Summary: Zhejiang Province is accelerating its space-based computing capabilities, exemplified by the "San-Ti Computing Constellation" project led by Wang Jian of the Zhijiang Laboratory, which aims to deploy over 50 computing satellites by 2026. This initiative aligns with Xi Jinping's call for Zhejiang to lead in technological innovation and involves integrating resources from various sectors, including universities and private enterprises, to advance AI applications in space. Zhejiang is also focusing on data resource marketization and building a new computing power system to become a hub for AI innovation. Zhejiang aims to deepen the integration of technological and industrial innovation, striving to take the lead in shaping new advantages for development through technological innovation. The U.S. is not mentioned in this article.
Summary: Since Hainan's island-wide customs operation began a month ago, duty-free shopping has surged, with 745,000 shoppers spending 4.86 billion yuan, marking increases of 30.2% and 46.8% respectively. Streamlined customs procedures have attracted foreign visitors, with inbound foreign tourists increasing by 46% and visa-free entries up by 64%. Companies are also drawn to Hainan due to relaxed policies, such as those related to bonded maintenance, which can reduce costs and improve technology. The first seventh freedom route began operating between Hainan and Prague. Hainan's growth demonstrates China's commitment to expanding opening up.
Summary: Several global science and technology rankings highlight China's growing innovation prowess, with Chinese cities dominating the Nature Index's top ten research cities. China's R&D spending has increased significantly, leading to major breakthroughs in fields like quantum technology. China is also promoting international collaboration, as seen in the Jiangmen Neutrino Experiment, which involves researchers from multiple countries. Chinese companies are expanding globally, with new technologies being adopted in countries like Nigeria and Sri Lanka. Foreign companies like BMW are increasing R&D investments in China, tailoring products to the local market, reflecting a shift from "Made in China" to "Researched in China".
Summary: The article highlights China's contributions to global development, particularly in poverty reduction and green transformation, suggesting "today's China, tomorrow's world." It emphasizes China's success in lifting millions out of poverty and its innovative approach to balancing development with environmental protection, offering inspiration and practical solutions for other developing nations. The piece argues that China's model provides an alternative to Western-centric modernization, fostering South-South cooperation and offering solutions without the historical model of "develop first, clean up later." It mentions China's "Belt and Road" initiative as an example of China sharing its development with other developing countries. The article also highlights China's role in providing clean technology to other developing countries as another way it is helping the world.
Summary: According to an official from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, China will increase policy support to strengthen agriculture, benefit farmers, and enrich rural areas during the "15th Five-Year Plan." The focus will be on addressing shortcomings in rural infrastructure and public services, especially in less developed areas. Efforts will concentrate on ensuring financial investment in agriculture and focusing on projects that directly benefit farmers. The official noted the importance of securing China's food supply and mentioned the continuation of agricultural subsidy policies. These policies will prioritize support for major grain-producing areas and counties.
Summary: This article depicts villagers in Hongshan Town, Yingshan County, Huanggang City, Hubei Province, harvesting fish for market. The image accompanying the text shows the villagers collecting their nets at Wuyun Mountain Village. The article provides a snapshot of rural economic activity in the region. There is no mention of Chinese politics, U.S.-China relations, or the statements/actions of officials.
Summary: Several localities are refining policies to issue consumption subsidies for elderly care services to moderately or severely disabled senior citizens, aiming to reduce family care burdens and improve the supply and demand of elderly care services. The policies include increasing basic pension for urban and rural residents, establishing community care centers, and exploring smart elderly care services. The recently issued "Measures on Cultivating Elderly Care Service Operators and Promoting the Silver Economy" aims to further meet the diverse needs of the elderly. During the "15th Five-Year Plan" period, China aims to strengthen its elderly care security and improve services to ensure "elderly care for all." The article does not mention the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: This article, appearing in the theory section, discusses the importance of combining investment in both physical capital and human capital. It highlights the narrative of progressing "from 0 to 1 and from 1 to 100," suggesting a focus on innovation and scaling up. The article also references a breakthrough in "carbon fiber" technology, indicating a specific area of technological advancement being prioritized. No officials are mentioned, nor is there any discussion of the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: In 2025, China's total electricity consumption exceeded 10 trillion kWh, a global first, and equivalent to more than twice the annual electricity consumption of the United States. Yang Kun from the China Electricity Council noted that this milestone reflects China's strength in manufacturing and improved energy security, driven by high-value, technology-intensive industries and the development of new energy. Electrification is also expanding into diversified applications such as agriculture and transportation. The country's power supply system, including renewable energy and ultra-high voltage transmission lines, continues to expand, facilitating electricity transfer from west to east. The unified national electricity market plays an important role in ensuring stable supply.
Summary: China has officially launched "Digital Yuan 2.0" on January 1st, upgrading the digital currency from digital cash to digital deposit money, allowing interest to accrue in digital wallets for wallets with completed real-name authentication. The upgrade aims to better support the digital economy, integrate with the banking system, and promote wider adoption while enhancing security and interoperability. This upgrade will allow commercial banks to manage digital RMB wallet balances on their own, and the digital RMB will be included in the deposit reserve system. The digital yuan is now legally entitled to the same deposit insurance protection as ordinary bank deposits. As of the end of December 2025, 230 million personal digital wallets had been opened.
Summary: The Tianjin Metro Line Z4 (Phase I, North Section) officially opened on January 18th, connecting the north and south areas of Binhai New Area with the core area. This key line is expected to improve Binhai New Area's modern rail transit system and promote regional integration. The article does not discuss US-China relations.
Summary: China's Ministry of Finance and State Taxation Administration jointly announced the extension of tax benefits for public rental housing (公租房) construction and operation until December 31, 2027. The tax breaks cover seven areas, including exemptions from urban land use tax, stamp duty, deed tax, land appreciation tax, and value-added tax under specific conditions. Donations towards public rental housing will also receive tax deductions. The announcement aims to continually support public rental housing development. There is no mention of U.S. or U.S.-China relations in the article.
Summary: The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the Ministry of Finance, and the National Development and Reform Commission jointly issued a plan to establish national agricultural modernization demonstration zones, aiming to create models for achieving agricultural modernization with Chinese characteristics. The plan seeks to establish up to 500 demonstration zones by 2030, focusing on six types of agricultural development including grain, animal husbandry, and smart agriculture. The initiative aims to accelerate new agricultural productive forces and green transition, promoting differentiated development models at the county level. The plan outlines specific tasks and standards for each type of demonstration zone, encouraging local innovation and tailored approaches. No U.S. or U.S.-China relations mentioned.
Summary: China has become one of the first parties to the newly enacted UN "Marine Biodiversity Agreement," demonstrating its commitment to global governance and sustainable ocean development. Officials and experts believe the agreement, focused on areas beyond national jurisdiction, injects new momentum into global ocean governance and promotes a more equitable international maritime order. Chen Danhong, Director-General of the Department of International Cooperation of the Ministry of Natural Resources, noted the agreement sets higher standards for deep-sea activities. Analysts also emphasized China's role in bridging divides between developed and developing countries during negotiations and its contribution to global marine governance. The agreement and China's participation was framed as a counter to unilateralism and a way to address global challenges through multilateralism.
Summary: The article discusses China's development model and its potential to inspire other developing nations, focusing on poverty alleviation and green transition as key areas. It argues that China's success in these fields offers valuable lessons and practical solutions for other countries facing similar challenges. The article emphasizes China's commitment to sharing its development experience and providing assistance to other nations. It mentions that China's approach provides an alternative to Western models of modernization. The piece concludes by highlighting China's role as a source of stability and hope in a world facing numerous uncertainties.
Summary: Syrian professor of international relations at Damascus University, Shaher, stated that China's development achievements are remarkable, attributing them to strong leadership, diligent people, and long-term planning. He highlighted China's emphasis on high-quality development and the development of new quality productive forces, praising China's independent development path. Shaher emphasized that China's approach in international affairs promotes equality and opposes hegemony, offering opportunities for mutual benefit and win-win outcomes. He expressed hope for deepened cooperation between Syria and China.
Summary: Pakistani National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq will lead a delegation to China from January 19-21 at the invitation of National People's Congress Standing Committee Chairman Zhao Leji. The visit indicates continued high-level engagement between China and Pakistan.
Summary: Ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations football tournament in Morocco, 723 Yutong buses from China were delivered to Moroccan clients. These buses were deployed in cities hosting the tournament, such as Tangier and Marrakesh, to improve public transportation for the event. The buses aimed to provide efficient and comfortable travel for the public during the games.
Summary: Senegal's *Le Soleil* newspaper highlighted the designation of 2026 as the "China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges," emphasizing its potential to deepen cooperation beyond economic dimensions. The initiative aims to foster youth exchange, talent development, cultural understanding, and social innovation to build a new generation of collaborative leaders. This focus on human capital and cultural exchange is intended to make China-Africa cooperation more sustainable and resilient in the face of global challenges. The article suggests that by 2026, China-Africa relations will demonstrate strategic maturity, balancing economic growth with capacity building. The program is not reported to have any connection to the United States.
Summary: This article discusses efforts to improve public services in rural China, focusing on three specific examples. First, "elderly caravans" in Tongliao, Inner Mongolia, provide mobile healthcare and social services to elderly residents in remote areas. Second, health technology courtyards in Guangdong province bring medical expertise and resources to villages, improving healthcare access and monitoring. Third, county-level art troupes in Tibet's Qusong county deliver cultural performances to villages and support local performance groups, enriching cultural life. The article does not mention the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: Beijing Municipal People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) members helped residents of the Sanlihe Wenquan community in Yanqing District gain access to clean municipal water, resolving a long-standing issue of contaminated well water. The CPPCC's "Monthly Topic" democratic supervision program, focusing on "Rural Water Supply Security," facilitated discussions between residents, local officials, and water companies to find a solution. The Yanqing District government and Jinyang Water Company provided funds to connect the community to the municipal water supply, maintaining the original water price for residents. The CPPCC members conducted investigations and coordinated with various departments to ensure the project's completion. The "Monthly Topic" program involved 510 members in 2025 and will organize members around 11 topics in 2026.
Summary: Construction on the Shaoyang-Yongzhou high-speed railway (Shaoyong HSR), a key component of China's "eight vertical and eight horizontal" high-speed rail network, has reached a critical phase with the upper structure construction of the special bridge spanning the Shanghai-Kunming Expressway. The Shaoyong HSR is approximately 96 kilometers long and designed for speeds of 350 km/h. The bridge is a key control project for the railway. The article does not mention any officials or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: Renowned Go master and former CPPCC National Committee member Nie Weiping passed away in Beijing on January 14, 2026, at the age of 74. Central leaders expressed condolences to his family after his death. Nie, a member of both the China Democratic League and the CCP, significantly contributed to the development of Go in China, including leading the national team and achieving victories in the China-Japan Go tournaments. The obituary details his career achievements and accolades, including his role as coach and his contributions to promoting the sport. The obituary does not appear to mention any impact related to the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: The article reports on Liangzhou District in Gansu Province converting unused school buildings into elderly care facilities as part of a broader provincial effort to revitalize dormant assets. Officials from the local Finance, Education, and Civil Affairs Bureaus collaborated to transfer and renovate the abandoned Daliu Elementary School into a comprehensive elderly care center. The district leverages a national asset-sharing platform to identify suitable idle properties, streamlining the transfer and approval processes. To ensure effective utilization, the Liangzhou District Finance Bureau assesses the occupancy rates and usage efficiency of these revitalized assets, linking performance to budgetary allocations for the receiving organizations. There is no discussion of the United States or U.S.-China relations in the article.
Summary: <b style="color:red">[Summary Error - Empty Input]</b>
Summary: This article discusses the ongoing efforts to reduce bureaucratic burdens on local officials in China, emphasizing that this is crucial for maintaining the Party's connection to the people and promoting effective governance. It highlights the need to address new manifestations of formalism and bureaucracy, using the example of a city in Hunan Province that combatted loopholes in its "zero-reception" policy for official meals. The piece advocates for a combination of immediate solutions and long-term systemic changes, citing Ningxia's efforts to regulate the reassignment of teachers as an example of a sustainable solution. It says that empowering local governments with resources and authority, such as the "whistle-blowing" mechanism in Tianjin, is key to modernizing grassroots governance and achieving broader national goals. The article does not mention the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: The article discusses "barrier-free" development as a philosophy encompassing dignity, innovation, and economic activation. It highlights examples like tactile books and olfactory installations at the Forbidden City for the visually impaired, emphasizing the importance of accessibility for the elderly, those with chronic illnesses, and people with temporary disabilities. Local governments are implementing initiatives, such as accessible public restrooms and 15-minute accessible living circles, reflecting a commitment to shared development outcomes. The article draws a parallel between barrier-free social infrastructure and the construction of a unified national market to argue both promote high-quality development by removing obstacles. It argues that continued progress in this area is essential for achieving a truly civilized society.
Summary: China's National Health Commission reports the national health literacy rate reached 33.69% in 2025, a 1.82% increase from 2024. Urban areas saw a 36.68% literacy rate, while rural areas reached 30.58%, both increasing from the previous year. Health literacy improved across eastern, central, and western regions, narrowing the gap between the west and the more developed east and central regions. The article does not mention the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: A recent trend among young Chinese people involves "skill-based socializing," where individuals exchange skills and information through social media. This emerging form of networking allows participants to learn foreign languages, musical instruments, programming, or professional knowledge. This trend is driven by a desire to acquire new skills, expand professional knowledge, and combat loneliness. Participants should be aware that sincerity is necessary in this form of social interaction.
Summary: The article discusses the flourishing micro-drama industry in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, and how local governments are supporting its growth through policy, funding, and infrastructure development. Hangzhou leverages its strengths in culture, technology, and complete industry chain to promote micro-drama production and consumption, and promote cultural innovation, including AI technology to shorten the cycle time and reduce costs of micro-drama project. The city is also encouraging micro-drama companies to expand internationally, adapting content for overseas audiences to enhance China's cultural influence, including translation and adaptation for overseas audiences. This effort is framed within the broader context of promoting socialist culture and national cultural innovation.
Summary: Please provide the article you would like me to summarize. I need the text of the article to be able to provide a summary for professional analysts of Chinese politics, focusing on key actors, statements, and US-China relations if mentioned.
Summary: An article discusses Shaanxi Normal University's (陕师大) long-term program of sending teachers to support education in Tibet. Since 2010, over a thousand students have participated in teaching internships in various Tibetan regions, with many choosing to stay long-term. The program also includes training for local Tibetan teachers, aiming to improve the overall quality of education. University officials, including Communist Party Secretary Li Xiaobing, pledged continued support for aligning educational resources with Tibet's needs. The article makes no mention of the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: For over a decade, more than a thousand Shaanxi Normal University student teachers have participated in a program providing educational support to Tibet. Driven by strong ideals and patriotism, these students overcome harsh conditions to improve local education and instill confidence in their students. By adapting their teaching to local culture and focusing on student interaction, these student teachers have honed their skills and grown into capable educators. The program demonstrates the value of the western regions in China for youth development and the dedication of young people to serving the country.
Summary: The Fourth Plenary Session of the 15th Central Committee of the Jiusan Society convened in Beijing, focusing on studying the spirit of the 20th Fourth Plenary Session of the CPC Central Committee. Chairman Wu Weihua delivered a work report on behalf of the Standing Committee, highlighting achievements in political guidance, consensus-building, and contributing to national development under Xi Jinping's leadership. Wu stressed the importance of aligning with the CPC's decisions and promoting patriotism, democracy, and science to advance socialist modernization during the 15th Five-Year Plan. Shao Hong, Executive Vice Chairman, presided over the opening session.
Summary: Deng Jing, a technician at Kailuan Group's Tangshan Zhongrun Coal Chemical Co., is profiled for her expertise in optimizing chemical production processes through precise calculations and innovation. She improved the heat exchange efficiency of a waste heat boiler, significantly increasing methanol production and reducing costs. Deng emphasizes the "zero-tolerance" nature of her work, where parameter adjustments must be accurate to avoid costly disruptions. Deng has also invented a filtration-integrated gas filter and led other projects to reduce production costs and improve efficiency. She has also cultivated multiple technical experts.
Summary: Several global science and technology rankings highlight China's increasing prominence, with Chinese cities dominating the "Nature Index - Science Cities" and a significant portion of highly cited researchers coming from mainland China. China's R&D spending and output have substantially increased, leading to major achievements in various scientific fields. China is also fostering international collaboration, as seen in the Jiangmen Neutrino Experiment with researchers from 17 countries. Chinese companies are expanding globally, showcasing new technologies like AI-powered robots and advanced mobile devices, while multinational corporations like BMW are increasing R&D investments in China. These advancements aim to develop new productive forces and are part of China's strategy for high-level technological self-reliance.
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.
Summary: A recent report highlights the problem of high heating costs following "coal-to-gas" conversions in northern rural China, leading some villagers to endure the cold to save money, with residents in Shanxi, Henan and Shandong provinces citing rising gas prices and insufficient subsidies. Experts attribute the high costs to expensive infrastructure, reduced subsidies, and poorly insulated homes. Solutions proposed include cross-regional ecological compensation mechanisms, increased investment in rural housing insulation, and a more diversified approach to clean energy sources, rather than a sole reliance on natural gas.
Summary: Following a *People's Daily* report highlighting fire safety hazards in Liaoyang's Bai Ta District chess and mahjong parlors, the district's Party Committee and government initiated a comprehensive safety rectification effort. Bai Ta District Chief led a joint enforcement action involving public security, fire, culture and tourism, market supervision, and urban management departments, along with local street representatives, to investigate and address the hazards at the Hu Lai chess parlor. The Hu Lai chess parlor was ordered to immediately suspend operations for rectification due to persistent unaddressed fire safety issues, including obstructed signage and inadequate fire suppression. The district extended this enforcement to other parlors in the Binhu Garden area and pledged to increase inspections to eliminate fire hazards and safeguard public safety. The report does not mention the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: An abandoned billboard in Gucheng County, Hubei Province, poses a safety risk to pedestrians and traffic. Built eight years ago, the large steel structure is heavily rusted and at risk of collapse due to neglect following the closure of the company that owned it. The billboard is situated beside a busy road near vegetable gardens, raising concerns about potential injury to residents. A local resident urges relevant departments to inspect the billboard and address the hazard. There is no information about the statements or actions of any officials or the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: The article discusses concerns over misleading marketing tactics in the Chinese baby and maternity product market, where exaggerated claims regarding ingredients like DHA and lactoferrin are used to inflate prices and exploit parental anxieties. Consumers report being pressured into buying unnecessary supplements and processed foods with unsubstantiated health benefits. The author urges stronger regulatory oversight to combat false advertising and promote accurate information on infant nutrition through official channels. This would help parents avoid being misled by marketing and focus on providing their children with healthy, essential nutrition. No mention of the United States is in the article.
Summary: A recent investigation in Beijing revealed a thriving illegal market for fake medical leave certificates, fueled by individuals seeking time off work or school, or to exploit refund policies. These certificates, often sold online through discreet channels, range from basic forgeries to elaborate fabrications complete with falsified medical histories. The forgers even replicate hospital stamps and formats with alarming accuracy, exploiting lax verification processes at some medical institutions. Legal experts warn that both the creation and use of these false documents can carry significant legal consequences, including fines, detention, and job loss. Authorities are urged to implement measures like electronic verification systems and crack down on online sales to combat this growing problem.
Summary: The *People's Daily* and People's Daily Online are jointly soliciting public concerns and suggestions via the "Reader's Letters" section and the "Leaders' Message Board," respectively. Readers are invited to submit problem leads and recommendations through email or mobile app platforms. This initiative aims to address urgent issues and difficulties faced by the populace. There is no mention of U.S.-China relations or the United States in this announcement.
Summary: <b style="color:red">[Summary Error - Empty Input]</b>
Summary: In 2025, China's total import and export value reached a record high of 45.47 trillion yuan, maintaining its position as the world's largest trading nation for goods. Despite the United States imposing "reciprocal tariffs" on China and other trade partners, China's foreign trade demonstrated resilience by diversifying its markets to Africa, Central Asia, and Latin America. China's trade partners increased to 249 countries and regions, with growth in imports and exports with over 190 of them. The diversification extends to products, with increasing exports of high-tech and green products like AI-powered robots. China's large market provides opportunities for global partners as it has become a major export destination for 79 countries and regions.
Summary: Yiwu merchants, like Lou Yiyang, are leveraging AI tools such as the "World Yiwu" trade large model to enhance their businesses, specifically in areas like generating product videos, designs, and multilingual product descriptions. The AI tools allow merchants to quickly adapt to international trends and consumer preferences, improving efficiency and reducing costs, and is being used by over half of Yiwu's merchants daily. For example, Lou can now generate product images and descriptions in multiple languages, which previously took days and cost a lot of money, in just a few seconds. These AI tools have helped Yiwu merchants to do business in 20 countries.
Summary: On January 1, 2026, China National Nuclear Power (CNNP)'s Zhangzhou Nuclear Power Unit 2, utilizing Hualong One technology, officially commenced commercial operation, marking the completion of the first phase of the Zhangzhou project. The unit's operation demonstrates CNNP's commitment to national strategies and high-quality development, following directives from Xi Jinping. CNNP has become the third largest nuclear power enterprise globally, achieving significant progress in safe operation, major project construction, and multipurpose nuclear energy development. The company has also made advancements in nuclear technology applications, including isotope production and industrial steam supply, reducing carbon emissions, but there is no mention of the United States. CNNP aims to further enhance its core functions and competitiveness in the coming years, focusing on safety, efficiency, scale, global influence, innovation, and management.
Summary: In 2023, trade between China and Central Asia reached a record high of $106.3 billion, a 12% increase year-on-year, with China becoming Central Asia's largest trade partner. China's exports to the region, particularly in machinery, electronics, and high-tech products, grew significantly, while imports from Central Asia diversified beyond resource-based commodities. Cross-border e-commerce and related infrastructure development, including logistics and payment systems, contributed to the growth. The "Silk Road e-commerce" initiative and Belt and Road projects in connectivity, manufacturing, and agriculture spurred trade and investment. The article does not mention the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: The State Post Bureau and the Communist Youth League Central Committee jointly announced the "Express Delivery Youth Service Month" campaign from January to early March 2026, aimed at supporting express delivery workers. The initiative, part of the "Warm Bee Action," focuses on improving working conditions by addressing delivery obstacles and establishing convenient passage mechanisms for couriers. The notice emphasizes the need for enterprises to fulfill their safety responsibilities and prevent accident risks. It also calls for ensuring fair wages, holiday subsidies, and rest schedules for couriers, while protecting their legal rights and addressing malicious complaints.
Summary: China has released its first financial meteorology AI model, "Shangji (stock)," co-developed by Fudan University and the National Meteorological Information Center. This model is designed to analyze the impact of meteorological factors on financial asset pricing, providing innovative tools for risk management and investment decisions. The model has various potential applications, including climate risk management for weather-sensitive industries and risk control for financial institutions. It can also be used by investors as a quantitative investment tool. The "Shangji" model aims to enhance asset pricing theories.
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 tailored for professional analysts of Chinese politics.
Summary: The article emphasizes Xi Jinping's call to combine investment in physical capital ("物") and human capital ("人") for China's modernization. It argues that this integrated approach is vital for achieving high-quality development, strengthening domestic demand, promoting common prosperity, and enhancing China's global competitiveness by shifting from capital-intensive to talent-intensive competition. The article highlights the need to optimize investment structures, strengthen institutional support, and adopt a systematic approach to ensure coordinated development between physical and human capital. It also explores practical paths for implementation, focusing on industrial upgrading, improving people's livelihoods, promoting innovation and entrepreneurship, and leveraging digital transformation. No mentions of the United States or U.S.-China relations were encountered in the text.
Summary: At a December 2025 Politburo meeting, Xi Jinping stressed the importance of adhering to the "eight-point regulation" (中央八项规定) as a rigid rule and continuously addressing formalism and bureaucracy to establish a sustained improvement in work style. He likened the need to avoid complacency to the "Happy Three Li" (快活三里) rest stop on Mount Tai, warning that prolonged rest would weaken resolve for the arduous "Eighteen Bends" (十八盘) ahead. The article emphasizes the need for persistent self-revolution and vigilance against corruption. It calls on leading cadres to avoid complacency and act as "climbers" (攀登者) rather than "resters", continuously strengthening the Party's leadership and promoting Chinese-style modernization. The article does not mention the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: The article emphasizes the importance of entrepreneurship in driving China's high-quality development and modernization. It highlights Xi Jinping's calls to promote entrepreneurial spirit, focusing on innovation, integrity, and social responsibility. It urges strengthening legal and ethical awareness among entrepreneurs while fostering a supportive environment for business growth, particularly for established brands and internationally competitive firms. The piece advocates for a clear and supportive relationship between the government and businesses, encouraging entrepreneurs to contribute to national strategic goals. By fostering entrepreneurship, the article posits that China can advance its economic and social development.
Summary: A Guangzhou Rural Commercial Bank (GRCB) corruption case involving former bank head Yi Xuefei revealed a scheme where he illicitly profited from loan interest. Yi, who served in various leadership roles at the bank since 2006, accepted bribes disguised as loans, using his relatives and associates to conceal the transactions. He would then leverage his position to pressure the bank to expedite and relax loan requirements for companies that agreed to these arrangements. Investigators uncovered that Yi collected over 18 million RMB in interest through this scheme, which involved unusual loan terms and inflated interest rates. In response, Guangzhou authorities have launched a city-wide campaign to address illicit lending by officials and are exploring mechanisms to monitor unusual financial flows. There is no mention of the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: An official from the Guangzhou Discipline Inspection and Supervision Commission states that new forms of corruption are emerging, characterized by embedding illicit activities within market mechanisms to obscure the exchange of money for favors. These new methods involve financial instruments, cross-border transactions, and digital assets to exploit regulatory loopholes. The commission aims to combat this by enhancing investigative techniques, leveraging technology, and improving the professional skills of its personnel. They emphasize the need to understand the underlying power dynamics in these "marketized" and "legalized" corruption schemes. The article does not mention the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: A national conference on people's jurors (人民陪审员) convened on January 17th, reporting significant progress with 340,000 jurors nationwide by the end of 2025, a threefold increase since reforms. These jurors, with over 50% from grassroots backgrounds, participated in 15 million concluded cases since the implementation of the People's Juror Law, including high-profile cases concerning public safety and welfare. The Supreme People's Court emphasized the importance of balancing judicial democracy with professional expertise, particularly in complex cases involving maritime, intellectual property, finance, environment, and foreign affairs. The court also stressed the need to ensure the independence of jurors' judgment through a specific process of opinion expression and voting. There was no mention of the United States or Sino-U.S. relations.
Summary: Liaoning Province courts have initiated a year-long campaign to rectify issues harming the business environment, focusing on discipline, judicial practice, and judicial service provision. The campaign targets 24 specific problems, including corruption, abuse of discretion, and inadequate handling of fraudulent lawsuits. The initiative involves a comprehensive review of existing issues and aims for immediate rectification, with a system for tracking and verifying improvements. The courts will also actively seek public input to enhance the accuracy and comprehensiveness of the rectification efforts.
Summary: To reduce the burden of excessive inspections on businesses, Xianning city in Hubei province has implemented a "positive and negative list" system and a "one-stop comprehensive inspection" approach. The city aims to reduce the frequency of corporate law enforcement inspections by 36.8% and decrease inspection time costs for businesses by 54% by 2025. Xianning has also introduced a "scan-to-enter" mechanism for monitoring enforcement activities and implemented a risk-based classification system to tailor inspection frequencies according to the specific risks of different enterprises. The system monitors the frequency of inspections, alerting authorities if any business is inspected too frequently, and tailors inspection frequencies to the risk level of the business.
Summary: The first half of 2026's conscription physical examinations have commenced, with young people across China actively responding and signing up.
Summary: An article from Heilongjiang Province describes efforts by the Mudanjiang City Discipline Inspection Commission to strengthen grassroots governance and combat corruption in rural villages. The city has appointed village-level supervisors to monitor finances, project construction, and land acquisition, ensuring transparency through platforms like the "Supervision Point" system. These supervisors also act as informants, relaying concerns of the villagers to relevant authorities. Focus areas include the management of collective assets, the use of funds benefiting farmers, and oversight of rural revitalization projects. The city is implementing standardized management systems and a rural property rights trading platform to facilitate the utilization and appreciation of village assets.
Summary: <b style="color:red">[Summary Error - Empty Input]</b>
Summary: A research team led by the Purple Mountain Observatory of the Chinese Academy of Sciences announced that the China's 500-meter Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope (FAST) has captured the detailed evolution of the Faraday rotation measure of a repeating fast radio burst (FRB), providing key observational evidence for the hypothesis that "FRBs originate from binary systems." Researchers observed a rapid surge and subsequent decline in the Faraday rotation measure of FRB 20220529 over a period of two weeks. FAST has also been used to detect near-Earth asteroids and study the structure of the moon. China plans to upgrade FAST by constructing a giant synthetic aperture array around it to enhance its observational capabilities.
Summary: The National Radio and Television Administration (NRTA) has issued guidelines to regulate the growing phenomenon of children's micro-dramas, addressing concerns about "adultification," "instrumentalization," and "entertainment-ization" in their production. These guidelines aim to protect children's rights by preventing their exploitation for profit and ensuring content aligns with their developmental stage. The NRTA's directives stress the importance of quality over quantity, urging the industry to create content that reflects genuine childhood experiences and promotes positive values. Regulatory bodies and platforms are expected to strengthen oversight to protect children, parents and society.
Summary: A welcoming event for the 2026 "Cantonese Beautiful Village Evening" (粤美村晚) was held in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, attracting thousands of viewers. The event, titled "Together to Pinglong to Welcome the Future," also launched a campaign distributing Spring Festival couplets, and featured performances including lion dances, Cantonese opera, and folk art displays. This marks the beginning of a series of 30 "Cantonese Beautiful Village Evening" events across Guangdong province this year. The performances aimed to showcase local culture and traditions.
Summary: The "New Year Pictures: Songs of Seasonal Joy" exhibition recently opened at the Liaoning Provincial Museum, featuring *taohua wu* and *yangliu qing* New Year pictures. The exhibition also includes Huanren woodcut New Year pictures from Benxi, Liaoning. The article contains no information regarding the statements or actions of officials, nor does it discuss the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: The National Intellectual Property Administration has granted geographical indication product status to Xuan inkstones (宣砚) from Xuancheng City, Anhui Province, completing the set of Xuancheng's "Four Treasures of the Study" (文房四宝). This designation recognizes Xuan inkstones' unique qualities and cultural value, and highlights Xuancheng's achievements in intellectual property protection. This move is expected to further strengthen intellectual property protection in Xuancheng and promote the city's geographical indication products. The article makes no mention of U.S.-China relations or U.S. policy.
Summary: A special education school in Chongqing's Yunyang County has formed a band called the "Firefly River Project" to help students with disabilities find joy and integration through music. Teachers developed innovative methods to teach instruments to visually and hearing-impaired students, focusing on tactile learning and visual cues. The band gained recognition after participating in the "2025 Band China Youth Music Festival" and has improved students' confidence and social skills. The school hopes that through music, children can improve their ability to communicate with others, feel the meaning of life, and better integrate into society. There is no mention of the United States or U.S.-China relations in the article.
