Summary: The 成渝 (ChengYu) region, encompassing Chengdu and Chongqing, is becoming a significant growth pole for China, with its economic output rising to 6.5% of the national total since 2019. Under Xi Jinping's guidance, 川渝 (Sichuan and Chongqing) are collaborating on over 400 major projects, including the construction of high-capacity power transmission lines. The region focuses on technological innovation and industrial upgrades, developing new industries and transforming traditional ones. 川渝 is also promoting reform and opening-up, establishing cross-provincial collaborative mechanisms in areas like taxation and judicial affairs. The article does not mention or allude to The United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: The article emphasizes the need for China to balance consumption and investment to build a strong domestic market, which is seen as a strategic pillar of Chinese-style modernization. It advocates for policies that stimulate both consumer spending and strategic investment in areas like technology, infrastructure, and public services (healthcare, elder care). The article calls for reforms to create new demands through innovation, facilitate new consumer scenarios and spaces, and remove unreasonable restrictions on consumption. Ultimately, this dual approach is presented as crucial for navigating external uncertainties and maintaining economic growth. There is no discussion of the United States or U.S.-China relations in the article.
Summary: Premier Li Qiang chaired a State Council executive meeting on January 9th, focusing on stimulating domestic demand through coordinated fiscal and financial policies. The meeting emphasized optimizing policies to boost consumer spending and private investment, including interest subsidies for loans and special guarantee programs. Efforts to equalize basic public services for permanent residents regardless of *hukou* status were also discussed, focusing on education, housing, social insurance, and healthcare. The meeting additionally reviewed and approved a revised draft of regulations regarding natural reserves.
Summary: In 2025, China's disciplinary inspection and supervision organs at all levels focused on addressing corruption and misconduct impacting the populace, concentrating on issues like misappropriated farming subsidies and poor school meals. Nationwide campaigns targeted problems related to school meals, rural collective assets, rural revitalization funds, medical insurance funds, and elder care. From January to November 2025, 840,000 cases of misconduct and corruption were investigated, resulting in the punishment of 536,000 people. Disciplinary organs also focused on systemic solutions and prevention, pushing for better oversight of medical insurance funds and issuing recommendations for improvements. The article does not mention the United States.
Summary: Politburo Standing Committee member and Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang met with Disney CEO Bob Iger in Beijing on January 9th. Ding stated that China's economic success benefits the world and reaffirmed China's commitment to high-quality development and opening up, inviting Disney and other foreign companies to invest in China. Iger expressed Disney's confidence in China's development and committed to expanding investment and promoting U.S.-China exchange and cooperation. The meeting indicates a continued interest in attracting foreign investment and fostering U.S.-China relations through economic cooperation.
Summary: In 2025, China's postal sector revenue and volume reached 1.8 trillion yuan and 216.5 billion pieces, respectively, representing year-on-year increases of 6.4% and 11.5%. Specifically, express delivery revenue hit 1.5 trillion yuan with 199 billion parcels, marking 6.5% and 13.7% annual growth, respectively. During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, the postal sector saw average annual revenue growth exceeding 10%. Per capita annual express usage reached 141 pieces, with a peak daily volume of 777 million pieces. There is no indication of the United States or U.S.-China relations in the report.
Summary: China's National Healthcare Security Administration, in conjunction with the Ministry of Finance, issued a notice on January 9th expanding the scope of employee basic medical insurance personal accounts from intra-provincial to nationwide. The reform, framed as a response to evolving trends and public needs, aims to convert individual medical insurance funds into "family health funds" benefiting childcare and elderly care. The rollout, proceeding from provincial to national levels, emphasizes a measured approach to ensure stability and long-term progress. The move is presented as prioritizing public concerns and welfare through practical and well-managed reforms.
Summary: In 2025, China authorized 972,000 invention patents and registered 4.206 million trademarks. The number of valid domestic invention patents in China now exceeds 5 million, with 16 high-value invention patents per 10,000 people, exceeding the 14th Five-Year Plan target. Technology contract value involving patents reached over one trillion yuan, and patent-intensive industries' added value rose to 13.38% of GDP in 2024, up from 11.97% in 2020. The banking sector has issued over 900 billion yuan in intellectual property pledge loans.
Summary: At a State Council Information Office press conference on January 9th, the Ministry of Water Resources reported on progress in accelerating the construction of the national water network, with investments in 2025 reaching 1.28 trillion yuan and attracting 147.6 billion yuan in social capital, a record high. They also noted that 79 rivers have been reconnected and 9 lakes have had their ecological water levels restored through the "Mother River Recovery Action" since 2022. The Ministry will continue with major water projects in 2026 to improve regional flood control, water supply, and grain production capabilities. The report did not mention the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: The article highlights the innovation, confidence, and resilience of Chinese private enterprises. It discusses how private companies are driving innovation in areas like lightweight satellites, medical robots, and intelligent manufacturing, contributing to new quality productive forces. The piece also emphasizes government efforts to optimize the business environment through legal protections and streamlined market access, fostering confidence among private entrepreneurs. Private companies, including specialized "little giants," are described as strengthening supply chains and expanding both domestic and international markets, actively contributing to China's foreign trade.
Summary: This article describes the practice of drying preserved meats by merchants in Anchang Ancient Town, Shaoxing, Zhejiang Province. Leveraging traditional soy sauce brewing techniques and preserved meat-making customs, merchants produce items like bacon, soy-stewed duck, and dried fish. The practice has become a unique winter scene for the region. There is no mention of the United States or U.S.-China relations in this article.
Summary: China's National Healthcare Security Administration, in conjunction with the Ministry of Finance, issued a notice expanding the use of individual employee basic medical insurance accounts to allow for cross-provincial mutual aid. The policy allows insured employees to share funds with close relatives across provinces for medical expenses, resident medical insurance, and long-term care insurance premiums. This builds upon previous intra-provincial efforts, which have seen significant usage. The notice also outlines requirements for the management and settlement of cross-provincial mutual aid funds.
Summary: In December 2025, China's CPI rose 0.8% year-on-year and 0.2% month-on-month due to increased consumer demand fueled by pro-consumption policies and the approaching New Year holiday. The core CPI, excluding food and energy, rose 1.2% year-on-year. China's PPI increased by 0.2% month-on-month but decreased 1.9% year-on-year, influenced by international commodity prices and domestic supply-side policies. Price increases were seen in coal, lithium-ion batteries, and cement manufacturing, while policies aimed at optimizing market competition showed signs of progress. There is no mention of the United States or U.S.-China relations in this report.
Summary: The State Administration for Market Regulation and the Cyberspace Administration of China jointly issued the "Measures for the Supervision and Administration of Online Transaction Platform Rules" to regulate the formulation, modification, and execution of online transaction platform rules. The measures aim to address issues like "refunds only," platform "fines," and "downgrading membership levels," which have drawn public concern. The regulations prohibit platforms from using rules to unreasonably restrict merchants' operations, charge unreasonable fees, or reduce member rights. Platforms are required to establish mechanisms for communication, consultation, and dispute resolution, as well as ensure information, network, and data security.
Summary: China's foreign exchange reserves reached a high of $3.3579 trillion at the end of December 2025, the highest since December 2015, according to the State Administration of Foreign Exchange. The increase in reserves is attributed to positive valuation effects from exchange rate conversions and asset price changes influenced by major economies' monetary policies, macroeconomic data, and the continued strong performance of China's exports. Analysts noted that the U.S. Federal Reserve's interest rate cuts during the year and fluctuations in U.S. bond yields impacted global asset prices and exchange rates. The ongoing strength of the Chinese economy and confidence in RMB assets also contributed to the stability of the foreign exchange reserves. The State Administration of Foreign Exchange stated that China's long-term positive economic outlook supports continued stability in foreign exchange reserves.
Summary: In a congratulatory letter for the opening of the 2026 China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges, Xi Jinping emphasized the importance of mutual learning for China and Africa's modernization and identified the direction and principles for related cooperation. African figures interviewed highlighted the vision Xi's letter portrayed, expressing confidence that the initiative would deepen dialogue and promote the development of China-Africa relations. They also noted that strengthened people-to-people exchanges are essential for the Global South to jointly address global challenges. Interviewees also highlighted how this cooperation can help promote a more just international order.
Summary: Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter to the opening ceremony of the 2026 "China-Africa People-to-People Exchange Year," emphasizing the importance of mutual learning between civilizations for advancing China-Africa modernization. The "China-Africa People-to-People Exchange Year," marking the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations, includes nearly 600 exchange activities focused on strengthening friendship and pursuing modernization. Both sides will further strengthen exchanges and cooperation on governance, and China's modernization experience is increasingly empowering African countries. As forces in the Global South, China and Africa will promote global solidarity in the face of global challenges.
Summary: The article focuses on President Lee Jae-myung's visit to China, emphasizing the potential for 2026 to be a "year of full restoration" for South Korea-China relations, following a period of strained ties. The piece highlights historical ties and growing trade and people-to-people exchanges, while also referencing past misunderstandings and the importance of mutual respect. Xi Jinping met with Lee and advocated for "harmony" and collaboration despite differences. The article concludes by calling for both countries to strengthen cooperation and jointly uphold historical truth and regional stability in a complex international environment.
Summary: Wang Yi met with African Union Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat in Addis Ababa for the 9th China-AU Strategic Dialogue. Wang emphasized China's commitment to its relationship with the AU, noting President Xi's consistent greetings to AU summits and the tradition of the Chinese Foreign Minister's first annual visit being to Africa, marking 70 years of China-Africa diplomatic relations. He affirmed China's support for the AU's independent development and role in regional affairs. Wang also stated China's willingness to work with the AU on global initiatives and promote multilateralism. Mahamat reciprocated, emphasizing the AU's adherence to the one-China principle and appreciation for China's support.
Summary: Peng Qinghua, Vice Chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, met with a delegation from Iran's Expediency Council in Beijing on January 9th. Both sides expressed a desire to use the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the China-Iran comprehensive strategic partnership as a new starting point. They also pledged to implement the important consensus reached by the two countries' heads of state. They hope to promote the continuous development of bilateral relations by leveraging the roles of legislative bodies and party-to-party exchanges.
Summary: Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning announced the launch of the "China-Africa Year of People-to-People and Cultural Exchanges" at the African Union headquarters on January 8th during a press conference on January 9th. Throughout 2026, China and Africa will hold nearly 600 cultural exchange activities under the theme of "Consolidating All-Weather Friendship and Pursuing the Dream of Modernization Together." This initiative was agreed upon by President Xi Jinping and African leaders at the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Beijing Summit.
Summary: DHL Group CEO Tobias Meyer, in an interview, emphasized China's vital role in DHL's global strategy, highlighting its transformation into a global innovation center, particularly in automation and smart logistics. Meyer noted China's advanced infrastructure and market size as key to DHL's expansion, with ongoing investments in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. DHL has established a China business center in Germany to support Chinese companies expanding into Europe. Meyer also acknowledged the "Belt and Road" initiative, promoting global trade cooperation and new development opportunities for logistics companies like DHL.
Summary: During a visit to Ethiopia from January 7-9, 2026, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Foreign Minister Gedion. Both sides pledged to deepen cooperation in traditional areas like trade and infrastructure, as well as new sectors like digital economy and green energy, aiming to establish a model "all-weather community with a shared future." Ethiopia reaffirmed its adherence to the One China Principle and its support for China's reunification efforts. China voiced support for Ethiopia's chosen development path, opposing external interference, and praised the country's role in the Horn of Africa, supporting dialogue to strengthen connectivity and integration.
Summary: The Central Propaganda Department and the Ministry of Public Security jointly announced the "Most Beautiful Grassroots Police Officers" to promote law and order. Twenty officers were selected for their dedication to duty, including fighting crime, utilizing technology in police work, protecting minors, and safeguarding borders. These officers embody the commitment of public security to the people, serving as role models for other officers. The announcement included a call for officers to remain loyal to the Party and uphold national security and social stability. A special program featuring the officers will be broadcast soon.
Summary: Marking the 6th Chinese People's Police Day, the article praises the dedication and achievements of the People's Police in maintaining social stability and enhancing public safety. It highlights their commitment to the Party and the people, citing examples of border security in Xinjiang, security for major events like the 2025 Tiananmen Square parade, and disaster relief in Tibet. The piece also emphasizes efforts to combat crime, including telecom fraud and cross-border illegal activities, as well as reforms to improve police services and create a better business environment. The article focuses on domestic issues, and there is no mention of the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: A symposium on sports culture construction was held in Xiamen, Fujian, emphasizing sports culture's role in advancing socialist culture and contributing to a strong cultural and sporting nation. The meeting stressed integrating sports culture with spiritual civilization, promoting mainstream values in sports, and enriching mass sports culture activities. It called for strengthened top-level design, system planning, and innovation in content and methods to enhance sports culture products and services. The conference was hosted by the Office of the Central Commission for Spiritual Civilization Construction and the General Administration of Sport, with representatives from relevant central ministries, provincial and municipal governments, universities, and media attending. The article does not mention the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: In 2025, China's discipline inspection and supervision organs at all levels focused on addressing corruption and misconduct impacting the populace, targeting issues such as misappropriated agricultural subsidies and poor-quality school meals. Nationwide campaigns addressed problems in areas like rural collective asset management, medical insurance fund oversight and the funeral industry. From January to November 2025, 840,000 cases of misconduct and corruption impacting the people were investigated, resulting in punishments for 536,000 individuals and the recovery of 66.62 billion yuan for the public. Disciplinary organs issued supervisory recommendations to strengthen medical insurance fund supervision and promote comprehensive reform for long-term mechanisms to maintain people's interests. Localities are also innovating supervision mechanisms, such as cross-regional inspections, and expanding citizen participation channels to increase public oversight.
Summary: Harbin, Heilongjiang Province hosted the opening of the first Heilongjiang Provincial Workers' Ice and Snow Games and the 2026 Harbin Workers' Ice Sports Games on January 9th. Twenty-one teams, totaling over 400 members representing trade unions from across the province, participated in activities including ice dragon boat racing, snow tug-of-war, ice sailing, curling, ice relay races, and snow hiking. The events aimed to promote winter sports among workers. Wang Debin captured the curling competition in a photograph. The article does not mention the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: The 2026 National Education Work Conference announced that the Ministry of Education will promote categorized higher education reform, launch a new round of "Double First-Class" initiatives, and comprehensively advance high-quality development in local universities. The conference also summarized achievements in building a strong education system over the past year, including ensuring two hours of daily comprehensive physical activity for primary and secondary school students and optimizing academic disciplines and majors. Efforts to improve education in less developed areas included assigning 13,600 teachers to support education in the "Three Regions" and deploying the first graduates of the "Excellent Teacher Program" to teach in the central and western regions. No mention was made of the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: The China Manned Space Engineering Office released its 2025 "Report on Scientific Research and Application Progress of China's Space Station," highlighting 33 selected achievements in areas like space life science, microgravity physics, and new space technologies. The report aims to promote further scientific experiments and applications. Since entering the application and development phase, China's space station program has completed six manned flights, four cargo resupply missions, and five return missions, along with a successful emergency launch. Six astronaut crews, totaling 18 individuals, have resided on the station, conducting numerous spacewalks and extravehicular maintenance tasks. The report makes no mention of the United States.
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Summary: China has achieved universal broadband access and 5G availability in rural areas, completing its "14th Five-Year Plan" ahead of schedule by the end of July 2025. This involved constructing 130,000 km of fiber optic cables and 100,000 4G/5G base stations in rural areas since 2015, with central government subsidies of 31 billion RMB. These efforts aim to bridge the digital gap between urban and rural areas, promoting modernization, agricultural digitization and rural revitalization through increased internet access and related intelligent applications. While significant progress has been made, the article notes the need for continued upgrades and expanded coverage in remote areas. The development of rural internet service has also led to a drop in telecommunication service costs, but there are still gaps in access, service quality, and coverage when compared to urban areas.
Summary: The article highlights the achievements of China's universal telecommunications service in expanding broadband and 5G coverage to rural areas, bridging the digital divide. It emphasizes the positive impact on rural e-commerce, smart agriculture, and online education, leading to improved livelihoods and access to information for farmers. The piece underscores the importance of continued investment in rural internet infrastructure to further revitalize the countryside, quoting Xi Jinping's emphasis on addressing the infrastructure gap between urban and rural areas. There is no mention of the United States or U.S.-China relations in this article.
Summary: A "National Committee Member Science Lecture Hall" was held at the CPPCC Auditorium, with CPPCC Vice Chairpersons Shen Yueyue, Batel, Wang Dongfeng, Zhu Yongxin, and Yang Zhen in attendance. CPPCC member and academician Cao Xuetao lectured on the role of immunology in disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. The lecture, attended by over 500 participants, aimed to promote scientific literacy and contribute to a society that values science. The lecture series is an effort to implement Xi Jinping's views on popular science.
Summary: The All-China Journalists Association (ACJA) convened a symposium in Beijing on January 9th, focusing on cultivating "great journalists and editors" for the new era to support the construction of a culturally strong nation. Participants in the symposium, referencing the recently convened National Publicity Work Conference's call to study Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, emphasized the need to forge a strong contingent of journalists. The symposium discussed mechanisms like "integrated media studios," evaluation systems focusing on quality over quantity, and increased technical training. The ACJA issued a call to action, urging journalists to embrace innovation and serve the people, in order to become new era journalists trusted by the Party and the people.
Summary: The "State-owned Enterprise Reform Deepening and Promotion Action" has largely concluded, strengthening state-owned enterprises' core functions and competitiveness. State-owned enterprises are focusing on strategic alignment with emerging industries to create new growth avenues. Innovation capabilities have improved, with central enterprises spearheading 97 original technology source projects. Performance-based management has become standard, with significant salary adjustments for over 20,000 managers in 2024.
Summary: The 成渝 (Cheng-Yu) economic circle, encompassing Chongqing and Chengdu, is becoming an important growth pole for high-quality development in China. Over the past six years, the region has seen increases in both population and GDP contribution to the nation. 川渝 (Sichuan and Chongqing) have been collaborating on strategic planning, project construction, and platform development, including establishing joint labs and cross-regional governance mechanisms. The area has been focused on technology innovation and upgrading traditional industries. The region is also promoting reform and opening-up by breaking down barriers to create a new frontier of opening to the outside world.
Summary: This article discusses the deepening economic integration of Chengdu and Chongqing under the "Chengdu-Chongqing Twin City Economic Circle" initiative over the past six years. It emphasizes the importance of breaking down regional barriers and promoting resource flow between the two cities to foster a unified national market. The article highlights specific reforms such as mutual recognition of professional qualifications and streamlined business relocation processes. By overcoming obstacles and embracing collaboration, Chengdu and Chongqing aim to contribute to China's modernization. There is no explicit mention of the United States or U.S.-China relations.
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Summary: China's first medical device standard for brain-computer interface (BCI) technology was implemented on January 1st, aiming to standardize terminology and promote industrial development in this emerging field. Yuan Peng, Deputy Director of the National Medical Products Administration's Device Registration Department, stated that the standard defines BCI medical devices as those that decode neural signals to help patients interact with external devices, improving physiological functions. Beijing Tiantan Hospital has established a brain-computer interface clinical and translational ward, where clinical trials are taking place with stroke patients receiving semi-invasive BCI surgery to improve motor function. Researchers are also exploring applications with quadriplegic patients, enabling them to control devices like electric wheelchairs and robotic dogs, seeking to integrate BCI technology into real-world scenarios. The article does not mention the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: This article discusses the current state and future potential of Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) technology, highlighting its ability to create a high-speed information pathway between the brain and machines. It notes China's rapid development in the field, including national support and technological advancements in both invasive and non-invasive BCI approaches, such as clinical trials using flexible neural electrodes and the "North Brain-1" system. The article also addresses challenges such as biocompatibility, signal stability, data privacy, and the need for ethical regulations. It envisions BCI's future applications extending beyond medical rehabilitation to enhancing human capabilities and merging human and machine intelligence, ultimately leading to a bio-intelligent era. There is no discussion of the United States or U.S.-China relations in this article.
Summary: A research team at the Institute of Plasma Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, has achieved significant results in physical experiments on the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST), also known as the "artificial sun." The team confirmed the existence of a density-free zone in the Tokamak device. The study developed a self-organized plasma-wall interaction model, highlighting the role of boundary radiation in density limit triggering. The findings, published in "Science Advances," revealed the triggering mechanism of the density limit and predicted the density-free zone beyond the limit.
Summary: China has successfully conducted the first single-engine flight test of its domestically developed 3D-printed turbojet aviation engine in Dingbian County, Shaanxi. According to Mi Dong, the project leader from the Hunan Power Machinery Research Institute of the Aero Engine Corporation of China (AECC), the engine performed stably, meeting all design requirements and validating its reliability in high-altitude and complex environments. This marks a significant advancement in domestic engine development by filling the gap in the whole engine 3D printing application. Senior Engineer Wen Changlong indicated that this technology will allow China to overcome bottlenecks in key areas like aero engines. The article does not mention any U.S. or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: A research team from the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences' Cotton Research Institute has successfully mapped the evolutionary path of upland cotton. By constructing a pan-genome map using 107 representative upland cotton germplasms, the study identified chromosomal translocation events influencing population differentiation and regional adaptation. They discovered that cultivated upland cotton originated from a single haplotype and had narrow genetic base. The research also identified key genes determining important traits like insect resistance and fiber color, providing a theoretical foundation for molecular breeding.
Summary: Please provide the article you would like me to summarize. I need the text of the article to create a relevant and concise summary for professional analysts of Chinese politics. Once you provide the article, I will deliver a summary within the specified parameters.
Summary: Several regions, including Jilin, Xinjiang, and Inner Mongolia, implemented "ice and snow vacations" for students in late 2025, aiming to promote outdoor activities and winter sports. These "snow vacations," lasting from five to nine days, are intended to provide students with new experiences and promote winter tourism, with local governments and businesses offering various incentives like free access to ski resorts. Local governments hope that this vacation time can improve the student's physical fitness and allow the students to learn about local culture. However, the initiative also raises concerns about childcare and the need for diverse educational activities during the break.
Summary: This article discusses the history and evolution of Jianzi (shuttlecock kicking) in China, from its origins as a popular recreational activity to its current status as a recognized sport and part of China's intangible cultural heritage. The article notes Jianzi's popularity across different social classes and age groups throughout Chinese history, highlighting its development during the Song Dynasty and its continued presence in modern China. The article mentions that by the late Qing Dynasty, many newly established schools also included Jianzi as a sports teaching program into the classroom. The article does not discuss the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: A recent gathering in Changzhi, Shanxi, saw over 50 shuttlecock (jianzi) enthusiasts from Shanxi and Henan celebrate the New Year by playing the game. National shuttlecock champion Deng Dan noted that shuttlecock will debut at the 15th National Games in 2025 as a mass sport event, with competitions including circle kicking, counting, and routine events. These competitions encompass various forms, including team-based and solo performances, judged on factors like difficulty, completion, and artistry. Shuttlecock's appeal lies in its combination of fitness and artistic expression, with different moves targeting specific muscle groups, benefiting both the elderly and youth. The article does not discuss the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: In October 2025, Quanzhou, Fujian province was selected into the UNESCO Creative Cities Network as a "City of Gastronomy." The article highlights Quanzhou's cuisine, emphasizing its local ingredients, seasonal dishes tied to festivals, and the historical fusion of flavors resulting from its past as an international port. It notes the ongoing efforts to standardize culinary practices, innovate through new dishes, and promote local food culture through initiatives like "One County, One Table of Dishes." The city is building a food museum to offer an immersive culinary experience. There is no mention of the United States or U.S.-China relations in the article.
Summary: Please provide the article you would like me to summarize. I need the text of the article to provide an accurate and concise summary for professional analysts of Chinese politics. Once you provide the article, I will adhere to all instructions including the length limit, focus on reported statements/actions of officials and their entourage, and inclusion of any information regarding the US or US-China relations.
Summary: A symposium was held at the Chinese Academy of History to commemorate the 60th anniversary of scientific archaeology in China, with 96-year-old scholar Cai Lianzhen, a pioneer in carbon-14 dating, expressing excitement about the field's advancements. Cai, along with her husband Qiu Shihua, witnessed the evolution of Chinese scientific archaeology, which has provided solid support for national projects. Scholars noted that the integration of science and archaeology is essential for future progress and breaks the pattern of focusing on humanities for archaeology. The field has reached advanced levels in areas like ancient DNA, with research revealing the origins and evolution of modern humans in East Asia. The article does not mention the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: The Hezhe ethnic group's oral narrative art, Imakan, was moved from UNESCO's list of intangible cultural heritage in need of urgent protection to the representative list of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity. The "Hezhe Imakan Protection Plan" was also included in the "Register of Good Practices." The Imakan is considered a living encyclopedia of the Hezhe people. Efforts to preserve Imakan include recording elder performers, incorporating the Hezhe language into school curricula, and using digital technology to broaden access to learning materials. Young performers are incorporating modern music elements into the songs, while still maintaining the integrity of the original art form.
Summary: The 15th National Games opening ceremony in Guangzhou featured a performance that highlighted China's historical and technological progress, using ancient bronze instruments played by humanoid robots. This juxtaposition of ancient music and modern robotics symbolizes China's unique blend of historical appreciation and futuristic aspirations. The event, jointly hosted by Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macau, showcased the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area's innovative capacity, which recently topped the World Intellectual Property Organization's global innovation index. The article emphasizes a shared cultural heritage within the region that fosters innovation. The author does not discuss the US or US-China relations.
Summary: Archaeological excavations at the 8,100-7,500-year-old Baojia site in Liyang, Jiangsu Province, have revealed it to be the earliest prehistoric site north of the Qiantang River in the lower Yangtze River region. The site features well-preserved artifacts and organic remains, including pottery, tools, and evidence of early rice cultivation, offering insights into the lives of early inhabitants of the Jiangnan region. Experts note its unique cultural characteristics and its importance in understanding the origins of Yangtze River civilization, linking it to other sites like Shangshan and Kuahuqiao but highlighting its distinct features. Chinese Academy of Social Sciences member Wang Wei stated that the Baojia site is at a critical juncture in the origin of Chinese civilization, providing key empirical evidence for tracing the origin of Yangtze civilization. The discoveries fill a crucial gap in the Neolithic cultural sequence of the Taihu Lake region.
Summary: The "Silk Road Music Everywhere" exhibition at the Guangzhou Maritime Museum explores the diverse musical traditions and cultural exchanges along the Silk Road. The exhibition highlights the evolution and adaptation of instruments across regions, emphasizing that cultural exchange involves both absorption and re-creation rather than simple transmission. It showcases the interconnectedness of instruments like the Oud and the Pipa, demonstrating how musical forms evolved through modification by various cultures, eventually contributing to the diverse musical landscape of the Tang Dynasty. The exhibition aims to foster understanding of cultural resonance and the enrichment of music through mutual learning.
Summary: Please provide the article you would like me to summarize. I need the text of the article to provide an accurate and relevant summary for professional analysts of Chinese politics. Once you provide the article, I will generate a summary focusing on key political figures, their statements/actions, accompanying individuals, and any implications for U.S.-China relations.
By: 本报记者
Like a bow along the coast and an arrow of the Yangtze River, the Chengdu-Chongqing area is the fletching of the arrow, located inland but related to the overall situation.
The Chengdu-Chongqing dual-city economic circle is the most densely populated, has the strongest industrial base, the strongest innovation capability, the broadest market space, and the highest degree of openness in western China.
In January 2020, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) emphasized at the sixth meeting of the Central Finance and Economics Commission: "We must promote the construction of the Chengdu-Chongqing dual-city economic circle and form an important growth pole for high-quality development in the west." The "15th Five-Year Plan" proposes to enhance the development level of the Chengdu-Chongqing dual-city economic circle.
The Shu River winds around the Ba Mountains, and Sichuan and Chongqing share the tide. To implement the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping's (习近平) important instructions, for the past six years, Sichuan and Chongqing have focused on accurately identifying their strategic positioning in the overall national situation, firmly establishing a "one game of chess" mentality, promoting "integration," continuously enhancing their development capabilities, and jointly writing a chapter of Chinese-style modernization in the Bashu region.
Today, the Chengdu-Chongqing dual-city economic circle is becoming an important growth pole and a new source of power driving high-quality national development. Compared with 2019, the population has increased from 96 million to more than 98 million, and the proportion of regional GDP in the country has increased from 6.3% to 6.5%, achieving a double increase in population and economic proportion.
Collaboration, Division, and Integration
Accurately identify strategic positioning, grasp comparative advantages, and integrate and promote each other.
Walking into the "Silicon Cube" data room of the National Supercomputing Chengdu Center, there is a slight buzzing in the ears. It can perform 100 billion floating-point operations per second, and data flow and information flow are intertwined.
Computing power serves major regional strategies. The Chengdu Center is working with Chongqing University (重庆大学), and industry-university-research cooperation is advancing in depth. "We have established computing power application scenarios with more than 1,700 users in Chengdu, Chongqing (重庆), and other places," said Wang Jianbo (王建波), head of the center.
Looking at Sichuan (四川) and Chongqing (重庆), the harmony between the two places is becoming a trend.
In the hinterland of Bashu, the Sichuan Tianfu Jin City Laboratory (四川天府锦城实验室) and the Chongqing Jin Feng Laboratory (重庆金凤实验室) are cooperating, and biomedical science and technology achievements are frequently emerging;
On the banks of the Yangtze River, law enforcement personnel from the two places walk along the riverbank, jointly patrolling the river and jointly protecting a river of clear water...
The administrative divisions of Sichuan (四川) and Chongqing (重庆) were initially "divided," but now regional collaboration is "integrated," and the goals are consistent, all to promote development.
Integration, planning collaboration, and the basic formation of a regional coordinated development pattern.
Sichuan (四川) has its own strengths and weaknesses: it has many scientific research institutions, abundant talent resources, and a well-developed tertiary industry, but its manufacturing base is relatively weak; Chongqing (重庆) benefits from the Yangtze River, has developed shipping, a complete range of industrial categories, and a good manufacturing base, but its service industry is relatively lagging.
The construction of the Chengdu-Chongqing dual-city economic circle is a systematic project that cannot be separated from top-level design and overall coordination. The "Chengdu-Chongqing Dual-City Economic Circle Construction Plan Outline" issued by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council points out the direction for the integrated development of the two places: to build it into an important economic center, a science and technology innovation center, a new highland for reform and opening up, and a high-quality livable place with national influence.
"Sichuan (四川) and Chongqing (重庆) jointly issued implementation plans to turn the grand blueprint into a construction roadmap," said Dai Yongbo (代永波), director of the Sichuan Provincial Development and Reform Commission.
Scientific planning, deliberate before acting. Focus on integration and sing the "dual-city story" together. Over the past six years, more than 400 major projects have been implemented successively, and a number of cooperation platforms and mechanisms have been established one after another.
Integration, joint construction of projects, and continuous upgrading of regional integration.
In Ziyang (资阳), Sichuan (四川), data is jumping at the Furong Substation of the Sichuan-Chongqing 1000 kV UHV AC project.
"Since it was completed and put into operation at the end of 2024, we have transmitted about 10 billion kilowatt-hours of clean energy to the Chengdu (成都) load center," said station manager Xiong Xiaoyu (熊晓宇).
Within the Chengdu-Chongqing dual-city economic circle, industrial and agricultural production is concentrated, and the power load is tight. Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture (甘孜藏族自治州) in Sichuan (四川) has abundant clean energy such as hydropower and photovoltaic power, but power output faces obstacles.
Sichuan (四川) and Chongqing (重庆) have listed the 1000 kV UHV AC project as a major joint construction project, and new transmission lines have been built from Ganzi Prefecture (甘孜州), Sichuan (四川) to Tongnan District (潼南区) and Tongliang District (铜梁区), Chongqing (重庆). The project can transmit a maximum of 35 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity to the Sichuan-Chongqing (川渝) load center every year, which is equivalent to the annual electricity consumption of nearly 10 million households.
Driven by joint project construction, regional development is integrated. The Jialing River (嘉陵江) Lizze Navigation Hub and other projects have been completed and opened to navigation, the Chengdu-Chongqing Central Line High-speed Railway (成渝中线高铁), the Sichuan Gas Eastward Transmission Second Line natural gas pipeline project and other projects are accelerating construction, and the Chengdu-Chongqing Comprehensive Science Center and other science and technology projects are also accelerating.
Integration, joint construction of platforms, and the "one game of chess" going deeper and more solid.
In Songpan (松潘), Sichuan (四川), 2,000 acres of broad beans have witnessed new achievements in agricultural science and technology cooperation between Sichuan (四川) and Chongqing (重庆).
