.
In 2025, China ranked among the top ten in the global innovation index for the first time, and is one of the economies with the fastest improvement in innovation capabilities in more than 10 years. Shenzhen (深圳)—Hong Kong (香港)—Guangzhou (广州) jumped to the top of the global innovation cluster list.
The more we face risks and challenges, the more we must seek vitality from opening up and seek impetus from reform.
In early November 2025, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) set off southward to conduct in-depth inspections in Hainan (海南) and Guangdong (广东) provinces.
In Hainan (海南), when listening to the report on the construction of the Hainan Free Trade Port, the General Secretary emphasized: "The strategic goal of building the Hainan Free Trade Port is to build the Hainan Free Trade Port into an important gateway leading China's opening up to the outside world in the new era."
The scale of history always leaves its mark at key nodes. On December 18, the Hainan Free Trade Port officially launched full island customs closure. On this day in 1978, the epoch-making Third Plenary Session of the Eleventh Central Committee of the Party was held.
The "landmark measure" of the free trade port's customs closure operation demonstrates the firm determination of Chinese Communists to carry out reform and opening up to the end. "We have adhered to the path of reform and opening up with Chinese characteristics and have come here step by step." General Secretary Xi Jinping's (习近平) words are full of expectations.
This year, further comprehensive deepening of reforms continued to advance in breadth and depth.
The implementation of the Private Economy Promotion Law, the release of the "Negative List for Market Access (2025 Edition)," the implementation of pilot projects for comprehensive reform of factor market-based allocation in some parts of the country, and the comprehensive rectification of "involution-style" competition... Taking economic system reform as the traction, more than 300 reform measures deployed by the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee have gradually been implemented.
This year, expanding high-level opening up to the outside world continued to move to a deeper level.
Promoting the orderly expansion of opening up in fields such as telecommunications, education, and medical care, further expanding the "circle of friends" for unilateral visa-free entry, replicating and promoting 77 pilot measures from the Shanghai (上海) Free Trade Pilot Zone... The door to opening up is opening wider and wider, and the "gold content" of institutional opening up is further enhanced.
"Chinese-style modernization is constantly advancing in reform and opening up, and it will surely open up broad prospects in reform and opening up."
Traveling through the misty peaks and experiencing the storms; paving roads through mountains and building bridges over water.
China's development and progress have always been like this, constantly splitting mountains and opening up ridges and moving forward in the process of overcoming obstacles and seizing passes.
Taking Advantage of the Momentum and Drawing a Blueprint—
"Chinese-Style Modernization Has Goals, Plans, and Strategies, and It Will Surely Be Realized"
On October 23, 2025, in the Great Hall of the People (人民大会堂), amidst thunderous applause, the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee deliberated and approved the "Recommendations of the CPC Central Committee on Formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development."
The Chinese Communists in the new era, carrying forward the great historical initiative, issued a bold declaration to take advantage of the momentum, continue to promote the construction of Chinese-style modernization, and continue to write new chapters in the two miracles of rapid economic development and long-term social stability.
"Realizing socialist modernization is a historical process of step-by-step progression and continuous development and progress, which requires unremitting efforts and continuous struggle." At this plenary session, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) profoundly elaborated.
The "15th Five-Year Plan" period is of great significance for promoting Chinese-style modernization in stages and steps. How should we understand the coordinates of the times and the historical orientation in which we are located? How should we respond to changes and coordinate the overall situation? What should we rely on to build consensus and boost morale?
Responding to the complex world with diverse approaches. Faced with a more profound and complex changing development environment, and faced with more dilemmas and multiple difficulties, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) steers the course with firm strategic clarity and a broad strategic vision, grasping the overall trend and direction of the development of things from the overall and long-term perspective, planning initiatives, promoting advantages, and seizing victories.
Integrating and coordinating the strategic framework, deploying and planning the "15th Five-Year Plan" in the overall situation of Chinese-style modernization, clarifying the "six adherence" principles, and forming a logically rigorous and mutually supportive overall guideline;
Scientifically planning the timing and rhythm, focusing on major events and important matters in stages, and outlining the main logical line of China's economic and social development in the future, laying the foundation for achieving the long-term goals for 2035;
…………
This is what a weighty plan reveals: true historical initiative lies not only in predicting the direction of temporary tides, but also in conforming to the general trend of history, seizing historical opportunities, and leading historical development.
What to take as a strategic focus is related to the effectiveness of overall advancement.
The greatness of a great power also lies in its great responsibilities. Grasping the main contradictions and achieving key breakthroughs reflects the dialectics of Marxism and demonstrates the historical vision and leadership art of planning development.
On accurately grasping the key points of economic and social development during the "15th Five-Year Plan" period, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) clarified 12 aspects to grasp a batch of strategic tasks with major traction, driving, and supporting roles.
Inspecting the Third Cold Rolling Mill of the Cold Rolling General Plant of Benxi Iron and Steel Plate Co., Ltd. in Liaoning (辽宁), he emphasized that "the real economy is the foundation of the national economy"; visiting the intelligent factory of Luoyang Bearing Group Co., Ltd. in Henan (河南), he pointed out that "to promote Chinese-style modernization, we must continue to do a good job in manufacturing"; entering the production workshop of Yangquan Valve Co., Ltd. in Shanxi (山西), he exclaimed that "developing the real economy and revitalizing the country through hard work"...
This year, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) visited manufacturing enterprises many times, requiring consistency: the real economy cannot be lost, and the traditional industries in the real economy cannot be lost.
Although there are difficulties in transformation and difficulties in climbing slopes, the tradition of developing the real economy must be continued. Without a solid material and technological foundation, it is impossible to fully build a strong socialist modern country.
Thinking all the way, deepening step by step, and brewing to maturity... "Building a modern industrial system and consolidating and strengthening the foundation of the real economy" was listed as the top strategic task and systematically deployed.
"Safety" can be seen from this annual high-frequency word.
On February 28, 2025, the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee conducted the 19th collective study on building a higher-level Peaceful China, which was also the first collective study of the Political Bureau after the start of the year.
"Consciously unify development and security in work, plan together, deploy as a whole, and promote each other." General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) required to unswervingly implement the overall national security concept and promote the construction of Peaceful China to a higher level.
In 2025, when visiting and慰问 (wèi wèn - "to express sympathy and solicitude," to show care and concern) grassroots cadres and the masses before the Spring Festival, he emphasized "strengthening safety production to ensure that the people spend a happy, safe, and peaceful festival"; requiring the Northeast to firmly grasp the important mission in maintaining the country's "five major securities"; coming to the Central Plains, he emphasized "shouldering the responsibility for food security"...
Across the timeline of the year, in the grand chess game of governing the country, the General Secretary placed national security in the overall situation of Chinese-style modernization for thinking and grasping.
Constantly analyzing problems, constantly summarizing laws, and constantly refining and sublimating.
The Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee clarified "adhering to the overall planning of development and security" as one of the principles that must be followed for economic and social development during the "15th Five-Year Plan" period, and made a series of strategic deployments focusing on "consolidating security in development and seeking development in security."
What kind of value orientation is upheld is related to the background color of future development.
The last year of the 5-year transition period after the completion of the poverty alleviation task, the first local inspection after the National People's Congress, a symposium full of people's livelihood concerns conveyed a profound meaning.
In March 2025, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) came to Zhaoxing Dong Village (肇兴侗寨) in Liping County (黎平县), Qiandongnan Prefecture (黔东南州), Guizhou Province (贵州省). Under the drum tower, a fire pit, a few long benches, and the villagers sat around the General Secretary.
"The system of the first secretary must still be adhered to," "It is necessary to retain your own characteristics and grasp what others do not have"... The General Secretary talked with everyone about people's livelihood and revitalization, and the branches and leaves were concerned in the joy.
Coordinating the city and the countryside. In July 2025, after 10 years, another Central Urban Work Conference was held in Beijing (北京). General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) pointed out the direction for building innovative, livable, beautiful, resilient, civilized, and intelligent modern people's cities.
This year, combined with inspections or attendance at activities in Northeast China, Guizhou (贵州), Yunnan (云南), Shanghai (上海), Henan (河南), Shanxi (山西), Tibet (西藏), Xinjiang (新疆), and other places, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) conducted research on planning the "15th Five-Year Plan" for economic and social development. Going deep into the grassroots level to understand what they think and expect, and to obtain true knowledge and insights.
Asking the people for their needs and asking the people for their plans has expanded from all over the country to the online space.
From May 20 to June 20, 2025, the "15th Five-Year Plan" preparation work carried out online solicitation of opinions. General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) made two important instructions, emphasizing "adhering to scientific decision-making, democratic decision-making, and legal decision-making" and "the broad masses of the people actively offered suggestions and put forward many valuable opinions and suggestions, and relevant departments should carefully study and absorb them."
The leader's heart is connected with the people, and the Party's heart resonates with the people's heart.
The "15th Five-Year Plan" proposal highlights the promotion of common prosperity for all people to take solid steps in its guiding ideology. When explaining the draft of the planning proposal, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) regarded this as a "general requirement for guiding economic and social development during the '15th Five-Year Plan' period."
Adhere to the close combination of benefiting the people's livelihood and promoting consumption, investing in things and investing in people; increase the intensity of inclusive policies directly reaching consumers; strengthen inclusive, basic, and bottom-line people's livelihood construction...
Persisting in benefiting the people and promoting consumption, closely integrating investment in physical objects with investment in people; increasing the intensity of inclusive policies directly benefiting consumers; strengthening inclusive, foundational, and basic livelihood construction...
"It is necessary to adhere to the original aspiration, consider issues from the people's standpoint, persist in guaranteeing and improving people's livelihoods in development, and steadily promote common prosperity." This is the unremitting pursuit of the century-old major party, and this is the unwavering original aspiration of the people's leader.
Acting with Determination on the Right Path, Stepping Forward with Responsibility—
"China will always be a force for world peace, a force for stability, and a force for progress."
In 2025, the world is intertwined with turmoil and chaos, and instability is intensifying. Looking back at the process of international relations this year, a historic moment has captured global attention:
"I am willing to propose a global governance initiative and work with all countries to promote the construction of a more just and reasonable global governance system and jointly move towards a community with a shared future for mankind." On September 1, 2025, at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Tianjin Summit, President Xi Jinping (习近平) proposed a global governance initiative to the world.
Following the right path and guiding the progress of human society with Chinese solutions—
2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War and the founding of the United Nations. Before the Tianjin Summit, President Xi Jinping (习近平) met with United Nations Secretary-General Guterres, profoundly pointing out the lessons of history: "Multilateralism and solidarity and cooperation are the correct answers to solving global problems."
Looking back on the past, when the smoke of the World Anti-Fascist War dissipated, the international community learned from its pain, the United Nations emerged as the times required, and a new page was turned in global governance.
Looking around at the present, world multi-polarization, economic globalization, and the democratization of international relations have become increasingly surging trends of the times, but the shadows of the Cold War mentality, hegemonism, and protectionism have not dissipated, and new threats and new challenges have increased rather than decreased, and the world has entered a new period of turbulence and change.
"Adhering to sovereign equality," "Complying with international rule of law," "Practicing multilateralism," "Advocating people-centeredness," "Focusing on action-oriented"… At the critical moment of history, President Xi Jinping (习近平) pointed out a clear direction for the reform and improvement of the global governance system.
Since 2021, facing unprecedented global challenges, President Xi Jinping (习近平) has successively proposed the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, the Global Civilization Initiative, and the Global Governance Initiative. The four major global initiatives are intertwined and organically unified, building a complete action framework for promoting the deepening and solidifying of the practice of building a community with a shared future for mankind.
With the world in mind, maintaining world peace and stability with Chinese responsibility—
In April 2025, the first Central Conference on Work Relating to Neighboring Countries in the history of the People's Republic of China was held in Beijing (北京).
Examining the surrounding areas with a global perspective, the conference made an important judgment: "The surrounding areas are an important foundation for achieving development and prosperity, a key point for maintaining national security, a priority for managing the overall diplomatic situation, and a key to promoting the construction of a community with a shared future for mankind."
Less than a week after the conference, President Xi Jinping (习近平) set off for Southeast Asia, and the first visit abroad by a Chinese head of state in 2025 focused on neighboring countries.
In Vietnam, President Xi Jinping (习近平) and Vietnamese leaders walked side by side time and time again, talking as they walked; in Malaysia, Prime Minister Anwar accompanied President Xi Jinping (习近平) throughout all activities during his visit to Malaysia; in Cambodia, King Sihamoni invited President Xi Jinping (习近平) into the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh and awarded this "great friend" the "Grand Cross of the National Independence Order of the Kingdom of Cambodia"...
When "decoupling and breaking chains" and "national interests first" are rampant, how can China and its neighboring countries shake hands more closely?
The answer is written in the frequent interactions "like visiting relatives" and in the broad mind of "achieving neighbors is helping oneself."
In 2025, President Xi Jinping's (习近平) visits all focused on neighboring countries, from Southeast Asia to Russia, from Kazakhstan to South Korea, with footprints all over the surrounding areas. Each visit, with its intensive head-of-state diplomatic activities and fruitful cooperation results, wrote a vivid and fresh new chapter in the story of good-neighborliness and friendship.
The closer relatives visit, the deeper friends become.
"The most valuable advantage is being neighbors with China," "What China brings is not only stability, but also lasting hope for the future"... With amity, sincerity, mutual benefit, and inclusiveness, and a shared future, we jointly embark on a bright future of regional peace, stability, prosperity, and development.
On October 30, 2025, in Busan, South Korea, President Xi Jinping (习近平) and US President Trump met again after six years, attracting global attention.
Exchanging greetings, sitting face-to-face, opening remarks, closed-door talks, more than 100 minutes later, the two heads of state of major countries walked out of the VIP room side by side, and people read "encouraging prospects" in close attention.
"Let the ship of Sino-US relations move forward smoothly," "Work together to do more major, practical, and good things that are beneficial to both countries and the world"... President Xi Jinping (习近平) pointed out the way to the stable development of major-country relations with a broad vision and pattern.
The Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China pointed out that "major-country relations affect the international situation, and the evolution of the international situation profoundly affects domestic development."
This year, the head-of-state diplomacy between China and the United States strategically led and set the direction, and multi-channel and multi-level communication between the world's two largest economies continued to advance; President Xi Jinping (习近平) and Russian President Putin (普京) exchanged visits, jointly discussing major plans for strategic cooperation between China and Russia in various fields, jointly celebrating the 80th anniversary of the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War, and jointly composing a new chapter in safeguarding international fairness and justice; President Xi Jinping (习近平) and French President Macron (马克龙) discussed the world situation in Dujiangyan (都江堰), and jointly planned a brighter next 50 years for Sino-European relations with EU leaders...
"Major countries should have the appearance of major countries and show more responsibility."
Under the leadership of President Xi Jinping (习近平), China has always been committed to promoting coordination and sound interaction among major countries, promoting the construction of a major-country relationship pattern of peaceful coexistence, overall stability, and balanced development, and contributing positive energy to maintaining global strategic stability.
Working together to advance, using Chinese opportunities to help countries move towards common modernization—
In November 2025, King Tupou VI of Tonga visited China and came to the Juncao (菌草) Source Square of Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, personally planting a Juncao (菌草) grass and writing in the guestbook: Juncao (菌草) has great potential for developing countries like Tonga.
When meeting with Tupou VI in Beijing (北京), President Xi Jinping (习近平) said that China will focus on high-quality development, further comprehensively deepen reform, expand high-level opening up, and share development opportunities with all countries in the world.
"What China pursues is not modernization that benefits itself alone."
More than three-quarters of the world's countries have joined the big family of jointly building the "Belt and Road"; the cumulative number of China-Europe freight trains has exceeded 120,000; international exhibitions such as the China International Import Expo, the Canton Fair, the Supply Chain Expo, the Service Trade Fair, and the Consumer Goods Expo continue to release China's cooperation "magnetic attraction"...
Not long ago, many international institutions raised their expectations for China's economic growth rate in 2025. For many years, China's economic contribution to world economic growth has remained at about 30% annually, continuing to serve as an important engine of global growth.
The world is standing at a new crossroads, and where to go tests foresight and responsibility.
Taking the people's heart as one's own and taking the world's interests as one's own. President Xi Jinping's (习近平) call resonated strongly, "The more stormy the situation, the more important it is to work together in the same boat," "Promote prosperity together, win the future together, and work together to build a community with a shared future for mankind."
Attending the Global Women's Summit, proposing a series of important measures to further support the development of global women's cause; supporting the development of the Global South, announcing the joint launch of the "Five Major Projects" of unity, development, civilization, peace, and people's hearts with Latin American and Caribbean countries, and promoting the implementation of 100% tariff-free treatment for products from 53 African countries that have diplomatic relations with China; on the 10th anniversary of the conclusion of the Paris Agreement, announcing China's new round of nationally determined contributions...
China, which follows the right path, always transcends estrangement and conflict with a broad mind and cares for the fate of mankind with great feelings.
Therefore, the world marvels and is curious—"China is becoming 'cool'," "The most influential participant in global affairs," "A reliable Chinese partner";
Furthermore, all parties approach and explore—government officials from various countries who are exploring the secret of success of Chinese-style modernization, foreign company executives who are firmly investing in China, and people from various countries who have fallen in love with "China tours" come one after another...
China is changing with each passing day, a credible, lovable, and respectable China.
Uniting as One, Forging Ahead—
"Striving to write a more magnificent chapter of Chinese-style modernization"
On September 3, 2025, Tiananmen Square (天安门广场), a grand national ceremony, inspiring the people.
Inside the main hall of the Tiananmen Gate Tower (天安门城楼), a huge painting titled "United as One" (《众志成城》) hangs; on the square, the viewing platform with the shape of the Chinese character "众" is magnificent.
At the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, General Secretary Xi Jinping's (习近平) sonorous and powerful solemn declaration anchored the eternal coordinates for the national memory: "Inherit and carry forward the great spirit of resisting aggression, forge ahead with determination and courage, and unite and strive to comprehensively promote the construction of a strong country and the great rejuvenation of the nation with Chinese-style modernization!"
From the great victory to the great rejuvenation, the red flag is waving and the people are rejoicing, reflecting the prosperous atmosphere; the battle flag is hunting, the iron torrent is rolling, stirring the strong sound of the times.
"An impressive display!" Some overseas media exclaimed, "This is true strength and confidence!"
How did the "sleeping lion" (睡狮 - shuì shī - "sleeping lion," a metaphor for China before its modernization) that was once poor and weak and suffered humiliation usher in the great leap from standing up, getting rich, to becoming strong?
Yesterday inspires today, and history illuminates the future.
On the main peak of Shinao Mountain (狮脑山) in Yangquan (阳泉), Shanxi (山西), the Hundred Regiments Offensive Monument is shaped like a bayonet piercing straight into the sky.
On July 7, 2025, on the 88th anniversary of the outbreak of the all-out War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) came here, presented flower baskets to the martyrs of the Eighth Route Army, and visited the exhibition of the Hundred Regiments Offensive Memorial Hall.
Standing, observing, and contemplating, reviewing this history, General Secretary Xi Jinping's (习近平) speech was sonorous and powerful: "The historical feat of the Hundred Regiments Offensive fully demonstrated the role of our party as the mainstay in the all-out War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, and fully demonstrated the mighty power of the people's war led by the Party."
With the Communist Party of China as the mainstay and leader, and with the mighty power of the people uniting and fighting—"Chinese-style modernization is the answer we have given to the major historical topic of how to awaken the 'sleeping lion' and realize national rejuvenation."
This is socialist modernization led by the Communist Party of China, and the Party's leadership is directly related to the fundamental direction, future destiny, and ultimate success or failure of Chinese-style modernization.
In March 2025, just as the study and education on thoroughly implementing the spirit of the Central Eight-Point Regulation had just been launched, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) came to Guizhou (贵州) and Yunnan (云南) for inspection and research.
Ninety years ago, in the mountains and rivers of the Great Southwest, the Red Army led by the Communist Party of China broke through difficulties and obstacles and achieved a turning point of life and death.
To govern a country, one must first govern the party, and only when the party is prosperous can the country be strong. Practice has repeatedly proved that "the more complex and changeable the situation and the more arduous and heavy the tasks, the more necessary it is to adhere to, use well, and develop the greatest advantage of the Party's leadership."
At the critical juncture when the "14th Five-Year Plan" is about to come to an end and the "15th Five-Year Plan" is being planned, tightening the ideological string again and sharpening the original intention again is related to the Party's foundation of governance and the overall situation of Chinese-style modernization construction.
Carrying out in-depth study and education on thoroughly implementing the spirit of the Central Eight-Point Regulation is a key task of Party building in 2025 personally planned by General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平).
"In recent years, the Eight-Point Regulation has indeed promoted fundamental changes, and the atmosphere has been renewed. Most of the phenomena that were difficult to reverse in the past are gone. At the same time, it is necessary to see that some places have loosened, there are still blind spots and dead ends in some aspects, and some unhealthy trends have rebounded." General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) stated the far-reaching considerations of the Party Central Committee's decision to carry out this study and education, "Like driving nails, drive a few more times, and over time, it will become a custom."
On June 30, 2025, on the eve of "July 1st," Zhongnanhai (中南海), Beijing (北京). The Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee conducted its twenty-first collective study on improving the long-term mechanism for implementing the spirit of the Central Eight-Point Regulation and correcting the "four forms of formalism, bureaucracy, hedonism, and extravagance" (四风).
"The task of building Chinese-style modernization undertaken by our Party is very arduous, and the governing environment we face is extremely complex. The string of self-revolution must be tightened even more." General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) talked about the Party's self-revolution from the construction of work style, conveying a clear signal to carry out the Party's self-revolution to the end.
Unswervingly comprehensively and strictly governing the Party, deeply promoting the new great project of Party building in the new era, adhering to leading social revolution with the Party's self-revolution, the Party's creativity, cohesion, and combat effectiveness have continued to increase, promoting new pioneering progress, breakthrough changes, and historical achievements in economic and social development.
This is the modernization that the people of all ethnic groups across the country are jointly striving for. Comprehensively promoting the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation with Chinese-style modernization is the common cause of our country's 56 ethnic groups and the common aspiration of all Chinese sons and daughters.
The rushing Yarlung Zangbo River (雅鲁藏布江) reflects the vicissitudes of the snowy plateau; the ancient Silk Road (丝路) witnesses the new changes in the north and south of the Tianshan Mountains (天山).
In August and September 2025, Xi Jinping (习近平), as General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, President of the State, and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, led the central delegation to attend the celebration activities for the establishment of the Tibet Autonomous Region (西藏自治区) and the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (新疆维吾尔自治区), which was the first time in the history of the Party and the country.
Wherever General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) went, people of all ethnic groups sang and danced, cheered loudly, welcomed the arrival of the General Secretary, expressed their heartfelt blessings to the General Secretary, and also expressed their desire and determination to unite and struggle together, jointly prosper and develop, and work together to write a new chapter in the construction of Chinese-style modernization.
"The Chinese nation is a big family, and everyone in the family must live a good life."
Presiding over the meeting of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee to study the draft law on promoting ethnic unity and progress, writing back to encourage cadres and the masses in ethnic areas, and paying attention to exchanges, interactions, and integration among all ethnic groups in many local inspections... General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) personally promoted the construction of the Chinese national community, and the thoughts and actions of cadres and the masses of all ethnic groups were unified to the decisions and deployments of the Party Central Committee, and they moved forward in unison.
Promoting the construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (粤港澳大湾区) for a long time, promoting Hong Kong (香港) and Macao (澳门) to better integrate into and serve the overall national development, and establishing Taiwan Retrocession Memorial Day (台湾光复纪念日) in the name of the country on the 80th anniversary of Taiwan's retrocession... All Chinese sons and daughters are connected by blood and share a common destiny.
Comprehensively promoting the construction of a strong country and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation with Chinese-style modernization is a magnificent journey concerning long-term development. It will not be smooth sailing and may even encounter unimaginable storms.
"Realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is a great cause unprecedented in history. Both aspirations and challenges inspire us to seize the day and never slacken in our struggle." At the National Day reception in 2025, General Secretary Xi Jinping's (习近平) words were full of strength.
The land of China is surging with vitality everywhere:
In the ice and snow world of the Northeast, the Harbin Asian Winter Games ignited sports passion, and the sports economy continued to release consumption potential;
In the colorful southwest land, the deep integration of agriculture, culture, and tourism helps the comprehensive revitalization of the countryside;
On the blue waves of the South China Sea, China's first electromagnetic catapult-type aircraft carrier, the Navy Fujian ship (福建舰), completed its first maritime live-fire training after entering service;
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All great achievements are the result of continuous struggle, and all great undertakings need to be promoted in inheriting the past and opening up the future.
On the evening of November 9, 2025, at the Guangdong Olympic Sports Center, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) announced the opening of the 15th National Games. In the cultural and sports performance with the theme of "Realizing Dreams for the Future," as hundreds of awakened lions combined with VR technology made a shocking debut, the identity of national sentiment and the emotional identity of national rejuvenation stirred in the hearts of hundreds of millions of Chinese sons and daughters.