Summary: The 40th Longqing Gorge Ice Lantern Festival has commenced in Beijing's Yanqing District, themed "Longqing Legend: A Tribute to the Classics," featuring illuminated ice and traditional lanterns across a 200,000-square-meter area that complements the natural ice canyon. A highlight is the ice sculpture recreation of the classic Chinese animation *Havoc in Heaven*, with large structures and detailed ice sculptures bringing scenes to life. The festival, which started in 1987, will run until early March. The exhibits include 18 sets of large-scale themed lanterns and 180 exquisite small lanterns distributed in a scattered manner, with the main theme of zodiac New Year greetings, myths and legends, and auspicious meanings to create a strong festive atmosphere. There was no mention of any involvement by the United States.
Summary: <b style="color:red">[Summary Error - Empty Input]</b>
Summary: <b style="color:red">[Summary Error - Empty Input]</b>
Summary: As the "Major Cold" solar term approaches, Chinese market regulators are providing guidance on purchasing winter essentials like down jackets, thermal underwear, and insulated cups, following consumer concerns about quality and misleading marketing. Experts advise consumers to check down jacket fill quality, including绒子 content, and to understand the different heating principles of thermal underwear, cautioning against "self-heating" claims. For insulated cups, they recommend food-grade stainless steel and avoiding prolonged storage of acidic liquids. New national standards (GB/T 14272—2021) provide metrics for ensuring quality, while consumers are encouraged to perform simple tests to check for inferior materials.
Summary: China's national railway operator anticipates 539 million passenger trips during the 40-day Spring Festival travel season in 2026, a 5% increase year-on-year, with tickets going on sale January 19th. The railway authority will increase train capacity, potentially exceeding 14,000 trains per day during peak times, with a 5.3% increase in seating capacity. Starting January 19th, passengers who mistakenly purchase tickets on the 12306 platform for trains within mainland China or cross-border trains to/from Hong Kong West Kowloon on or after February 2nd can receive a full refund if cancelled within 30 minutes of purchase and at least four hours before departure. There is no mention of the United States or U.S.-China relations in the article.
Summary: China's Ministry of Transport issued an action plan to upgrade highway service areas by 2026, focusing on improvements to charging infrastructure, public restrooms, and "driver homes." The plan aims to add over 10,000 new electric vehicle charging points this year, with a quarter being high-powered. The upgrades also include increasing the ratio of seated toilets in public restrooms to over 20% and making service areas more accessible for the elderly. Furthermore, the Ministry intends to promote standardized construction of "driver homes" and explore the development of open-style service areas to integrate them with local economies. No mention of the United States or U.S.-China relations was included in this article.
Summary: The China Family Planning Association (CFPA) plans to upgrade over 4,000 "Sunflower Parent-Child Huts" by 2025, integrating early childhood education guidance with community-based childcare services. CFPA Secretary of the Party Group Yu Xuejun stated the association will continue to leverage its services, including expanding its "National Free Pre-Pregnancy Checkup Assistant" mini-program into a broader service platform. In 2026, the CFPA will focus on promoting positive marriage and childbearing views, enhancing reproductive health services, and improving support services. The meeting also emphasized the construction of a fertility-friendly society, encouraging participation from businesses, social organizations, and charities. The article makes no mention of the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: In response to recent rain, snow, and cold waves, Shandong and Anhui provinces have implemented multi-department coordination and cross-regional transportation measures. These measures also include real-time tracking and scheduling, and improvements to vegetable reserves. The goal is to ensure sufficient market supply and stable prices for citizens' "vegetable baskets" and to guarantee an adequate supply of essential goods. The article does not mention the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: Guangxi province has allocated 4.348 billion yuan in student financial aid for 2026, covering pre-school to higher education, including specific funding for border regions. The province is leveraging data integration between government departments to identify students in need and ensure accurate distribution of funds. Guangxi aims to improve its verification process with student record comparison and to ensure that funds are used effectively. The province monitors the entire funding process, ensuring timely and direct payments to students or parents, while also offering academic and employment support. There are no reports of discussion on U.S.-China relations.
Summary: Beijing has strengthened its efforts to combat wage arrears through an "administrative enforcement and criminal justice connection mechanism" (行刑衔接机制) between the Human Resources and Social Security Bureau and the Public Security Bureau. This mechanism facilitates information sharing and joint investigation to expedite cases of wage theft. The system has been expanded city-wide, and involves consulting on cases, reporting important developments, and discussing difficult problems. During the "Secure Salaries Beijing" winter campaign, collaboration between the two departments has increased, leading to the recovery of unpaid wages for thousands of workers. The article contains no discussion of the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: Please provide the article you would like me to summarize. I need the text of the article to provide an accurate and concise summary tailored for professional analysts of Chinese politics, focusing on key figures, statements, actions, and any relevance to the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: Construction of the Pinglu Canal, a key project of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor, prioritizes the protection of mangrove ecosystems. Measures include reducing suspended matter emissions during construction and using prefabricated wave piles to stabilize the bank slopes, safeguarding the mangroves along the canal's estuary. To minimize disruption to the mangroves, the project team employed advanced dredging vessels like the "Tianjing" which reduce underwater blasting. To further protect the mangroves, the project team is utilizing pollution barriers to minimize the spread of suspended solids and washing mud off of mangrove leaves. Four bridges along the canal in Guangxi have been completed, providing transportation support for the canal's full connection. The project team is working in collaboration with local forestry and marine departments to implement the protective measures.
Summary: China is currently experiencing a significant cold wave, prompting the China Meteorological Administration to raise its emergency response level. Central Meteorological Observatory Chief Forecaster Zhang Tao characterized this cold wave by its wide-ranging impact, especially on southern China, significant temperature drops and precipitation, complex precipitation phases with a high risk of freezing rain, and weaker winds. Freezing rain is of particular concern due to its potential for causing transportation disruptions and damage to power infrastructure, especially in Hunan and Guizhou. The cold wave is expected to gradually weaken by January 21st, but low temperatures in eastern regions may persist until January 25th. The article makes no mention of the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: China's central and eastern regions are forecast to experience widespread rain and snow from January 18-21, with potential for blizzards and freezing rain in several provinces. In response, the National Disaster Reduction Committee initiated a Level IV emergency response for Anhui, Henan, Hunan, and Guizhou provinces, emphasizing safety, transportation, power supply, livelihood, and stability. The response includes strengthened coordination, monitoring key sectors, and deploying rescue teams and resources. Work groups previously dispatched to Henan will continue to assist and guidance will be provided with newly added work groups in Hunan and Guizhou. The article does not mention the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: During the 14th Five-Year Plan, China's South-to-North Water Diversion project transferred over 45 billion cubic meters of water to the north, benefiting over 52 million additional people. Since its full operation, the project has transferred over 85 billion cubic meters, providing stable water to 195 million people in 7 provinces and 48 cities. In 2025, the project exceeded its annual water transfer target, with the central route supplying 6.261 billion cubic meters and the eastern route supplying 1.322 billion cubic meters, reaching its design capacity. The central route project received the "2025 Global Top Ten Engineering Achievements" award. Construction of follow-up projects is steadily advancing.
Summary: The newly renovated Fuzhou Panda World in Fujian reopened on January 17th, showcasing five pandas from Sichuan, who have completed their 20-day adaptation period. The Straits (Fuzhou) Panda Research and Exchange Center, the technical support unit for Panda World, focuses on panda conservation, research, and education. The center is notable for having bred "Bas," the inspiration for "Pan Pan," the mascot of the 1990 Beijing Asian Games. There is no mention of the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: The 2026 Beijing Spring Festival Flower Fair has commenced at the Beijing Flower Trading Center, spanning from January to March. This event aims to promote the flower industry by showcasing various flowers from across the country and providing a multi-faceted experience for citizens. The fair is centered around two main venues in Fengtai and Changping districts, linking numerous flower markets, parks, and online platforms to create a comprehensive network. This initiative aims to boost the happiness and sense of accomplishment of Beijing residents. There is no mention of the United States in this 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.
Summary: This article reports on Dalian's efforts to revitalize youth football through a comprehensive "one-stop" cultivation system, aiming to address talent attrition at the middle school transition. The city has established 95 football talent development schools and implemented policies allowing cross-district enrollment and direct high school admission for promising players. Dalian integrates football education into the curriculum, striving for 70% student participation and 300 specialized schools by 2026. The city also provides financial support and a talent pool of coaches to build a solid foundation for football development. Yang Ying, a full-time member of the Dalian Municipal Education Work Committee, said that the Dalian Municipal Education Bureau has always adhered to the principle of "two-handed approach" to football education.
Summary: The article highlights Dalian's efforts to cultivate young football talent through a comprehensive "one-stop" model integrating sports and education. This model includes mandatory football classes in over 280 schools, tiered competitions, and direct pathways to top secondary schools for students with football talent. The initiative aims to create a robust football ecosystem supported by policy, schools, and the market, fostering a love for the sport and promoting youth development. The program is designed to allow children to develop physically and mentally through the sport, while also enabling opportunities for further schooling. The program is designed to build a solid foundation for Chinese football by nurturing talent and embedding a sporting spirit within the city.
Summary: This article profiles Gao Lingrui, a young student from Gansu province who won first place in Shaolin boxing at the 10th World Traditional Wushu Championship. Her coach emphasizes her solid fundamental skills and spirited performance as key to her success. Gao's participation has boosted interest in martial arts at her school, and she aspires to showcase Shaolin boxing on a larger stage in the future. There is no mention of the United States or U.S.-China relations in this article.
Summary: The Chinese national taekwondo team is currently undergoing winter training at the Beijing Sport University National Training Base, following a successful 2023 season with 38 gold medals. With the Olympic qualification process adjusted for the new cycle leading to the Los Angeles Olympics, the team is preparing for upcoming World Taekwondo Grand Prix, Asian Games, and World Taekwondo Grand Slam events. Team leader Tian Feipeng noted the selection criteria for international events and the positive competitive environment within the team. Currently, 16 Chinese athletes rank within the world's top 28, qualifying them for high-level international competitions. The team will begin the new season with tournaments in Europe in early March, including the Dutch and Belgian Opens.
Summary: The Chinese University Sports Association (CUSA) recently held an event in Beijing to launch its "Sunshine Sports" initiative and introduce its first group of ambassadors. Twelve world champions, including Hui Ruoqi, Gong Lijiao, and Yang Qian, were appointed as "Sunshine Sports" ambassadors. CUSA also signed cooperation agreements with representatives from eastern cities and central-western counties to collaboratively promote "Sunshine Sports" in schools. The initiative aims to leverage sports to enhance urban development in the east and provide support for school sports development in the west, fostering mutual benefit. The article does not mention the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: The 2026 Dakar Rally, held in Saudi Arabia, concluded with Nasser Al-Attiyah winning the car category and Luciano Benavides taking the motorcycle title. Chinese drivers Han Wei and Sunier achieved their best results in the car and motorcycle categories, respectively. The grueling 15-day race covering approximately 8,000 kilometers is known for its challenging terrain, extreme temperatures, and demanding physical and mental requirements. The article highlights the strategic considerations involved in managing fuel, tires, and navigation during the race. There is no mention of the United States.
Summary: Chinese tennis player Bai Zhuoxuan defeated Russian player Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in the first round of the Australian Open, marking her first Grand Slam main-draw win. Bai will face Aryna Sabalenka in the next round. Zhang Zhizhen lost to Argentinian player Francisco Cerundolo in the first round. The article makes no mention of Chinese politics, the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: <b style="color:red">[Summary Error - Empty Input]</b>
Summary: President Trump announced tariffs on goods from eight European nations, including Denmark, over the U.S. desire to purchase Greenland, a Danish autonomous territory. The EU and the affected nations strongly condemned the tariffs and threats, vowing a united response to what they see as undermining transatlantic relations. European leaders and officials, including French President Macron and Danish Foreign Minister Rasmussen, emphasized the importance of maintaining European sovereignty and territorial integrity, while also stressing the need for strengthened Arctic security. Some EU figures advocate for retaliatory measures and closer ties with other global actors, including China, to counter U.S. pressure.
Summary: A recent announcement from the Brazilian government highlights a significant acceleration in poverty reduction, with approximately 17.4 million people escaping poverty between 2022 and 2024. According to Brazil's Minister of Social Development and Assistance, Family and Fight against Hunger, Wellington Dias, this progress stems from the synergy between economic growth and social policies, creating more employment and entrepreneurial opportunities for low-income individuals. The government has strengthened social security programs and supported micro and small enterprises through financial assistance to further these gains. These efforts have led to a reduction in informal employment and increased income stability for poorer populations. The article makes no mention of the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: Iran's Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the G7's recent statement regarding Iranian internal affairs, labeling it a double standard. The Ministry asserted Iran's constitutional guarantee of basic rights, including peaceful protest, while also emphasizing its commitment to protecting national security and sovereignty. The statement cited the G7's (including the United States) past support for Israeli military actions against Iran.
Summary: U.S. media reported that approximately 1,500 paratroopers from the 11th Airborne Division of the U.S. Army have been put on alert for potential deployment to Minnesota. The deployment order was issued due to concerns about escalating violence in Minnesota following the fatal shooting of a woman by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers during an operation to apprehend illegal immigrants. The 11th Airborne Division, based in Alaska and specializing in cold-weather operations, was recalled from holiday leave as a rapid response force. Minnesota officials have also placed the state's National Guard on standby. The article does not mention China or US-China relations.
Summary: The M23 rebel group in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) claimed it would fully withdraw from the strategic town of Uvira, stating the area would be the responsibility of the UN and international community to create opportunities for regional peace. However, the DRC government dismissed this announcement as a disinformation tactic, asserting that the withdrawal would only be considered effective once state services were fully restored in the occupied territories. The M23 has been launching offensives since January 2023, capturing several important cities. A ceasefire supervision and verification mechanism agreement was signed by both sides in Doha in October, followed by a framework agreement in November, wherein they promised to establish mutual trust through dialogue, promote a phased stability process, and resolve the root causes of the conflict. The article makes no mention of the United States.
Summary: Japan's 2025 crime white paper reveals a third consecutive year of rising criminal cases, totaling over 737,600 in 2024, with a significant increase in property crimes and new forms of organized crime facilitated by social media. The report highlights a surge in fraud, particularly telecom scams, linked to anonymously organized groups recruiting through social media for "dark part-time jobs," often targeting vulnerable youth facing economic hardship. Furthermore, the white paper notes a substantial increase in sex crimes, with reported rapes and indecent assaults rising sharply. The report suggests socioeconomic anxieties contribute to this trend, posing governance challenges for the Japanese government. There is no mention of the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: <b style="color:red">[Summary Error - Empty Input]</b>
Summary: The article highlights Chinese companies engaging in corporate social responsibility through "small but beautiful" volunteer projects in various countries. In Brazil, the Three Gorges Brazil Company launched a goat milk entrepreneurship program to help residents increase income via sustainable farming practices, providing skills training and resources. China Harbour established a sea turtle hatchery in Ghana's Tema New Container Terminal to protect marine biodiversity, collaborating with local organizations and training personnel. In Malaysia, China Construction Malaysia's "Lighting Up the Mountains" initiative installed solar lights in remote indigenous villages, improving residents' lives and enabling children to study at night. These projects aim to solve local issues, transfer knowledge, and demonstrate China's commitment to social responsibility.
Summary: The article emphasizes the role of Chinese companies' overseas volunteer services in promoting the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and fostering a "community of common destiny." These localized volunteer efforts, focusing on education, healthcare, and environmental protection, aim to transfer skills and knowledge, contributing to local development and building mutual trust. By engaging with local communities, these initiatives seek to transform China's "going out" strategy into one of "staying," strengthening public diplomacy. The author advocates for systematizing and professionalizing these services to further enhance China's global image and promote shared development. The article does not mention the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: Please provide the article you would like me to summarize. I need the text of the article to provide an accurate and concise summary for professional analysts of Chinese politics.
Summary: A new policy in China, effective January 1, 2026, allows for a one-time removal of overdue payment records from personal credit reports for those meeting specific conditions, primarily targeting non-malicious defaults affected by factors like the pandemic between 2020 and 2025. The policy aims to provide a second chance for individuals with minor overdue payments who have since repaid their debts. It reflects a shift towards a more nuanced approach to social governance by balancing punishment for dishonesty with mechanisms for credit rehabilitation. The policy intends to stimulate economic activity by enabling individuals to regain access to financial services, fostering domestic demand and economic circulation. This initiative aligns with the broader goal of building a resilient economic and social environment.
Summary: A new "buy now, pay later" (BNPL) consumption model is rapidly growing in China, initially in e-commerce and now extending to various everyday services. This model, which boosts consumer willingness by allowing users to try products before paying, has been adopted by major platforms like Pinduoduo and Taobao Tmall, benefiting both consumers and merchants. However, concerns are rising about potential risks such as "unfelt" debt accumulation and the need for better regulation, especially for BNPL models that operate as consumer loans. Experts suggest a comprehensive governance system involving regulators, platforms, and industry organizations to ensure consumer protection and prevent financial risks. The article does not mention U.S. companies or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: This article summarizes the book "Mother of Money and Anchor of Risk," arguing for deeper coordination between fiscal and monetary policies in China's current economic context. The author highlights the book's central argument that fiscal policy is the "mother" of modern credit money and that sovereign currency embodies national credit. It advocates for a policy framework minimizing "public risk" to enhance certainty and improve expectations, suggesting fiscal policy should actively address concerns about future uncertainty. The article cites recent state council meetings as examples of the need to promote coordinated fiscal and financial policies to spur domestic demand, emphasizing the need to address the risk to the U.S. and other countries via U.S. dollar hegemony.
Summary: <b style="color:red">[Summary Error - Empty Input]</b>
Summary: Please provide the article you would like me to summarize. I need the text of the article to give you a five-sentence summary suitable for professional analysts of Chinese politics.
Summary: The "Characters of the Year 2025" chosen by a Chinese language activity are "韧" (toughness/resilience) and "深度求索 (DeepSeek)", reflecting China's ability to withstand external pressures and its pursuit of deeper exploration in areas like technology. The article highlights China's economic growth, innovation in robotics, and expansion of free trade, despite global challenges and "unreasonable suppression" from some countries in areas like chip technology. This resilience is attributed to strategic focus, centralized leadership, and the collective efforts of the Chinese people. "DeepSeek" represents the country's commitment to overcoming difficulties and achieving breakthroughs in core technologies through sustained effort and innovation, especially in the face of technological restrictions.
Summary: A new production line in Datong, Shanxi, is now producing 200 tons annually of T1000 high-end carbon fiber, a material crucial for aerospace and industrial manufacturing, after a 20-year research and development effort led by the Shanxi Institute of Coal Chemistry (SICCC) under the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Facing prior technological blockades, China prioritized domestic production, tasking SICCC with the T300 aerospace-grade carbon fiber production. SICCC overcame challenges through collaborative research, achieving T300 production by 2008 and later focusing on the more advanced T1000, partnering with Shanxi Huayang Group for industrialization. The achievement aims to reduce reliance on foreign technology, particularly from countries like the United States and Japan, in high-performance carbon fiber, though the article does not mention these countries by name.
Summary: The "Tianma-1000" unmanned transport aircraft, developed by China Ordnance Industry Group, successfully completed its first test flight, demonstrating strong performance with a maximum payload of 1 ton and a range of 1800 km. Designed for rapid deployment in remote areas and emergency situations, the aircraft can take off and land on unpaved surfaces and is adaptable to various weather conditions. The development team utilized a digital R&D system, foregoing traditional wind tunnel testing, to achieve rapid prototyping and modular design for multiple applications. The aircraft is intended to address logistical challenges in supplying remote regions and bolster emergency response capabilities. The project aims to promote high-quality development of China's low-altitude economy.
Summary: Please provide the article you would like me to summarize. I need the text of the article to produce the summary.
Summary: The author traveled to Yunnan to research the history of railways, focusing on the "Gejiu-Bisezhai Railway" (个碧石铁路), a rare example of a railway constructed by Chinese to defend their economic interests against French encroachment following the construction of the French-built Yunnan-Vietnam Railway (滇越铁路). This railway was built in response to unequal treaties that allowed France to dominate railway construction. The author emphasizes the railway as a symbol of national pride and resistance, highlighting the contrast between the small, locally funded railway and the larger French-controlled one. The article alludes to the broader implications of railway development, comparing it to the internet's impact and mentioning China's Belt and Road Initiative's railway projects connecting Yunnan with Southeast Asia. The author mentions his recent interviews with builders of high-speed rail.
Summary: This article discusses the importance of balancing speed and stability in China's development. It argues that while rapid progress is essential, it should not come at the expense of quality or long-term sustainability. The author emphasizes that true progress requires both the "fast" pace of innovation and the "slow" and steady accumulation of knowledge and refinement of skills. The piece uses examples ranging from rocket science to traditional iron pot making to illustrate the value of both speed and deliberate craftsmanship. Ultimately, the author concludes that a harmonious blend of speed and stability is necessary for achieving lasting success. There is no discussion of the United States.
Summary: This article discusses a deaf Chinese poet and writer who lost her hearing at the age of six due to a drug reaction after a high fever. She learned to speak again through persistent practice and now uses poetry to express herself and connect with the world. Her poetry collection, "Silence of the Universe," focuses on themes of living in silence, dealing with fate, and reconciling with life. She credits reading, especially "The Story of My Life" by Helen Keller, and writing with helping her find meaning and overcome challenges and sharing her poetic work to international audiences has become her voice.
Summary: This article presents a metaphorical and poetic description of a journey, rich with imagery of nature and discovery. The journey evokes themes of memory, shared experiences, and the interconnectedness of seemingly disparate elements of the world. There is no mention of Chinese politics, specific officials, or U.S.-China relations. The piece focuses on personal introspection and appreciation for the natural world.
Summary: This article identifies a painting titled "Sea of Clouds on Huangshan Mountain" by Liu Haisu, held in the collection of the National Art Museum of China. The information provided relates only to the painting's details and does not discuss political figures, statements, or U.S.-China relations. Therefore, there are no further points to summarize.
Summary: This article is a nostalgic reflection on the author's childhood spent harvesting wild *huangjiang* (a type of ginger) in a rural mountainous area. The author describes the difficulties of finding and digging up the ginger, which was then sold to supplement school fees. Now, *huangjiang* is cultivated, providing a significant source of income for villagers, and symbolizing their improved living conditions. The article does not mention the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: This article discusses the "Shuǎ Hái'ér," a local opera from the author's region in northern Shanxi province. The author details its unique vocal style, comparing it to Mongolian throat singing, and its lively percussion. The author recounts a failed attempt to adapt the modern revolutionary opera "Shajiabang" to the "Shuǎ Hái'ér" style, finding it unsuccessful due to the stark contrast in setting and scale. The author expresses a growing appreciation for the opera as a familiar sound of home and mentions that the opera is also popular in Inner Mongolia. The article makes no mention of the United States or U.S.-China relations.
Summary: This is a standard boilerplate notice found at the bottom of many articles published in the People's Daily. It's an invitation for readers to submit original, previously unpublished articles to the email address provided. It specifies that submissions should not be sent to multiple publications simultaneously. It does not contain any information about Chinese politics, officials, or US-China relations.
By: 本报记者 何 聪 江 南 窦瀚洋
Striving for the "15th Five-Year Plan," competing in the new track of space computing, Zhejiang is taking the lead.
On the large screen of the "Three-Body Computing Constellation" command center at the Zhijiang Laboratory (之江实验室), a new type of R&D institution in Zhejiang, the trajectories of 12 computing satellites running stably are clearly visible, and the telemetry data returned by the satellites are rolling in real time.
"The 'Three-Body Computing Constellation' has deployed an 8 billion-parameter artificial intelligence model, and is currently carrying out 'six-star networking' and gradually realizing the whole-orbit interconnection of twelve stars," said Wang Jian (王坚), Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and Director of Zhijiang Laboratory (之江实验室).
In September 2023, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) pointed out during his inspection in Zhejiang: "Zhejiang should take the lead in shaping new development advantages with technological innovation. We must put enhancing technological innovation capabilities in a more prominent position, integrate technological innovation forces and superior resources, and accelerate breakthroughs in cutting-edge scientific and technological fields."
Thoroughly implementing the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping's (习近平) important instructions, Zhejiang is anchoring the strategic goal of building a high-level innovative province in an all-round way, and striving to take the lead in shaping new development advantages with technological innovation.
Integrating superior resources, innovation is more vigorous—
The development of the "Three-Body Computing Constellation" involves more than 100 hardware components, more than 200 software programs, and nearly one million lines of code. To this end, Zhijiang Laboratory (之江实验室) has established cross-disciplinary and cross-center departments internally to organically combine science and technology, basic research and engineering applications; externally, it has gathered dozens of universities, research institutes, and private enterprises and other innovation entities to participate together.
"Thanks to the collaborative efforts of all parties, the project took only 9 months from project approval to successful launch," said Wang Jian (王坚). In 2026, Zhijiang Laboratory (之江实验室) will join hands with satellite companies to complete the layout of more than 50 computing satellites, further promoting the application and development of artificial intelligence in space.
During the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, Zhejiang established and promoted a "platform + university + enterprise + industry chain" pairing cooperation mechanism. Provincial laboratories and provincial technology innovation centers jointly built 125 joint laboratories with universities and enterprises, and mutually employed 955 scientific research personnel to jointly promote the transformation of innovative achievements into real productivity. Facing the "15th Five-Year Plan," Zhejiang proposed to deepen the market-oriented reform of data resources, build a new computing power system, and accelerate the creation of a high ground for artificial intelligence innovation and development.
The seamless connection between the innovation chain and the industrial chain makes the industrial foundation more solid—
On forest trails, wheeled robots climb steep slopes, making them a powerful assistant for forest fire prevention and inspection; on the "Su Chao" and other competition fields, the same robots follow players and capture wonderful pictures beyond traditional camera positions.
This robot, developed by Hangzhou Yun Shen Chu Technology Co., Ltd. (杭州云深处科技股份有限公司), one of the "Hangzhou Six Little Dragons" (杭州六小龙), already has global competitive advantages. "The confidence comes from the seamless connection between the innovation chain and the industrial chain." According to Zhu Qiuguo (朱秋国), the founder of the company, on the innovation chain, it independently develops key components and artificial intelligence algorithms; on the industrial chain, it can complete parts procurement and assembly without leaving Zhejiang, and manufacturing companies deeply participate in solving design problems. "The project took less than half a year from launch to market sales, which is at least one year shorter than foreign counterparts."
In recent years, Zhejiang has focused on artificial intelligence, new materials, life and health, and other fields, and explored the establishment of a collaborative tackling mechanism of "enterprises proposing questions, the government assisting in the questions, platforms answering the questions, workshops verifying the questions, and the market evaluating." The number of innovation consortia led by leading enterprises has reached 53, integrating the innovation resources of 377 units, basically covering 15 advanced manufacturing clusters in the province. During the "15th Five-Year Plan" period, Zhejiang will establish a future industrial investment growth mechanism, explore multiple technical routes, typical application scenarios, feasible business models, and market supervision rules, and accelerate the collaborative innovation of upstream and downstream industries in the industrial chain.
Optimizing the business environment, the innovation ecosystem is better—
In the Shunde factory of Midea Microwave Oven in Foshan, Guangdong, staff can easily complete instrument identification, equipment status reading, video recording and other tasks by wearing augmented reality smart glasses, effectively improving efficiency.
The company that provides intelligent customized solutions and smart glasses for the factory is Lingban Technology (灵伴科技), a company from Zhejiang. "From talent introduction and cultivation to project support, the government has provided us with a 'package' of services such as policies and funds. After the product is launched, relevant departments also take the initiative to open up application scenarios for us. We will promote upgrades and iterations based on user feedback," said Xu Xu (许诩), director of public affairs of the company.
Focusing on the goal of "best service, lowest cost, and highest efficiency," Zhejiang continues to create a stable, fair, transparent, and predictable development environment, and strives to build a technological innovation investment mechanism covering talent introduction and cultivation, scientific research platforms, achievement transformation, and industrial incubation.
"Bearing in mind General Secretary Xi Jinping's (习近平) earnest entrustment, Zhejiang must continue to deepen and thoroughly integrate technological innovation and industrial innovation, and strive to take the lead in shaping new development advantages with technological innovation, so that innovative Zhejiang becomes a distinctive symbol of the Chinese-style modernization province taking the lead," said Wang Hao (王浩), Secretary of the Zhejiang Provincial Party Committee.
Return to TopAccording to a report in this newspaper from Haikou (海口) on January 18th (Reporters Zhao Peng (赵鹏), Dong Zeyang (董泽扬), and Ouyang Jie (欧阳洁)) - January 18th marked the "one-month anniversary" of the full island closure operation of the Hainan Free Trade Port (海南自由贸易港). A new set of data reflects its vitality: From December 18, 2025, to January 17, 2026, the number of offshore duty-free shoppers in Hainan (海南) reached 745,000, with sales amounting to 4.86 billion yuan, representing year-on-year increases of 30.2% and 46.8%, respectively.
"After the closure, Hainan (海南) has the basic conditions to promote opening up on a larger scale and at a deeper level," President Xi Jinping (习近平) expressed his high expectations. "Building the Hainan Free Trade Port (海南自由贸易港) to a high standard" is written into the "15th Five-Year Plan" proposal.
Embarking on a new starting point, Hainan (海南) is emancipating its mind, reforming and innovating, deeply promoting the flow-based opening up of goods and factors, and steadily expanding institutional opening up.
Convenient customs clearance attracts visitors from all directions.
Flying from Prague (布拉格), Czech Republic (捷克), to Sanya (三亚), Hainan (海南), requires no transit and takes less time. China's (中国) first seventh freedom passenger route, operated by Kazakhstan's (哈萨克斯坦) SCAT Airlines (斯卡特航空公司), has been operating regularly for nearly a month.
"Clear market demand, a favorable policy environment, and good pilot launch conditions led us to choose Sanya (三亚)," said Stennik Vladimir (斯特尼克·弗拉基米尔), Vice President of SCAT Airlines (斯卡特航空公司).
At various ports in Hainan (海南), immigration experiences are "seamless" and "smooth" with one or two minutes and one inspection, and overseas tourists flock in.
Since the full island closure operation, as of January 17, 2026, Hainan (海南) border inspection authorities have inspected 186,000 inbound and outbound foreigners, an increase of 46% year-on-year; the number of foreign tourists entering Hainan (海南) visa-free has increased by 64% year-on-year, accounting for 93% of the total number of foreign tourists entering the country during the same period.
Optimizing the environment to create fertile ground for business.
In the Haikou National High-tech Zone Medical Device Park (海口国家高新区医疗器械园), a batch of medical electronic endoscope components from Shenzhen (深圳) Kaili Biomedical Technology Co., Ltd. (广东深圳开立生物医疗科技股份有限公司) are applying the "two-ends-abroad" bonded maintenance policy.