In 2022, Chongqing (重庆) broad bean varieties first set foot on the western Sichuan Plateau from Rongchang District (荣昌区) and other places. Through the tripartite cooperation of the Chongqing Academy of Agricultural Sciences (重庆市农科院), the Sichuan Academy of Agricultural Sciences (四川省农科院), and the Songpan County Government (松潘县政府), more than 20 edible and ornamental bean varieties in Sichuan (四川) and Chongqing (重庆) have been successively planted in Songpan (松潘), and technologies such as "mulch + controlled fertilization" have helped double the yield per unit area of beans.
Led by the two local academies of agricultural sciences, with the participation of agricultural colleges and universities and business entities, the Chengdu-Chongqing Dual-City Economic Circle Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Alliance has been jointly built to build a platform for collaborative innovation in agricultural science and technology. "The alliance has implemented more than 230 science and technology projects and has promoted more than 110 new technologies," said Long Juechen (龙珏臣), associate researcher at the Chongqing Academy of Agricultural Sciences (重庆市农科院).
With the joint construction of cooperation platforms, regional development is accelerating. Over the past six years, Sichuan (四川) and Chongqing (重庆) have jointly issued more than 100 policy documents, set up 22 joint special working groups, selected and dispatched more than 500 cadres for exchange and temporary positions, and established a multi-level and normalized cooperation mechanism.
Balancing the New and the Old
Promote industrial innovation with scientific and technological innovation, develop emerging industries, upgrade traditional industries, and accelerate the formation of new quality productive forces.
On the streets of Chengdu (成都), a silver-white robot assists in directing traffic, which is particularly eye-catching.
It is called "Tongtianxiao (通天晓)," and it was developed by Chengdu Agaxi Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd. "We help the robot's brain develop 'intelligence' to make it 'smarter.'" In 2020, the company's founder, Sun Xiaogang (孙晓刚), came to the Chengdu High-tech Industrial Development Zone (成都高新技术产业开发区) to start a business, and now his customers are all over Chengdu (成都) and Chongqing (重庆).
To build an important economic center and a science and technology innovation center with national influence, Sichuan (四川) and Chongqing (重庆) balance the new and the old and promote the deep integration of scientific and technological innovation and industrial innovation.
Moving towards the "new," emerging industries are growing rapidly.
To "brighten the glasses" for autonomous driving, Chongqing (重庆) enterprise Zhongke Yaoluchuan (中科摇橹船) has developed a spatial intelligent camera, breaking through the bottleneck of existing perception technology and bringing new solutions to the industry;
Having made breakthroughs in the field of autoimmune disease treatment, Chengdu Yousainuo Biotechnology Co., Ltd. (成都优赛诺生物科技有限公司) has built the largest cell drug production base in southwest China...
With dual-core leadership and division of labor and collaboration, over the past six years, the new content of Sichuan (四川) and Chongqing (重庆) industrial clusters has become higher and higher. The two places' electronic information, biomedicine and other 5 manufacturing clusters have been selected as national-level advanced manufacturing clusters, and emerging industries such as artificial intelligence, low-altitude economy, and commercial aerospace are accelerating their development.
Starting from the "new," promote industrial innovation with scientific and technological innovation.
In Tianfu New Area (天府新区), Sichuan (四川), on the shore of Xinglong Lake (兴隆湖), the Chengdu Science and Innovation Ecological Island (成都科创生态岛) has ignited the "fire of innovation."
Deng Cao (邓操), a doctoral student at Sichuan Agricultural University (四川农业大学), was once troubled by a shortage of funds and could not find suitable computing power and sequencing services when developing a molecular diagnostic kit for pet breed identification and genetic disease screening.
After learning about the situation, a technology transfer team from the Science and Innovation Ecological Island connected with local computing power service companies and sequencing service providers, connected financial resources, and helped solve research and development problems and realize technology transfer.
To promote the organic integration of industrial innovation and scientific and technological innovation, Sichuan (四川) and Chongqing (重庆) have jointly built platforms such as the Western Transformation Center for Advanced Technology Achievements and jointly held the "Belt and Road" Science and Technology Exchange Conference, and jointly built the Western Science City in a "one city, multiple parks" model. Today, the two places have 800 specialized and new "little giant" enterprises and 27,000 high-tech enterprises.
While developing emerging industries, the two places are also promoting the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries, based on their own characteristics, and actively developing new quality productive forces.
Reforming the "old" to seek the "new," traditional industries are rejuvenated.
The automobile industry is Chongqing's (重庆) leading industry. Seres (赛力斯) has cooperated with Huawei (华为) to successively implement a series of technological achievements such as the Seres Magic Cube Technology Platform and the Seres Super Extended Range.
Driven by leading enterprises, the automobile industry chain in the Chengdu-Chongqing dual-city economic circle has been improved as a whole. CATL (宁德时代) has settled in Yibin (宜宾), Sichuan (四川), and set up a "factory in a factory" in the Seres Super Factory to achieve zero-distance cooperation between the two parties.
Pushing out the "old" and bringing forth the "new," digitalization has spawned higher efficiency.
Walking into the intelligent factory of Shuanghuan Transmission (Chongqing) Precision Technology Co., Ltd. (双环传动（重庆）精密科技有限责任公司) in Nan'an District (南岸区), Chongqing (重庆), workers hold tablet computers and shuttle between equipment. Industrial Internet and big data technology allow them to control the production process, and production efficiency has increased by nearly 40%.
By implementing industrial digital transformation, Nan'an District (南岸区) has achieved a double breakthrough of 100 billion yuan in industrial revenue and output value.
Gao Jian (高健), director of the Chongqing Municipal Development and Reform Commission, introduced that Sichuan (四川) and Chongqing (重庆) have jointly built four trillion-yuan-level industrial clusters of electronic information, equipment manufacturing, advanced materials, and characteristic consumer goods, the advantages of modern service industries have been significantly enhanced, and the construction of efficient mountain-characteristic agriculture has been accelerated.
Promoting Internal and External Cooperation
On the one hand, promote reform to break down barriers, and on the other hand, promote opening up to smooth circulation and jointly build a new highland for reform and opening up.
A small tax invoice is permanently collected by the National Museum of China.
This is the first tax invoice issued by the country's first cross-provincial tax collection and management service center, issued by the Sichuan-Chongqing Gaozhunew Area Tax Collection and Management Service Center (川渝高竹新区税费征管服务中心), which is a record of a company canteen purchasing vegetables from farmers.
Boldly try and boldly break through. Sichuan (四川) and Chongqing (重庆) are working together to take the lead in building a new highland for reform and opening up and serving and integrating into the new development pattern.
The Sichuan-Chongqing Gaozhu New Area (川渝高竹新区) is the country's first substantive cross-provincial joint construction pilot zone, exploring the reform of appropriately separating the economic zone from the administrative region.
"The new area's government service channels in the fields of tax collection and management, medical insurance and social security have been opened, and it is accelerating its integration into and service to the construction of a unified national market," said Li Jia (李佳), full-time deputy secretary of the Party Working Committee of the New Area.
Breaking down regional barriers, Sichuan (四川) and Chongqing (重庆) have issued an action plan for the construction of a regional market integration, promoting "different places, same standards" for market access. "To improve unified market supervision rules, Sichuan (四川) and Chongqing (重庆) took the lead in issuing the country's first list of legally exempt penalties in the field of cross-provincial market supervision, unifying 26 regulatory standards such as drug safety and enterprise credit risk classification," said Li Li (李历), director of the Chongqing Municipal Government Office in Sichuan (四川).
Deepening reform, a number of "national first" reform achievements have been born in the Chengdu-Chongqing dual-city economic circle:
Explore the construction of the country's first specialized court with cross-provincial jurisdiction over financial cases - the Chengdu-Chongqing Financial Court (成渝金融法院). Ni Hu (倪虎), director of the Comprehensive Office of the Chengdu-Chongqing Financial Court (成渝金融法院), who was transferred from Sichuan (四川), takes the latest high-speed train back to Chengdu (成都) every Friday and comes to Chongqing (重庆) again on Sunday. "We work in both Chongqing (重庆) and Chengdu (成都), and the staff also come from the two provinces and cities," said Ni Hu (倪虎).
Establish the country's first cross-provincial joint river chief office - the Sichuan-Chongqing River Chief System Joint Promotion Office (川渝河长制联合推进办公室). On the banks of the Tang River (塘河), Gu Zhifeng (顾志峰), a prosecutor from the Jiangjin District People's Procuratorate (江津区人民检察院) in Chongqing (重庆), is patrolling the river with Liu Tianzhi (刘天治), a prosecutor from the Hejiang County People's Procuratorate (合江县人民检察院) in Sichuan (四川). Such cooperation has become the norm. The water quality compliance rate of 25 national assessment sections of cross-border rivers in Sichuan (四川) and Chongqing (重庆) has reached 100% for four consecutive years.
Coordinating and promoting reform, the two places have formed 18 cross-regional cooperation experiences with Sichuan (四川) and Chongqing (重庆) identification, such as carrying out collaborative legislative and judicial cooperation on ecological environment and a joint scheduling service mechanism for major projects.
Promote opening up through reform and promote reform through opening up.
In the Chengdu International Railway Port Comprehensive Bonded Zone (成都国际铁路港综合保税区), vehicles shuttle back and forth. Without changing cars to enter the zone and reducing declaration procedures, Huang Zhenzhong (黄振中), warehousing manager of Chengdu Jialida International Logistics Co., Ltd. (成都佳利达国际物流有限公司), said with emotion about the "in-zone direct transfer" pilot reform that the company's customs declaration workload has been reduced by 65%, saving nearly one million yuan in logistics costs a year.
In the past, many enterprises engaged in domestic and foreign trade business, and a transport vehicle loaded with goods in two states needed to be distributed outside the bonded zone and changed to different vehicles to enter the zone. At the end of 2023, the "in-zone direct transfer" business was launched in the Chengdu International Railway Port (成都国际铁路港), allowing goods to easily switch from "non-bonded" to "bonded" status within the bonded zone.
China-Europe Railway Express (成渝) combined collection and transportation model, comprehensive bonded zone first-line entry into the zone "goods arrive and enter" model, multimodal transport "one order system" and "one box system"... The application of a series of reform achievements has made the background of Sichuan (四川) and Chongqing (重庆) opening up stronger and more colorful.
In Xiaonanya Logistics Center (小南垭物流中心), Jiangjin (江津), Chongqing (重庆), the whistle sounded long, and the train slowly drove out. The agricultural machinery produced by Weima Agricultural Machinery Co., Ltd. (威马农机股份有限公司) will be transported to Qinzhou (钦州), Guangxi (广西) through the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor (西部陆海新通道), and then shipped to Southeast Asia and South Asia.
"80% of the orders come from overseas. With the help of the Jiangjin (江津) train sea-rail combined transport, our products are sold to more than 70 countries and regions," said Wang Shuai (王帅), deputy general manager of Weima Agricultural Machinery (威马农机).
The hub leads opening up, and opening up drives development. Today, the Chongqing Hub Port Industrial Park (重庆枢纽港产业园), where Xiaonanya (小南垭) is located, has gathered more than 1,000 enterprises, forming leading industries such as equipment manufacturing, advanced materials, modern logistics and supply chain services.
Land-sea internal and external linkage, east-west two-way mutual assistance, and a comprehensive opening pattern are accelerating. Data shows that the China-Europe Railway Express (Chengdu-Chongqing) (中欧班列（成渝）) has cumulatively operated more than 26,000 trains, and the scale of operation has remained the leading in the country. The New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor (西部陆海新通道) reaches 584 ports in 127 countries (regions).
Coordinating the Big and the Small
Bearing in mind the "major affairs of the country" and caring about the small things of people's livelihood, improve the quality of life with development results.
Chinese-style modernization, people's livelihood is the most important thing.
The joint construction and sharing of public services in Sichuan (四川) and Chongqing (重庆) have profoundly changed the lives of citizens.
After submitting the materials, Ye Qian (叶茜) quickly received the news that 5 talents from Sichuan (四川) in her company had successfully participated in the professional title evaluation. "In the past, we had to wait for 3 months." As the human resources supervisor of Chongqing Jiuzhou Xingyi Navigation Equipment Co., Ltd. (重庆九洲星熠导航设备有限公司), she has a deep understanding of the mutual recognition of professional titles between Sichuan (四川) and Chongqing (重庆).
"Professional and technical talents who hold professional title certificates issued by the human resources and social security departments of the two places do not need to be re-evaluated or confirmed when they move across regions. When applying for a higher-level professional title, they can apply with the original certificate," said the person in charge of the Dadukou District Human Resources and Social Security Bureau (大渡口区人力社保局) in Chongqing (重庆).
Promoting the standardization and facilitation of basic public services, dual-city life is becoming a same-city experience -
Handling affairs is more efficient. Over the past six years, Sichuan (四川) and Chongqing (重庆) have jointly handled 355 high-frequency matters for enterprises and the public across provinces;
Seeing a doctor is more worry-free. 935 secondary and above public hospitals and 222 inspection and test results in the two provinces and cities are mutually recognized, and 1,726 medical institutions have realized "scan code to see a doctor" with the Sichuan-Chongqing Electronic Health Card (川渝电子健康卡);
Life is more convenient. Through the "Sichuan-Chongqing Reading One Card (川渝阅读一卡通)," the two places have realized the borrowing and returning of 50 million books in 174 public libraries.
Overall planning, meticulous promotion, between the big and the small, improve the quality of life with development results.
After work, changing shoes, Tian Xingguo (田兴国) jogs slowly along the greenway of Xinglong Lake (兴隆湖), "**目之所及** (mù zhī suǒ jí - "as far as the eye can see," everything within sight) is scenery."
Tian Xingguo (田兴国) is from Gansu (甘肃) and came to Chengdu (成都) from Beijing (北京) six years ago. "The company is right next to Xinglong Lake (兴隆湖). The environment is good, the facilities are complete, and it is very comfortable, like living in a park." Following the direction of Tian Xingguo's (田兴国) finger, boardwalks and bookstores are dotted among them, and there is an endless stream of leisure citizens.
A good ecological environment is the most inclusive people's livelihood and well-being. To build a park city, Chengdu (成都) has more than 9,000 kilometers of urban greenways connected into a network, and the number of various parks exceeds 1,500; Bishan District (璧山区) in Chongqing (重庆) has 38 urban parks, each with a theme and a scenery at every step...
The "grand plan" of the park city is being transformed into the "small happiness" that everyone can feel and touch. In the past three years, Chengdu (成都) has attracted a cumulative total of 1.56 million young talents, and more and more young people are settling here.
It is suitable for living and working, and also suitable for tourism.
In the Anyue Grottoes Digital Experience Hall (安岳石窟数字体验馆) in Ziyang (资阳), Sichuan (四川), the Zizhu Guanyin statue with its legs crossed is eye-catching. This statue is replicated using 3D printing technology, and the real body is 50 kilometers away from the county seat.
With just a light touch, the sleeves of Zizhu Guanyin (紫竹观音) can flutter. "With the help of new technologies such as interactive scrolls, object recognition, and gesture sensing, more than 1,000 cliff statues have been 'revived' across time and space," said Li Zhongliang (李忠良), chairman of Sichuan Grotto Culture Tourism Development Co., Ltd. (四川石窟文化旅游开发有限公司).
There are approximately 6,000 grotto temples and cliffside statues nationwide, with Sichuan and Chongqing accounting for nearly half. The two regions have jointly established the Bashu Grotto Culture Tourism Corridor Alliance (巴蜀石窟文化旅游走廊联盟), and jointly launched tourism routes such as the Stone Carving Art and Culture Tourism Direct Line and Red Tourism Boutique Line. The trade unions of Sichuan and Chongqing have also organized and mobilized employees to carry out the "Million Employees Tour Bashu" activity, sharing cultural and tourism resources.
Under the Chengdu Twin Towers (成都双子塔), crowds surge; at the Chaotianmen Square (朝天门广场) in Chongqing (重庆), tourists are as thick as weaving. After six years of hard work and progress, Sichuan-Chongqing cooperation has become increasingly close, and its capacity has been continuously improved. The new era of the western "Twin Cities Story" is being sung louder and louder.
(Reported by Zhang Fan (张帆), Liu Xinwu (刘新吾), You Yi (游仪), and Wang Yongzhan (王永战), reporters of this newspaper)
Return to TopBy: 钟才平
A strong domestic market is the strategic support for Chinese-style modernization. The Central Economic Work Conference proposed to adhere to domestic demand as the mainstay and build a strong domestic market. The next step is to coordinate the promotion of consumption and the expansion of investment, adhere to the simultaneous efforts of consumption and investment, interactive coordination, jointly enhance the growth and stability of the domestic market, and accelerate the formation of a more economic development model dominated by domestic demand, driven by consumption, and driven by endogenous growth.
Coordinating consumption and investment is an inevitable requirement for building a strong domestic market. Boosting consumption and expanding investment are not only components of a complete domestic demand system, but also an organic whole of symbiosis and mutual promotion. Investment and consumption are not a relationship of either-or and mutual substitution, but a virtuous circle of mutual promotion. From the perspective of economic operation logic, consumption is the final demand, and investment is the current demand and future supply. To meet the consumption needs of residents, it is necessary to rely on effective investment to provide high-quality products and services; investment can also drive employment and wage growth, thereby increasing residents' consumption capacity and willingness. From the perspective of China's development practice, in the stage of rapid advancement of industrialization and urbanization, industrial development and infrastructure investment demand are strong, and investment has played an important role in economic growth. With the continuous economic development and the gradual increase of residents' income, China has formed the world's most potential and growing consumer market, and consumption is becoming the dominant force for China's economy to maintain long-term healthy development. From the perspective of future prospects, in the face of external environmental uncertainties, to keep China's economic growth within a reasonable range, it is necessary to better handle the relationship between investment and consumption, and build a strong domestic market, in order to firmly grasp the initiative of development and enhance the confidence to cope with risks and challenges.
Coordinating consumption and investment requires leading new supply with new demand and promoting the linkage and upgrading of consumption and investment. In order to comply with the trend of residents' consumption upgrading to service and quality, more investment should be made in people, closer to people's livelihood needs, increase the proportion of investment in people's livelihood such as medical care, increase investment in service fields such as cultural tourism consumption, emotional consumption, and green consumption, and promote the integration and innovation of consumption formats. Adapt to changes in the population structure, increase investment in related infrastructure such as elderly care and childcare, provide more products and services suitable for the elderly and children, and better meet the needs of groups such as "the elderly and the young." Grasp the changes in the stage of urbanization development, promote the enjoyment of basic urban public services for the non-settled permanent residents, carry out urban renewal with high quality, establish a sustainable investment and financing model, and better meet the rigid and improved housing needs of the masses. Strengthen the rapid growth of inbound consumption, create the "Buy in China" brand, make up for the shortcomings of inbound consumption software and hardware, and optimize and improve foreign language signs in key scenic spots, business districts, transportation hubs and other places.
Coordinating consumption and investment requires creating new demand with new supply and promoting investment to provide new products, new scenarios, and new spaces for consumption. It is necessary to lead the innovation of consumer products with investment. A new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation is accelerating breakthroughs, and supply innovation will continue to spawn new demands. In recent years, the industry has accelerated its upgrade to intelligence, and artificial intelligence has deeply empowered fields such as mobile phones, home furnishings, and automobiles, driving smart new products to become new growth points for consumption. It is necessary to promote "artificial intelligence + consumption," support the development and application of new technologies and new products such as smart wearables and robots, and open up new tracks for high-growth consumption. It is necessary to open up new consumption scenarios with investment. Increase investment in new consumption formats, new models, and new scenarios, promote the expansion and upgrading of commodity consumption, strengthen the renovation of facilities in commercial streets, commercial outlets, and other fields, create a number of new consumption scenarios with a wide driving range and high visibility, and accelerate the formation of a more convenient, comfortable, and open consumption environment. It is necessary to create favorable conditions for the release of consumption potential. Clean up unreasonable restrictions and release the potential of service consumption such as cultural tourism, sports events, catering, and health care. Support qualified areas to promote spring and autumn breaks for primary and secondary schools, increase the implementation of paid staggered vacations for employees, and create more leisure time for residents.
Coordinating consumption and investment requires strengthening policy support and accelerating reforms, and jointly promoting the expansion and quality improvement of consumption and investment. It is necessary to strengthen the policy orientation of benefiting people's livelihood, formulate and implement plans to increase the income of urban and rural residents, improve the adjustment mechanism of minimum wage standards, and continuously improve residents' consumption capacity and expectations, while deepening the implementation of special actions to boost consumption. It is necessary to strengthen policy coordination, make good use of funds such as central budget investment, ultra-long-term special treasury bonds, and special bonds of local governments, optimize the implementation of "two new" policies, increase the intensity of inclusive policies directly reaching consumers, and optimize the implementation of "two major" projects. It is necessary to accelerate the reform of approval and supervision systems, establish and improve management methods adapted to new consumption formats, new models, and new scenarios, optimize and improve investment management systems, especially to clean up unreasonable access restrictions for service industry business entities, improve the long-term mechanism for private enterprises to participate in the construction of major national projects, and continuously stimulate the vitality of private investment. It is necessary to form a policy synergy between the top and bottom, guide all regions and departments to establish correct views on political achievements, and standardize the economic promotion behavior of local governments. Continuously improve the statistics of service retail sales by region, and accelerate the reform of moving the collection link of consumption tax backward and steadily delegating it to local governments.
Return to TopXinhua News Agency, Beijing, January 9th (Xinhua) – Premier of the State Council Li Qiang (李强) presided over an executive meeting of the State Council on January 9th, deploying a package of fiscal and financial policies to promote domestic demand, studying the promotion of basic public services provided by places of permanent residence, and reviewing and approving the "Regulations of the People's Republic of China on Nature Reserves (Revised Draft)."
The meeting pointed out that implementing a package of fiscal and financial policies to promote domestic demand is an important measure to expand effective demand and innovate macro-control. It is necessary to strengthen the coordination and linkage between fiscal and financial policies, give full play to the policy effects, and guide social capital to participate in promoting consumption and expanding investment. Focusing on promoting residents' consumption, optimize the implementation of interest subsidy policies for loans to service industry business entities and personal consumption loans, promote the increase of high-quality service supply, and enhance residents' consumption capacity. Focusing on supporting private investment, implement interest subsidy policies for loans to small and micro enterprises, establish a special guarantee plan for private investment, establish a risk-sharing mechanism for supporting private enterprise bonds, optimize the implementation of fiscal interest subsidy policies for equipment renewal loans, and further lower the financing threshold and cost for enterprises. More convenient measures should be taken to effectively promote the implementation of policies and enhance the sense of gain for the people and enterprises. It is necessary to closely track the progress of policy implementation, strengthen the management of the entire chain, and ensure the standardized and efficient use of funds.
The meeting pointed out that promoting the provision of basic public services by places of permanent residence is conducive to promoting the equalization of basic public services and better supporting people-oriented new urbanization. Efforts should be made to solve the urgent problems of the permanent residents who have not yet settled down, improve the education policies for children of migrants, expand the scope of public rental housing security, improve the system of participating in employee social insurance in the place of employment, strengthen basic medical security in the place of permanent residence, strengthen employment services, and improve the bottom-line public services, so that they can better integrate into the city. Various measures should be promoted scientifically and orderly, and in accordance with local conditions, to build a policy support and factor guarantee system that adapts to the flow of public services with people, arrange public service facilities according to the permanent population, strengthen the coordinated handling of service matters, and continuously improve the co-construction and sharing policies that are conducive to the continuous enjoyment of basic public services by the mobile population.
The meeting pointed out that revising the Regulations on Nature Reserves and coordinating with laws and regulations such as the National Park Law will provide a strong legal guarantee for promoting the construction of nature reserves with high quality. We must adhere to the principle of ecological protection first, coordinate protection and development, and implement overall protection, systematic restoration, and comprehensive management of nature reserves in accordance with the characteristics and inherent laws of natural ecosystems. While ensuring that the ecology is protected, we must improve public service functions, build a mechanism led by the government, with multi-party participation and social sharing, and achieve the unity of ecological protection, green development, and improvement of people's livelihood.
The meeting also studied other matters.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 沈童睿
Disciplinary inspection and supervision work is work concerning people's hearts and the masses. The expectations of the masses are where the efforts to rectify conduct, enforce discipline, and combat corruption should be focused.
In 2025, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (中央纪委) of the Communist Party of China and the National Supervisory Commission (国家监委), along with disciplinary inspection and supervision organs at all levels, are focusing on the goal of fighting for the people and making the masses feel the benefits. They are comprehensively advancing the centralized rectification of unhealthy tendencies and corruption problems around the people, severely punishing "fly corruption and ant corruption" ("蝇贪蚁腐"), correcting stubborn and chronic diseases, making great efforts to solve the urgent needs and difficulties of the masses, promoting the modernization construction results to benefit all the people more and more fairly, and letting the broad masses of the people truly feel that comprehensively and strictly governing the Party is around them, and fairness and justice are around them.
Precise Efforts to Cut off the "Black Hands" Reaching for the Interests of the Masses
"The grain subsidy is back!" In Suining County (睢宁县), Jiangsu Province (江苏省), grain grower Lu Miaomiao (卢苗苗) was checking the soil moisture on the ridge, and a smile spread across her face when she talked about a subsidy that was lost and found.
At the beginning of 2025, the Suining County Commission for Discipline Inspection and Supervision (睢宁县纪委监委) received an early warning message: Lu Miaomiao and three other villagers had not received the one-time subsidy for actual grain farmers. The county and town jointly carried out verification, and through data comparison and door-to-door review, the truth quickly came to light: Jia (贾), a village cadre, used his position to intercept subsidies by falsely reporting and falsely claiming, totaling more than 80,000 yuan.
In the end, Jia was severely punished, and the intercepted funds were returned to the farmers in full. The villagers exclaimed, "The county cares so much about our affairs!"
No matter concerning the masses is too small. Each "small incision" is the focus of centralized rectification. The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (中央纪委) and the National Supervisory Commission (国家监委) are making precise efforts, directly focusing on national rectification projects such as "school meals" in primary and secondary schools, rural collective "three assets" management, the use and supervision of rural revitalization funds, medical insurance fund management, and elderly care services. They are also steadily advancing the special action to rectify corruption and chaos in the funeral field, and strictly investigating problems that infringe on the interests of the masses, such as embezzlement, taking kickbacks, and demanding bribes.
Various localities are conducting a thorough investigation and comprehensive review of problem clues. In Huangshi City (黄石市), Hubei Province (湖北省), disciplinary inspection and supervision organs are expanding the sources of clues through various means such as data screening, departmental transfer, audit discovery, and inspection feedback.
They are also jointly tackling and strictly investigating problems that the masses strongly reflect. In Baoji City (宝鸡市), Shaanxi Province (陕西省), disciplinary inspection and supervision organs are systematically rectifying outstanding problems in the management of medical insurance funds, establishing a "Commission for Discipline Inspection and Supervision (纪委监委) + functional department" coordination mechanism to promote joint investigation and joint punishment of clues by medical insurance departments and health and health departments.
From January to November 2025, a total of 840,000 cases of unhealthy tendencies and corruption problems around the masses were investigated and handled nationwide, 536,000 people were punished, 20,000 people were transferred to the procuratorial organs, and 66.62 billion yuan of property was directly or indirectly returned to the masses.
Zhao Jing (赵静), a resident of Yuanhui District (源汇区) in Luohe City (漯河市), Henan Province (河南省), was deeply touched by the heavy-handed handling of cases. When her child went to primary school, the quality of the school meals was once very poor, which made her anxious. After the centralized rectification was carried out, the relevant management personnel of the school were severely punished for their violations, the District Education Bureau publicly reported the situation, and the school immediately made rectifications, which was applauded by the parents. Zhao Jing said: "This is a real move! Feeling this determination, we are more at ease."
Treating Both the Symptoms and the Root Causes to Solve Problems at the "Root"
"It is recommended to unify the administrative penalty discretion benchmarks and implement regulatory responsibility retrospection" "Establish a list of post powers and a list of negative behaviors to form a mutually restrictive work chain"... In June 2025, the Jiujiang City (九江市) Medical Insurance Bureau in Jiangxi Province (江西省) received a supervisory proposal issued by the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection and Supervision (市纪检监察机关) on further strengthening the supervision of medical insurance funds.
Prior to this, the local area had investigated and handled a number of cases in the field of medical insurance fund management. The disciplinary inspection and supervision organs conducted case analysis, issued supervisory proposals, pointed out the ills of the ineffective operation of the collective decision-making mechanism for "major issues" and the failure of internal checks and balances, and put forward specific suggestions.
A relevant person in charge of the Jiujiang City (九江市) Medical Insurance Bureau said: "The supervisory proposal pointed out the direction for us to promote reform and governance through cases." The bureau then studied and formulated a plan to deeply find out the institutional loopholes and regulatory shortcomings behind the cases, sort out the list of problems, and rectify and cancel them one by one.
Investigating and handling cases is only the beginning, and solving problems is the goal. Disciplinary inspection and supervision organs pay attention to doing a good job in the "second half of the article" of handling cases, deeply digging into the common problems and deep-seated contradictions of industries and regions, focusing on eradicating the soil and source governance, and consolidating and expanding the results of rectification from the institutional mechanism.
The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (中央纪委) and the National Supervisory Commission (国家监委) are promoting functional departments to effectively plug loopholes and manage long-term, and have issued 32 national pro-people system documents, such as promoting the formulation and promulgation of the "Administrative Law Enforcement Supervision Regulations" to improve mechanisms, standardize procedures, and strengthen responsibilities to promote strict, standardized, fair, and civilized law enforcement; and promoting the promulgation of national standards in the field of school meal distribution to ensure that food is controllable from procurement to the table.
Various localities are deepening the promotion of reform and governance through cases, connecting the rectification of problems with the improvement of systems, and releasing the comprehensive effectiveness of treating both the symptoms and the root causes. In the rectification of "land outside the register," the Jilin Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection and Supervision (吉林省纪委监委) urged the Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (省农业农村厅) to update the data on the map and put it into the database in a timely manner through multi-map overlay comparison and screening, cross-inspection and mutual evaluation, etc., to ensure that the province's rural collective "three assets" are clear and the situation is clear.
The Shanxi Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection and Supervision (山西省纪委监委), in response to common problems such as opaque fees and inadequate service guarantees for elderly care service projects, issued reminders and special supervision to promote functional departments to revise and improve the management methods and other systems for special subsidies for the construction of elderly care institutions.
Deepening Reform and Improving the Long-term Mechanism for Safeguarding the Interests of the Masses
Deeply advancing centralized rectification has effectively promoted grassroots supervision and governance. Disciplinary inspection and supervision organs are deepening the reform of the grassroots supervision system and mechanism, and improving the long-term mechanism for safeguarding the interests of the masses.
The dispersion of supervisory power was once a difficult problem restricting the quality and efficiency of grassroots supervision. Not long ago, the Honggu District Commission for Discipline Inspection and Supervision (红古区纪委监委) in Lanzhou City (兰州市), Gansu Province (甘肃省) used the "regional collaboration + cross-supervision" mechanism to investigate and deal with a case in which village cadres hindered construction, resulting in slow progress in rural public welfare financial award and subsidy projects and damage to the interests of the masses.
The Honggu District Commission for Discipline Inspection and Supervision (红古区纪委监委) divided the seven townships (街道) into three collaboration zones according to the principles of geographical proximity, complementary advantages, and easy collaboration, and coordinated the forces of the disciplinary inspection and supervision offices, dispatched disciplinary inspection and supervision teams, township (街道) discipline (work) committees, and village (居) disciplinary inspection and supervision liaison officers to effectively improve the collaborative tackling ability of supervising key matters and handling important cases.
The unwillingness to supervise and the fear of supervising in the acquaintance society is another "long-standing difficulty" of grassroots supervision. Some time ago, the secretary of the Shouchun Town (寿春镇) Discipline Inspection Commission in Shouxian County (寿县), Huainan City (淮南市), Anhui Province (安徽省) led three village-level discipline inspection committee members from his town to inspect the village-level financial accounts, the issuance of pro-people funds, and the disclosure of village affairs in another township.
A relevant person in charge of the Huainan City Commission for Discipline Inspection and Supervision (淮南市纪委监委) said: "Village-level discipline inspection committee members are close to the masses and familiar with village affairs, but they are prone to being unable to save face with the cadres in their own villages." To this end, the local area promoted the establishment of village-level discipline inspection committee collaboration groups to carry out off-site and cross-supervision and inspection on a regular basis under the unified command of the higher level.
While weaving a tight supervision network, disciplinary inspection and supervision organs at all levels are deeply practicing the Party's mass line in the new era, adhering to "open door rectification," and constantly expanding the channels and methods for mass participation. Through in-depth front-line research, deepening mass "topic selection," and strengthening information disclosure, the masses are allowed to participate in supervision more deeply and feel the effectiveness of rectification more deeply.
"Online shopping already includes freight, but you still have to pay to pick up the goods. We have bitterness to say, and we don't know who to turn to." At the beginning of 2025, at a express delivery outlet in Longmen Township (龙门乡), Daxin County (大新县), Chongzuo City (崇左市), Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (广西壮族自治区), villagers reflected problems through the "mass topic selection" mechanism.
The Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection and Supervision (市纪委监委) sorted out relevant clues and found that illegal charges for express delivery pick-up in townships had triggered many mass complaints, and relevant departments had problems with the lack of regulatory responsibility. In response, the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection and Supervision (市纪委监委) promoted functional departments to establish a working group to carry out rectification and rectification, publicly announced service standards and optimized operating procedures at terminal outlets in the city, won praise from the masses, and greatly reduced the complaint rate.
Rectifying unhealthy tendencies and corruption problems around the masses is both a tough battle and a protracted war. On the new journey, disciplinary inspection and supervision organs at all levels will always adhere to the people-centered development thought, continue to promote the comprehensive and strict governance of the Party to extend to the grassroots, deeply rectify the "micro-corruption" in the field of people's livelihood and the "stumbling blocks" that hinder the implementation of pro-people policies, and promote the results of reform and development to benefit the broad masses of the people better and more fairly.
Return to TopDing Xuexiang (丁薛祥), member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council, met with Bob Iger, CEO of The Walt Disney Company of the United States, in Beijing (北京) on the 9th.
Ding Xuexiang (丁薛祥) stated that China's economy is deeply integrated into the world economy, and the better China develops, the greater the benefits for all parties. China's "14th Five-Year Plan" has come to a successful conclusion, and new major achievements have been made in various undertakings, making important contributions to world development. The Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee has mapped out a blueprint for China's development in the next five years. We will unswervingly promote high-quality development, expand high-level opening up, and continuously optimize the business environment. We welcome companies from all countries, including Disney, to continue to invest in China, cultivate the Chinese market, actively participate in the construction of Chinese-style modernization, share Chinese opportunities, and achieve greater development.
Iger stated that The Walt Disney Company is full of confidence in China's development and will continue to expand its investment in China to better promote US-China exchanges and cooperation.
Return to TopBeijing, January 9th (People's Daily reporter Han Xin (韩鑫)) The reporter learned from the State Post Bureau (国家邮政局) that in 2025, the business revenue and the volume of postal delivery services of China's postal industry will reach 1.8 trillion yuan and 216.5 billion pieces respectively, representing year-on-year increases of 6.4% and 11.5% respectively. Among them, the revenue and volume of express delivery services will reach 1.5 trillion yuan and 199 billion pieces respectively, representing year-on-year increases of 6.5% and 13.7% respectively. During the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, the average annual growth of business revenue in the postal industry exceeded 10%; the annual per capita express delivery usage increased to 141 pieces, and the highest daily business volume reached 777 million pieces.
Return to TopBy: 孙秀艳
On January 9th, the National Healthcare Security Administration (国家医保局), in conjunction with the Ministry of Finance (财政部), issued a notice extending the scope of mutual assistance for individual accounts of basic employee medical insurance from within provinces to the entire country. At the beginning of the "15th Five-Year Plan" period, this reform measure, which breaks down geographical restrictions, conforms to the new trends in the development of the times, meets the new needs of people's lives, and is of great significance.
Policy formulation should be accurate. What constitutes a good and practical thing should be considered from the perspective of the people's immediate needs. Transforming the funds in employees' medical insurance individual accounts into "family health funds," allowing families with children to receive a monthly subsidy of 300 yuan per child, and bringing convenience to the elderly through age-appropriate renovations... To guarantee and improve people's livelihoods, we must adhere to what the people care about and what they expect, and the reform should focus on and promote what they need.
Key small matters should be handled steadily. The people's key small matters are our top priorities, and we must do good deeds well, implement practical matters effectively, and handle difficult matters properly. From carrying out mutual assistance within provinces, to piloting inter-provincial mutual assistance, and then to expanding the scope to the entire country, the reform of mutual assistance for individual accounts of employee medical insurance proves that only by starting from reality, acting in accordance with the laws, and grasping the speed and rhythm can we seek progress while maintaining stability and achieve long-term stability.
Where the heart is, action follows. Using reform as the pen and hard work as the ink, the continuous improvement of people's well-being will write a new chapter in the happy lives of the people.
Return to TopBeijing, January 9th (People's Daily reporter Gu Yekai (谷业凯)) - The reporter learned from the National Intellectual Property Administration (国家知识产权局) that in 2025, China authorized 972,000 invention patents and registered 4,206,000 trademarks.
As of now, the number of valid domestic invention patents in China exceeds 5 million, and the number of high-value invention patents per 10,000 people has reached 16, exceeding the "14th Five-Year Plan" target. The number of national patent transfer and licensing filings reached 1.458 million, the transaction value of technology contracts involving patents exceeded one trillion yuan, and banking financial institutions have cumulatively issued more than 900 billion yuan in intellectual property pledge loans. The proportion of the added value of patent-intensive industries in the gross domestic product increased from 11.97% in 2020 to 13.38% in 2024.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 邓剑洋
On the morning of January 9th, the State Council Information Office (国务院新闻办) held a press conference where relevant officials from the Ministry of Water Resources (水利部) introduced the progress of accelerating the construction of the national water network.
Record High in Social Capital Attraction for Water Conservancy Projects in 2025
In 2025, China completed 1.28 trillion yuan in water conservancy construction investment, absorbing 3.15 million jobs, effectively playing a role in stabilizing growth and promoting employment. The Ministry of Water Resources (水利部) accelerated the construction of the main arteries of the national water network, and promoted the construction of important water diversion and drainage channels and important regulation and storage nodes.
The national water network system is accelerating its improvement. During the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, 181 major water conservancy projects, such as the Gu Xian project on the Yellow River (黄河古贤), the middle route of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project (南水北调) to divert water from the Yangtze River to supplement the Han River (引江补汉), and the second phase of the Huai River (淮河) into the sea, have started construction, 65 more than during the "13th Five-Year Plan" period. Ninety-four major water conservancy projects have been completed, accepted, and put into use, 17,998 dangerous reservoirs have been reinforced, 3,741 small and medium-sized rivers have been systematically managed, an additional 31.8 billion cubic meters of water supply capacity has been added, an additional 22.3 billion cubic meters of reservoir capacity has been added, and the irrigated area of cultivated land has increased by more than 53 million mu.
The construction of the water network has increased people's well-being. Since the commissioning of the eastern and middle routes of the first phase of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project (南水北调), more than 85 billion cubic meters of water have been diverted to the north, benefiting 195 million people in 48 large and medium-sized cities along the route. In 2025, 9,420 rural water supply projects were completed, improving the water supply security level of 134 million rural people. The popularization rate of tap water in rural areas nationwide reached 96%, the proportion of rural population covered by large-scale water supply projects reached 71%, and the proportion of county-level unified management reached 72%.
During the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, the country completed 5.68 trillion yuan in water conservancy construction investment, and the investment completed in the four consecutive years since 2022 exceeded 1 trillion yuan. The national water network covers 80.3% of the country's land area, providing water security for the implementation of major national strategies, important economic zones, important urban agglomerations, energy bases, major grain-producing areas, key ecological function areas, and important waterway channels.
The Ministry of Water Resources (水利部) gives full play to the leverage role of government investment, deepens the reform of water conservancy investment and financing, and actively broadens the financing channels for water conservancy infrastructure. During the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, an average of 327.9 billion yuan of special bonds from local governments and bank loans were implemented annually, which is 2.6 times the annual average value during the "13th Five-Year Plan" period. Water conservancy projects attracted 548.5 billion yuan of social capital, an increase of 86.4% compared with the "13th Five-Year Plan" period, of which 147.6 billion yuan of social capital was attracted in 2025, a record high.
Fundamental Improvement in the Appearance of Rivers and Lakes
The Ministry of Water Resources (水利部) focuses on the Mother River Revival Action to vigorously promote the revival of the ecological environment of rivers and lakes, and has made positive progress.
Fundamental improvement in the appearance of rivers and lakes. Wu Wenqing (吴文庆), chief planner of the Ministry of Water Resources (水利部), introduced that since 2022, focusing on problems such as river cutoffs and lake shrinkage, the Ministry of Water Resources (水利部) has carried out the revival action of 88 Mother Rivers (Lakes). By strengthening water conservation, optimizing water resources allocation, implementing ecological restoration, and strictly managing and protecting rivers and lakes, 79 rivers have all achieved full-line connectivity, and 9 lakes have effectively guaranteed ecological water levels (water volume). Through carrying out normalized water replenishment for rivers and lakes in North China and concentrated water replenishment in summer, the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal (京杭大运河), which has been cut off for a century, has achieved full-line water flow connectivity for four consecutive years, the Yongding River (永定河), which has been cut off for 26 years, has achieved full-line connectivity for five consecutive years, and the Hutuo River (滹沱河), which has been cut off for 40 years, has achieved full-line water flow connectivity for five consecutive years. In the northeast, the main stream of the Xiliao River (西辽河), which has been cut off for 27 years, has achieved full-line water flow connectivity.
Significant results have been achieved in the comprehensive management of groundwater over-extraction. The comprehensive management of groundwater over-extraction in the over-extraction area of groundwater in North China, the water receiving area of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project (南水北调), and other key areas has been further promoted. Compared with 2020, the shallow and deep groundwater levels in the North China management area at the end of 2025 rose by 3.76 meters and 7.65 meters respectively, and the groundwater levels in other key areas were generally stable. In 2025, the Baiquan Spring Group (白泉泉群) in Jinan (济南), Shandong (山东) re-emerged, the Jinci Spring (晋祠泉) in Shanxi (山西), which had been cut off for nearly 30 years, achieved stable spring water re-flow, and the Yimu Spring (一亩泉) in Baoding (保定), Hebei (河北), which had been cut off for 60 years, achieved spring water re-emergence.
In addition, focusing on agricultural water conservation and efficiency enhancement, industrial water conservation and emission reduction, and urban water conservation and loss reduction, the Ministry of Water Resources (水利部) is committed to promoting the high-quality development of the water conservation industry. Various localities have actively introduced support policies, formulated special plans, established industry associations, and guided leading enterprises to drive the clustered development of upstream and downstream enterprises. We will promote the construction of 12 regional water conservation industry alliances and 8 industrial parks, forming 3 industrial highlands in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, the Yangtze River Delta, and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, as well as a number of water-saving equipment manufacturing, scientific research and innovation clusters such as Chengdu-Chongqing, Shandong, and Shaanxi.
Promote the comprehensive implementation of contract water management in the three fields of agricultural water conservation and efficiency enhancement, industrial water conservation and emission reduction, and urban water conservation and loss reduction. During the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, water rights transactions exceeded 30,000, 2,488 contract water management projects were implemented, with a total investment of 17.26 billion yuan and an annual water saving of 930 million cubic meters.
The "Main Force" Role of Large and Medium-sized Irrigation Areas in Grain Production is Prominent
The Ministry of Water Resources (水利部) actively promotes the modernization construction and transformation of large and medium-sized irrigation areas, and continuously consolidates the water conservancy foundation for food security.
"Taking the 'two major' constructions as an opportunity, in 2025, we will start the construction of 7 new large-scale irrigation areas, promote the construction of 15 large-scale irrigation areas under construction, and the modernization transformation of 157 large and medium-sized irrigation areas," said Ni Wenjin (倪文进), director of the Department of Rural Water Conservancy and Hydropower of the Ministry of Water Resources (水利部).
The "main force" role of large and medium-sized irrigation areas in grain production is prominent. By the end of 2025, the irrigated area of cultivated land in my country will reach 1.09 billion mu, an increase of more than 53 million mu compared with the end of the "13th Five-Year Plan" period, and the grain output of the irrigated area of cultivated land will reach 80.76%. Among them, the grain sown area of large and medium-sized irrigation areas accounts for 38.89% of the country, the grain output accounts for 50.9% of the national total, and the average yield per mu is 1,164 jin, which is 1.5 times the national average level of cultivated land and 2.7 times that of rain-fed cultivated land.
Improve agricultural water conservation and efficiency. The effective utilization coefficient of farmland irrigation water nationwide reaches 0.583, and the grain production capacity of single-party irrigation water has always remained above 1.8 kg. Online metering has been realized at the head of the canal in large and medium-sized irrigation areas of more than 50,000 mu. The cumulative implementation area of comprehensive agricultural water price reform has reached 1.086 billion mu, achieving full reform. While maintaining the total amount of agricultural water use stable, the irrigated area of cultivated land and grain output have steadily increased.
The Ministry of Water Resources (水利部) coordinated autumn flood defense and water storage at the end of the flood season to store enough water for spring irrigation. We will strengthen the repair and renovation of farmland ditches and the management of waterlogging areas in plains. In 2025, we will work with the National Development and Reform Commission (国家发展改革委) to support the construction of drainage capacity in 70 key areas. In response to the impact of autumn floods on autumn harvests in some areas, we will guide local authorities to promptly dredge drainage ditches in irrigation areas, strengthen the operation and scheduling of drainage pumping stations and culverts, and create favorable conditions for a bumper autumn grain harvest.
In terms of flood and drought disaster prevention, the Ministry of Water Resources (水利部) is accelerating the improvement of the basin flood control project system, the rain and water situation monitoring and forecasting system, and the flood and drought disaster prevention work system, and is earnestly implementing various prevention measures.
In 2025, water conservancy departments at all levels issued a total of 22,100 dispatching instructions, and 6,894 large and medium-sized reservoirs (times) stored a total of 120.2 billion cubic meters of floodwater, reducing the inundation of 1,082 towns (times), reducing the inundation area of 8.3 million mu of cultivated land, and avoiding the transfer of 3.06 million people (times).
In 2026, the Ministry of Water Resources (水利部) will also implement a number of major water conservancy projects. Zhang Xiangwei (张祥伟), director of the Planning and Planning Department of the Ministry of Water Resources (水利部), said that in terms of ensuring flood control safety, the Shangbaishi Reservoir (上白石水库) in Fujian (福建) and the follow-up phase I project of the Taipu River (太浦河) in Taihu Lake (太湖) will be started; in terms of major water diversion projects, the water resources allocation project in the Liaodong Peninsula (辽东半岛) and the water replenishment project along the Yangtze River (引江) to supplement the Han River (补汉) in Hubei (湖北) will be started; in terms of irrigation areas, new large-scale irrigation areas such as the Leizhou Peninsula (雷州半岛) in Guangdong (广东) and Jinggang (井冈) in Jiangxi (江西) will be built, and the modernization transformation of irrigation areas such as Dujiangyan (都江堰) in Sichuan (四川) will be promoted as a whole, so as to further improve the regional and provincial water network pattern and enhance the flood control capacity, water supply security capacity and grain production capacity of the basin area.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 杨 昊
How light can a satellite be?
At the Xingzhong Space (Jiaxing) Technology Co., Ltd. (星众空间（嘉兴）科技股份有限公司) factory, the lightest satellite weighs only 20 kilograms, but its performance is not compromised. "The application of micro-nano satellites is accelerating into ordinary people's homes," said the relevant person in charge of the company. In the future, ordinary users are expected to "place orders" via their mobile phones and enjoy high-definition image services.
This is an epitome of the courage of private enterprises in China to climb to new heights in innovation leadership in recent years. Seeking long-term development by embracing the "new" and scaling heights by leveraging "intelligence," the vast number of private enterprises are forging ahead with enhanced confidence, consolidating their foundations by building resilience, and firmly acting as builders of socialism with Chinese characteristics and promoters of Chinese-style modernization.
Innovation
Activating the Kinetic Energy of New Quality Productive Forces
Complex fuselages gleam with silver light, and precision mechanical arms are suspended in an intricate manner... At Beijing Changmugu Medical Technology Co., Ltd. (北京长木谷医疗科技股份有限公司), the surgical robot independently developed by the company is demonstrating hip replacement surgery.
"Compared with traditional surgery that relies on the experience and feel of doctors, robots shorten the time of complex surgeries such as joint replacement by 30%, and the precision control is at the sub-millimeter level, making orthopedic surgery more precise and efficient," said Zhang Yiling (张逸凌), chairman of the company.
Artificial intelligence is accelerating the empowerment of thousands of industries, and the Internet of Everything is opening up digital space for economic growth. More and more private enterprises are using innovation as an engine to promote the renewal and upgrading of traditional productive forces.
In the Shagang Cold Rolling Intelligent Sample Preparation and Testing Center (沙钢冷轧智能制样及检测中心), mechanical arms operate precisely, and automated guided vehicles move smoothly along preset tracks in an efficient and orderly manner.
A steel plate that has just come off the cold rolling production line enters the center, and the mechanical arm steadily grabs it and sends it to the automated sample preparation production line. After being laser-coded to give it an exclusive "identity mark," it is then precisely cut, punched, and sorted. The thick steel plate is processed into sample pieces with uniform specifications and smooth edges.
"In the past, steel plate sample preparation relied entirely on manual handling and manual operation. Now, it can be automatically completed with 'one-click start'!" Xin (辛), a master worker who has been working in the sample preparation post for 10 years, said with emotion.
"Transforming the 'key variable' of scientific and technological innovation into the 'maximum increment' of high-quality development." Not long ago, Xu Guanju (徐冠巨), chairman of the Transfar Group (传化集团), participated in a special seminar for representatives of the private economy to study and implement the spirit of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee and the spirit of the Central Economic Work Conference. He said that in the field of artificial intelligence, there must be both "hard technology" and the creation of advantages in rich application scenarios.
Working with Unitree Technology (宇树科技) to build a general-purpose robot pilot test base, jointly building a robot material joint laboratory with the Zhejiang Humanoid Robot Innovation Center (浙江人形机器人创新中心), and jointly building a robot training platform with multiple companies... Transfar Group (传化集团) is strengthening enterprise-led industry-university-research integration innovation and collaborative innovation between large, medium, and small enterprises to promote the deep integration of scientific and technological innovation and industrial innovation.
Traditional industries are innovating, and emerging industries and future industries are becoming newer every day. A report released by the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce (全国工商联) shows that in 2024, the R&D investment and results of the top 1,000 private enterprises in China in terms of R&D investment have broken through historical data, and the scale and intensity of R&D investment have achieved double growth, promoting economic development with continuous innovation vitality.
Confidence
Optimizing the Business Environment
In November 2025, the Supreme People's Court (最高人民法院) released four typical retrial cases involving the protection of the rights and interests of private enterprises and private entrepreneurs. From accurately applying the principle of legality of crime and punishment to strictly distinguishing between economic disputes and crimes, and then to practicing the concept of equal protection... These cases vividly interpret that "the rule of law is the best business environment," injecting strong legal force into the development of the private economy.
A good ecology is the key to stimulating private enterprises to embrace the "new" and is also the source of entrepreneurs' development confidence.
"From the inclusion of 'two unswervingly' in the Law on Promoting the Private Economy to the emphasis on private enterprises in the '15th Five-Year Plan' recommendations, these policy signals allow private entrepreneurs to develop with peace of mind and focus on management," said Liu Yonghao (刘永好), chairman of the New Hope Group (新希望集团).
To care for the development of private enterprises, policies are being introduced continuously:
The business environment is more optimized. Continue to clean up and abolish barriers that hinder the unified market and fair competition, deeply promote the reform of "separation of permits and licenses" and "one license for one industry," and further promote the implementation of 13 measures to promote the development of private investment.
The market order is more standardized. Improve the social credit system, improve the price governance mechanism, implement the newly revised Anti-Unfair Competition Law, and comprehensively rectify "involutionary" competition.
The flow of factors is smoother. The new version of the negative list for market access has been "slimmed down" again, many places have carried out comprehensive reform pilots for market-oriented allocation of factors, and the construction of a unified national market is advancing in depth.
"Strengthen anti-monopoly and anti-unfair competition law enforcement and justice," "Improve supervision, promote the innovation and healthy development of the platform economy," "Implement the Law on Promoting the Private Economy, and guarantee equal use of production factors, fair participation in market competition, and effective protection of legitimate rights and interests from the legal and institutional level"... In the "15th Five-Year Plan" recommendations, the goal of the rule of law escorting the development of the private economy is clearer and the path is more definite.
"The company lacks funds to expand production, but the loan interest rate is too high. What should we do?" At a bank-enterprise docking symposium organized by the Heze City Federation of Industry and Commerce (菏泽市工商联) in Shandong Province (山东省), the relevant person in charge of Shandong Tianhou New Material Technology Co., Ltd. (山东天厚新材料科技有限公司) stated the difficulties faced by the company's development.
Build a precise docking platform to open up the bloodline of funds. The Heze City (菏泽市) and Dingtao District (定陶区) Federations of Industry and Commerce tracked and coordinated the entire process, and helped companies reduce costs through a combination of "approval optimization + loan replacement," reducing the company's annual interest expense by one million yuan.
The "substance" of the rule of law guarantee brings the "excellence" of the business environment, promotes the "vitality" of business entities, and forms a situation of a hundred rivers flowing and a thousand sails racing.
Resilience
Maintaining Focus to Achieve Accumulation and Breakthrough
Only slightly thicker than a strand of hair, light and soft to the touch, but with strength comparable to steel wire, 160 strands bundled together can tow a small car - this industrial silk produced by Hengli Chemical Fiber (恒力化纤) has been sold to dozens of countries and regions.
"Cultivate deeply in the fields we are good at, always maintain the confidence and patience to develop, and move forward tortuously in difficult explorations." Chen Jianhua (陈建华), chairman of Hengli Group (恒力集团), said that the company has responded to external challenges by practicing internal skills, successfully solved many "bottleneck" problems, and achieved the development of the entire industrial chain "from a drop of oil to a piece of cloth."
Deeply cultivating the main business, focusing on the real economy, and continuously polishing core competitiveness, the "resilience" characteristics of private enterprises are becoming more and more prominent.
More than 60% of specialized, refined, and new "little giant" enterprises are deeply involved in the field of industrial foundation, and nearly 80% are distributed in key industrial chain links; nearly 6,000 "little giant" enterprises are laying out future industrial fields such as quantum technology. Using focus to create expertise and using innovation to win the market, small size is tempered with high "gold content."
Some companies are deeply involved in the research and development and production of automotive sunroofs and other parts, breaking the technological monopoly of foreign suppliers, and their market share continues to increase; some companies focus on key areas such as chips and computing power, and have successfully embedded themselves in the supply chain of international power supply leading enterprises... These "little giants" and "hidden champions" that have achieved the ultimate in subdivided fields effectively enhance the competitiveness of the industrial chain and supply chain and are the most solid micro-foundation of the resilience of the private economy.
Digging into market potential internally and expanding development space externally. Westwell Technologies (西井科技), which started in the "Shanghai Silicon Alley" science and technology block, has provided digital and intelligent green solutions anchored by artificial intelligence and autonomous driving for 30 countries and regions.
Proactively recognizing changes and responding flexibly, private enterprises have become the main force in China's foreign trade. In the first 11 months of 2025, the import and export of private enterprises was 23.52 trillion yuan, an increase of 7.1% year-on-year.
When the wind is good, it is the time to set sail, and it is wide to compete in the waves. Striving forward in the "15th Five-Year Plan," private enterprises are steadily moving towards a new world of high-quality development.
Return to TopOn January 9th, in Anchang Ancient Town (安昌古镇), Keqiao District (柯桥区), Shaoxing City (绍兴市), Zhejiang Province (浙江省), merchants took advantage of the sunny weather to dry cured meats. Merchants in Anchang Ancient Town (安昌古镇) rely on traditional soy sauce brewing techniques and inherit the custom of making cured meats, drying bacon, soy sauce duck, dried fish, etc., becoming a unique landscape in winter.
Zhang Yongtao (章勇涛) Photo (Image China (影像中国))
Return to TopThis newspaper reported from Beijing on January 9th (Reporter Sun Xiuyan (孙秀艳)) The National Healthcare Security Administration (国家医保局), together with the Ministry of Finance (财政部), released the "Notice on Doing a Good Job in the Inter-Provincial Mutual Assistance of Employee Basic Medical Insurance Personal Accounts" on January 9th. This further optimizes the mutual assistance policy for personal accounts, breaks geographical restrictions, strengthens the family mutual assistance function, and expands the scope of mutual assistance for employee basic medical insurance personal accounts from within the province to the entire country.
The notice clarifies that the scope of application for inter-provincial mutual assistance is the close relatives of employees participating in basic medical insurance. The mutual assistance relationship can be established or terminated voluntarily by both parties. The relationship will be automatically terminated when the insured person's medical insurance relationship changes, and one person can establish a mutual assistance relationship with multiple people.
The mutual assistance funds can be used to pay for the individual burden of medical treatment and drug purchases of the assisted person, as well as individual payments for resident medical insurance and long-term care insurance. Within the mutual assistance quota, the mutual assistant can no longer use the personal account funds of that quota. The unused quota will be returned to the mutual assistant's account after the relationship is terminated.
The relevant person in charge of the National Healthcare Security Administration (国家医保局) stated that relevant central documents proposed to improve the mutual assistance and use function of employee medical insurance personal accounts. In the early stage, the National Healthcare Security Administration (国家医保局) guided various provinces to carry out intra-provincial mutual assistance of employee basic medical insurance personal accounts, which has demonstrated its effectiveness. In the past 5 years, it has accumulated more than 780 million mutual assistance person-times, with an amount exceeding 100 billion yuan. At the same time, it guided pilot provinces and cities to explore inter-provincial mutual assistance, and 337 coordinated regions opened medical insurance wallets and realized inter-provincial mutual assistance. The notice further optimizes the inter-provincial mutual assistance policy, realizes a wider range of mutual assistance, and allows the masses to enjoy the reform dividends of inter-provincial mutual assistance more efficiently and conveniently.
The notice also put forward requirements for the management and other work of carrying out inter-provincial mutual assistance fund settlement.
Return to TopAccording to the National Bureau of Statistics (国家统计局), Beijing (北京), January 9th: In December 2025, policies and measures to expand domestic demand and promote consumption continued to show effects. Coupled with the approaching New Year's Day, residents' consumption demand increased. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased by 0.2% month-on-month and 0.8% year-on-year, while the core CPI, excluding food and energy prices, increased by 1.2% year-on-year. Affected by the transmission of international commodity prices and the continued effectiveness of domestic policies related to capacity governance in key industries, the Producer Price Index (PPI) increased by 0.2% month-on-month and decreased by 1.9% year-on-year.
The CPI increased by 0.8% year-on-year, an increase of 0.1 percentage points compared to the previous month, returning to the highest level since March 2023. The year-on-year increase was mainly driven by the expansion of food price increases. Food prices rose by 1.1%, an increase of 0.9 percentage points compared to the previous month, increasing the upward impact on the CPI year-on-year by approximately 0.17 percentage points compared to the previous month. Energy prices fell by 3.8%, an increase of 0.4 percentage points in the decline compared to the previous month. The core CPI year-on-year increase has remained above 1% for four consecutive months.
The CPI month-on-month changed from a decrease of 0.1% in the previous month to an increase of 0.2%. The month-on-month increase was mainly affected by the increase in industrial consumer goods prices excluding energy. Industrial consumer goods prices excluding energy rose by 0.6%, affecting the CPI month-on-month increase by approximately 0.16 percentage points. Among them, the effect of policies to boost consumption continued to manifest, and coupled with the approaching New Year's Day, residents' demand for shopping and entertainment increased, with prices of communication tools, maternal and infant products, cultural and recreational durable consumer goods, and household appliances all increasing, with increases ranging from 1.4% to 3.0%.
The PPI increased by 0.2% month-on-month, increasing for three consecutive months, with an increase of 0.1 percentage points compared to the previous month. Improved supply and demand structure drove price increases in some industries. Comprehensive governance of capacity in key industries and rectification of market competition order continued to be effective. The prices of coal mining and washing and coal processing increased by 1.3% and 0.8% month-on-month, respectively, both increasing for five consecutive months; lithium-ion battery manufacturing prices increased by 1.0%, and cement manufacturing prices increased by 0.5%, both increasing for three consecutive months; the price of new energy vehicle manufacturing changed from a decrease of 0.2% in the previous month to an increase of 0.1%.
The PPI decreased by 1.9% year-on-year, a decrease of 0.3 percentage points compared to the previous month. Various macroeconomic policies continued to be effective, and prices in some industries showed positive changes. The market competition order continued to be optimized, and the decline in prices of coal mining and washing, lithium-ion battery manufacturing, and photovoltaic equipment and component manufacturing narrowed by 2.9, 1.2, and 0.4 percentage points compared to the previous month, respectively, having narrowed for 5, 4, and 9 consecutive months, respectively.
Return to TopThis newspaper's Beijing (北京) January 9th dispatch (Reporter Lin Lili (林丽鹂)) The State Administration for Market Regulation and the Cyberspace Administration of China (国家网信办) recently jointly issued the "Measures for the Supervision and Administration of Network Transaction Platform Rules," aiming to standardize the formulation, modification, and implementation of network transaction platform rules, maintain network transaction order, and protect the legitimate rights and interests of all parties involved in network transactions.
The measures take platform rules as the entry point to further tighten and implement platform responsibilities.
Focusing on prominent issues, the measures safeguard the rights and interests of all parties. In recent years, all sectors of society have strongly reacted to issues such as platform "refund only," platform "fines," and "member demotion." In response, the measures explicitly prohibit platforms from using rules to unreasonably restrict the independent operation of businesses within the platform, collect unreasonable fees, impose unreasonable "fines," reduce membership rights, and other behaviors, in order to protect the independent operation of merchants within the platform and safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of consumers.
The measures stipulate the platform's obligations in terms of information disclosure, public solicitation of opinions, transitional period settings, and complaint channel settings, requiring the platform to establish and improve mechanisms for communication and consultation on major matters related to platform rules, and for resolving transaction disputes within the platform.
The measures detail the specific requirements for platforms in ensuring information, network, and data security, and protecting the legitimate rights and interests of platform operators and consumers. The measures require platforms to clarify information security clauses in their platform rules, specify the specific norms for platform operators to process personal information, and the platform operators' obligations to protect minors online. At the same time, the measures explicitly prohibit the use of platform rules to exclude or restrict consumer rights, reduce or exempt themselves from liability, unreasonably increase consumer responsibility, implement big data "**杀熟**" (shā shú - "killing the familiar," price discrimination against loyal customers), or unilaterally change platform rules to damage member rights when providing membership services.
Return to TopThis newspaper reported from Beijing on January 9th (Reporter Ge Mengchao (葛孟超)) The data recently released by the State Administration of Foreign Exchange (国家外汇管理局) shows that at the end of December 2025, China's foreign exchange reserve scale was 3357.9 billion US dollars, a new high since December 2015.
Wen Bin (温彬), chief economist of Minsheng Bank, analyzed that in December 2025, the Federal Reserve (美联储) started its third interest rate cut of the year, and the US dollar depreciated accordingly. However, the expectation of inflation rebound led to an increase in term premiums, coupled with better-than-expected US economic data, the 10-year US Treasury bond yield did not rise but fell, and global asset prices showed mixed ups and downs. Affected by the combined effects of asset price changes and exchange rate fluctuations, at the end of December, China's foreign exchange reserve scale was 3357.9 billion US dollars, an increase of 11.5 billion US dollars compared with the previous month, with an increase of 0.34%.
As of the end of December 2025, China's foreign exchange reserve scale has been above 3.3 trillion US dollars for five consecutive months. Guan Tao (管涛), global chief economist of Bank of China Securities, said that this mainly reflects the positive valuation effect brought about by exchange rate conversion and asset price changes under the influence of factors such as monetary policies and expectations of major economies, and macroeconomic data.
Looking back at the whole year of 2025, China's foreign exchange reserve scale maintained a stable and increasing trend. Wen Bin (温彬) said that in 2025, the basic supporting role of China's exports to the balance of payments was more prominent. China's capital market performed well, international institutions' confidence in China's economic prospects and RMB assets was further enhanced, and the scale of overseas securities capital inflows remained at a high level. China's steady and positive economic momentum has laid the foundation for maintaining the basic stability of the foreign exchange reserve scale.
The State Administration of Foreign Exchange (国家外汇管理局) stated that China is constantly consolidating and expanding the steady and positive momentum of its economy, and the supporting conditions and basic trends for long-term economic improvement have not changed, which is conducive to maintaining the basic stability of the foreign exchange reserve scale.
Return to TopOn January 8, Chinese President Xi Jinping (习近平) sent a congratulatory letter to the opening ceremony of the 2026 "China-Africa Year of People-to-People and Cultural Exchanges." In his congratulatory letter, President Xi Jinping (习近平) profoundly expounded the important significance of mutual learning between civilizations in advancing the modernization of China and Africa, pointed out the direction and principles of China-Africa people-to-people and cultural exchanges and cooperation, fully demonstrated his profound thinking on human history and civilization, and provided important guidance for promoting the building of a China-Africa community with a shared future in the new era. African people from all walks of life who were interviewed by this reporter said that President Xi Jinping's (习近平) congratulatory letter outlined a beautiful vision of Africa and China working together, and they believe that the "Year of People-to-People and Cultural Exchanges" activities will further deepen the dialogue between the two civilizations, enhance the exchange of ideas, and promote the continuous development of Africa-China relations.