Just like the "already awakened lion," the Chinese nation is confidently forging ahead on the broad road of Chinese-style modernization.
The journey of pursuing dreams is one after another.
Having gone through the "extremely unusual and extremely extraordinary" "14th Five-Year Plan" and ushered in the "15th Five-Year Plan" of "laying a solid foundation and making comprehensive efforts," we are more closely united around the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping (习近平) at its core, and we are full of confidence, full of confidence, and full of strength to advance bravely towards the bright other shore of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation!
(Xinhua News Agency, Beijing (北京), January 1)
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"We continue to open our hearts to embrace the world." In his New Year's message for 2026, President Xi Jinping (习近平) reviewed China's interaction and integration with the world in the past year, focused on solving the common challenges facing humanity, and emphasized that "China always stands on the right side of history and is willing to work with all countries to promote world peace and development and promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind."
The century of changes is accelerating, and the international situation is intertwined with turmoil. Facing a new juncture in historical evolution, where will human development go? This year, the world has witnessed China's courage and commitment.
In Tiananmen Square (天安门广场) in Beijing (北京), the grand ceremony of the country issued a strong voice of the times that justice will prevail, peace will prevail, and the people will prevail; in Southeast Asia in the spring, China and its neighboring countries are getting closer and closer; in Astana (阿斯塔纳) in midsummer, the "China-Central Asia spirit" shines brightly; in Northeast Asia in the autumn, China leads pragmatic cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region...
Facts show that in the face of the world's turbulent situation, China is a stabilizing anchor; in the face of the new situation in the surrounding environment, China is the backbone; in the face of the changing international order, China is a stabilizing force; in the face of the global development dilemma, China is the main engine; in the face of the international moral crisis, China is a ballast stone.
Maintaining peace, promoting cooperation, responding to changes, and undertaking morality, China adheres to cooperation and win-win results, both developing itself and benefiting the world, and has become a force for peace, stability, and progress in a turbulent world.
"Concentrate on doing our own things well, be a better version of ourselves, and share development opportunities with all countries in the world." These words interpret the vision and determination of an open and empowering major country.
Benchmark against the highest level of opening-up in the world, the Hainan Free Trade Port (海南自贸港) has fully implemented island-wide customs clearance operations. In the past five years, Hainan (海南) has actually used 102.5 billion yuan of foreign investment, attracting more foreign investment than the total in the previous 32 years; actively and continuously opening up the market to the world, the 8th China International Import Expo (进博会) achieved an intended turnover of 83.49 billion US dollars on an annual basis, and the scale reached a new high... China's magnetic attraction comes from the certainty of high-quality development and the opportunity of high-level opening up.
China, which adheres to opening up and cooperation, continues to provide new opportunities for the world with its own new development. During the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, China's contribution to global economic growth has remained stable at around 30%, which powerfully reveals the inherent logic of "walking with China is walking with opportunities, believing in China is believing in tomorrow, and investing in China is investing in the future."
Facts prove that "as long as we actively adapt to the trend of world development, we can not only develop and grow ourselves, but also lead the trend of world development."
Looking to the future, adhering to the right path of inclusiveness, mutual benefit and win-win results, and steadily promoting institutional opening-up, China, which opens its heart and opens its doors, will surely strengthen its muscles and bones and become self-reliant in opening up, and open up a course and inject momentum for world development.
"At any time, we must promote the common values of all mankind, firmly defend international fairness and justice, and let the world be filled with righteousness and the world be bright." Such a declaration conveys the belief and determination to build a community with a shared future for mankind.
In 2025, the world witnessed the "China moment" of global governance reform.
President Xi Jinping (习近平) solemnly proposed the Global Governance Initiative, put forward China's plan for promoting the construction of a more just and reasonable global governance system, injected China's impetus into revitalizing the core position and leading role of the United Nations, and injected more positive energy into the world intertwined with turmoil. This important initiative meets the urgent needs of the world today and has been quickly responded to and supported by more than 150 countries and international organizations.
What kind of world does China want to build?
The answer is written in the vision of "the world is for the public" and the action of "sharing the same boat." Announcing a new round of nationally determined contribution targets, contributing China's strength to global climate governance; promoting the establishment of the International Mediation Institute, building a new platform for countries to resolve differences; advocating the establishment of the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization to accelerate the global governance process of artificial intelligence; vigorously promoting the high-quality joint construction of the "Belt and Road" (一带一路), and is committed to common development and shared prosperity with all countries...
Whether it is dialogue or confrontation, win-win or zero-sum, openness or closure, the answer of a responsible major country is sonorous and powerful. The recently released 2025 China International Image Global Survey Report shows that the international community's favorability towards China continues to increase, and more and more people agree with China's concepts and expect China to play a greater role.
The higher the wind and the more turbulent the waves, the broader the mind. The Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (党的二十届四中全会) deliberated and approved the "15th Five-Year Plan" proposal, which drew a blueprint for China's development in the next five years and also provided the world with a "list of opportunities." Adhering to the world in mind, gathering global governance synergy in the tide of history, raising the sails of cooperation and win-win in the strong wind of the times, and holding the torch of shared destiny in the midst of turbulence and change, we will surely write a new chapter in which China and the world are intertwined and mutually accomplished.
Return to TopOn the morning of January 1st, a grand national flag-raising ceremony was held in Tiananmen Square (天安门广场), Beijing (北京). The majestic "March of the Volunteers" (《义勇军进行曲》) was played, the flag bearer raised the flag, and the audience sang the national anthem in unison. The five-star red flag was slowly raised, fluttering in the morning light.
The picture shows the National Flag Guard (国旗护卫队) marching in neat steps towards the flag-raising platform.
People's Daily reporter Zhang Wujun (张武军) took this photo.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 李昌禹 杨 昊
"Rice, cooking oil, salt, firewood, three meals a day, four seasons – every warm and lively 'small family' contributes to the prosperity of the 'big family' of China." This quote from General Secretary Xi Jinping's (习近平) New Year's message in 2026 warmed countless Chinese families.
"No issue concerning the people is too trivial, and every detail matters." Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, General Secretary Xi Jinping's (习近平) footsteps have covered the length and breadth of the country, observing the people's conditions, listening to their voices, inquiring about their well-being, paying attention to the happiness and warmth of "small families," and emphasizing that "family affairs, national affairs, and world affairs all boil down to ensuring that the people live a happy life, which is the top priority."
"What I am most concerned about are the people in difficulty."
Freshly cooked pan-fried buns exude steam, and hearty bowls of mutton soup fill the air with fragrance. In the winter, the Caowa Grand Market in Linyi City (临沂市) of Shandong Province (山东省) is filled with a lively atmosphere, brimming with happiness and contentment.
From morning breakfast stalls to lavish reunion dinners, from bountiful harvests in the fields to laughter in the communities, ordinary scenes reflect the people's aspirations for a better life and mirror the warmth and depth of the country's development.
General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) pointed out: "National prosperity and rejuvenation of the nation will ultimately be reflected in the happiness and well-being of thousands upon thousands of families, and in the continuous improvement of the lives of hundreds of millions of people."
Whether the lives of people in difficulty are good and whether the bottom line of people's livelihood is firmly secured are the ultimate tests of the quality of people's happiness.
At the foot of Mount Everest (珠峰), on the banks of the Pengqu River (朋曲河), a cluster of brand-new Tibetan-style buildings is scattered in an orderly manner. These are the new homes of the villagers of Sengga Village (森嘎村), Changsuo Township (长所乡), Dingri County (定日县), Xigaze City (日喀则市), Tibet (西藏).
Outside, it's a world of ice and snow, but inside, it's warm and cozy. "Our homes have everything – water, electricity, internet – and we live very comfortably," said villager Awang (阿旺).
On January 7, 2025, a 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck Dingri County (定日县); on the third day after the earthquake, Tibet (西藏) began preliminary work such as designing residential building types and clearing debris; construction began in early March; and by the end of October, construction was completed and handed over, allowing tens of thousands of affected people to spend a warm winter.
"What I am most concerned about are the people in difficulty," "We should pay special attention, special care, and special concern to people in difficulty, and help them solve their problems." These three "special" reflect General Secretary Xi Jinping's (习近平) concern and care for people in difficulty.
Expanding the scope and raising the standards of subsistence allowances, making dynamic adjustments; improving the quality and efficiency of social assistance; enabling disability subsidies to be handled across provinces... In recent years, under the close care of General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平), the safety net for people's livelihoods has been continuously strengthened, and a "happiness list" where the vulnerable receive support is gradually taking shape:
The basic living assistance system is constantly improving, ensuring that "everyone who is eligible is covered and everyone who needs help receives it," providing more robust support;
Combining big data monitoring with "iron legs" screening, shifting from "people looking for policies" to "policies finding people," providing more precise support;
Regular visits, employment assistance, psychological counseling... Shifting from single material assistance to comprehensive "material + service" assistance, providing warmer support.
During the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, the average standards for urban and rural subsistence allowances nationwide increased by 22.5% and 24.6% respectively compared to 2020; China has basically established a tiered and categorized social assistance system. The world's largest social security network is constantly being woven tighter and stronger, allowing the fruits of modernization to increasingly benefit the vast number of people in difficulty.
"'The elderly and the young' are the main concerns of most families."
In Caoxi Third Village (漕溪三村), Xuhui District (徐汇区), Shanghai (上海), Gu Lanmei (顾兰妹), who is nearly seventy years old, no longer has to brave the cold wind to empty her chamber pot.
In September 2025, Shanghai (上海) completed the "chamber pot removal" task ahead of schedule. Gu Lanmei (顾兰妹), who had lived in a cramped space for more than 40 years, moved into an elevator building, and the bathroom was equipped with a toilet. "Goodbye forever to the enamel spittoon."
Renovating old residential areas so that residents no longer have to "carry chamber pots," this "small warmth" of one square meter solves the "big troubles" of community residents, especially the elderly.
Providing for the elderly and nurturing the young. As China enters an aging society, "the elderly and the young" affect thousands of families and are related to the well-being of the people.
"'The elderly and the young' are the main concerns of most families." In communities, in villages, and in schools, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) repeatedly chatted with the elderly and held the hands of children, emphasizing the need to "focus on the key issue of 'the elderly and the young' and solve problems for the people more accurately and effectively."
From top-level design to the "last mile" at the grassroots level, the General Secretary led everyone step by step to fulfill the solemn commitment.
Since the "14th Five-Year Plan," China has completed age-friendly renovations for 2.24 million households with elderly people in special difficulty, built 500 exemplary community-based home care service networks, 2,990 exemplary age-friendly communities, and 86,000 elderly meal service locations. The elderly care service system is constantly improving, and service capabilities are constantly being enhanced.
Respect the elderly in your own family, and extend that respect to the elderly in other families; love the children in your own family, and extend that love to the children in other families.
In Xiyue Community (玺悦社区), Lijing Street (丽景街街道), Yinchuan City (银川市), Ningxia (宁夏), the community "Baby House" established by the "Yinchuan Baby Care" demonstration project supported by the central government's inclusive childcare service development has solved the childcare problems of many young parents. "Since the community has a 'Baby House,' it's much easier to take care of the kids," said community resident Ms. Li (李女士) with praise.
The elderly canteen is filled with the aroma of food; the after-school care class is filled with children's voices – "the elderly and the young," happy and harmonious.
"Age-friendly renovations bring convenience to the elderly, and families with children receive an additional subsidy of 300 yuan per month." In his New Year's message in 2026, General Secretary Xi Jinping's (习近平) care for "the elderly and the young" warmed people's hearts.
The service network for "the elderly and the young" is further strengthened, painting a happy picture of "red sunsets" and "bright sunrises."
"Development is the key to realizing people's happiness."
On a winter morning, the sound of pounding glutinous rice cakes, "pa, pa, pa," came from the courtyard of Peng Deliang's (彭德良) home in Shenshan Village (神山村), Maoping Town (茅坪镇), Jinggangshan City (井冈山市), Jiangxi (江西), filling the air with the fragrance of glutinous rice, refreshing the heart and mind.
Ten years ago, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) came to Shenshan Village (神山村) along the rugged mountain road, leaving behind earnest instructions: "On the road to poverty alleviation, no poor family should be left behind, and no poor person should be abandoned."
Digging winter bamboo shoots, planting yellow peaches, running homestays, and opening online stores – with policy support and the hard work of the villagers, Shenshan Village (神山村) today has thriving industries, a constant stream of tourists, and an annual per capita disposable income of 34,000 yuan.
"Development is the key to realizing people's happiness." The thriving rural scene reflects the magnificent and splendid answer sheet for people's livelihood in the new era.
2026 is the opening year of the "15th Five-Year Plan," and it is crucial to do a good job in "agriculture, rural areas, and farmers." Recently, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) made important instructions on doing a good job in "agriculture, rural areas, and farmers," emphasizing the need to "continue to consolidate and expand the achievements of poverty alleviation, incorporate normalized assistance into the overall implementation of the rural revitalization strategy, and firmly hold the bottom line of preventing large-scale return to poverty."
Policies have warmth. The "toolbox" of assistance policies continues to expand, and the construction of people's livelihood is more equitable, balanced, inclusive, and accessible. 150,000 resident work teams and more than 500,000 resident cadres are sticking to the front line in rural areas, firmly guarding the bottom line of preventing large-scale return to poverty.
Account books have feelings. During the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, China's fiscal investment in the field of people's livelihood was nearly 100 trillion yuan. In 2025, the national general public budget's expenditure on education and social security and employment expenditure budgets increased by 6.1% and 5.9% respectively, and the confidence in "investing in people" is growing stronger.
Data has power. China has built the world's largest disease prevention and control system and medical service system, the world's largest education system, and the average life expectancy of residents has reached 79 years.
From "national affairs" to "key small matters," every solid footnote on people's livelihood is transformed into a tangible and vivid sense of gain in the hearts of hundreds of millions of people.
One warm and lively "small family" after another converges into a prosperous "big family." Chinese-style modernization prioritizes people's livelihood. This is the General Secretary's consistent people-centered sentiment.
Return to TopBy: 新华社记者
As the years pass and new chapters unfold, we welcome the brand new year of 2026.
On December 31, 2025, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) delivered an important speech at the New Year tea party of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (全国政协), reviewing the achievements of the past and outlining the blueprint for future development, which greatly inspired all sectors of society.
The vast number of cadres and the masses expressed that they should conscientiously study and comprehend the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping's (习近平) important speech, further strengthen their confidence in development, and build consensus on development, working together with one heart and mind, and striving diligently to advance towards the "15th Five-Year Plan" development goals, and make new and greater contributions to the great cause of building a strong country and national rejuvenation.
Extraordinary Achievements, Inspiring
On December 31, 2025, the auditorium of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (全国政协礼堂) was brightly lit and the atmosphere was warm.
"2025 was a very extraordinary year. We faced difficulties head-on and worked hard to successfully complete the main goals of economic and social development." Listening to General Secretary Xi Jinping's (习近平) important speech on the spot, Zhang Lianqi (张连起), a member of the Standing Committee of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (全国政协常委), was filled with emotion. He said that looking back at the past five years, under the strong leadership of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping (习近平同志) at its core, China's hard power in economy, science and technology, and national defense, as well as its soft power in culture, system, and diplomacy, have been significantly improved, the quality of high-quality development has become more sufficient, and Chinese-style modernization has taken solid steps. He is inspired by the country's development achievements and proud of the role played by the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (人民政协) in it.
In 2025, China's economy moved forward against pressure, developing towards new and better directions, demonstrating strong resilience and vitality.
"General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) profoundly analyzed the current economic development situation in his speech. In the past year, the Party and the state have continuously increased their support for the private economy, which has greatly boosted our confidence." Zhang Xinghai (张兴海), Vice Chairman of the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce (全国工商联副主席) and Chairman of Seres Group (赛力斯集团), said that he will lead the team to continue to deeply cultivate the field of new energy vehicles, continuously improve core competitiveness, and demonstrate the responsibility of private enterprises in accelerating the cultivation of new quality productive forces.
Huzhou (湖州) City, Zhejiang (浙江) Province, relies on its ecological, tourism, and location advantages, and the "homestay circle" continues to drive the prosperity of the "economic circle." "A good ecological environment is the most inclusive benefit for the people's livelihood." Xia Wei (夏威), Executive Deputy Director of the Huzhou Municipal Party Committee Reform Office (Municipal Committee Ecological Civilization Office) (湖州市委改革办（市委生态文明办）常务副主任), said that we practice the concept that green waters and green mountains are golden mountains and silver mountains, actively explore the path to realize the value of ecological products, continuously release ecological dividends, and turn good mountains and rivers and good air into tangible assets and income, so that the people can eat "ecological meals" at their doorsteps.
General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) pointed out in his speech that "people's livelihood security has been more effective," and Fan Yue (樊月), Secretary of the Party Committee of Duofu Community (多福社区党委书记), Binhe Street (滨河街道), Shenhe District (沈河区), Shenyang (沈阳) City, Liaoning (辽宁) Province, has a deep understanding of this.
In recent years, Duofu Community (多福社区) has focused on solving the urgent and difficult problems of residents and continuously improving the people's sense of gain and happiness. "We keep in mind General Secretary Xi Jinping's (习近平) instructions, vigorously promote the renovation for the elderly, and comprehensively upgrade roads, pipelines, and greening. A beautiful picture of the elderly enjoying their twilight years and children growing up happily has emerged, and the lives of the masses are more quality and warmer," said Fan Yue (樊月).
Seize Opportunities, Seek Progress While Maintaining Stability
2026 is the opening year of the "15th Five-Year Plan." "Accelerate the construction of a new development pattern," "focus on promoting high-quality development," "adhere to the general tone of seeking progress while maintaining stability"... General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) put forward clear requirements for a good start and a good step in the new year.
"General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) attaches great importance to scientific and technological innovation. As scientific and technological workers, we deeply feel the heavy responsibility on our shoulders." Guo Qi (郭崎), winner of the 2025 China Youth May Fourth Medal (中国青年五四奖章获得者) and researcher at the Institute of Computing Technology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (中国科学院计算技术研究所研究员), said, "The Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Party (党的二十届四中全会) made arrangements for accelerating high-level self-reliance in science and technology. We must seize the opportunity, focus on cutting-edge fields such as integrated circuits and artificial intelligence, strengthen basic research, tackle scientific problems, and provide a 'source of living water' for the long-term development of science and technology in our country."
On the last working day of 2025, Chai Shouxi (柴守玺), a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (全国政协委员) and professor at Gansu Agricultural University (甘肃农业大学教授), led his students to conduct soil moisture and nutrient measurements in the experimental field. "Through agricultural technology innovation and application, there is great potential for increasing grain production. We must seize new opportunities for the development of agricultural modernization, further overcome agricultural problems, use technology to protect the 'great power granary,' and help agriculture increase efficiency, rural areas increase vitality, and farmers increase income," said Chai Shouxi (柴守玺).
On the shores of the South China Sea (南海之滨), the tide is surging. On December 18, 2025, the Hainan Free Trade Port (海南自由贸易港) officially launched full island customs closure, marking a new milestone in China's opening to the outside world.
Chi Fulin (迟福林), Dean of the China (Hainan) Reform and Development Research Institute (中国（海南）改革发展研究院院长), was deeply impressed by General Secretary Xi Jinping's (习近平) speech on "new steps in reform and opening up": "The operation of customs closure has released a positive signal for further expanding high-level opening to the outside world. We must follow General Secretary Xi Jinping's (习近平) requirements, accelerate the implementation of core policies, and build the Hainan Free Trade Port (海南自由贸易港) into an important gateway leading China's new era of opening to the outside world, and share development opportunities with the world."
Unite and Struggle, Write a New Chapter Again
Yudu (于都), Jiangxi (江西), is the assembly and departure point of the Central Red Army's Long March (中央红军长征集结出发地). Recalling that General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) came to Zishan Selenium-rich Vegetable Industrial Park (梓山富硒蔬菜产业园) in Yudu County (于都县) more than six years ago to inspect the development of the vegetable industry, Liu Lianyun (刘连云), Secretary of the Party Branch of Tantou Village (潭头村党总支书记), Zishan Town (梓山镇), is still fresh in his memory.
"The Party's policies to benefit agriculture are good. Now our selenium-rich vegetable products are constantly growing stronger and have become 'hot cakes'." Liu Lianyun (刘连云) said that 2026 is the 90th anniversary of the victory of the Red Army's Long March (红军长征胜利90周年). We must work hard and continue to struggle, lead the villagers to make their lives more prosperous, and take a good new Long March in the new era.
In 2025, the snowy plateau and both sides of the Tianshan Mountains (天山南北) ushered in historic moments - the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the Tibet Autonomous Region (西藏自治区成立60周年) and the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (新疆维吾尔自治区成立70周年).
Studying General Secretary Xi Jinping's (习近平) important speech, Aimila Guli Abudu (艾米拉古丽·阿不都), Principal of Tongmeng Kindergarten (童梦幼儿园), Bachu County (巴楚县), Xinjiang (新疆), couldn't help but recall the scene when she spoke at the celebration of the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (新疆维吾尔自治区成立70周年庆祝大会) a few months ago. She said that she will stick to this promising land of Xinjiang (新疆), guide children of all ethnic groups to enhance understanding and deepen friendship in daily teaching, and let the seeds of national unity take root in the hearts of children from an early age.
The Party's work style is the Party's image. "As a grassroots cadre, my colleagues and I will implement the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping's (习近平) important speech, adhere to the simultaneous efforts to temper our work style and perform our duties, consolidate and expand the results of in-depth study and education on thoroughly implementing the spirit of the Central Eight-Point Regulation (中央八项规定精神) with a pragmatic work style and strong actions, and be a 'vanguard' in the construction of grassroots work style," said Luo Yunzi (罗云紫), a cadre of the Organization Department of the Kunming Municipal Party Committee (昆明市委组织部干部), Yunnan (云南).
On the new journey of promoting the great cause of building a strong country and national rejuvenation, the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (人民政协) has a glorious mission and a great responsibility.
"In-depth consultation and deliberation," "actively offer suggestions"... General Secretary Xi Jinping's (习近平) important speech made Wang Xuedian (王学典), a member of the Standing Committee of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (全国政协常委) and Dean of the Advanced Institute of Confucian Studies at Shandong University (山东大学儒学高等研究院院长), start thinking about his work in 2026: "I will devote my heart and soul to performing my duties and offering suggestions in promoting the vigorous development of cultural undertakings, promote the creative transformation and innovative development of outstanding traditional Chinese culture, and use cultural identity to unite people and gather strength to help Chinese-style modernization move steadily and far."
In the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Comprehensive Cooperation Demonstration Zone (粤港澳全面合作示范区) in Nansha (南沙), Guangzhou (广州), Guangdong (广东), Li Weijie (李伟杰), a post-95 Macao youth (澳门青年), is discussing creative cultural products with his entrepreneurial partners: "Not long ago, the 15th National Games (十五运会) was held in Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao, and the cultural products we created appeared at this grand event. We truly felt the opportunities brought about by the integrated development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (粤港澳大湾区)."
In the new year, Li Weijie (李伟杰) is full of hope: "General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) has high hopes for young people. I will continue to integrate my personal ideals into the overall situation of national development, work together with the entrepreneurial youth in the Greater Bay Area (大湾区) to strive and pursue dreams, and contribute youth strength to the great cause of building a strong country and national rejuvenation."
(Xinhua News Agency, Beijing (北京), January 1)
Return to TopBy: 本报记者
"Anchor the modernization of agriculture and rural areas, solidly promote the comprehensive revitalization of the countryside, and promote the integrated development of urban and rural areas." "Party committees and governments at all levels must adhere to solving the 'San Nong' (三农) issues as the top priority, adhere to the five-level Party secretaries grasping rural revitalization, strive for progress, do practical work, and strive to build agriculture into a modern large industry, make rural areas basically have modern living conditions, and make farmers' lives more prosperous and beautiful."
The Central Rural Work Conference was held in Beijing (北京) from December 29 to December 30, 2025. General Secretary Xi Jinping's (习近平) important instructions on doing a good job in "San Nong" (三农) work have aroused enthusiastic responses among the vast number of cadres and the masses. Everyone said that they must work hard and do practical work, thoroughly implement the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping's (习近平) important instructions, implement the deployment of the Central Rural Work Conference, improve the comprehensive production capacity and quality and efficiency of agriculture, promote the stable increase of farmers' income, firmly hold the bottom line of preventing large-scale return to poverty, and promote new progress in the comprehensive revitalization of the countryside and a new level in the modernization of agriculture and rural areas.
Building Agriculture into a Modern Large Industry
"We must grasp grain production without relaxation, promote the integrated increase of efficiency of good fields, good seeds, good machines, and good methods, and improve the comprehensive production capacity and quality and efficiency of agriculture." General Secretary Xi Jinping's (习近平) important instructions pointed out the direction for the development of modern agriculture.