"With the relaxation of policies, equipment and components that are difficult and time-consuming to repair overseas can be returned to China (中国) for maintenance, which reduces costs and improves technology," said Li Xiaoxi (李晓曦), General Manager of Kaili Biomedical Technology (Haikou) Co., Ltd. (开立生物医疗科技（海口）有限责任公司). Conducting bonded maintenance in Hainan (海南), "the company's comprehensive costs are expected to decrease by 20% to 30%, and R&D personnel can also personally participate in fault diagnosis, which helps to improve product R&D capabilities."
With simpler procedures, expanded lists, and more refined supervision, more business entities are turning their attention to the Hainan Free Trade Port (海南自贸港). From December 18, 2025, to January 17, 2026, Hainan (海南) added 5,132 newly registered foreign trade companies, equivalent to the number of registrations in one quarter of 2024.
Walking around Hainan (海南), the upgrading of policies combined with the peak tourist season makes the "golden signboard" of offshore duty-free shopping even more eye-catching. In the past month, an average of 24,000 people have been shopping duty-free in Hainan (海南) every day, with a daily average total purchase amount of nearly 160 million yuan.
With the implementation and effectiveness of various policies, the Hainan Free Trade Port (海南自贸港) demonstrates China's (中国) determination and confidence in adhering to expanding opening up to the outside world with a strong and orderly development momentum.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 谷业凯 喻思南 李君强
Several globally renowned science and technology innovation lists are, 不约而同 (bù yuē ér tóng - "coincidentally," to do the same thing without prior consultation), "looking eastward":
Among the top ten cities in the "Nature Index - Science Cities," Chinese cities occupy six seats; one-fifth of the "Highly Cited Researchers" for 2025 released by Clarivate Analytics are from mainland China, with the Chinese Academy of Sciences (中国科学院) ranking first among global research institutions with 258 researchers selected; research published in the *Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences* indicates that the number of Chinese scientists taking on leadership roles in international collaborations is rapidly increasing; according to the World Intellectual Property Organization's "Global Innovation Index Report 2025," China ranks among the top ten most innovative economies in the world...
"Innovation and creation have spurred new quality productive forces and enriched life," President Xi Jinping (习近平) praised China's innovation in his New Year's message for 2026.
From the accelerated leap in scientific research output and capabilities to breakthroughs in basic and frontier fields, and then to global responsibility promoting win-win results through open cooperation, a more confident and open "Innovative China" is becoming an important engine of scientific and technological innovation, injecting new and surging momentum into global development.
High-level scientific and technological output continues to grow, and global scientific research influence is becoming stronger.
Recently, the Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory (江门中微子实验) in Guangdong (广东) officially released its first physics result, breaking the world record for the measurement precision of two neutrino oscillation parameters. "Our results have advanced human understanding of nature by another step," said He Miao (何苗), a researcher at the Institute of High Energy Physics (高能物理研究所) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (中国科学院).
The Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory (江门中微子实验) is a manifestation of China's continuously improving scientific and technological influence and leadership. As the first ultra-large-scale and ultra-high-precision neutrino dedicated device in the world, the experiment is led by China and built in China, with more than 700 researchers from 75 research institutions in 17 countries and regions.
"This is where the wisdom of global scientists converges," said He Miao (何苗), giving an example: "The project team designed four large purification systems for the core substance of capturing neutrinos, liquid scintillator, with China and Italy each responsible for two sets; there are two sizes of photomultiplier tubes in the experiment, and Russia, Italy, France, and other countries deeply participated in the development of the readout electronics system to achieve the conversion from photoelectric signals to digital signals."
Building such a large scientific device 700 meters underground is understandably difficult. The success of the project has shown the world China's determination and ability to support basic research.
"China's increasingly mature and influential contributions in the field of scientific research are reflected in the rankings and assessments of major global scientific research outputs," said Magdalena Skipper, editor-in-chief of *Nature* magazine. "This undoubtedly proves China's systematic investment in scientific research and education, as well as its high regard for the importance of international cooperation."
In 2024, China's total social R&D investment exceeded 3.6 trillion yuan, an increase of 48% compared to 2020; the R&D investment intensity reached 2.68%; and the total number of R&D personnel ranked first in the world. R&D investment has maintained a high intensity and has also been accompanied by continuous optimization in structure.
In 2024, China's basic research funding reached 249.7 billion yuan, an increase of more than 70% compared to 2020. With the strong support of innovative resources, China has achieved a number of major original achievements in quantum technology, life sciences, material sciences, and space sciences, and the number of high-level international journal papers and international patent applications has ranked first in the world for five consecutive years.
"In recent years, China's scientific and technological output has achieved a 'double improvement' in quantity and quality," said Pan Yuntao (潘云涛), chief researcher at the Institute of Scientific and Technical Information of China (中国科学技术信息研究所). According to calculations, as of August 2025, China's share of global hot papers reached 53.2%.
High-quality scientific research results and high-level research teams are progressing in sync. Thanks to focusing on "from 0 to 1" work, in 2025, Yu Jintai (郁金泰), a professor at Huashan Hospital (华山医院) affiliated with Fudan University (复旦大学), and his team discovered a new therapeutic target for Parkinson's disease. "More and more foreign teams are 'tracking' our research results." In Yu Jintai's (郁金泰) view, the "representative work evaluation" system supports researchers to 不鸣则已，一鸣惊人 (bù míng zé yǐ, yī míng jīng rén - "to keep silent, then astonish the world with a single brilliant feat," to remain quiet and bide one's time, then suddenly achieve great success).
"With core talent as the key fulcrum, China's long-term competitiveness in the global scientific research system is constantly being consolidated." In the view of Yi Jiming (易继明), a professor at Peking University Law School (北京大学法学院), in the context of increasingly multipolar global scientific research competition, China's high-level talent team can maintain its size and stability, reflecting that innovation is increasingly based on a mature scientific research organization system, long-term investment mechanisms, and a tiered talent structure, with strong resilience and sustainable development potential.
Improving the systematic layout of scientific research, the effectiveness of the national innovation system has significantly improved.
Recently, the research teams of the Artificial Intelligence Institute (人工智能研究院) and the School of Integrated Circuits (集成电路学院) of Peking University (北京大学) have achieved the multi-physical domain fusion Fourier transform system of "post-Moore's law new devices" for the first time internationally.
Aiming at the practical solution of the basic calculation method of Fourier transform in modern science and engineering, this basic research result has not only published high-level papers, but also broken through key technologies such as system speed and power consumption bottlenecks, accelerating the application and implementation in multiple frontier fields such as artificial intelligence basic models, embodied intelligence, brain-computer interfaces, and data communication.
"Expanding the operator spectrum that various new devices can support is a 'deep-water zone' that the underlying computing power in the 'post-Moore era' must break through," said Tao Yaoyu (陶耀宇), a researcher at the Artificial Intelligence Institute (人工智能研究院) of Peking University (北京大学). "The innovation environment in the domestic semiconductor field is getting better and better, which makes us more confident in starting from the source and the bottom layer to solve practical problems."
Basic research adhering to both goal-oriented and free exploration is a microcosm of China's improving systematic layout of scientific research. Carsten Fink, chief economist of the World Intellectual Property Organization, commented that China's innovation activities have been outstanding in recent years, and the Chinese government's planning, sustained attention, and support for the innovation system have played an important role in this.
The booming commercial aerospace industry is another window to observe the changes in China's innovation concepts. Driven by top-level design and broad market demand, the aerospace field, which used to be only for "national teams," now has more and more private enterprises.
At the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center (酒泉卫星发射中心), in the Dongfeng Commercial Aerospace Innovation Pilot Zone (东风商业航天创新试验区), China's new generation of commercial rocket "Tianlong-3 (天龙三号)" is poised to launch.
"This is currently the commercial aerospace rocket with the largest carrying capacity in China, aiming to serve the satellite Internet constellation launch," said Kang Yonglai (康永来), chairman of Tianbing Technology (天兵科技). The company has established a full-chain layout from independent rocket research and development, large-scale manufacturing to exclusive launch pads. In 2025, "Tianlong-3 (天龙三号)" successfully completed the key tests of ground transportation and vibration of "one rocket with 36 satellites," and has the ability to launch more than 30 satellites with one rocket, and is rapidly advancing the first flight mission.
From the new national system integrating innovation forces and superior resources to the transformation of achievements to solve the "two skins" of science and technology and industry; from strengthening the main position of enterprises in innovation to doing a good job in the "big article" of science and technology finance... In recent years, China has strengthened top-level design traction and improved the national innovation system. A series of pragmatic measures and long-term strategies have accelerated the formation of a system and mechanism to support comprehensive innovation.
International science and technology innovation centers, innovation highlands with global influence. In the 2025 global top 100 innovation clusters, China's number of listed clusters continues to rank first in the world. Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou (深圳—香港—广州), Beijing (北京), and Shanghai-Suzhou (上海—苏州) rank first, fourth, and sixth respectively. The 2025 Central Economic Work Conference (中央经济工作会议) deployed the "expansion and quality improvement" of the construction of three major science and technology innovation centers, which will become an important strategic pillar for China to move towards a strong science and technology country.
"Through spatial expansion, resource coordination, policy superposition, and power synergy, to promote complementary advantages, collaborative linkage, and cohesive force, it will further enhance the original innovation source function, high-end industrial leading function, and top talent gathering function of international science and technology innovation centers," said Xuan Zhaohui (玄兆辉), director of the Institute of Science and Technology Statistics and Regional Innovation of the Chinese Academy of Science and Technology for Development (中国科学技术发展战略研究院科技统计与区域创新研究所).
New technologies are going to the world, from "made in China" to "researched in China."
It is not only global science and technology innovation lists that are "looking eastward." More and more new Chinese technologies are going to the world, empowering global development.
In the farmland near Abuja (阿布贾), the capital of Nigeria (尼日利亚), golden rice waves rise and fall with the wind, and the rice is harvested in season. "We have deeply integrated the high-yield characteristics of Chinese rice with the stress resistance of African native varieties, and successfully cultivated more than 80 high-yield and adaptable green super rice varieties," said Xu Jianlong (徐建龙), a researcher at the Institute of Crop Science (作物科学研究所) of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (中国农业科学院).
In the computer classroom of Anuradhapura National College (阿努拉德普勒国家学院) in Sri Lanka (斯里兰卡), Piumi Nayanathara, the leader of the "OpenKylin (开放麒麟)" community Sri Lanka user group, demonstrated the desktop environment, basic functions, and open source community operations of the "OpenKylin (开放麒麟)" system to students and IT teachers. "The Chinese open source project provides a realistic entry point for Sri Lankan students to understand and participate in global technology collaboration," said Piumi Nayanathara.
In Abu Dhabi (阿布扎比), UAE (阿联酋), Didi Autonomous Driving (滴滴自动驾驶) joined the local smart and autonomous vehicle industry cluster, gradually expanding cooperation to the wider Middle East region. "We look forward to working with local partners to jointly promote the innovation and application of autonomous driving technology, and bring a safe, reliable, and intelligent travel experience," said Wang Yue (王玥), vice president of Didi Autonomous Driving (滴滴自动驾驶).
Always adhering to promoting scientific and technological progress through open cooperation, China's new products and new technologies are going to the world in a way that is closer to life, making innovation results perceptible, accessible, and sustainable.
At the 2026 International Consumer Electronics Show (国际消费电子展), known as the "technology vane," innovative products brought by many Chinese companies attracted global attention.
The world's first "mobile robot" brought by Honor (荣耀) integrates a movable mechanical pan-tilt design, combining "AI mobile phone brain," robot mobility, and high-definition camera capabilities; Lenovo (联想) launched a personal super intelligent body, realizing "seamless switching" of mobile phones, computers, tablets, and wearable devices, situational awareness, privacy protection, and multi-intelligent body collaboration; Dreame Technology (追觅科技), relying on its self-developed multi-modal perception system and bionic robotic arm control algorithm, demonstrated a sweeping robot with a robotic arm, which can autonomously complete "grabbing, sorting, and storage" relying on AI visual recognition...
"Our global authorized patents exceed 17,000. In 2025, Honor's (荣耀) overseas sales accounted for more than 50%, and shipments in regions such as Latin America exceeded 10 million units," said Wang Ban (王班), president of sales and service at Honor (荣耀).
With the world's largest market and the richest application scenarios, China is not only promoting many new technologies to the world with its super-large-scale market advantages, but also becoming a new stage for global research and development.
"BMW has established its largest R&D network outside of Germany in China, including 4 innovation bases and 3 software companies, and the new models are tailored to Chinese road conditions and driving habits," said a relevant person in charge of the BMW Group (宝马集团).
"China has not only achieved innovative results in digital technology, artificial intelligence, and other fields, but also achieved remarkable results in the development of related industries," said Shan Xiaoguang (单晓光), a professor at the Shanghai International Intellectual Property Academy (上海国际知识产权学院) of Tongji University (同济大学).
The Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (党的二十届四中全会) proposed to accelerate high-level scientific and technological self-reliance and self-improvement, and lead the development of new quality productive forces. "Adhering to innovation-driven development and accelerating the cultivation and expansion of new kinetic energy" is a key task in the opening year of the "15th Five-Year Plan." Anchoring the goal, taking advantage of the momentum, and adhering to innovation and creation to spur new quality productive forces, scientific and technological innovation achievements that will impress the world will continue to emerge, and the momentum of high-quality development will be stronger.
Return to TopBy: 国纪平
Entering the "15th Five-Year Plan" period, the continuous advancement of Chinese-style modernization not only contributes momentum and opportunities to global development but also expands the development space for world modernization.
Profound transformations in areas such as poverty eradication and green transition provide entry points for observation. In these two crucial areas concerning the future of humanity, the phenomenon of "Today's China, Tomorrow's World" is increasingly gaining attention. From ideological inspiration and experience sharing to cooperative leadership, the confidence that "China can succeed, and other developing countries can also succeed" is constantly being conveyed, and the effect of China's development empowering the world is becoming increasingly apparent.
Reflecting on why "Today's China, Tomorrow's World" has emerged opens a window for understanding China's governance and the global significance of Chinese-style modernization.
(I) The Light of Thought: Illuminating the Path Forward
Modernization is the common pursuit of all countries. Chinese-style modernization provides new ideas and paradigms for solving the common problems faced by countries in the modernization process.
First, let's look at the field of poverty reduction.
Poverty is a perennial problem, and eradicating poverty in all its forms worldwide is the primary goal of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. From a modernization perspective, poverty reduction requires not only economic development but also the transformation of development results into universal well-being, properly handling the relationship between development and fairness. Looking around the world, there are still over 700 million people facing the threat of hunger, and more than 800 million people living in absolute poverty. Many developing countries have weak development foundations and are still struggling to explore effective poverty reduction paths. Even in developed countries, the gap between rich and poor is widening, and poverty problems are also intensifying.
How does China solve this problem?
"I have worked in villages, counties, cities, provinces, and the central government in China, and poverty alleviation has been an important part of my work, and it is also a major task that I am determined to accomplish." The people's leader's heart of a child and the century-old party's mission and responsibility are fully demonstrated on the path of poverty reduction. From the dialectical thinking of "weak birds can hope to fly first, and the poorest can become rich first" more than 30 years ago, to the concept innovation of "targeted poverty alleviation" in the new era, and then to the strategic plan to establish a 5-year transition period to consolidate and expand the achievements of poverty alleviation... The theory of poverty reduction with Chinese characteristics is constantly improving, and the path of poverty reduction with Chinese characteristics is becoming more and more solid.
The light of thought guides China's practice and rewrites world history. It took 8 years to lift nearly 100 million people out of poverty, completing the world's largest poverty reduction practice, and then used a 5-year transition period to effectively connect rural revitalization, steadily moving towards the goal of common prosperity. "China has created a miracle in the history of human development." Former Spanish Prime Minister Zapatero said that China's development has not only changed itself but also changed the world, making a huge contribution to the global poverty reduction cause.
Let's look at the green transition again.
How to handle the relationship between humans and nature, and how to balance development and protection, is another important challenge that runs through the human modernization process. Looking at history, most traditional modernization paths follow the pattern of "pollute first, then treat," and the environmental damage is difficult to heal for a long time. Today, more severe ecological and environmental challenges and increasingly tight resource constraints are putting modernizers under the dual pressure of development and protection.
The old path is unsustainable. How can we blaze a new trail?
More than 20 years ago, Yucun Village (余村) in Anji County (安吉县), Zhejiang Province (浙江省) faced the dilemma of getting rich by "selling stones" and protecting the ecological environment. In 2005, Xi Jinping (习近平), then Secretary of the Zhejiang Provincial Party Committee, came here to investigate and research, and first proposed that "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets (绿水青山就是金山银山)." Simple words, imbued with the light of thought.
"Lucid waters and lush mountains are by no means opposed to invaluable assets. The key lies in people, and the key lies in ideas." In the new era of China, theoretical innovations guiding green development are constantly advancing. It is proposed that "protecting the ecological environment is protecting productivity, and improving the ecological environment is developing productivity," emphasizing that "high-quality development and high-level protection are mutually reinforcing and complementary," and clarifying that "green development is the underlying color of high-quality development, and new quality productive forces are inherently green productive forces"... Along the way, it condenses new understandings of the laws of human development and ecological civilization construction.
Tracing back to the source, theoretical innovation is not generated out of thin air. Inheriting Marxist theory of natural productivity and containing the essence of outstanding traditional Chinese culture, this ideological crystallization with roots and vitality breaks the "binary opposition" between development and protection in history and illuminates the path forward for green development.
The green transformation of China in the new era is precisely the magnificent flower blooming from the seeds of thought. A village, shutting down mines and developing ecological tourism, Yucun Village was selected as one of the first UN World Tourism Organization "Best Tourism Villages"; a great river, "jointly grasping great protection and not engaging in large-scale development," the high-quality development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt (长江经济带) is slowly unfolding... One by one, small changes converge into a grand narrative of "historical, transformative, and overall changes," making "the sky bluer, the land greener, and the water clearer," and making the people's sense of gain and happiness tangible.
From poverty eradication to green transition, they jointly reflect a distinct feature of China's development in the new era: guiding new development practices with the achievements of theoretical innovation. This is a successful exploration that belongs to China and also belongs to the world.
Santiago (圣地亚哥), General Secretary of the Communist Party of Spain (西班牙共产党), said that Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era demonstrates powerful ideological strength. At the Communist Party of Spain's party festival in recent years, the Communist Party of Spain has reserved a booth for China, displaying the works of General Secretary Xi Jinping, which always attract the attention of representatives of communist parties from various countries and ordinary people.
Looking at the world, China's scientific thought is radiating brilliant light of the times. More and more countries are drawing wisdom from China's experience and transforming China's solutions into practical measures to address their own challenges.
(II) Changes in the "China View": Reflecting Shared Aspirations
The world's "China View" is undergoing clear changes.
In the past, Western society had a set of "China narrative" logic. Under its discourse system, all of China's actions were labeled suspiciously a priori: development is a "threat," innovation is "plagiarism," and planning is a "conspiracy"... Brazilian geopolitics scholar Washington Araújo (华盛顿·阿劳若) pointed out sharply that this argument is not portraying the real China at all, but rather exposing the user's own lack of analytical ability, "the real China begins where stereotypes end."
Today, "distancing oneself from China will only limit oneself" is becoming an international consensus. The international community's perspective on China is not limited to the phenomenal description of "China's success story," but also includes the experiential analysis of "how China did it" and the inspirational excavation of "what to learn from China." The extension of the cognitive chain reflects the deep impact of China's development on the world.
Confidence is thus transmitted—
"Poverty determinism" plagues many developing countries, and a confidence deficit is a major obstacle for many countries to escape poverty. The "low-level equilibrium trap" theory leads some people to believe that many developing countries are constrained by resource scarcity or external conditions and find it difficult to achieve large-scale poverty reduction.
Today, China's practice tells the world in a knowable and sensible way: poverty is not predetermined, and poverty is not invincible.
In November 2024, President Xi Jinping profoundly discussed the global significance of China's successful fight against poverty at the first stage meeting of the 19th G20 Leaders' Summit: "China's poverty alleviation journey shows that with the resilience, perseverance, and fighting spirit of **滴水穿石** (dī shuǐ chuān shí - "dripping water pierces stone," perseverance will eventually overcome any difficulty) and drawing a blueprint to the end, the poverty problems of developing countries can be solved, and weak birds can fly first and fly high."
The 73rd United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution on eliminating rural poverty, explicitly incorporating the concept of "targeted poverty alleviation." Khon Kaen Province (孔敬府), Thailand's fourth most populous province, has achieved effective poverty reduction by drawing on China's "targeted poverty alleviation" concept. Local officials said: "China has made the world understand the importance of targeted poverty alleviation, see the possibility of poverty alleviation, and provided the courage to solve poverty problems."
Experience is thus shared—
In today's era, green transition is a compulsory question for all countries, and the vast number of developing countries have a general understanding of the necessity of green development. However, the dilemma of difficult balance between growth and emission reduction, and the double shortage of technology and funds, widely exists.
As the world's largest developing country, China has launched a systematic policy design, persevering and achieving long-term success, and has embarked on an effective path of green transition: adhering to green development without being disturbed by short-term difficulties; giving play to institutional advantages and truly achieving a national chessboard and drawing a blueprint to the end; scientifically planning the path, adhering to "achieving carbon peaking and carbon neutrality, neither waiting nor rushing," adhering to "seeking progress while maintaining stability and gradually achieving it," adhering to basing on national conditions and establishing before breaking... These Chinese experiences have important reference significance for developing countries to break through the predicament of green transition.
Today's China, lucid waters and lush mountains are not only natural wealth and ecological wealth, but also social wealth and economic wealth. The eyes of the vast number of developing countries exploring China's experience are turning more to micro-scenarios and specific practices: visiting Chinese technology companies such as CATL (宁德时代) and BYD (比亚迪) to investigate the development direction of Chinese green technology; walking into Shapotou District (沙坡头区), Zhongwei City (中卫市), Ningxia (宁夏) to learn in detail about the wheat straw checkerboard sand control technology known as "China's Magic Cube"; gathering in ministerial seminars on water resources management and small hydropower development to learn from China's experience in water ecological and environmental governance; going deep into Shanghai (上海市) for visits and inspections to feel the vivid practice of China's ecological city construction...
From leading China's transformation to helping global transition, China's solutions and China's experience have become popular international public goods. "What is the reason behind the increasing popularity of clean energy technology in developing countries? One word: China." The British "Dialogue Earth" website published an article pointing out that clean energy technology not only makes an important contribution to China's economy but is also becoming an important part of its soft power.
Inspiration is thus explored—
"The future of humanity largely depends on China." This view of UN Secretary-General Guterres (古特雷斯) is constantly being confirmed in the development of the times.
This is a new choice for modernization paths. Breaking the myth of "modernization = Westernization," Chinese-style modernization provides a new path choice for the vast number of developing countries to independently move towards modernization, helping the Global South to better achieve collective rise, and making the road of modernization of human society wider and wider. As Omar (奥马尔), Secretary-General of the United Democratic Alliance of Kenya (肯尼亚联合民主同盟), pointed out, Chinese-style modernization reveals a fundamental truth: there is no fixed template for development, and it must be based on its own national conditions.
This is a reaffirmation of the value base of modernization. Laos' Tingsong Village (听松村) is benchmarking Hunan's Shibadong Village (十八洞村) to create a sustainable development model; Uzbekistan (乌兹别克斯坦) is implementing a pilot project of the "China Poverty Reduction Model" nationwide; Spanish Speaker of the Congress Armengol (阿门戈尔) said that Spain also has problems such as inequality between rich and poor, and should pay attention to China's experience in "poverty alleviation" and "not leaving anyone behind"... Chinese-style modernization always focuses on people and is based on people, responding to people's yearning for a better life, and broadening the ideological vision, exploring the possibility of practice, and injecting the driving force for progress for the "world of tomorrow."
This is a new form of civilization development. China's development concepts and experience are providing new practical references for human civilization development. The international community's formation of a more rational, objective, rich, and diverse "China View" on this basis also contains a concern and reflection on the new possibilities of civilization development. Former Vice President of the New Development Bank Paulo Batista (保罗·巴蒂斯塔) said that learning from China and drawing on the beneficial elements in its development process, "we do not have to blindly imitate, but should always combine our own historical and political conditions and draw more wisdom from them."
The phenomenon of "Today's China, Tomorrow's World" shows that the international influence, appeal, and shaping power of Chinese-style modernization are constantly rising. This is not only a cognitive innovation but also a hand in hand towards the future.
(III) "Open Source" Modernization: Demonstrating the Responsibility of the Times
Behind the phenomenon of "Today's China, Tomorrow's World," we can feel China's consistent "world view."
In October 2023, President Xi Jinping solemnly pointed out at the opening ceremony of the Third Belt and Road International Cooperation Summit Forum: "What we are pursuing is not China's modernization alone, but we look forward to jointly achieving modernization with all countries, including the vast number of developing countries."
Adhering to the concept that "the world is good, China will be good; China is good, the world will be better," Chinese-style modernization is always "open source," always open to the world, and shares opportunities with all countries.
China is a leader and an enabler. In the global green transition, China not only contributes ideas and experience but also helps countries transform with practical and inclusive technologies and cooperation projects, always pursuing mutual benefit and win-win results.
In Indonesia (印度尼西亚), the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway (雅万高铁) uses permanent magnet traction motors developed by China, which is expected to reduce carbon emissions by about 330,000 tons; in the United Arab Emirates (阿联酋), the "photovoltaic ocean" built with the participation of Chinese companies stretches deep into the Abu Dhabi (阿布扎比) desert; in Greece (希腊), the Grammatikaki (格拉玛提卡奇) wind farm on the Aegean Sea (爱琴海) stands tall in the wind; in Peru (秘鲁), the Chancay Wetland (钱凯湿地) adjacent to the Chancay Port (钱凯港) is an important bird habitat, "Chancay Port is not only 'golden' but also 'green'"; in Kenya (肯尼亚), the Mombasa-Nairobi Railway (蒙内铁路) has been included in the country's first national information communication submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, "writing not only history but also the future of harmonious coexistence between humans and nature"...
The change in one region is enough to see the overall situation. At a time when global development is facing numerous difficulties, compared with individual countries obsessed with unilateralism and hegemony, China always advocates mutual cooperation and mutual empowerment.
Practical and feasible cooperation plans, practical cooperation actions, and tangible cooperation results. Microgrid projects light up villages in the Guyana (圭亚那) rainforest; rural well-drilling projects solve the drinking water problem for about 1/7 of the population of Senegal (塞内加尔); Chinese-funded logistics companies open up the "last mile" of express delivery in Brazilian (巴西) slum communities; the "Hope Farm" project brings confidence and hope to Namibian (纳米比亚) farmers; Juncao technology (菌草技术) "turns grass into gold" in more than 100 countries; "Luban Workshops (鲁班工坊)" give Central Asian (中亚) youth wings to realize their career dreams...
The Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee reviewed and approved the "15th Five-Year Plan" proposal, drawing a new blueprint for China's development. Taking the promotion of high-quality development as the theme to lead China's new journey of economic progress, and deploying the next 5 years of foreign work with the construction of a community with a shared future for mankind as the main line, the relationship between China and the world has entered a new stage in which it can make greater contributions to human development and progress. International public opinion sees from this that "China has demonstrated the ability to transform strategic visions into reality, and the new development blueprint will bring high-quality, innovation-driven, and sustainable economic growth, which will benefit both China itself and the world."
Framing the present, in this era full of uncertainty and instability, China is not only committed to developing itself but also adheres to embracing the world, bravely shouldering the responsibility of a major country, and is increasingly becoming the anchor of morality, the source of confidence, and the light of hope in a turbulent world.
Looking at the long term, the Communist Party of China (中国共产党) is leading more than 1.4 billion Chinese people to stride towards modernization, driving the overall strength of developing countries to continue to grow, and promoting the most progressive and significant changes in the balance of international power since modern times, writing a new chapter in human history.
"Today's China, Tomorrow's World" is a story of an ancient civilization rejuvenating and contributing more wisdom and strength to humanity's journey to the future.
The reason why "Today's China" can inspire the "World of Tomorrow" lies fundamentally in China's use of scientific planning to guide long-term development and maintain the certainty of progress; it lies in China's adherence to the people's heart as its own and the world's interests as its own, and always contributing new opportunities to the world's modernization with the new development of Chinese-style modernization.
A China that bravely shoulders great righteousness and is committed to achieving far-reaching goals will surely make greater contributions to promoting the ship of human destiny to sail towards a more magnificent future.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 郁静娴
Reader Concerns
I am a village cadre, and the village has undergone many changes in recent years. I would like to know what policies and measures the country will take in the future to strengthen agriculture, benefit farmers, and enrich rural areas.
The "Fifteenth Five-Year Plan" proposal suggests improving the effectiveness of policies to strengthen agriculture, benefit farmers, and enrich rural areas.
In recent years, China has adhered to prioritizing the development of agriculture and rural areas, and has successively introduced a series of policies to strengthen agriculture, benefit farmers, and enrich rural areas. It has established an agricultural support and protection system covering all links before, during, and after production, and various business entities, as well as a policy system for winning the battle against poverty and comprehensively promoting rural revitalization. During the "Fourteenth Five-Year Plan" period, the income of rural residents grew rapidly, and the growth rate was higher than that of urban residents for many years. The ratio of urban-rural residents' income narrowed from 2.56:1 in 2020 to 2.34:1 in 2024.
——The modernization of agriculture and rural areas is still relatively lagging. Where will efforts be focused in the future?
Increase policy support for strengthening agriculture, benefiting farmers, and enriching rural areas, improve the investment mechanism for rural revitalization, and continuously improve policy effectiveness... According to relevant officials from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (农业农村部), the importance of firmly holding China's rice bowl is becoming increasingly prominent; in some underdeveloped areas, there are still many shortcomings in rural infrastructure and public services that need to be addressed. Next, we must focus on accelerating the efforts to make up for the shortcomings and weaknesses in the modernization of agriculture and rural areas, and plan a number of major policies and major projects that benefit a wide range of people and are highly targeted.
——How to promote the inclination of human input, material allocation, and financial security towards agriculture and rural areas?
During the "Fourteenth Five-Year Plan" period, China insisted on treating agriculture and rural areas as a priority guarantee area for the general public budget, with fiscal expenditure on agriculture, forestry, and water affairs reaching 11.3 trillion yuan, and the proportion of national land transfer income used for agriculture and rural areas reaching more than 10%. In the next 5 years, we will focus on consolidating the foundation and making up for shortcomings, improve the diversified investment pattern of fiscal priority guarantee, financial key inclination, and active social participation, and ensure that investment efforts continue to increase. At the same time, adapt to the changing trends of the rural population, proceed from the actual situation of various places and the needs of farmers, focus on inclusive, basic, and guaranteed livelihood construction, and concentrate efforts on doing a good job in completing a number of practical things that farmers can feel and touch.
——How to improve the accuracy of policies so that farmers can obtain practical benefits and increase motivation?
In recent years, China has continued to improve the "three-in-one" support policy system of price, subsidies, and insurance. In early 2025, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (农业农村部) released 9 central government financial agricultural subsidy policies to individuals and households in the form of a "policy list," including arable land quality protection subsidies and agricultural machinery purchase and application subsidies, which effectively played a role at important agricultural time nodes.