"Enhance the exchange of ideas and write a new chapter in Africa-China relations"
On January 8, local time, the opening ceremony of the 2026 "China-Africa Year of People-to-People and Cultural Exchanges" was held at the African Union (非盟) headquarters in Addis Ababa (亚的斯亚贝巴), the capital of Ethiopia (埃塞俄比亚). In his congratulatory letter, President Xi Jinping (习近平) pointed out: "Holding the 'Year of People-to-People and Cultural Exchanges' on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Africa is an important consensus reached between me and African leaders, and an important measure to promote the further deepening of China-Africa friendship at a new historical starting point."
"President Xi Jinping's (习近平) congratulatory letter demonstrates China's high regard for promoting mutual learning between Chinese and African civilizations and enhancing people-to-people connectivity. As a member who has long been committed to Egypt-China people-to-people and cultural exchanges, I am very excited." Hassan Ragab, the Egyptian Director of the Confucius Institute at Suez Canal University (苏伊士运河大学孔子学院), Egypt (埃及), said, "I believe that the 'Year of People-to-People and Cultural Exchanges' activities will further deepen the dialogue between Chinese and African civilizations, enhance the exchange of ideas, and write a new chapter in Africa-China relations."
"This year marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Africa and China, which is an important opportunity for both sides to strengthen people-to-people and cultural exchanges." Tan Zheli, head of the South African (南非) Trilateral China-Africa International Exchange Think Tank (哲理中非国际交流智库), said, "The 'Year of People-to-People and Cultural Exchanges' activities will allow Africa and China to deeply resonate at the spiritual level."
"The foundation of the Africa-China partnership lies in the deep friendship between the people. The 'Year of People-to-People and Cultural Exchanges' activities implement the consensus of the leaders of both sides and are an important measure under the framework of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (中非合作论坛)." Balu Demissie, a senior advisor at the Ethiopian Policy Research Institute (埃塞俄比亚政策研究所), said, "People-to-people and cultural exchanges are conducive to innovation and will help promote the modernization process of the Global South. In 2026, Africa and China are expected to unleash huge cooperation potential in the fields of culture, education, science and technology, sports, media, and think tanks, and promote the building of a high-level Africa-China community with a shared future."
Abdelkader Berriche, a member of the Algerian (阿尔及利亚) National People's Assembly (国民议会), said: "Africa-China people-to-people and cultural exchanges have been deeply cultivated for many years and have achieved fruitful results. The 'Year of People-to-People and Cultural Exchanges' activities promote mutual understanding and affinity between Africa and China, promote win-win cooperation through mutual learning of cultures, and build a solid cultural foundation for promoting the building of a new era of all-weather Africa-China community with a shared future, which is in line with the general expectations of the people of African countries."
Alawi Semanda, Executive Director of the Uganda (乌干达) Development Observation Center (发展观察中心), said that the establishment of the "Year of People-to-People and Cultural Exchanges" is an important measure to deepen Africa-China friendship. "Civilizations are not superior or inferior, and different civilizations should exchange and learn from each other and make progress together. We look forward to taking the 'Year of People-to-People and Cultural Exchanges' activities as an opportunity for both sides to learn from each other in depth, especially to help more African people understand Chinese civilization and learn from China's modernization development experience."
"Deeply understand each other's cultural context and spiritual background"
President Xi Jinping (习近平) emphasized that mutual exchange and learning between civilizations is an inexhaustible driving force for promoting human civilization progress and world peace and development. For thousands of years, the two major civilizations of China and Africa have complemented each other, becoming the historical and ideological source of China-Africa friendship.
"The exchanges between the people of Africa and China have a long history. The long ancient Silk Road is like a beacon across time and space, illuminating the long journey of dialogue between the two civilizations." Nasser, Chairman of the Egyptian Alumni Association of Chinese Universities (埃及留华校友会), said, "Since modern times, the people of Africa and China have shared weal and woe and worked together in various historical stages from striving for national liberation to moving towards modernization. This friendship has laid a solid foundation for cooperation between the two sides."
Tan Zheli said that the current maturity of Africa-China relations is not only reflected in political mutual trust and economic cooperation, but also in mutual understanding based on civilization. "Deeply understanding each other's cultural context and spiritual background is the key to promoting the steady and long-term development of Africa-China relations."
"Kenya (肯尼亚) and China have a long history of exchanges. More than 600 years ago, the fleet of Chinese navigator Zheng He (郑和) visited Kenyan coastal towns such as Mombasa (蒙巴萨) and Malindi (马林迪). There are many ancient Chinese porcelains in local museums." Dennis Munene, Executive Director of the China-Africa Center of the African Policy Research Institute (非洲政策研究所中非中心) in Kenya (肯尼亚), said that today, Kenya (肯尼亚) has opened the first Confucius Institute (孔子学院) in Africa, and more and more young people are learning Chinese. "More exchanges between people will help to better understand each other, and the friendship will be deeper."
Paul Frimpong, Executive Director of the Ghana (加纳) China-Africa Policy Advisory Center (非中政策咨询中心), said that in the last century, China (中国) provided valuable support to the African national liberation movement, and China's (中国) return to the United Nations (联合国) was inseparable from Africa's strong support. People-to-people exchanges are the foundation for the lasting friendship between Africa and China.
"Promote the development of the international order in a more just and reasonable direction"
President Xi Jinping (习近平) pointed out that he hopes that both sides will take the "Year of People-to-People and Cultural Exchanges" as an opportunity to carry forward the traditional friendship, strengthen mutual learning between civilizations, strengthen personnel exchanges, especially youth exchanges, deepen exchanges of experience in governance, work together to advance modernization, promote the connection of hearts, the integration of emotions, and the convergence of strength of more than 2.8 billion Chinese and African people, and make new China-Africa contributions to the Global South's solidarity in addressing global challenges, promoting the common values of all mankind, and promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.
Efrohe Osok, a Nigerian (尼日利亚) expert on Chinese issues, said that President Xi Jinping (习近平) attaches great importance to China-Africa personnel exchanges and youth exchanges. In recent years, activities such as the Young Sinologists Visiting Program (青年汉学家访华), the China-Africa Youth Cultural Festival (非中青年文化节), and the China-Africa Future Leaders Dialogue (非中未来领袖对话) have been held one after another, and projects such as Chinese education, cultural and tourism interaction, and capacity training have been continuously carried out. "These exchanges have effectively enhanced the mutual understanding and emotional connection between the people of Africa and China, especially the youth." Osok said, "It is through these colorful people-to-people interactions that China-Africa friendship has taken root and grown, and continuously injected new impetus into the development of bilateral relations."
Anthony Moonsamy, Chief Director of the Department of Cooperative Governance of Gauteng Province (豪登省合作治理部) in South Africa (南非), went to China (中国) in 2025 to participate in the training on Chinese-style modernization and urban governance (中国式现代化与城市治理培训) hosted by Beijing Jiaotong University (北京交通大学) to learn about China's (中国) experience and practices in service innovation, governance modernization, smart city construction, and digital development. "I look forward to continuing to participate in learning and cooperation in related fields this year, combining Chinese experience with South African realities, and exploring a modernization governance model suitable for South Africa." Moonsamy said.
Alawi Semanda said that youth are the inheritors of Africa-China friendship, and promoting youth exchanges will further promote the connection between the hearts of the people of both sides and consolidate the public opinion foundation for the joint development of the Global South countries.
"The current international situation is intertwined with changes and chaos, and promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind is a pragmatic action framework based on mutual respect and common responsibility." Busani Ngaweni, Director of the Center for Public Policy and African Studies at the University of Johannesburg (约翰内斯堡大学公共政策与非洲研究中心) in South Africa (南非), said that Africa-China cooperation is a key practice in promoting the common values of all mankind of peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy, and freedom, "**不仅有助于提升全球南方的话语权** (bù jǐn yǒu zhù yú tí shēng quán qiú nán fāng de huà yǔ quán - "not only helps to enhance the voice of the Global South," this means that cooperation between Africa and China can give developing countries more influence in international affairs)," and will also promote the development of the international order in a more just and reasonable direction, and open up a bright prospect for the cause of world peace and development.
(Johannesburg (约翰内斯堡), Cairo (开罗), Nairobi (内罗毕), Algiers (阿尔及尔), Abuja (阿布贾), January 9, this newspaper) (Reporters Zheng Xiang (郑翔), Zou Song (邹松), Shen Xiaoxiao (沈小晓), Huang Weixin (黄炜鑫), Hao Ruimin (郝瑞敏), Jiang Xuan (姜宣))
Return to Top"Civilization exchange and mutual learning are the inexhaustible driving force for promoting the progress of human civilization and world peace and development." On January 8, President Xi Jinping (习近平) sent a congratulatory letter to the opening ceremony of the 2026 "China-Africa People-to-People Exchange Year," profoundly expounding the important significance of civilization mutual learning in advancing the modernization of China and Africa, and injecting strong impetus into jointly building a closer China-Africa community with a shared future in the new era.
Holding the "People-to-People Exchange Year" on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Africa is an important consensus reached by President Xi Jinping (习近平) and African leaders, and an important measure to promote China-Africa friendship to further penetrate the hearts of the people at a new historical starting point. The Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation designated 2026 as the "China-Africa People-to-People Exchange Year," and the two sides will hold nearly 600 people-to-people exchange activities around the theme of "Consolidating All-Weather Friendship and Jointly Pursuing Modernization Dreams."
People's friendship is an important cornerstone for the development of China-Africa relations, and people-to-people exchange is the source of power for China-Africa friendship for generations. The two sides will improve the top-level design and strengthen systematic planning for people-to-people exchanges, which will effectively promote the mutual understanding, emotional integration, and concerted efforts of more than 2.8 billion Chinese and African people. African leaders said that President Xi Jinping's (习近平) congratulatory letter was very encouraging to the African side, and they saw hope and the future. It is believed that the activities of the Exchange Year will write a new chapter in Africa-China relations, deepen civilization dialogue between the two sides, enhance exchanges of ideas, and tighten people-to-people ties.
For thousands of years, the two major civilizations of China and Africa have complemented each other, becoming the historical and ideological source of China-Africa friendship. At present, in the process of promoting the construction of a closer China-Africa community with a shared future in the new era, people-to-people exchanges between the two sides are further heating up. China has established 17 Luban Workshops in 15 African countries, training tens of thousands of professionals; the China-Africa Future Leaders Dialogue, the China-Africa Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum, and the China-Africa Youth Gala have been successfully held, building a bridge of communication for young people from both sides; the China-Africa Cultural Silk Road Exchange Month, the China-Africa Cultural and Tourism Cooperation and Exchange Conference, and the "Ni Hao! China" tourism promotion event are full of vitality, and cultural and tourism cooperation between the two sides is booming... All-round and multi-level people-to-people exchanges have made the Chinese and African people closer, cooperation wider, and friendship deeper. African scholars look forward to: "We need to institutionalize the dialogue between Africa and China with people-to-people exchanges as the center, so that it will continue for centuries."
Without the modernization of China and Africa, there would be no modernization of the world. Adhering to mutual learning and mutual benefit, and being action-oriented in exchanges on governance, China and Africa will surely be able to travel far on the road to modernization and benefit the people. From relying on the African Leadership Academy to train governance talents, to inviting party members from many African countries to China for exchanges, to sharing ecological governance experience and promoting green transformation in Africa in Kenya (肯尼亚), Tanzania (坦桑尼亚) and other countries, the concept and experience of Chinese-style modernization are constantly being transformed into practical strategies for African countries to solve their own problems and challenges, and the enabling role of modernization construction in African countries is becoming increasingly prominent. During the 2026 "China-Africa People-to-People Exchange Year," the two sides will further carry out a series of exchanges on governance experience to inject more fresh spiritual power into the steady and long-term development of China-Africa cooperation.
The current world is undergoing profound changes at an accelerated pace, and the international situation is becoming more turbulent and intertwined. As an important force in the Global South, China and Africa need to adhere to fairness and justice, strengthen solidarity and mutual assistance, and enhance exchanges and cooperation more than ever before. "China has a profound civilization accumulation and can provide valuable wisdom and experience to the world. We should make good use of our respective civilization resources to promote global unity." As a senior African official pointed out, China and Africa are working together to advocate a civilization concept of equality, mutual learning, dialogue, and inclusiveness, and promote the common values of all mankind, which will effectively promote the unity of the Global South in responding to global challenges and inject more stability and positive energy into the turbulent world.
The foundation and bloodline of China-Africa relations lie in the people. The curtain has been raised on the 2026 "China-Africa People-to-People Exchange Year." China and Africa should take this as an opportunity to uphold their original aspiration of friendship, consolidate the foundation of cooperation, and continuously enhance the quality of the China-Africa community with a shared future in the new era, so as to make new China-Africa contributions to promoting the building of a human community with a shared future.
Return to TopBy: 张怡平
"Three copper coins buy a house, a thousand taels of gold buy a neighbor." This Korean proverb, similar to the Chinese proverb "A hundred gold coins for a house, a thousand gold coins for a neighbor," reveals the geographical proximity and cultural resonance between China and South Korea, which are as closely linked as lips and teeth. The visit to China by South Korean President Lee Jae-myung (李在明) has come to a successful conclusion. The talks between the two heads of state were frank and in-depth, resulting in 15 fruitful cooperation documents. Even the heartwarming moment of President Lee Jae-myung (李在明) taking a selfie with his mobile phone makes the expectation of "the first year of full restoration of South Korea-China relations" increasingly clear.
Looking back at the millennium-long scroll of exchanges between the two countries, the profound friendship of "sharing innermost thoughts and feelings and reflecting the cold moon in an ice壶" has a long history. As early as the Tang Dynasty, Silla Prince Kim Kiao-kak (金乔觉) crossed the sea to China and practiced in Mount Jiuhua (九华山), becoming a symbol of Buddhist cultural exchange. Choe Chiwon (崔致远), the "Confucian master of the Eastern Country," came to the Tang Dynasty at the age of 12 to study, and served as an official in the Tang Dynasty after passing the imperial examination. His collection of essays, *Gyeo Won Pil Gyeong*, is still a treasure of cultural exchange between China and South Korea. More than 400 years ago, during the Japanese invasions of Korea (壬辰倭亂) on the Korean Peninsula, Ming Dynasty General Deng Zilong (邓子龙) and Joseon Dynasty General Yi Sun-sin (李舜臣) fought side by side in the Battle of Noryang, demonstrating their loyalty in times of crisis. The former site of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea (大韩民国临时政府旧址) in China, the Maeheon Yun Bong-gil Memorial Hall (上海梅轩尹奉吉义士纪念地) in Shanghai (上海), and many other sites, witness the shared life and death of the two sides in jointly resisting the Japanese invaders in modern times.
When China and South Korea established diplomatic relations on August 24, 1992, the trade volume between the two countries was only 5.03 billion US dollars, and the number of personnel exchanges was less than 200,000. Today, China is South Korea's largest trading partner. In 2024, the bilateral trade volume reached 328.08 billion US dollars, and the number of personnel exchanges increased to 7.725 million. In November 2024 and September 2025, the two sides successively implemented visa facilitation measures to promote stronger exchanges between the people of both sides. "Flying to Shanghai (上海) after work on Friday" has become a fashion trend among young people in South Korea, and South Korea has also become a popular tourist destination for Chinese tourists.
Mutual assistance in times of crisis shows the true color of friendship. In the late summer and early autumn of 2025, two life-saving stories moved both countries: Xiao Bo (肖波), a retired Chinese soldier, used his last strength to turn off the engine and pull the handbrake when he was on the verge of coma on the Zhangjiajie (张家界) Expressway, protecting the safety of 11 South Korean tourists with his life; Lee Jae-seok (李宰硕), a South Korean coast guard, took off his life jacket and gave it to an elderly Chinese man trapped in the mudflats of Incheon (仁川) when he rescued him, but he was swallowed by the waves. These righteous acts that transcend national borders and shine with humanity have further rooted China-South Korea friendship in both countries.
There is no need to shy away from the fact that China-South Korea relations once fell into a trough in the past few years. Some political forces in South Korea spread negative remarks about China, which damaged the friendly atmosphere between China and South Korea. President Lee Jae-myung (李在明) said in an exclusive interview before his visit to China that the purpose of this visit is to minimize or eliminate previous misunderstandings or contradictions, and to promote the leap and development of South Korea-China relations to a new stage.
"Helping a neighbor is helping yourself." On November 1, 2025, when President Xi Jinping (习近平) met with President Lee Jae-myung (李在明) in Gyeongju (庆州), South Korea, he put forward this concise and profound concept, which contains the oriental wisdom of building an Asia-Pacific community with a shared future. On January 5, 2026, when President Xi Jinping (习近平) met with President Lee Jae-myung (李在明) in Beijing (北京), he used the important expositions of "**以和为贵**" (yǐ hé wéi guì - "harmony is to be prized," to value harmony) and "**和而不同**" (hé ér bù tóng - "harmony without uniformity," seeking common ground while reserving differences) to point out the direction for the two countries to transcend differences and seek common development. President Lee Jae-myung (李在明) praised that this meeting will create an important opportunity for 2026 to become "the first year of full restoration of South Korea-China relations." The consensus between the two heads of state has injected new impetus into China-South Korea relations. The complementary advantages of the two countries in digital economy, green transformation, regional cooperation and other fields will surely be transformed into a strong synergy for common development.
Looking back on the past, even if China-South Korea relations once experienced twists and turns, the realistic foundation of the two countries' intertwined interests and shared destiny has never changed, and the common vision of jointly promoting peace and seeking common prosperity has never changed. The development of China-South Korea relations is accompanied by the wisdom of "**和而不同**" (hé ér bù tóng - "harmony without uniformity," seeking common ground while reserving differences) and the adherence to "treating each other with sincerity." Looking to the future, the two countries should uphold the original intention of "neighbors hoping for each other's well-being" and jointly embark on a better future.
In the complex, volatile, and turbulent international landscape and regional situation, as important countries in East Asia, China and South Korea should cherish the "important neighbor that cannot be moved away" and consolidate mutual trust through mutual respect and resolve challenges through joint efforts. During his visit to China, President Lee Jae-myung (李在明) attended the 100th anniversary of the former site of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea (上海大韩民国临时政府旧址) in Shanghai (上海), demonstrating his cherishment of the common history of resisting Japan. China and South Korea have the responsibility to jointly safeguard the truth of history, firmly stand on the right side of history, make correct strategic choices, jointly defend the achievements of World War II, and safeguard peace and stability in East Asia.
China-South Korea relations have embarked on a new journey. It is hoped that the two countries will let the millennium-old culture continue to shine, let pragmatic cooperation bear more fruits, let people-to-people friendship warm people's hearts, and jointly write a new era chapter of good faith and harmony, and being kind to neighbors.
(The author is an international affairs observer)
Return to TopXinhua News Agency, Addis Ababa, January 9th (Reporter Liu Fangqiang (刘方强)) On January 8th, local time, Wang Yi (王毅), member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs, held the ninth China-African Union strategic dialogue with Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa.
Wang Yi (王毅) stated that the African Union (非盟) is the "locomotive" leading African unity and cooperation, holding an important position and playing a special role in China-Africa relations. President Xi Jinping (习近平) has sent congratulatory messages to the African Union Summit for 13 consecutive years, fully demonstrating China's high regard for developing relations with the African Union (非盟). This year marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Africa, and it is also the 36th consecutive year that the Chinese Foreign Minister has chosen Africa as the first destination for his New Year visit. This diplomatic tradition of China is a continuation of China-Africa friendship, reflects the stability of its policy towards Africa, and demonstrates the unity of developing countries. The solidarity and joint efforts of the 2.8 billion people of China and Africa will enable them to overcome any difficulties and challenges, accelerate the pace towards modernization, and promote a more fair, reasonable, harmonious, and stable world.
Wang Yi (王毅) said that both China and Africa are currently at a crucial stage of development, facing new and broad opportunities for cooperation. China is willing to provide assistance to the vast number of developing countries, including Africa, with its own development, work together to achieve modernization, and jointly safeguard the interests of the Global South. The Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (中非合作论坛) has played an important role in the common development of China and Africa, and has blazed a path of win-win cooperation between China and Africa. Both sides should continue to make good use of this platform, deepen pragmatic cooperation, and jointly tell the story of China-Africa cooperation well. Both sides should continuously enhance the strategic, demonstrative, and practical nature of China's relations with the African Union (非盟), and promote the African Union (非盟) to play a better leading role in the overall situation of China-Africa relations. China firmly supports the African Union (非盟) in uniting and leading African countries to adhere to independence and self-reliance, safeguard the right of African countries to independent development, support Africans in solving African problems in African ways, embark on a development path that suits their own national conditions, and support the African Union (非盟) in playing a leading role in regional affairs.
Wang Yi (王毅) stated that the African Union (非盟) was the first to actively respond to and support the global governance initiatives proposed by President Xi Jinping (习近平), reflecting the high degree of consensus between the two sides on concepts and the common aspiration to shape international fairness and justice. China is willing to continue to strengthen dialogue and exchanges with the African Union (非盟) in the four major global initiative areas, support Africa in playing a greater role on the international stage, jointly practice true multilateralism, and promote the establishment of a more just and reasonable global governance system.
Moussa Faki Mahamat stated that China is a partner that Africa can fully trust and rely on. The fact that the Chinese Foreign Minister has chosen Africa as the first destination for his New Year visit for 36 consecutive years fully reflects China's strategic importance to Africa. The friendship between Africa and China is based on mutual respect and a shared vision for peaceful development, and has become a model of South-South cooperation. The African Union (非盟) is grateful to China for working hand in hand with Africa in various fields for a long time, providing selfless support for African development, and highly appreciates the fruitful results achieved by the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (中非合作论坛) and the tangible benefits it has brought to the people of Africa and China. The African Union (非盟) adheres to the one-China principle and firmly supports China in safeguarding its core interests on the Taiwan issue, and opposes any acts of splitting China. The African Union (非盟) is willing to work with China to continue to strengthen Africa-China cooperation through mechanisms such as the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (中非合作论坛) to better benefit the people of both sides.
Moussa Faki Mahamat said that the African Union (非盟) congratulates China on the successful holding of the event commemorating the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. At a time when power hegemony is rising and multilateralism is being undermined, we are at an important moment to remember history, face the future, and defend sovereignty. It is even more necessary for Africa and China to deepen their partnership. The African Union (非盟) highly appreciates the four global initiatives proposed by President Xi Jinping (习近平) and is willing to work with China to safeguard the common interests of the Global South and promote global fairness, justice, and peaceful development.
Return to TopXinhua News Agency, Beijing, January 9th (Reporter). Peng Qinghua (彭清华), Vice Chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, met with a delegation from the Expediency Discernment Council of Iran in Beijing (北京) on the 9th. Both sides expressed their willingness to take the 10th anniversary of the establishment of a comprehensive strategic partnership between China (中国) and Iran (伊朗) as a new starting point, implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, leverage the role of legislative bodies and party-to-party exchanges, and promote the continuous development of bilateral relations.
Return to TopThe opening ceremony of the 2026 "China-Africa People-to-People Exchange Year" was held on the 8th at the African Union (非盟) headquarters. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning (毛宁) introduced the relevant situation at a regular press conference on the 9th, stating that throughout the year, China and Africa will hold nearly 600 people-to-people exchange activities around the theme of "Consolidating All-Weather Friendship and Pursuing the Dream of Modernization Together." Holding the "China-Africa People-to-People Exchange Year" is a major initiative agreed upon by President Xi Jinping (习近平) and African leaders at the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (中非合作论坛) Beijing (北京) Summit. The goal is to 夯实全天候友谊 (hāng shí quán tiān hòu yǒu yì - "solidify all-weather friendship," to strengthen and deepen the enduring bond between China and Africa).
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 刘 赫
"China's continuous promotion of high-level opening-up to the outside world not only injects momentum into global trade, but also allows multinational companies that have deeply cultivated in China to share the dividends." Frank Appel, CEO of Deutsche Post DHL Group, said in an exclusive interview with this reporter recently that as a major manufacturing country, China's technological advancements in automation, robotics, artificial intelligence and other fields are profoundly affecting the global logistics industry and becoming an important force in the industry's transformation.
As the first international express company to enter China, Deutsche Post DHL Group has been deeply involved in China for more than 40 years, participating in and witnessing China's rapid economic development and the optimization and upgrading of its industrial structure. "China has always been one of the most important and dynamic markets and is crucial to our global strategy. We realized early on that China would become an important growth market in the world," said Appel. China is no longer a simple production base, but has become a global innovation center, leading the world in industrial automation and smart logistics.
"We remain optimistic about China's economic development prospects and are committed to achieving sustainable development in China through investment in the local market." In 2025, Appel visited China for the third time and witnessed China's development vitality and great achievements. He said that China has advantages such as a super-large market, complete logistics facilities, world-class deep-water ports, and a convenient high-speed railway network, which has opened up broad space for Deutsche Post DHL Group's development in China.
During the interview, Appel repeatedly emphasized that Deutsche Post DHL Group will continue to increase its investment and strategic layout in China. Taking the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area as an example, Deutsche Post DHL Group has continuously increased its investment in Guangzhou (广州), Shenzhen (深圳), Hong Kong (香港) and other places in recent years to strengthen logistics infrastructure and international express network capabilities. Among them, DHL Express Shenzhen (敦豪快递深圳) Port under the group is currently being expanded and is expected to be put into operation this year. The expanded Shenzhen Port will open more direct cargo flights from Shenzhen to major cities in Asia-Pacific and around the world, providing customers with higher quality and sustainable international logistics services.
With more and more Chinese companies going "overseas," Deutsche Post DHL Group established a dedicated China Business Center at its headquarters in Germany in 2025. "Based on jointly expanding logistics and warehousing business with Chinese partners, we plan to provide local distribution solutions for Chinese companies developing in Europe and actively support their development in Europe," said Appel.
Currently, Deutsche Post DHL Group has more than 600,000 employees in more than 200 countries and regions around the world. Relying on a global air, sea and land transportation network, as well as a huge warehousing and distribution system, it has a wide range of influence in the field of international transportation. "We always see ourselves as a bridge connecting China and the world." Appel told reporters, "Deutsche Post DHL Group's recently released '2030 Strategy' focuses on green and low-carbon, digitalization, life sciences and new energy fields, which are highly consistent with China's long-term development direction."
When talking about China strengthening interconnection and intercommunication with countries jointly building the "Belt and Road" initiative, Appel said with deep feeling: "The joint construction of the 'Belt and Road' initiative has promoted global trade cooperation and transnational connectivity, bringing new development opportunities to logistics companies including Deutsche Post DHL Group. With this opportunity, we have further enhanced our connection with co-construction countries." He firmly believes that international cooperation based on trust and mutual benefit will continue to benefit the people of all countries, and looks forward to Deutsche Post DHL Group creating more value in the opportunity-filled Chinese market.
Return to TopChinese Communist Party Central Politburo Member and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China Wang Yi (王毅) visited Ethiopia from January 7th to 9th, 2026. During the visit, Wang Yi (王毅) held meetings with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (阿比) and Foreign Minister Gedion Timothewos (格迪翁) respectively.
Both sides pledged to jointly promote the further implementation of the outcomes of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, deepen all-round cooperation, and strive to build the China-Ethiopia all-weather strategic partnership into a model for building a new era of all-weather community with a shared future.
The two sides agreed to deepen cooperation in traditional fields such as economy and trade, infrastructure, energy, transportation, and justice, as well as to explore the potential for cooperation in new fields such as e-commerce, the digital economy, artificial intelligence, and green energy, and to expand cooperation in areas such as culture, tourism, news, education, and think tanks. Both sides emphasized taking the "China-Africa People-to-People and Cultural Exchange Year" in 2026 as an opportunity to carry out people-to-people and cultural exchanges through cultural arts to enhance mutual understanding.
The Chinese side appreciates the new achievements made in Ethiopia's national development and construction, firmly supports the Ethiopian people in exploring a development path that suits their own national conditions, and opposes external interference. The two sides are willing to strengthen the alignment of development strategies and policies, deepen exchanges of experience in governance, and jointly embark on the path of modernization.
Ethiopia reiterated its firm adherence to the one-China principle, reaffirmed that there is only one China in the world, that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory, that the government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China, resolutely opposes any form of "Taiwan independence," firmly supports all efforts made by the Chinese government to achieve national reunification, and resolutely defends the authority of UN General Assembly Resolution 2758.
The Chinese side attaches importance to Ethiopia's influence in the Horn of Africa region, and Ethiopia appreciates the effectiveness of the implementation of the "Peace and Development Initiative for the Horn of Africa" proposed by the Chinese side. China encourages countries in the region to strengthen cooperation in connectivity, including promoting maritime logistics, and African integration through dialogue and diplomatic means, based on compliance with the Charter of the United Nations, international law, and their respective sovereignty and territorial integrity, and to jointly promote regional peace, stability, and prosperity.
Both sides pointed out that the two countries have carried out fruitful coordination and cooperation in multilateral fields such as the United Nations and the BRICS cooperation mechanism, and have effectively safeguarded the common interests of the Global South. Ethiopia highly appreciates the series of major initiatives proposed by President Xi Jinping (习近平) and is willing to work with China to jointly implement relevant initiatives.
Both sides reaffirmed that all countries in the world should abide by the basic principles established by the Charter of the United Nations and international law, reaffirmed the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries, and opposed the use or threat of use of force in international relations.
The two sides agreed to hold a new round of political consultations between the foreign ministries in due course this year.
(Xinhua News Agency, Addis Ababa, January 8)
Return to TopThis newspaper's Beijing (北京) dispatch on January 9th (Reporter Zhang Tianpei (张天培)) To thoroughly study and implement General Secretary Xi Jinping's (习近平) important exposition on public security work in the new era, and to further consolidate the strength for building a safe China and a rule-of-law China, on the occasion of the sixth Chinese People's Police Day, the Central Propaganda Department (中宣部) and the Ministry of Public Security (公安部) released the "Most Beautiful Grassroots Police Officers" to the whole society.
Zhang Lei (张雷), Lian Jie (连捷), Ren Fei (任飞), Jin Liang (金亮), Feng Jing (冯晶), Song Liufeng (宋柳丰), Cui Hui (崔辉), Weng Honghua (翁红华), Song Qinggang (宋清罡), Wan Song (万松), Liao Tianhong (廖天红), Yan Ming (闫明), Tan Jianhua (谭建华), Zhao Yang (赵阳), Danzhi Daojie (旦知刀杰), Chen Shaojun (陈少峻), Jumai Abulizi (居麦·阿卜力孜), Lin Fangde (林芳德), Peng Zedong (彭泽栋), and Yi Guiping (易桂平), 20 comrades, were honorably selected. They are loyal to the Party, serve the people, enforce the law fairly, and are disciplined. Some fight on the front lines of combating illegal and criminal activities, are brave and fearless, and are not afraid of sacrifice; some are determined to solve problems with technology, using digital intelligence technology to empower police combat; some are accompanied by morality and law, and are concerned about thousands of families, devoting themselves to protecting the healthy growth of minors; some are rooted in the front line of immigration border inspection, and are doing their best to guard national security; some serve the people in streets and communities, and wholeheartedly solve the "urgent, difficult, and worrying problems" of the masses... They have fulfilled the solemn promise of "the people's public security for the people" with practical actions, and have concentratedly demonstrated the good image of the people's police being selfless and dedicated.
The vast number of public security police officers said that the golden shield is forged with hot blood. They must take the "Most Beautiful Grassroots Police Officers" as an example, be loyal to the Party, listen to the Party's command, consciously carry forward the fine traditions and work style of public security organs, resolutely fulfill their responsibilities of safeguarding national security, social stability, and people's peace, and unswervingly be loyal guards of the Party and the people.
It is reported that a special program for the release ceremony of the "Most Beautiful Grassroots Police Officers" will be broadcast soon.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 张天培
The national flag flies high, and the police flag flutters.
China has created a miracle of long-term social stability and has become one of the safest countries in the world. Behind the remarkable achievements lies the dedication and sacrifice of generations of public security police.
On January 10th, we ushered in the sixth Chinese People's Police Day. At this special moment, let us express our highest respect to this group.
Since the new era, under the strong leadership of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping (习近平) at its core, the people's public security has practiced the solemn oath of "being loyal to the Party, serving the people, enforcing the law fairly, and being disciplined" with practical actions, adhering to the original aspiration in every choice, tempering the true color in every test, resolutely completing the missions and tasks entrusted by the Party and the people, and wholeheartedly striving to enhance the people's sense of gain, happiness, and security. With blood and sweat, this team has written "People's Public Security for the People" on the vast land of more than 9.6 million square kilometers and in the hearts of more than 1.4 billion Chinese people.
A strong and combat-effective team that the Party and the people can fully trust.
"You don't need to know me, you don't yearn to know me, I melt my youth into the rivers of the motherland..." The soaring melody accompanies the wind of the plateau, echoing in the desolate valley.