In 2025, the national grain output reached 1429.75 billion catties, achieving high-level production increase. The supply of "vegetable basket" products is sufficient and the variety is large. The increasingly rich dining tables of urban and rural residents witness the solid steps of our country in accelerating the construction of an agricultural power.
Focusing on the "national priorities," continue to explore the potential for increasing grain production.
"We will adhere to storing grain in the land and storing grain in technology, and take the large-scale increase in the yield per unit area of grain and oil crops as the main direction." Wang Tao (王涛), Secretary of the Party Group and Director of the Zaozhuang (枣庄) Municipal Bureau of Agriculture and Rural Affairs in Shandong (山东) Province, said that in 2026, the construction of a county to promote the increase of wheat and corn yield per unit area as a traction will promote the expansion of the "ton and a half grain" production capacity area. In response to the Central Rural Work Conference's emphasis on "enhancing the ability of agriculture to prevent and reduce disasters," Wang Tao (王涛) said: "Next, we plan to build and renovate a number of high-standard farmland, focus on promoting emergency agricultural machinery and equipment, and continuously enhance the resilience of grain production."
Develop new quality productive forces in agriculture and strengthen the "hardcore" support of science and technology.
Visual recognition, multi-arm collaboration, harvesting 2,500 fresh asparagus per hour... Aiming at the shortcomings of harvesting, the team of the Nanjing (南京) Institute of Agricultural Mechanization of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, together with many parties, accelerated the ripening and landing of the green asparagus high-speed harvesting robot.
"The meeting emphasized strengthening the tackling of key and core technologies in agriculture and the efficient transformation and application of scientific and technological achievements. We will aim at the needs of the front line and promote the close combination of production, learning, research and application." Xia Xianfei (夏先飞), head of the agricultural robot team of the institute, said that he will continue to focus on the needs of major equipment such as fruits, vegetables, grains and oils, tackle the research and development of a series of intelligent production equipment, accelerate the application of artificial intelligence in the agricultural field, and promote the high-quality development of the grain, oil and characteristic economic crop industries with technological innovation.
Extend the chain, supplement the chain, and strengthen the chain to promote the upgrading of the entire modern agricultural chain.
Qingshen (青神) County, Sichuan (四川) Province, plays a "combined punch" of tea varieties, quality, and brands to continuously increase the added value of tea. Not long ago, a standardized tea processing plant started construction in Yuchansi (玉蟾寺) Village in the county.
"Coordinating the development of technological agriculture, green agriculture, quality agriculture, and brand agriculture, we will base ourselves on the deep mountain hilly landforms and slightly acidic sandy soil to continuously improve the quality and efficiency of 'local specialties'." Ren Fuhua (任福华), Secretary of the Party General Branch of Yuchansi (玉蟾寺) Village, said that the village collective is actively building its own tea brand and laying out new sales channels such as e-commerce live broadcasts. Relying on bamboo and tea resources, the village will also plan a rural tourism project integrating bamboo sea sightseeing, tea picking and tea making experience, and vigorously promote the integrated development of agriculture and tourism.
Make Rural Areas Basically Have Modern Living Conditions
"We must learn from and apply the experience of the 'Thousand Villages Demonstration, Ten Thousand Villages Renovation' project, promote the construction of livable, workable and beautiful villages in accordance with local conditions, and improve the level of rural governance and the construction of civilized rural customs." General Secretary Xi Jinping's (习近平) important instructions provided fundamental guidelines for rural construction.
Improve the construction mechanism to make rural areas more livable and workable.
Miaowei (苗圩) Village, Wangguanjizhen (王官集镇), Suicheng (宿城) District, Suqian (宿迁) City, Jiangsu (江苏) Province, was once a "provincially designated economically weak village." Through block construction, the village appearance has been completely renewed, the fishing, cultural and tourism industries are thriving, and the per capita disposable income of villagers has exceeded 30,000 yuan. Geng Xiaoyun (耿晓云), Secretary of the Suicheng (宿城) District Committee, said that the implementation mechanism of rural construction should be improved in accordance with local conditions, and infrastructure, public facilities, living environment and industrial development should be promoted in a coordinated manner. In 2026, it is planned to build 18 more beautiful villages and fully build 2 provincial-level block-based beautiful villages, so that beautiful villages will become happy homes for the majority of farmers.
Make up for the shortcomings of facilities, and infrastructure extends to villages and households.
In the evening, Lei Shiming (雷石明), a villager in Pushan (浦山) Village, Longyou (龙游) County, Quzhou (衢州) City, Zhejiang (浙江) Province, drove a new energy vehicle back to the village, skillfully charged it in the public parking lot, and picked up the express delivery from the service station by the way. "The facilities in the village are no worse than those in the city, and life is very convenient."
"The meeting proposed to accelerate the efforts to make up for the shortcomings of modern living conditions in rural areas and create high-quality living spaces in rural areas. We will further improve the completeness of rural infrastructure and the convenience of public services." Wan Zhizheng (万志正), Deputy Director of the Quzhou (衢州) Municipal Bureau of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, introduced that the next step will be to promote the extension of cold chain distribution and instant retail to townships, and accelerate the layout of public charging networks in central villages and transportation hubs. The relevant person in charge of State Grid Quzhou (衢州) Power Supply Company said that it will further weave a dense rural charging network, improve rural living conditions, and help build livable, workable and beautiful villages.
Improve governance efficiency, and civilized rural customs make rural areas more "substantial."
"We will deeply implement the civilized rural customs construction project, continue to promote the transformation of customs in rural areas, and empower the construction of beautiful villages." Wang Xuefeng (王雪峰), Secretary of the Uxin (乌审) Banner Committee of Inner Mongolia (内蒙古), said that he will carry out activities such as "sending movies to the countryside" and "cultural training into the village" on a regular basis, nourish civilization with culture, guide the Gacha (嘎查) villages to revise village rules and regulations, and innovatively establish old branch secretary mediation rooms, local enterprise discussion halls, etc., adhere to and develop the new era "Fengqiao (枫桥) experience," and consolidate the foundation for transforming customs through grassroots good governance, and promote the countryside to radiate a new atmosphere of civilization.
Make Farmers' Lives More Prosperous and Beautiful
"We must improve the effectiveness of policies to strengthen agriculture, benefit agriculture, and enrich farmers, promote the prices of important agricultural products such as grain to remain at a reasonable level, and promote the stable increase of farmers' income." "We must continue to consolidate and expand the achievements in poverty alleviation, incorporate regular assistance into the overall implementation of the rural revitalization strategy, and firmly hold the bottom line of preventing large-scale return to poverty."
General Secretary Xi Jinping's (习近平) deep concern and earnest entrustment have been transformed into a striving for progress to "make the lives of the villagers more and more prosperous."
Consolidate and expand the achievements in poverty alleviation, and let "Party building red" lead "industrial prosperity."
In Sui (随) County, Hubei (湖北) Province, a 10 billion yuan industrial map composed of 300 million sticks of shiitake mushrooms, 480,000 mu of fragrant rice, and 300,000 mu of camellia oleifera has built a solid foundation for consolidating and expanding the achievements in poverty alleviation. Organized by the Party Building Coordination Committee of the industrial chain, farmers enjoy unified seed supply, technical services, and guaranteed price purchases, and their income has doubled. Through the innovation of benefit linkage mechanisms such as "order acquisition + guaranteed dividend" and "land shareholding + profit sharing," nearly 21,000 people who have been lifted out of poverty in the county are closely linked in the industrial chain.
"To solidly promote the comprehensive revitalization of the countryside, we must strengthen the Party's overall leadership over 'San Nong' (三农) work and transform the Party's organizational advantages into development advantages and people-enriching effectiveness." Chen Liang (陈良), Secretary of the Sui (随) County Party Committee, said that the next step will be to deepen the joint construction of Party building in the industrial chain, cultivate more Party member backbones who "understand agriculture, love the countryside, and love farmers," seize the "bull nose" of grasping industry and employment, grasp regular assistance, and firmly hold the bottom line of preventing large-scale return to poverty.
Strengthen the county's people-enriching industry and connect farmers to drive farmers to become rich.
The meeting emphasized cultivating and strengthening the county's people-enriching industry and expanding the channels and methods for farmers to participate in industrial development. Li Guihua (李桂华), Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of the School of Marxism of China Agricultural University, said that the next step is to develop county economies with distinctive characteristics, develop the multiple functions of agriculture, promote the deep integration of the primary, secondary, and tertiary industries in rural areas, do a good job in the "local specialty" article, and build a closer benefit linkage mechanism for connecting farmers to drive farmers through participation in production, employment, etc., and focus on improving the market competitiveness and the ability to connect farmers to drive farmers of the industry, so that the lives of the villagers will become more and more stable.
Improve the effectiveness of policies to strengthen agriculture, benefit agriculture, and enrich farmers, and promote the stable increase of farmers' income.
"The policies are getting better year by year, and we have more confidence in growing grain." Looking at the green wheat seedlings, Jin Weishan (金维山), a large grain grower in Lingcheng (陵城) District, Dezhou (德州) City, Shandong (山东) Province, calculated an account of increasing production and income: Thanks to the yield per unit area improvement project, the integrated water and fertilizer and dense planting technology received a subsidy of 300 yuan per mu, the land fertility subsidy was more than 110 yuan per mu, and the "one spray three prevention" and corn dense planting technology guided by the district increased the yield per mu by more than 100 catties.
"The meeting proposed to improve the income guarantee mechanism for grain farmers, and we will do everything possible to ensure that farmers do not suffer losses from growing grain." Zheng Xianliang (郑宪亮), Director of the Lingcheng (陵城) District Bureau of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, introduced that the next step will be to start from three aspects: price, subsidies, and insurance, and launch a combination of policies to mobilize farmers' enthusiasm for growing grain, continuously improve the agricultural socialization service system, and make every effort to promote the consolidation and improvement of grain production capacity and the stable increase of farmers' income.
(Reporters Chang Qin (常钦), Gu Zhongyang (顾仲阳), Yu Jingxian (郁静娴), Li Xiaoqing (李晓晴), and Deng Jianyang (邓剑洋) of this newspaper)
Return to TopThis newspaper Beijing (北京), January 1st (Reporter Yi Shuran (易舒冉)) - It was recently learned from the National Civil Affairs Work Conference that in 2025, China's hierarchical and categorized social assistance system continued to improve, guaranteeing the basic living of 39.104 million urban and rural low-income recipients and 4.861 million people in extreme poverty; the dynamic adjustment mechanism for two types of subsidies for people with disabilities was further improved, benefiting 11.897 million people with disabilities in need and 16.64 million people with severe disabilities respectively; a cumulative total of 2.24 million households of elderly people with special difficulties have completed age-friendly renovations, 86,000 elderly meal assistance centers have been built, and there are 396,000 elderly care institutions and facilities, with nursing beds in elderly care institutions accounting for 67.5%; the overall planning of administrative divisions has been continuously strengthened, and 304,000 standardized names for rural place names have been established.
2026 is the opening year of the "Fifteenth Five-Year Plan," and doing a good job in civil affairs is of great significance. The conference required that civil affairs departments at all levels should effectively improve the level of social assistance, social welfare, social affairs, and social governance, and help achieve a good start to the "Fifteenth Five-Year Plan."
Return to TopThis newspaper's Beijing (北京) dispatch on January 1st (Reporter Wang Zheng (王政) and Liu Wenxin (刘温馨)): Reporters recently learned from the National Conference on Industry and Information Technology that in 2025, the industrial economy moved forward against pressure, developed towards new and superior directions, achieved effective quality improvement and reasonable quantity growth, and demonstrated strong resilience and vitality. As of now, there are more than 20,000 national industrial 5G private network projects and more than 8,000 5G factories.
The pace of manufacturing transformation and upgrading has accelerated. More than 7,000 advanced-level and more than 500 excellent-level intelligent factories have been built cumulatively. A total of 6,430 national green factories and 491 green industrial parks have been cultivated, and the comprehensive utilization rate of bulk industrial solid waste has reached 57%. The resilience of the industrial chain and supply chain continues to strengthen. The high-quality development action of key manufacturing industrial chains has been successfully promoted, and a number of iconic technologies and products have been breakthrough. New breakthroughs have been made in industrial science and technology innovation. The implementation of the National Science and Technology Major Project and the National Key R&D Program has been coordinated. The core artificial intelligence industry exceeds one trillion yuan, and exports of new energy vehicles exceed 2 million vehicles.
The ability of the information and communication industry to serve economic and social development continues to increase. As of the end of November 2025, the total number of 5G base stations reached 4.83 million. 5G has been integrated into 91 of the 97 major categories of the national economy. The protection of personal information and the governance of applications have been strengthened, and the prevention and governance of telecommunications network fraud has been deepened. It is estimated that in 2025, the total volume of telecommunications services and software business revenue will increase by about 9% and 12% year-on-year, respectively, and the digital industry business revenue will increase by about 9% year-on-year.
Return to TopThis newspaper's Beijing (北京) dispatch on January 1st (Reporter: Li Xinping (李心萍)) - This reporter learned from the China State Railway Group Co., Ltd. (中国国家铁路集团有限公司): Recently, with a train loaded with 280 commercial vehicles departing from Chongqing Yuzui Freight Yard (重庆鱼嘴货场), the railway commercial vehicle transportation volume in 2025 exceeded 8 million vehicles, reaching a new historical high.
During the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, China Railway (中国铁路) continued to improve the commercial vehicle transportation service system. In 2024, the railway commercial vehicle transportation volume reached 7.5181 million vehicles, an increase of 20.83% compared with the end of the "13th Five-Year Plan," and reached another peak in 2025. In the domestic transportation field, China Railway Special Cargo Logistics Co., Ltd. (中铁特货物流股份有限公司), affiliated with the China State Railway Group Co., Ltd. (国铁集团), deepened its cooperation with vehicle companies such as FAW (一汽), SAIC (上汽), BYD (比亚迪), and Geely (吉利). By establishing dedicated service teams and providing a full-chain service of "stationed factory docking + customized solutions," the transportation volume of major customers accounted for nearly 92% in 2025.
In the field of cross-border transportation, efforts are being made to build an international logistics channel with "railway export + sea-rail intermodal transport" running in parallel, to build an efficient and convenient "fast lane" for "Made in China (中国造)" automobiles to go overseas. Relying on important ports such as Horgos (霍尔果斯), Manzhouli (满洲里), and Alashankou (阿拉山口), multiple regular railway lines for commercial vehicle exports have been formed. The China-Laos Railway (中老铁路) cross-border train operates stably, helping automobiles reach the Southeast Asian market directly. Cooperation with coastal ports such as Shanghai Port (上海港) and Guangzhou Port (广州港) has been deepened to optimize the connection process of "railway + sea transport," realizing a seamless connection of "railway direct to port, complete vehicles directly loaded onto ships." The transportation time efficiency is improved by 10% to 15% compared with the traditional model, and the comprehensive logistics cost is reduced by about 8%.
Return to TopOn the eve of the New Year, President Xi Jinping (习近平) delivered the 2026 New Year address, reviewing the extraordinary past 5 years, gazing at the unforgettable past year, focusing on "continuing to write a new chapter of Chinese miracles," and encouraging the "Fifteenth Five-Year Plan" to "anchor goals and tasks, strengthen confidence, and take advantage of the momentum." International figures interviewed by this newspaper said that during the "Fourteenth Five-Year Plan" period, China's economic and social development has made great achievements, Chinese-style modernization has taken new and solid steps, and they look forward to China continuing to work with all parties to promote world peace and development and promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.
"Showcasing a major country image centered on the people, self-confident and self-reliant, open and cooperative"
Listening to President Xi Jinping's (习近平) New Year address at the turn of the year, capturing the pulse of China's development from the powerful and heartwarming words, and feeling the responsibility of a major country has become a habit for many international friends who hope to understand China.
"High-quality development," "peaceful development," and "people's livelihood is no small matter," said Si Fulan (司芙兰), director of the China Research Center at the National University of La Plata (拉普拉塔国立大学) in Argentina, summarizing the Chinese development she felt from the New Year address. In 2025, Si Fulan (司芙兰) visited and researched China many times and saw the rapid development of new quality productive forces represented by artificial intelligence. "China's systematic capabilities in technological innovation, modern governance, and long-term planning provide Argentina with experience that can be used for reference," she said.
Marta Montoro (玛尔塔·蒙托罗), vice president of the Spanish think tank Aula China (知华讲堂), said: "Every 'small family' is full of vitality, and China, this 'big family,' is thriving. President Xi Jinping (习近平) once again emphasized that 'people's livelihood is no small matter' in his New Year address. China's specific policies, such as further guaranteeing the rights and interests of new employment groups, helping the elderly carry out age-appropriate renovations, and issuing subsidies to families with children, vividly interpret China's adherence to development for the people, development relying on the people, and development results shared by the people."
The phrase "turning grand visions into beautiful realities" in the New Year address left a deep impression on Laila (莱拉), founder of the Tunisian "African Voice" radio station. In 2025, she visited many places in China, interviewed and recorded China's achievements in high-quality development. "In 2025, 'China tours' continued to heat up, Wukong (悟空) and Nezha (哪吒) became popular around the world, and Chinese traditional culture 'attracted' foreigners. These vivid facts that I recorded all show a thriving China," Laila (莱拉) said.
President Xi Jinping (习近平) mentioned in his New Year address that "supporting Hong Kong and Macao to better integrate into the overall national development and maintain long-term prosperity and stability," which reminded Luigi Gambardella (路易吉·甘巴尔代拉), president of the ChinaEU Digital Association, of his experience in Shenzhen (深圳), Guangdong (广东). "Policy design and industrial needs are highly coupled, and Shenzhen (深圳) and Hong Kong (香港) are constantly deepening integration and synergistic development in the fields of finance and innovation," Gambardella (甘巴尔代拉) said. The three regions of Guangdong (广东), Hong Kong (香港), and Macao (澳门) are constantly improving innovation cooperation mechanisms, promoting mutually beneficial and win-win cooperation, and jointly building the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (粤港澳大湾区) into a more dynamic economic zone.
Dutch blogger Ko Zande (柯桑德), who has many fans on the Internet platform, has a deep understanding of the phrase "innovation and creation have spawned new quality productive forces and also made life more colorful" in the New Year address. In 2025, Ko Zande (柯桑德) visited China 8 times, and the progress of new energy vehicle battery swapping technology and the breakthroughs in humanoid robot technology have become vivid materials in his videos. "China's technological innovation shows vigorous development vitality, and many technological achievements have been deeply integrated into people's lives," Ko Zande (柯桑德) said.
"The New Year address vividly shows a major country image centered on the people, self-confident and self-reliant, open and cooperative," said Diaa Helmy (迪亚·赫尔米), secretary-general of the Egyptian-Chinese Chamber of Commerce. The emergence of China's innovation achievements has not only injected impetus into China's high-quality economic development but also driven global technological innovation and development.
"China's high-quality development has achieved remarkable achievements"
The total economic volume has continuously crossed new thresholds; green mountains and clear waters have become a beautiful background; the people's sense of gain, happiness, and security have been continuously enhanced... President Xi Jinping (习近平) pointed out in his New Year address that 2025 is the closing year of the "Fourteenth Five-Year Plan." Over the past 5 years, we have strived forward, forged ahead bravely, overcome numerous difficulties and challenges, successfully completed our goals and tasks, and taken steady steps on the new journey of Chinese-style modernization.
"'During the 'Fourteenth Five-Year Plan' period, China's high-quality development has achieved remarkable achievements," said Harvey Dzodin (哈维·佐丁), former vice president of ABC. China's leapfrog development achievements are shocking. "China under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (中国共产党) is embracing the world with an open attitude."
When Austrian scholar Robert Fitzthum (罗伯特·菲茨图姆) came to China for inspection, he saw that Ningbo Zhoushan Port (宁波舟山港) in Zhejiang (浙江) had built comprehensive service facilities for about 24,000 truck drivers working there and actively solved practical problems such as the schooling of drivers' children, effectively improving the quality of life of workers. Fitzthum (菲茨图姆) said: "'During the 'Fourteenth Five-Year Plan' period, China's economic development and social progress have benefited the vast number of ordinary workers. China's grassroots governance shows a governance logic aimed at improving people's livelihood."
Mario Estrella (马里奥·埃斯特雷拉), president of the Brazil-China Chamber of Commerce for Trade and Cultural Development Cooperation, said: "'During the 'Fourteenth Five-Year Plan' period, China has promoted high-quality development with new quality productive forces, and the application of technologies in fields such as artificial intelligence and green transformation has continued to be implemented, indicating that China is moving towards promoting the deep integration of technological innovation and industrial innovation."
"In 2025, I visited China many times for inspection. From technological innovation to green transformation, from the improvement of urban public services to the improvement of the rural living environment, I saw that China's development is all-round," said Hassan Dajaa (哈桑·达贾), a professor at Hussein bin Talal University (侯赛因·本·塔拉勒大学) in Jordan. In 2025, China's economy grew steadily, innovation achievements emerged, and people's living standards continued to improve... This series of achievements is due to the strong and effective leadership core of the Communist Party of China (中国共产党).
"The New Year address shows a dynamic yet stable and reliable image of China. At a time when the world is undergoing accelerated changes, we need such an open, inclusive, and efficient China," said Khalid Taimur Akram (哈立德·泰穆尔·阿克拉姆), executive director of the Pakistan Center for Human Community with a Shared Future. 2026 is the opening year of China's "Fifteenth Five-Year Plan," and I believe that China will bring more benefits to the Chinese people with a stronger momentum of development and provide more opportunities for the world.
"An important and stable constructive force in the global governance system"
"The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (上合组织) Tianjin (天津) Summit and the Global Women's Summit were successfully held, and the Hainan (海南) Free Trade Port (自贸港) was fully closed for operation. In order to better cope with climate change, China announced a new round of national independent contributions. Following the 'Three Major Initiatives,' I proposed the Global Governance Initiative to promote the construction of a more just and reasonable global governance system." President Xi Jinping (习近平) summarized the highlights of China's major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics in the past year in his New Year address, conveying China's positive signal of continuing to open its arms to embrace the world.
Kwon Ki-sik (权起植), president of the Korea-China City Friendship Association (韩中城市友好协会), visited the Hainan (海南) Free Trade Port (自贸港) and personally felt China's determination to unswervingly promote high-level opening up to the outside world. He said that in the past year, China has firmly safeguarded multilateralism and made positive contributions to maintaining world peace and prosperity. "China has always been a maintainer and practitioner of multilateralism. The Global Governance Initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping (习近平) has been widely welcomed by the international community. China is a solid force for promoting world peace and prosperity."
Chea Monyrith (谢莫尼勒), president of the Cambodian Institute for Cooperation and Development (柬中关系发展学会), said that China's active role on the international stage in 2025 fully reflects its commitment to multilateralism. "China has shown a responsible major-country image in international affairs and has become an important and stable constructive force in the global governance system. Recently, China has played a constructive role in consolidating the ceasefire between Cambodia (柬埔寨) and Thailand (泰国), restoring mutual exchanges, rebuilding political mutual trust, realizing the transformation of relations, and maintaining regional peace in its own way. This is a strong proof of China's active participation in international governance."
Anthony Munsami (安东尼·穆恩萨米), chief director of the Department of Cooperative Governance in Gauteng (豪登省), South Africa (南非), believes that the New Year address fully demonstrates China's determination to continue to promote high-level opening up to the outside world and work with all countries to promote world peace and development. Munsami (穆恩萨米) said: "In today's world, the peace deficit, development deficit, security deficit, and governance deficit are increasing, and human society is facing unprecedented challenges. Global governance has reached a new crossroads. The Global Governance Initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping (习近平) has contributed Chinese solutions to maintaining international order and improving global governance."
Sousakhone Vanchai (苏萨空·万乔), English editor of the Lao "Vientiane Times" (万象时报), who attended the 2025 "Belt and Road" Media Cooperation Forum in China, said that from the New Year address, he felt the responsibility and responsibility of a major country. "From firmly supporting multilateralism to promoting the improvement of global governance, China has brought tangible development opportunities to the vast number of developing countries, including Laos (老挝), and created a more favorable international environment for all countries to work together."
(This newspaper Beijing (北京), Rio de Janeiro (里约热内卢), Madrid (马德里), Dubai (迪拜), Brussels (布鲁塞尔), Berlin (柏林), Cairo (开罗), Islamabad (伊斯兰堡), Seoul (首尔), Bangkok (曼谷), Johannesburg (约翰内斯堡) January 1st report by reporters Li Anqi (李安琪), Shi Yuanhao (时元皓), Yan Huan (颜欢), Guan Kejiang (管克江), Niu Ruifei (牛瑞飞), Liu Zhonghua (刘仲华), Shen Xiaoxiao (沈小晓), Zhao Yipu (赵益普), Mang Jiuchen (莽九晨), Bai Yuanqi (白元琪), Yang Yi (杨一), Zheng Xiang (郑翔), and Su Peng (苏朋) from the Asia-Pacific Center Branch of this newspaper participated in the writing)
Return to TopChina is not only committed to developing itself, but also adheres to having the world in mind, bravely shouldering the responsibilities of a major country, and is increasingly becoming a moral anchor, a source of confidence, and a light of hope in a turbulent world.