Make it profitable for farmers to grow grain, and give the main grain-producing areas the internal motivation to grasp grain. The person in charge of the Planning and Finance Department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (农业农村部计划财务司) said that it will further strengthen policy support and coordination such as prices, subsidies, and insurance, ensure that the prices of important agricultural products such as grain remain at a reasonable level, and promote the inclination of relevant policies towards main grain-producing areas and large grain-producing counties, and continue to strengthen the full-chain supervision of fiscal funds for supporting agriculture.
Return to TopOn January 17, in Wuyunshan Village (乌云山村), Hongshan Town (红山镇), Yingshan County (英山县), Huanggang City (黄冈市), Hubei Province (湖北省), villagers harvested fish with nets, preparing to supply the market.
Wang Jiang (王江) Photo (Image China (影像中国))
Return to TopBy: 尹双红
Recently, many regions have refined policies and measures to issue elderly care service consumption subsidies to elderly people with moderate or higher levels of disability. This not only substantially reduces the burden of family care but also effectively promotes the matching of supply and demand for elderly care services, improving quality and efficiency.
Having both elderly parents and young children is a blessing, but also a responsibility. Nowadays, the basic pension for urban and rural residents is gradually increasing, there are more and more community care centers, the meals in elderly canteens are of good quality and low price, and smart elderly care explores one-click ordering and door-to-door service... Good policies support a happy "sunset glow," bringing convenience to thousands of households.
Elderly care services require specialization and high quality. The "Several Measures on Cultivating Elderly Care Service Business Entities and Promoting the Development of the Silver Economy," recently issued, aims to further meet the multi-level and diversified elderly care service needs of the elderly. The continuous optimization of elderly care service supply allows everyone to have more choices and fewer worries.
Optimizing the supply of basic elderly care services, improving the urban and rural elderly care service network, and improving the care system for disabled and cognitively impaired elderly people... During the "15th Five-Year Plan" period, China's elderly care security will be more solid and the services will be more comprehensive, allowing every family to feel more happiness in "having the elderly cared for" (老有所养).
Return to TopTheory
Adhere to the close integration of investing in things and investing in people.
Ninth Edition
The story of "From 0 to 1, From 1 to 100"
"Carbon Fiber" Breaks Through
Nineteenth Edition
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 丁怡婷
10.3682 trillion kilowatt-hours! The latest data released by the National Energy Administration (国家能源局) shows that in 2025, China's total social electricity consumption exceeded 10 trillion kilowatt-hours for the first time, a global first.
How large is "10 trillion kilowatt-hours"? Horizontally, it is equivalent to more than twice the annual electricity consumption of the United States, and also higher than the sum of the annual electricity consumption of the European Union, Russia (俄罗斯), India (印度), and Japan (日本). Vertically, China's electricity consumption first exceeded 1 trillion kilowatt-hours in 1996, became the world's largest electricity consumer in 2011, and comprehensively solved the electricity consumption problem for the unelectrified population in 2015. In 2025, electricity consumption is nearly twice that of 2015, and the growth rate is unique among major economies in the world.
Electricity consumption is regarded as a "barometer" and "weathervane" of economic and social operation. Yang Kun (杨昆), Executive Vice Chairman of the China Electricity Council (中国电力企业联合会), believes that the fact that electricity consumption exceeded 10 trillion kilowatt-hours for the first time reflects China's development background as a manufacturing powerhouse and also reflects the comprehensive improvement of China's energy security capabilities.
Industrial structure is becoming newer and better.
The increase in industrial electricity consumption comes more from high value-added, technology-intensive industries.
In 2025, China's secondary industry electricity consumption was 6.6366 trillion kilowatt-hours, accounting for about 64% of the total social electricity consumption, and it is still the "basic plate" for electricity consumption.
In the second phase of the Huahong Integrated Circuit project in Wuxi (无锡), Jiangsu (江苏), artificial intelligence applications and other factors have driven a surge in demand for semiconductor processing. "The production line is running continuously, and the shipment volume of wafers has increased significantly. In 2025, the company's electricity consumption will increase by more than 43% year-on-year," said the relevant person in charge of Huahong Semiconductor Manufacturing (Wuxi) Co., Ltd. (华虹半导体制造（无锡）有限公司).
Data from the Jiangsu (江苏) Electric Power Department shows that a landmark change has occurred in the local industrial electricity consumption structure. In 2025, the electricity consumption of the computer, communication, and other electronic equipment manufacturing industries exceeded 50 billion kilowatt-hours for the first time, surpassing traditional pillar industries such as steel and chemical industries.
At Zhejiang Fubao Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd. (浙江孚宝智能科技有限公司), technicians are upgrading intelligent health and wellness robots. "We are accelerating the layout of overseas markets and carrying out differentiated customized research and development. We have received multiple project orders from countries such as the United Kingdom, Germany, and France," said Ye Ting (叶婷), Vice President of the company. The company's electricity consumption has maintained rapid growth for 11 consecutive months, with a year-on-year increase of more than 25% throughout last year.
Wang Gang (王岗), a senior engineer at the Energy Big Data Evaluation and Application Research Center of the State Grid Hangzhou (杭州) Power Supply Company (国网杭州供电公司能源大数据评价与应用研究中心), introduced that the rapidly developing artificial intelligence industry requires a large amount of computing power, which has led to a substantial increase in electricity consumption. There are nearly a hundred data centers operating in Hangzhou (杭州), Zhejiang (浙江), and electricity consumption increased by 47.2% year-on-year in 2025.
In 2025, the pace of industrial upgrading, intelligence, and green development was steady, and the structure continued to be optimized and upgraded. High-end manufacturing has formed a new growth point for electricity consumption, and the growth rates in the fields of new energy vehicles and wind power equipment manufacturing have exceeded 20% and 30% respectively. The electricity consumption growth rate of the four major energy-intensive industries was relatively low, with an increase of 1.8%. "The dominant role of 'new manufacturing' in industrial electricity consumption continues to increase, and the increase in electricity consumption is more contributed by high value-added, technology-intensive industries," said Yang Kun (杨昆).
The service industry, which is also improving in quality and upgrading, has also become an important engine for driving electricity consumption. At the Huawei Cloud Data Center (华为云数据中心) in Gui'an New District (贵安新区), Guizhou (贵州), the server matrix operates day and night. With the in-depth advancement of the "East Data West Computing" project, the big data industry has become one of the fastest-growing areas of electricity consumption in Guizhou (贵州).
In 2025, China's tertiary industry electricity consumption was nearly 2 trillion kilowatt-hours, a year-on-year increase of 8.2%, accounting for about 19.2% of the total social electricity consumption. From a national perspective, the electricity consumption growth rates of the charging and battery swapping service industry and the information transmission, software, and information technology service industry reached 48.8% and 17% respectively, and more new electricity consumption flowed to new scenarios and new services.
Electrification development is more diversified.
The electrification rate of terminal energy use is about 30%, and the gap in electricity consumption between urban and rural residents is gradually narrowing.
At present, the trend of electrification of energy production and consumption in China is obvious. The electrification rate of terminal energy use is about 30%, exceeding that of major developed economies, which further drives the increase in electricity consumption.
Citrus planting and processing is one of the pillar industries in Xinping Yi and Dai Autonomous County (新平彝族傣族自治县), Yuxi (玉溪), Yunnan (云南). "Last year, we invested 20 million yuan to build a new intelligent micro-sprinkler irrigation system, which realized automatic irrigation of the entire park, and the efficiency was increased by about 65% compared with the traditional method," introduced Zhang Yueqiang (张跃强), a staff member of the Technology Center of Xinping Chushi Agriculture Co., Ltd. (新平褚氏农业有限公司). In order to meet the electricity demand of characteristic agriculture, the local power department built and renovated nearly 82 kilometers of 10 kV lines and 69 distribution transformers, supporting the electricity consumption of the citrus planting and processing industry in Xinping County (新平县) to increase by more than 15% last year.
During the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, China implemented a rural power grid consolidation and upgrading project, with a cumulative arrangement of 25 billion yuan in central budget investment, driving the completion of investment in rural power grids of more than 800 billion yuan. In 2025, the gap in electricity consumption between urban and rural residents will gradually narrow.
The improvement of electrification level is also reflected in the changes in residents' lives. Taking green travel as an example, in Shenzhen (深圳), Guangdong (广东), the number of supercharging stations exceeds that of gas stations, and the local electricity consumption of the charging and battery swapping service industry increased by 58.5% last year; in Chengdu (成都), Sichuan (四川), the total operating mileage of the rail transit network exceeds 750 kilometers, and nearly 1/3 of the population in the central urban area uses the subway as the first choice for travel. In 2025, the subway electricity consumption will increase by about 160 million kilowatt-hours year-on-year.
Looking at the whole country, the application scenarios of rural electrification such as electric power irrigation and intelligent greenhouses are constantly increasing. The industrial field implements electric energy substitution such as high-temperature heat pumps and electric heating. The power supply mode of "photovoltaic power generation + electric energy storage" is popularized in the construction field, and ships and airplanes use shore power when berthing... The rapid and diversified development of terminal energy electrification promotes green production and life.
Power supply is more sufficient and greener.
Sufficient power supply, strong power grid, and active market create a number of global firsts.
During the peak summer of 2025, the national maximum power load hit new highs four times, and the electricity consumption in July and August exceeded 1 trillion kilowatt-hours for two consecutive months, which is also a global first. With electricity consumption repeatedly hitting new highs and a huge volume, where does the confidence in ensuring supply come from?
The world's largest power supply system and clean power generation system ensure power supply.
China's installed power generation capacity accounts for 1/3 of the world's total, and for every 3 kilowatt-hours of electricity used, more than 1 kilowatt-hour is green electricity. In 2025, the combined installed capacity of wind power and photovoltaic power will historically exceed that of thermal power; the installed capacity of new energy storage will exceed the 100 million kilowatt mark, accounting for more than 40% of the world's total. The "giant power bank" makes wind and solar power generation more stable.
More than 95% of coal-fired power units have ultra-low emissions, and more than 50% of coal-fired power units can deeply regulate peak load, building the world's largest clean coal-fired power supply system; during the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, independent third-generation nuclear power "Hualong One" (华龙一号), "Guohe One" (国和一号), and fourth-generation high-temperature gas-cooled reactor projects were built and put into operation... The accelerated construction and transformation of various power sources have consolidated the basic plate for power supply security.
The world's largest and most complex transmission and transformation project strengthens the power grid.
One end is a massive power supply, and the other end is thousands of households. The growth of electricity consumption is inseparable from the resource allocation and regulation of the power grid. In 2025, with the completion and operation of a number of UHV projects from Longdong (陇东) to Shandong (山东), Hami (哈密), Xinjiang (新疆) to Chongqing (重庆), Ningxia (宁夏) to Hunan (湖南), and Jinshang (金上) to Hubei (湖北), China has built 46 UHV projects, "flashing" the rich clean energy in the western and northern regions to the load centers in the eastern and central regions. The energy transmission network of "West-to-East Power Transmission" (西电东送) and "North-to-South Power Supply" (北电南供) has been further consolidated.
In 2025, the State Grid (国家电网) completed fixed asset investment of more than 650 billion yuan; during the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, the cumulative completion of fixed asset investment exceeded 2.8 trillion yuan, both of which hit record highs. The "West-to-East Power Transmission" (西电东送) of the Southern Power Grid (南方电网) sent more than 260 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity for the first time in 2025, 31.1 billion kilowatt-hours more than in 2020, which also hit a record high.
The world's largest "electricity supermarket" activates the market.
During the peak summer of 2025, the southern region supported Shanghai (上海), Zhejiang (浙江), and Anhui (安徽) with electricity for the first time, and the Minyue Interconnection (闽粤联网) transmitted electricity at full power, with an 85% year-on-year increase in electricity; the afternoon photovoltaic power generation peak in Xinjiang (新疆) matches the evening electricity consumption peak in Beijing (北京) and Tianjin (天津), which not only realizes the consumption of new energy in the west, but also meets the power supply security needs in the east... The accelerated construction of a unified national electricity market has played the role of a "regulator" for electricity resources and a "command stick" for price guidance. Since the "14th Five-Year Plan", China's market transaction electricity has increased from 10.7 trillion kilowatt-hours during the "13th Five-Year Plan" period to 23.8 trillion kilowatt-hours, more than doubling; the proportion of total social electricity consumption has increased from 40% in 2020 to more than 60% today.
"The energy and power industry has provided strong energy and power security for the construction of Chinese-style modernization by actively building a new energy system, vigorously cultivating new quality productive forces, continuously promoting green and low-carbon transformation, and promoting the high-quality leapfrog development of new energy and renewable energy," said Yang Kun (杨昆).
10 trillion kilowatt-hours is the continuous upgrading of power supply capacity, the new and better direction of the Chinese economy, and the thriving of a better life.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 吴秋余
From January 1st, a new generation of digital RMB measurement framework, management system, operating mechanism, and ecosystem officially launched, with the digital RMB upgraded to version 2.0. This upgrade means that the digital RMB has been upgraded from digital cash to digital deposit currency, and the money in the digital RMB wallet can generate interest. What are the advantages of the upgraded digital RMB? How can ordinary users better use the new generation of digital RMB? A reporter interviewed Guan Tao (管涛), Global Chief Economist of Bank of China Securities, and other relevant experts.
Only the Balance of Wallets with Completed Real-Name Authentication Will Accrue Interest
Q: From digital cash to digital deposit currency, what impact does this have on individual users? How is the deposit interest rate determined, and how is it calculated?
A: For individual users, the most direct change is that the money in the digital RMB wallet can generate interest.
From January 1st, the digital RMB business operating institutions will pay interest on the balance in the user's real-name wallet at the current deposit listed interest rate. Specifically, if the user opens a real-name wallet (Class 1, Class 2, or Class 3 wallet), the balance in the wallet will be calculated according to the current deposit listed interest rate on the interest settlement date for the previous quarter's interest payable. March 20th, June 20th, September 20th, and December 20th of each year are the interest settlement dates. Users can check the interest settlement amount through the wallet asset page and transaction records of the digital RMB application after the interest settlement date. When the account is closed before the interest settlement date, interest will be calculated at the current interest rate announced on the account closing date up to the day before the account closing date. It is hoped that in the future, various operating institutions can provide richer deposit and wealth management products to enrich users' digital RMB asset appreciation options.
Q: After the digital RMB is upgraded, is there a physical card? What are the precautions for operation and use?
A: The digital RMB application does not belong to a single institution like electronic payment tools, but is a public service and comprehensive management platform jointly built by the Digital Currency Research Institute of the People's Bank of China (中国人民银行数字货币研究所) and various operating institutions. The platform aggregates the wallets of various operating institutions, which not only supports personal consumption, transfers, and online payments, but also provides special service entrances such as prepaid fund management, public utility payment, travel, low-carbon, consumption red envelopes, and wealth management, and has been adapted for the elderly.
In order to adapt to the usage habits of users such as the elderly, children, and foreigners coming to China, the digital RMB provides hard wallets as a supplementary payment method, and its forms include IC cards, wearable devices, SIM cards, mobile phone terminals and other hardware carriers. The hard wallet in the mobile phone that has completed the adaptation upgrade also supports completing payments in special scenarios such as no network and no power.
It should be noted that only the balance of wallets (Class 1, Class 2, and Class 3 wallets) that have completed real-name authentication will accrue interest, and Class 4 wallets will not accrue interest. At the same time, you must download the digital RMB application through the official mobile phone application store, and pay attention to identifying and preventing counterfeit applications.
Enjoy the Same Insurance Protection as Bank Deposits
Q: Compared with traditional bank deposits, what are the advantages of digital RMB? Is it safe to deposit, and who should I turn to if there is a problem?
A: The digital RMB balance accrues interest and is included in the coverage of the deposit insurance system. While retaining the profitability and available scenarios of bank deposits, it also superimposes the advantages of digital technology. On the one hand, the digital RMB carries the currency string issued by the People's Bank of China (中国人民银行), which is more secure and interoperable. For example, the digital RMB can not only be used in daily scenarios, but also can directly transfer value on the blockchain. On the other hand, the digital RMB wallet is more standardized and can also load smart contracts to support more complex application scenarios that require performance guarantees.
In addition, the digital RMB legally enjoys the same deposit insurance protection as ordinary bank deposits, and is technically supported by the People's Bank of China (中国人民银行), with higher standards in anti-counterfeiting and anti-tampering. Under the "Central Bank - Operating Institution" dual-layer operating system, each operating institution provides the public with market-side services such as wallet opening and operation, exchange and circulation payment, and risk prevention and control. If users need to consult and solve related problems, they can directly contact the operating institution to which their wallet belongs.
Let the Innovation Capability of Digital RMB Benefit All Walks of Life
Q: Why upgrade the digital RMB and optimize the digital RMB measurement framework? What problems need to be solved?
A: The launch of a new generation of digital RMB measurement framework is mainly to meet the development trend of economic and social digitization and intelligence, adapt to the new needs of the real economy and financial system for the issuance, circulation, and use of digital RMB, grasp the historical trend of the evolution of the international monetary system, and effectively improve the management quality and service capabilities of digital RMB. Specifically, there are three reasons: First, it fits the positioning of a universal legal digital currency and supports the innovation capabilities of digital RMB to benefit all walks of life; second, it deepens the role of the dual-layer operating architecture, avoids affecting the deposit derivative capabilities of commercial banks, and promotes the full integration of digital RMB and banking business; third, it enhances the inclusiveness of digital RMB and supports the public to hold digital RMB and obtain due returns.
Q: For commercial banks, what changes will this adjustment bring? Will it lead to "deposit migration" from commercial banks?
A: The conversion of digital cash to digital deposit currency is included in the bank's balance sheet. Commercial banks can independently carry out asset-liability management of digital RMB wallet balances, and their enthusiasm and space for operation will be effectively released.
Optimizing the digital RMB measurement framework will not only not lead to "deposit migration" from commercial banks, but will help to further clarify the symmetrical relationship between the responsibilities and rights of operating institutions through institutional guarantees, prevent and control such risks, and maintain financial stability. The digital RMB of banking operating institutions is included in the reserve system framework management, and the balance of the digital RMB wallets opened by them is uniformly included in the deposit reserve base. In the future, non-bank payment institutions participating in the operation of digital RMB will implement a 100% digital RMB margin. The digital RMB wallet balance is included in the corresponding monetary level according to liquidity. This institutional arrangement clarifies that the digital RMB of customers in commercial banks is a commercial bank liability based on accounts and remains within the commercial bank system.
However, to effectively exert the upgrading effect of the digital RMB, supporting policies are also needed to avoid hidden barriers. For example, although the digital RMB has deposit attributes, it still cannot enjoy the same policies as ordinary bank accounts in the fields of finance, finance, and cross-border transactions.
Extended Reading
Digital RMB Application
A Cumulative Total of 230 Million Personal Wallets Have Been Opened
Digital RMB is a legal digital currency and related payment system issued and supervised by the People's Bank of China (中国人民银行), and adopts a dual-layer operating architecture. Specifically, the central bank provides technical support and guarantees and implements supervision, provides participating institutions with digital RMB and smart contract transaction transfer and clearing services, and realizes cross-institutional interconnection. Digital RMB business operating institutions are responsible for providing the public with digital RMB exchange, circulation payment, risk prevention and control, market expansion and other services.
The upgraded digital RMB not only carries the currency string issued by the central bank, but also has the liability attributes of commercial banks. It is a modern digital payment and circulation method issued and circulated within the financial system based on accounts and compatible with distributed ledger technology. It has the functions of currency value scale, value storage, and cross-border payment. The balance of the real-name digital RMB wallet held by the public accrues interest.
At present, the service base of digital RMB is steadily consolidated, the ecosystem is initially formed, and a new type of digital RMB cross-border infrastructure is gradually being built. As of the end of December 2025, the cumulative transaction amount in pilot areas was 19.5 trillion yuan, the number of transactions processed was 3.57 billion, and the digital RMB application had opened a cumulative total of 230 million personal wallets and 19.08 million digital RMB unit wallets. Since the trial operation from June 2024 to the end of 2025, the multilateral central bank digital currency bridge has cumulatively processed 4,868 cross-border payment transactions, with a cumulative transaction amount equivalent to approximately 477.8 billion yuan, of which digital RMB accounted for approximately 96% of the transaction volume in various currencies.
Return to TopOn January 18, the first phase (northern section) of Tianjin Rail Transit Line Z4 officially opened and began operation. As a backbone line connecting the north and south areas and the core area of Binhai New Area (滨海新区) in Tianjin (天津), the completion of the first phase of the Z4 line will play an important role in improving the modern rail transit system of Binhai New Area (滨海新区) and promoting the deep integration of the region.
The picture shows a train running on Line Z4 on January 18.
Xinhua News Agency (新华社) reporter Zhao Zishuo (赵子硕) photo
Return to TopThis newspaper's Beijing (北京) dispatch on January 18th (Reporter Qu Zhehan (曲哲涵)) In order to continue supporting the construction and operation of public rental housing (hereinafter referred to as "public rental housing"), the Ministry of Finance (财政部) and the State Taxation Administration (税务总局) recently issued an announcement to extend the implementation of relevant tax preferential policies to December 31, 2027.
The tax preferential policies involve the following 7 aspects:
Urban land use tax is exempted for land used during the construction of public rental housing and land occupied after the completion of public rental housing. For public rental housing constructed as part of other housing projects, urban land use tax related to the construction and management of public rental housing shall be exempted in proportion to the construction area of public rental housing as a percentage of the total construction area.
Stamp duty related to the construction and management of public rental housing shall be exempted for public rental housing management units. For public rental housing constructed as part of other housing projects, stamp duty related to the construction and management of public rental housing shall be exempted in proportion to the construction area of public rental housing as a percentage of the total construction area.
Purchase of housing by public rental housing management units for use as public rental housing shall be exempt from deed tax and stamp duty; both parties leasing public rental housing shall be exempt from stamp duty related to the signing of lease agreements.
Land appreciation tax shall be exempted for enterprises, public institutions, social organizations, and other organizations that transfer old houses as sources of public rental housing, and the amount of value-added does not exceed 20% of the deductible project amount.
For enterprises, public institutions, social organizations, and other organizations that donate housing as public rental housing, in accordance with the provisions of tax laws and regulations, the portion of their public welfare donation expenditure that does not exceed 12% of the total annual profit shall be allowed to be deducted when calculating taxable income; the portion exceeding 12% of the total annual profit shall be allowed to be carried forward and deducted when calculating taxable income within the next three years. For individuals who donate housing as public rental housing, in accordance with the provisions of tax laws and regulations, the portion of their public welfare donation expenditure that does not exceed 30% of their declared taxable income shall be allowed to be deducted from their taxable income.
Individual income tax shall be exempted for urban housing security families who meet the conditions stipulated by local governments and receive housing rental subsidies from local governments.
Property tax shall be exempted for public rental housing. Value-added tax shall be exempted for rental income obtained from operating public rental housing. Public rental housing management units shall separately account for public rental housing rental income; those who do not separately account for it shall not be entitled to the preferential policies of exemption from value-added tax and property tax.
Return to TopAccording to a report from our newspaper in Beijing on January 18th (Reporter: Yu Jingxian (郁静娴)), the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (农业农村部), the Ministry of Finance (财政部), and the National Development and Reform Commission (国家发展改革委) recently issued the "National Agricultural Modernization Demonstration Zone Creation Work Plan." The plan proposes to build a number of agricultural industry development highlands, accelerate the cultivation of a number of agricultural new quality productivity experimental fields, and promote the construction of a number of agricultural comprehensive green transformation benchmarks, so as to provide practical models for the basic realization of agricultural modernization, and demonstrate and lead the construction of agricultural modernization with Chinese characteristics.
In terms of creation goals, the plan proposes that by 2030, the cumulative number of demonstration zones created and recognized will not exceed 500. The focus will be on building six types of demonstration zones, including the grain industry, the breeding industry, advantageous and characteristic industries, smart agriculture, urban agriculture, and dryland agriculture, to promote the basic realization of agricultural modernization in qualified demonstration zones first, and form a construction pattern of key breakthroughs and tiered advancement.
In terms of creation tasks, the plan requires clarifying the creation positioning, application standards, and creation goals of each type of demonstration zone, setting up "routine tasks + special tasks," and promoting the creation of demonstration zones in categories. The applying counties should select a type that meets the application standards to apply for, strengthen organizational leadership, innovate systems and mechanisms, strengthen element guarantees, optimize guidance and services, and actively explore a number of development models that each display their strengths and have their own characteristics, forming a pattern of tiered advancement of agricultural modernization, in accordance with the creation tasks and the creation requirements of each type of demonstration zone.
Return to TopOn January 17, the "Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction" (hereinafter referred to as the "Marine Biodiversity Agreement") officially came into effect, and China became one of the first contracting parties. Chinese and foreign individuals interviewed by this newspaper believe that participating in the "Marine Biodiversity Agreement" demonstrates China's firm determination to deeply participate in global governance and promote the sustainable development of the ocean, and highlights China's responsible major country role in practicing true multilateralism and promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.
"Injecting New Momentum into Global Ocean Governance"
The "Marine Biodiversity Agreement" is an important international treaty under the UN framework. Based on the "United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea," it aims to conserve and sustainably use marine biological diversity, focusing on four major areas: deep-sea genetic resources, marine protected areas, environmental impact assessments, and capacity building. It further establishes legal norms for various countries' deep-sea and ocean activities, profoundly affecting the international maritime order.
The adoption of the "Marine Biodiversity Agreement" is a milestone in international maritime law. The agreement emphasizes promoting sustainable marine development through the protection of marine ecology, guiding countries' deep-sea and ocean activities to achieve green transformation, helping to implement the UN's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and is of great significance for promoting global ocean governance and maintaining international maritime order.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres stated that the entry into force of the "Marine Biodiversity Agreement" is a "historic achievement for the ocean and multilateralism," establishing binding rules for the protection and sustainable use of marine biological diversity.
Chen Danhong (陈丹红), Director of the Department of International Cooperation (Department of Ocean Rights) of the Ministry of Natural Resources of China (中国自然资源部), stated that the "Marine Biodiversity Agreement" is the most important international treaty related to the sea at this stage and one of the important legal foundations for global ocean governance in the new era. "The agreement establishes more norms and sets higher standards for countries engaged in deep-sea and ocean activities, is committed to shaping a more just and reasonable international maritime order, and injects new momentum into global ocean governance."
Angele Paponneau, an expert in climate change at the International Institute for Environment and Development, stated that for a long time, the management regulations for the high seas and international seabed areas have been imperfect, and the development and utilization have been unregulated. "The 'Marine Biodiversity Agreement' fills a key gap in international law and ocean governance, and its official entry into force marks the arrival of a new era: countries work together to share responsibilities and transform their commitments into concrete marine protection actions."
Shalermlarp Suwanmanee, Deputy Director of the Sino-Thai Joint Laboratory for Climate and Marine Ecosystems, stated that the conclusion of the "Marine Biodiversity Agreement" strongly proves that multilateralism is still an effective way to address global challenges and manage public goods. "Faced with the shared blue home of mankind, even with diverse interests and different levels of development, as long as we adhere to mutual respect, dialogue and consultation, and shared responsibility, the international community is fully capable of reaching institutional arrangements on complex issues."
Fabienne McLellan, CEO of OceanCare, headquartered in Switzerland, stated that the official entry into force of the "Marine Biodiversity Agreement" marks a key step forward for the international community in the field of ocean governance, meaning that the world can still solve common problems through the power of multilateralism. "The agreement lays a solid foundation for the protection and governance of the high seas and international seabed areas, helping this vast sea area become a safe home for marine life."
Claude Gascon, Acting CEO of the Global Environment Facility, stated that this is an important step forward in the cause of marine ecological and environmental protection. As a participant in the funding mechanism of the "Marine Biodiversity Agreement," the Global Environment Facility will provide assistance to developing countries in promoting the implementation of the agreement.
"China has always been a solid actionist in promoting the improvement of global ocean governance"
The negotiation process of the "Marine Biodiversity Agreement" began in 2004. It was adopted by consensus on June 19, 2023, and opened for signature on September 20 of the same year. China participated in the entire negotiation of the "Marine Biodiversity Agreement," signed it on the first day it was opened for signature, becoming one of the first signatories, and submitted its instrument of ratification to the UN Secretary-General before the agreement came into effect, becoming one of the first contracting parties.
As a major country in deep-sea and ocean activities, China has made important contributions to the conclusion of the "Marine Biodiversity Agreement." Tang Dongmei (唐冬梅), Deputy Director of the China Ocean Mineral Resources R&D Association (中国大洋事务管理局), stated that as early as the discussion stage of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Informal Working Group in 2004, China participated in the consultation on the core content of the agreement. "During the negotiation process, China played an active role in bridging the differences between developing and developed countries and promoting the formation of a package of resolutions."
Chen Danhong introduced that during the negotiation process, there were great differences among the parties on key issues such as deep-sea genetic resources, and even sharp opposition in positions. "China has the dual attributes of being a major country in deep-sea and ocean activities and a developing country. It deeply participated in the entire negotiation process, united the vast number of developing countries, strengthened coordination with countries with similar positions, bridged the differences in positions of all parties, and effectively promoted the final conclusion of the agreement, which was highly praised by all parties."
Veronica Saraswati, Director of the Indonesian Global Development Research Center, believes that the "Marine Biodiversity Agreement" involves sensitive issues such as deep-sea genetic resources and benefit-sharing mechanisms. During the negotiation process, the interests of all parties were severely fragmented. China has always adhered to the position of seeking broad consensus, promoted bridging the differences between developed and developing countries, and effectively safeguarded the interests and fairness and justice of developing countries. "Adhering to the coordination of its own interests with global interests, China has always been a solid actionist in promoting the improvement of global ocean governance," said Saraswati.
Johannes-Alexander Müller, a marine policy expert at OceanCare, stated that China's becoming one of the first contracting parties sends a positive signal to the world that "protecting the ocean is a common responsibility of the world." "The 'Marine Biodiversity Agreement' is not just a new legal instrument, but the result of years of multilateral efforts, arduous negotiations and countless meetings. The official entry into force of the agreement once again confirms a truth: when countries are willing to work together to face challenges, multilateralism can be effective."
"China's ecological governance experience provides an important reference for the world"
As a responsible major country, China continues to practice the concept of a community with a shared future for the ocean, actively promotes global ocean governance together with the international community, and builds the ocean into a sea of peace and tranquility, prosperity and development, and cultural integration shared by all countries in the world.
Tang Dongmei stated that China's proposal of the concept of a community with a shared future for the ocean explains the relationship between mankind and the ocean in a new perspective, provides a Chinese solution for global ocean governance, and contributes Chinese wisdom. "At present, global ocean governance faces many problems and challenges, and no country can solve them alone. Taking the opportunity of joining the 'Marine Biodiversity Agreement,' China is willing to work with the international community to form a joint force on the basis of enhancing deep-sea awareness, and propose practical and sustainable development solutions for the development, protection and utilization of the global ocean."