In the early morning, police officers from the Paiyike Border Police Station (排依克边境派出所) of the Kashgar Border Management Detachment (喀什边境管理支队) of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Exit-Entry Border Inspection General Station (新疆维吾尔自治区出入境边防检查总站) started their day's work in the song "The Motherland Will Not Forget."
Here, it is high and cold with lack of oxygen, sparsely populated, with a frost period of up to 9 months throughout the year, and the natural conditions are extremely harsh and the control pressure is high. The police officers are fearless of hardship and loyal to their duties, practicing their sacred mission with youth and life.
"Behind us are more than 1.4 billion people of the motherland. We have the determination, confidence, and ability to guard the border," said Peng Mingyou (彭明有), director of the Paiyike Border Police Station.
Faith is like a mountain, and loyalty is like fire. Generations of border guards have taken root on the border of the motherland, telling the most sincere confession to the motherland and the people: "With me at the border, the country is safe."
Write loyalty with perseverance and protect safety with dedication.
At dawn on September 3, 2025, Tiananmen Square (天安门广场) was slightly misty.
In the faint mist, a group of dark blue figures lined up. This is a "silent gathering" about responsibility, commitment, and dedication.
"This military parade is of extraordinary significance, and we must ensure that nothing goes wrong." Wang Yalin (王亚林), deputy director of the Political Department of the Internal Security Bureau of the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau (北京市公安局内保局), stood in the center of the square, and the walkie-talkie in his hand kept reporting the confirmation of safety.
The grand ceremony was harmonious, and the guarding figures were extremely firm. The national public security organs have always taken the standard of "absolute safety" to shoulder the heavy responsibility and firmly hold the safety bottom line of major security activities.
On January 7, 2025, a 6.8 magnitude earthquake occurred in Dingri County (定日县), Shigatse City (日喀则市), Tibet Autonomous Region (西藏自治区).
"Time is life, and rescue must be faster, faster!" At the first time after the disaster, Zhao Yang (赵阳), deputy captain of the Special Operations Brigade of the Shigatse Public Security Bureau Special Police Detachment (日喀则市公安局特警支队特战大队), led his team to Gurong Village (古荣村) and Gadan Village (嘎旦村) in Changsuo Township (长所乡), fighting continuously for 20 days and nights, successfully rescuing many disaster-stricken people and transferring and evacuating trapped people.
Regardless of wind and rain, the war is a big test. In the face of major disasters, the people's public security has always adhered to the principle of putting the people first and putting life first, and has gone out without hesitation and against the trend.
Adhering to loyalty is to stand up in times of crisis, and it is also to silently dedicate oneself in ordinary positions.
Fu Xiaohua (付小华), captain of the Tianya Brigade of the Traffic Management Detachment of the Sanya Public Security Bureau (三亚市公安局交通管理支队天涯大队) in Hainan Province (海南省), has been rooted in the front line of traffic management for a long time, always putting his "heart" on the road and the "road" in his heart, and guarding the people's safe travel road with "embroidery skills";
Zhang Ye (张野), deputy director of the Desheng Police Station (德胜派出所) of the Chuanying Branch of the Jilin Public Security Bureau (吉林市公安局船营区分局) in Jilin Province (吉林省), devoted himself to the community, walked through every household, and exchanged his sincerity for the trust and support of community cadres and the masses;
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With more perseverance, the country will have more security and stability; with more dedication, the people will have more happiness and tranquility. Since the new era, the people's public security has always adhered to being loyal to the Party and wholeheartedly towards the Party. Under the strong leadership of the Party, it has prevented risks, ensured safety, maintained stability, and promoted development, safeguarded national security, social stability, and people's peace, and proved with practice that this is a strong and combat-effective team that the Party and the people can fully trust.
Strive to make the people feel safe around them.
"The murder case must be solved, and the pursuit of the murderer cannot stop!" Over the past 18 years, the case-handling police of the Capital Airport Public Security Bureau (首都机场公安局) have changed batch after batch, but the heavy files of the "October 7 case" have always been the heaviest entrustment.
Spanning more than 6,500 days and nights, the task force has traveled to 11 cities in 6 provinces across the country... Finally, on November 10, 2025, Luan Moumou (栾某某), the suspect in the "October 7 case," was successfully captured.
The cracking of accumulated cases is the unremitting pursuit of the truth of the case by generations of police officers, and it is a powerful defense of the dignity of the law and social justice by the people's public security.
Thousands of lights, vast mountains and rivers. The people's public security is fighting on the front line of cracking down on crimes and protecting the masses, just for the sake of peace—
Severely crack down on telecommunications fraud and effectively curb the high incidence of crime. In 2025, public security organs across the country cracked a total of 258,000 telecommunications fraud cases, urgently stopped 217.07 billion yuan of fraud-related funds, and strived to protect the people's "money bags";
Guarding national border security and not letting go of any cross-border illegal activities. The National Immigration Administration (国家移民管理局) deployed and carried out the "Mongoose Hunting-2025" special operation to combat crimes that hinder national (border) border management, and severely investigated and cracked down on organized smuggling criminal gangs;
Create a clear network and effectively protect cyberspace security. The public security network security department organized and carried out special operations such as "Clean Network" and "Protect Network," and continued to severely crack down on prominent online illegal and criminal activities such as infringing on citizens' personal information, online rumors, and online violence in accordance with the law;
Maintain financial stability and completely eradicate the breeding ground for "black and gray industries." The public security economic investigation department joined forces with relevant departments to crack down on them. From June to November 2025, nearly 60 cluster strikes were launched, involving a total of nearly 30 billion yuan;
Protect green waters and green mountains and strictly abide by the red line of ecological protection. The public security organs have promoted the "Peaceful Wilderness-2025" special action and the "Kunlun 2025" special work in depth. Since 2025, a total of 37,000 criminal cases of various types of crimes destroying environmental resources have been filed and investigated;
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The sword is unsheathed, and the thunder is overwhelming. One special operation after another aimed at cracking down on crimes, and one inspiring and gratifying achievement after another, the people's public security has handed over a bright answer sheet of peace to the Party and the people.
The people's public security comes from the people, for the people, and relies on the people. The word "people" carries a lot of weight.
Suqi Town (苏稽镇), Shizhong District (市中区), Leshan City (乐山市), Sichuan Province (四川省) is an ancient town with a thousand-year history. In recent years, the ancient town has developed rapidly, followed by increased pressure on social security prevention and control, and the local disputes and conflicts have increased.
"The heart disease of more than 20 years has finally been resolved." Xie (谢), a resident of the ancient town, held Hu Guang's (胡光) hand tightly, a community police officer from the Suqi Police Station (苏稽派出所).
It turned out that Xie and his neighbor had been arguing endlessly over the boundary of the forest land, and mediation had failed many times. After learning about the situation, Hu Guang immediately visited knowledgeable neighbors, went up the mountain to conduct on-site boundary demarcation, and finally, with solid evidence and patient communication,促使两家人握手言和.
One patrol and visit after another in the community, and one dispute resolution after another based on reason, law, and emotion, the community police integrated peace and security into the daily life of the people, paving the way for a bridge of close ties between the police and the people.
In recent years, the public security organs have adhered to and developed the "Fengqiao Experience" (枫桥经验) in the new era, and have deeply promoted the "Million Police Entering Thousands of Homes" activity, sensing the warmth and coldness of the people, responding to the expectations of the masses, and guarding the strong "human touch" and "fireworks atmosphere."
Whether it is cracking down on crimes, resolving disputes, or social governance and serving the masses, the people's public security has always shown "zero tolerance" for things that the masses hate and "zero slack" for things that the masses urgently need and expect, and strives to make the people feel safe around them.
Public security reform has reformed the hearts of the people.
On January 10, 1986, the first "110" alarm telephone rang in Guangzhou (广州市), Guangdong Province (广东省). Forty years have passed, and "110" has become a household name for peace and security, and "call 110 if you are in danger" has become a consensus among the people.
Today, how to use technological innovation to make police response faster and the masses more satisfied, and constantly polish this "golden signboard" of public security organs, public security organs in various places continue to solve the problem—
Huzhou City (湖州市), Zhejiang Province (浙江省) has innovatively launched "Smart 110," which transcribes and intelligently classifies alarm voices in real time to generate "police situation portraits" and provide second-level support for on-site disposal; Nanjing City (南京市), Jiangsu Province (江苏省) actively links with the 12345 platform and uses big data models to divert and handle lists of matters, greatly improving the efficiency of police handling; Zhangzhou City (漳州市), Fujian Province (福建省) has explored the establishment of a "drone +" police handling model to realize "one second faster" in the entire chain of police handling...
The people have called for it, and the reform has responded. Facing new situations, new challenges, and new tasks, the public security organs have established a new police operation model of "professional + mechanism + big data," and have continuously improved the modern police mechanism system focusing on the integrated operation mechanism of "intelligence, command, and action." One reform measure after another has achieved important breakthroughs in key areas and key links.
"Humanized" traffic management reform—
"From 17:00 to 20:00, social vehicles can use bus lanes." On December 12, 2025, Beijing (北京市) ushered in snowfall, and the public security organs issued a warm reminder. In recent years, many places have "humanized" adjustments to bus lane management measures, which have not only improved road use efficiency but also reduced people's worries about traffic congestion.
The public security traffic management department continues to provide more high-quality and efficient services to facilitate the masses in handling affairs and facilitate people's travel. Since the implementation of new measures such as "one thing" for new domestic passenger car license plates and online handling of deregistration of mortgage registration, it has benefited more than 500,000 people.
Optimize and upgrade government services—
Since 2025, the comprehensive window of public security government services in Dalian City (大连市), Liaoning Province (辽宁省) has implemented 7×24-hour service, with no rest at noon on working days and appointments for handling affairs in the evening. Government services have changed from "the government sets the time" to "the people choose the time."
In 2025, the public security organs deepened a series of public security administrative management service reforms. At present, 191 public security government service items have been realized "online handling and mobile handling," and 29 provinces have implemented the entire online handling of resident identity card renewal and replacement, and the reform efficiency has been fully released.
Standardize law enforcement behavior involving enterprises—
Coming to the Economic Crime Case Acceptance Center of the Hefei Public Security Bureau (合肥市公安局) in Anhui Province (安徽省), the functions of reporting cases, reporting, and consulting are all available, and all enterprise-related cases are included in the scope of supervision, and law enforcement is carried out under the "sun."
Promote the construction of case acceptance centers, carry out special governance actions, build enterprise service stations, and hold police-enterprise symposiums... The public security organs have launched a series of legally compliant, solid, and effective combination punches to create a good environment for enterprises to develop with peace of mind.
One "hard" measure after another, one string of vivid figures after another, public security reform has reformed the hearts of the people, and innovative achievements are profoundly affecting thousands of households.
"The people's yearning for a better life is our goal." Entering the new era, the vast number of public security police across the country are striving to promote the modernization of public security work, provide a strong security guarantee for building a strong country and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation in an all-round way with Chinese-style modernization, and make the people's sense of gain, happiness, and security more substantial, more secure, and more sustainable.
This newspaper Xiamen (厦门) January 9th (Reporter Sun Longfei (孙龙飞)) A symposium on the construction of sports culture was held in Xiamen (厦门), Fujian (福建) on the 9th. The meeting focused on strengthening the construction of sports culture, exchanging experiences, analyzing the situation, and arranging work tasks.
The meeting pointed out that sports culture is an important part of socialist advanced culture. It is necessary to fully understand the important significance of sports in promoting social civilization and progress, profoundly grasp the important strategic position of sports, profoundly grasp the ideological and cultural value of sports, profoundly grasp the people-serving purpose of sports, profoundly grasp the civilization cultivation role of sports, take the initiative to assume responsibility, be brave in tackling tough problems, and strive to create a new situation of prosperity and development of sports culture in the new era, and contribute to the construction of a strong cultural country and a strong sports country.
The meeting emphasized that it is necessary to actively explore methods and paths, enrich carriers and means, promote the integration of sports culture construction and spiritual civilization construction, enhance the civic civilization literacy with sports culture, and guide the healthy development of sports with mainstream values. In-depth promotion of the theme of building a strong sports country through publicity and education, widely promote and practice the Chinese sports spirit, persistently grasp the construction of sports field civilization, continuously enrich and invigorate mass sports and cultural activities, encourage and support the creation and dissemination of sports culture works, and strive to create a good sports public opinion atmosphere. It is necessary to strengthen top-level design and systematic planning, do a good job in brand shaping and position construction, innovate communication content and methods, enhance the supply of high-quality sports culture products and services, strengthen comprehensive management and business format cultivation, and create a clean and upright, upward and benevolent sports development environment.
The meeting emphasized that the construction of sports culture is a systematic project, and it is necessary to establish and improve a work mechanism that is effectively coordinated, collaboratively linked, and efficiently operated, stimulate the innovation and creation vitality of all sectors of society, and widely gather positive energy for sports.
The meeting was hosted by the Central Spiritual Civilization Construction Office (中央精神文明建设办公室) and the State General Administration of Sport (国家体育总局). Responsible comrades from relevant ministries and bureaus of the Central Government, responsible comrades from the civilization offices and sports administrative departments of various provinces (autonomous regions, municipalities) and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (新疆生产建设兵团), and representatives from relevant cities, universities, and media attended the meeting.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 沈童睿
Discipline inspection and supervision work is work concerning people's hearts and the masses. The expectations of the masses are where the efforts to rectify conduct, enforce discipline, and combat corruption should be focused.
In 2025, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (中央纪委) of the Communist Party of China and the National Supervisory Commission (国家监委), along with discipline inspection and supervision organs at all levels, are focusing on the goal of fighting for the people and making the masses feel the impact. They are comprehensively promoting the concentrated rectification of unhealthy tendencies and corruption problems around the people, severely punishing "flies and ants corruption" (蝇贪蚁腐), correcting stubborn and chronic diseases, making great efforts to promote the solution of urgent and difficult problems of the masses, promoting the modernization construction results to benefit all the people more and more fairly, and letting the broad masses of people truly feel that comprehensively and strictly governing the Party is around them, and fairness and justice are around them.
Accurate Efforts to Cut off the "Black Hands" Extending to the Interests of the Masses
"The grain subsidy is back!" In Suining County (睢宁县), Jiangsu Province (江苏省), grain farmer Lu Miaomiao (卢苗苗) was checking the soil moisture on the ridge, and a smile spread across her face when she talked about a subsidy that had been lost and found.
At the beginning of 2025, the Suining County Discipline Inspection Commission (睢宁县纪委监委) received an early warning message: Lu Miaomiao (卢苗苗) and three other villagers had not applied for a one-time subsidy for actual grain farmers. The county and town jointly carried out verification, and through data comparison and door-to-door review, the truth quickly came to light: Jia (贾), a village cadre, used his position to intercept subsidies by falsely reporting and falsely claiming them, totaling more than 80,000 yuan.
In the end, Jia (贾) was severely punished, and the intercepted funds were returned to the farmers in full. The villagers exclaimed, "The county cares so much about our affairs!"
No matter concerning the masses is too small. Each "small incision" is the focus of concentrated rectification. The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (中央纪委) and the National Supervisory Commission (国家监委) are making precise efforts, directly focusing on national rectification projects such as "school meals" in primary and secondary schools, rural collective "three assets" management, the use and supervision of rural revitalization funds, medical insurance fund management, and elderly care services. They are also steadily promoting special actions to rectify corruption and chaos in the funeral industry, and strictly investigating issues that infringe upon the interests of the masses, such as embezzlement, taking kickbacks, and demanding bribes.
Various localities are conducting a thorough investigation and comprehensive review of problem clues. In Huangshi City (黄石市), Hubei Province (湖北省), discipline inspection and supervision organs are broadening the sources of clues through various methods such as data screening, departmental transfer, audit discovery, and inspection feedback.
They are jointly tackling and strictly investigating problems that the masses strongly reflect. In Baoji City (宝鸡市), Shaanxi Province (陕西省), discipline inspection and supervision organs are systematically rectifying prominent problems in the management of medical insurance funds, establishing a collaborative mechanism of "Discipline Inspection Commission + Functional Departments," and promoting joint investigation and joint punishment of clues by medical insurance departments and health departments.
From January to November 2025, a total of 840,000 cases of unhealthy tendencies and corruption problems around the masses were investigated and dealt with nationwide, 536,000 people were punished, 20,000 people were transferred to the procuratorial organs, and 66.62 billion yuan of property was directly or indirectly returned to the masses.
Zhao Jing (赵静), a resident of Yuanhui District (源汇区) in Luohe City (漯河市), Henan Province (河南省), was deeply touched by the heavy-handed handling of cases. When her child went to primary school, the quality of the school meals was once very poor, which made her anxious. After the concentrated rectification was carried out, relevant management personnel of the school were severely punished for violations, the District Education Bureau publicly reported the situation, and the school immediately made rectifications, which was applauded by the parents. Zhao Jing (赵静) said, "This is really serious! Feeling this determination, we are more at ease."
Treating Both the Symptoms and the Root Causes to Solve Problems at the "Root"
"It is recommended to unify the administrative penalty discretion benchmarks and implement regulatory responsibility retrospection" "Establish a list of post powers and a list of negative behaviors to form a mutually restrictive work chain"... In June 2025, the Jiujiang City (九江市) Medical Insurance Bureau in Jiangxi Province (江西省) received a "Supervisory Recommendation on Further Strengthening the Supervision of Medical Insurance Funds" issued by the Municipal Discipline Inspection and Supervision Organ.
Prior to this, the local authorities had investigated and dealt with a batch of cases in the field of medical insurance fund management. The discipline inspection and supervision organs conducted case analysis, issued supervisory recommendations, pointed out the problems such as the ineffective operation of the collective decision-making mechanism for "major issues" and the failure of internal checks and balances, and put forward specific recommendations.
A relevant person in charge of the Jiujiang City (九江市) Medical Insurance Bureau said: "The supervisory recommendations pointed out the direction for us to promote reform and governance through cases." The bureau then studied and formulated a plan, deeply searched for institutional loopholes and regulatory shortcomings behind the cases, sorted out a list of problems, and rectified and canceled them one by one.
Investigating and handling cases is only the beginning, and solving problems is the goal. Discipline inspection and supervision organs pay attention to doing a good job in the "second half of the article" of handling cases, deeply digging into industry-wide and regional common problems and deep-seated contradictions, focusing on eradicating the soil and source governance, and consolidating and expanding the results of rectification from the institutional mechanism.
The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (中央纪委) and the National Supervisory Commission (国家监委) promoted functional departments to effectively plug loopholes and manage long-term issues, and issued 32 national benefit-the-people system documents, such as promoting the formulation and promulgation of the "Administrative Law Enforcement Supervision Regulations," improving mechanisms, standardizing procedures, strengthening responsibilities, and promoting strict, standardized, fair, and civilized law enforcement; promoting the promulgation of national standards in the field of school meal distribution to ensure that food is controllable from procurement to the table.
Various localities have deepened the promotion of reform and governance through cases, connecting the rectification of problems with the improvement of the system, and releasing the comprehensive effectiveness of treating both the symptoms and the root causes. In the rectification of "land outside the register," the Jilin Provincial Discipline Inspection Commission (吉林省纪委监委) urged the Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs to update the data on the map and put it into the database in a timely manner through multi-map overlay comparison screening, cross-mutual inspection and mutual evaluation, etc., to ensure that the province's rural collective "three assets" have a clear base and clear situation.
The Shanxi Provincial Discipline Inspection Commission (山西省纪委监委), in response to common problems such as opaque charging of elderly care service projects and inadequate service guarantees, issued prompts and special supervision, and promoted functional departments to revise and improve the management methods of special subsidies for the construction of elderly care institutions and other systems.
Deepening Reform and Improving the Long-term Mechanism for Safeguarding the Interests of the Masses
Deeply promoting concentrated rectification has effectively promoted grassroots supervision and governance. Discipline inspection and supervision organs have deepened the reform of the grassroots supervision system and mechanism, and improved the long-term mechanism for safeguarding the interests of the masses.
The dispersion of supervisory forces was once a difficult problem restricting the quality and effectiveness of grassroots supervision. Not long ago, the Honggu District Discipline Inspection Commission (红古区纪委监委) in Lanzhou City (兰州市), Gansu Province (甘肃省) used the "regional collaboration + cross-supervision" mechanism to investigate and deal with a case in which village cadres hindered construction, resulting in slow progress in the financial award and subsidy project for rural public welfare undertakings and harming the interests of the masses.
The Honggu District Discipline Inspection Commission (红古区纪委监委) divided the 7 townships (streets) into 3 collaboration zones according to the principles of geographical proximity, complementary advantages, and easy collaboration, and coordinated the forces of discipline inspection and supervision offices, dispatched discipline inspection and supervision teams, township (street) discipline (work) committees, and village (community) discipline inspection and supervision liaison officers, effectively improving the collaborative tackling ability of key matters supervision and important case handling.
The reluctance to supervise and the fear of supervising in the acquaintance society is another "long-standing problem" of grassroots supervision. Some time ago, the Secretary of the Shouchun Town (寿春镇) Discipline Inspection Commission in Shouxian County (寿县), Huainan City (淮南市), Anhui Province (安徽省) led 3 village-level discipline inspection committee members from his town to inspect village-level financial accounts, disbursement vouchers for people-benefit funds, and village affairs disclosure in another township.
A relevant person in charge of the Huainan City (淮南市) Discipline Inspection Commission (淮南市纪委监委) said: "Village-level discipline inspection committee members are close to the masses and familiar with village affairs, but they are prone to be embarrassed when they 'look up and see' village cadres." To this end, the local authorities promoted the establishment of village-level discipline inspection committee collaboration groups, and under the unified command of the higher authorities, carried out off-site and cross-supervision and inspection on a regular basis.
While weaving a dense supervision network, discipline inspection and supervision organs at all levels have deeply practiced the Party's mass line in the new era, adhered to the principle of "open door rectification," and continuously broadened the channels and methods for mass participation. Through in-depth front-line research, deepening mass "topic selection," and strengthening information disclosure, the masses can participate in supervision more deeply and feel the effectiveness of rectification more deeply.
"Online shopping already includes shipping costs, but you still have to pay to pick up the package. We have grievances but can't speak out, and we don't know who to turn to." At the beginning of 2025, villagers at the express delivery outlets in Longmen Township (龙门乡), Daxin County (大新县), Chongzuo City (崇左市), Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (广西壮族自治区) reflected the problem through the "mass topic selection" mechanism.
The Municipal Discipline Inspection Commission (市纪委监委) sorted out relevant clues and found that illegal charging for express delivery pick-up in townships had triggered many mass complaints, and relevant departments had problems with the lack of regulatory responsibility. In response, the Municipal Discipline Inspection Commission (市纪委监委) promoted functional departments to establish a working group to carry out rectification and rectification, publicly disclosed service standards and optimized operation processes at the city's end outlets, won praise from the masses, and greatly reduced the complaint rate.
Rectifying unhealthy tendencies and corruption problems around the masses is both a tough battle and a protracted war. On the new journey, discipline inspection and supervision organs at all levels will always adhere to the people-centered development thought, continue to promote the comprehensive and strict governance of the Party to extend to the grassroots, deeply rectify the "micro-corruption" in the field of people's livelihood and the "stumbling blocks" that hinder the implementation of people-benefit policies, and promote the results of reform and development to benefit the broad masses of people better and more fairly.
Return to TopThe inaugural Heilongjiang Province Staff Ice and Snow Games and the 2026 Harbin Staff Ice Sports Games opened in Harbin (哈尔滨市) on January 9. More than 400 athletes from 21 representative teams from trade unions of various cities (地) and industries across the province gathered to enjoy the fun of ice and snow. Ice dragon boat races were fiercely competitive, snow tug-of-war required concerted effort, ice sailing and curling involved skill competitions, ice relay races were in full swing, and snow hiking was full of energy.
The picture shows the curling skills competition in full swing.
Photo by Wang Debin (王德斌) (Image China)
Return to TopBeijing, January 9th (Reporter Wu Dan (吴丹)) The reporter learned from the 2026 National Education Work Conference held on January 8th that in 2026, the Ministry of Education (教育部) will promote the reform of universities by category, launch a new round of "Double First-Class" construction, comprehensively promote the high-quality development of local ordinary universities, coordinate the high-skilled talent cluster training plan and the "Double High Construction Plan," and guide different types of universities to scientifically position themselves and develop with distinctive characteristics.
The conference comprehensively summarized the achievements made in promoting the construction of a strong education country in the past year. In the past year, the comprehensive implementation of 2 hours of daily comprehensive sports activities for primary and secondary school students has been fully implemented, and various regions have generally explored the implementation of 15-minute breaks between classes; the setting of disciplines and majors has been optimized and adjusted, breaking the three-year cycle of authorization and review restrictions, and realizing the establishment of disciplines and majors in the same year and enrollment in the same year; the policy of exempting childcare and education fees for the year before preschool has benefited more than 12 million children, the revitalization action plan for county high schools has been launched, and 1.49 million new high school places have been added; 13,600 teachers have been selected to participate in the "Three Regions" talent support education program, the first "Excellent Teacher Program" graduates have gone to the central and western regions to teach, and the first batch of "National Excellent Program" graduates have taken to the podium.
Return to TopThis newspaper reported from Beijing on January 9th (Reporter Liu Shiyao (刘诗瑶)) The China Manned Space Engineering Office (中国载人航天工程办公室) released the "Progress Report on Scientific Research and Application of the China Space Station (中国空间站) in 2025" on January 8th.
The report focuses on areas such as space life science and human body research, microgravity physics science, and space new technology and applications. It selects 33 representative scientific research and application achievements, as well as related science popularization and cultural activities for display and introduction, playing a positive role in promoting more in-depth space science experiments, achieving high-level scientific breakthroughs, large-scale application promotion, and multi-dimensional benefit improvement.
Since China's manned space program entered the application and development stage of the space station, it has successively organized and completed 6 manned flights, 4 cargo resupply missions, and 5 spacecraft return missions, and successfully implemented the first emergency launch. 6 astronaut crews, 18 astronauts in total, have been stationed in orbit for long periods, accumulating 13 extravehicular activities (EVAs) and multiple application payload EVAs, carrying out multiple extravehicular maintenance tasks, and breaking the world record for the longest single EVA by astronauts. Currently, the China Space Station (中国空间站) is operating stably in orbit and achieving good benefits.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 王 政
At the northernmost end of the Zhoushan Islands (舟山群岛) in Zhejiang (浙江), in the "Huayu Whale House" (花屿鲸舍)民宿 on Huabird Island (花鸟岛), service personnel meticulously prepare guest rooms to welcome tourists to the island. "Every household has installed broadband, and the 5G signal on the island is full!" said Zhang Libin (张黎斌), the owner of the homestay for many years. "Video live broadcasts have attracted tourists from all over the country. Not only are we fully booked every day during the peak season, but we also have many guests during the off-season."
The full coverage of gigabit networks and 5G signals on Huabird Island (花鸟岛) is one of the latest achievements in the fourth phase of China's universal telecommunications service, the "Broadband Frontier" project. Lu Yong (卢勇), Deputy General Manager of China Tower Zhoushan Branch (中国铁塔舟山市分公司), introduced that by the end of 2025, China Tower (铁塔公司), in collaboration with telecommunications operators, will have built 1,083 new sites in Zhejiang (浙江) and opened 5G networks on 19 islands.
Since 2015, China has successively launched 11 batches of universal telecommunications service pilot projects, cumulatively supporting the construction of fiber optic networks in 130,000 administrative villages and 100,000 4G and 5G base stations in rural areas. As of the end of July 2025, China has achieved "broadband access in every village and 5G in every township" (村村通宽带、乡乡通5G), completing the "14th Five-Year Plan" task ahead of schedule. The problem of difficult communication in remote areas has been fundamentally solved, providing solid support for accelerating the modernization of agriculture and rural areas and promoting the comprehensive revitalization of the countryside.
From remote mountain villages to border islands, 5G networks achieve deep coverage.
Located in a camping base in Aba County (阿坝县), Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture (阿坝藏族羌族自治州) in Sichuan (四川), a 30-meter-high iron tower stands on the west side of the base. The completion of this base station has brought many changes to the life of Tserang Tenzin (泽郎丹增), a farmhouse operator. Video live broadcasts have started, and farmhouse catering reservations and specialty sales have increased significantly.
"Since 2015, Aba Prefecture (阿坝州) has added 672 base stations and built nearly 100 solar base stations in remote pastoral areas," said Yang Xuhui (杨旭晖), General Manager of China Tower Aba Prefecture Branch (中国铁塔阿坝州分公司).
From Daliyabuyi Village (达里雅布依村) in the hinterland of the Taklamakan Desert (塔克拉玛干沙漠) to Zhuzishan Uninhabited Island (柱子山无人岛) in Zhoushan (舟山); from National Highway 331 (331国道), known as one of the "most beautiful border highways," to Yongxing Island (永兴岛) in Sansha City (三沙市) at the southern end of the vast sea border; from the Mount Everest (珠穆朗玛峰) base camp at an altitude of 6,500 meters to the Xinyuan Coal Mine (新元煤矿) of Yangmei Group (阳煤集团) in Shanxi (山西), located 534 meters underground, fiber optic and 5G networks have achieved deep coverage across the motherland.
The coverage level of rural broadband networks has been greatly improved. As of now, the proportion of administrative villages with broadband access nationwide has reached 100%, and the coverage rates of 4G and 5G networks have reached 99% and 95%, respectively.
The proportion of rural high-speed network users continues to grow. The number of rural broadband users has increased from 93.77 million in 2017 to 200 million in 2024.
The scale of rural netizens continues to expand. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (工业和信息化部) supports basic telecommunications companies in reducing tariff levels and continues to provide basic communication service tariff discounts of 50% or less to rural households lifted out of poverty. Related targeted tariff reduction measures have benefited nearly 30 million rural households lifted out of poverty.
Data from the International Telecommunication Union shows that the proportion of China's fixed broadband and mobile service tariffs in per capita gross national income has been declining year by year, falling to 0.45% and 0.5% in 2024, respectively, which are at a relatively low level globally. As of June 2025, the number of rural netizens in China reached 322 million, and the Internet penetration rate in rural areas was 69.2%, further narrowing the digital divide between urban and rural areas.
Information and intelligent applications inject smart power into rural development.
Walking into the Yuanyang Hani Rice Terraces Management Committee (元阳哈尼梯田管理委员会), through the digital supervision platform of the Yuanyang Hani Rice Terraces (元阳哈尼梯田) heritage area on the LCD giant screen, real-time data such as ecological environment, water conservancy facilities, and tourist information are all clear at a glance.
"Relying on the low latency and high bandwidth characteristics of the 5G network, monitoring equipment such as sensors and cameras deployed in key areas transmit data in real time; the deep integration of Internet of Things technology and communication networks enables intelligent perception and accurate transmission of key data such as rice terrace ecological environment, water conservancy facilities, and crop growth," said Li Hua (李华), General Manager of China Mobile Yuanyang Branch (中国移动元阳分公司) in Yunnan (云南). Today, the 5G network has covered all administrative villages in Yuanyang County (元阳县). By building more than 20 5G private lines such as drones and spectral remote sensing, remote sensing, cloud computing, big data, and Internet of Things technologies are accelerating their implementation, realizing all-round three-dimensional monitoring of soil moisture, water quality pH, and other rice terrace conditions and intangible cultural heritage buildings.
The numerous information and intelligent applications brought by the 5G network have not only become an important support for the digital management and improved production efficiency of the Hani Rice Terraces (哈尼梯田), but also inject smart power into promoting the comprehensive revitalization of the countryside.
In Nujiang Lisu Autonomous Prefecture (怒江傈僳族自治州) in Yunnan (云南), full coverage of the education optical network was achieved in 2018, and the interactive classroom model of synchronous remote locations allows children in the mountains to share high-quality educational resources with children in the city; in Ruyang County (汝阳县) in Henan (河南), the remote diagnosis and treatment network platform covers the county, township, and village levels, allowing the masses to enjoy expert medical services without leaving the village; in Shushan Village (树山村), Tong'an Town (通安镇), Suzhou High-tech Zone (苏州高新区) in Jiangsu (江苏), the "Smart Shushan" (智慧树山) rural governance system guards the village around the clock. If there is a failure in electricity or gas, villagers can report repairs on the mobile phone through "Cloud Property," and tourists can also realize audio guides and accommodation reservations through WeChat applets; in Xilin Gol League (锡林郭勒盟) in Inner Mongolia (内蒙古), the 5G+ Smart Pastoral Area project realizes intelligent weighing, intelligent drinking water, smart grazing, automatic feeding, etc., significantly improving the production efficiency of herdsmen; in Shazhou Village (沙洲村), Rucheng County (汝城县) in Hunan (湖南), network e-commerce is combined with red cultural tourism and green industries, receiving more than 200,000 tourists a year.