"China has always stood on the right side of history and is willing to work with all countries to promote world peace and development and promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind." In his New Year's message in 2026, President Xi Jinping (习近平) declared the firm confidence of the Chinese people in continuing to strive for their dreams and forge ahead, expressed China's sincere desire to continue to embrace the world with an open mind, and demonstrated China's continuous contribution to the world's stability and certainty through its own development as a major country.
2025 was a very extraordinary year. The "14th Five-Year Plan" came to a successful conclusion, and the construction of Chinese-style modernization took steady steps. China's economy moved forward against pressure, moving towards new and better directions, contributing certainty to the world with its strong resilience and abundant vitality, and sharing opportunities with the world through a higher level of opening up. China's contribution to world economic growth continued to remain at around 30%, becoming the main driving force for global development to overcome difficulties. Artificial intelligence large models are catching up with each other, and new breakthroughs have been made in independent research and development of chips. China has become one of the fastest-growing economies in terms of innovation. Chinese trendy toys, animated films, games, etc. continue to gain fans overseas, and China's soft power continues to improve. Chinese and foreign netizens' Xiaohongshu "reconciliation" and "China Travel (中国游)" continue to gain popularity, and more and more foreign friends are approaching China, understanding China, and falling in love with China. This year, China's technological innovation, cultural creativity, and open vitality have set off waves of discussion around the world. A prosperous, vibrant, and more trendy and cool China has made foreign media sigh: One of the most important revelations in 2025 is "never underestimate China."
China's relationship with the world is developing in a more positive direction, and China's international influence, innovation leadership, and moral appeal have been significantly enhanced. The international situation is intertwined with changes and chaos, and global governance is at a new crossroads. China has always held high the banner of building a community with a shared future for mankind, uniting the world's progressive forces with the greatest sincerity, and making every effort to gather the energy of peace and development, safeguarding peace, promoting cooperation, responding to changes, and shouldering morality, seeking rejuvenation for the Chinese nation and seeking common ground for a turbulent world. President Xi Jinping (习近平) made four foreign visits and attended a series of international conferences, demonstrating far-sightedness, a pattern of win-win cooperation, and a feeling of benefiting the world, leading China's diplomacy to forge ahead and take on responsibilities. China successfully hosted the SCO Tianjin Summit (上合组织天津峰会) and the Global Women's Summit (全球妇女峰会). A series of home diplomacy events were wonderful, and the world witnessed China's role in leading international cooperation. President Xi Jinping (习近平) solemnly put forward the global governance initiative, providing a Chinese solution for promoting the construction of a more just and reasonable global governance system, and the four global initiatives jointly provide strategic guidance for promoting the construction of a community with a shared future for mankind.
In today's world, the trend of peace, development, cooperation, and win-win results has not changed, but the shadows of the Cold War mentality, hegemonism, unilateralism, and protectionism have not dissipated, the remnants of militarism are growing, and historical revisionism attempts to challenge the post-war international order. In the face of changes in the international order, China, together with other countries, solemnly commemorated the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, sending out a strong voice of the times that justice will prevail, peace will prevail, and the people will prevail. In the face of the international moral crisis, China has clearly opposed hegemonism and power politics, and provided moral and action support to countries suffering from injustice to the best of its ability. Tariff wars and trade wars have impacted the multilateral trading system. China has stepped forward, firmly safeguarding the common interests of the international community, defending international fairness and justice, and playing an important role in maintaining the stability of the global industrial chain and supply chain. Amidst the changing situation, all parties have become more clearly aware that China is not only committed to developing itself, but also adheres to having the world in mind, bravely shouldering the responsibilities of a major country, and is increasingly becoming a moral anchor, a source of confidence, and a light of hope in a turbulent world.
China's relationship with the world has entered a new stage in which China can make greater contributions to human development and progress. The "15th Five-Year Plan" proposal takes the construction of a community with a shared future for mankind as the main line and deploys foreign affairs work for the next five years. This is a new blueprint for major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics and a new vision for China and the world to cooperate and win-win. Standing at a new starting point, China, which is striding forward on the road of Chinese-style modernization, will continue to provide new opportunities for the world with its own new development, and is willing to work with all countries to gather the strength of peace, development, cooperation, and win-win results, and jointly create a better future for the world.
Return to TopXinhua News Agency, Beijing, January 1st (Reporter dispatches from overseas Xinhua News Agency bureaus) – Multiple governments and political figures have recently voiced their support, reiterating their adherence to the one-China principle, opposing any form of "Taiwan independence" separatist acts and interference in China's internal affairs, and firmly supporting the Chinese government's efforts to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić (武契奇) said while inspecting the "Danube Corridor" expressway project undertaken by a Chinese enterprise that Serbia supports the one-China principle with all its political strength. He stated: "Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinese territory. This is our position and will continue to be Serbia's policy."
Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi (苏吉约诺) stated in an interview with Xinhua News Agency reporters that the Indonesian government has always adhered to the one-China policy, recognizing the government of the People's Republic of China as the sole legal government representing all of China. This long-established position has never changed and constitutes an important foundation for Indonesian-Chinese relations. On the Taiwan issue, the Indonesian government's position is clear and principled, namely that the issue is an internal affair of China, emphasizing that China's sovereignty and territorial integrity should be respected, and that the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter and UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 should be upheld.
Kazakh Foreign Minister Erlan Baizhanovich Koshanov (科舍尔巴耶夫) stated during a meeting with Chinese Ambassador to Kazakhstan Zhang Xiao (韩春霖) that Kazakhstan reiterated its firm support for the one-China principle, and that Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinese territory. The government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing all of China, and Kazakhstan firmly supports the Chinese government's efforts to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Tajik Foreign Minister Sirojiddin Muhriddin (穆赫里丁) reiterated that Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinese territory, and that Tajikistan firmly supports the one-China principle, and firmly supports the Chinese government's efforts to safeguard national sovereignty, territorial integrity, and achieve national reunification.
Senegalese Foreign Minister Aïssata Tall Sall (谢赫·尼昂) stated that Senegal steadfastly adheres to the one-China principle, that the government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing all of China, and that Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinese territory.
The Russian Foreign Ministry, in a written response to questions from Xinhua News Agency reporters, reiterated that Russia's principled position on the Taiwan issue is well-known, consistent, and has been repeatedly confirmed at the highest levels of leadership. Russia recognizes Taiwan as an inalienable part of China and opposes any form of "Taiwan independence" separatist acts. Russia also believes that the Taiwan issue is China's internal affair, and China has every legitimate right to defend its national sovereignty and territorial integrity. "Some countries, while claiming to adhere to the one-China principle, advocate maintaining the status quo – which in reality means they do not recognize the principle of China's national reunification." Currently, the Taiwan issue has in fact become a military strategic tool for some countries to contain China.
The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry issued a statement reiterating its support for the one-China principle. The statement said that Azerbaijan's position of supporting the one-China principle is unwavering, clear and unambiguous.
The Kyrgyz Foreign Ministry posted a message on its website reiterating that Kyrgyzstan adheres to the one-China principle and supports China's national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The Lao Foreign Ministry issued a statement reiterating its consistent position on the Taiwan issue, namely that it has always firmly supported UN General Assembly Resolution 2758, firmly adheres to the one-China principle, recognizes Taiwan as an inalienable part of the territory of the People's Republic of China, and opposes any separatist attempts and interference in China's internal affairs.
The Belarusian Foreign Ministry issued a statement on the Taiwan issue, saying that Belarus supports all efforts made by the Chinese government to achieve national reunification and safeguard sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Ahmed Shaaban (艾哈迈德·沙班), Secretary-General of the Egyptian Socialist Party, pointed out that UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 clearly states that "the representatives of the Government of the People's Republic of China are the only legitimate representatives of China to the United Nations." Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinese territory. Any attempt to split China is not only illegal, but will never be recognized by the international community. He stated that Arab countries and peoples clearly support China's legitimate position in safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and resolutely oppose any form of "Taiwan independence" separatist acts.
Violeta Dimitrova (迪米特罗娃), Chair of the Bulgarian National Assembly Bulgaria-China Friendship Group, stated that Bulgaria adheres to the one-China principle. She said that Bulgaria was one of the first countries to recognize the new China and has always adhered to the one-China principle, which is the political foundation of the two countries since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1949. In 2019, the relationship between the two countries was upgraded to a strategic partnership. This year, during the visit of an important Chinese delegation to Bulgaria, leaders of all Bulgarian political parties once again reiterated Bulgaria's firm commitment to the one-China principle.
Return to TopRecently, the Red Sea Al-Ahak Link Road and Cross-Sea Bridge Project in Saudi Arabia, constructed by China Harbour Engineering Company (中国港湾) and implemented by CCCC Fourth Harbor Engineering Co., Ltd. (中交四航局), commenced closure construction. Two intelligent bridge-building machines integrating pile and beam construction "met" in the Red Sea. To protect the local mangrove shallow water area's ecology, Chinese enterprises have developed an intelligent construction platform integrating hole guiding, pile driving, and beam erection, realizing the entire process of aerial operation and leaving complete growing space for the mangroves. This avoids the situation of 竭泽而渔 (jié zé ér yú - "drain the pond to get the fish," to kill the goose that lays the golden eggs; to focus only on immediate gains without considering the future).
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 管克江
"Joining the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and the BRICS cooperation mechanism is not only politically significant for Iran, but also economically beneficial," said Imad Abshenas (伊马德·阿卜谢纳斯), former editor-in-chief of the Iran Daily and Iranian political analyst, in a recent interview with this reporter.
Abshenas (阿卜谢纳斯) believes that the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and the BRICS cooperation mechanism are important platforms for developing countries to strengthen unity and cooperation, promote common development, and safeguard international fairness and justice. As a country with significant regional and international influence, Iran hopes to promote its own economic and social development and maintain regional peace and stability through participation in multilateral cooperation mechanisms.
In the past few years, Abshenas (阿卜谢纳斯) has visited China many times. He said, "China's rapid development is amazing, and the Chinese people's determination and drive to unite and promote modernization are particularly impressive. I feel that every Chinese person is working hard in their own way to realize the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation."
Abshenas (阿卜谢纳斯) believes that studying China's development experience reveals that China has not abandoned the roots of its outstanding traditional Chinese culture and the soul of Marxism. At the same time, China has boldly explored ways of modernization and formed a Chinese-style path to modernization with its own characteristics. He said, "China's successful experience is worth learning from. Iran has great potential for development, and we hope to strengthen exchanges with China and draw more useful experience."
Abshenas (阿卜谢纳斯) said that both Iran and China are ancient civilizations, and the ancient Silk Road has long connected the two sides. Friendly cooperation between Iran and China is based on strategic mutual trust. In March 2021, the two countries signed a comprehensive cooperation plan to make an overall plan for promoting the comprehensive strategic partnership between Iran and China. He emphasized that under the current situation, Iran and China need to strengthen strategic cooperation even more. Iranian and Chinese media should also increase cooperation and exchanges and tell their own stories well.
Abshenas (阿卜谢纳斯) emphasized that the hegemonic, domineering, and bullying practices of some Western forces have brought conflict and disaster to the development of human society. The Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, the Global Civilization Initiative, and the Global Governance Initiative proposed by China are helpful for humanity to jointly cope with various challenges. The "Belt and Road" initiative provides important opportunities for promoting connectivity among co-building countries and maintaining the stability of the global industrial chain and supply chain. "Iran is located in a transportation hub of the Eurasian continent and can play a greater role in the high-quality joint construction of the 'Belt and Road'," said Abshenas (阿卜谢纳斯).
(Haisam Muzain (海瑟姆·穆扎恩) of the Middle East Center Branch of this newspaper participated in the writing)
Return to TopThis newspaper reports from Hanoi on December 31st (Reporter Bai Xiaochuan (白晓川)) - A pre-departure symposium for the Vietnamese youth "Red Study Tour" was recently held at the Chinese Embassy in Vietnam, located in Hanoi (河内). Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam He Wei (何炜), along with teacher and student representatives from schools such as Hanoi Amsterdam High School (河内阿姆斯特丹中学), exchanged views on the traditional friendship between China and Vietnam, cultural exchange and mutual learning, and future cooperation and development.
He Wei (何炜) stated that Vietnamese young students will feel the sincere friendship of Chinese and Vietnamese revolutionary predecessors helping each other and fighting side by side in the "Red Study Tour," appreciate the enduring roots of the China-Vietnam friendship, savor the heritage and charm of Eastern cultures represented by China and Vietnam, and spark more ideas conducive to the pragmatic cooperation and development of the two countries, injecting more development momentum into China-Vietnam relations.
"This is a valuable opportunity for us to broaden our horizons and improve our Chinese proficiency, as well as to personally experience China's history, culture, and development achievements," said Nguyen Tam Anh (阮心英), a student representative from Hanoi Amsterdam High School (河内阿姆斯特丹中学). "This trip will give us a deeper understanding of Vietnamese-Chinese history and a clearer understanding of the friendship between the two countries."
It is reported that this study tour is sponsored by the Education Department of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (广西壮族自治区教育厅) and organized by Guangxi Normal University (广西师范大学). Eighteen Vietnamese teachers and students will travel to Nanning (南宁), Guilin (桂林), and other places.
Return to TopBangkok, December 31st (Reporter Yang Yi (杨一)) Vientiane News: The commencement ceremony of the 230 kV Ta Viang-Mahaxay transmission and substation project in Laos, invested, constructed, and operated by the China-Laos joint venture Lao National Transmission Network Company, and the second anniversary of the operation of the Lao National Transmission Network Company, were recently held in Vientiane (万象), the capital of Laos.
It is understood that the project is invested and constructed by the Lao National Transmission Network Company. After the completion of the project, the grid structure of the power grid from northern to central Laos will be strengthened. The Lao National Transmission Network Company is jointly funded by China Southern Power Grid Company (中国南方电网公司) and Electricite du Laos (老挝国家电力公司).
Lao Deputy Prime Minister Saleumxay Kommasith (沙伦赛), Lao Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce Chanthaboun Soukaloun (占塔本), Economic and Commercial Counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Laos Li Xizhen (李习臻), and more than one hundred other people attended the event.
Chanthaboun Soukaloun (占塔本) said in his speech that the Lao National Transmission Network Company has achieved remarkable results in promoting Lao-China power cooperation in the two years since its operation.
Li Xizhen (李习臻) said that after the completion of the Ta Viang-Mahaxay transmission and substation project, it will significantly enhance the transmission capacity and operational resilience of the Lao backbone power grid, and help Laos transform its clean energy endowment into a development advantage that drives growth. As an important platform for energy cooperation between the two countries, the Lao National Transmission Network Company has laid a solid foundation for the planning and construction of a unified national power grid in Laos.
Return to TopAccording to the Ministry of Commerce (商务部) on January 1st, the "trade-in" policy in 2025 achieved remarkable results. The total sales of trade-in related commodities exceeded 2.6 trillion yuan, benefiting over 360 million people. Among them, more than 11.5 million vehicles were traded in, more than 129 million home appliances were traded in, more than 91 million digital products such as mobile phones were purchased, more than 120 million pieces of home decoration and kitchen and bathroom "renovations" were completed, and more than 12.5 million electric bicycles were traded in.
Supporting the continuous expansion of consumption. From January to November 2025, the total retail sales of consumer goods increased by 4.0% year-on-year, 0.5 percentage points faster than the same period of the previous year. Trade-ins drove the growth of total retail sales by more than 1 percentage point. The retail sales of household appliances have exceeded the total for the entire year of 2024, breaking through the trillion-yuan mark and reaching a new historical high.
Driving industrial upgrading. In automobile trade-ins, new energy vehicles accounted for nearly 60%, driving the retail market share of new energy passenger vehicles to exceed 50% for 9 consecutive months, reaching 59.4% in November. In home appliance trade-ins, first-class energy efficiency (water efficiency) products accounted for more than 90%. Sales of communication equipment products have maintained growth for 11 consecutive months.
Promoting green economic transformation. In 2025, the recycling volume of scrapped vehicles increased by 24.5%, achieving the recycling of approximately 9.6 million tons of steel and approximately 1.3 million tons of non-ferrous metals such as copper, aluminum, and lithium, reducing carbon emissions by approximately 24.5 million tons.
Improving people's quality of life. Since the full implementation of the policy in September 2024, more than 480 million subsidies have been issued directly to consumers, and a large number of green, low-carbon, and intelligent new products have entered people's lives. In 2025, one out of every two new household cars sold enjoyed a trade-in subsidy. The amount of obsolete electric bicycles eliminated and updated was more than 9 times that of 2024. The replaced electric bicycles all have product qualification certificates and CCC certificates that meet current national standards, and lead-acid battery vehicles with better safety account for approximately 90%.
Return to TopBy: 新华社记者
At the historical juncture, there is always a myriad of scenes.
2025 is an important year for further comprehensively deepening reforms, the last year of the five-year transition period after the completion of the poverty alleviation task, the year of concluding the "14th Five-Year Plan" and planning the "15th Five-Year Plan."
Faced with the complex and volatile international situation and the arduous and heavy domestic reform, development, and stability tasks, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping (习近平) at its core united and led the entire Party and the people of all ethnic groups across the country to meet challenges head-on and forge ahead, writing an "extraordinary" chapter in the journey of building a strong country and national rejuvenation.
In response to the drastic changes in the external environment and the numerous internal challenges and difficulties, China's economy has moved forward against pressure and developed towards new and better directions, and the main goals of the "14th Five-Year Plan" are about to be successfully completed; based on the new era and position, we are taking advantage of the situation to draw a grand blueprint for continuing to promote the construction of Chinese-style modernization; facing the accelerated evolution of the century-old changes, the four major global initiatives are intertwined, injecting stability and certainty into the world; the grand commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War has greatly boosted national spirit, stimulated patriotic enthusiasm, and gathered the strength to struggle...
"The great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is unstoppable! The noble cause of human peace and development will surely be victorious!" General Secretary Xi Jinping's (习近平) bold declaration reveals the general trend of history, the trend of the times, and the aspirations of the people.
Moving Forward Against Pressure, Developing Towards New and Better Directions—
"Responding to Various Uncertainties with the Certainty of High-Quality Development"
At the end of 2025, at the Jingxi Hotel (京西宾馆) in Beijing (北京), General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) attended the Central Economic Work Conference.
A comprehensive summary of the economic work of the past year: "China's economy has moved forward against pressure and developed towards new and better directions, demonstrating strong resilience and vitality."
High praise for the development achievements of the past five years: "We have effectively responded to various shocks and challenges, promoted new major achievements in the cause of the Party and the country, and achieved a good start in the new journey towards the second centenary goal."
Success is easy to say but hard to achieve.
"Extraordinary"—these four short words outline the dangers of wading through shallow waters, the difficulties of climbing slopes, and the challenges of tackling tough problems in 2025.
In the concluding year of the "14th Five-Year Plan," the international situation is turbulent and changing, and cyclical and structural contradictions in the domestic economic operation are relatively prominent. The weight of reform, development, and stability tasks and the number of contradictions, risks, and challenges all test the wisdom of the Party Central Committee in governing the country.
Time comes to the beginning of the year.
Faced with profound and complex changes in the domestic and international situation, how can we ensure the realization of the annual economic and social development goals and tasks in the crucial year and draw a successful conclusion to the "14th Five-Year Plan"?
General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平), with the "big picture of the country" in mind, coordinates the "two overall situations," observes the times and trends with profound historical vision, and points out the direction of development for the Chinese economy.
Attending the symposium for private enterprises, injecting a "strengthening agent" to promote the high-quality development of the private economy. At the National People's Congress, he emphasized scientific and technological innovation and industrial innovation, pointing out the basic path for developing new quality productive forces; he clarified the focus of major economic provinces in shouldering heavy responsibilities, allowing the "mainstay" to become the "locomotive" driving development; he proposed "empowering economic and social development with culture," providing a deeper foundation and lasting impetus for high-quality development...
Like a spring breeze and rain, everything is renewed. From the spring plowing and preparation for planting in the vast fields to the round-the-clock busyness of port terminals, from the roaring of machines in workshops and factories to the breakthroughs in scientific research laboratories, hundreds of millions of people are working hard and diligently, and the land of China is showing a new atmosphere of high-quality development.
At this time, across the ocean, a "storm" is quietly brewing.
In April, the United States announced the imposition of "reciprocal tariffs" on all trading partners, including China, and continued to escalate them in just a few days, triggering a tariff war of unprecedented intensity.
China quickly counterattacked and launched multiple arrows: imposing retaliatory tariffs on the United States, filing lawsuits under the WTO dispute settlement mechanism, and implementing export controls on related items...
Fight, and we will accompany you to the end; talk, and the door is open. The Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping (习近平) at its core calmly and effectively responded, cultivating new opportunities in the crisis and opening new situations in the changing situation, fully demonstrating the confidence and determination to remain calm despite the turbulent clouds.
Calmness comes from knowing the situation and having cards in hand; confidence comes from scientific judgment and precise implementation of policies.
On April 25, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) presided over a meeting of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, clarifying the need to "focus on stabilizing employment, stabilizing enterprises, stabilizing the market, and stabilizing expectations," and deploying a package of policy measures in a targeted manner.
The precise and decisive "出手" (chū shǒu - "make a move," take action) at a critical moment fully demonstrates the accurate judgment and scientific response of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping (习近平) at its core to risks and challenges, and highlights the courage and wisdom to lead the Chinese economy through turbulent waves.
President Xi Jinping (习近平) spoke with President Trump four times during the year, profoundly pointing out that "the essence of China-US economic and trade relations is mutual benefit and win-win" and that "China and the United States can completely achieve each other, achieve common prosperity, and benefit both countries and the world"...
China and the United States held economic and trade consultations in Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Spain, and Malaysia, achieving a series of substantive progress and injecting stability into the turbulent international economic and trade landscape.
History and practice have repeatedly proven that daring to struggle is the foundation, being good at struggle is wisdom, and focusing on domestic affairs and concentrating on doing our own things well is the fundamental way to deal with all uncertainties.
The more we face risks and challenges, the more we must adhere to innovation to break the situation.
On the banks of the Huangpu River, the "Model Speed Space" large model innovation ecosystem community in Shanghai (上海) is accelerating its growth.
In April 2025, just as the external economic and trade environment was fluctuating drastically, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) came here to conduct on-the-spot research on the artificial intelligence industry. Before coming to Shanghai (上海), the General Secretary presided over a collective study session of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, focusing on the theme of "strengthening the development and supervision of artificial intelligence."
To promote Chinese-style modernization, science and technology must take the lead.
This year, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) repeatedly went to the most active places of scientific and technological innovation, emphasizing the importance of high-level scientific and technological self-reliance and self-improvement for Chinese-style modernization, and made important deployments for coordinating the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries and the cultivation and strengthening of strategic emerging industries.
"We must place the development of new quality productive forces in accordance with local conditions in a more prominent strategic position";
"Different regions have different resource endowments, basic conditions, etc. When grasping industrial transformation and upgrading, we must proceed from reality, follow economic laws, and highlight our own characteristics";
"We must never regard traditional industries as 'low-end industries' or 'backward industries' and simply withdraw from them"...
General Secretary Xi Jinping's (习近平) important instructions and earnest exhortations contain a dialectical grasp of the new and the old, the breaking and the establishing, and the advancing and the stabilizing, clarifying the direction for developing new quality productive forces in accordance with local conditions.
This year, China's domestic artificial intelligence large models have attracted global attention, the development of embodied intelligence has entered a fast lane, the "Eastern Super Ring" and "Zu Chongzhi III" have created new world records, and the global electronic communications industry has ushered in a super-high-speed signal "Chinese standard"... Each shining moment witnesses China's solid steps in innovation-driven development.
Only innovators advance, only innovators are strong.
In 2025, China ranked among the top ten in the global innovation index for the first time, and is one of the economies with the fastest improvement in innovation capabilities in more than 10 years. Shenzhen (深圳)—Hong Kong (香港)—Guangzhou (广州) jumped to the top of the global innovation cluster list.
The more we face risks and challenges, the more we must seek vitality from opening up and power from reform.
In early November 2025, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) set off southward to conduct in-depth inspections in Hainan (海南) and Guangdong (广东) provinces.
In Hainan (海南), when listening to the report on the construction of the Hainan Free Trade Port, the General Secretary emphasized: "The strategic goal of building the Hainan Free Trade Port is to build the Hainan Free Trade Port into an important gateway leading China's opening up to the outside world in the new era."
The scale of history always leaves its mark at key nodes. On December 18, Hainan Free Trade Port officially launched full island customs closure. On this day in 1978, the epoch-making Third Plenary Session of the Eleventh Central Committee of the Party was held.