Zhang Haibin (张海滨), Director and Researcher of the Deep-sea Biology Research Office of the Institute of Deep-sea Science and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences (中国科学院), believes that China has the ability to conduct full-sea-depth and full-sea-area surveys, and is in a leading position in manned deep-sea diving and deep-sea biological genetic resource research. China's becoming one of the first contracting parties to the "Marine Biodiversity Agreement" will further promote exchanges and cooperation between Chinese and foreign scientific research circles, strengthen the understanding of deep-sea biodiversity, promote the orderly development and utilization of deep-sea biological genetic resources, and use scientific research to enhance the common well-being of mankind.
"China's ecological governance experience provides an important reference for the world." Saraswati said that China's becoming one of the first contracting parties to the "Marine Biodiversity Agreement" further confirms that China's concept of ecological civilization is not only implemented domestically, but also makes positive contributions to the world's sustainable development through active participation in global governance.
Adelino Canário, Director of the Center for Marine Science Research at the University of Algarve in Portugal, stated that China has made significant progress in the field of ecological governance in recent years, providing many experiences for the world to learn from. Faced with a turbulent international environment, China's becoming one of the first contracting parties to the "Marine Biodiversity Agreement" once again demonstrates the leadership of a major country. "I hope that taking this as an opportunity, all like-minded countries can strengthen cooperation in related fields and jointly resist unilateralism."
Suwanmanee stated that the "Marine Biodiversity Agreement" is not simply a restriction on development, but emphasizes science-based conservation and rational utilization, which is highly consistent with the concept of **绿水青山就是金山银山** (lǜ shuǐ qīng shān jiù shì jīn shān yín shān - "green waters and green mountains are gold and silver mountains," lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets). "In recent years, China has continued to exert efforts in combating illegal fishing and strengthening international marine cooperation. China's participation will help promote the transformation of the agreement from 'rules on paper' into practical actions, and jointly promote the sustainable development of the global ocean."
(Reported on January 18 from Beijing, Washington, Bangkok, Jakarta, and Madrid by reporters Li Anqi (李安琪), Liu Shiyao (刘诗瑶), Dong Zeyang (董泽扬), Li Zhiwei (李志伟), Bai Yuanqi (白元琪), Li Peisong (李培松), and Xu Hailin (许海林))
Return to TopBy: 国纪平
Entering the "15th Five-Year Plan" period, the continuous advancement of Chinese-style modernization not only contributes momentum and opportunities to global development but also expands the development space for world modernization.
Profound transformations in areas such as poverty eradication and green transition provide entry points for observation. In these two major areas concerning the future of humanity, the phenomenon of "Today's China, Tomorrow's World" is increasingly gaining attention. From ideological inspiration and experience sharing to cooperative leadership, the confidence that "China can succeed, and other developing countries can also succeed" is constantly being transmitted, and the effect of China's development empowering the world is becoming increasingly apparent.
Reflecting on why "Today's China, Tomorrow's World" has emerged opens a window for understanding China's governance and the global significance of Chinese-style modernization.
(I) The Light of Thought: Illuminating the Path Forward
Modernization is the common pursuit of all countries. Chinese-style modernization provides new ideas and paradigms for solving the common problems faced by countries in the process of modernization.
First, let's look at the field of poverty reduction.
Poverty is a perennial problem, and eradicating all forms of poverty worldwide is the primary goal of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. From a modernization perspective, poverty reduction requires not only economic development but also the transformation of development outcomes into universal well-being, properly handling the relationship between development and fairness. Looking around the world, there are still more than 700 million people facing the threat of hunger, and over 800 million people living in absolute poverty. Many developing countries have weak development foundations and are still struggling to explore effective poverty reduction paths. Even in developed countries, the gap between rich and poor is widening, and poverty is also intensifying.
How does China solve this problem?
"I have worked in villages, counties, cities, provinces, and the central government in China, and poverty alleviation has been an important part of my work, and it is also a major task that I am determined to accomplish." The people's leader's heart of a child and the century-old party's sense of mission are fully demonstrated on the road to poverty reduction. From the dialectical thinking of "weak birds can hope to fly first, and the poorest can become rich first" more than 30 years ago, to the concept innovation of "targeted poverty alleviation" in the new era, and then to the strategic plan to establish a 5-year transition period to consolidate and expand the achievements of poverty alleviation... The theory of poverty reduction with Chinese characteristics is constantly improving, and the path of poverty reduction with Chinese characteristics is becoming more and more solid.
The light of thought guides China's practice and rewrites world history. It took 8 years to lift nearly 100 million people out of poverty, completing the world's largest poverty reduction practice, and then used a 5-year transition period to effectively connect rural revitalization, steadily moving towards the goal of common prosperity. "China has created a miracle in the history of human development." Former Spanish Prime Minister Zapatero said that China's development has not only changed itself but also changed the world, making a huge contribution to the global poverty reduction cause.
Let's look at the green transition again.
How to deal with the relationship between man and nature, and how to balance development and protection, is another important challenge that runs through the process of human modernization. Looking at history, most traditional modernization paths follow the path of "pollute first, then treat," and the environmental damage is difficult to heal for a long time. Today, more severe ecological and environmental challenges and increasingly tight resource constraints are putting modernizers under the dual pressure of development and protection.
The old road is unsustainable. How to find a new path?
More than 20 years ago, Yucun Village in Anji County (安吉县), Zhejiang Province (浙江省) faced the dilemma of getting rich by "selling stones" and protecting the ecological environment. In 2005, Xi Jinping (习近平), then Secretary of the Zhejiang Provincial Party Committee, came here to investigate and research, and first proposed that "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets." Simple words, imbued with the light of thought.
"Lucid waters and lush mountains are by no means opposed to invaluable assets. The key lies in people, the key lies in ideas." In the new era of China, theoretical innovations guiding green development are constantly advancing. It is proposed that "protecting the ecological environment is protecting productivity, and improving the ecological environment is developing productivity," emphasizing that "high-quality development and high-level protection are mutually reinforcing and complementary," clarifying that "green development is the underlying color of high-quality development, and new quality productive forces are themselves green productive forces"... Along the way, it condenses new understandings of the laws of human development and the laws of ecological civilization construction.
Tracing back to the source, theoretical innovation is not generated out of thin air. Inheriting Marx's theory of natural productivity and containing the essence of outstanding traditional Chinese culture, this ideological crystallization with roots and vitality breaks the "binary opposition" between development and protection in history and illuminates the path forward for green development.
The green transformation of China in the new era is precisely the magnificent flower blooming from the seeds of thought. A village, closing mines and developing ecological tourism, Yucun Village was selected as one of the first UN World Tourism Organization "Best Tourism Villages"; a great river, "jointly grasping great protection and not engaging in large-scale development," the high-quality development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt is slowly unfolding... One by one, small changes converge into a grand narrative of "historical, transformative, and overall changes," making "the sky bluer, the land greener, and the water clearer," and making the people's sense of gain and happiness tangible.
From poverty eradication to green transition, they jointly reflect a distinct characteristic of China's development in the new era: guiding new development practices with the achievements of theoretical innovation. This is a successful exploration that belongs to China and also to the world.
Santiago (圣地亚哥), Secretary-General of the Communist Party of Spain (西班牙共产党), said that Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era demonstrates a powerful ideological force. At the Communist Party of Spain's party festival in recent years, the Communist Party of Spain has reserved a booth for China, displaying the works of General Secretary Xi Jinping, which always attract the attention of representatives of communist parties and ordinary people from various countries.
Looking around the world, China's scientific thought is shining with the light of the times. More and more countries are drawing wisdom from China's experience and transforming China's solutions into practical measures to cope with their own challenges.
(II) Changes in the "China View": Reflecting the Ambition to Walk Together
The world's "China View" has undergone clear changes.
In the past, Western society had a set of "China narrative" logic. Under its discourse system, all of China's actions were a priori labeled as suspicious: development is a "threat," innovation is "plagiarism," and planning is a "conspiracy"... Brazilian geopolitics scholar Washington Araújo (华盛顿·阿劳若) pointed out sharply that this argument is not depicting the real China at all, but rather exposing the poverty of the user's own analytical ability. "The real China begins where stereotypes end."
Today, "distancing oneself from China will only limit oneself" is becoming an international consensus. The international community's perspective on China is not limited to the phenomenon description of "China's success story," but also includes the experience analysis of "how China did it" and the inspiration mining of "what to learn from China." The extension of the cognitive chain reflects the deep impact of China's development on the world.
Confidence is thus transmitted——
"Poverty fatalism" plagues many developing countries, and a confidence deficit is an important obstacle for many countries to get rid of poverty. The "low-level equilibrium trap" theory makes some people believe that many developing countries are restricted by resource scarcity or external conditions and find it difficult to achieve large-scale poverty reduction.
Today, China's practice tells the world in a knowable and perceptible way: poverty is not predetermined, and poverty is not insurmountable.
In November 2024, President Xi Jinping profoundly discussed the world significance of China's successful fight against poverty at the first stage meeting of the 19th G20 Leaders' Summit: "China's poverty alleviation process shows that with the resilience, perseverance, and fighting spirit of 滴水穿石 (dī shuǐ chuān shí - "dripping water penetrates stone," constant effort brings success) and drawing a blueprint to the end, the poverty problem of developing countries can be solved, and weak birds can fly first and fly high."
The 73rd United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution on eliminating rural poverty, which explicitly included the concept of "targeted poverty alleviation." Khon Kaen Province (孔敬府), the fourth most populous province in Thailand (泰国), has achieved effective poverty alleviation after learning from China's "targeted poverty alleviation" concept. Local officials said: "China has made the world understand the importance of targeted poverty alleviation, see the possibility of poverty alleviation, and provided the courage to solve the poverty problem."
Experience is thus shared——
In today's era, green transition is a compulsory question faced by all countries, and the vast number of developing countries have a general understanding of the necessity of green development. However, dilemmas such as the difficulty in balancing growth and emission reduction and the shortage of both technology and funds are widespread.
As the world's largest developing country, China has launched a systematic policy design, persevering and making long-term efforts, and has embarked on an effective green transition path: adhering to green development and not being disturbed by short-term difficulties; giving play to the advantages of the system and truly achieving a national chessboard and drawing a blueprint to the end; scientifically planning the path and adhering to "achieving carbon peaking and carbon neutrality, which cannot be delayed or rushed," adhering to "seeking progress while maintaining stability and gradually achieving it," adhering to being based on national conditions and establishing before breaking... These Chinese experiences are of great reference significance for developing countries to break through and break through the green transition.
Today's China, lucid waters and lush mountains are not only natural wealth and ecological wealth, but also social wealth and economic wealth. The eyes of the vast number of developing countries seeking Chinese experience are turning more to micro-scenes and specific practices: visiting Chinese technology companies such as Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited (宁德时代) and BYD (比亚迪) to investigate the development direction of Chinese green technology; walking into Shapotou District (沙坡头区), Zhongwei City (中卫市), Ningxia (宁夏) to learn in detail about the wheat straw checkerboard sand control technology known as the "Chinese Magic Cube"; gathering in ministerial seminars on water resources management and small hydropower development to learn from China's experience in water ecological environment governance; going deep into Shanghai (上海市) for visits and inspections to feel the vivid practice of China's ecological city construction...
From leading China's transformation to helping global transformation, China's solutions and China's experience have become popular international public goods. "What is the reason behind the increasing popularity of clean energy technology in developing countries? One word: China." The British "Dialogue Earth" website published an article pointing out that clean energy technology not only makes an important contribution to China's economy but is also becoming an important part of its soft power.
Inspiration is thus sought——
"The future of mankind largely depends on China." This view of UN Secretary-General Guterres (古特雷斯) is constantly being confirmed in the development of the times.
This is a new choice for modernization paths. Breaking the myth of "modernization = Westernization," Chinese-style modernization provides a new path choice for the vast number of developing countries to independently move towards modernization, helps the Global South better achieve collective rise, and makes the road to modernization of human society wider and wider. As Omar (奥马尔), Secretary-General of the United Democratic Alliance of Kenya (肯尼亚联合民主同盟), pointed out, Chinese-style modernization reveals a fundamental truth: there is no fixed template for development, and it must be based on its own national conditions.
This is a reaffirmation of the value base of modernization. Ting Som Village (听松村) in Laos (老挝) benchmarks Hunan's Shibadong Village (湖南十八洞村) to create a sustainable development model; Uzbekistan (乌兹别克斯坦) implements a pilot project of the "China Poverty Reduction Model" nationwide; Spanish Speaker of the Congress Armengol (阿门戈尔) said that Spain also has problems such as uneven distribution of wealth and should pay attention to China's experience in "poverty alleviation" and "not leaving a single person behind"... Chinese-style modernization always focuses on people and is based on people, responding to people's yearning for a better life, and broadening the ideological vision, exploring the possibility of practice, and injecting the driving force for progress for the "world of tomorrow."
This is a new form of civilization development. China's development concepts and experience are providing new practical references for human civilization development. The international community's formation of a more rational, objective, rich, and diverse "China View" on this basis also contains a concern and reflection on the new possibilities of civilization development. Former Vice President of the New Development Bank Paulo Batista (保罗·巴蒂斯塔) said that learning from China and drawing on the beneficial elements in its development process, "we do not have to blindly imitate, but should always combine our own historical and political conditions and draw more wisdom from them."
"Today's China, Tomorrow's World" has become a phenomenon, indicating that the international influence, appeal, and shaping power of Chinese-style modernization are constantly rising. This is not only a cognitive innovation but also a hand in hand towards the future.
(III) "Open Source" Modernization: Demonstrating the Responsibility of the Times
Behind the phenomenon of "Today's China, Tomorrow's World," we can feel China's consistent "world view."
In October 2023, President Xi Jinping solemnly pointed out at the opening ceremony of the Third Belt and Road International Cooperation Summit Forum: "What we are pursuing is not China's modernization alone, but we look forward to achieving modernization together with all countries, including the vast number of developing countries."
Adhering to the concept that "the world is good, China will be good; China is good, the world will be better," Chinese-style modernization is always "open source," always open to the world, and shares opportunities with all countries.
China is a leader and an enabler. For the global green transition, China not only contributes ideas and experience but also helps countries transform with practical and inclusive technologies and cooperation projects, always pursuing mutual benefit and win-win results.
In Indonesia (印度尼西亚), the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway (雅万高铁) uses permanent magnet traction motors developed by China, which is expected to reduce carbon emissions by about 330,000 tons; in the United Arab Emirates (阿联酋), the "photovoltaic ocean" built with the participation of Chinese companies stretches deep into the Abu Dhabi (阿布扎比) desert; in Greece (希腊), the Grammatikaki (格拉玛提卡奇) wind farm on the Aegean Sea (爱琴海) stands tall in the wind; in Peru (秘鲁), the Chancay Wetland (钱凯湿地) adjacent to the Port of Chancay (钱凯港) is an important bird habitat, "the Port of Chancay is not only 'golden' but also 'green'"; in Kenya (肯尼亚), the Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway (蒙内铁路) has been included in the country's first national information communication submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, "what is written is not only history but also the future of harmonious coexistence between man and nature"...
The change in one field is enough to illuminate the overall situation. At a time when global development is facing numerous difficulties, compared with individual countries obsessed with being unique and dominant, China has always advocated working together and empowering each other.
Practical and feasible cooperation plans, practical cooperation actions, and tangible cooperation results have brought tangible cooperation results. Microgrid projects have lit up villages in the Guyana (圭亚那) rainforest; rural well-drilling projects have solved the drinking water problem for about 1/7 of the population of Senegal (塞内加尔); Chinese-funded logistics companies have opened up the "last mile" of express delivery in Brazilian (巴西) slum communities; the "Hope Farm" project has brought confidence and hope to Namibian (纳米比亚) farmers; Juncao technology (菌草技术) has "turned grass into gold" in more than 100 countries; "Luban Workshops" (鲁班工坊) have given Central Asian (中亚) youth the wings to realize their career dreams...
The Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee reviewed and approved the "15th Five-Year Plan" proposal, outlining a new blueprint for China's development. Taking the promotion of high-quality development as the theme to lead China's new journey of economic advancement and deploying the next 5 years of foreign work with the construction of a community with a shared future for mankind as the main line, China's relationship with the world has entered a new stage in which it can make greater contributions to human development and progress. International public opinion sees from this that "China has demonstrated the ability to transform strategic visions into reality, and the new development blueprint will bring high-quality, innovation-driven, and sustainable economic growth, which will benefit both China itself and the world."
Focusing on the present, in this era full of uncertainty and instability, China is not only committed to developing itself but also adheres to a global vision, bravely shoulders the responsibility of a major country, and is increasingly becoming the moral anchor, source of confidence, and light of hope in a turbulent world.
Looking to the long term, the Communist Party of China (中国共产党) is leading more than 1.4 billion Chinese people to stride towards modernization with their heads held high, driving the overall strength of developing countries to continue to grow, and promoting the most progressive and significant changes in the international balance of power since modern times, and is writing a new chapter in human history.
"Today's China, Tomorrow's World" is a story of an ancient civilization rejuvenating and contributing more wisdom and strength to mankind's journey to the future.
The reason why "Today's China" can inspire "Tomorrow's World" lies fundamentally in the fact that China guides long-term development with scientific planning and maintains the certainty of progress; it lies in the fact that China adheres to the people's heart as its own and takes the world's interests as its own, and always contributes new opportunities to the world's modernization with the new development of Chinese-style modernization.
A China that bravely shoulders great righteousness and is committed to achieving far-reaching goals will surely make greater contributions to promoting the ship of a community with a shared future for mankind to sail towards a more magnificent future.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 管克江
"A strong and effective leadership core, hardworking and striving people, and long-term and scientific development plans are all valuable elements of China's development experience." Shaher, a professor of international relations at Damascus University in Syria, said in a recent interview with this reporter that China's development achievements over the past few decades have been remarkable, and the Chinese-style modernization process has achieved significant results. China's proposal of high-quality development has elevated "development" to a higher and deeper dimension.
Shaher highly agrees with China's new development concept, and he is particularly impressed by measures such as strengthening the deep integration of scientific and technological innovation and industrial innovation, and actively cultivating and developing new quality productive forces. He said that new quality productive forces have the characteristics of high technology, high efficiency, and high quality, and are an advanced productive force form that conforms to the new development concept. To develop new quality productive forces, it is necessary to give play to the leading role of innovation and get rid of traditional economic growth methods and productive force development paths. "In fact, high-quality development constitutes the main theme of China in the new era."
Shaher taught at Sun Yat-sen University (中山大学) in China for many years. "There is a saying that seeing is believing. I personally experienced the openness and prosperity that China has shown." When talking about China's speed and efficiency, Shaher told an interesting story he had experienced: "During my time teaching at Sun Yat-sen University (中山大学), I returned to Syria. When I returned to school, I couldn't even find the school gate - in a short period of time, the school buildings and surrounding roads had been optimized and renovated."
Shaher said that China has achieved development achievements through its own efforts. This also fully proves that if a country wants to achieve development, it must find a path that suits its own national conditions, and it is impossible to achieve sustainable development by relying on external assistance.
China adheres to high-quality development and continues to expand high-level opening up. In Shaher's view, this is "China providing valuable opportunities for the development and prosperity of various countries and creating a win-win situation of mutual benefit." He said that the various initiatives proposed by China are widely welcomed because China never attaches political conditions to cooperation. All parties look forward to sharing China's opportunities and achieving common development.
"China upholds justice in international affairs and has played a constructive role in promoting the resolution of relevant conflicts." Shaher believes that China advocates a common, comprehensive, cooperative, and sustainable security concept, advocates equal treatment of different countries, opposes hegemony, high-handedness, and bullying, and points out the direction for handling international relations and maintaining world peace.
Shaher said that Syria has a long history and is eager to achieve peace, stability, and development. He hopes that Syria and China will further deepen friendly cooperation and bring greater benefits to the people of both sides.
(Haitham Muzaen of the Middle East Center Branch of this newspaper participated in the writing)
Return to TopXinhua News Agency, Beijing, January 18th (Xinhua) - At the invitation of Zhao Leji (赵乐际), Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, Speaker of the National Assembly of Pakistan, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq (萨迪克), will lead a delegation to visit China from January 19th to 21st.
Return to TopThe 35th Africa Cup of Nations (the "Africa Cup") was recently held in Morocco. To improve the efficiency of public transportation services during the event, 723 buses provided by China's Yutong Bus (宇通客车) were delivered to Moroccan customers before the competition and put into use in Tangier (丹吉尔), Marrakech (马拉喀什) and other host cities, providing efficient and comfortable travel services for the public.
The picture shows a Yutong bus passing the Africa Cup venue - the Grand Stade de Tanger (丹吉尔大球场).
Photo by Hu Jingchao (胡敬超).
Return to TopXinhua News Agency, Dakar, January 18th (Reporter Chen Chen (陈晨)) The Senegalese official newspaper *Le Soleil* published an article on the 17th, pointing out that 2026 has been designated as the "China-Africa People-to-People and Cultural Exchange Year," opening up new space for cooperation between the two sides. Placing people-to-people, cultural, and youth issues in a more prominent position will help promote cooperation towards a more sustainable and socially acceptable direction. The article is summarized as follows:
The "China-Africa People-to-People and Cultural Exchange Year" in 2026 aims to further consolidate China-Africa cooperation through youth exchanges, talent cultivation, cultural exchange, and social innovation. The "China-Africa People-to-People and Cultural Exchange Year" will host a series of high-quality activities with the goal of cultivating a new generation of talent capable of promoting in-depth development of cooperation, enabling cooperation between the two sides to transcend a single economic dimension.
China-Africa relations demonstrated strategic maturity in 2025, and 2026 will usher in a new stage that takes into account both economic growth and talent capacity building. By enhancing mutual understanding and deepening cultural exchanges, China-Africa cooperation will be more inclusive and better able to cope with sustainable development challenges and an uncertain international environment.
The "China-Africa People-to-People and Cultural Exchange Year" reflects the long-term cooperation vision of both sides. It will open up new space for more humanistic, inclusive, and resilient cooperation.
By: 本报记者 李祉瑶 李 纵 徐驭尧
The "15th Five-Year Plan" proposal suggests promoting more public services to be extended to the grassroots, cover rural areas, and be inclined towards remote areas and people living in poverty. In recent years, China has continuously improved its rural basic public service system, and more and more high-quality public services have entered villages and households, benefiting thousands of farmers.
——Editor
Improving the convenience of rural public services is related to the quality of life and happiness of rural residents, and is an important way to promote the equalization of basic public services and narrow the gap between urban and rural areas.
"Elderly Care Caravan" -
Bringing services to the elderly
At 9:00 a.m., a van slowly drove into Hujiayuanzi Village, Fengtian Town, Keerqin District, Tongliao City, Inner Mongolia, and 70-year-old Zhang Shuangqing (张双清) greeted it - this "Elderly Care Caravan" regularly picks him up to go to the elderly care service center, allowing him to enjoy "one-stop" services such as haircuts, bathing, and physical examinations.
Tongliao City has a vast rural and pastoral area, and the elderly are scattered, making it difficult for traditional institution-centered elderly care services to fully cover the area. In order to solve this "last mile" problem, Tongliao City innovatively launched the civil affairs "Elderly Care Caravan" model, using vehicles as mobile service platforms to "package" elderly care services and deliver them to the elderly in rural areas.
"We regularly provide door-to-door services or take elderly people in need to elderly care service institutions, so that rural elderly care services can be more professional and convenient," said the relevant person in charge of the Elderly Care Service Section of the Tongliao Civil Affairs Bureau (通辽市民政局).
Medical staff provide basic physical examinations for the elderly, advising on health knowledge and precautions; social workers chat with the elderly about their daily lives, record their living needs, and update the elderly's information files... These are all services provided by the "Elderly Care Caravan." "I didn't have physical examinations often before, but now it's different. Medical staff regularly take me for examinations, and my health conditions are recorded, which makes me feel more at ease," said Sun Sumei (孙素梅), an elderly resident of Jianxin Village, Fengtian Town.
The "Elderly Care Caravan" is not only a means of transportation, but also an intelligent platform integrating services and data collection. "The vehicles are equipped with medical examination equipment and first-aid equipment connected to the Tongliao City Smart Elderly Care Service Platform, and the elderly's health data and service needs are entered into the system, which can form dynamically updated elderly information files, making services more accurate and tailored to needs," said the relevant person in charge of the Elderly Care Service Section of the Tongliao Civil Affairs Bureau.
In order to make the "Elderly Care Caravan" run more smoothly and cover a wider area, Tongliao City vigorously supports the construction of new township and village-level elderly care service facilities, coordinates the renovation and expansion of existing township-level elderly care service centers, and optimizes and improves the functions of rural mutual-aid happiness homes, providing resource support and a centralized service platform for the "Elderly Care Caravan." Tongliao City also supports social forces to join the operation, and currently several chain and branded elderly care service enterprises and institutions are participating.
At the end of 2024, the Tongliao Civil Affairs "Elderly Care Caravan" service model was rated as a typical national rural public service case. According to statistics, Tongliao City has equipped more than 20 "Elderly Care Caravan" service vehicles, opened 41 service routes, and the service scope covers 9 banners, counties, and districts, providing more than 50,000 door-to-door services for more than 10,000 elderly people. All banners, counties, and districts have established civil affairs "Elderly Care Caravan" service teams, recruiting more than 300 elderly care service volunteers.
Health Science and Technology Courtyard -
Weaving a dense rural medical service network
In the Health Science and Technology Courtyard in Long'an Village, Jiaocheng Town, Jiaoling County, Meizhou City, Guangdong Province, Li Yanting (李琰婷), a postgraduate student majoring in public health at Guangdong Medical University, is using a tablet computer to view the recent blood pressure monitoring data of several elderly people with hypertension in the village. Next to her, her classmate Deng Dazhang (邓达章) and village doctor Li Haizhu (利海珠) are answering health questions for the elderly who come for consultation.
"The courtyard implements a chief expert responsibility system. Six postgraduate supervisors lead a professional team, and 10 master's students majoring in public health have been selected and dispatched to reside in the village for a long time, moving the 'sentinel post' for health monitoring and management to the villagers' side," said Guo Honghui (郭红辉), deputy dean of the School of Public Health of Guangdong Medical University.
Jiaoling County has many long-lived elderly people, and also faces the challenges of increasing rural aging, high incidence of chronic diseases, and relative lack of high-quality medical resources. In March 2024, Guangdong Medical University, Meizhou Municipal Health Bureau (梅州市卫生健康局), and Jiaoling County People's Government (蕉岭县人民政府) signed an agreement to build the first batch of "Health Science and Technology Courtyards" jointly built by medical universities and local governments in the country, and the first pilot projects were located in 5 villages. Since then, a new model of grassroots health service integrating university wisdom, local strength, and digital technology has taken root and sprouted here.
"In the first half of last year, the courtyard team completed a special survey on frailty and cognitive impairment among elderly people over 65 years old in the jurisdiction, and drew the first local health risk map for the elderly, helping to carry out accurate intervention work," said Guo Honghui.
In terms of cognitive impairment screening, the courtyard team developed a "memory screening toolkit" suitable for rural areas, combined with dialect questionnaires and other methods, to increase the early screening coverage rate to 85%. For high-risk families identified through screening, the courtyard team designed a "family caregiver training program" to break down professional care knowledge into simple and easy-to-learn skills in daily communication, life assistance, safety protection, etc., and train the villagers.
In order to facilitate villagers' access to medical treatment, the courtyard team also joined hands with the local Health Commission to equip smart devices in pilot village health stations and build a "Internet Hospital + Health Courtyard" remote consultation system, so that high-quality medical resources can be directly connected to the fields from the "cloud."
"In the past, if there were any minor health problems, I had to go to the town or county. Now, many problems can be solved in the courtyard, which is convenient and reassuring," said Xie Faheng (谢发恒), a villager in Long'an Village. According to statistics, this model has shortened the average medical treatment time for patients in the pilot area by nearly 50%.
Ni Jindong (倪进东), dean of the Graduate School of Guangdong Medical University, said: "This practice jointly promoted by universities and governments not only injects healthy momentum into the high-quality development of rural Guangdong, but also provides a warm example for improving the convenience of public services and implementing the Healthy China strategy in the vast countryside."
County-level Art Troupe -
Driving public cultural services to villages and households
Layers of Hada are hung around the neck, and parents and elders in the hometown keep applauding and cheering... This is the first time Pubu (普布) has returned to his hometown to perform after joining the Qusong County Art Troupe (曲松县艺术团) in Shannan City, Tibet, and he feels like a "star."
Every year, the Qusong County Art Troupe conducts touring performances in 21 administrative villages throughout the county. Crosstalk, sketches, songs, dances, the programs are rich, the grassroots people order, and the art troupe "cooks." In 2025, the art troupe will have performed more than 100 performances.
Where the eyes converge, there is glory and frustration. Pubu still remembers the embarrassing things when he first entered the art troupe - that time, he and his colleagues came to a village to start performing, and the local people warmly welcomed them onto the stage. At first, there was thunderous applause from the audience; soon after, the atmosphere gradually cooled; later, in the performance venue that was originally crowded, the audience left in twos and threes...
"We learned afterwards that the programs we performed were not popular with everyone." This made Pubu determined to do a good job in the performance programs. To this end, he and his colleagues carefully polished the content of each performance, and often conducted research to jointly create and launch fresher programs that meet the needs of the masses.
**一枝独秀不是春，百花齐放春满园** (yī zhī dú xiù bù shì chūn, bǎi huā qí fàng chūn mǎn yuán - "one branch blooming is not spring, a hundred flowers blooming makes a garden full of spring," one person's success is not enough, everyone's success is needed for true prosperity). Now, the Qusong County Art Troupe not only completes its own performance tasks, but also undertakes the responsibility of driving and helping village-level art performance teams. Qusong County has 21 administrative village-level art performance teams, absorbing 356 mass actors. The art troupe often cooperates with these teams to perform together, creating literary and artistic works with the aroma of butter tea and the flavor of zanba.
The literary and artistic team in Xialuo Village, Qusong Town (曲松镇下洛村), is the leader among them, with a red Zhega singing team, a red song singing team, and a red story preaching team. Zhega is a local traditional form of storytelling and singing. The villagers have transformed it, incorporating the changes in life in the new era and the party's line, principles, and policies into the storytelling and singing.
"What was life like in the past? Mud roads, earthen walls, cattle and sheep lived under the bed" "Life is good today... Click on the phone and you can buy so many things"... One story after another, the language is simple and the content closely revolves around the people's affairs and concerns. "The masses love to watch it, and we enjoy performing it," said Suolang Dunzhu (索朗顿珠) of the Xialuo Village Art Performance Team.
"Qusong County's previous rural cultural activities were relatively lacking, mainly because of the lack of performers and the relatively weak foundation for the construction of cultural positions," said Sun Manyu (孙曼玉), deputy director of the Qusong County Culture and Tourism Bureau (曲松县文旅局). "In order to enrich the supply of grassroots public culture, we have specially formulated relevant rules and regulations, implemented the main body of cultural supply, and created a number of key brands and cultural projects."
Data shows that Qusong County has continued to build rural public cultural service positions to a high standard in recent years. On the basis of the existing 1 county cultural service center and 5 township (town) comprehensive cultural stations, it has successively established 27 public cultural service institutions, 26 cultural and artistic groups, and 21 village-level cultural activity rooms, so that rural public services can benefit rural residents more.