Digital villages build a new ecosystem for rural grassroots governance; smart agriculture promotes new changes in production and lifestyle; e-commerce live broadcasts pave new paths for increasing income and becoming rich... High-speed and smooth broadband networks have built information bridges and wealth bridges between urban and rural areas, and even more, bridges of unity and warmth.
Promote the upgrading of facility construction so that the people can share the digital dividend.
"From the early telephone 'village-to-village project' that brought the dawn of communication to remote areas, to the large-scale laying of fiber optic universal services on the information highway, to the accelerated elimination of mobile communication blind spots in 4G/5G universal services, and to the current new stage of 'Broadband Frontier' deepening coverage for border and special areas, the historic achievements of China's universal telecommunications service have not only changed the face of rural development, but also solved the dilemma of market failure with institutional strength, providing Chinese wisdom and solutions for the development of global universal telecommunications services," said Mu Chunbo (牟春波), Deputy Director of the Institute of Industrial Economics and Planning of the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (中国信息通信研究院产业与规划研究所).
In 2015, there were still 50,000 administrative villages in China without broadband access, and 150,000 administrative villages with broadband access capabilities of less than 4Mbps (megabits per second). The digital divide between urban and rural areas urgently needed to be eliminated. However, the construction and operation and maintenance costs of fiber optics in rural and remote areas are high and the returns are low. It is difficult to achieve breakthrough progress by relying solely on operators.
In order to allow residents in rural and remote areas to fairly use communication facilities and their services and share the digital dividend, China has created a universal telecommunications service compensation mechanism of "central government funding guidance, local coordination support, and enterprise-led promotion." From 2015 to 2025, the central government has cumulatively supported 31 billion yuan in universal telecommunications service subsidy funds, which has greatly mobilized the enthusiasm of basic telecommunications companies and formed a virtuous interactive development pattern in which the central government, local governments, and enterprises jointly support rural broadband construction.
In order to promote the coverage and continuous upgrading of communication infrastructure in weak areas and effectively ensure that all people share the fruits of information development, since the implementation of universal telecommunications services, communication builders have climbed high mountains and entered deserts, building base stations in remote islands and pulling optical cables into thousands of households.
In the Tianshen Daban (天神达坂) in the depths of the Kunlun Mountains (昆仑山), the construction team of China Mobile Xinjiang Company (中国移动新疆公司) walked through waist-deep snow to lay optical cables; in the hinterland of the Greater Khingan Mountains (大兴安岭), the staff of China Unicom Xing'an League Branch (中国联通兴安盟分公司) worked hard and adopted innovative technologies such as "optical-microwave-satellite" hybrid networking to build a communication network for the forest and snowfield; on Butterfly Island (蝴蝶岛) in Jiangshan Town (江山镇), Fangcheng District (防城区), Fangchenggang City (防城港市), Guangxi (广西), the construction team of China Tower (中国铁塔) overcame difficulties such as no fresh water and no electricity, and built the country's first integrated "optical-hydrogen-storage" communication base station.
"Universal telecommunications services have promoted the leapfrog development of rural communication networks, but it should also be noted that rural and remote areas in China have not yet achieved good continuous coverage, and there are still coverage blind spots in some natural villages, agricultural operation areas, and along transportation roads. The network capabilities and service quality are still different from those in urban areas," said Mu Chunbo (牟春波).
The relevant person in charge of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (工业和信息化部) stated that during the "15th Five-Year Plan" period, it will continue to implement the universal telecommunications service and "Broadband Frontier" construction in depth, continue to carry out the "Signal Upgrade" special action, optimize the mobile network signal coverage in rural and remote areas, accelerate the deployment of advanced network capabilities such as 5G and gigabit optical networks, improve the level of network supply, service guarantee, and network use experience, so that rural agriculture and farmers can use more advanced network capabilities and more inclusive telecommunications services, promote the digital transformation of rural agriculture, help the comprehensive revitalization of the countryside and the prosperity of the border and the enrichment of the people, and provide basic support for promoting Chinese-style modernization.
Return to TopBy: 卢 涛
Achieving "broadband access in every village and 5G in every township" is a hard-won achievement.
The countryside is connected to the "arteries" of information technology, and the digital divide is constantly being bridged. From the heart of the desert to the vast sea, from towering mountains to the depths of the earth, from border villages to ethnic minority areas, communication infrastructure has wider coverage and better quality in rural areas. Universal telecommunications service has taken root, blossomed, and borne fruit. With the popularization of information services and the reduction of service fees, residents in rural and remote areas can afford, use, and benefit from information services, and their sense of gain in sharing the fruits of information development is increasing.
Farmers are catching the "express train" of information technology, and digital energy is releasing vitality. Rural online retail sales continue to grow, and villagers are engaging in video live streaming and opening online stores. Smart agriculture is accelerating its development, with a mobile phone managing farmland, and digital "new farm tools" are becoming more and more abundant. Internet education is becoming more popular, with a network cable connecting urban and rural classrooms. Towering iron towers stand in mountain villages, and optical cables span mountains and seas, improving production and living conditions, promoting the equalization of public services, and broadening the channels for farmers to increase their income and become rich, paving a new path to a better life.
General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) emphasized: "Compared with cities, the construction of rural Internet infrastructure is our shortcoming. We must increase investment, accelerate the pace of rural Internet construction, and expand the effective coverage of fiber optic networks and broadband networks in rural areas." The pace of universal telecommunications service is strong, and the level of network supply and the experience of network use in the vast countryside will be higher and better, injecting more impetus into the comprehensive revitalization of the countryside.
Return to TopThis newspaper reported from Beijing on January 9th (Reporter Jiang Jie (姜洁)) The National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) (全国政协) held a popular science lecture at the CPPCC Auditorium (全国政协礼堂) on the 9th as part of the "CPPCC Members' Science Lecture Series." Shen Yueyue (沈跃跃), Bater (巴特尔), Wang Dongfeng (王东峰), Zhu Yongxin (朱永新), and Yang Zhen (杨震), all vice chairpersons of the CPPCC National Committee (全国政协), attended.
Cao Xuetao (曹雪涛), a member of the CPPCC National Committee (全国政协) and an academician at the Chinese Academy of Engineering (中国工程院), delivered a lecture titled "Immunology and Disease Prevention and Treatment." He elaborated on the crucial role of immunology in disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, showcased cutting-edge achievements and strategic development directions in the field of immunology, and engaged in interactive exchanges with the audience. More than 500 people attended, including some CPPCC National Committee (全国政协) members, university students, and science and technology workers.
The "CPPCC Members' Science Lecture Series," which invites expert scholars who are CPPCC (全国政协) members to conduct popular science lectures for all sectors of society, is a practical action taken by the CPPCC National Committee (全国政协) to thoroughly implement General Secretary Xi Jinping's (习近平) important expositions on doing a good job in popular science work. It aims to leverage the professional expertise of committee members to popularize scientific knowledge, advocate scientific methods, disseminate scientific thought, and promote the spirit of science, thereby contributing the CPPCC's strength to fostering a social atmosphere that loves and respects science.
Return to TopThe All-China Journalists Association (中华全国新闻工作者协会) held a symposium in Beijing (北京) on January 9th entitled "Striving to be Great Journalists and Editors of the New Era – The Inaugural 'Top Ten National Journalists' Symposium'" (争做新时代的大记者大编辑——首届‘全国十佳新闻工作者’座谈会). The meeting focused on exchanging experiences in nurturing new-era journalistic talent, exploring practical pathways for discovering, cultivating, and strengthening talent, promoting the emergence of more outstanding journalists, and better providing talent support for building a strong cultural nation.
Participants stated that the recently convened National Conference of Ministers of Propaganda (全国宣传部长会议) made arrangements for studying and practicing Xi Jinping's (习近平) cultural thought and further improving ideological and cultural work, which requires systematic planning and continuous forging of an iron army of new-era news and public opinion work, and must coordinate efforts and form synergy.
Participants suggested that media units should serve as "training grounds" and establish mechanisms such as "integrated media studios"; improve evaluation systems, focusing on both traffic and quality, both quantity and weight; increase technical training efforts, and promote the transformation of all employees into all-media composite talents. Institutions of higher learning should build a solid "theoretical base" and strengthen practical teaching. Industry associations should serve as "boosters," reforming the selection of the China News Award (中国新闻奖) and the Changjiang Taofen Award (长江韬奋奖), doing a good job in selecting and establishing the Top Ten Journalists, and building more platforms for exchange and mutual learning.
On January 9th, the All-China Journalists Association (中华全国新闻工作者协会) issued a proposal to journalists across the country: to stand at the forefront of the times, shoulder responsibilities and missions, and strive to grow into great journalists and editors of the new era trusted by the Party and the people. The proposal stated that the all-media wave is surging forward, and deepening the systematic reform of mainstream media is inspiring. Journalists across the country should have a broad perspective, **把稳思想之舵** (bǎ wěn sī xiǎng zhī duò - "steady the rudder of thought," to maintain firm ideological direction); cultivate great feelings, and take root in the people; hone great skills, and stand at the forefront of innovation; and shoulder great responsibilities, and uphold journalistic ideals.
Return to TopThis newspaper's Beijing (北京) dispatch on January 9th (Reporter Li Xinping (李心萍)) The reporter learned from the experience exchange meeting on deepening and upgrading the reform of state-owned enterprises: As of now, the main tasks of deepening and upgrading the action have been basically completed, the core functions of state-owned enterprises have been increasingly enhanced, and the core competitiveness has been effectively improved. After several rounds of reform, state-owned assets and state-owned enterprises have undergone fundamental changes in their overall appearance.
The layout of the state-owned economy is focusing on new developments. Since the implementation of the deepening and upgrading action, many local and central enterprise systems have systematically sorted out the industrial development map, promoted precise layout, and opened up a "second curve" of growth.
The innovation capability of state-owned enterprises has been significantly improved. Since the implementation of the deepening and upgrading action, the support of state-owned assets and state-owned enterprises for original innovation has been generally enhanced, and central enterprises have taken the lead in building 97 original technology source areas.
The management and operation system continues to be optimized. The "hard link" between performance and compensation, promotion, and exit has become the norm. In 2024, more than 20,000 members of the management of subsidiaries at all levels of central enterprises, accounting for about 16.7%, had their compensation increased or decreased by more than 20% due to performance evaluation.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者
Like a bow on the coast and an arrow that is the Yangtze River, the Chengdu-Chongqing area is the fletching of the arrow. Although located inland, it affects the overall situation.
The Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle is the most densely populated, industrially strongest, most innovative, most market-extensive, and most open region in western China.
In January 2020, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) chaired the sixth meeting of the Central Financial and Economic Affairs Commission, emphasizing: "We must promote the construction of the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle to form an important growth pole for high-quality development in the west." The "15th Five-Year Plan" proposal suggests enhancing the development level of the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle.
The Shu River winds around the Ba Mountains, and Sichuan and Chongqing share the tide. To implement the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping's important instructions, over the past six years, Sichuan and Chongqing have focused on accurately identifying their strategic positioning in the overall national situation, firmly establishing a "one chessboard" mentality, promoting "integration," continuously enhancing their development capabilities, and jointly writing a chapter of Chinese-style modernization in the Bashu region.
Today, the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle is becoming an important growth pole and new source of power driving high-quality national development. Compared to 2019, the population has increased from 96 million to over 98 million, and the region's GDP as a percentage of the national total has increased from 6.3% to 6.5%, achieving a double increase in population and economic proportion.
Collaboration: Division and Unity
Accurately identify strategic positioning, grasp comparative advantages, and integrate and promote each other.
Walking into the "Silicon Cube" data center of the National Supercomputing Center in Chengdu, a slight hum can be heard. It can perform 100 quadrillion floating-point operations per second, with data streams and information flows intertwined.
Computing power serves major regional strategies. The Chengdu Center is working with Chongqing University (重庆大学), and industry-university-research cooperation is advancing in depth. "We have established computing power application scenarios with more than 1,700 users in Chengdu, Chongqing, and other places," said Wang Jianbo (王建波), head of the center.
Looking at Sichuan and Chongqing, the harmony between the two places is becoming a trend.
In the hinterland of Bashu, the Sichuan Tianfu Jin City Laboratory and the Chongqing Jin Feng Laboratory are cooperating, and biomedical technology achievements are frequently emerging.
On the banks of the Yangtze River, law enforcement officers from both places walk along the riverbank, jointly patrolling the river and protecting a river of clear water.
The "division" of administrative divisions between Sichuan and Chongqing in the past has now become the "unity" of regional collaboration, with the same goal of promoting development.
Unity: Collaborative planning, and a regional coordinated development pattern has basically formed.
Sichuan and Chongqing each have their strengths and weaknesses: Sichuan has many research institutions, abundant talent resources, and a well-developed tertiary industry, but its manufacturing base is relatively weak; Chongqing has the advantage of the Yangtze River, developed shipping, complete industrial categories, and a good manufacturing base, but its service industry is relatively lagging.
The construction of the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle is a systematic project that cannot be separated from top-level design and overall coordination. The "Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle Construction Plan Outline" issued by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council points the way for the integrated development of the two places: to build it into an important economic center, a science and technology innovation center, a new highland for reform and opening up, and a high-quality livable place with national influence.
"Sichuan and Chongqing jointly issued implementation plans to turn the grand blueprint into a construction roadmap," said Dai Yongbo (代永波), director of the Sichuan Provincial Development and Reform Commission.
Scientific planning, and then action. Make a fuss around integration, and sing the "Twin Cities Story" together. Over the past six years, more than 400 major projects have been implemented successively, and a number of cooperation platforms and mechanisms have been established one after another.
Unity: Joint construction of projects, and regional integration continues to upgrade.
In Ziyang (资阳), Sichuan, data is jumping at the Furong Substation of the Sichuan-Chongqing 1000 kV UHV AC Project.
"Since its completion and operation at the end of 2024, we have transmitted about 10 billion kilowatt-hours of clean energy to the Chengdu load center," said station chief Xiong Xiaoyu (熊晓宇).
Within the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle, industrial and agricultural production is concentrated, and the power load is tight. Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture (甘孜藏族自治州) in Sichuan has abundant clean energy such as hydropower and photovoltaic power, but power output faces obstacles.
Sichuan and Chongqing have listed the 1000 kV UHV AC project as a major joint construction project, and new transmission lines have been built from Ganzi Prefecture (甘孜州), Sichuan, to Tongnan District (潼南区) and Tongliang District (铜梁区), Chongqing. The project can transmit a maximum of 35 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity to the Sichuan-Chongqing load center every year, which is equivalent to the annual electricity consumption of nearly 10 million households.
Driven by joint project construction, regional development is integrated. The Jialing River (嘉陵江) Lizeping Shipping Hub and other projects have been completed and opened to navigation, and projects such as the Chengdu-Chongqing Central Line High-Speed Railway and the second line of the Sichuan Gas Eastward Transmission Natural Gas Pipeline Project are accelerating construction, and science and technology projects such as the Chengdu-Chongqing Comprehensive Science Center are also accelerating.
Unity: Joint construction of platforms, and the "one chessboard" is deepening and solidifying.
In Songpan (松潘), Sichuan, 2,000 acres of broad beans have witnessed new achievements in agricultural science and technology cooperation between Sichuan and Chongqing.
In 2022, Chongqing broad bean varieties first set foot on the western Sichuan Plateau from Rongchang District (荣昌区) and other places. Through the tripartite cooperation of the Chongqing Academy of Agricultural Sciences, the Sichuan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, and the Songpan County Government, more than 20 edible and ornamental bean varieties from Sichuan and Chongqing have been successively implemented in Songpan, and technologies such as "mulch + controlled fertilization" have helped double the yield per unit of beans.
The two agricultural science academies took the lead, and agricultural colleges and universities and business entities participated in the joint construction of the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Alliance to build a platform for collaborative innovation in agricultural science and technology. "The alliance has implemented more than 230 science and technology projects and has promoted more than 110 new technologies," said Long Juechen (龙珏臣), associate researcher at the Chongqing Academy of Agricultural Sciences.
Cooperation platforms are jointly built, and regional development is accelerating. Over the past six years, Sichuan and Chongqing have jointly issued more than 100 policy documents, set up 22 joint special working groups, selected more than 500 cadres to exchange and hold positions, and established a multi-level and normalized cooperation mechanism.
Considering Both the New and the Old
Promote industrial innovation with scientific and technological innovation, develop emerging industries, upgrade traditional industries, and accelerate the formation of new quality productive forces.
On the streets of Chengdu, a silver-white robot assists in directing traffic, which is particularly eye-catching.
It is called "Tongtianxiao (通天晓)," and it was developed by Chengdu Agaxi Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd. "We help the robot's brain develop 'intelligence' to make it 'smarter.'" In 2020, the company's founder, Sun Xiaogang (孙晓刚), came to the Chengdu High-tech Industrial Development Zone to start a business, and now his customers are all over Chengdu and Chongqing.
To build an important economic center and a science and technology innovation center with national influence, Sichuan and Chongqing take into account both the new and the old and promote the deep integration of scientific and technological innovation and industrial innovation.
Moving towards the "new," emerging industries are growing rapidly.
To "brighten the glasses" for autonomous driving, Chongqing enterprise Zhongke Yaoluchuan has developed a spatial intelligent camera to break through the bottleneck of existing perception technology and bring new solutions to the industry.
Chengdu Yousainuo Biotechnology Co., Ltd. has made breakthroughs in the field of autoimmune disease treatment and built the largest cell drug production base in southwest China.
With dual-core leadership and division of labor and collaboration, the new content of Sichuan and Chongqing industrial clusters has become higher and higher over the past six years. The two places' electronic information, biomedicine and other 5 manufacturing clusters have been selected as national-level advanced manufacturing clusters, and emerging industries such as artificial intelligence, low-altitude economy, and commercial aerospace are accelerating their development.
Starting from the "new," promote industrial innovation with scientific and technological innovation.
In Tianfu New Area (天府新区), Sichuan, on the shore of Xinglong Lake (兴隆湖), the Chengdu Science and Innovation Ecological Island has ignited the "fire of innovation."
Deng Cao (邓操), a doctoral student at Sichuan Agricultural University, was once troubled by a shortage of funds and could not find suitable computing power and sequencing services to develop a molecular diagnostic kit for pet breed identification and genetic disease screening.
After learning about the situation, a technology transfer team from the Science and Innovation Ecological Island connected with local computing power service companies and sequencing service providers, connected financial resources, helped solve research and development problems, and realized the transformation of achievements.
To promote the organic integration of industrial innovation and scientific and technological innovation, Sichuan and Chongqing have jointly built platforms such as the Western Transformation Center for Advanced Technology Achievements and jointly held the "Belt and Road" Science and Technology Exchange Conference, and jointly built the Western Science City in the "one city, multiple parks" model. Today, the two places have 800 specialized and new "little giant" enterprises and 27,000 high-tech enterprises.
While developing emerging industries on the one hand, and promoting the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries on the other, the two places are actively developing new quality productive forces based on their own characteristics.
Reforming the "old" and seeking the "new," traditional industries have been revitalized.
The automobile industry is Chongqing's leading industry. Seres has cooperated with Huawei to successively implement a series of technological achievements such as the Seres Magic Cube Technology Platform and the Seres Super Extended Range.
Driven by leading enterprises, the automobile industry chain in the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle has been comprehensively improved. CATL has settled in Yibin (宜宾), Sichuan, and set up a "factory in a factory" in the Seres Super Factory to achieve zero-distance cooperation between the two parties.
Promoting the "old" and bringing forth the "new," digitalization has spawned higher efficiency.
Walking into the intelligent factory of Shuanghuan Transmission (Chongqing) Precision Technology Co., Ltd. in Nanan District (南岸区), Chongqing, workers hold tablet computers and shuttle between equipment. Industrial Internet and big data technology allow them to control the production process, and production efficiency has increased by nearly 40%.
By implementing industrial digital transformation, Nanan District has achieved a double breakthrough of 100 billion yuan in industrial revenue and output value.
Gao Jian (高健), director of the Chongqing Municipal Development and Reform Commission, introduced that Sichuan and Chongqing have jointly built four trillion-yuan-level industrial clusters of electronic information, equipment manufacturing, advanced materials, and characteristic consumer goods, and the advantages of modern service industries have been significantly enhanced, and the construction of mountain-characteristic and efficient agriculture has been accelerated.
Promoting Both Internal and External
On the one hand, promote reform to break down barriers, and on the other hand, promote opening up to smooth circulation and jointly build a new highland for reform and opening up.
A small tax bill is permanently collected by the National Museum.
This is the first tax bill issued by the country's first cross-provincial tax collection and management service center, which was issued by the Sichuan-Chongqing Gaozhunew Area Tax Collection and Management Service Center and is a record of a company canteen purchasing vegetables from farmers.
Boldly try and boldly break through, Sichuan and Chongqing work together to take the lead in building a new highland for reform and opening up and serve and integrate into the new development pattern.
The Sichuan-Chongqing Gaozhu New Area is the first cross-provincial co-construction pilot zone in the country to explore the reform of the appropriate separation of economic zones and administrative regions.
"The new area's government service channels in the fields of tax collection and management, medical insurance, and social security have been opened up, and it is accelerating its integration into and service to the construction of a unified national market," said Li Jia (李佳), full-time deputy secretary of the Party Working Committee of the New Area.
Breaking down regional barriers, Sichuan and Chongqing have issued an action plan for the construction of regional market integration to promote "different places with the same standards" for market access. "To improve the unified market supervision rules, Sichuan and Chongqing took the lead in issuing the country's first list of legally exempt penalties in the field of cross-provincial market supervision, and unified 26 regulatory standards such as drug safety and enterprise credit risk classification," said Li Li (李历), director of the Chongqing Municipal Government Office in Sichuan.
Deepening reform, a number of "national first" reform achievements were born in the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle:
Explore the construction of the country's first specialized court with cross-provincial jurisdiction over financial cases - the Chengdu-Chongqing Financial Court. Ni Hu (倪虎), director of the Comprehensive Office of the Chengdu-Chongqing Financial Court, who was transferred from Sichuan, takes the latest high-speed train back to Chengdu every Friday and comes to Chongqing again on Sunday. "We work in both Chongqing and Chengdu, and the staff also come from the two provinces and cities," said Ni Hu.
Establish the country's first cross-provincial joint river chief office - the Sichuan-Chongqing River Chief System Joint Promotion Office. On the banks of the Tang River, Gu Zhifeng (顾志峰), a prosecutor from the People's Procuratorate of Jiangjin District (江津区), Chongqing, and Liu Tianzhi (刘天治), a prosecutor from the People's Procuratorate of Hejiang County (合江县), Sichuan, are patrolling the river together. Such cooperation has become the norm. The water quality compliance rate of 25 national assessment sections of cross-border rivers in Sichuan and Chongqing has reached 100% for four consecutive years.
By jointly promoting reform, the two places have formed 18 cross-regional cooperation experiences with Sichuan-Chongqing identification, such as carrying out ecological environment collaborative legislative and judicial cooperation and a joint scheduling service mechanism for major projects.
Promote opening up with reform and promote reform with opening up.
Vehicles shuttle through the Chengdu International Railway Port Comprehensive Bonded Zone. Without changing cars to enter the zone and reducing declaration procedures, Huang Zhenzhong (黄振中), warehousing manager of Chengdu Jialida International Logistics Co., Ltd., said with emotion when talking about the "direct transfer in the zone" pilot reform that the company's customs declaration workload has been reduced by 65%, saving nearly one million yuan in logistics costs a year.
In the past, many enterprises engaged in domestic and foreign trade business, and a transport vehicle loaded with goods in two states needed to be distributed outside the bonded zone and changed to different vehicles to enter the zone. At the end of 2023, the "direct transfer in the zone" business was launched in the Chengdu International Railway Port, allowing goods to easily realize the state transition from "non-bonded" to "bonded" within the bonded zone.
The China-Europe Railway Express (Chengdu-Chongqing) consolidation and distribution model, the comprehensive bonded zone's first-line entry into the zone "goods arrive and enter" model, the multimodal transport "one-order system" and "one-box system"... A series of reform achievements have been applied, making the background color of Sichuan and Chongqing's opening up richer and more sufficient.
In Xiaonanya Logistics Center in Jiangjin (江津), Chongqing, the whistle sounded loudly, and the train slowly drove out. The agricultural machinery produced by Weima Agricultural Machinery Co., Ltd. will be transported to Qinzhou (钦州), Guangxi through the New Western Land-Sea Corridor, and then shipped overseas to Southeast Asia and South Asia.
"80% of the orders come from overseas. With the help of the Jiangjin train's railway-sea intermodal transport, our products are sold to more than 70 countries and regions," said Wang Shuai (王帅), deputy general manager of Weima Agricultural Machinery.
The hub leads opening up, and opening up drives development. Today, the Chongqing Hub Port Industrial Park, where Xiaonanya is located, has gathered more than 1,000 enterprises, forming leading industries such as equipment manufacturing, advanced materials, modern logistics, and supply chain services.
Land-sea internal and external linkage, east-west two-way mutual assistance, and a comprehensive opening pattern are accelerating. Data shows that the China-Europe Railway Express (Chengdu-Chongqing) has cumulatively operated more than 26,000 trains, and the scale of operation has remained at the leading level in the country. The New Western Land-Sea Corridor reaches 584 ports in 127 countries (regions).
Coordinating the Big and the Small
Bearing in mind the "big things of the country" and caring about the small things of people's livelihood, improve the quality of life with development results.
Chinese-style modernization puts people's livelihood first.
The joint construction and sharing of public services in Sichuan and Chongqing have profoundly changed the lives of citizens.
After submitting the materials, Ye Qian (叶茜) quickly received the news that five talents from Sichuan in her company had successfully participated in the professional title evaluation. "In the past, I had to wait for 3 months." As the human resources supervisor of Chongqing Jiuzhou Xingyi Navigation Equipment Co., Ltd., she has a deep understanding of the mutual recognition of professional titles between Sichuan and Chongqing.
"Professional and technical talents who hold professional title certificates issued by the human resources and social security departments of the two places do not need to re-evaluate or confirm when they move across regions, and they can apply for higher-level professional titles with their original certificates," said the person in charge of the Dadukou District (大渡口区) Human Resources and Social Security Bureau in Chongqing.
Promote the standardization and facilitation of basic public services, and life in the twin cities is becoming an experience in the same city -
Handling affairs is more efficient. Over the past six years, Sichuan and Chongqing have jointly handled 355 high-frequency matters for enterprises and the public across provinces.
Seeing a doctor is more worry-free. 935 secondary and above public hospitals and 222 inspection and test results in the two provinces and cities are mutually recognized, and 1,726 medical institutions have realized "scan code medical treatment" with the Sichuan-Chongqing electronic health card.
Life is more convenient. Through the "Sichuan-Chongqing Reading All-in-One Card," the two places have realized the borrowing and returning of 50 million books in 174 public libraries.
Overall planning, meticulous promotion, between the big and the small, improve the quality of life with development results.
After work, after changing shoes, Tian Xingguo (田兴国) jogs slowly along the greenway of Xinglong Lake (兴隆湖). "A lap is about 9 kilometers, and everything you see is scenery."
Tian Xingguo is from Gansu (甘肃). He came to Chengdu from Beijing six years ago to settle down. "The company is on the edge of Xinglong Lake (兴隆湖). The environment is good, the facilities are complete, and it is very comfortable, like living in a park." Following the direction of Tian Xingguo's finger, boardwalks and bookstores are dotted among them, and there is an endless stream of leisure citizens.
A good ecological environment is the most inclusive people's livelihood and well-being. To build a park city, Chengdu has more than 9,000 kilometers of urban greenways connected into a network, and the number of various parks exceeds 1,500; Bishan District (璧山区) in Chongqing has 38 urban parks, each with a theme and a different scenery at every step.
The "big plan" of the park city is being transformed into the "small happiness" that everyone can feel and reach. In the past three years, Chengdu has cumulatively attracted 1.56 million young talents, and more and more young people are settling here.
It is suitable for living and working, and also suitable for tourism.
In the Anyue Grottoes (安岳石窟) Digital Experience Hall in Ziyang (资阳), Sichuan, the Zizhu Guanyin statue with its legs crossed is eye-catching. This statue is replicated by 3D printing technology, and the real body is 50 kilometers away from the county seat.
With just a light touch, the clothes of Zizhu Guanyin can flutter. "With the help of new technologies such as interactive scrolls, object recognition, and gesture sensing, more than 1,000 cliff statues have been 'alive' across time and space," said Li Zhongliang (李忠良), chairman of Sichuan Grotto Culture Tourism Development Co., Ltd.
With just a gentle tap, the sleeves of the Purple Bamboo Guanyin can flutter. "Using new technologies such as interactive scrolls, object recognition, and gesture sensing, more than 1,000 cliffside statues have 'come to life' across time and space," said Li Zhongliang (李忠良), Chairman of Sichuan Grotto Culture Tourism Development Co., Ltd. (四川石窟文化旅游开发有限公司).
There are approximately 6,000 grotto temples and cliffside statues nationwide, with Sichuan and Chongqing accounting for nearly half. The two regions have jointly established the Bashu Grotto Culture Tourism Corridor Alliance (巴蜀石窟文化旅游走廊联盟), and jointly launched tourist routes such as the Stone Carving Art Culture Tourism Direct Line and Red Tourism Boutique Line. The trade unions of Sichuan and Chongqing have also organized and mobilized employees to carry out the "Million Employees Tour Bashu" activity, sharing cultural and tourism resources.
Under the Chengdu Twin Towers (成都双子塔), crowds surge; at the Chaotianmen Square (朝天门广场) in Chongqing (重庆), tourists are 游人如织 (yóu rén rú zhī - "tourists like weaving," a multitude of tourists). With six years of determined effort, the cooperation between Sichuan (四川) and Chongqing (重庆) has become increasingly close, and its capacity has been continuously improved. The new era of the western "Twin Cities Story" is becoming more and more resounding.
(Reported by Zhang Fan (张帆), Liu Xinwu (刘新吾), You Yi (游仪), and Wang Yongzhan (王永战), reporters of this newspaper)
Return to TopBy: 张 帆
"Sichuan and Chongqing are one family!" Walking on the land of Sichuan and Chongqing, this enthusiastic saying is often heard.
Comrades in Chengdu (成都) say that Chongqing (重庆) has the advantage of the Yangtze River (长江) and a complete range of industrial categories, which is exactly what Chengdu (成都) lacks at present. Comrades in Chongqing (重庆) say that Chengdu (成都) has strong scientific and technological innovation capabilities and a developed commercial and trade service industry, which complements Chongqing (重庆). Over the past 6 years, the construction of the Chengdu-Chongqing (成渝) Twin-City Economic Circle has gradually turned the visions of the two places into accessible realities.
To promote "cooperation," we must first abandon the mindset of only focusing on our own “一亩三分地” (yī mǔ sān fēn dì - "one mu three fen land," one's own small plot; narrow-minded focus) and establish a "one chessboard" concept. In the past, for mutual recognition of professional title certificates between Sichuan (川) and Chongqing (渝), re-evaluation was required, which took as little as 3 months or as long as half a year; now, re-evaluation is not required, and local corresponding professional title evaluation and employment policies can be directly enjoyed. Allowing resources and factors such as technology, capital, and talent to flow between the two places, the active Sichuan-Chongqing (川渝) market will surely help build a unified national market.
To promote "cooperation," we must also make good use of reform methods to remove the blockages and bottlenecks affecting the economic cycle between the two places. Over the past 6 years, the Chengdu-Chongqing (成渝) Twin-City Economic Circle has explored 18 cross-regional collaboration experiences: "different places, same standards" for market access, "one-click migration" for enterprises across provinces and cities, and the Gaozhu New Area (高竹新区), which appropriately separates administrative regions from economic zones. As long as we remain steadfast in our beliefs and do not shy away from problems, we will surely be able to open up a new world of reform and development.
Sichuan (川) and Chongqing (渝) join hands, 美美与共 (měi měi yǔ gòng - "beauty and beauty together," each displaying its beauty while coexisting harmoniously), to jointly draw the Bashu (巴蜀) chapter of Chinese-style modernization.
Return to TopThe "15th Five-Year Plan" proposal suggests, "Promoting quantum technology, biomanufacturing, hydrogen energy and nuclear fusion energy, brain-computer interfaces, embodied intelligence, and 6th generation mobile communication to become new economic growth points."
On January 1st, China's first brain-computer interface medical device standard officially came into effect. From patients using thoughts to control computers to commanding robotic arms and robot dogs, from cutting-edge technology in the laboratory to inquiry assessments in outpatient clinics... Currently, brain-computer interface technology is developing rapidly, accelerating its integration into real life, and the release of related policies and standards is painting a clearer path for this "integration" into reality. This issue of "Gazing at the Frontier" focuses on new standards and new developments in the brain-computer interface industry, exploring the "interface" between technology and reality.