The "landmark measure" of the free trade port's customs closure operation demonstrates the firm determination of Chinese Communists to carry out reform and opening up to the end. "We have adhered to the path of reform and opening up with Chinese characteristics and have come here step by step." General Secretary Xi Jinping's (习近平) words are full of expectations.
This year, further comprehensive and deepening reforms continued to advance in breadth and depth.
The implementation of the Private Economy Promotion Law, the release of the "Negative List for Market Access (2025 Edition)," the implementation of comprehensive reform pilots for market-oriented allocation of factors of production in some parts of the country, and the comprehensive rectification of "involutionary" competition... Taking economic system reform as the traction, more than 300 reform measures deployed by the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Party have gradually been implemented.
This year, expanding high-level opening up to the outside world continued to move towards a deeper level.
Promoting the orderly expansion of opening up in fields such as telecommunications, education, and medical care, further expanding the "circle of friends" for unilateral visa-free entry, replicating and promoting the 77 pilot measures of the Shanghai (上海) Free Trade Pilot Zone... The door to opening up is opening wider and wider, and the "gold content" of institutional opening up is further enhanced.
"Chinese-style modernization is constantly advancing in reform and opening up, and it will surely open up broad prospects in reform and opening up."
Traveling through misty peaks and experiencing storms; paving roads through mountains and building bridges over rivers.
China's development and progress have always been like this, constantly splitting mountains and opening up ridges and moving forward in the process of overcoming obstacles and seizing passes.
Taking Advantage of the Situation and Drawing a Blueprint—
"Chinese-Style Modernization Has Goals, Plans, and Strategies, and It Will Surely Be Realized"
On October 23, 2025, in the Great Hall of the People (人民大会堂), amidst thunderous applause, the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Party deliberated and approved the "Recommendations of the CPC Central Committee on Formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development."
The Chinese Communists in the new era have carried forward the great historical initiative and issued a bold declaration to take advantage of the situation, continue to promote the construction of Chinese-style modernization, and continue to write new chapters in the two miracles of rapid economic development and long-term social stability.
"Realizing socialist modernization is a historical process of step-by-step advancement and continuous development and progress, which requires unremitting efforts and continuous struggle." At this plenary session, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) profoundly elaborated.
The "15th Five-Year Plan" period is of great significance for promoting Chinese-style modernization in stages and steps. How to understand the coordinates of the times and the historical position we are in? How to respond to changes and coordinate the overall situation? What to rely on to build consensus and boost morale?
Responding to the complex world with diverse approaches. Faced with a more profound and complex changing development environment, and facing more dilemmas and multiple difficulties, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) steers the course with firm strategic clarity and a broad strategic vision, grasping the overall trend and direction of the development of things from the overall and long-term perspective, seeking initiative, promoting advantages, and seizing victory.
In the strategic framework, we will coordinate as a whole, deploy and plan the "15th Five-Year Plan" in the overall situation of Chinese-style modernization, clarify the "six adherence" principles, and form a logically rigorous and mutually supportive overall compliance;
In terms of the sequence and rhythm of time, we will scientifically plan, focusing on both stage-by-stage major events and outlining the logical main line of China's economic and social development in the future, laying the foundation for achieving the long-term goals for 2035;
…………
This is what a heavy plan reveals: true historical initiative lies not only in predicting the direction of temporary tides, but also in conforming to the general trend of history, seizing historical opportunities, and leading historical development.
What to take as a strategic focus is related to the effectiveness of overall promotion.
The greatness of a great power also comes with great responsibilities. Grasping the main contradictions and achieving key breakthroughs embodies the dialectics of Marxism and demonstrates the historical vision and leadership art of planning development.
On accurately grasping the key points of economic and social development during the "15th Five-Year Plan" period, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) clarified 12 aspects to grasp a number of strategic tasks with major traction, driving, and supporting roles.
Inspecting the No. 3 Cold Rolling Mill of the Cold Rolling General Plant of Benxi Iron and Steel Plate Co., Ltd. in Liaoning (辽宁), he emphasized that "the real economy is the foundation of the national economy"; visiting the intelligent factory of Luoyang Bearing Group Co., Ltd. in Henan (河南), he pointed out that "to promote Chinese-style modernization, we must continue to do a good job in manufacturing"; walking into the production workshop of Yangquan Valve Co., Ltd. in Shanxi (山西), he exclaimed that "**实业兴国，实干兴邦** (shí yè xīng guó, shí gàn xīng bāng - "Industry revitalizes the country, hard work builds the country," developing the real economy and working hard are essential for national prosperity)".
This year, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) visited manufacturing enterprises many times, requiring consistency: the real economy cannot be lost, and the traditional industries in the real economy cannot be lost.
Although there are difficulties in transformation and difficulties in climbing slopes, the tradition of developing industry must be continued. Without a solid material and technological foundation, it is impossible to fully build a strong socialist modern country.
Thinking all the way, deepening step by step, and brewing to maturity... "Building a modern industrial system and consolidating and strengthening the foundation of the real economy" was listed as the top strategic task and systematically deployed.
"Safety" can be seen from this annual high-frequency word.
On February 28, 2025, the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee conducted the 19th collective study on building a higher-level Peaceful China, which was also the first collective study of the Political Bureau after the start of the year.
"Consciously unify development and security in our work, plan together, deploy as a whole, and promote each other." General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) required unswervingly implementing the overall national security concept and promoting the construction of Peaceful China to a higher level.
In 2025, when visiting and comforting grassroots cadres and the masses before the Spring Festival, he emphasized "strengthening safety production and ensuring that the people spend a happy, safe, and peaceful festival"; he required the Northeast to firmly grasp the important mission of maintaining the country's "five major securities"; coming to the Central Plains, he emphasized "shouldering the responsibility for food security"...
Across the time axis of the year, in the grand game of governing the country, the General Secretary put national security in the overall situation of Chinese-style modernization and thought about and grasped it.
Constantly analyze problems, constantly summarize laws, and constantly refine and sublimate.
The Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Party clarified "adhering to the coordination of development and security" as one of the principles that must be followed for economic and social development during the "15th Five-Year Plan" period, and made a series of strategic deployments focusing on "consolidating security in development and seeking development in security."
What kind of value orientation is upheld is related to the background color of future development.
The last year of the five-year transition period after the completion of the poverty alleviation task, the first local inspection after the National People's Congress, a symposium full of people's livelihood concerns conveyed profound meaning.
In March 2025, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) came to Zhaoxing Dong Village (肇兴侗寨) in Liping County (黎平县), Qiandongnan Prefecture (黔东南州), Guizhou Province (贵州省). Under the drum tower, a fire pit, a few long benches, and villagers sat around the General Secretary.
"The system of the first secretary must still be adhered to" "We must retain our own characteristics and grasp what others do not have"... The General Secretary talked with everyone about people's livelihood and revitalization, and the atmosphere was harmonious and caring.
Coordinating the city and the countryside. In July 2025, after 10 years, another Central Urban Work Conference was held in Beijing (北京). General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) pointed out the direction for building innovative, livable, beautiful, resilient, civilized, and intelligent modern people's cities.
This year, combined with inspections or attendance at activities in Northeast China, Guizhou (贵州), Yunnan (云南), Shanghai (上海), Henan (河南), Shanxi (山西), Tibet (西藏), Xinjiang (新疆), and other places, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) conducted research on planning the "15th Five-Year Plan" for economic and social development. He went deep into the grassroots to understand what they were thinking and hoping for, and to gain true knowledge and insights.
Asking for needs from the people and asking for advice from the people has expanded from all over the country to the online space.
From May 20 to June 20, 2025, the "15th Five-Year Plan" preparation work carried out online solicitation of opinions. General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) made two important instructions, emphasizing "adhering to scientific decision-making, democratic decision-making, and legal decision-making" and "the broad masses of the people actively offered suggestions, and put forward many valuable opinions and suggestions, and relevant departments should carefully study and absorb them."
The leader and the people are closely linked, and the Party's heart and the people's heart resonate at the same frequency.
The "15th Five-Year Plan" proposal highlights the promotion of common prosperity for all people in its guiding ideology, taking solid steps. When explaining the draft of the planning proposal, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) regarded this as "an overall requirement for guiding economic and social development during the '15th Five-Year Plan' period."
Adhere to the close combination of benefiting the people's livelihood and promoting consumption, investing in things and investing in people; increase the intensity of inclusive policies directly reaching consumers; strengthen inclusive, basic, and bottom-line people's livelihood construction...
Persisting in benefiting the people and promoting consumption, closely integrating investment in material things with investment in people; increasing the intensity of inclusive policies that directly reach consumers; strengthening inclusive, basic, and fundamental livelihood construction...
"It is necessary to adhere to the original aspiration, consider issues from the people's standpoint, persist in guaranteeing and improving people's livelihoods in development, and steadily advance common prosperity." This is the unremitting pursuit of the century-old great party, and this is the unwavering original aspiration of the people's leader.
Steadfastly Practicing the Great Way, Boldly Shouldering Responsibility—
"China will always be a force for world peace, a force for stability, and a force for progress."
In 2025, the world is intertwined with turmoil and chaos, and instability is intensifying. Looking back at the process of international relations this year, a historic moment has captured global attention:
"I am willing to propose a global governance initiative, working with all countries to promote the construction of a more just and reasonable global governance system, and jointly move towards a community with a shared future for mankind." On September 1, 2025, at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Tianjin Summit, President Xi Jinping (习近平) presented the global governance initiative to the world.
Following the right path and guiding the progress of human society with Chinese solutions—
2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War and the founding of the United Nations. Before the Tianjin Summit, President Xi Jinping (习近平) met with United Nations Secretary-General Guterres, profoundly pointing out the lessons of history: "Multilateralism and solidarity and cooperation are the correct answers to solving global problems."
Looking back on the past, when the smoke of the World Anti-Fascist War dissipated, the international community learned from its painful experiences, the United Nations emerged as the times required, and global governance opened a new page.
Looking around at the present, the world's multipolarization, economic globalization, and democratization of international relations have become increasingly surging trends of the times, but the shadows of the Cold War mentality, hegemonism, and protectionism have not dissipated, and new threats and new challenges have increased rather than decreased, and the world has entered a new period of turbulence and change.
"Adhering to sovereign equality," "Complying with international rule of law," "Practicing multilateralism," "Advocating people-centeredness," "Focusing on action-oriented"… At the critical juncture of history, President Xi Jinping (习近平) has guided a clear direction for the reform and improvement of the global governance system.
Since 2021, facing unprecedented global challenges, President Xi Jinping (习近平) has successively proposed the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, the Global Civilization Initiative, and the Global Governance Initiative. The four major global initiatives are interwoven and organically unified, building a complete action framework for promoting the deepening and solidifying of the practice of building a community with a shared future for mankind.
With the world in mind, maintaining world peace and stability with Chinese responsibility—
In April 2025, the first Central Conference on Work Relating to Neighboring Countries in the history of the People's Republic of China was held in Beijing (北京).
Examining the surrounding areas from a global perspective, the conference made an important judgment: "The surrounding areas are an important foundation for achieving development and prosperity, a key point for maintaining national security, a priority for planning the overall diplomatic situation, and a key to promoting the construction of a community with a shared future for mankind."
Less than a week after the conference, President Xi Jinping (习近平) set off for Southeast Asia, and the first visit of a Chinese head of state in 2025 focused on neighboring countries.
In Vietnam, President Xi Jinping (习近平) and Vietnamese leaders walked side by side time and time again, talking as they walked; in Malaysia, Prime Minister Anwar accompanied President Xi Jinping (习近平) throughout all activities during his visit to Malaysia; in Cambodia, King Sihamoni invited President Xi Jinping (习近平) into the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh and awarded this "great friend" the "Grand Cross of the National Independence Order of the Kingdom of Cambodia"...
When "decoupling and breaking chains" and "national priority" are rampant, how can China and its neighboring countries shake hands more closely?
The answer is written in the frequent interactions "like visiting relatives," and written in the broad mind of "achieving neighbors is helping oneself."
In 2025, President Xi Jinping's (习近平) visits focused on neighboring countries, from Southeast Asia to Russia, from Kazakhstan to South Korea, with footprints all over the surrounding areas. Each visit, the intensity of head-of-state diplomatic activities and the abundance of cooperative achievements, wrote vivid and fresh new chapters for the story of good-neighborliness and friendship.
Relatives are getting closer and closer, and friends are getting deeper and deeper.
"The most valuable advantage is being neighbors with China," "What China brings is not only stability, but also lasting hope for the future"... Amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness, and a shared future, jointly heading towards a bright future of regional peace, stability, prosperity and development.
On October 30, 2025, in Busan, South Korea, President Xi Jinping (习近平) and US President Trump met again after 6 years, attracting global attention.
Exchanging greetings, sitting face-to-face, opening remarks, closed-door talks, more than 100 minutes later, the two heads of state of major countries walked out of the VIP room side by side, and people read "encouraging prospects" in close attention.
"Let the ship of Sino-US relations move forward steadily" and "Work together to do more major, practical, and good things that are beneficial to both countries and the world"... President Xi Jinping (习近平) pointed out the way to stable development of major-country relations with a broad vision and pattern.
The Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China pointed out that "Major-country relations affect the international situation, and the evolution of the international situation profoundly affects domestic development."
This year, the head-of-state diplomacy between China and the United States strategically led and steered the direction, and multi-channel and multi-level communication between the world's two largest economies continued to advance; President Xi Jinping (习近平) and Russian President Putin realized mutual visits, jointly discussed major plans for strategic cooperation between China and Russia in various fields, jointly celebrated the 80th anniversary of the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War, and jointly composed a new chapter in safeguarding international fairness and justice; President Xi Jinping (习近平) and French President Macron discussed the world in Dujiangyan, and jointly planned a brighter next 50 years for Sino-European relations with EU leaders...
"Major countries should have the appearance of major countries and show more responsibility."
Under the leadership of President Xi Jinping (习近平), China has always been committed to promoting coordination and benign interaction among major countries, promoting the construction of a major-country relationship pattern of peaceful coexistence, overall stability, and balanced development, and contributing positive energy to maintaining global strategic stability.
Working together to move forward, using Chinese opportunities to help countries move towards common modernization—
In November 2025, King Tupou VI of Tonga visited China and came to the Juncao Source Square of Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, personally planting a strain of Juncao and writing in the guestbook: Juncao has great potential for developing countries like Tonga.
When meeting with Tupou VI in Beijing (北京), President Xi Jinping (习近平) said that China will focus on high-quality development, further comprehensively deepen reform, expand high-level opening up to the outside world, and share development opportunities with countries around the world.
"What China pursues is not a modernization that benefits itself alone."
More than three-quarters of the world's countries have joined the big family of jointly building the "Belt and Road"; the cumulative number of China-Europe Railway Express trains has exceeded 120,000; international exhibitions such as the China International Import Expo, the Canton Fair, the Supply Chain Expo, the Service Trade Fair, and the Consumer Goods Expo continue to release China's cooperation "magnetic attraction"...
Not long ago, many international institutions raised their expectations for China's economic growth rate in 2025. For many years, China's economic contribution to world economic growth has remained at about 30% annually, continuing to serve as an important engine of global growth.
The world is standing at a new crossroads, and where to go tests foresight and responsibility.
Taking the people's heart as one's own and taking the world's interests as one's own. President Xi Jinping's (习近平) call resonated strongly, "The more stormy the situation, the more important it is to help each other in the same boat" and "Promote prosperity together, win the future together, and work together to build a community with a shared future for mankind."
Attending the Global Women's Summit, proposing a series of important measures to further support the development of global women's undertakings; supporting the development of the Global South, announcing the joint launch of the "Five Major Projects" of unity, development, civilization, peace, and people's hearts with Latin American and Caribbean countries, and promoting the implementation of 100% tariff-free treatment for products with 100% tariff items for 53 African countries that have diplomatic relations; on the 10th anniversary of the conclusion of the Paris Agreement, announcing China's new round of nationally determined contributions...
China, which is following the great way, always transcends estrangement and conflict with a broad mind, and cares for the destiny of mankind with great feelings.
Therefore, the world marvels and is curious—"China is becoming 'cool'," "The most influential participant in global affairs," "A reliable Chinese partner";
Furthermore, all parties are approaching and exploring—political dignitaries from various countries who are exploring the successful code of Chinese-style modernization, foreign company executives who are firmly investing in China, and people from various countries who have fallen in love with "China Travel" are coming one after another...
China, which is changing with each passing day, is credible, lovely, and respectable.
United as One, Forging Ahead—
"Striving to write a more magnificent chapter of Chinese-style modernization"
On September 3, 2025, Tiananmen Square (天安门广场), a national ceremony, was inspiring.
Inside the Tiananmen Gate Tower Hall (天安门城楼大殿), a huge painting entitled "United as One" (《众志成城》) was hung; on the square, the "众" (zhòng - crowd) shaped grandstand was spectacular.
At the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, General Secretary Xi Jinping's (习近平) powerful and solemn declaration anchored the eternal coordinates for the national memory: "Inherit and carry forward the great spirit of resisting aggression, forge ahead with determination and courage, and unite and struggle to comprehensively promote the construction of a strong country and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation with Chinese-style modernization!"
From the great victory to the great rejuvenation, the red flag is waving and the people are cheering, reflecting the prosperous age; the battle flag is hunting and the iron stream is rolling, stirring the strong voice of the times.
"An impressive display!" Some overseas media exclaimed, "This is true strength and confidence!"
How did the "sleeping lion" (睡狮), which was once poor and weak and suffered humiliation, usher in the great leap from standing up, getting rich, to becoming strong?
Yesterday inspires today, and history illuminates the future.
On the main peak of Shinao Mountain (狮脑山) in Yangquan (阳泉), Shanxi (山西), the Hundred Regiments Battle Monument is shaped like a bayonet straight into the sky.
On July 7, 2025, on the 88th anniversary of the outbreak of the all-out War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) came here, presented flower baskets to the martyrs of the Eighth Route Army, and visited the exhibition of the Hundred Regiments Battle Memorial Hall.
Standing, watching, and thinking, reviewing this history, General Secretary Xi Jinping's (习近平) speech was sonorous and powerful: "The historical feat of the Hundred Regiments Battle fully demonstrated the role of our party as the mainstay in the all-out War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, and fully demonstrated the mighty power of the people's war led by the Party."
With the Communist Party of China as the mainstay and leader, and with the mighty power of the people united in struggle—"Chinese-style modernization is the answer we have given to the major historical question of how to awaken the 'sleeping lion' and realize national rejuvenation."
This is a socialist modernization led by the Communist Party of China, and the Party's leadership is directly related to the fundamental direction, future destiny, and ultimate success or failure of Chinese-style modernization.
In March 2025, just as the study and education on thoroughly implementing the spirit of the Central Eight-Point Regulation had just started, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) came to Guizhou (贵州) and Yunnan (云南) for inspection and research.
90 years ago, in the mountains and rivers of the Great Southwest, the Red Army led by the Communist Party of China broke through difficulties and obstacles and achieved a turning point of life and death.
To govern a country, it is necessary to govern the Party first, and only when the Party is prosperous can the country be strong. Practice has repeatedly proved that "The more complex and changeable the situation and the more arduous and heavy the tasks, the more necessary it is to adhere to, use, and develop the Party's leadership, the greatest advantage."
At the critical node when the "14th Five-Year Plan" is about to come to an end and the "15th Five-Year Plan" is being planned, tightening the ideological string again and sharpening the original intention again is related to the Party's foundation of governance and the overall situation of Chinese-style modernization construction.
Carrying out in-depth study and education on thoroughly implementing the spirit of the Central Eight-Point Regulation is a key task of Party building in 2025 personally planned by General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平).
"In recent years, the Eight-Point Regulation has indeed promoted fundamental changes, and the atmosphere has been renewed. Most of the phenomena that were difficult to reverse in the past are gone. At the same time, it is necessary to see that some places have loosened, some aspects still have blind spots and dead corners, and some unhealthy trends have rebounded." General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) stated the far-reaching considerations of the Party Central Committee's decision to carry out this study and education, "Like nailing nails, nail them a few more times, and over time, it will become a custom."
On June 30, 2025, on the eve of "July 1st," Zhongnanhai (中南海), Beijing (北京). The Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee conducted its twenty-first collective study on improving the long-term mechanism for implementing the spirit of the Central Eight-Point Regulation and correcting the "four winds."
"The task of Chinese-style modernization construction undertaken by our Party is very arduous, and the governing environment we face is extremely complex. The string of self-revolution must be tightened even more." General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) talked about the Party's self-revolution from the construction of work style, conveying a clear signal to carry out the Party's self-revolution to the end.
Unswervingly and comprehensively governing the Party with strict discipline, deeply promoting the new great project of Party building in the new era, adhering to leading social revolution with the Party's self-revolution, the Party's creativity, cohesion, and combat effectiveness have been continuously enhanced, and new groundbreaking progress, breakthrough changes, and historical achievements have been made in promoting economic and social development.
This is a modernization that the people of all ethnic groups across the country are jointly striving for. Comprehensively promoting the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation with Chinese-style modernization is the common cause of our country's 56 ethnic groups and the common aspiration of all Chinese sons and daughters.
The galloping Yarlung Zangbo River reflects the vicissitudes of the snowy plateau; the ancient Silk Road witnesses the new changes in the north and south of the Tianshan Mountains.
In August and September 2025, Xi Jinping (习近平), as General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, President of the State, and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, led the central delegation to attend the celebration activities for the establishment of the Tibet Autonomous Region and the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, which was the first time in the history of the Party and the country.
Wherever General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) went, people of all ethnic groups sang and danced, cheered loudly, welcomed the arrival of the General Secretary, expressed their heartfelt blessings to the General Secretary, and also expressed their desire and determination to unite and struggle together, jointly prosper and develop, and work together to write a new chapter in the construction of Chinese-style modernization.
"The Chinese nation is a big family, and everyone in the family must live a good life."
Presiding over the meeting of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee to study the draft law on promoting ethnic unity and progress, writing back to encourage cadres and the masses in ethnic areas, and paying attention to exchanges, interactions, and integration among ethnic groups in many local inspections... General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) personally promoted the construction of the Chinese nation's community, and the thoughts and actions of cadres and the masses of all ethnic groups were unified to the decision-making and deployment of the Party Central Committee, and they moved forward in unison.
Promoting the construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area for a long time, promoting Hong Kong and Macao to better integrate into and serve the overall development of the country, and establishing Taiwan Retrocession Memorial Day in the name of the country on the 80th anniversary of Taiwan's retrocession... All Chinese sons and daughters are connected by blood and share a common destiny.
Comprehensively promoting the construction of a strong country and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation with Chinese-style modernization is a magnificent journey related to long-term development. It will not be smooth sailing, and may even encounter unimaginable storms.
"Realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is a great cause unprecedented in history. Both aspirations and challenges inspire us to seize the day and never slacken our efforts." At the National Day reception in 2025, General Secretary Xi Jinping's (习近平) words were full of strength.
Across the land of China, a surging vitality is emerging everywhere:
In the ice and snow world of Northeast China, the Harbin Asian Winter Games ignited sports passion, and the sports economy continued to release consumption potential;
In the colorful southwest land, the deep integration of agriculture, culture, and tourism helped the comprehensive revitalization of the countryside;
On the blue waves of the South China Sea, China's first electromagnetic catapult-type aircraft carrier, the Navy Fujian Ship, completed its first maritime live-fire training after entering service;
…………
All great achievements are the result of continuous struggle, and all great undertakings need to be promoted in inheriting the past and opening up the future.
On the evening of November 9, 2025, at the Guangdong Olympic Sports Center, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) announced the opening of the 15th National Games. In the cultural and sports performance with the theme of "Realizing the Dream of the Future," as hundreds of awakened lions combined with VR technology made a shocking debut, the identity of national feelings and the emotional identity of national rejuvenation stirred in the hearts of hundreds of millions of Chinese sons and daughters.
Just like the "awakened lion," the Chinese nation is confidently forging ahead on the broad road of Chinese-style modernization.
The journey of pursuing dreams is one after another.
Having gone through the "extremely unusual and extremely extraordinary" "14th Five-Year Plan" and ushered in the "15th Five-Year Plan" of "laying a solid foundation and making full efforts," we are more closely united around the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping (习近平) as the core, and we are full of confidence, full of confidence, and full of strength to bravely move towards the brilliant other shore of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation!
(Xinhua News Agency, Beijing (北京), January 1)
Return to TopThis newspaper reports from Beijing on January 1st (People's Daily reporter Sun Yang (孙阳) and Li Qiaochu (栗翘楚)) On December 30, 2025, the "2025 People's Finance Forum," hosted by People's Daily Online, was held in Beijing (北京). The forum, themed "Seizing the Momentum to Start a New Chapter," featured speeches by Xu Dongning (徐冬宁), Deputy Director of the Office of the Central Financial and Economic Affairs Commission, and Zhou Xing (周星), Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Natural Resources (自然资源部). Ye Zhenzhen (叶蓁蓁), Vice President of People's Daily and Chairman of People's Daily Online, delivered a speech.