This issue's coordination: Yu Xuan (余璇)
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 姜 洁 施 芳
Liu Cuiyun (刘翠云), who lives in the Sanlihe Hot Spring Community (三里河温泉小区) in Yanqing Town (延庆镇), Yanqing District (延庆区), Beijing (北京市), is watering flowers at home. She said with emotion, "Thanks to the help of the members of the Beijing Municipal Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (北京市政协), we now have access to clean water!"
Why was water usage a problem here?
It turns out that this community consists of self-built rural houses. Previously, the 370 households and more than 800 residents in the community had been using water supplied by the village's own well. Initially, the water quality was good, but starting in the second half of 2023, villagers noticed that the water was yellow and had a foul odor.
"You wouldn't want to drink that water, let alone use it to water flowers. After using it a few times, the inside of the kettle turned green, and black foam accumulated at the bottom," said Liu Cuiyun (刘翠云).
"After testing by professional departments, we found the root cause of the deteriorating water quality: the groundwater level of the self-supplied well rose, and it was contaminated by rainwater and shallow surface water," said Zhao Jingyun (赵静云), director of the Sanlihe Village (三里河村) Village Committee. "To completely solve this problem, we need to bring municipal water into the community."
In 2024, the village committee proposed a solution: Beijing Water Group Jinyang Water Industry Co., Ltd. (北京市自来水集团缙阳水业有限责任公司) would install a master meter at the entrance of the community's tap water system. The village committee would purchase water at 5 yuan per ton, and after adding water loss, construction, repair, and maintenance costs, the villagers would purchase water from the village committee at a rate of 6.5 yuan per ton.
When opinions were solicited from households, nearly 80% of the villagers disagreed with this plan. Villagers continuously called the 12345 hotline to complain: "We are using municipal water, so why should we pay more than 1 yuan?" "How long will we have to use this 'stinky water'?"
If the water price is not increased, the village will not be able to lay the pipelines to bring in municipal water; if the water fee is increased, most villagers feel it is unfair...
What to do when opinions are not unified? In 2025, a turning point appeared.
The Beijing Municipal Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (北京市政协) included "Rural Water Supply Security" in the democratic supervision topic of "Members from All Sectors Participate Together, Gathering Consensus on One Topic per Month" ("各界委员齐参与 每月一题聚共识"). This "One Topic per Month" democratic supervision, which began in 2023, has built a consultation platform to gather voices from all parties. Citizen representatives raise demands, responsible departments discuss plans, and the topic supervision team integrates opinions from all parties to help effectively solve similar problems.
"The determination of supervision topics mainly relies on big data analysis from the 12345 hotline. 'Rural Water Supply Security' is one of the urgent and difficult problems that the masses have concentrated on reflecting," said a relevant person in charge of the Beijing Municipal Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (北京市政协).
First diagnose the problem, then prescribe a solution. The committee members selected areas with high incidence of problems and typical areas to conduct research. The water problem in Sanlihe Village (三里河村) is typical.
In July 2025, the "Rural Water Supply Security" topic supervision team, in conjunction with the Yanqing District Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (延庆区政协), sat down with the heads of the Yanqing District Water Affairs Bureau (延庆区水务局), Jinyang Water Industry (缙阳水业), Yanqing Town (延庆镇), and Sanlihe Village (三里河村), as well as villager representatives.
"We can't compromise on things that go into our mouths. It's been more than a year. When will this be resolved?" asked Wang Shuhua (王淑华), a villager representative, firing the "first shot."
"It costs money to lay pipelines and replace water meters, at least millions of yuan. Right now, the money hasn't been secured," said the representative of the Yanqing District Water Affairs Bureau (延庆区水务局), presenting the detailed accounts.
"This community is not within the scope of municipal water subsidies. Who will make up the shortfall?" worried the representative of Jinyang Water Industry (缙阳水业).
"We hope to drink clean water as soon as possible. We'll pay the same price as the city," said villager Wang Lianfeng (王莲凤).
…………
The meeting lasted all morning. Zhang Yuan (张远), a member of the Beijing Municipal Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (北京市政协) and a member of the "Rural Water Supply Security" topic supervision team, listened and recorded every opinion. "Water quality safety is related to the health of the villagers. No matter how difficult it is, the problems must be solved one by one!"
Conduct in-depth research to find solutions. The committee members communicated with relevant departments multiple times about the source of funds, went to the water plant to understand the rural water supply infrastructure, and went to the community to inspect the replacement of self-supplied wells and the installation of water meters... Through in-depth research and coordination with all parties, the water supply plan gradually became clear: the Yanqing District Government (延庆区政府) and Jinyang Water Industry (缙阳水业) would raise special funds for construction, directly connecting municipal water to the villagers' homes, and the villagers' water price would remain at 5 yuan per ton.
Laying municipal water supply pipelines, replacing smart water meters... In less than a month, the Hot Spring Community (温泉小区) completely bid farewell to "stinky water," and villagers could turn on the tap and use clear tap water.
"In 2025, with the service guarantee of the Proposals Committee of the Municipal Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (市政协提案委), our 'Rural Water Supply Security' topic supervision team conducted multiple investigations and seminars in Yanqing (延庆), Tongzhou (通州), Fangshan (房山), and other places, effectively leveraging the advantages of consultative supervision to help the masses solve water problems," said Qiao Xiangli (乔祥利), a member of the Beijing Municipal Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (北京市政协) and a member of the "Rural Water Supply Security" topic supervision team.
The "One Topic per Month" democratic supervision invites committee members from different sectors and different special committees to voluntarily sign up to participate, and is provided with service guarantees by 10 special committees and 3 comprehensive departments of the Municipal Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (市政协), achieving full coverage of sectors, full coverage of topics, and full coverage of departments. "In 2025, 510 committee members signed up to participate, accounting for about 68% of all committee members, covering all 32 sectors of the Municipal Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (市政协)," said a relevant person in charge of the Beijing Municipal Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (北京市政协). The 13 topic supervision teams carried out a total of 120 supervision activities of various types.
"After three years of practical exploration, the 'One Topic per Month' democratic supervision of the Beijing Municipal Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (北京市政协) has become an important platform for performing the function of democratic supervision. In 2026, we will organize committee members from all sectors to carry out democratic supervision around 11 'One Topic per Month' topics, making new and greater contributions to promoting capital governance and enhancing people's well-being," said a relevant person in charge of the Beijing Municipal Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (北京市政协).
Return to TopRecently, workers were working on the super bridge across the Shanghai-Kunming Expressway (沪昆高速) on the Shaoyang-Yongzhou High-speed Railway (邵永高铁) in Hunan Province. On January 14, the slewing bridge project of the super bridge across the Shanghai-Kunming Expressway (沪昆高速) on the Shaoyang-Yongzhou High-speed Railway (邵永高铁) entered a critical stage of superstructure construction. The bridge is one of the key control projects of the Shaoyang-Yongzhou High-speed Railway (邵永高铁).
It is understood that the Shaoyang-Yongzhou High-speed Railway (邵永高铁) is about 96 kilometers long with a designed speed of 350 kilometers per hour. It is an important part of the Hohhot-Nanning passage in China's "eight vertical and eight horizontal" high-speed rail network.
Photo by Guo Liliang (郭立亮) (People's Vision)
Return to TopXinhua News Agency, Beijing, January 18th. Comrade Nie Weiping (聂卫平), a renowned Chinese Go master, member of the 6th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (全国政协), member of the Standing Committee of the 7th and 8th National Committees of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (全国政协常委), former member of the Standing Committee of the Central Committee of the China Democratic League (民盟中央常委), honorary chairman of the Chinese Weiqi Association (中国围棋协会), former head coach of the National Go Team (国家围棋队), and an outstanding member of the Communist Party of China (中国共产党), passed away due to illness in Beijing (北京) on January 14, 2026, at the age of 74.
After the passing of Comrade Nie Weiping (聂卫平), relevant central leaders expressed their condolences in various ways and extended their sympathies to his family.
Nie Weiping (聂卫平) was born in Shenzhou (深州), Hebei (河北) Province, in August 1952 in Shenyang (沈阳), Liaoning (辽宁) Province. From 1977 to 1978, he served as a Go player in the Heilongjiang (黑龙江) Provincial Sports Team. After 1978, he successively served as a player and head coach of the National Go Team (国家围棋队). In 1982, he was awarded the ninth dan in Go by the State Physical Culture and Sports Commission (国家体委), and in 1988, he was awarded the title of "Go Sage" (棋圣). He also served as vice chairman of the Chinese Weiqi Association (中国围棋协会), technical advisor of the China Qiyuan (中国棋院), and other positions.
Comrade Nie Weiping (聂卫平) joined the China Democratic League (中国民主同盟) in April 1984 and the Communist Party of China (中国共产党) in February 1986. He was long engaged in Go competition, coaching, and promotion, winning the national individual championship six times and leading the Chinese team to three consecutive victories in the China-Japan Go Tournament, making important contributions to the development of Go in China. He was awarded the National May 1st Labor Medal, National Model Worker, National Sports Honor Medal, National Top Ten Athletes, and other titles.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 曾亦辰
On a winter afternoon, sunlight streams into the activity room of the Daliu Town Comprehensive Elderly Care Service Center in Liangzhou District (凉州区), Wuwei City (武威市), Gansu Province (甘肃省). Yue Fenglin (岳风林), a resident in her 60s, holds a silk fan and dances gracefully with a group of sisters to the rhythm. During a break, she looks out the window and says with a smile, "My son studied here when he was young, and now I come here to participate in elderly activities. It's fate."
This space, now filled with laughter, had a period of "silence." With the closure and merger of rural schools, Daliu Primary School (大柳小学) had no students and became a "sleeping asset." On the other hand, the demand for inclusive elderly care services in Daliu Town (大柳镇) and the surrounding areas was becoming increasingly urgent, but the cost of building a new elderly care center was relatively high, and finding a suitable site would also take some effort. So, could the idle school buildings be transformed into elderly care service facilities?
The change began with a coordination meeting on the revitalization and utilization of idle assets held by the Liangzhou District (凉州区) Finance Bureau. At the meeting, several staff members from the Finance Bureau, Education Bureau, and Civil Affairs Bureau engaged in discussions:
"The school buildings are vacant, and maintenance funds have to be allocated every year. If this money is saved, it can be transferred to other education projects."
"The renovation of old school buildings, fire protection, and age-appropriate facilities are top priorities, and these investments need to be considered."
"The Finance Bureau can support the bottom-line investments such as structural reinforcement of the buildings and upgrading of the fire protection system. Compared to acquiring new land and building new buildings, the cost and cycle of renovation are much more cost-effective."
"Transfer according to the provisions of the *Liangzhou District Administrative Units State-owned Assets Management Measures* (《凉州区行政事业单位国有资产管理办法》), the procedure is absolutely standardized."
…………
After repeated discussions and demonstrations, the accounts became clearer and clearer, the reasoning became clearer and clearer, and the plan was finally finalized. Soon, Daliu Primary School (大柳小学) completed the transfer and renovation, transforming from a rural primary school into a comprehensive elderly care service center.
This revitalization and transfer is not an isolated case. Nie Na (聂娜), head of the State-owned Assets Section of the Liangzhou District (凉州区) Finance Bureau, introduced that with the opportunity of the launch of the national administrative units state-owned assets transfer and sharing platform, the Finance Bureau, together with relevant departments, conducted a survey of idle assets in the district, established digital archives, and uploaded them to the platform. Staff members of the Civil Affairs Bureau entered keywords into the search box and could use the system to screen out idle assets with suitable locations, areas, and structures. The supply and demand "met" online, and the subsequent evaluation and approval processes were also greatly accelerated.
Asset transfer is only the first step. To ensure that idle assets can truly play a role after being received, the Liangzhou District (凉州区) Finance Bureau has explored experience in practice: before the transfer, the recipient must clearly state the purpose, operation plan, and supporting guarantees in the application documents; after delivery, according to the *Liangzhou District Administrative and Institutional State-owned Assets Management Performance Evaluation Measures* (《凉州区行政事业性国有资产管理绩效评价办法》), its utilization efficiency will be included in the asset performance management of the department.
"We will evaluate the traffic flow of the elderly care service center and the utilization rate of the school buildings. If the revitalization and utilization rate is less than 60% after one year, the relevant budget application of the recipient in the second year will be affected," said Nie Na (聂娜).
The practice of Liangzhou District (凉州区) is an epitome of the systematic revitalization of existing assets in Gansu Province (甘肃省): in Suzhou District (肃州区), Jiuquan City (酒泉市), the idle assets of the rehabilitation center have been transformed into a professional education space for disabled children in the region; in Jingning County (静宁县), Pingliang City (平凉市), the local area has integrated idle houses and the base resources of the Forestry Investment Company to build an integrated scientific research system of "indoor laboratory + field Internet of Things" ...... Next, Gansu Province (甘肃省) will continue to improve the efficiency of cross-departmental, cross-level, and cross-regional transfer and sharing of inefficient and idle assets, improve the efficiency of asset utilization, and strengthen the performance guarantee and career development support of relevant units.
Return to TopBy: 本报评论部
Tackling formalism to reduce the burden on the grassroots level concerns the state of cadres, the development of undertakings, and the foundation of governance.
General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) pointed out that "formalism and bureaucracy are incompatible with the nature, purpose, and fine traditions of our Party, and are major enemies of our Party and the people," and demanded that "the work of rectifying formalism and reducing the burden on the grassroots level be continuously deepened and expanded, so that the vast number of grassroots cadres have more energy to grasp implementation."
Looking back at 2025, meetings have been streamlined, assessments have been slimmed down, and temporary transfers have been standardized. This is the sincere feeling of the vast number of grassroots cadres. Grassroots research has become more practical, government services have become better, and urgent, difficult, and worrying problems have been solved more efficiently. This is the true feeling of many grassroots people. Local areas have implemented the "Several Provisions on Rectifying Formalism to Reduce the Burden on the Grassroots Level," and the results have been solid.
It is also necessary to be soberly aware that rectifying formalism to reduce the burden on the grassroots level is a long-term task. Only by improving the long-term mechanism and persevering in grasping it can a good ecology be formed and ensure that grassroots cadres can start lightly and act responsibly.
Summarizing experience from the results and drawing inferences about other cases, there is wisdom in this great article on reducing the burden on the grassroots level.
(I)
The difficulty of correcting unhealthy tendencies often lies in the fact that accumulated malpractices emerge under new guises. Only by being good at seeing the essence through the phenomena and cracking down on emerging and potential problems can we eradicate stubborn diseases and promote the development of undertakings.
"Focusing on new trends and new manifestations of formalism and bureaucracy, and coming up with effective and useful rectification measures." This requires us to actively respond to changes and recognize changes in the process of rectifying formalism to reduce the burden on the grassroots level, and to adhere to simultaneous grasping, hard hands on both sides, and thorough treatment.
The change in a meal in Chenzhou (郴州), Hunan (湖南) is very representative.
At the end of 2021, in response to phenomena such as "one letter for multiple meals," false entries, and violations of regulations on eating and drinking in official receptions, Chenzhou launched the construction of clean canteens in Party and government organs, and piloted "zero reception" in some counties.
The measures took effect quickly, but new variations such as "eating in the canteen without official letters," chaotic meal subsidy standards, and involvement of contractor interests followed.
Respond quickly and rectify thoroughly. Chenzhou issued implementation measures to fix "zero reception" in the form of a system; issued management measures for canteens of Party and government organs to unify subsidy standards; and notified typical cases of violations of "zero reception" regulations to form a deterrent... After a series of combined punches, old problems were eradicated and new problems were nipped in the bud.
Now, when departments at all levels conduct grassroots research in Chenzhou, they scan the code in the canteen for meals, and who eats and how much they eat is clear at a glance. From January to September 2025, Chenzhou's official reception expenses decreased by 88.22% year-on-year, and grassroots cadres no longer have "reception anxiety" and put more time into their work.
There is no simple solution to complex problems, and it is impossible to accomplish everything in one battle. Since the new era, from the construction of work style being "always on the road" to anti-corruption being "not stopping for a step or retreating for half a step"; from actively and steadily promoting "dual carbon" work to promoting the construction of a unified national market in depth... In these fields, the reason why we emphasize fighting tough battles and protracted wars is that we are soberly aware of the arduousness and complexity of doing these tasks well, so we persevere and grasp them constantly.
Cultivating patience, determination, and tenacity, maintaining sensitivity to new phenomena and new trends, and raising vigilance against hidden problems, correcting unhealthy tendencies and reducing burdens will leave a mark and move forward steadily, and there will be no difficulties that cannot be overcome.
(II)
Only by coordinating the present and the long-term, taking into account both symptomatic and fundamental solutions, can we grasp the essence of problems and solve the root causes of difficulties.
Improving the urgency of "immediate rectification" and attaching importance to the necessity of "long-term establishment," adhering to the combination of "immediate rectification" and "long-term establishment," both investigating and rectifying and establishing rules and regulations, and solving a class of problems by solving one problem, can ensure that burden reduction is effective and sustainable.
The difficulty of reducing the burden lies in the stubbornness of formalism.
Relevant departments in Ningxia (宁夏) once received reports from the masses that the Tongxin County (同心县) Education Bureau did not thoroughly clean up the temporarily transferred teachers. When the inspectors came, they asked the temporarily transferred teachers to go back first. As soon as the inspectors left, they transferred the teachers back again, playing a "cat and mouse game."
The supervision team visited and found that the situation was true and demanded immediate rectification. Eighteen days after the local feedback "has been rectified," the supervision team "looked back" and found that there were still two temporarily transferred teachers who had not been cleared.
Promote reform through cases and draw inferences about other cases. Ningxia further standardized the approval and filing procedures for temporary transfers and improved the dynamic adjustment mechanism for functional establishment and personnel allocation; the district and city levels respectively reduced the establishment by 5% and 3%, and "reduced the top and supplemented the bottom" to allocate 370 establishments to the county and township levels, enriching the grassroots forces. Taking fundamental measures and establishing a long-term mechanism, temporary transfers are more standardized and burden reduction is more sustainable.
The system is fundamental and long-term. With the implementation of the eight-point regulation, the construction of work style has been fully activated; the mechanism for investigating and treating unhealthy tendencies and corruption problems at the same time has been improved to continuously enhance the comprehensive effectiveness of governance of corruption; the Private Economy Promotion Law has been officially implemented, and a high-quality business environment is more guaranteed... Since the new era, the reason why the Party and the country's various undertakings have made considerable progress is that they have fully played the role of the system in regulating, guiding, encouraging, and restraining, and further consolidated the foundation for development with the rule of the system.
"Some things need to be fought in tough battles, and some things need to be done for a long time." Adhering to seeking truth from facts, respecting objective laws, grasping the present and looking to the future, and doing more things that lay the foundation and benefit the long term, can we achieve practical results that can stand the test of history, practice, and the masses.
(III)
Promoting Chinese-style modernization requires the modernization of grassroots governance.
General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) pointed out: "The most solid strength support of the Party's work is at the grassroots level, and the most prominent contradictions and problems in economic and social development and people's livelihood are also at the grassroots level. We must take grasping the grassroots level and laying the foundation as a long-term plan and a fundamental policy, and we must not relax in the slightest."
Burden reduction should not only be "reduced" but also "empowered." Reducing the burden on the grassroots level is by no means reducing responsibility or reducing responsibility, but rather improving quality with "reduction" and increasing efficiency with "reduction."
Coordinating burden reduction and empowerment, and sinking more power and resources to the grassroots level, can ensure that grassroots cadres not only have the time and energy, but also have the confidence and confidence to deal with new challenges and solve real problems.
The Northwest Corner of Lingdangge Street (铃铛阁街道) in Hongqiao District (红桥区), Tianjin (天津) has become an internet celebrity check-in place due to its special cuisine. With the surge in passenger flow, problems such as environmental sanitation maintenance, difficulty in using toilets, difficulty in traveling, and difficulty in parking have concentratedly erupted.
How to improve the environmental carrying capacity of the old block? The streets, which lacked manpower and resources, were in trouble.
It happened that Hongqiao District (红桥区) issued a document giving the streets the power to "blow the whistle" for dispatch. Lingdangge Street (铃铛阁街道) took advantage of the situation to launch the "whistle-blowing and reporting" mechanism, successfully connected with urban management, civil affairs, housing construction and other departments, realized collaborative governance and effective problem solving; with the support of higher-level departments, it also explored a new path of development that gathers resources through public welfare and charity funds and feeds back the construction of the block.
The sound of "whistles" has attracted resources and awakened innovation, and the "internet celebrity" has become a "long-term celebrity," and the level of grassroots governance has been continuously improved.
In recent years, from doing a solid job in the "whistle-blowing" dispatching power, assessment and evaluation power, and personnel suggestion power of townships (streets), to promoting the inclination of establishment resources to the grassroots level, and then to continuously enriching the front-line law enforcement forces... There are fewer "small horses pulling big carts" and more "light carts and strong horses," and the effectiveness of grassroots governance is continuously stimulated, and the momentum of development is more abundant.
"When every 'small family' is full of vitality, China, this 'big family,' will flourish," President Xi Jinping's (习近平) warm words in his New Year's message in 2026 touched people's hearts.
Thousands of things, in the final analysis, are things of thousands of households. To achieve "achieving great breadth while attending to the finest details" in the governance of a large country and ensure "overall planning and meticulous operation," we must rely on improving the refinement and modernization of grassroots governance and rely on the grassroots cadres' care, dedication, and perseverance.
The opening year, a new starting point. Continuously deepening the rectification of formalism to reduce the burden on the grassroots level, promoting the construction of work style in a normalized and long-term manner, and building the grassroots level, the foundation of the Party's governance and the source of strength, more firmly and solidly, we will surely steadily complete the various goals and tasks, and continuously open up a new chapter of "China's governance" with "good grassroots governance."
(Written by: Peng Fei (彭飞))
Return to TopBy: 周珊珊
"Accessibility" is also a development philosophy, concerning dignity and innovation; it illuminates life and invigorates the economy; it removes tangible steps and dismantles mental barriers.
Warmed by two news photos: one shows a visually impaired person touching and reading the tactile book of the "Along the River During the Qingming Festival" scroll, fingertips tracing the boats and bustling market scenes along the Bian River during the Northern Song Dynasty; the other shows a visually impaired person approaching a scent installation, gently smelling the fragrance of the Forbidden City's seasonal flowers, a smile spreading across their face.
The red walls and yellow tiles of the Forbidden City (故宫) have welcomed countless visitors, but China's 17.32 million visually impaired people could previously only imagine its appearance through descriptions. Now, innovative measures are like a spring breeze and rain, transforming historical relics from a visual solo into a multi-sensory symphony. This is not only a revolution in dissemination but also a respect for the cultural needs of special groups. These measures effectively broaden people's understanding and awareness of accessibility construction.
An accessible environment is not only about the rights and interests of people with disabilities. China has 310 million people aged 60 and above, over 400 million people with chronic diseases, and a large number of people with temporary injuries and illnesses, all of whom need accessibility support. Wheelchair ramps on buses and subways, dedicated viewing seats in theaters, and accessible restrooms in shopping malls – these details of care become warm support in special moments. In the face of aging, illness, and accidents, we all need social support and inclusion. This profoundly reveals the universal significance of accessible environment construction: everyone will benefit from this change.
Specific and micro-level practices reflect the refined advancement of urban construction. Wuhan (武汉) in Hubei (湖北) province, Xihu District (东西湖区), rebuilt 15 "elderly and child-friendly" public toilets, inviting elderly people and families with children to participate in the design, and also implemented "one toilet, one code" dynamic management. Hangzhou (杭州) in Zhejiang (浙江) province is promoting a 15-minute accessible living circle project and is also accelerating the construction of an accessibility service system covering the entire city, serving the entire population, and ensuring the entire life cycle. These measures reflect the precise grasp and response to the needs of different groups and vividly interpret the concept of development achievements shared by the people.
Raising the perspective, "accessibility" is also a development philosophy, concerning dignity and innovation; it illuminates life and invigorates the economy; it removes tangible steps and dismantles mental barriers. For example, age-friendly renovations not only make life more convenient for the elderly but also unleash the potential of the silver economy. Practice proves that accessibility construction not only enhances social well-being but also brings development opportunities.
If the construction of an accessible environment is about removing barriers for social members to participate in social life and promoting the all-round development of people, then the construction of a unified national market aims to remove barriers to the flow of factors and promote the efficient allocation of resources. Both reflect the concept of "breaking down barriers and removing obstacles." From removing "hidden barriers" to unifying market rules, from opening up "dead-end roads" to building a "large circulation," the construction of a unified national market is essentially creating an "accessible environment" for economic operation. This echoes the facility construction and psychological care in the social field, jointly pointing to high-quality development.
In this sense, China's accessibility construction is undergoing a profound transformation from point to surface, from superficial to deep. Accessibility construction is always on the road. This transformation has long-term and complex characteristics and still faces many difficulties and challenges, but every attention and every improvement to the accessible environment is itself a manifestation of social progress.
"Anything involving the vital interests of the people must proceed from the greatest effort to demonstrate social fairness and justice, and be systematically designed in policy, without losing sight of one thing while attending to another." A truly civilized society will use basic services to guarantee rigid demands and warm people's hearts with humanistic care. From "facility adaptation" to "humanistic care," from "partial optimization" to "system restructuring," every step of exploration is writing a new chapter of Chinese-style modernization civilization – true development is the simultaneous rise of high-rise buildings and humanistic care, the synchronization of economic development and mass experience, the spreading of the benefits of technological progress to every corner, and ensuring that "no one is left behind" on the road to a distant future.
Return to TopAccording to the National Health Commission (国家卫生健康委), in 2025, China's residents' health literacy level reached 33.69%, an increase of 1.82 percentage points compared to 2024, continuing to maintain a steady upward trend. Among them, the health literacy level of urban residents was 36.68%, and that of rural residents was 30.58%, an increase of 1.94 and 1.47 percentage points respectively compared to 2024. From a regional perspective, the health literacy levels of residents in the eastern, central, and western regions all increased compared to 2024, and the gap between the western region and the eastern and central regions narrowed.
This is precisely:
The streets and lanes are bustling with voices,
The old and young share the morning sun.
Stretch out to relieve fatigue,
Healthy body, beautiful life.
By Xu Zhiwen (徐之文)
Return to TopBy: 张玉胜
Recently, a social model aimed at exchanging skills and information has become popular among young people. Young people post their "skill lists" on social media, using their expertise in foreign languages, musical instruments, programming, or professional knowledge to learn skills or exchange industry information with each other in one-on-one or group settings. This format is called "skill-based socializing."
The reason why "skill-based socializing" has won the favor of many young people is that it is not only linked by common interests or regional backgrounds, but more by skills, connecting people from different fields and with different backgrounds. "Skill-based socializing" allows young people to improve themselves and expand their interpersonal relationships in a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere.
The rise of "skill-based socializing" stems from deep-seated real-world needs. In today's society, young people face unique competitive pressures and career challenges. They are eager to master more industry information, learn more skills, and prepare more fully for their career development. "Skill-based socializing" provides them with a convenient and efficient way to do so. Through direct communication with industry insiders, they can quickly understand the latest industry trends and understand the underlying logic of the skills they have learned, thus making their careers more competitive.
"Skill-based socializing" is also a kind of spiritual exchange and interaction. In the fast-paced modern life, young people often feel lonely and confused. They long to find like-minded friends and share their stories and experiences. "Skill-based socializing" provides them with such opportunities. In the process of communication, they can not only learn new skills, but also feel the emotional resonance between each other. This deep level of communication allows them to understand each other more deeply and cherish this hard-won friendship.
"Skill-based socializing" is a way of interpersonal communication based on ability recognition, and it is a two-way rush to illuminate each other. It allows young people to see others and see themselves in mutual collisions. It is worth noting that participants should have a clear self-awareness and goals to ensure that both parties can achieve a two-way flow of value; both parties should maintain a sincere and helpful attitude and respect each other's time and energy input. Society should give "skill-based socializing" more attention and support, and provide it with a broader space.
Valuable "skill-based socializing" is the mutual improvement of cognition and ability. In in-depth interaction and continuous collision, each participant is constantly completing self-improvement, and also making the exchange between the two sides more in-depth and warmer.
(Excerpted from *Fujian Daily* (福建日报), originally titled "Skill-Based Socializing is a Two-Way Rush to Promote Growth")
Return to TopBy: 江 南
From policy to funding, from mechanisms to services, the government's services are directed towards what the industrial development needs. With better mechanisms and a better environment, new business forms will develop more smoothly and have broader paths.
"The old street's bluestone paths, the old post office at the alley entrance, and the sweet soup shop at the corner are all places the female lead in the drama visited, even the shop signs and wall graffiti are exactly the same." Recently, the Wuhang Old Street Scenic Area (五杭老街景区) in Linping District (临平区), Hangzhou (杭州), Zhejiang (浙江) Province has seen an increase in tourists from all over the country who are "traveling along with micro-dramas." In 2025, the number of tourists visiting Wuhang Old Street (五杭老街) increased by 300% compared to the same period last year, and the average daily turnover of street merchants increased by nearly two times.
How to release the long-tail effect of micro-dramas and continuously stimulate cultural innovation and creativity? This is a topic in humanistic economics.
Identify new tracks, promote the integration of culture and technology, and develop new cultural business forms. For example, in Qiantang District (钱塘区), Hangzhou (杭州), more than 70 upstream and downstream micro-drama enterprises have gradually formed a cluster effect, and 6 of the top ten leading micro-drama enterprises in the country have settled here; in Xihu District (西湖区), relying on the advantages of scientific and technological innovation and cultural industries, an "AI+" technology base is being built to help micro-drama projects shorten cycles and reduce costs; in Linping District (临平区), micro-drama creation is driving the development of cultural and tourism resources such as the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal (京杭大运河) and Tangqi Ancient Town (塘栖古镇). Making full use of the advantages of strong cultural industry strength and strong momentum of scientific and technological innovation, and doing a good job in articles such as "micro-drama + artificial intelligence" and "micro-drama + cultural tourism" can open up differentiated and characteristic new tracks.
Meet new demands, coordinate resource docking, and create a good cultural ecology. For some time, Hangzhou (杭州) has formed a relatively complete industrial chain including script creation, filming and production, film and television review, publicity and distribution, and cinema lines. Now, focusing on the key points, pain points, and difficulties of micro-drama industry development, continue to "supplement the chain" and string beads into a chain. The Linying Factory (临影厂) is the first micro-drama shooting base in the country, with more than 40 professional real-scene studios, and an average of 4 to 6 crews shooting at the same time every day. The "one-stop" service "from start to finish" can help crews shorten the shooting cycle by about 1/3. Establishing industrial funds, cracking down on piracy and infringement, establishing a national micro-drama copyright protection and trading center, and opening a "micro-drama creative village"... From policy to funding, from mechanisms to services, the government's services are directed towards what the industrial development needs. With better mechanisms and a better environment, new business forms will develop more smoothly and have broader paths.