-- Editor
Setting Standards, Regulating Medical Services
Reporter Shen Shaotie (申少铁) from this newspaper
The medical device industry standard "Medical Devices Using Brain-Computer Interface Technology - Terminology" issued by the National Medical Products Administration (国家药品监督管理局) officially came into effect on January 1st. This is China's first brain-computer interface medical device standard. Why was this standard formulated? What are its main contents? What is its significance for the development of brain-computer interface technology? To answer questions of concern to readers, the reporter interviewed Yuan Peng (袁鹏), Deputy Director of the Medical Device Registration Department of the National Medical Products Administration (国家药监局器械注册司).
Q: What definition does this standard give for medical devices using brain-computer interface technology?
A: This standard precisely defines "medical devices using brain-computer interface technology" - a medical device that can perform real-time decoding and deciphering of neural signals generated by the central nervous system, helping patients to achieve real-time two-way information interaction or closed-loop feedback with external assistive or diagnostic and treatment equipment, thereby achieving improvement, repair, or replacement of some physiological functions of the patient. The standard also classifies and defines different brain-computer interface technology paradigms, standardizes the terminology of signal morphologies such as electroencephalograms, and provides key terms and definitions for signal acquisition, processing, encoding and decoding, and clinical application.
Q: Why was this standard formulated? What is its significance?
A: With breakthroughs in key technologies such as brain science and neural decoding in China, medical devices using brain-computer interface technology are at a critical period of moving from laboratory research to industrialization and clinical transformation. Because brain-computer interface medical devices integrate multiple disciplines such as neuroscience, clinical medicine, and computer science, the same concept may have different expressions in different fields, and inconsistent terminology and non-standard concepts hinder industrial development. The release of the standard is precisely to solve this problem.
This standard is conducive to establishing a unified "language system" for the emerging field of brain-computer interfaces. First, unified terminology can open up dialogue channels between different disciplines, laying a solid foundation for cross-field scientific research collaboration, product development, and clinical promotion, and also providing a clear and consistent technical basis for medical device supervision, which helps to improve product development and registration application efficiency. Second, by establishing entry thresholds and technical benchmarks for brain-computer interface medical devices, it effectively guides the market to return from concept hype to value competition, optimizing the innovative industrial development ecosystem. Third, it lays the foundation for the establishment of a series of subsequent standards such as "performance testing methods" and "data quality of artificial intelligence algorithms," marking the comprehensive construction of a standard system covering the entire life cycle of brain-computer interface medical devices.
Q: What is the potential of medical devices using brain-computer interface technology?
A: Brain-computer interface medical devices are typical representatives of high-end medical devices and new quality productive forces, and will bring revolutionary changes to human health. Brain-computer interface medical devices can help patients restore physical functions, such as helping patients paralyzed due to spinal cord injury and other diseases to control robotic arms to drink water, eat, or operate computers to communicate with the outside world through "thinking." In the future, it is also expected to be used to treat neurological diseases such as epilepsy and Alzheimer's disease, with huge application potential.
Next, the National Medical Products Administration (国家药品监督管理局) will take a series of measures to promote innovation in brain-computer interface medical devices. In addition to releasing industry standards, it will also coordinate regulatory forces and proactively carry out regulatory science research on brain-computer interface medical devices to help accelerate the technological transformation and implementation of brain-computer interface medical devices.
Entering Outpatient Clinics, Assisting Rehabilitation Training
Reporter Shen Shaotie (申少铁) from this newspaper
In the brain-computer interface clinical and translational ward of Beijing Tiantan Hospital (北京天坛医院) affiliated with Capital Medical University, subject Lao Liao (老廖) is wearing a mesh cap equipped with a wireless brain-computer interface system and is slowly raising his left arm in front of a computer. The mesh cap can transmit his cerebral cortex electrical signals to external decoding equipment in real time, helping him with rehabilitation training.
Three years ago, Lao Liao (老廖) suffered a sudden cerebral hemorrhage, resulting in left hemiplegia. After more than a year of rehabilitation treatment, the recovery effect was not ideal. In May 2025, he underwent the "Bei'nao No. 1" (北脑一号) brain-computer interface surgery at Beijing Tiantan Hospital (北京天坛医院). The doctor precisely implanted a 4×4 cm semi-transparent film electrode under his skull. After a period of rehabilitation training, Lao Liao's (老廖) left-side body motor ability has been significantly improved. "In post-operative training, as long as the patient moves their limbs, the brain electrical signals will be collected by the system, and after being deciphered by algorithms, they will drive external equipment to assist them in completing limb rehabilitation training," said Cao Yong (曹勇), Executive Deputy Director of the Neurosurgery Center of Beijing Tiantan Hospital (北京天坛医院神经外科学中心). The entire training requires a field technician and two background engineers to operate together.
Cao Yong (曹勇) introduced that currently, two subjects with stroke have successfully undergone semi-invasive brain-computer interface surgery at Beijing Tiantan Hospital (北京天坛医院) and are undergoing rehabilitation training in the brain-computer interface clinical and translational ward after surgery. Through later rehabilitation training, their limb functions gradually recovered. "Semi-invasive and invasive brain-computer interface technologies are still in the clinical trial stage. For these two clinical trials, we hope to achieve basic self-care for the subjects," said Cao Yong (曹勇).
In May 2025, the brain-computer interface clinical and translational ward of Beijing Tiantan Hospital (北京天坛医院) was established. The hospital, together with multiple domestic scientific research units, is carrying out scientific research and clinical trials around brain-computer interfaces, and promoting the transformation of related scientific and technological achievements, realizing the advancement of brain-computer interface technology development from scientific research-driven to clinical-led.
Currently, Beijing Tiantan Hospital (北京天坛医院) has opened a brain-computer interface evaluation clinic, mainly to assess whether patients can accept semi-invasive brain-computer interface surgery. The clinic has already received more than 3,000 patient appointments. Cao Yong (曹勇) introduced that semi-invasive brain-computer interface technology is still in the clinical trial stage, and the hospital's screening of subjects is relatively strict. It is hoped that brain-computer interface technology can accelerate development and benefit more people in need.
Expanding Applications, "Touching" the World Again
Reporter Huang Xiaohui (黄晓慧) from this newspaper
Patients with high paraplegia can control electric wheelchairs to take a walk and command robot dogs to retrieve takeout just by thinking after having brain-computer interface devices implanted in their brains... This scene breaks through the imagination of traditional medicine.
The results come from the invasive brain-computer interface clinical trial conducted by the Zhao Zhengtuo (赵郑拓) and Li Xue (李雪) team of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (中国科学院) Brain Science and Intelligent Technology Excellence Innovation Center, jointly with Huashan Hospital (华山医院) affiliated with Fudan University (复旦大学) and related enterprises.
In June 2025, the team implanted a brain-computer interface into the brain of a patient with quadriplegia, enabling them to play chess and racing games on the computer by controlling the touchpad with their thoughts. The second invasive brain-computer interface clinical trial after half a year enabled patients with high paraplegia to complete the sorting of goods in unmanned containers through online video.
"Compared with the previous patient who mainly focused on the control of electronic devices, the difference this time lies in the transition from two-dimensional to three-dimensional, from virtual to physical, and from basic control to life integration," Zhao Zhengtuo (赵郑拓) introduced.
After implanting the invasive brain-computer interface device, patients achieved control of electronic devices such as computer cursors and tablets after 2-3 weeks of training. However, patients generally have higher expectations - to "touch" and integrate into the real world again, and expand their life boundaries.
The technology team expanded the application scenarios from electronic screens to physical peripherals, and intelligent wheelchairs and robot dogs became new control objects. This not only requires decoding intentions such as "left" and "right," but also requires continuous, stable, and low-latency precise control to cope with complex road conditions and interaction tasks in the real environment.
To achieve this goal, the team developed high-compression ratio and high-fidelity neural data compression technology for the "source" of information extraction, which can efficiently extract effective information even in a relatively noisy environment of neural signals.
Real-life scenarios inevitably have interference from sound, light, and electromagnetic waves, and patients' physiological and psychological states will also fluctuate. How to overcome these challenges? The team introduced neural manifold alignment technology to extract stable, low-dimensional features representing core intentions from high-dimensional, variable neural signals, ensuring the stability and reliability of the decoder input.
In addition, the "speed barrier" is also very important. The conduction delay of the human natural neural circuit is about 200 milliseconds. The team compressed the end-to-end delay of the brain-computer interface system from signal acquisition to command issuance to peripherals to within 100 milliseconds, making the patient's thoughts and actions almost synchronized. "It's like controlling the characters in the game, you don't have to deliberately think about which direction to move the joystick, you naturally go in the direction you want to go," the patient said.
Currently, the clinical trial of the third invasive brain-computer interface patient of the scientific research team has also been completed. "We are using universal interfaces and equipment, such as household robotic arms and robot dogs. We hope that like Bluetooth and mice, patients can control many peripheral devices by operating a unified box," Zhao Zhengtuo (赵郑拓) believes that the realization of the value of brain-computer interfaces cannot be separated from the development of external intelligent devices. It is precisely the maturity and popularization of intelligent peripherals such as electric wheelchairs, robot dogs, and humanoid robots that allow the "thought control" of brain-computer interfaces to have a place to be used and can truly improve the quality of life of patients.
Return to TopBy: 郑海荣
Opening Remarks
Thanks to science fiction works such as *The Wandering Earth* and *Mercury Rising*, spectacular large-scale scientific installations and grand cosmic scenes are vividly depicted, and wonderful imaginations and abstract scientific concepts are presented concretely.
Science fiction works are an intersection of scientific rationality and humanistic warmth, often using future stories to think about and answer the real-world impacts of technology. With the rapid development of modern technology and the continuous emergence of cutting-edge technologies, future-oriented development practices also provide science fiction creation with wings of imagination.
Starting today, this page opens the column "Talking 'Science' · Science in Science Fiction," combining scene descriptions in science fiction works to introduce scientific concepts, cutting-edge knowledge, and technological achievements in the real world.
From the virtual world of consciousness immersion in *The Matrix* to the mind connection across species in *Avatar*, the magnificent imagination of brain-computer interface technology in science fiction works always reflects humanity's desire to break through its own limitations. Today, this technology is rapidly moving out of the screen and changing the lives of patients. How does brain-computer interface technology help patients trapped by nerve damage to rebuild their connection with the world? Its essence lies in the precise imaging, intelligent decoding, and active regulation of brain signals, building a two-way high-speed information pathway between the "brain" and the "machine."
Realizing the interconnection between the "brain" and the "machine" is key to high-precision brain signal acquisition and decoding. Through methods such as electricity, magnetism, light, and ultrasound, brain activity is converted into analyzable data. Subsequently, powerful artificial intelligence algorithms play the role of "real-time translators," accurately identifying specific intentions such as "moving the arm" in the complex neural signals and converting them into execution instructions for external devices (such as robotic arms). At the same time, the decoding results can also be reversely encoded and written into the brain for intervening in neural activity, providing possibilities for treating diseases. According to the degree of contact with brain tissue, existing technical paths are mainly divided into three categories: invasive, semi-invasive, and non-invasive, each facing challenges in biocompatibility, signal accuracy, and safety.
Currently, the global development of brain-computer interface technology is showing a trend from reconstructing basic motor functions to repairing higher-order sensory and even cognitive abilities, and the process is becoming increasingly efficient and minimally invasive. In this global competition, China is developing rapidly, not only issuing implementation opinions at the national level to promote industrial development, but also continuously achieving key technological breakthroughs. In 2025, the prospective clinical trial of invasive brain-computer interface successfully carried out by the Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (中国科学院脑科学与智能技术卓越创新中心) and other units adopted ultra-flexible neural electrodes with small volume and strong flexibility, greatly reducing the potential damage to brain tissue. In addition, China's non-invasive brain-computer interface technology has been widely used in scenarios such as motor rehabilitation and astronaut training; semi-invasive systems such as "Brain-Computer Interface No. 1" ("北脑一号") have also successfully completed human implantation... China's brain-computer interface industry has begun to take shape, showing broad application prospects.
Brain-computer interface technology, especially the medical applications bearing heavy responsibilities, still needs to **爬坡过坎** (pá pō guò kǎn - "climb slopes and cross ridges," to overcome difficulties) to move towards large-scale industrialization. For invasive technology, biocompatibility, signal stability, and system reliability are the main challenges; for non-invasive devices, how to overcome the attenuation of signals by the scalp and skull and achieve stable, high-precision decoding in complex noise environments remains a problem. In addition, ethical and data privacy issues cannot be ignored, and there is an urgent need to establish a sound regulatory framework and industry standards.
Looking to the future, the potential of brain-computer interface technology is far more than "repairing" defects; it is moving towards the deep waters of "enhancing" human capabilities and "integrating" human-machine intelligence. We may be able to use brain-computer interface technology to improve memory efficiency, or achieve "brain-to-brain communication" without language intermediaries, or even directly convert the massive information flow of the digital world into perceptual experiences.
However, its ultimate vision lies in "human-machine symbiosis." When the human brain, with its low power consumption, strong adaptability, and creative intuition, is combined with the massive storage, precise calculation, and high-speed interconnection capabilities of computers, in the future, brain-computer interface technology will take us from the data intelligence era, which mainly processes virtual information, to the physical intelligence era, which can directly and accurately control physical entities, and will eventually lead to the biological intelligence era, in which we are deeply embedded and symbiotic with machines and the environment, redefining the boundaries of life.
(The author is Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (中国科学院院士) and Vice President of Nanjing University (南京大学), compiled by Yao Xueqing (姚雪青), reporter of this newspaper.)
Return to TopOur Hefei Dispatch (Reported by Xu Jing (徐靖)) Recently, the reporter learned from the Institute of Plasma Physics, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences (中国科学院合肥物质科学研究院等离子体物理研究所): the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST), known as the "artificial sun," has achieved important results in physical experiments. The research team has confirmed the existence of the Tokamak density free region. The relevant research results were published in the journal Science Advances.
The Tokamak device is a toroidal device that uses magnetic confinement to achieve controlled nuclear fusion, like a spiral "magnetic racetrack" that locks in high-temperature plasma to achieve nuclear fusion. In this work, the research team developed a self-organized plasma-wall interaction (PWSO) theoretical model, pointed out the key role of boundary radiation in density limit triggering, and analytically derived the radiation instability boundary; revealed the triggering mechanism of the density limit, and predicted the density free region outside the density limit. The experimental results are in high agreement with the PWSO theoretical prediction, and the existence of the Tokamak density free region is confirmed for the first time.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 邱超奕
"Engine power on, ignition, reach the rated take-off speed, take off!"
As the command was issued, a drone, 3.3 meters long with a wingspan of 2.1 meters, ejected red flames from its rocket booster. Soon, the drone reached an altitude of 6,000 meters, with a flight time of 30 minutes and a maximum flight speed of Mach 0.75... In Dingbian County (定边县), Shaanxi (陕西), the first single-engine flight test of a new type of aero-engine is underway.
"The flight test results show that the engine maintained stable operation, all parameters met the design requirements, and no parts showed any damage or failure, successfully verifying its reliability in high-altitude and complex environments," said Mi Dong (米栋), the project leader of the Hunan Power Machinery Research Institute (湖南动力机械研究所) of the Aero Engine Corporation of China (中国航空发动机集团有限公司).
Don't underestimate this small engine; it has extraordinary significance. It is China's first independently developed 3D-printed turbojet aero-engine, filling the gap in domestic engine whole-machine 3D printing engineering applications.
For many people, 3D printing technology is not new. What are the difficulties in 3D printing aero-engines?
Mi Dong (米栋) introduced that compared with printing ordinary products, manufacturing aero-engines with 3D printing technology increases the difficulty exponentially, requiring crossing the gap between "consumer-grade manufacturing" and "extreme engineering manufacturing."
From the perspective of materials, ordinary products mostly use easy-to-process resin plastics, while aero-engines need to use high-temperature alloys, which are hard to melt, have a large cooling shrinkage rate, and complex compositions, making them prone to deformation and cracking after printing. From the perspective of precision, ordinary products have relatively loose precision requirements, while the precision of key parts of aero-engines cannot have the slightest deviation. From the perspective of performance, ordinary products only need to withstand slight external forces, while aero-engine turbine blades need to bear the weight of a car on a finger-sized dimension and withstand tens of millions of alternating load impacts without producing tiny cracks, which places extremely high demands on performance.
With great difficulty and high requirements, why still explore 3D printing technology to manufacture aero-engines?
"Because this technology has many unique advantages," explained Wen Changlong (文长龙), a senior engineer at the Hunan Power Machinery Research Institute (湖南动力机械研究所) of the Aero Engine Corporation of China (中国航空发动机集团有限公司). For example, in the past, subtractive manufacturing had to cut and process the entire raw material, which would cause material waste, while 3D printing is additive manufacturing, and the material utilization rate is as high as 90% or more. At the same time, 3D printing technology can realize precise designs that traditional processing techniques cannot complete, such as labyrinthine cooling channels and integrated load-bearing structures, making the design more open and flexible. In addition, 3D printing technology can switch between different products without adjusting the production line, and small-batch, customized production can shorten the research and development cycle by more than 30%, and the implementation of innovative designs is constantly "accelerating."
"In the traditional subtractive manufacturing field, developed countries have technological accumulation and equipment advantages. By making good use of 3D printing, an emerging technology, China is expected to break through bottlenecks in key fields such as aero-engines with new technology research and development and a complete industrial chain," said Wen Changlong (文长龙).
The application of new technologies is not always smooth sailing, and there are many difficulties on the road to development.
"Although 3D printing has advantages such as integrated molding, it also loses the friction damping effect of traditional connecting parts, and the engine vibration increases significantly. To overcome this problem, the research team innovatively proposed the idea of 'deep integration of multidisciplinary topology optimization design technology and 3D printing manufacturing technology' and overcame a series of key technology bottlenecks," said Qian Zhengming (钱正明), deputy director of the Structural Strength Research Department of the Hunan Power Machinery Research Institute (湖南动力机械研究所) of the Aero Engine Corporation of China (中国航空发动机集团有限公司).
Today, the main performance of this new type of aero-engine has surpassed similar products—fuel consumption is reduced, thrust-to-weight ratio is increased, and the number of parts is reduced by 60%. This not only greatly reduces assembly risks but also simplifies operation and maintenance processes and reduces manufacturing and deployment costs. In the future, it can be adapted to medium-sized special drones for surveying, inspection, and other applications, with broad application prospects.
"We will continue to optimize 3D printing technology parameters, promote model testing and verification, strengthen cooperation with downstream enterprises in application scenarios, and accelerate the realization of large-scale and industrialized application of new aero-engines," said Qian Zhengming (钱正明).
Return to TopThis newspaper reports from Beijing (Beijing (北京)) (Reporter: Yu Sinan (喻思南)) What is the evolutionary trajectory of upland cotton? Why are cotton fiber qualities different? The scientific research team at the Institute of Cotton Research of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (中国农科院棉花研究所) has successfully drawn a roadmap of upland cotton evolution, providing a scientific basis for explaining these questions. Related results were recently published in the international academic journal *Nature Genetics*.
The researchers used 107 representative upland cotton germplasms to construct a graphical pan-genome map of upland cotton. The study showed that the chromosome translocation events existing in A03-A09 within upland cotton significantly affected its population differentiation and regional adaptability. Further analysis revealed that before the formation of cultivated upland cotton, wild upland cotton and semi-wild upland cotton experienced three stages of structural variation. Using these structural variations as markers, upland cotton can be subdivided into 32 haplotypes, but modern cultivated species are only derived from one of these haplotypes, resulting in a narrow genetic base.
Based on the genome map, the researchers also deciphered the key genes that determine important traits such as cotton insect resistance and fiber color. The related research provides a theoretical basis, precise targets, and design tools for efficient molecular design breeding, and is expected to open up new paths for the creation of excellent cotton germplasm.
Return to TopLayout Design: Shen Yiling (沈亦伶)
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 刘以晴 阿尔达克 李祉瑶
At the end of 2025, Jilin (吉林), Xinjiang (新疆), Inner Mongolia (内蒙古), and other regions, in accordance with the spirit of relevant documents from the General Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the General Office of the State Council, and combined with local characteristics, established "ice and snow holidays" for the first time. The "snow holidays," ranging from eight or nine days to five or six days, allowed students to temporarily leave their books and go outdoors. What considerations were behind the establishment of "snow holidays"? What impact do they have on students and parents? While bringing joy, "snow holidays" also sparked people's thinking about issues such as childcare difficulties, curriculum arrangements, and the development of the cultural and tourism industry. In response, our reporter conducted an investigation and interview.
——Editor
Unlocking New Scenarios for Ice and Snow Experiences
How to Make "Snow Holidays" Warmer?
In the cold winter season, the Miaoxiang Mountain Ski Resort (庙香山滑雪场) in Changchun (长春), Jilin (吉林) was warm and welcoming. Under the guidance of an instructor, elementary school student An'an (安安) took a deep breath and sped down the ski slope. Although she fell on the snow due to instability, she laughed, got up, brushed off the snow, and resumed practicing.
"No school, let's go to the snow!" An'an (安安) expressed her love for the holiday in straightforward words. Fang Jiayi (方佳仪), her mother, who was accompanying her, was filled with relief: "This is my child's first year trying skiing, and she's doing well."
From December 3rd to 7th, 2025, Jilin Province (吉林省) launched "ice and snow holidays" for students in the compulsory education stage, with no homework assigned during the holidays. Four departments, including the Department of Culture and Tourism and the Department of Education, jointly deployed the initiative. During the "snow holidays," 39 regulated ski resorts and ice rinks throughout the province, including Miaoxiang Mountain (庙香山), were open to students in the compulsory education stage for 3 hours each day, free of charge.
Fang Jiayi (方佳仪) carefully calculated the costs, noting that at Miaoxiang Mountain Ski Resort (庙香山滑雪场), not only was admission free, but children's skis, boots, and helmets were also provided free of charge, saving her three or four hundred yuan. "The government and the ski resort have been so thoughtful, so we'll take the child to experience it properly," said Fang Jiayi (方佳仪).
The "snow holiday" ended, but the ice and snow craze did not dissipate. Fang Jiayi (方佳仪) told reporters that An'an (安安) still asks from time to time when they will go skiing. "Now, the ski resort has become our family's new winter destination," said Fang Jiayi (方佳仪).
The same ice and snow craze is also surging in Xinjiang (新疆).
From December 1st to 5th, 2025, the Altay Prefecture (阿勒泰地区) and Urumqi City (乌鲁木齐市) in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (新疆维吾尔自治区) simultaneously added exclusive "snow holidays" for primary and secondary school students. Combined with the two weekends before and after, students could enjoy a 9-day holiday.
The General Mountain International Ski Resort (将军山国际滑雪度假区) in Altay (阿勒泰), Xinjiang (新疆) was crowded with people. Cai Yuguo (蔡宇果), a student at Urumqi No. 30 Primary School (乌鲁木齐市第三十小学), stepped on skis and moved with agility. "During this holiday, I learned more skiing skills and met friends from different schools," she said excitedly.
Like Cai Yuguo (蔡宇果), many students regard "snow holidays" as a good opportunity to unlock ice and snow skills and expand their social circles. Parent Haerken Bahedati (哈尔肯·巴合达提) is very supportive of this: "The child has complete time to systematically learn skiing, which can not only exercise the body and temper the will, but also master a skill that will benefit them for life."
Hulunbuir City (呼伦贝尔市) in Inner Mongolia (内蒙古) set its first "snow holiday" from December 24th to 28th, 2025, during which no classroom teaching or written homework was organized. Instead, there were 3 hours of free skiing experience at the ski resort every day, as well as ice and snow study tours and curling experiences covering the entire city.
"We can have 5 days off in a row!" Mai Ruijie (买瑞杰), a student at Erguna No. 3 Primary School (额尔古纳市第三小学) in Hulunbuir (呼伦贝尔), could not hide his excitement and looked forward to visiting the birch forest; classmate Ma Wanyao (马婉尧) planned to go with her family to see the national gate on the Sino-Russian border river.
However, some families also face practical difficulties. A parent from Urumqi (乌鲁木齐) admitted: "Who will take care of the children during the holidays is our biggest concern. Although the school organizes study tours, not all families can participate in the whole process." Some parents in Hulunbuir (呼伦贝尔) also expressed their hope that there would be more types of study tours and practical activities, which could not only allow children to learn knowledge but also solve the childcare problems for parents during work hours.
How to make the warmth of "snow holidays" cover more families and solve problems such as childcare is also a detail that needs to be continuously considered when promoting this measure in various places.
Exploring New Paths for Quality Education
How to Achieve a Double Improvement in Physical Fitness and Literacy?
"Snow holidays" are not only a release of time but also an expansion of educational space.
In the early morning, the temperature on the Chagan Lake (查干湖) ice surface dropped to minus 20 degrees Celsius, and the fishermen were orderly carrying out winter fishing operations such as selecting net points and threading rods and nets. At the same time, the Chagan Lake Fishing and Hunting Culture Museum (查干湖渔猎文化博物馆) was warm and welcoming. Facing the students of Jilin Oilfield Drilling Primary School (吉林油田钻井小学), the commentator demonstrated skills while telling the history: "Chagan Lake winter fishing is not just about catching fish, but also a cultural ritual passed down for thousands of years."
"The world of ice and snow is the most beautiful study classroom." Kong Lingyan (孔令研), principal of Jilin Oilfield Drilling Primary School (吉林油田钻井小学), said that taking the "snow holiday" as an opportunity, teachers and students broke the boundaries of the classroom and allowed children to perceive their hometown culture in an immersive way.
Yang Rui (杨锐), deputy director of the Basic Education Department of the Jilin Provincial Department of Education (吉林省教育厅基础教育处), introduced that schools in the compulsory education stage throughout the province do not assign written homework during the "snow holiday," encourage schools to carry out sports and cultural activities around the theme of ice and snow, organize ice and snow sports such as skating and skiing, and at the same time guide students to actively participate in various study and practice and outdoor experiences. According to statistics, during this "snow holiday," about 220,000 students in Jilin Province (吉林省) entered ice and snow venues, and about 180,000 students entered cultural and museum, science and technology, and art venues.
In Altay City (阿勒泰市), schools "moved" physical education classes to the ski resort. Yang Zhen (杨真), a teacher at Altay Central Primary School (阿勒泰市中心小学), introduced that the school integrates skiing skills with geography and physics knowledge, explains the principles of mechanics through skiing movements, carries out ecological observation based on the ski resort environment, and covers safety training and teamwork. "These abilities learned in practice are more deeply rooted in people's hearts than book preaching."
What considerations are behind the introduction of "snow holidays"?
"We hope to explore a new path of quality education of 'nature + culture + sports' through innovative models." An Zhihua (安志华), a supervisor of the Erguna City Education and Science and Technology Bureau (额尔古纳市教育和科技局), believes that replacing written homework with ice and snow practice can not only improve students' physical fitness and comprehensive literacy but also activate the winter cultural and tourism market through multi-departmental linkage.
Stimulating New Vitality in the Cultural and Tourism Industry
How to Make Service Capacity Adapt to Demand Growth?
The "snow holiday" has brought an ice and snow tourism boom, which is inseparable from the multi-pronged guarantee of various departments.
In order to reduce the burden on families, Wang Bo (王波), director of the Hulunbuir Municipal Bureau of Culture, Tourism, Radio, and Television (呼伦贝尔市文化旅游广电局), introduced that the local government has formulated preferential policies for students and accompanying parents: "Each child is allowed to be accompanied by two parents, and scenic spot tickets and snow tickets enjoy a 30% discount."
Altay City (阿勒泰市) has opened a free special bus line directly to the ski resort, the General Mountain International Ski Resort (将军山国际滑雪度假区) has launched a policy of free snow tickets for students and half-price ski equipment rental, and surrounding hotels have also launched "snow holiday special rooms" and provide free cleaning services for ski equipment for students staying in the hotel.
In response to the characteristics of many beginners, Miaoxiang Mountain Ski Resort (庙香山滑雪场) has added protective nets to the beginner slopes and added hundreds of sets of seats to facilitate parents to wait. The ski resort has also joined hands with the cultural and tourism department to introduce intangible cultural heritage projects such as Yuan's woodblock prints and Hu's grass weaving to create a new cultural and tourism scene integrating skiing, study tours, and experiences.
The optimization of service guarantees has directly driven the warming of the ice and snow economy.
Delida Nabi (德丽达·那比), director of the Altay Prefectural Bureau of Culture, Sports, Radio, Television, and Tourism (阿勒泰地区文化体育广播电视和旅游局), introduced that the "snow holiday" has formed a consumption linkage effect of "students driving families and families radiating society," which has promoted the transformation of ice and snow resource advantages into industrial advantages. During the "snow holiday," Altay City (阿勒泰市) received a total of 413,000 tourists, realizing a tourism income of 402 million yuan, a significant increase compared with the same period last year, driving the development of the entire industry chain such as accommodation, catering, and transportation.
During the "snow holiday," Jilin Province (吉林省) received 119% more domestic tourists than the same period last year, and the operating income of many ski resorts in the province doubled.
"In the future, we will also suggest extending the time of the 'snow holiday' and consider arranging the holiday time by each city and state within December 1st to 15th every year, so that the ice and snow service capacity can grow synchronously with the needs of the masses," said Sun Guangzhi (孙光芝), director of the Jilin Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism (吉林省文化和旅游厅).
By: 徐 颖 骆佳慧
Kicking Jianzi, a recreational fitness activity suitable for all ages, has been a popular choice for leisure and entertainment among Chinese people since ancient times. Jianzi, also known as shuttlecock, was anciently called "Yanzi" (燕子). The light and agile figure of the Jianzi kicker remains in the long river of thousands of years.
In the album of meticulous figure paintings by Lü Huancheng (吕焕成) of the Qing Dynasty, collected by the Hangzhou Museum (杭州博物馆), there is an opening called "Winter Kicking Jianzi Picture" (《冬日踢毽图》), which vividly captures the leisurely scene of ancient people kicking Jianzi. On the gold-flecked paper, meticulous brushwork and colors outline the interest of the cold winter: plum trees stand proudly, and the flowers are in full bloom. Two people under the tree are having a great time. One is wearing a wind cap, a pink robe with a fur collar, and red flat shoes, raising his foot to kick the Jianzi; the other is wearing a felt hat, a round-necked blue robe, and brown short boots, raising his hand to throw the Jianzi. Two exquisite Jianzi are flying in the air, and the black and white feathers are delicate and soft, showing an elegant charm.
Jianzi is divided into two parts: the Jian Tuo (毽铊) and the Jian Yu (毽羽). The Jian Tuo is mostly made of circular lead, tin, or iron sheets, and can also be made of copper coins. The Jian Yu is mostly made of feathers. Because it is simple, portable, and suitable for all ages, kicking Jianzi has been widely favored since its birth and has become a leisure method that transcends age and class.
During the Sui and Tang Dynasties, the trend of kicking Jianzi gradually rose, and it became even more prosperous in the Song Dynasty. With the popularization of Jianzi among the people, craftsmen and shops specializing in the production and sale of Jianzi emerged. At this time, the Jianzi already had the shape and name of modern Jianzi, and the patterns and kicking methods became more and more abundant. Kicking Jianzi in the Song Dynasty absorbed many skills of Cuju. According to historical records, Jianzi kickers could kick while running, such as rotating kicks, alternating kicks with toes and knees, as well as long shots, short shots, high shots, front kicks, and back hooks. The moves such as "Tu Du" (突肚) and "Fo Ding Zhu" (佛顶珠) broke the limitation of "kicking Jianzi with the feet," and the head, chest, and other parts could skillfully interact with the Jianzi, showing the player's skillful skills.
During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the trend of kicking Jianzi became more and more intense. During the Lantern Festival temple fairs, Jianzi masters from all walks of life gathered together to perform, exchange skills, and even teach on the spot, which was very lively. By the end of the Qing Dynasty, many newly established schools also included kicking Jianzi as a physical education project in the classroom, laying a social foundation for the inheritance and development of this ancient sport.
In the early 20th century, after modern European and American sports were introduced into China, kicking Jianzi was still a popular sport among Chinese teenagers. Large-scale Jianzi competitions have been held in Beijing (北京), Shanghai (上海), Guangdong (广东), Zhejiang (浙江), Hebei (河北), and other places.
Today, kicking Jianzi has evolved into a formal sports activity. Jianqiu Associations have been established in various places, and more and more people have joined in to enjoy the fun of this sport. Kicking Jianzi is less restricted by venues and can be carried out indoors and outdoors. Up to now, it has been integrated into the skills of martial arts and dance, and the movements have become more and more beautiful and agile, and the effect of strengthening the body has become more and more prominent. In 2011, Huajian (花毽) was included in the third batch of national intangible cultural heritage list.