At the forum, guests from the National Bureau of Statistics (国家统计局), the Academy of Macroeconomic Research of the National Development and Reform Commission (国家发展改革委宏观经济研究院), the China Quality Certification Center (中国质量认证中心), and the China Consumers Association (中国消费者协会), along with representatives from companies such as China Datang (中国大唐), AUX Group (奥克斯空调), Genki Forest (元气森林), UBTECH Robotics (优必选), and Kayou (卡游), shared their practical experiences and insights. Attendees stated that the Chinese economy is moving forward against pressure, developing towards new and better directions, demonstrating strong resilience and vitality, and laying the foundation for a good start to the "15th Five-Year Plan." Moving forward, it is necessary to expand domestic demand to activate growth potential and drive industrial upgrading through technological innovation, jointly gathering a strong synergy to promote high-quality development and advance Chinese-style modernization.
The forum also released the "2025 People's Ingenuity Brand" and the "2025 Innovative Practices in Building a Strong Financial Nation" case studies.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 王 丹
"Extravagance and waste should be stopped, diligence and thrift are reasonable; outdated rules and bad customs are shackles, and lavish weddings and funerals are undesirable; Party members and cadres should take the lead, and civilized new customs should rise..." Accompanied by lively and cheerful gongs and drums and cheers, a public welfare performance of "old opera, new performance" was held in Hefeng Square, Xiahe Village, Gucun Town, Ningdu County (宁都县), Jiangxi Province (江西省).
On the center of the stage, wonderful repertoires such as "Eighth Sister-in-law Persuades Her Husband," "Luo Pa Bao," and "Choosing a Son-in-law" from Ningdu Tea-picking Opera were performed in turn, winning bursts of applause and cheers from the audience.
"I haven't heard such authentic tea-picking opera for a long time. These operas sing about the stories of our own people. They are not only good to listen to but also educational, and very down-to-earth!" said Hu Guangbu (胡光布), a villager in Xiahe Village, happily.
Ningdu Tea-picking Opera is a representative project of Jiangxi Province's intangible cultural heritage, with a history of more than 200 years. Its themes mostly reflect real life, its language is simple and vivid, its local flavor is strong, and it is deeply loved by the masses.
"The masses love to watch operas, and we use the method of 'old opera, new performance' to promote changing customs and habits. These repertoires innovatively incorporate concepts such as 'simple weddings' and 'caring for the elderly while alive and simple funerals after death,' so that the masses can be influenced by civilized new customs in laughter and consciously resist extravagance and waste and 大操大办 (dà cāo dà bàn - "lavish weddings and funerals," extravagant and wasteful practices) and other bad habits," said Chen Cuiling (陈翠玲), a performer at the Ningdu County (宁都县) Culture, Radio, Television and Tourism Bureau Tea-picking Opera Protection and Inheritance Center.
Sending operas to the countryside is nourishing the fertile ground of rural civilization. The staff of the Ningdu County (宁都县) Cultural Center extended the stage to the fields, taking buses to various towns, with performance equipment in the car, which was also their temporary dressing room...
Chen Cuiling (陈翠玲) was drawing her eyebrows in front of the mirror. Under the rouge and powder, her eyes were always bright. "With the development of the times, our lyrics, costumes, and stage art are constantly innovating. We also have many young fans on major online platforms. Tea-picking opera is gradually being passed down after all," she said with a smile.
Ningdu County (宁都县) has innovatively carried out cultural activities to benefit the people, such as "old opera, new performance" and "sending operas to the countryside," and is committed to turning the small stage at the doorstep of the masses into a large platform for spreading socialist core values. "We are committed to creating more excellent works that reflect the spirit of the times and are close to the lives of the masses, and use the Ningdu Tea-picking Opera, which is popular, easy to understand, and loved by everyone, to improve the civilization quality of the masses and stimulate the endogenous power of comprehensive rural revitalization," said Fu Xiaoxin (傅小新), Secretary of the Ningdu County (宁都县) Party Committee.
(Guo Sumin (郭素敏) participated in the writing)
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 李红梅 蒋雪鸿
In our invisible digital world, through the "Mazu (妈祖)" National Early Warning Cloud Platform, China's meteorological artificial intelligence is spanning Asia, Africa, and Oceania, exporting China's national early warning solution to the world, weaving a "meteorological Silk Road" in the sky above the Earth, and contributing Chinese wisdom and experience to global disaster prevention, mitigation, and climate change response.
Across mountains and seas, meteorological artificial intelligence solutions are being trialed in more than 40 countries.
Every day, extreme weather events may be occurring in every corner of the Earth.
In Afghanistan, a severe convective weather event struck, with localized hail; in Uganda, two consecutive severe convective weather events struck, accompanied by localized short-term heavy rainfall...
Severe convective weather is small in scale, sudden, short-lived, and impactful, making it a global challenge for meteorological forecasting. Relying on China's meteorological artificial intelligence, both Afghanistan and Uganda captured the signals in advance and quickly issued warnings, providing support for evacuating people and reducing losses.
These Chinese meteorological artificial intelligence systems that have gone abroad share a common name: "Mazu (妈祖)."
"Mazu (妈祖)" is a national early warning solution launched by the China Meteorological Administration in response to a United Nations initiative. The abbreviation "MAZU" has rigorous scientific connotations: M (Multi-hazard), A (Alert), Z (Zero-gap), U (Universal).
"Mazu (妈祖)" helps countries address climate change challenges by building a cloud-based early warning platform. Each artificial intelligence on the platform is a "toolbox," providing customized "toolboxes" for different national needs, achieving a "one-stop" solution for the entire chain of meteorological risk monitoring, early warning, release, and response.
In Pakistan, meteorological disasters such as glacial lake outburst floods, monsoon outbreaks, and heavy rainfall are frequent. The China Meteorological Administration and relevant Pakistani departments jointly built the Pakistan Cloud-based Early Warning System, customizing forecasts and early warnings for these three types of disastrous weather. In October 2025, the customized system was deployed and applied locally.
"Through this system, we can use advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence and more models to carry out weather forecasting," said Bazar Chima, an expert at the Pakistan Meteorological Department.
"Focusing on common meteorological disasters in Mongolia, such as strong winds, heavy rainfall, dust storms, and dzud (severe winter weather), 'Mazu (妈祖)' accesses snow cover data from the Fengyun-2H (风云2H) meteorological satellite and designed workflow prompts to generate risk avoidance guidance in the local language, which is very practical," said Altansukh Bold, a forecaster at the National Agency for Meteorology and Environmental Monitoring of Mongolia.
The meteorological artificial intelligence used in Mongolia was led by the Shanghai Meteorological Bureau and is called the "Mazu (妈祖)" Urban Multi-hazard Early Warning Intelligent Agent (MAZU-Urban). The intelligent agent integrates the "four pillars" of risk assessment, monitoring and forecasting, early warning dissemination, and emergency response tools. In October 2025, Chinese technical experts cooperated with the Mongolian side to complete the local deployment of the intelligent agent and carry out relevant technical training. Recently, according to the needs of Mongolian aviation meteorological services and Ulaanbaatar urban flood impact forecasting, Chinese and Mongolian meteorological departments have begun to improve the universality of the "toolbox."
In Laos, Chinese meteorological artificial intelligence has customized a package of multilingual early warning information release service solutions. "This is a very good early warning information release platform that will help the Lao social and economic sectors better respond to disasters such as floods and droughts," said Viengxay ManiNoth, Deputy Director of the Lao Meteorology and Hydrology Department.
Today, there are more and more "toolboxes" on the "Mazu (妈祖)" platform. The "Fengqing (风清)" and "Fengshun (风顺)" artificial intelligence meteorological forecasting systems released by the China Meteorological Administration in June 2024 have all been connected to the "Mazu (妈祖)" cloud-based early warning platform.
The service scenarios are becoming more and more extensive, including cloud-based versions, basic versions, professional versions, flagship versions, urban early warning versions, and agricultural early warning versions, adapting to various meteorological disasters and various meteorological risk scenarios such as cities and agriculture.
"Currently, 'Mazu (妈祖)' has been deployed and is in real-time application in five countries: Pakistan, Ethiopia, Solomon Islands, Djibouti, and Mongolia, and is being trialed online in 43 countries and regions in Asia, Africa, and Oceania," said Zeng Qin (曾沁), Director of the International Cooperation Department of the China Meteorological Administration.
The China Meteorological Administration adheres to the principles of open-source "Mazu (妈祖)" artificial intelligence models, platform sharing, and data openness. Countries around the world can directly use artificial intelligence models in the cloud, or they can cooperate with China's meteorological departments to deploy various versions locally.
What goes out with meteorological artificial intelligence is not only hard technology. China also helps countries cultivate professional talents through soft measures such as training courses and visiting scholars to achieve cooperative construction.
In 2025, Swe Yee Nyi, a forecaster at the Myanmar Meteorological Department, became a member of the "Belt and Road" meteorological visiting scholars and came to the China Meteorological Administration for exchange and study. In the future, she will work with her Chinese colleagues to develop artificial intelligence forecasting models for disastrous weather such as heat waves.
In the summer of 2025, Leta Bekele Guddeta, Head of the Remote Sensing and Climate Division of the Ethiopian Meteorological Agency, came to China to participate in training and cooperated with the Chinese meteorological team to develop an Ethiopian rainy season prediction model with an accuracy rate of over 65%.
It is expected that from 2025 to 2027, the China Meteorological Administration will also provide more than 2,000 short-term training opportunities for developing countries in the fields of early warning, risk assessment, and climate change, 100 scholarships for bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in related majors, and fund 50 long-term visiting scholars.
China's meteorological artificial intelligence is transforming advanced technology into tangible and usable disaster reduction results worldwide. The Chinese solution crosses mountains and seas and becomes an important force in building a global early warning barrier, helping countries around the world build a better home.
Overcoming "Pain Points" and Pioneering the "Going Global" Path of Meteorological Artificial Intelligence
A small step for meteorological artificial intelligence "going global" is a big step for the development of China's meteorological science and technology.
Artificial intelligence is one of the most disruptive advanced technologies in the world today. Mastering artificial intelligence technology is a need for the development of meteorological science and technology. However, independently developing artificial intelligence models requires overcoming many technical difficulties, especially the "pain points" of meteorological operations:
"Blindness" to extreme weather—
Extreme weather such as thunderstorms, gales, and hail have short life cycles, are sudden, and account for a small proportion of the massive amount of meteorological data. Conventional artificial intelligence models are good at capturing statistical averages. The data of extreme weather is "peak-shaved and valley-filled" in statistics, so the models are often "blind" to extreme weather. In addition, artificial intelligence learns from historical experience. Extreme weather that has not occurred in history cannot be reported by artificial intelligence models.
How to make artificial intelligence models closer to "seeing" extreme weather? Dai Kan (代刊), Deputy Director of the National Meteorological Center, introduced that the National Meteorological Center research team abandoned the general black box training model and specially developed a spatiotemporal evolution feature capture algorithm for the forecasting difficulty of severe convective weather and other extreme weather. Through original sample weighting and feature enhancement technology, the model is guided to focus on learning the key evolution information before and after the occurrence of extreme weather, so that it gradually approaches the experience and judgment level of senior forecasters in identifying the characteristics of the entire life cycle of weather systems from birth, development to demise. Related research has significantly improved the perception and recognition ability of artificial intelligence for extreme weather, and has improved the problem of "inaccurate reporting" to a certain extent, but the fundamental challenge of "unreportable" extreme weather is still being continuously tackled.
Generative artificial intelligence will have "hallucinations"—
Generative artificial intelligence models sometimes generate some false weather forecasts out of thin air. These weather forecasts look like real weather maps, but they actually violate meteorological common sense or the physical laws of atmospheric motion.
How to eliminate these "hallucinations"? The National Meteorological Center research team adopted a technical route of dual physical and data drive, deeply embedding atmospheric dynamics equations and physical constraint mechanisms into neural networks. In this way, the powerful nonlinear fitting ability of artificial intelligence is retained, and the forecast results are ensured to conform to the laws of atmospheric motion, which greatly improves the interpretability and scientificity of the forecast.
The artificial intelligence weather forecasting team of the Shanghai Artificial Intelligence Meteorological Application Innovation Center proposed a "deterministic + probabilistic" cascade scheme. "We first use a deterministic model to 'draw' the trend of medium and large-scale precipitation, and then let the generative model focus on small-scale extreme weather events. In addition, we designed a learning method based on probability matching to make the model focus on the 'abnormal points' in historical cases," said Cao Yuan (曹原), the team leader. Under the joint action of these strategies, the extreme weather data that was once regarded as "noise" has become a "golden sample" for training, and the generation of artificial intelligence "hallucinations" has also been suppressed.
"Digital Divide" and Difficulty in Applying Model Landing—
When "Mazu (妈祖)" goes global, challenges such as data barriers, standard differences, and computing power infrastructure follow.
"To deal with these challenges, it is necessary to strengthen the research and development of general-purpose and transferable models, and improve the business foundation of partners through joint research and development, open cooperation, and capacity building," said Dai Kan (代刊).
In countries and regions with weak network construction, the urban multi-hazard early warning intelligent agent adopts a data cropping and compression algorithm to greatly reduce the transmission volume, thereby effectively improving transmission efficiency. "We did not simply rely on the improvement of network conditions, but took the initiative to carry out technical optimization from the data processing and transmission mechanism," said Zhao Yang (赵洋), Director of the Shanghai Meteorological Information and Technology Support Center and the Urban Multi-hazard Early Warning Center.
In order to fully respect and protect the meteorological data sovereignty of various countries, the China Meteorological Administration insists on adopting the "algorithm going abroad, local debugging" model.
The research and development of meteorological artificial intelligence models is not only an upgrade of code, but also a deep reconstruction of the understanding of atmospheric science. Only by transcending model algorithms and returning to the things themselves can we find the path for the leapfrog development of meteorological artificial intelligence.
Across the "divide," meteorological artificial intelligence must also be transformed into a weapon in the hands of forecasters. The National Meteorological Center uses the SWAN3.0 "Intelligent Efficiency Platform" to transform complex artificial intelligence reasoning results into intuitive and operable decision-making basis, directly embedding them into the workflow of front-line forecasters, and triggering progressive services, high-level "call-response" mechanisms, and departmental linkage mechanisms.
Soon, these valuable Chinese experiences will be "clouded" and exported through "Mazu (妈祖)." The "Fenghe (风和)" meteorological service artificial intelligence model released by the China Meteorological Administration in October 2025 will soon be connected to the "Mazu (妈祖)" cloud platform. "Fenghe (风和)" has a strong ability to solve meteorological professional tasks and can provide customized service solutions for various countries to promote early warning into disaster prevention and mitigation action plans.
China's meteorological science and technology is continuously bridging the technology gap and benefiting the world.
With the World in Mind, "Mazu (妈祖)" Shows China's Strength and China's Concepts
Why can the "Mazu (妈祖)" Chinese solution go global? The answer can be seen from the meteorological department's response to Typhoon "Kajiki."
On the morning of August 23, 2025, Typhoon "Kajiki" formed in the central part of the South China Sea. Due to the relatively high sea temperature in the South China Sea, "Kajiki" quickly strengthened into a severe typhoon, bringing strong winds and heavy rain.
The formation and dissipation changes of "Kajiki" have already been captured by China's world's largest meteorological observation network. The Fengyun (风云) meteorological satellite keeps scanning quickly in the sky, carrying out multi-element three-dimensional monitoring, and generating data at a minute-level speed; the weather radar "catches" the echo and quickly forms a radar map; the offshore observation station monitors in real time and transmits back observation data...
The Central Meteorological Observatory intensifies consultations, uses satellite cloud images, radar images, observation station data, etc. to analyze the characteristics and changes of the typhoon cloud system, uses numerical models for calculation, uses artificial intelligence to supplement, carries out ensemble forecasting typhoon path correction, and finally calculates the 24-hour movement path forecast result of "Kajiki."
The forecast results show that "Kajiki" will brush or land along the coast of Hainan Island and land in Vietnam on August 25, 2025.
The Central Meteorological Observatory communicated with the Forecasting Center of the Vietnam National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting in the first time to conduct joint consultations, and simultaneously released forecast information on the cloud-based meteorological early warning system and the international meteorological early warning business support platform for the reference of the meteorological and hydrological departments of Southeast Asian countries.
High-level scientific and technological self-reliance, high-level business capabilities, and high-level talents support global observation, global forecasting, and global services, providing conditions for meteorological artificial intelligence to "break the waves and go to sea."
Today, for every weather process of wind, frost, rain and snow on the earth, especially extreme weather such as typhoons and rainstorms, China's meteorological department can observe, forecast, and serve.
This is due to China's accelerated advancement of the modernization of meteorological science and technology capabilities. Meteorological satellites, weather radars, numerical forecasting, meteorological artificial intelligence, and big data capabilities are constantly consolidated. The "bite-type" development of meteorological observation and forecasting links and the comprehensive strength are constantly improving.
As a numerical forecasting model of meteorological "chips," China has achieved complete independent control. China's independently developed artificial intelligence meteorological model and the models of developed countries in Europe and the United States jointly lead the meteorological application of artificial intelligence technology.
Look at the superior performance of these artificial intelligence systems: to calculate the global forecasting model with 10-kilometer grid points, numerical forecasting takes 2 hours to produce results, while "Fengqing (风清)" takes only half an hour to produce results, reaching the level of international mainstream models; a severe convective weather event accompanied by strong winds, small hail, and short-term heavy rainfall is a problem for traditional forecasting, while "Fanglei (风雷)" captures the signal 1 hour in advance; in the 2025 flood season forecast, "Fengshun (风顺)" grasped the distribution characteristics of China's main rain belt 1 month in advance, exceeding the level of the world's leading European Center's existing numerical forecasting model...
These technologically advanced meteorological artificial intelligence models are open-sourced to the world on the "Mazu (妈祖)" technology base cloud platform to provide services to the world.
Hardcore scientific and technological strength and unique Chinese early warning experience have become the confidence for "Mazu (妈祖)" to go to the world.
China's meteorological artificial intelligence is going global.
At the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation held in September 2024, the construction of a meteorological early warning platform was included in the ten partnership actions for China and Africa to jointly promote modernization;
In November 2024, at the 29th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, China released the "China Action Plan for Promoting Early Warning to Promote Climate Change Adaptation (2025-2027)," which clearly stated that it will help enhance the early warning and climate change adaptation capabilities of developing countries;
At the 7th China-Arab States Expo held in August 2025, the China Meteorological Administration reached three cooperation measures with Arab countries, and carried out cooperation with the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, and Egypt to develop meteorological artificial intelligence models;
At the 4th China-ASEAN Meteorological Cooperation Forum held in September 2025, the China Meteorological Administration launched the China-ASEAN Meteorological Artificial Intelligence Model Application Joint Innovation Action for the first time, and jointly built a regional artificial intelligence meteorological forecasting model system with ASEAN countries;
Recently, the world's first global artificial intelligence demonstration project led by the China Meteorological Administration is being jointly promoted by more than 20 meteorological departments, research institutions, and global technology giants at home and abroad. Chinese practice has become an important reference for global climate governance...
"The Mazu (妈祖) spirit is highly consistent with the core value of early warning, reflecting the connotation of rescue, affinity, and wisdom," said Zeng Qin (曾沁). The meteorological department will contribute Chinese wisdom and Chinese solutions to global climate governance through the "Mazu (妈祖)" program with a sense of mission to promote the construction of a community with a shared future for mankind, and work with all countries to build a national early warning network and jointly address climate change challenges and build a safer and better Earth home.
Return to TopBy: 李红梅
Typhoons, floods, droughts... Against the backdrop of global warming, extreme weather events are occurring more frequently and intensely around the world. To address climate change, it is necessary not only to carry out resilience construction in areas such as cities, agriculture, water conservancy, and ecosystems, but also to accelerate the establishment and improvement of meteorological monitoring, forecasting, and service systems, enhance early warning capabilities, safeguard people's lives and property, and reduce losses.
Climate change has become a common challenge for humanity, and no country can be immune. In addressing climate change, China has both scientific and technological strength and has explored valuable early warning experience, and is called a model for developing countries by the World Meteorological Organization. In response to the United Nations' Early Warnings for All initiative, China is sharing advanced technologies, experiences, and mechanisms with the world through the "Mazu (妈祖)" scheme, using Chinese solutions to help countries enhance their early warning capabilities and address climate change challenges.
Mazu (妈祖) is a figure in Chinese folk legends, known as the nautical patron saint and omnipotent guardian of coastal areas. Mazu (妈祖) culture contains the meaning of establishing virtue, doing good, and great love. The "Mazu (妈祖)" scheme going global not only reflects the responsibility of a major country that takes the world as its own responsibility and builds a community with a shared future for mankind, but also demonstrates to the world the Chinese traditional cultural values of respecting nature and helping each other, providing a warm cultural bond for people from different countries and regions to enhance understanding and work together.
"Heaven does not speak, yet the four seasons proceed; Earth does not speak, yet all things grow." The Earth is the only home for human survival. Increasing efforts to address climate change and promoting sustainable development are related to the future of mankind. Let us join hands and create a better future for mankind through concrete actions of co-construction and sharing.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 尚嵘峥
On one side, there are houses built with poplar wood and red willow, plastered with mud, and leaking air in winter; on the other side, there are modern two-story buildings – a set of contrasting photos showing the tremendous changes in Daliyabuyi Village (达里雅布依村), Yutian County (于田县), Hotan Prefecture (和田地区), Xinjiang (新疆).
Daliyabuyi Village (达里雅布依村) was once an ancient village in the hinterland of the desert. In recent years, villagers have moved to the new village in batches from the "sea of sand." Watching big-screen TVs, starting agritainment businesses... the new life in the new home records the epoch-making changes in this desert oasis.
-- Editor
Deep in the Tarim Basin (塔里木盆地) in Xinjiang (新疆), the sun shines on the boundless desert, reflecting a golden hue. In the distance, the sparkling water is where the story begins – the Keriya River (克里雅河). It rushes down from the Kunlun Mountains (昆仑山脉), flowing more than 500 kilometers, and ventures into the hinterland of the Taklamakan Desert (塔克拉玛干沙漠), seemingly carrying a natural mission to nourish the land and nurture life.
It is unknown when people discovered this oasis full of red willow, poplar, and reeds, and settled here. They used local materials, using thick poplar wood to build the main beams and slender red willow to form the walls, building simple "wattle houses." Putting a layer of mutton in the flatbread and burying it in the hot sand to bake, that is the local people's favorite food, "Kumaiqi." It was not until the 19th century that Daliyabuyi Village (达里雅布依村) was discovered by the outside world.
The sand is flowing, and people must move too.
In 1989, Yutian County (于田县) established Daliyabuyi Township (达里雅布依乡), and the township government is located in the relatively concentrated residential area of Daliyabuyi Village (达里雅布依村) villagers. However, life in the village cannot be called convenient: the hallmarks of modern life such as the internet, permanent electricity, and communication facilities are all absent in Daliyabuyi Village (达里雅布依村); it is two to three hundred kilometers away from the county seat, but there is no road, only a simple path trodden out in the desert, and it often takes two or three days to go to the city. What is the way out for more than 1,000 villagers?
Move! The sand is flowing, and people must move too in order to have new development.
Since 2017, Daliyabuyi Village (达里雅布依村) has begun to relocate as a whole. The new home is still on the banks of the Keriya River (克里雅河), but life has undergone earth-shattering changes.
"Welcome to my new home." The new home of villager Aizireti Han Musha (艾孜热提罕·木沙) is a white two-story building with a yard. One building houses four families, uniformly planned and constructed by the local government. In the new home, appliances and furniture such as refrigerators, sofas, and wardrobes were all selected by her in the county seat. The three bedrooms and one living room are carefully arranged and look very cozy.
At more than 7 p.m., Aizireti Han Musha's (艾孜热提罕·木沙) son came back from school, turned on the TV, tuned to the children's channel, and watched with relish. He attends Daliyabuyi Township Central Primary School (达里雅布依乡中心小学), which is only a few hundred meters from his home.
With 12 teachers and 35 students, the school is small in scale, but the teaching facilities and quality are excellent. The instruments in the laboratory, the computers in the computer room, and the teaching aids in the office are all available. "Even if there is only one student, we will still hold classes normally," said Principal Aikranmu Jiang Aierken (艾克然木江·艾尔肯).
In the display cabinet in the classroom, there are several handmade small houses made of cardboard boxes and chalk boxes. "These are the 'homes' made by the children. Putting them here allows them to see them often, so that they can understand that the new home is hard-won," said Aikranmu Jiang Aierken (艾克然木江·艾尔肯).
The lifestyle of generations has now changed.
In order to make this shared new home better, a number of measures have been implemented here: an asphalt road about 90 kilometers long has been built from National Highway 315 (315国道) to the entrance of the village, making it easier for villagers to go to the city and for tourists to enter the village; when new houses are uniformly planned, fixed spaces are reserved for each household to open homestays and shops, ensuring that villagers have increased income; a health center equipped with a laboratory, examination room, ambulance and other facilities has sprung up, making it more convenient for villagers to seek medical treatment.
Tudi Han Aishan (图地罕·艾山), a chronic disease specialist at the health center, starts her day with home visits. She and her colleagues divide the work and visit each household to understand the progress of the patients' conditions and check whether the medicines are expired. Tudi Han Aishan (图地罕·艾山) grew up in the village. After graduating from Turpan Vocational Technical College (吐鲁番职业技术学院) in 2024, she returned to work in the familiar village.
"Now, in order to help villagers increase their income, in addition to continuing to develop Hotan sheep (和田羊) breeding, we are also exploring the development of Cistanche deserticola planting and desert tourism," said Li Sheng (李胜), a member of the Daliyabuyi Township (达里雅布依乡) Party Committee. The lifestyle of the villagers for generations has now changed. The local area has established a Hotan sheep (和田羊) breeding cooperative to uniformly manage the sheep flocks of villagers who go out to work. The cooperative gives priority to absorbing villagers who have difficulty going out to work, which not only liberates the young labor force, but also provides income-generating opportunities for villagers who stay in the local area.
In the one-person-high Haloxylon ammodendron forest, villagers dig open the sand with shovels, and the Cistanche deserticola, which looks like pangolin scales on the outside, reveals its true appearance. The high-temperature, arid climate and sandy soil conditions of Daliyabuyi Village (达里雅布依村) provide an ideal place for Cistanche deserticola to settle down. At present, the number of Hotan sheep (和田羊) in Daliyabuyi Village (达里雅布依村) has reached 38,000, and the planting area of Cistanche deserticola is 25,000 mu, with an average increase of 15,000 yuan per household for planting and breeding farmers.
Relying on the income from selling Cistanche deserticola, villager Pati Guli Wubuli Aishan (帕提古丽·吾不力艾山) opened a shop in the village. She started from scratch to learn how to select products and purchase goods, and managed the small shop into one of the shops with the most complete range of goods and the best business in the village.
Tens of thousands of tourists travel through the desert to the ancient village.
On social media platforms, Daliyabuyi Village (达里雅布依村) is synonymous with "desert adventure tourism." In recent years, the local area has established the Daliyabuyi Scenic Area (达里雅布依景区), incorporating the new village and the old village into the scenic area, and has also introduced tourism development enterprises to open up recreational projects such as desert motorcycles.
The new village is even more popular. The agritainment recreates the former "wattle houses," where villagers use the techniques passed down from generation to generation to make "Kumaiqi." Aizireti Han Musha (艾孜热提罕·木沙), who used to only take care of her family of three, has become a homestay housekeeper, responsible for cleaning the guest rooms and maintaining the facilities of more than 30 homestays.
In the old village, more than 130 kilometers away, the homestay business is even more booming. Those former old houses have now been renovated and become "Grandma Qiao Pahan's Coffee Shop (乔帕汗奶奶咖啡厅)," "Grandma Niyazi's Ramen Restaurant (尼亚孜奶奶拉面馆)," and so on. Tens of thousands of tourists travel through the desert to the ancient village.
When a new day comes, the morning sun penetrates the thin mist, the villagers sweep the sand in front of their doors, and the children walk through the square into the school. Daliyabuyi Village (达里雅布依村) wakes up again. The passenger bus starts and heads to Yutian County (于田县), passing by off-road vehicles carrying tourists. In the scene of tranquility and busyness intertwined, it condenses the profound enlightenment left to us by the "relocation record" of the ancient village - the hope of life is ahead.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 曹文轩 高 炳 徐驭尧
Have you ever had such troubles when traveling during holidays: carrying luggage for tourism, with beautiful landscapes in front of you, but being exhausted by the heavy bags; putting down the luggage to go sightseeing, but having to spend more time.
How to solve this problem? The "culture and tourism + instant delivery" model makes "go-as-you-please" travel easier and easier. In recent years, logistics and distribution service scenarios have become richer and the boundaries have continued to expand, providing convenience and support for tourists' travel. The cultural and tourism instant delivery covering "pick-up, delivery, purchase, and handling" has gradually become an important part of modern tourism services, which not only further releases consumption vitality and comprehensively enhances the tourist experience, but also brings more growth space for businesses and local culture and tourism.
Luggage Can Be Delivered: Convenient and Cost-Effective
Early in the morning, Mr. Wang (王先生) and his family from Beijing (北京) arrived at Sanya Station (三亚站) in Hainan (海南) by high-speed train. After getting off the train, Mr. Wang pushed two suitcases straight to the exit and came to the tourist information center at the station. Scanning the code, filling in information, identity authentication... In just a few minutes, the two large suitcases were deposited.
"Sanya (三亚) launched the 'Easy Travel' service, where luggage can be stored and delivered on behalf of you, so you can have more fun." After putting down his luggage, Mr. Wang's (王先生) family immediately went to the scenic spot to enjoy themselves. On the other side, the staff stationed at the "Easy Travel" Sanya Station (三亚站) planned the order route according to the process and delivered the luggage one by one.
"In addition to being convenient, it is also very cost-effective!" Tourist Li Su (李素) calculated the cost, "Go shopping during the day and leave by flight at night. If you come back to pick up your luggage yourself, it will cost about 60 yuan by taxi. And it only costs 15 yuan to have 'Easy Travel' deliver it to the airport."
"In the next stage, Sanya (三亚) will continue to expand the scope of the 'Easy Travel' service to realize all-round two-way delivery between airports, high-speed rail stations, hotels, scenic spots, shopping malls, and duty-free shops," said Yang Dianjing (杨典泾), Chief of the Planning and Development Section of the Sanya Tourism and Culture Radio, Television and Sports Bureau (三亚市旅游和文化广电体育局).
Highland Emergency Oxygen Delivery: Safer and More Reassuring
At four or five o'clock in the afternoon, a system prompt popped up on his mobile phone, and Liang Xiaogang (梁小岗), a rider in Lhasa (拉萨), Tibet Autonomous Region (西藏自治区), received an instant delivery order - "Deliver a few cans of oxygen cylinders to Lhasa Nanshan Park (拉萨南山公园). Note: Already climbed the mountain, need to send the oxygen cylinders up." At this time, the customer's phone also came: "We are tourists from other places, climbing in Nanshan Park (南山公园), my family suddenly feels uncomfortable and urgently needs oxygen!" "Coming soon!" Liang Xiaogang (梁小岗) quickly rushed to the store, took the oxygen cylinders, and rushed to Nanshan Park (南山公园).
Nanshan Park (南山公园) is a well-known outdoor check-in spot in Lhasa (拉萨). After climbing to the top, you can overlook the beautiful scenery of Lhasa (拉萨). The terrain here is steep, with many steps, and coupled with the high altitude, climbing here requires a lot of physical strength. "Some tourists don't have obvious altitude sickness when they first come to Lhasa (拉萨), but they start to feel uncomfortable halfway through the climb and need to inhale oxygen quickly. But there is no supply on the mountain, so instant oxygen delivery is needed," said Liang Xiaogang (梁小岗). On the viewing platform halfway up the mountain, he handed the oxygen cylinders to the tourists, and the stone in his heart finally fell to the ground.
The promotion of instant delivery services allows more diverse needs to be met.
When tourists come to the alley of Barkhor Street (八廓古城) by car, the vehicle cannot continue to go deeper, but the hotel is still one kilometer away, and the luggage cannot be moved in, what should I do? Set up the demand: deliver the luggage from the alley entrance to the room. After placing an order through the mobile phone, the rider rushed to the scene and delivered the luggage safely.
"It is also possible to solve the problem of long queues in 'internet celebrity' restaurants and check-in spots. "After the tourist places an order, the rider goes to queue up and get a number in advance; after the tourist arrives, it is handed over to the other party," Liang Xiaogang (梁小岗) said with a smile, "This is also a kind of delivery."
Hanfu Can Be Returned on Behalf of You: Saving Time and Effort
As dusk falls, the Great Tang All Day Mall (大唐不夜城) in Xi'an (西安), Shaanxi (陕西), has a long and ancient charm. Li Tianfei (李恬菲), a tourist from Sichuan (四川) wearing gorgeous Hanfu, a headdress, and exquisite makeup, recorded a day in the ancient city in the form of "travel photography" under the guidance of a photographer. Back at the hotel, Li Tianfei (李恬菲) took off her makeup while placing an order on her mobile phone, calling a nearby express rider to return the rented Hanfu and accessories on her behalf.
After receiving the order, rider Liu Liqun (刘荔群) rushed to the hotel lobby and took over Li Tianfei's (李恬菲) Hanfu packaging bag and accessories storage bag. After checking that everything was correct, he rushed to the Hanfu store, "This is the twenty-fifth order delivered today." Twenty minutes later, the Hanfu and accessories were returned to a Hanfu store near the Bell Tower (钟楼) on time.
"Return one piece, wash one piece, the work efficiency is quite high." Store manager Cao Zhangtong (曹张彤) took the Hanfu and said with a smile. A few years ago, clothing could only be returned to the store. Around 10 pm, the store was often crowded with tourists removing makeup and changing clothes, and the staff often had to work until late at night.
Now, when customers come to do makeup, the store will take out the storage bag provided by the logistics company and tell the tourists to classify and pack it before returning it. "The clothes received in the store are all classified by the tourists and checked by the riders, so everyone is more worry-free." Cao Zhangtong (曹张彤) said that now about 80% of customers choose "Hanfu return on behalf of you", and the service radius of the Hanfu store is also larger.
In the context of cultural tourism, instant delivery shows a unique value that transcends traditional logistics. "The innovative model of 'culture and tourism + instant delivery' not only opens up more growth space for the traditional logistics industry, but also quietly changes the service form of modern tourism," said Cui Lili (崔丽丽), Vice President of the Digital Economy Research Institute of Shanghai University of Finance and Economics (上海财经大学数字经济研究院).
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 史自强
As the north wind rises, the winter streets are always filled with the warm aroma of sugar-roasted chestnuts.
Many people believe that adding sugar to sugar-roasted chestnuts is mainly to increase sweetness. "Indeed, some of the sugar dissolves and penetrates into the gaps in the chestnut shell, but this is not the main purpose of adding sugar," explains Wang Lei (王磊), head of the Science and Technology Management Section of the Tangshan (唐山) Food and Drug Comprehensive Inspection and Testing Center in Hebei (河北). Under the action of high-temperature heating, the sugar undergoes a "caramelization reaction," giving the chestnut shell a shiny, reddish color. The caramel aroma produced by the sugar during the roasting process mixes with the chestnut's own aroma to form the signature "sugar-roasted chestnut fragrance." In addition, the melted sugar liquid cleverly forms a very thin protective film between the hot pebbles and the chestnut shell, which can prevent the chestnuts from sticking too much to the pebbles during frying and also make the heat transfer more gentle, effectively reducing the risk of the chestnuts being burnt.
If you want to better taste the sweetness of sugar-roasted chestnuts, you must also develop a pair of "discerning eyes":
First, look at the color. If the color of the chestnut shell looks like it has been smeared with thick ink, you need to be wary of whether paraffin oil has been added. Second, look at the shape. Give priority to those chestnuts with a round, bulging body; they are usually full inside and have thick flesh. Third, look at the cracks. Chestnuts with moderate cracks are not only thoroughly cooked but also easy to peel.
What if the inner skin of the chestnut is difficult to peel off? Two small tricks can easily solve the problem:
Microwave's "10-second sauna." Short heating can quickly vaporize the residual moisture in the pulp, separating the layer of inner skin that is "reluctant to leave" from the pulp.
Hot water "10-second hot spring bath." Soak the chestnuts in hot water for about 10 seconds, which allows the dry inner skin to absorb moisture and become soft, making it easier to peel off. Pay attention to the time, do not soak them for too long, otherwise it may affect the dry, fragrant, and glutinous taste of the chestnuts.
Return to TopBy: 于克南
Going to the gym to "pump iron" is a hobby in the daily life of many "sports enthusiasts." In fact, ancient people also "pumped iron."
In the second-floor exhibition hall of the Xuzhou Han Dynasty Stone Carving Art Museum (徐州汉画像石艺术馆) in Jiangsu (江苏), there is a set of Eastern Han Dynasty "Strongman Pictures" (力士图). The pictures show several strong men either carrying tripods and lifting cattle, or uprooting trees and taming tigers. On the bluestone, bulging muscles and the vigorous beauty of strength are vividly displayed.
Ancient people admired strength, and the bravery of Xiang Yu (项羽), the King of Chu (楚), in "uprooting mountains and carrying a tripod" has always been praised. "Uprooting mountains" is naturally an exaggerated statement, but "carrying a tripod" was indeed an ancient weightlifting activity.
"Carrying a tripod," also written as "lifting a tripod," is to lift the tripod over the head with both hands, much like the snatch in modern weightlifting. The "Strongman Pictures" unearthed in Honglou Village (洪楼村), Tongshan District (铜山区), Xuzhou (徐州), depict the scene of strongmen from the Chu (楚) region in the Eastern Han Dynasty exercising on bluestone. The strongman carrying a tripod on the right side of the picture is particularly eye-catching: his arms are as gnarled as ancient pine trees, and one foot is deeply embedded in the mud due to the weight. What is even more amazing is that the Han Dynasty craftsmen accurately expressed the state of muscle contraction in the stone carving: the waist and abdomen of the tripod carrier are as tight as armor, the muscles bulge, and even the bulging veins on the arm can be clearly seen when force is applied. The preciousness of this Han Dynasty stone carving lies in its high degree of documentary, faithfully recording a variety of training modes: in addition to the strongmen "pumping iron," there are also swordsmen practicing grip and wrist strength, tiger tamers training reaction speed, tree pullers strengthening back strength, and cattle carriers improving weight-bearing endurance.
Today, exercise methods are more diverse. The various sports equipment in gyms and community squares reflect people's pursuit and love for strengthening their bodies. When we gaze at the bulging muscles of the strongmen in the Han Dynasty stone carvings, and when we sweat in front of various sports equipment, the traditional fitness wisdom and the current national fitness concept are also intertwined and integrated.
(Author is a cultural and historical researcher of the Xuzhou (徐州) Municipal Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (市政协), interviewed and compiled by Bai Guangdi (白光迪), a reporter from this newspaper)
Return to TopLayout Design: Shen Yiling (沈亦伶)
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 宋朝军
Gansu Longnan Liangdang County (甘肃陇南两当县) boasts verdant mountains and charming rivers. Villages are scattered among the winding and continuous mountains, appearing and disappearing in the churning sea of clouds, with the Jialing River (嘉陵江) and Guangxiang River (广香河) flowing along their natural courses. Here, natural scenery of mountains and rivers intertwines, blending with the cultural sentiments of folk songs and customs.
In recent years, Liangdang County (两当县) has been increasing investment in the tourism industry by employing diverse integration and business innovation methods, relying on its local ecological and cultural resource advantages, continuously improving infrastructure construction, actively cultivating new "cultural tourism +" business formats, increasing villagers' economic income, and promoting county economic development. In 2023, seven villages, including Qiaohe Village (乔河村) in Yuchi Township (鱼池乡) and Taiyang Village (太阳村) in Jindong Township (金洞乡), were included in the sixth batch of the Chinese Traditional Villages List. In the same year, Liangdang County (两当县) was selected as a demonstration county (city, district) for the concentrated and contiguous protection and utilization of traditional villages.
-- Editor
Arriving in Gansu Longnan Liangdang County (甘肃陇南两当县), the white bark pine forests and Yunping Three Gorges (云屏三峡) create a poetic and idyllic rural life, while the Liangdang Labor Song (两当号子) and other intangible cultural heritages shape an inspiring, optimistic, and simple folk culture.
Lush Pine Forests, Picturesque Mountains
"Leaves fall like delicate silver hairpins, flowers fly like fragrant powder." The graceful white bark pines have taken root and multiplied in Lingguan Temple Village (灵官殿村), Yangdian Town (杨店镇), Liangdang County (两当县). Over the years, they have gradually formed a natural white bark pine forest reserve covering an area of more than 2,000 hectares with more than 500,000 trees.
Lingguan Temple Village (灵官殿村) is nestled among the white bark pine forests. White bark pines are not easy to grow and require the continuous nourishment of the surrounding ecosystem, as well as the harmonious coexistence of humans and nature. All along, villagers on the front lines of forest protection have actively participated and cooperated with relevant departments to protect the trees. Walking into the reserve, by the streams and valleys, on the steep and dangerous cliffs, every pine tree has strong and dense branches, covered in "white armor." It has also become an important habitat for rare and endangered wild animals and plants such as the forest musk deer, possessing rich biodiversity resources and serving as an important "germplasm resource bank" for Gansu (甘肃).
Vast forests, ancient pines, the white bark pine forest records the history of the village; towering cliffs and winding ridges, Yunping Three Gorges (云屏三峡) embellish the village's appearance.
Yunping Three Gorges (云屏三峡) is located in a deep mountain forest area, southeast of Liangdang County (两当县). As the saying goes, "connecting Bashu in the south and Qinlong in the north" (南通巴蜀，北接秦陇), historically, there was a Shudao (蜀道) road here from Guanzhong (关中) and the inland Northwest to Sichuan (四川). Along the way, one can see unique mountain shapes such as "Sleeping Lion Lying on the Waves" (睡狮卧波) and "Emerald Longevity Peach" (翡翠寿桃), and also enjoy sights such as "Double Zun Waterfall" (双樽瀑) and "Drinking Horse Pond" (饮马池). Waterfalls, karst caves, and other natural landscapes are rich and diverse, while ancient houses, stone pagodas, and other cultural buildings each have their own merits. The layered mountains, majestic passes, and dangerous terrain make the ancient road between the gorges difficult to travel; the beautiful environment of clear pools reflecting green and flying waterfalls makes the gorge village a desirable "Shangri-La" (世外桃源).
In the deep mountain gorge lies Piliang Village (皮良村), Yunping Town (云屏镇). This traditional village is backed by mountains and faces river valleys, with houses built against the mountains, ingeniously structured. On the double-sloped roofs, the blue-gray bricks and tiles are simple and elegant; in front of the courtyard gates, the bluestone slab roads meander; looking at the interior decoration, the wooden beams and pillars are exquisitely carved, revealing a refined taste.
"In order to attract more tourists to Piliang Village (皮良村), in recent years, the ancient village has implemented homestay renovation and upgrading projects, tourism supporting infrastructure construction projects, and put a lot of effort into comprehensive improvement of the living environment." Li Na (李娜), Deputy Director of the Liangdang County Culture, Sports, Radio, Television and Tourism Bureau (两当县文体广电和旅游局), introduced that on the basis of protecting traditional villages, Liangdang County (两当县) continues to promote the integration of agriculture, culture, and tourism. Lingguan Temple Village (灵官殿村), which focuses on health and leisure, Piliang Village (皮良村), which fully displays the gorge scenery, and Qiaohe Village (乔河村), which has thousands of acres of flowers... In Liangdang County (两当县), each traditional village has its own characteristics, and labels such as sketching base, natural oxygen bar, and "green treasure house" are becoming increasingly clear, and the villagers' wallets are also getting fatter.
Longnan Yuefu, Loud Labor Songs
Have you ever heard a labor song, with its intonation rising and falling, but without too many lyrics, mainly relying on interjections to express emotions? In the traditional villages of Liangdang County (两当县), you can often hear this special labor song - Liangdang Labor Song (两当号子).
In Piliang Village (皮良村) in the early morning, the mist has not yet cleared, and the ancient houses with blue tiles and white walls are faintly visible in the mountain valley. Suddenly, a high-pitched "Ai - yo ho wei" (哎——哟嗬喂) penetrates the bamboo forest, and Lin Mingliang (林明亮), the provincial representative inheritor of the national intangible cultural heritage "Liangdang Labor Song" (两当号子), is showing off his singing voice. In less than 10 minutes, Lin Mingliang (林明亮) and several villagers sang two labor songs, "Liu Bei Crossing the River" (刘备过江) and "Flying Moth Turning Cliff" (飞蛾子转崖), with high-pitched tunes, wide ranges, but the lyrics are all interjections such as "yo, yi, ho, ai" (吆、咦、嗬、哎). As an inheritor, Lin Mingliang (林明亮) has been singing Liangdang Labor Song (两当号子) for more than 40 years.
Liangdang Labor Song (两当号子) has been known as "Longnan Yuefu" (陇南乐府) since ancient times, and is mainly popular in the deep mountain forest area south of the Jialing River (嘉陵江) in Liangdang (两当). In the strange peaks and secluded valleys, the melody of the labor song jumps greatly, and the echo reverberates in the mountains and forests for a long time, with rich expressiveness.
Where does Liangdang Labor Song (两当号子) come from? It comes from labor life.
In ancient times, local villagers worked in different places in the mountains, and the back-and-forth shouting and communication was the prototype of the labor song. The sound of the labor song crossed mountains and ridges, which could not only transmit information and call companions, but also express emotions in busy work.
"When the sound of the labor song rises at the foot of the mountain, people on the mountain will take over and continue singing. When the person singing on the mountain takes a breath, the person starting to sing at the foot of the mountain and the person on the top of the mountain will continue to sing." Lin Mingliang (林明亮) said that the person stops but the labor song does not stop, and the sound of the labor song is continuous and rises and falls one after another.
This singing method mainly based on interjections is called "Hua Haozi" (花号子). In addition, there are some "Pai Haozi" (排号子) with a small amount of lyrics, and the tune is lower than "Hua Haozi" (花号子). In recent years, the Liangdang County Cultural Center (两当县文化馆) has collected and sorted out song lyrics, recorded song music, and encouraged intangible cultural heritage inheritors to take this sound gift from the mountains to farther places.
"We took the lead in establishing the Liangdang Labor Song Art Society (两当号子艺术社), carried out training, designed folk-custom-featured performance costumes, and coordinated the carrying out of intangible cultural heritage activities in scenic spots, schools, and communities." Lei Aihong (雷爱红), Deputy Curator of the Liangdang County Cultural Center (两当县文化馆), said. Now, there are nearly 100 inheritors and singers of Liangdang Labor Song (两当号子) at all levels in the county, and the lyrics of "Pai Haozi" (排号子) are also richer. In 2024, the Liangdang Labor Song Art Society (两当号子艺术社) created characteristic labor songs such as "Yunping Welcomes You" (云屏欢迎你), and also incorporated publicity and education content such as clean government education, traffic safety, fire protection, and anti-fraud into it.
Passed down to this day, villagers no longer have to rely on labor songs to transmit information, but the sound of the labor song has passed through the gurgling streams and floated over the towering green peaks, like rivers rushing and forest waves surging, interpreting the bold spirit and showing the happy life.
Return to TopBy: 杨 眉
In the depths of the vast desert, could colorful childhoods have been treasured? A silk toy garment in the Gansu Jian牘 Museum (甘肃简牍博物馆) provides an affirmative answer.
In 1979, this toy garment was unearthed from the Han Dynasty beacon tower site in Maquanwan (马圈湾), Dunhuang (敦煌). Recently, with the rise of "doll craze" and "doll clothing craze," this cultural relic from more than 2,000 years ago has once again entered the public eye. Maquanwan (马圈湾) was a military garrison on the frontier of Dunhuang (敦煌) during the Han Dynasty. Han Dynasty, doll clothing, military, entertainment—different nouns collide within the dimensions of the fabric.
After research, it has been confirmed that there was also a rich children's life on the frontier at that time. Han Dynasty children, like children today, had a natural pursuit of play. The key to confirming that this cultural relic is a toy garment lies first in its length of only 9 centimeters. At the same time, other cultural relics such as toy wooden carts and Cuju (蹴鞠) (an ancient Chinese football game) were unearthed with it, all with obvious entertainment functions.
Some people have also questioned: with such scarce resources on the frontier, how could there be surplus resources to make clothes for children's dolls? Guarding the border is already hard work, so how can one spare the energy to complete delicate handicrafts? According to analysis, the raw materials for sewing toy clothes may be leftover scraps of silk distributed by the government, or purchased at the Dunhuang Prefecture (敦煌郡) market at that time. Archaeological discoveries have also provided important clues. In the same site, a thimble, a sewing tool about 1.8 centimeters in diameter, was also unearthed. Judging from the Han Dynasty artifacts unearthed in the Dunhuang (敦煌) area and the records on bamboo slips, female family members accompanying the army also engaged in labor. This small toy garment was very likely made by the wives or mothers of the soldiers guarding the border in Dunhuang (敦煌).
The precious silk and fine stitches convey the deep love of frontier families for their children. It is not difficult for us to imagine such a warm scene: the father brings back the fabric, the mother carefully sews under the lamp, and finally the child personally puts it on the doll. These seemingly ordinary objects actually carry the emotional expression and creativity of Han Dynasty soldiers in daily life, and become valuable clues for studying the social customs of the time.