(Author's unit: Hangzhou Museum (杭州博物馆), reporter Dou Hao (窦皓) of this newspaper interviewed and compiled)
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 王 亮
Recently, more than 50 fancy shuttlecock enthusiasts from Shanxi, Henan (河南), and other places gathered in Changzhi (长治), Shanxi (山西), to celebrate the New Year through shuttlecock kicking. The colorful feathered shuttlecocks flew up and down in the air, drawing graceful arcs. Several enthusiasts passed the shuttlecock to each other using their knees, insteps, ankles, and other parts of their bodies. The smooth and flowing performance won rounds of applause.
The fancy shuttlecock kicking sport, which has been passed down for thousands of years, is constantly焕发新的生机 (huàn fā xīn de shēng jī - "radiating new vitality," to regain or display renewed vigor and vitality). In parks everywhere, it is common to see groups of shuttlecock enthusiasts kicking colorful shuttlecocks; on professional competition fields, athletes compete fiercely... By combining with elements such as dance and music, this traditional sport of fancy shuttlecock kicking is showing an increasingly modern style.
Deng Dan (邓丹), national fancy shuttlecock champion and national-level social sports instructor, introduced that at the 15th National Games in 2025, the fancy shuttlecock kicking event will be included in the National Games mass sports program for the first time. The fancy shuttlecock kicking sport currently has written competition rules, and related events mainly include circle kicking competitions, counting competitions, and routine competitions.
Common circle kicking competitions include five-person circle kicking and four-person circle kicking. The referee scores based on the difficulty and completion of the team's movements.
In the counting competition, athletes need to complete basic movements such as "pán tī (盘踢, inside of the foot kick), kē tī (磕踢, knee kick)" within a limited time, and the total score is calculated based on the number of completions within the specified time.
Routine competitions include compulsory routine competitions, optional routine competitions, and creative competitions.
The compulsory routine competition is like "gymnastics in the shuttlecock kicking world," requiring all athletes to complete the same set of movements. The referee scores based on the height of the shuttlecock, the standard of the movements, and the quality of completion.
The optional routine competition allows for free play. Under the same degree of completion, the more movements and the higher the difficulty, the higher the score.
In the creative competition, some people kick the shuttlecock while jumping rope, and some combine it with twirling handkerchiefs and dancing ribbons, which tests both skills and artistic appeal.
The counting competition and the compulsory routine competition still use traditional feathered shuttlecocks, while the optional routine competition chooses self-made feather shuttlecocks that are suitable for themselves.
The attraction of fancy shuttlecock kicking lies not only in its ornamental value, but also in its ability to integrate fitness functions with artistic expression. Every movement such as "pán (盘, inside of the foot kick), kē (磕, knee kick), tiào (跳, jump kick), rào (绕, circling kick)" can accurately exercise specific muscle groups.
"Kē tī (磕踢, knee kick)" is similar to juggling a soccer ball, which can tighten the waist and abdomen; "tiào tī (跳踢, jump kick)" enhances explosive power and reaction speed. "Many elderly people delay joint degeneration and increase flexibility by kicking shuttlecocks, while young people use it to improve coordination and concentration," said Deng Dan (邓丹).
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 施 钰
The broth bubbles in the pot, take a handful of thin noodles, crush them, and boil them in the pot. Then, mix sweet potato flour into a paste and stir until thick. Add ingredients such as shrimp, oysters, vinegar-braised pork, large intestines, dried tofu, and fried dough sticks, which have soft, glutinous, or crispy textures. A bowl of oyster mee sua, a dish with flavors from both the mountains and the sea, is ready.
In October 2025, Quanzhou (泉州), Fujian (福建) was selected as a "City of Gastronomy" by the UNESCO Creative Cities Network. Walking into the Quanzhou Old Town (泉州古城) in Licheng District (鲤城区) of Quanzhou, the historical context passed down for thousands of years unfolds before your eyes amidst the crisscrossing streets and alleys, and the cuisine full of everyday life also blossoms on the taste buds.
The beauty of Quanzhou cuisine lies in its flavor of everyday life.
Making the best use of local materials, whether it's delicacies from the mountains or seafood, they all come from the gifts of this land. The sandworms in the coastal mudflats are boiled in water, cooled into a jelly, and seasoned with soy sauce, aged vinegar, mustard, chopped green onions, ginger shreds, etc., resulting in *Tusun dong* (土笋冻), a jelly with sweet and fresh meat; using fish such as Spanish mackerel and eel as the main ingredients, removing the bones and taking the meat, adding sweet potato flour and other auxiliary materials to knead into rolls and steam, resulting in soft and crisp fish rolls, suitable for steaming, soup, frying, and stir-frying; a piece of dough, spread with ingredients such as radish, celery, bean sprouts, pork belly, oysters, and shrimp, adding peanut crumbs, seaweed shreds, and white sugar to enhance the aroma and flavor, and then wrapped into a pillow shape, resulting in *runbing* (润饼), a dish with the taste of spring.
The cuisine carries the memories of Quanzhou people's nostalgia for different festivals. Eating white sugar bowl cakes during the New Year, *tangyuan* (汤圆) during the Lantern Festival, *runbing* (润饼) during Qingming Festival, *zongzi* (烧肉粽) during the Dragon Boat Festival, *tangguo* (糖粿) during Qixi Festival, mooncakes during the Mid-Autumn Festival, and red and white dumplings during the Winter Solstice... The sweet and savory flavors are the tastes of the seasons.
The beauty of Quanzhou cuisine also lies in its fusion of flavors.
Quanzhou was an international port of "ten thousand merchants amid the rising tides" during the Song (宋) and Yuan (元) dynasties, and is now a famous hometown of overseas Chinese. Historically, spices, ingredients, and eating habits from all over the world came to Quanzhou, colliding and merging with the local food culture, forming a unique flavor.
Ginger duck is a combination of old ginger and Muscovy duck, seasoned with cinnamon when stewing; after sweet potatoes were introduced to Quanzhou, they were made into sweet potato flour, which became a key ingredient in beef soup and oyster omelets; Southeast Asian curry cooking methods were introduced to Quanzhou and used to cook steak, with beef short ribs stewed until soft and with a unique aroma.
Today's Quanzhou cuisine is still developing in inheritance and exchange. Upholding tradition, Quanzhou has established 113 standards in terms of ingredients, techniques, and services to ensure the quality of catering and service; innovating, the Quanzhou catering industry continues to develop fusion dishes, release "seasonal menus," and create and enhance local catering culture brands such as "one dish per county." The Quanzhou Cuisine Museum (泉州美食博物馆), which is under construction, will become an immersive food experience center integrating exhibition and display, cultural research, professional exchange, famous banquet tasting, and sightseeing.
Tasting the cuisine is also tasting the historical depth and realistic vitality of a city. Quanzhou cuisine is attracting more and more tourists to taste and explore with its unique charm. Data shows that Quanzhou currently has 190 inheritors of food-related intangible cultural heritage projects, more than 100,000 various catering business entities, and nearly 500,000 employees in the catering and cooking industry.
Return to TopLayout Design: Zhang Danfeng (张丹峰)
Return to TopBy: 周飞亚
"Through decades of joint efforts, carbon-14 dating technology has been continuously improved, from gas methods and liquid methods to advanced accelerator mass spectrometry. The accuracy, stability, sample quantity, personnel quality, and popularization scale have been greatly improved. The number of important problems solved is countless, making us early practitioners marvel and be excited! What I didn't expect is the development and promotion of scientific and technological archaeology, from an insignificant auxiliary in the past to the application of many traditional technologies today. The ancient reality that archaeology can discover is increasing. I am very lucky to be able to see such a good era."
At the end of 2025, the academic seminar "Inheritance and Innovation: Sixty Years of Scientific and Technological Archaeology" was held at the Chinese Academy of History (中国历史研究院). Cai Lianzhen (蔡莲珍), a 96-year-old scholar, expressed such feelings.
As the pioneers of carbon-14 dating technology in China, Qiu Shihua (仇士华) and Cai Lianzhen (蔡莲珍), a scholarly couple, personally experienced and witnessed the 60-year leap of Chinese scientific and technological archaeology from "academic wasteland" to "academic frontier."
In 1955, Qiu Shihua (仇士华) and Cai Lianzhen (蔡莲珍) graduated from the Department of Physics of Fudan University (复旦大学). Due to their excellent grades, they were selected by the famous nuclear physicist Qian Sanqiang (钱三强) and both entered the Institute of Modern Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (中国科学院近代物理所) to engage in atomic energy research. At that time, on the other side of the ocean, a new scientific and technological archaeological method—carbon-14 dating technology—was being widely used, setting off a revolution in the history of world archaeology. Xia Nai (夏鼐), then deputy director of the Institute of Archaeology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (中国科学院考古研究所), was the first in China to pay attention to this technology and began to work hard to establish China's own carbon-14 dating laboratory. Thus, under the arrangement of the times and fate, the life trajectory of this young couple took a turn, and they embarked on another direction.
In 1959, Qiu Shihua (仇士华) and Cai Lianzhen (蔡莲珍) were transferred to the Institute of Archaeology (考古研究所) and began the difficult preparation for the laboratory. In that era, materials were extremely scarce, and it was impossible to communicate with the international academic community. Many instruments and components were not produced in China, so they designed and processed them themselves. Metal welding, glass blowing, cutting silicon steel sheets, winding transformers... the two "almost used a manual workshop-style operation" to complete the tasks that modern advanced technology could complete.
In November 1965, the first batch of carbon-14 dating data was released by the Institute of Archaeology (考古研究所), marking the successful establishment of the laboratory. Since then, China's prehistoric archaeological research has had a definite chronological sequence. This important moment also marked the beginning of the discipline of scientific and technological archaeology in China.
For many scientific and technological archaeologists, the second key node worth remembering in the past sixty years happened 30 years later—in 1995, the Center for Scientific and Technological Archaeology of the Institute of Archaeology of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (中国社会科学院考古研究所科技考古实验研究中心) was established. This is the first institution in China specializing in scientific and technological archaeological research.
In the 1980s and 1990s, the typology and stratigraphy of traditional archaeology could no longer solve many problems at archaeological sites. At the same time, with the reform and opening up, domestic scholars saw the gap between Chinese archaeology and Europe, America, Japan and other regions, and a strong demand for change arose. Therefore, the Institute of Archaeology (考古研究所) established the Center for Scientific and Technological Archaeology (科技考古实验研究中心) on the basis of the original technical office, laboratory, human bone group, and animal bone group research departments. Lü Peng (吕鹏), associate researcher at the Institute of Archaeology of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (中国社会科学院考古研究所), believes that this realized the leap from "scattered exploration" to "systematic integration" in scientific and technological archaeological research. Under the promotion of animal archaeologist Yuan Jing (袁靖), plant archaeologist Zhao Zhijun (赵志军) and other scholars who returned from studying abroad, scientific and technological archaeology, as a conscious disciplinary practice, entered a stage of vigorous development, and a large number of young people grew rapidly in this stage.
Animal archaeology studies the development and utilization of animal resources in ancient societies and the role of animals in ancient society and culture; plant archaeology explores the origin and early development of Chinese agriculture, and seeks the routes and mechanisms of crop transmission; human bone archaeology clarifies the evolutionary context of ancient humans in China, and restores the health status, livelihood models, and social division of labor of people in different historical stages; digital archaeology leads the latest spatial information technology innovation and reveals the features of prehistoric water management; environmental archaeology reconstructs the environmental background and human-land relationship models of ancient settlements; ancient DNA research deciphers racial and ethnic relationships; isotope analysis tracks the migration, exchange, and transmission routes of humans, animals, and even metal artifacts; metallurgical archaeology restores bronze smelting technology; jade research reveals the processing technology and cultural connotation of ancient jade and stone materials... The academic system of scientific and technological archaeology has been gradually established and improved, providing solid support for major national projects such as the Xia-Shang-Zhou Chronology Project and the Chinese Civilization Origin Exploration Project. In November 2024, the Key Laboratory of Scientific and Technological Archaeology and Cultural Heritage Protection of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (中国社会科学院科技考古与文化遗产保护重点实验室) was inaugurated, reorganizing 18 sub-laboratories and 5 joint laboratories to build a full-chain scientific research system covering multiple fields.
Years of deep accumulation and hard work have finally ushered in a garden full of flowers. Since the new era, major achievements in scientific and technological archaeology in China have continued to emerge, reaching the world's advanced level in many fields—
In the field of ancient DNA, the research of Fu Qiaomei (付巧妹)'s team at the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (中国科学院古脊椎动物与古人类研究所) on the origin, differentiation, and integration of modern humans in East Asia has filled many gaps, bringing new evidence and thinking to answering "who we are and where we come from"; the research of Ning Chao (宁超)'s team at the School of Archaeology and Museology of Peking University (北京大学考古文博学院) has confirmed the existence of prehistoric matriarchal societies for the first time in the world. Through isotope research, Hu Yaowu (胡耀武)'s team at the Institute of Scientific and Technological Archaeology of Fudan University (复旦大学科技考古研究院) restored "ancient China on the tip of the tongue," reflecting the changes in the dietary structure of ancient people and its impact on human evolution. A series of advances in environmental archaeology have revealed the changing processes of different regional environments in ancient China and their relationship with the origin of Chinese civilization. In the field of digital archaeology, three-dimensional reconstruction, digital modeling, scanning electron microscopy, X-rays, CT scans, etc. are widely used in archaeology, and the technology and methods have been leading the world...
Under the new technological wave of artificial intelligence, big data analysis, etc., the meaning of scientific and technological archaeology is also constantly being refreshed.
"The scientific and technological archaeology that we thought of in the past has now become less 'scientific and technological'. For example, animal archaeology and plant archaeology have become routine archaeological projects. This is a very good thing. I hope that in the future, all our scientific and technological archaeology can become routine," Zhao Zhijun (赵志军) pointed out, "In recent years, especially in the past two years, technology is undergoing a new 'leap forward'. The younger generation of scientific and technological archaeologists must seize the new trends."
Looking back, Wang Minghui (王明辉), a researcher at the Institute of Archaeology of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (中国社会科学院考古研究所), believes that although the discipline of scientific and technological archaeology has only gone through 60 years, technology has never been absent since the birth of modern archaeology in China. In the "Chronicle of Major Events in a Century of Scientific and Technological Archaeology" written by Yuan Jing (袁靖), the encounter between technology and archaeology is also traced back to the 1920s: "Beginning in 1920, Wang Jin (王琎), who was engaged in the history of chemistry, took the lead in conducting chemical analysis of ancient metals to explore ancient Chinese metallurgy technology. This is the active involvement of natural science researchers in archaeological research, which can be regarded as the starting point of the formation period of scientific and technological archaeology in China."
"Technology is inherently inherent in archaeology. However, because of the division of disciplines, archaeology was once classified as liberal arts, resulting in the separation of archaeology and technology. Now the integration of the two is what it should be." Wang Changsui (王昌燧), a professor at the School of Humanities of the University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (中国科学院大学人文学院), expects that a group of archaeologists who are proficient in both arts and sciences will emerge in the future, thereby completely breaking the pattern of liberal arts training archaeologists.
Sixty years of hard work, from overcoming difficulties at the beginning to steady and deep cultivation now, Chinese scientific and technological archaeology, which has gone through sixty years, is becoming younger. At present, China's archaeological undertaking has ushered in unprecedented development opportunities, and the integration of technology and archaeology has also entered a new stage of deeper and broader fields. With the efforts of all archaeologists, technology is becoming a stronger driving force for solving archaeological problems and expanding the boundaries of cognition.
Return to TopBy: 侯 儒 海 宁
The "Hezhe Yimakan" was successfully transferred from the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding to the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity at the 20th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of UNESCO held in New Delhi, India. At the same time, the "'Hezhe Yimakan' Protection Plan" was included in the "Register of Good Safeguarding Practices." In the course of intangible cultural heritage protection in China, it is the first time that the transfer of the list and the selection of excellent protection practice register have been successful at the same time.
This is the warmest news the Hezhe people have heard in the snowy winter. The artistic treasure that their ancestors have cherished for generations has ushered in a "historic" moment.
The Hezhe people have lived by the Sanjiang (Three Rivers) (黑龙江、松花江、乌苏里江) since ancient times, making a living by fishing and hunting. Yimakan is an oral storytelling art inherited by the Hezhe people from generation to generation. It is performed in a combination of prose and rhyme and is divided into "big singing" and "small singing." "Big singing," such as *Mange Momergen*, mainly tells heroic stories, like rivers rushing, magnificent, and can be sung continuously for several days; "small singing," such as *Fisherman's Song*, reflects fishing and hunting life, customs, and love stories, which are short and refined, known for lyricism, and fascinating. Therefore, Yimakan is also known as the "living encyclopedia of the Hezhe people."
Because the Hezhe people only have a language and no written script, Yimakan, which is mainly sung in the Hezhe language, was once on the verge of extinction. The rescue protection action of Yimakan started with the all-round recording of elderly singers. In the 1950s, a large-scale field collection and investigation led by the state was launched. The working group went deep into the Sanjiang Plain (三江平原) and collected valuable singing segments from folk artists such as Wu Liangui (吴连贵) and You Shulin (尤树林), and completely recorded long pieces such as *Mandou Momergen*, with a total recording tape time of more than 50 hours. By the 1980s, Heilongjiang Province (黑龙江省) established the "Yimakan Rescue Team," using portable reel-to-reel recorders to synchronously record artists' singing and filming black and white video data, successfully preserving the classics of Ge Desheng (葛德胜)'s singing, such as *Antu Momergen* and *Agedi Momergen*, which were on the verge of being lost. Since then, Heilongjiang Province (黑龙江省) has launched a "rescue" archive collection work, implementing 360-degree image collection of representative inheritors of national intangible cultural heritage, and establishing a digital archive. Today, the Intangible Cultural Heritage Digital Experience Hall in Tongjiang City (同江市), Heilongjiang Province (黑龙江省), houses the sound archives of 36 inheritors, including Wu Baochen (吴宝臣), covering 54 classic fragments.
More urgent than archiving is to let the sound "live" again in the present. Most of the inheritors' skills initially came from the sporadic teaching of elders by the kang (炕) (heated brick bed). The children's naive imitation often becomes the most touching part of family gatherings. This natural intergenerational transmission has allowed Yimakan to take root in blood ties. A song recording the changes in the life of the Hezhe people, *Usuli Mangmu*, has now become a "children's song" for children in the new era.
In the inheritance of Yimakan, the Hezhe language is very important, but there are only more than 5,000 Hezhe people, and those who are proficient in the Hezhe language are even rarer. Jiamusi City (佳木斯市), Tongjiang City (同江市), Fuyuan City (抚远市), Raohe County (饶河县) and other major Hezhe settlements are actively exploring "Hezhe language entering primary schools and middle schools." In the central schools of Jiejinkou Hezhe Ethnic Township (街津口赫哲族乡) and Bachacha Hezhe Ethnic Township (八岔赫哲族乡) in Tongjiang City (同江市), the Hezhe language is written into textbooks. In music class, teachers play classic "small singing" clips and explain the fishing and hunting stories behind them; in interest groups, inheritors personally demonstrate and carefully comment on the children's performances, and the campus has become a new soil for cultivating the inheritance of Yimakan.
In the Intangible Cultural Heritage Digital Experience Hall in Tongjiang City (同江市), you can hear high-level Yimakan singing demonstrations at any time with a light scan of your mobile phone. The QR code technology breaks the limitations of time and space that "oral teaching" must face face-to-face and one-on-one, and the efficiency of inheritance has undergone qualitative changes. Today, the singing of Yimakan lingers in the 7 inheritance centers, and more young people are learning to sing this ancient art with "pocket tutors."
Family, campus, community, and inheritance centers together constitute a three-dimensional inheritance network. The number of Yimakan inheritors has increased from the initial 5 to 121, and the number of online and offline students has exceeded 500. Yimakan has truly returned to life and realized living inheritance.
The increasing number of young people has also made Yimakan more youthful and vibrant. Many young people boldly try to innovate and develop Yimakan. Hu Yi (胡艺), a post-90s provincial representative inheritor, uses electronic music to remix the ancient tunes of Yimakan, making the rhythm of the traditional mouth harp fashionable. The innovation of Yimakan must adhere to three principles: taking the Hezhe language as the carrier, the singing form combining prose and rhyme, and the spiritual core of fishing and hunting civilization. All protection work should be based on the complete and authentic recording of the skills of representative inheritors and the respect for the cultural subject status, to ensure that its cultural authenticity and spiritual essence are not eliminated. In order to cater to various needs, it is not worthwhile to incorporate so-called "contemporary elements" and destroy the original ecology.
Yimakan, like the water of the Sanjiang (Three Rivers), not only precipitates the wisdom crystallization of ancient civilization, but also surges with the era vitality of innovative development. As Ge Desheng (葛德胜), an old artist of Yimakan singing, said: "As long as the water of the Songhua River (松花江) is still flowing, the song of Yimakan will continue to be sung."
(The authors' units are Heilongjiang Provincial Academy of Social Sciences (黑龙江省社科院) and China Ethnic News (中国民族报社) respectively)
Return to TopBy: 虞金星
Time is intangible and difficult to capture. But a scene at the Guangdong Olympic Sports Centre (广东奥林匹克体育中心) on the night of November 9, 2025, may allow many people to experience the profound sense of time more intuitively. At the opening ceremony of the 15th National Games, the prologue of the cultural and sports performance was unveiled by the famous Lingnan music "Colorful Clouds Chasing the Moon." The first notes of the piece were played by a set of 8 bronze Gou Diao. And the musicians holding the hammers were actually 3 intelligent humanoid robots.
The prototypes of this set of bronze Gou Diao were unearthed from the Tomb of the King of Nanyue (南越文王墓) in Guangzhou (广州), and are the only complete set of Han Dynasty Gou Diao found in China. According to the inscription on it, "Made by the Yuefu Workshop in the ninth year of Emperor Wen," the specific year was 129 BC, more than 2100 years ago. Imagine that in those days, musicians may have played such Gou Diao, harmonizing with Bianzhong and Bianqing in grand ceremonies. "Colorful Clouds Chasing the Moon" is much "younger" than the bronze Gou Diao, but it is also a classic famous song with a lot of cultural origins. In the 1930s, it was adapted into an orchestral instrumental ensemble and is regarded as a milestone work in the process of the transformation of Chinese national music to modernity. Intelligent humanoid robots are even "younger." Many people in the industry believe that 2025 is the first year of mass production of humanoid robots in China. This industry, which is intensive in technological innovation achievements, is accelerating its evolution, and it can even be said that it is entering a critical stage of development, representing many people's imagination and expectations for the future.
This scene at the opening ceremony of the National Games demonstrates a special romance exuding a sense of history and science fiction, a romance that Chinese people can understand more deeply: in our imagination of the future, there is also a place for the past, with a review and renewal of history and culture.
The confidence to pass through the veil of time comes from the accumulation of development. This National Games is the first to be jointly hosted by Guangdong (广东), Hong Kong (香港), and Macau (澳门), with 19 cities joining hands to host the games. The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (粤港澳大湾区) is one of the most open and economically vibrant regions in China. Intelligent robots are just a symbolic microcosm of this innovative ecosystem supercluster. The "Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area" (《粤港澳大湾区发展规划纲要》) published in 2019 proposed the goal of "building an international science and technology innovation center." From 2020 to 2024, the "Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou" innovation cluster ranked second in the world in the World Intellectual Property Organization's "Global Innovation Index" for several consecutive years, and in 2025, it jumped to first place in the world.
Turning back to explore the common internal cultural texture of the Greater Bay Area: lion dance, Yingge dance, dragon boat racing, Cantonese opera, Chaozhou opera, twenty-four festive drums... Common cultural memories make the lifestyle of many people "drinking Xiguan morning tea in the morning and enjoying the lights of Victoria Harbour at night" under the new transportation conditions natural.
Living and working in peace and contentment, with shared empathy. This may be the source of the lasting driving force for innovation here. Chen Chongzheng (陈崇正), a writer from Chaoshan (潮汕), mentioned in an article about his experience - on the bus from Chaozhou (潮州) to Guangzhou, the radio was discussing the moon landing plan, saying that in a few years, Chinese people would land on the moon, and domestic robots would also be active on the moon. He wrote: "I can imagine a robot standing on the moon looking at the earth, and I hope that at that time, it can also carry nostalgia."
This imagination, in the sound of the bronze Gou Diao, is more romantic and has never been so close.
By: 胡颖芳
After nearly 3 years of archaeological excavation, the Baojia Site (鲍家遗址) in Liyang (溧阳), Jiangsu (江苏) has begun to reveal its splendor. This prehistoric site, with a current area of 20,000 to 30,000 square meters, dates back 8100-7500 years, making it the earliest prehistoric site north of the Qiantang River (钱塘江) in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River (长江). It fills a key gap in the Neolithic cultural sequence of the Taihu Lake (太湖) area, and its unique cultural features are described by experts as "the earliest Jiangnan (江南)."
What did the Jiangnan (江南) water towns look like 8,000 years ago? The crisscrossing waterways are the soul of Jiangnan (江南) water towns from ancient times to the present. The archaeological excavation area is located at the easternmost end of the settlement, where a high terrace is recessed to form a low-lying, trumpet-shaped estuary, which gradually widens eastward and connects to a large area of water. At that time, people lived on the earthen platform near the water, digging post holes and building houses. More than 200 post holes of varying sizes still remain on the earthen platform, and domestic waste was dumped on the low-lying slopes near the estuary. Over the years, the low-lying slopes were submerged by water, and the long-term water-saturated environment allowed a large number of pottery shards and organic matter to be preserved, allowing us to get a glimpse of the production and life of our ancestors.
After careful layer-by-layer cleaning, artificial remains including pottery, stone tools, bone tools, wooden tools, and jade artifacts, as well as a large number of animal and plant remains, were unearthed from the 2.5-meter-thick deposit. The pottery comes in a variety of shapes, including pots, jars, basins, bowls, plates, kettles, and dou. The site has preserved rare wooden building components with mortise and tenon structures, mat-like artifacts woven from bamboo and reed plants, and ropes woven from hemp or grass. Flotation revealed carbonized rice and a large number of aquatic plants such as water caltrop and gorgon fruit, indicating that rice was already in the process of domestication, but agriculture was not the main means of livelihood, and gathering and hunting were still the main sources of food for the ancestors.
The site also revealed a large number of animal remains, including mammals such as deer, dogs, pigs, Bubalus, raccoon dogs, Eurasian otters, small Indian civets, and rabbits, as well as birds such as ducks and ring-necked pheasants; fish such as carp, black carp, and grass carp; reptiles such as turtles and Yangtze alligators; and a large number of aquatic mollusks such as mussels, clams, snails, and shellfish. The tradition of large-scale accumulation of snail shells has since continued in the Taihu Lake (太湖) area.
Wang Wei (王巍), a member of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (中国社会科学院), said that the age of the Baojia Site (鲍家遗址) is at a key node in the origin of Chinese civilization. The Baojia Site (鲍家遗址) is inextricably linked to the Shangshan Site (上山遗址) and the Kuahuqiao Site (跨湖桥遗址) in Zhejiang (浙江), but it has an independent cultural appearance, providing key empirical evidence for the study of the origin of Yangtze civilization. At the expert guidance meeting, experts from universities and research institutions such as the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (中国社会科学院), Nanjing University (南京大学), Zhejiang University (浙江大学), and Renmin University of China (中国人民大学) believed that the Baojia Site (鲍家遗址) is the earliest prehistoric site in the Taihu Lake (太湖) area and has distinct cultural characteristics. There are certain similarities and significant differences in cultural appearance and cultural connotation between the site and contemporary sites in the surrounding areas. It fills a key gap in the Neolithic cultural sequence of the region outside the existing archaeological cultural system framework of "Majabang-Songze-Liangzhu (马家浜—崧泽—良渚)".
8,000 years ago, the vast Taihu Lake (太湖) had not yet formed. The ancient Zhongjiang River (中江) water system, which originated in Danyang Daze (丹阳大泽), flowed eastward through the western plain of Taihu Lake (太湖) and then into Taihu Lake (太湖). The western plain of Taihu Lake (太湖) is located at the northern foot of the Yiliu Mountains (宜溧山地), and the higher terrain divides the flowing water into crisscrossing waterways. The ancient settlements represented by the Baojia Site (鲍家遗址) chose to live on high ground and used the water sources gathered in the low-lying areas of river valleys and streams for production and life, slowly unfolding a unique picture of ancient Jiangnan (江南) water towns.
Return to TopBy: 黄嘉莉
Presented jointly by the Guangzhou Maritime Museum (广州海事博物馆) and the Hasba Silk Road Music Culture and Art Museum (哈斯巴更丝绸之路音乐文化艺术馆), the "Fragrant Music Heard Everywhere: An Exhibition of Diverse Musical Cultures" focuses on the diverse music and cultural exchanges along the Silk Road, attracting many visitors.
An exhibition with music as its theme is a niche area. The instrument collections and displays of professional institutions often serve teaching purposes, and systematic exhibitions for the general public are rare. This exhibition is a brand-new curatorial attempt, systematically presenting the uniqueness and diversity of various ethnic musical cultures through the selection of representative musical types from the Silk Road.
The Silk Road has connected the East and West for thousands of years. The exchange of merchants and the migration of people have driven cultural collision and integration, providing continuous impetus for the prosperity of civilization. In this process, the emotional resonance brought by music has never been absent. To avoid being abstract, the curatorial team disassembled the exhibition's narrative into two lines: the explicit line is the diverse musical forms along the Silk Road; the implicit line is the exchange and mutual learning between regions.
Musical culture involves both the construction of instruments and the playing techniques and emotional expression. Therefore, the exhibition needs to analyze the material form of the instruments and present the aesthetic and spiritual levels of melody, technique, and emotion. To help the audience understand the transmission and evolution of instruments between regions, the exhibition uses line drawings in many places to sort out the genealogy, more clearly showing the development context of typical instruments.
The oud, the "king of instruments" originating in West Asia, is a short-necked lute, that is, the head is curved, and the neck is perpendicular to the sound box. After being introduced to China via Central Asia, it evolved into the four-stringed short-necked pipa during the Northern and Southern Dynasties period and has been passed down to this day. The Persian pronunciation of the oud is "Barbat." From the name (Barbat-Pipa) to the shape (short neck), the "kinship" between the oud and the pipa can be confirmed. However, the plucking methods of the two are different. From plectrum playing to finger plucking that is more competent for complex scores, from being suitable for horizontal playing on horseback to being suitable for vertical playing in the hall, it shows that people at that time did not fully accept the instrument's borrowing, but carried out improvements and localization innovations.
This kind of cross-regional kinship is not an isolated case. The Tanbur in the Xinjiang (新疆) region of China is related to the Dombra in Central Asia, the Mongolian Morin Khuur is related to the Rubab in Persia, and the African bow harp is related to the Konghou in China. Many instruments are related. By tracing the origins and presenting the similarities and differences between these instruments, we break the inherent impression of "one-way transmission" of music, reflecting that cultural exchange is a process of "absorption-recreation." Instruments and musical forms originated in West Asia, were transformed by various ethnic groups in Central Asia and South Asia (such as "Kang Guo Yue" (康国乐) and "Tian Zhu Yue" (天竺乐)), and were inclusively absorbed by the Tang Dynasty (大唐), forming the "Ten Parts of Yanyue" (燕乐“十部伎”), which is the best footnote to the diversity and richness of Silk Road music due to exchange.
From the excitement of drumbeats to the contention of stringed songs, the functions, styles, and emotions of music are ever-changing. The exhibition's background music takes into account both classic and popular music, including both ancient famous songs such as "Autumn Moon over the Calm Lake" (平湖秋月) and modern rock of Congolese rumba. The audience can follow the rhythm of the notes to appreciate the musical styles of different regions. The selection of songs is not random. One is to take multi-faceted pleasantness as the principle to serve aesthetic improvement, and the other is to closely follow the exhibition narrative for interpretation. For example, the "Oriental Rhythm" unit introduces that the pentatonic scale is the basis of traditional Chinese music and is closely related to the concept of Yin-Yang and the Five Elements. The exhibition sets up an interactive device to allow the audience to listen to five melodies corresponding to the Five Elements theory, transforming the obscure knowledge interpretation into exploratory learning. The audience uses listening to music as a bridge to understand the relationship between the traditional culture of "Five Elements-Five Sounds" and at the same time can obtain a pleasant physical and mental experience.
Inviting the audience to embark on a Silk Road music journey across mountains and seas is not easy, and it is necessary to find a balance between knowledge interpretation and interactive experience. This exhibition abandons professional information overload and interprets the cultural symbols carried by music through panoramic and interactive presentation, using "exchange" as the key to open a musical music box: the audience feels the emotional resonance of different civilizations in quiet listening and slow tasting, and understands the essence of music being enriched by mutual learning.
From African drum beats to East Asian string songs, from Persian poetry and music to Lingnan Cantonese rhymes, every melody is telling: 包容差异 (bāo róng chā yì - "tolerate differences," to be inclusive and accepting of different perspectives), only then can we hear a broader harmony of civilizations.
(Author's unit: Guangzhou Maritime Museum (广州海事博物馆))
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