This toy garment also provides us with a unique perspective for understanding Han Dynasty clothing and the textile industry. It completely preserves the structure of the overlapping collar and right lapel—one of the most important cultural characteristics of Han Dynasty clothing. Its size ratio also basically conforms to the physical characteristics of children, reflecting that the style of children's clothing at that time was similar to that of adults in terms of basic shape.
The basic style shown by the toy garment is highly consistent with the mainstream characteristics of Hanfu (汉服) in the Central Plains, reflecting the widespread dissemination and far-reaching influence of Han culture in the Hexi Corridor (河西地区). At the same time, the conditions in the Hexi Corridor (河西地区) were relatively harsh, and guarding, farming, and animal husbandry became the norm of life. This regional characteristic is also subtly reflected in the design of the toy garment: its specific length and the width of the sleeves are different from those in the Central Plains, and the clothing is more inclined to be simple and neat.
In terms of production technology, the plain weave textile technology used in the production of toy garments is a basic and widely used textile technology. Fabrics made by this process are not easy to loosen, are strong and wear-resistant, and are easy to clean, which is exactly suitable for the sandy environment of the Hexi Corridor (河西地区), reflecting the wisdom of the people at that time in adapting to local conditions. Being able to make such exquisite "doll clothes" also reflects the popularization of family textile technology in the Han Dynasty.
The precious value of cultural relics lies in the density of information they carry and their irreplaceability. This seemingly inconspicuous Han Dynasty toy garment can become a treasure of the Gansu Jian牘 Museum (甘肃简牍博物馆) precisely because its significance transcends the purely technological level. It not only contains deep cultural value, but also opens a window to the emotional world of children on the Han Dynasty frontier—bringing out a gentle color that has not been buried by the yellow sand on the solemn background of the vast frontier.
(The author is the Deputy Curator and Research Librarian of the Gansu Jian牘 Museum (甘肃简牍博物馆), interviewed and compiled by Zeng Yichen (曾亦辰), reporter of this newspaper)
Return to TopBy: 张 宝
When you cook too much food and can't finish it, the refrigerator "makes a shining appearance." But, should food be cooled completely before being put in the refrigerator?
Some people believe that food should be cooled before being put in the refrigerator so as not to damage the refrigerator. Others believe that food is safer when put in the refrigerator while it's still hot.
In fact, from a safety and health perspective, food should be put in the refrigerator "while hot" and "as soon as possible." This can shorten the storage time of food in the "danger zone" temperature range, slow down the growth of harmful microorganisms, and reduce the risk of foodborne illnesses.
The "danger zone" refers to the temperature range most suitable for the rapid growth and reproduction of bacteria such as Salmonella, Staphylococcus aureus, and E. coli. The range of 4 degrees Celsius to 60 degrees Celsius is the "danger zone" for food: below 4 degrees Celsius, the growth rate of most bacteria slows down or stops, while above 60 degrees Celsius, the growth of most bacteria is inhibited or even unable to survive.
When food is exposed to room temperature, the bacteria inside will multiply rapidly. The longer the food is stored at room temperature, the greater the number of harmful microorganisms in the food. Generally speaking, food should not be stored at room temperature for more than 2 hours.
Undeniably, putting food with a higher temperature will increase the refrigerator's power consumption, but not by much. Modern refrigerators have well-designed refrigeration and temperature control systems, so they will not be greatly damaged as a result.
How can food be stored more scientifically and reasonably in the refrigerator? Here are a few things to keep in mind:
1. Portion and Seal: Use lidded containers to divide different types of food into small portions, seal them, and then store them.
2. Separate Raw and Cooked: Cooked and raw foods must be stored separately.
3. Leave Gaps: Appropriate gaps should also be left between the containers to ensure that cold air can circulate, resulting in higher cooling efficiency.
4. Strictly Control Time: Low temperatures can only inhibit bacterial growth, not kill bacteria. Vegetables should not be refrigerated for more than 24 hours, and meat should also be controlled within 2 days.
(The author is the director of the Clinical Nutrition Department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University (安徽医科大学第一附属医院), interviewed and compiled by Tian Xianjin (田先进), a reporter from this newspaper)
Return to TopBy: 朱轩林
The April 3, 2025, edition of this newspaper, page 15, reported in "Sandongqiao Village (三洞桥村) in Yixing City (宜兴市), Jiangsu Province (江苏省) - A Century-Old Dragon Kiln Paints a New Hue for the Ancient Village" that the purple clay from Huanglong Mountain (黄龙山) in Dingshu Town (丁蜀镇), Yixing (宜兴), Jiangsu (江苏) is also called "five-color soil." Even if the same kind of clay is fired at the same temperature, it will show different colors, which is "one color when entering the kiln, and ten thousand colors when leaving the kiln." Recently, a reader asked, how is "one color when entering the kiln, and ten thousand colors when leaving the kiln" achieved?
"One color when entering the kiln, and ten thousand colors when leaving the kiln" is a unique phenomenon formed during the firing of Yixing (宜兴) purple clay. The principle of its formation lies in the close interaction between the natural characteristics of purple clay ore and the processes of clay preparation, shaping, and firing.
The purple clay ore from Huanglong Mountain (黄龙山) in Dingshu Town (丁蜀镇), Yixing (宜兴) is known as "five-color soil" - the surface clay is reddish, and the deeper the clay, the more purple it is. This natural difference in mineral layers provides the conditions for the presentation of different colors.
The proportions of elements such as iron and silicon vary in the clay from different mineral layers and different locations, which means that even at the same temperature during firing, the clay will exhibit rich color levels due to the different degrees of oxidation and reduction of oxides. For example, clay with a high iron content may appear red in an oxidizing atmosphere, while it may turn purple or black in a reducing atmosphere.
The uncontrollability of the atmosphere inside the kiln is an important reason for the phenomenon of "ten thousand colors when leaving the kiln."
Regardless of traditional dragon kilns or modern kilns, factors such as the flow of flames, the adhesion of ash, and the gradient distribution of temperature in the kiln will lead to differences in the firing conditions in different locations and at different times in the same kiln. This uncontrollability makes each purple clay work unique - even clay from the same batch and pots of the same shape may exhibit completely different colors and textures due to the different atmospheres in the kiln.
The intervention of craftsmanship further affects the change of colors.
Craftsmen often mix and use clay from different mineral layers, or change the density and particle distribution of the clay through hammering and other techniques, so that the shrinkage rate is uneven during firing, naturally forming textures. During the firing process, experienced craftsmen can also judge and guide the atmosphere in the kiln by observing the color of the fire holes and adjusting the frequency of adding firewood. The collaboration between nature and human power allows each piece of purple clay ware to not only condense the historical precipitation of geological minerals, but also convey the craftsman's unique understanding of the beauty of fire and earth.
"One color when entering the kiln, and ten thousand colors when leaving the kiln" is the result of the combined effect of the complex mineral composition of purple clay and the physical and chemical effects during the forming and firing process. The characteristics of natural materials, the fluctuations of the kiln environment, and the intervention of human skills weave this color symphony of clay and fire.
(The author is the curator of the China Yixing Ceramic Museum (中国宜兴陶瓷博物馆), and this article was compiled by Yao Xueqing (姚雪青), a reporter from this newspaper.)
Return to TopLayout Design: Shen Yiling (沈亦伶)
Return to TopTo strive to be a torchbearer of Peking Opera art
Liu Changyu (刘长瑜) (Peking Opera Performing Artist)
In January 2025, on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the National Peking Opera Company (国家京剧院), General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) replied to the young artists of the company. The encouragement and expectations between the lines still resonate in my heart. As the first generation of literary and art workers cultivated by New China, I have personally experienced the new era and witnessed the high regard and deep concern of the Party and the state for the quintessence of Chinese art. I feel a great responsibility as an inheritor of Peking Opera art.
Not long ago, the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles (中国文联) awarded me the "China Federation of Literary and Art Circles Lifetime Achievement Award." This is both a spur and encouragement to me, as well as a new entrustment to continue the inheritance and live up to the times.
The "correctness" of Peking Opera lies in the essence of its stylized techniques, but even more so in the core of its cultural spirit. Upholding correctness is by no means sticking to conventions, but rather thoroughly understanding the tradition and the characters, so that the stylized techniques serve the character shaping, and that the loyalty, righteousness, national sentiment, and the brilliance of human nature carried by Peking Opera can be passed down from generation to generation. The company carefully planned and compiled "Seventy Years of String Music, Eternal Charm of the Capital - A Pictorial Scroll of the 70th Anniversary of the Founding of the National Peking Opera Company," summarizing the artistic experience of the senior artists. This is not only a tribute to the predecessors' adherence to tradition, but also a continuation of the company's artistic style of artistic rigor and stage freshness, laying a solid foundation for upholding correctness and innovation.
Innovation in Peking Opera is not about creating novelty by breaking away from tradition, but rather an artistic pursuit of "understanding the characters and resonating with the audience's hearts." The artists of the National Peking Opera Company (国家京剧院) have been skilled at inheriting and courageous in innovating. I have followed the artistic spirit of my predecessors and sages, and when shaping new roles such as Meiying, Chuncao, and Li Tiemei, I have carefully designed and naturally revealed them, striving for a thousand faces in one person, deeply exploring the spiritual core of the characters, both satisfying the audience's aesthetic needs for the Peking Opera's own techniques and demonstrating artistic creation that brings forth the new from the old.
Young people are the future of Peking Opera. For the future of Peking Opera, I am willing to be a willing ox, dedicating light and heat unconditionally. In March 2025, the National Peking Opera Company (国家京剧院) opened a training class for *The Red Lantern*, and the Urumqi Peking Opera Troupe (乌鲁木齐市京剧团) (Xinjiang Peking Opera Troupe (新疆京剧团)) sent young actors to participate in the training. I explained to the students the key points of Li Tiemei's character shaping and taught the essence of performance. Now this play has been successfully performed in Urumqi (乌鲁木齐), allowing the red classic to bloom in the borderlands. In 2025, my first book systematically recording artistic experience, *Yu Cai Liu Chang - A Critical Biography of Liu Changyu*, was published. If young actors can be inspired by my decades of creative performance in the company, I will be deeply gratified.
In 2026, I plan to teach *Yue Lai Dian* and *Yin Kong Shan*, to help young actors grow into artistic talents who can shoulder important responsibilities.
I am willing to use my lifelong adherence to let Peking Opera art continue to radiate the brilliance of the times, and contribute my meager strength to building a strong cultural country.
Living warmly with a warm heart
Pan Hong (潘虹) (Actor)
I am fortunate. At this age, no matter how many twists and turns I have experienced, my enthusiasm for art has not diminished. On the stage and in film and television dramas, I still have dreams and desires.
As long as there is an audience, there is a stage, and there is a movie. All along, I have always regarded the audience as family, and every character I play reflects their figures. From the movie *Stock Fever* to the stage play *Blossoms*, and then to the 2025 movie *Cabbage and Pork Wonton* - performing in Shanghainese dialect is my obsession, and also my sincere expression of this profession. Shanghai (上海) is a city that embraces all rivers, and also a city rooted in the deep soil of Chinese culture. Shanghainese, as a unique language and culture, needs us to inherit and protect it together.
I also hope to become listeners to each other with the audience in familiar cities and familiar contexts. Each of us is the protagonist of our own lives. Parents are the most important feng shui in the family; the wontons they make are the coordinates of home. I hope that through the work *Cabbage and Pork Wonton*, the younger generation can realize: Where do you come from? Where should your heart return?
Perhaps few people have imagined what love looks like when it grows old, but in the parents in *Cabbage and Pork Wonton*, you will see - it turns out that the habit of love is eternal, their whole life is a lifetime.
They are the background color of this city, like a tree, with rings of irreplaceable annual rings, engraved with the hardships of life, and also printed with happiness and youth. They have come, cried, laughed, loved... This also reminds us that no matter what age we are in, we should choose to live warmly with a warm heart, even with pain, we should still move forward bravely.
Love and hate, life and death, human nature, soul... These common human propositions hide the fragility and helplessness in everyone's heart. I hope that time can treat every parent kindly, and that they can live in peace and health in our limited images, with smiles forever.
"Knowing contentment, and also knowing insufficiency." The profession of an actor often makes people feel the meaning of existence, because the audience is always so tolerant - what they value most is sincerity. I will always wait for the next suitable but unknown role, but what remains unchanged is my sincere love for movies.
Looking back on the past is to remind myself not to get lost in time. I will continue to ignite myself for the role, so that the ordinary and common feelings of this moment become a new driving force for creation.
Blessings for 2026 - may everything be as you wish, and as I wish.
Continue to draw strength from tradition
Chen Liaoyu (陈廖宇) (Art Director) Li Zao (李早) (Chief Producer)
The domestic animation of 2025 was brilliant. The animated film *The Little Demon of Langlang Mountain* was fortunate to witness the vigorous development of the industry. The audience's love is not only an honor, but also prompts us to think about the creative direction and development path of domestic animation.
Looking back on 2025, the cultural confidence and innovative vitality shown by the industry are inspiring. Chinese stories are not only contained in the heaven-shaking and earth-shattering heroic epics, but also shine on every ordinary person who lives seriously. The transformation of creative ideas has promoted domestic animation to create a unique style and character. The creation of *The Little Demon of Langlang Mountain* is a "supplement" and "dialogue" to *Journey to the West*. The choices of the "little demons" are related to the meaning of dreams; their warmth is hidden in the consideration of "reporting good news but not bad news" when returning home; their growth comes from those kind choices of "knowing that it is impossible but doing it anyway."
Eastern aesthetics is our persistent pursuit in visual expression. *The Little Demon of Langlang Mountain* delves into traditional aesthetics, drawing nourishment from the artistic conception of ink and wash and the vigorous lines of line drawing, and uses modern light and shadow shaping, flowing space design, and emotional lens language to make cultural symbols such as the solemnity of Foguang Temple (佛光寺) and the spirituality of Jinci (晋祠) jump on the screen. What we are exploring is not only the exquisite animation background, but also making the visual become the externalized carrier of the character's emotions, and become the extended tentacles of the story's artistic conception, allowing the audience to have a deep resonance with the emotions in the story in the flow of light and shadow.
In 2025, the vitality of a movie is breaking through the boundaries of the screen and giving birth to a new ecology. The "little demons" walked out of "Langlang Mountain" and deeply integrated into people's lives in rich and diverse forms: theme exhibitions, XR experiences and other real-life entertainment allow the audience to become part of the story; the ancient buildings and rivers and mountains of Shanxi (山西) have been revitalized by the story; a doll or gourd kettle that accompanies them becomes the audience's emotional sustenance. In today's cultural context, movies are far from the end of one-way communication, but are constantly expanding boundaries with the "movie+" model, opening up a broader and more resilient world.
At the beginning of the new year, our hearts are full of hope, and we look forward to Chinese animation continuing to deeply cultivate the fertile cultural soil, and tell more "Chinese stories" with contemporary perspectives, superb skills, and open ecology. In the future, we will continue to work with all our peers and countless audiences who love animation to draw strength from tradition and find coordinates in the times, so that every ordinary and unique life can find its own light and shadow moment in the world of movies.
Promote Chinese lacquer art and Qin music well
Min Junrong (闵俊嵘) (Cultural Relics Restorer at the Palace Museum (故宫博物院))
2025 is the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Palace Museum (故宫博物院). I participated in the original protection and restoration projects of the Yangxin Hall (养心殿), Changchun Palace (长春宫), and Qianlong Garden (乾隆花园).
To cooperate with the museum's anniversary exhibition "Centennial Guardianship," I completed the maintenance work of the Tang Dynasty (唐代) guqin "Jiuxiao Huanpei (九霄环佩)." This important instrument in the Qin music world is more than 1,300 years old and was once known as the only Tang Qin with "nine virtues." It has left traces of restoration from different historical periods. For this maintenance, we did a lot of research and preparation in the early stage, and achieved the expected maintenance goals with the least amount of intervention, presenting the most complete historical information to the audience.
The ancient Chinese used the word "lacquer" to refer only to the natural lacquer harvested from lacquer trees, and the word "Qin" to refer only to what we now call the "guqin." The Palace Museum (故宫博物院) is the cultural and museum institution with the largest collection of ancient lacquerware and guqin. These collections are important material carriers of 9,000 years of lacquer art history and 3,000 years of Qin music history.
The Palace Museum's (故宫博物院) collection of lacquerware totals approximately 25,000 pieces, and its decorative techniques are so diverse that it is difficult to know them all. The lacquerware warehouse of the Arts and Crafts Group of the Department of Artifacts alone houses 17,706 sets, which does not include 88 guqin. In addition, according to the type of craftsmanship, the Department of Court History, the Department of Calligraphy and Painting, the Department of Ancient Architecture, the Library and other departments also house lacquered objects involving ritual vessels, weapons, vehicles, sedan chairs, and interior decoration. Our daily work is to protect and restore these lacquerware cultural relics.
"Linglong Yu (玲珑玉)" is a Song Dynasty (宋代) imperial guqin, a national treasure-level Song Qin standard instrument. The "Imperial Book Treasure" seal with gold-filled lacquer is a symbol of its identity. We used CT and other testing and analysis methods to study its production process, analyze the causes of diseases, and formulate protection and restoration plans. We used traditional materials and techniques to complete the missing Huzhen and Qin emblem, restoring its complete shape. The most time-consuming was the imitation of the Tang Dynasty (唐代) "Feiquan (飞泉)" Qin. From finding ancient paulownia wood to fumigation and insecticidal treatment, chopping wood, mounting cloth, applying ash, and then applying layers of lacquer, through the cold and heat, the main body of the imitation has been completed, and the strings have been tested, and the sound is clear and ancient.
In March 2025, I was invited to the Getty Conservation Institute in the United States (美国盖蒂保护研究所) to attend a lacquerware protection conference, where I discussed the international status of the field, education and training of practitioners, and other issues with experts from all over the world who have long been engaged in the protection and restoration of lacquerware cultural relics. I exchanged information on the scientific protection and traditional intangible cultural heritage restoration techniques of Chinese lacquerware. I also found in the exchange that there is still a lot of work to be done in the international dissemination of Chinese lacquerware and guqin culture.
In 2026, restoring the Song Dynasty (宋代) guqin in the museum's collection will still be my focus. I hope to promote the protection of lacquerware cultural relics in the Yuhua Pavilion (雨花阁) through cross-professional and cross-disciplinary collaboration. I will also explore the deep integration of traditional restoration techniques and modern technology, further cooperate with universities, and improve the training model for museum talents.
The Palace Museum (故宫博物院) is a Chinese cultural living room for civilization exchange and mutual learning. In 2026, my colleagues and I will continue to do a good job in the protection of cultural heritage, so that cultural relics can play a greater value, so that lacquer art and Qin music can resonate at the same frequency, and so that Chinese lacquer culture and Qin music culture can be more widely disseminated.
Firmly take the road of film
Shen Ao (申奥) (Director)
Gratitude is my keyword for 2025.
It is difficult for creators to predict what kind of subject matter they will encounter at what stage of their lives. Meeting the movie *Nanjing Photo Studio* in 2025 was the right stage for my creative impulse and experience accumulation. I am grateful to the film party for entrusting such an important subject matter to me, a young director; I am grateful to all the crew members for their cooperation in completing the film production; I especially want to thank the audience for choosing to go to the cinema to support this film and remember this history.
More importantly, because *Nanjing Photo Studio* was screened overseas, audiences in other countries were able to learn about this indelible history. I think this is the responsibility and mission that film bears in addition to its narrative nature. I am grateful to *Nanjing Photo Studio* for making me more determined to take the road of film.
The movie *The Use of Force* focuses on the theme of "peace" like *Nanjing Photo Studio*. The camera is a prop that runs through the two movies, and it is also a character without lines. In *Nanjing Photo Studio*, the camera is a tool for Japanese invaders to cover up their crimes and promote violence; in *The Use of Force*, the camera helps the protagonist record the truth and call for peace in the war. I hope that every movie of mine has a machine symbol. For example, in the next movie, there may be a person holding a camera or video camera, and this person is more like myself. The person holding the camera represents my thinking about media changes and the world situation.
Today's movies inevitably face the challenges of new media. Audiences are accustomed to fragmented information, and what attracts them to the cinema is always the immersive experience that cannot be replaced by big-screen viewing. This requires film works to not only use audio-visual impact to "grab" the audience's eyes, but also use emotions to "grab" the audience's hearts. For our generation of filmmakers, it may be difficult to surpass our predecessors in terms of production difficulty, but there is still broad room for expansion in the pursuit of the theme of the work.
In 2025, we saw that new technologies represented by AI are changing the film industry. But this also brings problems, that is, we have no way to verify the authenticity of these AI-processed videos and photos. It may bring deception, and we must be vigilant and pay attention to identification. In the 1940s, the world's first computer was born. At that time, people believed that future computers might replace humans. Eighty years have passed, and computers have only helped humans improve productivity and production efficiency. AI is the same. In my opinion, AI is a digital tool with distinct edges and corners; and human emotions and souls are infinitely soft, and therefore, humans can understand and tolerate each other.
In 2026, the TV series I am about to shoot may use AI on a larger scale. But I always believe that the charm of art lies in the resonance of souls, which AI can never replace.
(Interview and compilation by Ren Shanshan (任姗姗) and Liu Yang (刘阳))
Return to TopBy: 王 瑨
History is written page by page. History tells us that only by taking one step after another, one journey after another, will the dreams in our hearts become the path beneath our feet.
More than 120 years ago, the Chinese film pioneers who filmed the Peking Opera *Dingjun Mountain* (《定军山》) would not have imagined that today's screens would have such diverse human stories and such graceful and magnificent artistic imaginations. We will be moved to tears by "our great rivers and mountains, not an inch of land will be given up," and we will "salute every brave departure"... In the new year, we look forward to more excellent films emerging, illuminating the "Wandering Mountain" of life, and illuminating our confidence, integrity, and ambition.
"Allowing us to stride forward, gazing and chatting in its midst." A hundred years ago, the Forbidden City (紫禁城) was opened to the public. Newspapers recorded the joy of people spreading the news, and now, all of this has long become commonplace. Crowds of tourists, a dazzling array of cultural and creative products, and superb cultural relic restoration skills, from the royal private garden to the People's Museum, a vivid picture of the continuous cultural heritage of a nation is vividly displayed in the vigorous development of the century-old Palace Museum (故宫).
Looking again at the art world, the youth version of *The Peony Pavilion* (《牡丹亭》) has been performed more than 500 times in more than 20 years, attracting millions of viewers, and "beautiful moments like flowers" arrive gracefully; the Youth Troupe of the National Peking Opera Company (国家京剧院) has continuously launched key plays, with the older generation of artists "passing on experience and leading the way," allowing young people to realize their "leading role dreams"... In the new era, literature and art and the people meet head-on in the scene of life—the brushstrokes and light and shadow of countless ordinary people converge, "we are ultimately extraordinary because of our ordinariness."
The wisdom and resilience of the Chinese people is that they can always turn the word "impossible" into tireless, vibrant, and innovative creations. From a drop of water, we can see the rushing of rivers; from the rushing great rivers, we can feel the vividness of a drop of water. Even a passage of opera, a set of cultural relics, or a paper-cut can make people truly feel our nation's deep love and optimism for life.
Today's China, "ancient" and "new" are blending to create a different temperament—more and more overseas media are beginning to describe China as "cool." From *Ne Zha* (哪吒), who "resisted fate," topping the global box office charts for animated films to "Chinese War Dance," Chinese trendy toy "LABUBU," micro-dramas, and artificial intelligence large models that have amazed the world, it is both traditional and fashionable, both confident and approachable. The world is feeling the inclusiveness, diversity, and youthful vitality of "Cool China."
From following "foreign style" to marveling at "Cool China," it is the countless people who have silently cultivated and continued to struggle that have allowed us to complete our transformation. Today, we are eager to tell our own stories more proactively and calmly. During the first "Intangible Cultural Heritage version" of the Spring Festival, more than 3.43 million foreign tourists experienced the bustling atmosphere of the Chinese New Year on the ground. We look at the world with the perspective of "harmony and beauty, harmony but not uniformity," and we also pass on our attitude of looking at the world. If "prejudice in people's hearts is a mountain," we believe that the mountain is not insurmountable.
A quarter of the 21st century has passed, and looking back, there is always a sense of great changes. The new creations of the Internet era are refreshing, and "technology + culture" brings more surprises, but we also know that the subjectivity of people is the biggest background in this magnificent era. Just like on Bilibili (B站), the most frequently sent barrage in 2025 is "Salute," and 80% of the senders are from the post-00s generation. They salute heroes, salute creativity, salute love, and salute kindness and courage.
The wheels of time never stop, and the footsteps of strivers are always moving forward. We have increasingly clearly heard the footsteps of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
Striding forward on the journey of Chinese-style modernization, we are so confident in today's thriving China! The expedition with dreams in mind is never afraid of mountains and rivers, or thousands of dangers and difficulties. Tomorrow's China will surely be even more desirable!
Return to TopThis edition's email: ysbjs@peopledaily.cn
Layout design: Zhang Fangman (张芳曼), Cai Huaweiwei (蔡华伟)