With the continuous improvement of the influence of Chinese culture, the trend of cultural industry going overseas has become a new trend, which is an opportunity to show cultural charm in a larger market range. Micro-dramas have the characteristics of "lightweight, fast dissemination, and close to the audience," and are an important carrier for cultural products to go to the world. While consolidating the domestic industrial base, promoting the high-quality development and high-level going overseas of the "new three items" of culture, and enhancing communication power and influence, is a common choice for many enterprises.
For example, Linping District (临平区) relies on "high-quality content + platform matrix" to encourage leading micro-drama enterprises to carry out international audio-visual content creation and international cooperation project incubation; at the same time, it guides enterprises to make more suitable translations and adaptations of high-quality micro-drama works, so that more Chinese stories can reach overseas audiences in a more refined and appropriate way. Whether for internal or external communication, doing a good job in content can attract audiences, and creating resonance can achieve win-win results. Effectively amplifying the commercial value, social value, and cultural value of cultural creation, good works and good products will surely win a large market.
The "15th Five-Year Plan" proposal puts forward that "stimulating the cultural innovation and creativity vitality of the whole nation and promoting the prosperity and development of socialist culture." Although micro-dramas are "micro," they are not small, and although they are short, they are not weak, and they are contributing unique strength to the prosperity and development of China's cultural garden. Rooted in the broad and profound cultural soil, in line with the development trend of modern technology, meeting the cultural needs of the vast number of consumers, and continuously innovating products and promoting good works, will surely nourish the spiritual home with high-quality culture.
(The author is a reporter from the Zhejiang Branch (浙江分社) of this newspaper)
Return to TopThis edition's email: rmrbbpl@peopledaily.cn (Please indicate the column name when submitting articles)
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 闫伊乔 贾丰丰
"Teacher Di, we all miss you very much. When will you return to Lhasa (拉萨)?" "Teacher, my math test score improved by 10 points this semester. Thank you for your guidance!" Receiving messages from the snowy plateau, Di Tianyu (邸田玉), a student at the School of Marxism at Shaanxi Normal University (陕西师范大学), felt a warmth in her heart.
In 2025, filled with aspirations, Di Tianyu (邸田玉) and 45 other normal school students from the university went to Tibet (西藏) to begin a three-month teaching internship. From the Guanzhong Plain (关中平原) to the snowy plateau, these young people used their youthful ideals to bring knowledge and hope to the children on the plateau.
In 2010, Shaanxi Normal University (陕西师范大学) first selected state-funded normal school students to intern in Tibet (西藏). Over the past decade, more than a thousand normal school students from Shaanxi Normal University (陕师大) have continued this relay, entering primary and secondary school classrooms in Lhasa (拉萨), Shigatse (日喀则), Ngari (阿里), Shannan (山南), and other places.
A Relay of Love
Having lived and worked in Nagqu (那曲), Tibet (西藏), at an average altitude of 4,500 meters for more than 10 years, Zhang Yi's (张毅), the Party Secretary of Nagqu City Senior High School (那曲市高级中学), face is etched with the marks of the plateau's sun and wind. "Now I am often mistaken for a local." As one of the first "Non-Tibetan Origin, Directed Employment in Tibet" (非西藏生源定向西藏就业) normal school students from Shaanxi Normal University (陕师大), Zhang Yi (张毅) said, "This is a kind of recognition, and also a kind of integration."
In 2007, this native of Xi'an (西安) boarded a train to Tibet (西藏) with aspirations for the future. The local school conditions were difficult, and he and his colleagues used cow dung to make fires and carried water to cook. "The first time I used a pressure cooker on the plateau, the gushing steam scared me so much that I ran around holding my head." From a history teacher to a school administrator, Zhang Yi (张毅) has left his most brilliant years here. "I firmly believe that the children of Nagqu (那曲) will grow up as strong as the seedlings on the Qiangtang Grassland (羌塘草原)," said Zhang Yi (张毅).
In 2010, Shaanxi Normal University (陕师大) and the Education Department of the Tibet Autonomous Region (西藏自治区教育厅) signed a cooperation agreement, establishing the principle of "discipline alignment, long-term co-construction." Since 2011, 884 graduates from the university have taught in Tibet (西藏), becoming a key force supporting the high-quality development of basic education in Tibet (西藏).
Speaking of the recent situation of the students who participated in the teaching internship, Pang Wei (庞玮), an associate professor at the School of Foreign Languages at Shaanxi Normal University (陕师大外国语学院), knows them like the back of her hand: Dingzhen Duoji (丁真多吉), who teaches high school history at Shannan City Complete Middle School (山南市完全中学), improved the class's history scores from the bottom to the first in the grade in just one year. Gerang Dengpei (格让登培), who interned at Lhasa Ali Hebei Complete Middle School (拉萨阿里河北完全中学) in 2023, has now returned to teach at the school...
Tibet (西藏) is Pang Wei's (庞玮) "second hometown." She has led teams to Tibet (西藏) many times, witnessing students change from initial anxiety—asking "Teacher, when are we going back?"—to reluctance at parting—choking up and saying "Teacher, I don't want to leave."
"Many students have extended their short teaching internships into long-term dedication," said Pang Wei (庞玮). "I hope that through generations of relays, more children will be encouraged to teach here and improve the level of education here."
A Great Lesson in Practical Education
How to make students with relatively weak foundations fall in love with learning? While interning at Lhasa Beijing Experimental Middle School (拉萨北京实验中学), Di Tianyu (邸田玉) applied teaching methods such as issue-based teaching and situational teaching to the "Morality and the Rule of Law" class. She encouraged students to share on stage, making theory tangible and relatable.
"To win the trust of students, in addition to being approachable, you must also have solid knowledge and teaching skills." Di Tianyu's (邸田玉) high school English teacher, Shi Lei (石磊), was her role model. Back then, Teacher Shi (石老师) used his rest time to accompany Di Tianyu (邸田玉) and her classmates to practice listening comprehension over and over again. Now, influenced by Shi Lei (石磊), Di Tianyu (邸田玉) also brings a serious and responsible attitude to her teaching.
The speed of yaks running, the temperature of butter tea boiling, the light of the starry sky in pastoral areas... In 2025, Miao Ruixue (缪瑞雪), who served as a physics intern teacher at Lhasa Ali District Senior High School (拉萨阿里地区高级中学), transformed physical concepts and formulas into everyday experiences that students could easily grasp. "Teacher, so physics is 'alive'." The students' feedback also made Miao Ruixue (缪瑞雪) find the meaning of devoting herself to education.
"The experience of aiding Tibet (援藏) is a great practical lesson for normal school students, helping them find the original intention and responsibility of a teacher," said Zhang Yaze (张亚泽), Director of the Academic Affairs Office of Shaanxi Normal University (陕师大教务处处长). In recent years, Shaanxi Normal University (陕师大) has taken "practical education" as its guide, innovated the teaching internship model, and also jointly compiled the "Education Internship Guide for the Tibet Autonomous Region" (《西藏自治区教育实习指南》) with Tibetan (西藏) experts to promote the standardization and normalization of teaching internship work, continuously injecting vitality into the classrooms of the snowy plateau.
The teaching internship students of Shaanxi Normal University (陕师大) not only undertake subject teaching tasks, but also give full play to their professional advantages to carry out national common language and writing education, mental health education, ecological protection education, and aesthetic and sports education, helping Tibetan (西藏) children develop in an all-round way.
Li Chenguang (李晨光), a 2012 graduate of Shaanxi Normal University (陕师大), went to Lhasa Ali District Senior High School (拉萨阿里地区高级中学) in 2019 as part of the ninth batch of educational talents from Shaanxi Province (陕西省) to aid Tibet (援藏). When he discovered that the local students lacked extracurricular reading materials, Li Chenguang (李晨光) had the idea of building a bookstore in the class.
In just a few years, the bookstore built by Li Chenguang (李晨光) has developed from a class reading corner with only 60 books into a library with nearly 50,000 books and 120 reading seats. The establishment of the bookstore not only benefits the students of Lhasa Ali District Senior High School (拉萨阿里地区高级中学), but also serves as a demonstration for other schools in the Ali (阿里) area.
A Team Dedicated to Dedication
In the classroom of the School of Marxism at the Chang'an Campus of Shaanxi Normal University (陕师大长安校区马克思主义学院), Jiayang Puchi (加央普赤), a junior majoring in ideological and political education, is preparing lessons carefully. She studies the curriculum standards while polishing her lecture notes. In a few months, she will return to her hometown of Tibet (西藏) to begin her teaching internship.
In addition to state-funded normal school students from Tibet (西藏) like Jiayang Puchi (加央普赤), more students from other provinces have chosen Tibet (西藏) as the starting point for their educational dreams. "In class, teachers talk about the customs and natural geography of Tibet (西藏), and on campus radio, we hear stories of senior students and sisters taking root on the plateau," said Hu Jing (胡敬), a junior at the School of Geography and Tourism at Shaanxi Normal University (陕师大地理科学与旅游学院). "Tibet (西藏) has never been a distant place for me."
It is better to teach a man to fish than to give him fish. In response to the educational needs of Tibet (西藏), Shaanxi Normal University (陕师大) launched a "group-style" teacher enhancement project: university experts and front-line famous teachers form teams to customize training courses. Since 2011, it has trained more than 4,000 teachers in Tibet (西藏), covering principals, backbone teachers, and teachers in mental health, sports, science, and other fields. Training one person, driving a group, and radiating an area, this virtuous cycle allows high-quality educational concepts to take root and bear fruit on the plateau.
From Lhasa (拉萨) to Shigatse (日喀则), from the snow-capped mountains of Ali (阿里) to the river valleys of Nyingchi (林芝), the flame of education is becoming more and more intense in the relay. Since 2023, the "Red Candle Nursery" exchange practice activities have illuminated the border areas. Teachers and students from Shaanxi Normal University (陕师大) have traveled to 14 border counties (banners, cities) in 6 provinces (regions), including Inner Mongolia (内蒙古), Jilin (吉林), Guangxi (广西), Yunnan (云南), Tibet (西藏), and Xinjiang (新疆), and Yongxing Island (永兴岛) in Sansha City (三沙市), Hainan (海南), to build a "walking ideological and political class." In the cloud classroom, 169 student party members paired up with local children, achieving a companionship across mountains and seas for more than 760 hours.
"When you enrolled, you came from all over the country. When you graduate, you will go to the places in the country that need you most with a mission. I hope you will engrave the school motto of 'Integrity, Diligence, Aspiration, and Practice' on your life path and on the podium..." Facing these children who are about to go to the plateau, Professor Zhang Lin (张琳) of the School of Marxism earnestly exhorted. Outside the window, the sun shines on the deep green pines and tall poplars in the campus, and also illuminates the distant mountains and rivers thousands of miles away.
A group of people, one thing. Batches of state-funded normal school students, "Non-Tibetan Origin, Directed Employment in Tibet" normal school students, and national "Excellent Teacher Program" normal school students from Shaanxi Normal University (陕师大), like the tenacious Gesang flowers, take root in the land of the snowy plateau, practicing the oath of taking root in the west, being willing to dedicate, pursuing excellence, and serving the country through education with their youth.
Li Xiaobing (李晓兵), Secretary of the Party Committee of Shaanxi Normal University (陕师大党委书记), said that the university will promote the precise connection between high-quality educational resources and the development needs of education in Tibet (西藏) with a higher position and more practical measures, and demonstrate its mission and responsibility with practical actions.
Return to TopBy: 刘涓溪
The train speeds along, carrying dreams. From Shaanxi to Tibet, this path of teaching support has been followed by over a thousand normal university students from Shaanxi Normal University (陕西师范大学) for more than a decade. They bring knowledge and hope to the snowy plateau, allowing the flowers of youth to bloom in the places where the motherland needs them most.
Footsteps span mountains and seas, and sentiments endure. Behind this choice lies the firm ideals and deep patriotic feelings of batches of normal university students. The harsh climate and sparse population of the snowy plateau do not daunt everyone; the scarcity of teaching resources and the weak foundation of students constantly tug at everyone's hearts, bearing the heavy responsibility of improving the local education landscape... Helping more children build confidence and improving students' grades by a few more points, they wholeheartedly open the window for children to see the wonderful world, and spread the brilliance of cultural knowledge on the snowy plateau.
The western region is a great classroom for the growth and development of young people. Carefully preparing lesson plans, integrating local culture, improving teaching skills, and enhancing teacher-student interaction... Normal university students take root in the plateau, understand the plateau, and while struggling and dedicating themselves, they also temper themselves, develop excellent skills, and grow into outstanding teachers who can shoulder important responsibilities.
Leaving behind the warmth of the study, their hearts are concerned about the cold of distant mountains. Young students bid farewell to the comfort of the campus, carry bags full of textbooks and teaching aids, and write simple oaths of teaching and educating people with a piece of chalk and a blackboard. In the future, I believe that more youthful power will carry a passion, bring a volume of poetry and books, continue the spark of education, and add more clear reading sounds to the snowy plateau.
Return to TopThis newspaper's Beijing (北京) dispatch on January 18th (Reporter Yi Shuran (易舒冉)) The Fourth Plenary Session of the 15th Central Committee of the Jiu San Society (九三学社) opened in Beijing (北京) on the 18th. The main content of the meeting was to study and implement the spirit of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, listen to and review the work report of the Standing Committee of the 15th Central Committee of the Jiu San Society (九三学社) in 2025, review the work report of the Internal Supervision Committee of the 15th Central Committee of the Jiu San Society (九三学社) in 2025, review relevant personnel matters, and elect additional vice chairmen, standing committee members, and members of the 15th Central Committee of the Jiu San Society (九三学社). Wu Weihua (武维华), Chairman of the Central Committee of the Jiu San Society (九三学社), delivered a work report on behalf of the Standing Committee of the 15th Central Committee of the Jiu San Society (九三学社), and Shao Hong (邵鸿), Executive Vice Chairman, presided over the opening meeting.
Wu Weihua (武维华) pointed out that in the past year, under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping (习近平) at its core, the Standing Committee of the Central Committee of the Society has been guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, deeply studied and implemented the spirit of the 20th CPC National Congress, the Plenary Sessions of the 20th CPC Central Committee, and the congratulatory message from the CPC Central Committee to the conference celebrating the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Jiu San Society (九三学社), earnestly implemented the work arrangements of the 12th National Congress of the Society and the Third Plenary Session of the 15th Central Committee, focused on the center, served the overall situation, pooled wisdom and efforts, offered advice and suggestions, and continuously strengthened self-construction, making new contributions to promoting the construction of a strong country and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation in all respects through Chinese-style modernization. First, celebrating the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Jiu San Society (九三学社). Second, strengthening political guidance and broadly building consensus. Third, serving the central overall situation and actively participating in and deliberating on state affairs and offering suggestions. Fourth, facing strategic needs and practicing social services. Fifth, consolidating the organizational foundation and stimulating endogenous motivation.
Wu Weihua (武维华) emphasized that 2026 is the first year of China's "15th Five-Year Plan." The entire society will be guided by Xi Jinping (习近平) Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, deeply study and implement the spirit of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee and the Central Economic Work Conference, resolutely implement the major decisions and deployments of the CPC Central Committee and the important instructions and directives of General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平), vigorously promote the fine traditions of patriotism, democracy, and science, focus on the goals and tasks of economic and social development during the "15th Five-Year Plan" period to pool our efforts and perform our duties, comprehensively strengthen the construction of a participating party with Chinese characteristics of socialism, and contribute wisdom and strength to helping achieve decisive progress in basically realizing socialist modernization.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 史自强
Highlight of Expertise
In the field of chemical production, even the slightest error in parameter adjustment can lead to vastly different results. Deng Jing, through precise calculations, finds suitable technical modification solutions for complex chemical production lines without room for trial and error. She has been awarded the National May Day Labor Medal, the China Youth May Fourth Medal, the National Technical Expert, and the National Model Worker, among other honors.
The methanol branch of Kailuan Group Tangshan Zhongrun Coal Chemical Co., Ltd. (开滦集团唐山中润煤化工有限公司) in Tangshan (唐山), Hebei Province (河北省), is composed of a vast steel jungle of crisscrossing pipelines, towering reaction towers, and roaring compressors.
Deng Jing (邓晶) (pictured, photo by Zhao Liang (赵亮)), 41, a process engineer, is a craftsman who "diagnoses and prescribes" for giant equipment. Her "stethoscope" is calculation, and her "scalpel" is innovation. Her daily routine involves densely packed formulas and parameters on calculation paper, and she repeatedly uses precise calculations to solve "stubborn diseases" that plague production.
Several years ago, Deng Jing (邓晶) led the completion of the waste heat boiler heat exchange efficiency improvement project in the second phase of the methanol branch. Before the modification, this equipment had always been a "stumbling block" in production: as long as the gas load increased, the furnace tubes would easily become blocked, the heat exchange efficiency would immediately decrease, and the outlet temperature would exceed the standard. This not only affected the methane conversion efficiency but also seriously affected methanol production.
Faced with the practical problem of the waste heat boiler, Deng Jing (邓晶) decided to take the path of "increasing the heat exchange area," but the real test had just begun—how to determine the area? "It's like changing radiators at home; if it's too big, the room will overheat, wasting resources, and if it's too small, the temperature won't rise," Deng Jing (邓晶) said.
Over the next two months, Deng Jing (邓晶) immersed herself in piles of calculation drafts. The computer screen displayed densely packed data, and the reference books at hand were dog-eared from her constant flipping. After seven or eight rounds of systematic calculations, she finally "squeezed" out the optimal solution of "13 square meters" from the massive amount of data.
After the modification was implemented, the effect was immediately apparent: the methane content at the outlet of the second-phase conversion furnace was significantly reduced; not only was about 11.85 tons more methanol produced daily, but an additional 3.8 tons of medium-pressure steam could also be produced, ultimately achieving an annual increase in efficiency of 11.98 million yuan.
"Moving parameters in the production system is like performing heart surgery on a person who is running; there is no chance for trial and error," Deng Jing (邓晶) described her work. "Chemical production is interlinked, and a change in one parameter can trigger a chain reaction. Any technical modification must be done in one step; once it fails, the loss will be minor if the output is affected, and severe if the entire line is shut down, with losses amounting to millions of yuan."
It is this "zero-tolerance" requirement that has honed Deng Jing's (邓晶) expertise—predicting the results of modifications through rich experience and theoretical calculations before taking action.
Deng Jing's (邓晶) path of innovation began 19 years ago. At the age of 22, she graduated with the highest grade in her major and joined Kailuan Zhongrun Company (开滦中润公司). At that time, the company's coke oven gas-to-methanol plant had no mature experience to follow.
How to enter the work role? Deng Jing (邓晶) arrived an hour early every day, climbing high towers and drilling through pipe corridors with drawings in hand, and stubbornly engraved the locations of more than 2,000 valves and the routes of more than 500 pipelines in her mind. Colleagues called her a "living map." Behind this proficiency were three pairs of worn-out work shoes and 12 notebooks filled with working condition records.
Deng Jing's (邓晶) pace of innovation has never stopped: in 2019, the integrated filtration gas filter she invented solved the heat exchanger problem that had plagued the industry for many years; in 2025, she led the completion of the interconnection modification of the first and second phase oxygen compressor outlets, which can reduce production costs by 2.191 million yuan per year...
From an ordinary operator to a national technical expert, Deng Jing (邓晶) has been exploring efficient, green, and safe production paths. In 2014, Deng Jing (邓晶) had her own work team, which has completed more than 60 innovation projects, proposed more than 350 rationalization suggestions, and solved more than 40 production problems. She has trained 2 national technical experts, 5 petroleum and chemical industry technical experts, and 3 Tangshan (唐山) craftsmen. "As long as you do a job to the extreme, any position can shine," Deng Jing (邓晶) said.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 谷业凯 喻思南 李君强
Several globally renowned science and technology innovation lists are, 不约而同 (bù yuē ér tóng - "coincidentally," happening to do the same thing without prior consultation), "looking east":
In the "Nature Index - Science Cities" top ten, Chinese cities occupy six seats; Clarivate Analytics' 2025 "Highly Cited Researchers" list shows 1/5 from mainland China, with the Chinese Academy of Sciences (中国科学院) ranking first among global research institutions with 258 researchers selected; a study in the *Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences* (美国《国家科学院学报》) shows that the number of Chinese scientists taking leadership roles in international collaborations is rapidly increasing; according to the World Intellectual Property Organization's (世界知识产权组织) "Global Innovation Index 2025" report, China has joined the ranks of the top ten most innovative economies in the world...
"Innovation and creation have spawned new quality productive forces and made life more colorful." President Xi Jinping (习近平) praised China's innovation in his New Year's message in 2026.
From the accelerated leap in scientific research output and capabilities, to breakthroughs in basic and cutting-edge fields, and then to global responsibility promoting win-win results through open cooperation, a more confident and open "Innovative China" is becoming an important engine of scientific and technological innovation, injecting new and surging momentum into global development.
High-level scientific and technological output continues to grow, and global scientific research influence is getting stronger and stronger.
Some time ago, the Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory (江门中微子实验) in Guangdong (广东) officially released its first physics result, breaking the world record for the measurement accuracy of two neutrino oscillation parameters. "Our results have taken humanity's understanding of nature a step further," said He Miao (何苗), a researcher at the Institute of High Energy Physics (高能物理研究所) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (中国科学院).
The Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory (江门中微子实验) is a reflection of China's continuous improvement in scientific and technological influence and leadership. As the first ultra-large-scale and ultra-high-precision neutrino-dedicated device in the world, the experiment is led by China, built in China, and involves more than 700 researchers from 75 research institutions in 17 countries and regions.
"This is where the wisdom of global scientists converges," said He Miao (何苗), giving an example: "The project team designed four large purification systems for the core substance liquid scintillator used to capture neutrinos, with China and Italy each responsible for two sets; the experiment uses two sizes of photomultiplier tubes, and Russia, Italy, France, and other countries are deeply involved in the development of the readout electronics system to convert photoelectric signals into digital signals."
Building such a large scientific device 700 meters underground is undoubtedly difficult. The success of the project has shown the world China's determination and ability to support basic research.
"China's increasingly mature and influential contributions in the field of scientific research are reflected in the rankings and assessments of major global scientific research outputs," said Magdalena Skipper, editor-in-chief of *Nature* magazine. "This undoubtedly proves China's systematic investment in scientific research and education, as well as its high regard for the importance of international cooperation."
In 2024, China's total social R&D investment exceeded 3.6 trillion yuan, an increase of 48% compared with 2020; the intensity of R&D investment reached 2.68%; and the total number of R&D personnel ranked first in the world. R&D investment has maintained a high intensity and has been accompanied by continuous optimization in structure.
In 2024, China's basic research funding reached 249.7 billion yuan, an increase of more than 70% compared with 2020. With the strong support of innovative resources, China has achieved a number of major original achievements in quantum technology, life sciences, material sciences, and space sciences, and the number of high-level international journal papers and international patent applications has ranked first in the world for five consecutive years.
"In recent years, China's scientific and technological output has achieved a 'double improvement' in quantity and quality," said Pan Yuntao (潘云涛), chief researcher at the Institute of Scientific and Technical Information of China (中国科学技术信息研究所). According to calculations, as of August 2025, China's share of global hot papers reached 53.2%.
High-quality scientific research results and high-level research teams are synchronized. Thanks to the ability to calm down and engage in "from 0 to 1" work, in 2025, Yu Jintai (郁金泰), a professor at Huashan Hospital (华山医院) affiliated with Fudan University (复旦大学), and his team discovered a new therapeutic target for Parkinson's disease. "More and more foreign teams are 'tracking' our research results." In Yu Jintai's (郁金泰) view, the "representative work evaluation" system supports researchers to 不鸣则已，一鸣惊人 (bù míng zé yǐ, yī míng jīng rén - "to keep silent, then astonish the world with a single brilliant feat," to remain quiet until one achieves something remarkable).
"With core talent as the key fulcrum, China's long-term competitiveness in the global scientific research system is constantly being consolidated." In the view of Yi Jiming (易继明), a professor at Peking University Law School (北京大学法学院), in the context of increasingly multipolar global scientific research competition, China's high-level talent team can maintain its size and stability, reflecting that innovation is increasingly based on a mature scientific research organization system, a long-term investment mechanism, and a tiered talent structure, with strong resilience and sustainable development potential.
Improving the systematic layout of scientific research, the effectiveness of the national innovation system has significantly improved.
Recently, the research teams of the Institute of Artificial Intelligence (人工智能研究院) and the School of Integrated Circuits (集成电路学院) of Peking University (北京大学) have achieved the multi-physical domain fusion Fourier transform system of "post-Moore's law new devices" heterogeneous integration for the first time internationally.
Targeting the practical solution of the basic calculation method of Fourier transform in modern science and engineering, this basic research result has not only published high-level papers, but also broken through key technologies such as system speed and power consumption bottlenecks, accelerating the application in many cutting-edge fields such as artificial intelligence basic models, embodied intelligence, brain-computer interfaces, and data communication.
"Expanding the operator spectrum that various new devices can support is a 'deep-water area' that the underlying computing power in the 'post-Moore era' must break through," said Tao Yaoyu (陶耀宇), a researcher at the Institute of Artificial Intelligence (人工智能研究院) of Peking University (北京大学). "The innovation environment in the domestic semiconductor field is getting better and better, which makes us more confident to start from the source and the bottom layer to solve practical problems."
Basic research adhering to both goal-oriented and free exploration is a microcosm of China's improving systematic layout of scientific research. Carsten Fink, chief economist of the World Intellectual Property Organization (世界知识产权组织), commented that China's innovation activities have been outstanding in recent years, and the Chinese government's planning, sustained attention, and support for the innovation system have played an important role in it.
The booming commercial aerospace is another window to observe the changes in China's innovation concept. Driven by top-level design and the broad needs of the market, the aerospace field, which used to be only the domain of the "national team," now has more and more private enterprises.
At the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center (酒泉卫星发射中心), in the Dongfeng Commercial Aerospace Innovation Experimental Zone (东风商业航天创新试验区), China's new generation of commercial rocket "Tianlong-3" (天龙三号) is poised to launch.
"This is currently the commercial aerospace rocket with the largest carrying capacity in China, aiming to serve the satellite Internet networking launch," said Kang Yonglai (康永来), chairman of Tianbing Technology (天兵科技). The company has established a full-chain layout from rocket self-research, large-scale manufacturing to exclusive launch positions. In 2025, "Tianlong-3" (天龙三号) successfully completed the key experiment of "one rocket 36 satellites" ground transportation and vibration, and has the ability to launch more than 30 satellites in one launch, and is rapidly advancing the first flight mission.
From the new type of national system integrating innovation forces and advantageous resources, to the transformation of achievements to solve the "two skins" of science and technology and industry; from strengthening the innovation subject status of enterprises, to doing a good job in the "big article" of science and technology finance... In recent years, China has strengthened top-level design traction and improved the national innovation system. A series of pragmatic measures and long-term strategies have accelerated the formation of a system and mechanism to support comprehensive innovation.
International science and technology innovation centers, innovation highlands with global influence. In the 2025 global top 100 innovation clusters, China's number of listings continues to rank first in the world. Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou (深圳—香港—广州), Beijing (北京), and Shanghai-Suzhou (上海—苏州) rank first, fourth, and sixth respectively. The 2025 Central Economic Work Conference (中央经济工作会议) deployed the "expansion and quality improvement" of the construction of three major science and technology innovation centers, which will become an important strategic support for China to move towards a strong science and technology country.
"Through spatial expansion, resource coordination, policy superposition, and force synergy, to promote complementary advantages, collaborative linkage, and cohesive force, it will further enhance the original innovation source function, high-end industrial leading function, and top talent gathering function of international science and technology innovation centers," said Xuan Zhaohui (玄兆辉), director of the Institute of Science and Technology Statistics and Regional Innovation of the Chinese Academy of Science and Technology Development Strategy (中国科学技术发展战略研究院科技统计与区域创新研究所).
New technologies go to the world, from "made in China" to "researched in China."
It is not only the global science and technology innovation lists that are "looking east." More and more new Chinese technologies are going to the world, empowering global development.
In the farmland near Abuja (阿布贾), the capital of Nigeria (尼日利亚), golden rice waves rise and fall with the wind, and the rice in season is harvested. "We have deeply integrated the high-yield characteristics of Chinese rice with the stress resistance of African native varieties, and successfully cultivated more than 80 high-yield and adaptable green super rice varieties," said Xu Jianlong (徐建龙), a researcher at the Institute of Crop Sciences (作物科学研究所) of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (中国农业科学院).
In the computer classroom of Anuradhapura National College (阿努拉德普勒国家学院) in Sri Lanka (斯里兰卡), Piumi Nayanathara, the leader of the "OpenKylin" community Sri Lanka user group, demonstrated the desktop environment, basic functions, and open source community operation of the "OpenKylin" system to students and IT teachers. "The Chinese open source project provides a realistic entry point for Sri Lankan students to understand and participate in global technology collaboration," said Piumi Nayanathara.
In Abu Dhabi (阿布扎比), the United Arab Emirates (阿联酋), Didi Autonomous Driving (滴滴自动驾驶) has joined the local smart and autonomous vehicle industry cluster, and is gradually expanding cooperation to the wider Middle East region. "We look forward to working with local partners to jointly promote the innovation and application of autonomous driving technology, and bring a safe, reliable, and intelligent travel experience," said Wang Yue (王玥), vice president of Didi Autonomous Driving (滴滴自动驾驶).
Always adhering to open cooperation to promote scientific and technological progress, China's new products and technologies are going to the world in a more life-friendly way, making innovation results perceptible, accessible, and sustainable.
At the 2026 International Consumer Electronics Show (国际消费电子展), known as the "technology vane," innovative products brought by many Chinese companies attracted global attention.
Honor's (荣耀) global first "mobile phone robot" integrates a movable mechanical pan-tilt design, combining "AI mobile phone brain," robot mobility, and high-definition camera capabilities; Lenovo (联想) launched a personal super intelligent body to achieve "seamless switching" of mobile phones, computers, tablets, and wearable devices, situational awareness, privacy protection, and multi-intelligent body collaboration; Dreame Technology (追觅科技), relying on its self-developed multi-modal perception system and bionic robotic arm control algorithm, demonstrated a sweeping robot with a robotic arm, which can independently complete "grabbing, sorting, and storing" with AI visual recognition...
"Our global authorized patents exceed 17,000. In 2025, Honor's (荣耀) overseas sales accounted for more than 50%, and shipments in Latin America and other regions exceeded 10 million units," said Wang Ban (王班), president of sales and service of Honor (荣耀).
With the world's largest market and the richest application scenarios, China uses its super-large-scale market advantages to not only promote many new technologies to the world, but also become a new stage for global R&D.
"BMW has established the largest R&D network outside of Germany in China, including 4 innovation bases and 3 software companies, and the new models are tailored to China's road conditions and driving habits," said a relevant person in charge of the BMW Group (宝马集团).
"China has not only made innovative achievements in digital technology, artificial intelligence, and other fields, but also achieved remarkable results in the development of related industries," said Shan Xiaoguang (单晓光), a professor at the Shanghai International Intellectual Property Academy (上海国际知识产权学院) of Tongji University (同济大学).
The Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (党的二十届四中全会) proposed to accelerate high-level scientific and technological self-reliance and self-improvement, and lead the development of new quality productive forces. "Adhering to innovation-driven, and stepping up efforts to cultivate and strengthen new kinetic energy" is a key task in the first year of the "15th Five-Year Plan." Anchoring the goal, taking advantage of the momentum, and adhering to innovation and creation to spawn new quality productive forces, scientific and technological innovation achievements that will impress the world will continue to emerge, and the momentum of high-quality development will be stronger.
Return to TopLayout Design: Zhang Danfeng (张丹峰)
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 金 歆 郑洋洋
Recently, after the "coal-to-gas" conversion in some rural areas of northern China, some readers and netizens have reported that the high price of gas has led to situations where some villagers "cannot afford heating" and "would rather freeze to save money."
What is the actual situation of heating for villagers in northern rural areas after the "coal-to-gas" conversion, what governance issues does it reflect, and how should the related problems be solved? With these questions in mind, reporters conducted an investigation.
Current Situation:
The situations of "high natural gas heating prices" and "freezing to save money" do exist.
Recently, a netizen in Dingxiang County (定襄县), Xinzhou City (忻州市), Shanxi Province (山西省) left a message on the "Leader's Message Board" of People's Daily (人民网), saying that his village had implemented "coal-to-gas," but the cost of gas heating at home was too high, causing some villagers to be unwilling to turn on the gas for heating and would rather freeze.
On January 6, the reporter came to Jiang Village (蒋村), Dingxiang (定襄), Shanxi (山西).
"‘Coal-to-gas’ is a good thing that benefits the country and the people. It is safe, clean, and convenient, but the heating cost is too high." Villager Mr. Hu (胡先生) told reporters that at the end of 2024, the local natural gas price rose from a minimum of 2.26 yuan per cubic meter to 2.61 yuan, and the price rose to more than 3 yuan if a certain amount was exceeded. After a winter, even if you "spend sparingly," it would cost several thousand yuan.
"Elderly parents will only turn on the natural gas wall-hung boiler for heating when it is unbearably cold in winter to save money," said Mr. Hu. "The house is very cold, and the elderly have to wrap themselves in thick coats even indoors."
The reporter then came to Ms. Hu's (胡女士) home. She said, "My 105-square-meter house requires a gas consumption of 380-390 cubic meters per month to maintain a room temperature of 18-19 degrees Celsius, costing about 1,000 yuan. I dare not exceed 400 cubic meters, because if it exceeds that, the unit price of natural gas will rise to more than 3 yuan, so I can only control it carefully."
Villager Ms. Jia (贾女士) told reporters that she is in poor health and needs to keep the room temperature higher to avoid catching a cold. "The heating bill for the last heating season was more than 7,000 yuan, and this winter I have already spent more than 3,000 yuan even with saving gas." She lamented, "Our farmers have limited income, and it really hurts!"
In addition to Shanxi (山西), villagers and netizens in Henan (河南), Shandong (山东), and other regions that have promoted "coal-to-gas" have also reported the problem of high gas heating prices. "In the past, our village used to burn loose coal for heating, which only cost more than 1,000 yuan for a winter, and the firepower was strong enough." Mr. Lü (吕先生), a resident of Hua County (滑县), Anyang City (安阳市), Henan (河南), told reporters that a few years ago, the village organized the installation of natural gas wall-hung boilers and natural gas stoves, and after natural gas was connected, burning coal was no longer allowed, "and there are frequent inspections."
"There are subsidies for installing equipment, so I didn't spend any money myself. But the subsequent expenses are much greater than burning coal." Mr. Lü introduced that the current natural gas price in Hua County (滑县) is 2.86 yuan per cubic meter for the first 50 cubic meters per month per household, and 3.72 yuan per cubic meter for the part exceeding 50 cubic meters.
"Calculated, if you burn gas freely for heating in a winter, it can cost 10,000 yuan." Mr. Lü said with a wry smile, "Far exceeding the affordability of the villagers here."
Mr. Wang (王先生) from a village in Liaocheng (聊城), Shandong (山东) also gave reporters an account: In the past, burning loose coal cost about 1,500 yuan for a winter. After "coal-to-gas," the government will give a certain subsidy every year, but it still costs more than 4,000 yuan to get through the winter.
Professor Liu Mengdi (刘梦迪) of the School of International Economics and Trade of the University of International Business and Economics (对外经济贸易大学国际经济贸易学院), who has long been engaged in environmental governance and public policy research, has conducted investigations on this issue. She admitted: "In some rural areas, especially in families with relatively low income levels, there is indeed a phenomenon of ‘freezing to save money’."
Reasons:
High cost of pipeline network construction and maintenance, "subsidy decline," and poor building insulation performance.
"Expensive" and "unaffordable"... Villagers in Henan (河南), Hebei (河北), Shandong (山东), and other places have complained to reporters. Why is natural gas so expensive in these rural areas? What is the problem?
"The rural pipeline network is newly built from scratch, and the villages are scattered and the population density is low, so the average cost of pipeline construction per household is very high." Liu Mengdi (刘梦迪) analyzed that rural gas supply has the characteristics of "low pressure, decentralized, and many points," and necessary inspections, maintenance, and emergency services require more manpower and material resources. "The geographically dispersed nature of rural areas leads to high ‘logistics’ and ‘service’ costs."
Pang Jun (庞军), Dean of the School of Environment and Natural Resources of Renmin University of China (中国人民大学生态环境学院), said that some county-level gas supply companies are small in scale and have low bargaining power.
The cost of using natural gas for heating in rural areas is high. Are there any cheaper alternative clean energy sources?
In 2017, multiple departments issued the "Northern Region Winter Clean Heating Plan (2017-2021)" (《北方地区冬季清洁取暖规划（2017—2021年）》), which proposed to choose heating sources according to local conditions, and renewable energy heating such as geothermal, biomass energy, and solar energy, natural gas heating, electric heating, industrial waste heat heating, and clean coal-fired centralized heating were optional. However, in reality, rural areas in Shanxi (山西), Henan (河南), Shandong (山东), Hebei (河北), and other places mainly use "coal-to-gas" as the main way to promote clean heating.
"It is generally reasonable to use natural gas as the main energy source for clean heating." Pang Jun (庞军) said that other renewable energy heating such as geothermal, biomass energy, and solar energy, as well as industrial waste heat heating, are either unstable in heat supply or require the construction of new heating infrastructure. The so-called clean coal-fired heating has regulatory problems, "and it is difficult to guarantee that loose coal will not be mixed in." Liu Mengdi (刘梦迪) believes that compared with building centralized heating networks, developing geothermal energy, or organizing biomass fuel supply chains, installing gas wall-hung boilers and laying pipelines for single rural households is easier to quickly promote and implement in entire villages in terms of engineering, and can achieve the quantitative goal of "clearing loose coal" in the short term.
In the early stage of "coal-to-gas," various places will give corresponding subsidies to villagers. In recent years, subsidies in many places have "declined," increasing the economic pressure on villagers for heating.
Mr. Sun (孙先生), a resident of a county in Hebei (河北), told reporters that in the early stage of "coal-to-gas" in the village, the subsidy for each cubic meter of gas was 1 yuan, but now it has dropped to 0.1 yuan.
In Ms. Hu's (胡女士) home in Jiang Village (蒋村), Dingxiang County (定襄县), Ms. Hu (胡女士) showed reporters the subsidy issuance receipts: The county will issue different levels of subsidies according to the amount of gas used by users. Last year, her family spent more than 4,000 yuan on heating and only received 400 yuan in subsidies. "More households in the village receive 200 yuan in subsidies."
"In 2021, the city introduced a 3-year subsidy policy for ‘coal-to-gas’, funded by the city and county finance, with a maximum subsidy of 500 yuan per household for ‘coal-to-gas’." A person in charge of a department in a certain place in Shanxi (山西) introduced that the deadline of 2025 has arrived, and whether to continue subsidies in the future will depend on the specific policies of the city.
Why might subsidies be stopped? "The county's finances are indeed relatively tight at present," the person in charge admitted frankly.
Reporters found that similar concentrated reflections and the existence of subsidy arrears and reluctance to use natural gas also exist in rural areas such as Taiyuan (太原) and Linfen (临汾).
In addition, some rural self-built houses do not fully consider the thermal insulation of the walls, and the degree of thermal insulation of the houses is not enough.
"Clean heating is by no means as simple as ‘changing a heat source’. It is a system engineering that includes energy supply, distribution network, terminal equipment, building envelope structure (insulation), and user behavior." Liu Mengdi (刘梦迪) believes that in the current process of promoting clean heating, some places focus too much on the front-end "gas (electricity) replacing coal" but ignore the back-end energy-saving renovation of rural houses.
The reporter saw in a village in Zhuozhou City (涿州市), Hebei (河北) that the vast majority of houses in the village are ordinary brick structure exterior walls without insulation layers.
"A comprehensive insulation renovation of a 100-square-meter house costs about 10,000 yuan." A village cadre told reporters that without sufficient subsidies, villagers are usually unwilling to spend this money.
"A house that ‘leaks air everywhere’ will cause a great waste of energy." Liu Mengdi (刘梦迪) said that a considerable part of the gas heating cost is "paying for" the relatively backward building insulation.
Suggestions:
Cross-regional ecological compensation, strengthening energy-saving renovation of rural houses, and configuring diversified clean energy sources.
Since January 3 this year, villagers in Hebei (河北), Shanxi (山西), and other places have successively reported to reporters that local policies have been introduced to extend the original subsidy period or increase the existing subsidy amount. Many villagers have already received gas subsidies.
"Many places in Henan (河南), Hebei (河北), and Shanxi (山西) do not have sufficient financial resources. Relying on local finance to extend the issuance of subsidies or increase the amount of subsidies is not a long-term solution. It is still necessary to build a long-term mechanism." Pang Jun (庞军) said.
Pang Jun (庞军) suggested that it is possible to explore the construction of a cross-regional transfer payment mechanism, with funds provided by jointly benefiting regions for compensation. The purpose of clean heating is to improve air quality. Pang Jun (庞军) further explained that air quality is a "public product" and its improvement costs need to be borne jointly by the whole society. Henan (河南), Shanxi (山西), Hebei (河北), and other places promote the construction of clean heating methods such as "coal-to-gas" and "coal-to-electricity" to improve air quality, and the beneficiaries are not only local residents. Other benefiting regions provide certain financial compensation, which is in line with the ecological compensation principle of "who benefits, who compensates." Previously, Anhui (安徽), Zhejiang (浙江), and other provinces have adopted ecological compensation schemes on the Xin'an River (新安江) cross-provincial river basin governance issue and achieved good results.
"For the ‘expensive heating’ problem, the solution lies in establishing a more long-term and precise financial subsidy mechanism, separating some pipeline network investment and operating costs from residential gas prices." Liu Mengdi (刘梦迪) suggested that technological innovation can be used to reduce initial investment. For example, for scattered villages far from the main pipeline network, abandon the extremely expensive long-distance pipelines and instead use LNG (liquefied natural gas) or CNG (compressed natural gas) point supply stations. In addition, vigorously promote energy-saving renovation of rural buildings and carry out insulation renovation of the exterior walls, roofs, doors, and windows of farmers' houses. Subsidies can be shifted from simply subsidizing "gas equipment" to bundled subsidies for "energy-saving renovation + clean heat source."
"It has been measured that a house with good insulation can reduce heating energy consumption by more than 40%, which means directly saving 40% of gas costs." Liu Mengdi (刘梦迪) said.
In the interview, many local people have different views on the "one-size-fits-all" requirement that only natural gas can be used as a heating energy source. "Some people in our village use air source heat pumps, which are more expensive to install initially, but the subsequent costs are relatively cheap." "Clean coal was previously promoted in our area, and the heating cost for a winter was only more than 1,000 yuan. It is said that the environmental effect is not bad." "Is it possible to promote solar heating facilities?"...
In this regard, experts suggest that diversified clean energy allocation can be explored. Precise matching should be carried out according to resource endowments, economic levels, and living habits to avoid "one-size-fits-all" reliance on natural gas. For example, areas rich in biomass resources such as straw and forestry waste are especially suitable for scattered farmers where "coal-to-gas/electricity" is difficult to cover. Natural gas heating can be used in areas where gas pipeline networks have been covered, gas sources are guaranteed, farmers have strong economic affordability, and subsidies are sustainable.
"In fact, we can also see the benefits of ‘coal-to-gas’. With natural gas, there is no coal ash in the house, the air is much better, and the walls are no longer blackened. You don't have to get up in the middle of the night and brave the cold wind to add coal, and you can also avoid the risk of poisoning." Ms. Wang (王女士), a villager in a village in Zhuozhou City (涿州市), told reporters, "We still hope that relevant departments can take practical measures in accordance with local conditions to do good things well and provide the people with clean energy that is usable, affordable, and easy to use."
(People's Daily (人民网) reporter Wang Yanru (王宴如) participated in the writing)
Return to TopPeople's Daily:
On June 9, 2025, your newspaper's "Letters to the Editor" section published "Liaoyang City, Liaoning Province - Many Fire Hazards in Chess and Card Rooms and Mahjong Parlors," reflecting the fire hazard problems in chess and card rooms in the Baita District. The district Party committee and district government attached great importance to this, comprehensively implemented the main responsibility and regulatory responsibility for fire safety, and made every effort to rectify the fire safety hazards in the relevant chess and card rooms.
Previously, community police officers inspected the fire safety of the Hulai Chess and Card Room and found fire safety hazards such as obscured advertising signs, no water in fire hydrants, insufficient evacuation distance, and insufficient fire safety signage. Because the Hulai Chess and Card Room operates on a self-service model, the person in charge is usually not in the store. Although multiple inspections have been conducted, the relevant problems have not been completely rectified.
On the morning of June 9, 2025, the Baita District (白塔区) District Mayor led the district public security, fire, culture and tourism, market supervision, urban management, and other departments, as well as the local street office, to the Hulai Chess and Card Room to verify the situation and conduct joint law enforcement. In view of the Hulai Chess and Card Room's long delay in rectification, the Baita District (白塔区) joint law enforcement team ordered it to immediately suspend business for rectification and to resume business only after passing inspection by the local police station in conjunction with the district fire brigade.
In addition, in response to the fire hazards in chess and card rooms around the Binhu Jiayuan (滨湖家园) area, Baita District (白塔区), 举一反三 (jǔ yī fǎn sān - "infer the rest from one case," to draw inferences; to learn by analogy), simultaneously implemented joint law enforcement to ensure that hidden problems are rectified in place. Baita District (白塔区) will actively respond to the demands of the people, especially by increasing the intensity of investigation and rectification efforts around chess and card rooms and other entertainment and leisure venues, making every effort to eliminate all kinds of fire safety hazards, and effectively protect the lives and property safety of the broad masses of the people.
Baita District People's Government (白塔区人民政府)
Return to TopRecently, when this author visited Zhaokang Community (赵康社区) in Chengguan Town (城关镇), Gucheng County (谷城县), Hubei Province (湖北), I noticed a giant steel-framed billboard standing by the roadside. It was about 10 meters long and 15 meters high, and its columns, steel frame, and outer iron sheet were all covered in rust.
According to villagers, the billboard was built eight years ago. The company to which it belonged had long since closed down due to poor management. The factory area is overgrown with weeds, and the billboard is unattended. Exposed to wind, sun, and rain, the corroded steel frame structure is in danger of falling and collapsing. There is a road under the billboard (see picture), with vegetable fields on both sides, and daily traffic and pedestrian flow is very dense. The billboard poses a great danger to passing pedestrians. It is hoped that relevant departments can pay attention to this matter, conduct on-site investigation as soon as possible, and eliminate the hidden danger in a timely manner.
Ma Minggang (马明刚), Gucheng County (谷城县), Hubei Province (湖北)
Return to TopRecently, many consumers have reported being troubled by exaggerated promotional sales tactics when shopping at baby stores. They only want to buy a pack of diapers, but the sales guides closely follow them, recommending DHA and lutein, implying that the child will easily get sick if they don't supplement these; some people went to buy teething sticks for their 6-month-old baby, but were persuaded to bring back two large packages of children's sausages.
In today's baby market, infant food often touts concepts such as "lactoferrin enhances immunity" and "DHA helps brain development," and the price doubles when these ingredients are added. However, these so-called "miraculous ingredients" are not so miraculous. Marketing that exaggerates the efficacy of a single ingredient is essentially using parenting anxiety to create irrational consumption. It is recommended that relevant departments strengthen supervision and strictly investigate such false advertising. At the same time, they should popularize scientific parenting knowledge through official channels, reminding parents not to be fooled by marketing rhetoric, and let the baby's "food" return to the essence of healthy nutrition.
Xing Chengmu (邢承木), Zibo City (淄博市), Shandong (山东)
Return to TopBy: 史一棋 薛思远
Ms. Fang from Fengtai District, Beijing (北京丰台区) recently went to the hospital and found many handwritten or stamped small advertisements for "sick leave certificate for sale + phone number" on the walls of the hospital bathroom. She reported to our newspaper that she didn't understand how issuing sick leave certificates could become a profitable business.
The reporter's investigation revealed that the purposes of issuing fake sick leave certificates vary. Some people want to take time off, some want to meet the refund and change conditions for airlines and performances, and many students use them to avoid courses and exams. In addition to posting small advertisements in hospital corners, these gray transactions also publish hidden information online. For example, some are hidden in seemingly unrelated services such as "ticket refund agents," operating under the guise of "compliant sick leave refunds"; others are attached to hospital-related services—merchants originally engaged in "registration on behalf" and "professional accompaniment" also operate this business.
When the reporter consulted a store online under the guise of needing accompaniment services and tentatively asked "Can you help me get a sick leave certificate?", the customer service cautiously replied in a private message on the platform: "We mainly do accompaniment, but if you need it, we can also help." When the reporter further inquired about the details, the other party asked to switch to social software to continue communication.
"Send your identity information, which hospital do you want to use? How should the symptoms be written? How long do you need to rest?" The reporter contacted several merchants under the pretext of needing leave, and the other parties' answers were very direct. One merchant even said: "We can arrange any Grade Three Class A hospital, and it is recommended to control the duration within two weeks. It is also possible to issue one for a month, but it is easy to arouse suspicion from the employer if it is too long."
After the needs were clarified, the merchants began to quote prices: making a fake diagnosis certificate costs 100 to 300 yuan; if you need to "upgrade" to a complete outpatient medical record with detailed medical history, examination results, and treatment recommendations, the price will increase to 400 to 500 yuan. "The more detailed the medical record, the more real it looks, and the price will naturally be higher," the merchant explained.
Behind the different price points, merchants have different sales pitches. Merchants with higher prices often vowed "authenticity" and claimed that "they are using real channels," and would show blurred chat screenshots to show that "old customers come back every month, and there has never been a problem." Merchants with lower prices bluntly stated: "You are not really sick, you just want to take leave, why care about the authenticity of the certificate?" "The seal is definitely a forgery, and there is no record in the hospital system." When the reporter asked, "What if it is discovered by the employer?", the merchants' answers were very consistent: "Neither schools nor companies have the right or the channels to verify the authenticity with the hospital."
To verify the degree of simulation, the reporter obtained a real diagnosis certificate from a hospital in Beijing (北京) and compared it with a forged sample from the same hospital sent by a "scalper." The result was surprising: the two were almost identical in many details such as paper size, texture, layout format, font selection, department signature, and even the seal.
Generally speaking, after the attending doctor issues a sick leave certificate based on the condition, the patient must also go to the hospital's medical affairs department to stamp it for confirmation before it can take effect. Ms. Yan (严女士), a reader from Beijing (北京), had visited this hospital: "When I went to get a sick leave certificate myself, I found that the hospital's stamping verification was not very strict."
In addition, the reporter learned that some criminals agree on a sharing ratio with familiar doctors, and look for doctors if there is a demand for fake certificates; others simply forge sick leave certificates based on hospital samples and confirm them with their own carved seals.
Buying a sick leave certificate is not a trivial matter. Ms. Liu (刘女士), a reader from Jing'an District, Shanghai (上海静安区), recounted her experience of finding a "ticket refund guarantee" service provider with the highest sales volume on a shopping platform in order to refund a ticket with a high handling fee. "The solution proposed by the other party was to process a sick refund for me."
After paying a fee of 200 yuan, the other party forged a diagnosis certificate from a hospital in Hubei (湖北), and the "diagnosis" result was: "Acute pancreatitis, not suitable for flying recently." The ticket was successfully refunded, but Ms. Liu (刘女士) received a summons notice from the police station two months later. The gang that processed the diagnosis certificate was suspected of violating the law, and the police asked her to cooperate with the investigation.
"Many people think that buying a fake certificate is a trivial matter, but in fact, every step from forgery to use may involve illegal activities," pointed out Tong Ce (童策), associate professor at the School of Law of Tianjin University of Technology (天津工业大学). "According to the Public Security Administration Punishment Law, forging, buying, or selling certificates and seals of public institutions can be punished with up to 15 days of detention and a fine; those with serious circumstances may also violate the Criminal Law. For users, the risks are the same. If an employee uses a fake certificate to ask for leave, if it constitutes a serious violation of the employer's rules and regulations, the employer can legally terminate the labor contract without paying compensation. Using a fake certificate for a refund may face the risk of refund cancellation, compensation for losses, and even administrative penalties."
Faced with this chaos, governance requires a multi-pronged approach. Tong Ce (童策) believes: "For medical institutions, electronic certificates with anti-counterfeiting QR codes and legal electronic signatures can be promoted, and online verification can be done by scanning the code, eliminating the possibility of forgery from the source. Regulatory authorities should focus on cracking down on gray transactions on e-commerce platforms and social software through cross-departmental special rectification. The majority of workers should know that using fake certificates may solve immediate needs, but the professional stains and legal risks left behind may have a far-reaching impact."
Return to TopThe People's Daily "Letters from Readers" page and the People's Daily Online "Leaders' Message Board" are jointly conducting a collection of urgent and difficult problems and concerns of the masses. Readers are welcome to provide clues and suggestions.
Email: rmrbdzlx@126.com
dzlx@peopledaily.cn
Mobile Terminal: People's Daily (人民日报) Client "Exposure Platform"
People's Daily Online "Leaders' Message Board" Client
By: 欧阳洁
The total value of imports and exports for the whole year was 45.47 trillion yuan, a record high, continuing to maintain its position as the world's largest trading nation in goods; imports and exports achieved a relatively rapid growth of 3.8%, marking the ninth consecutive year of growth and the longest continuous growth since joining the WTO. In 2025, China's foreign trade demonstrated strong resilience and vitality.
Carefully reading this impressive report card, "diversity" is its most distinctive label.
The market is more diversified. In April 2025, the United States announced the imposition of so-called "reciprocal tariffs" on all trading partners, including China, and continued to escalate them, triggering an unprecedented tariff war. With the storm brewing, the world held its breath, waiting for China's response. At this time, entering the Yiwu International Trade City (义乌国际商贸城) in Zhejiang (浙江), merchants calmly and composedly responded to market fluctuations, developing markets in Africa, Central Asia, and Latin America at their own pace; entering the Ningbo Zhoushan Port (宁波舟山港) in Zhejiang (浙江), on the real-time display screen of world routes, the routes to Chinese ports were still the most densely packed; entering the Horgos Port (霍尔果斯口岸) in Xinjiang (新疆), trains and cars heading to Central Asia were fully loaded with high-quality Chinese goods. China's foreign trade has enhanced its resilience to withstand storms by exploring emerging markets.
The foreign trade "circle of friends" is growing larger, with trading partners all over the world. In 2025, the number of countries and regions worldwide that traded with China reached 249, with imports and exports growing with more than 190 countries and regions. Among them, there were 14, 62, and 137 countries and regions with trade scales exceeding one trillion, one hundred billion, and ten billion yuan respectively, an increase of 2, 6, and 10 respectively compared to 2024. China's foreign trade is breaking its dependence on a single market and becoming more balanced in its development.
Products are more diversified. Foreign trade diversification is not only an expansion of the market landscape, but also an improvement in quality and efficiency, and an iteration of development momentum. More and more "Made in China" products are innovating to adapt to international market demands and promoting global low-carbon transformation with green initiatives, continuously increasing their "new content" and "green content." Taking artificial intelligence as an example, China's intelligent robots can not only dance, run marathons, and practice Tai Chi, but are also "synonymous" with efficient production. In overseas infrastructure and transportation project construction, handling robots equipped with visual systems and algorithms can intelligently avoid obstacles; welding robots can automatically scan and model, and calculate the optimal welding方案. In 2025, the export growth rates of these two robots were both above 60%. "Good Chinese products" not only enrich the lives of global consumers, but also deeply embed themselves in the global production and supply chain, providing strong support for global industrial cooperation.
Imports are more diversified. Diversification is not a choice of 独善其身 (dú shàn qí shēn - "cultivate oneself alone," focusing only on one's own well-being), but a practice of 互利共赢 (hù lì gòng yíng - "mutual benefit and win-win," mutually beneficial and win-win). China's ultra-large-scale market potential continues to be released, also providing new opportunities for the world to expand markets. China's large market, the world's great opportunity. The latest international data shows that in the first three quarters of 2025, China has become the main export destination for 79 countries and regions, an increase of 3 compared to the whole year of 2024. In 2025, China imported 18.48 trillion yuan of goods, and its share of global imports remained at around 10%. The effective release of production and consumption demand in the ultra-large-scale market provides broad market space and cooperation opportunities for various countries.
A series of policies to stabilize foreign trade help companies stabilize orders and expand markets, providing a solid guarantee for the diversification of foreign trade. Pilot projects for cross-border trade facilitation policies and measures are being promoted and replicated nationwide, helping companies reduce costs and promote efficient and smooth cross-border logistics.
Logistics channels connecting rivers and seas extend to more markets, paving a broader road for the diversification of foreign trade. At Yantai Port (烟台港) in Shandong (山东), the volume of China-Africa liner shipments in 2025 increased by 49% year-on-year, a record high, connecting the Chinese market and African characteristic industries; at Ningbo Zhoushan Port (宁波舟山港), the world's first China-Europe Arctic container express route was opened, providing a faster and lower-carbon international logistics option for China's high-end manufacturing, cross-border e-commerce, new energy and other industries; driven by the China-Europe Railway Express, the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor in western China, and the China-Laos Railway (中老铁路) and other open channels, border provinces and regions are gradually moving towards the forefront of opening up.
Diversity is China's confidence in responding to external risks and challenges, and it is also the key to enhancing the resilience of foreign trade. In the new year, there are more uncertain and unpredictable factors in the external environment, and the pressure to stabilize foreign trade is still relatively high, but China's pace of trade innovation and development will be more solid, its advantages will be more prominent, and its trading partners will be more diversified. It will surely withstand the test of high winds and waves, and will also inject certainty and bring new opportunities to global economic and trade development.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 窦瀚洋
On January 14th, in the "Jin Meng Jia Ren" jewelry shop on the third street of the first floor of the sixth-generation Yiwu Global Digital Trade Center (义乌全球数贸中心), Yiwu, Zhejiang (浙江义乌), the shop owner Lou Yiyang (楼依洋) repeatedly recited "12345" into her phone to collect voice data. Then, she opened the "Xiao Shang AI Shi Chuang" section of the "World Yiwu" (世界义乌) business and trade large model APP, imported the video material she had just shot, and entered product keywords. A few minutes later, a short promotional video based on the original sound, with AI-generated copy and music, was completed. "In the past, it took at least half an hour to make a video, but now it can be done in a few minutes. It also supports one-click automatic translation into multiple languages, which is much more convenient. Without leaving Yiwu (义乌), I can use AI to do business in more than 20 countries," Lou Yiyang (楼依洋) said skillfully.
In the Yiwu Global Digital Trade Center (义乌全球数贸中心), young people like Lou Yiyang (楼依洋) are becoming the main force in digital and intelligent transformation. Unlike their parents who **守株待兔** (shǒu zhū dài tù - "guard stump wait rabbit," to rely on luck or wait idly for opportunities), they skillfully use AI tools to open new windows to the international market through short videos, social platforms, and other channels. The "World Yiwu" (世界义乌) business and trade large model has launched six functional modules and 14 application scenarios, fully empowering the entire upstream and downstream of the small commodity trade. Currently, the platform has more than 56,000 registered users and the cumulative number of calls has exceeded 1 billion.
In the jewelry foreign trade market, design ability is often the key to winning foreign trade orders. Lou Yiyang (楼依洋) introduced that nearly half of the company's current creative directions or design details are generated with the assistance of AI. Especially when undertaking export orders, it is necessary to actively predict international trends, which is where AI can show its skills.
"AI solves many foreign trade technical pain points. With the help of AI tools, we can capture global fashion information, social platform hotspots, and overseas consumer preferences in real-time, quickly extract popular elements and style trends, and efficiently generate new product solutions that meet the needs of target markets," she said. In the past, the company's eight designers could only complete about 100 new products per month, and it took at least 10 days from conception and proofing to shooting promotional images. Now, relying on intelligent design tools such as "Xiao Shang AI" (小商AI), the system can generate multiple design solutions for free within 30 seconds. After manual screening and optimization, the team's average monthly new product volume has exceeded 200, the overall cost has been reduced by 50%, and the sales of some popular single products have even exceeded 10,000 pieces.
Looking at the sales end, AI has solved the problem of material lag that has plagued Lou Yiyang (楼依洋) for a long time. She admitted that in the past, when foreign customers liked a certain earring or pendant, they would immediately ask for high-definition pictures and multilingual detail pages for price comparison and ordering, which put a lot of pressure on her. "In the past, we could only send the products to a photography company, and it would cost 100 yuan to take pictures of one product. It would take two or three days for a batch of goods to get pictures quickly, and a week slowly. If overseas customers couldn't wait, the orders that were about to be received would 'fly away' in those few days."
Through AI tools, this pain point has also been solved. Just take a picture of a product with your mobile phone and upload it to the "AI Product Release" section of the "World Yiwu" (世界义乌) business and trade large model. The background not only has a large number of background templates to choose from, but also allows you to enter product descriptions, sizes, weights, minimum order quantities, and other information, and click "One-Click Image Creation" to instantly generate a professional-level detail page, and simultaneously output product descriptions in multiple languages such as English, Spanish, and Arabic. "Don't underestimate the simple function, it can save us several thousand yuan in shooting costs a year," Lou Yiyang (楼依洋) said.
More importantly, the efficiency and accuracy brought by AI have won her the high recognition of international customers. After the start of the year, Pamela Green (帕梅拉·格林), a Nigerian (尼日利亚) customer, walked into her shop and repeatedly looked at a newly designed set of zircon necklaces, earrings, and ring sets. With the help of the "AI Translator" function in the large model, the two talked freely.
When she learned that the entire product from concept to rendering was assisted by AI tools and could be quickly iterated according to market trends, Pamela Green (帕梅拉·格林) could not hide her surprise, because it often takes a long time from design to implementation for such jewelry in Nigeria (尼日利亚). This time to Yiwu (义乌), she wanted to find a responsive supply chain. After only half an hour of conversation, Pamela Green (帕梅拉·格林) decisively placed an order for 180 sets.
"Currently, more than half of the merchants in the Yiwu (义乌) market use AI tools to expand their markets every day," said Zheng Xiaoming (郑晓明), chief marketing officer of Yiwu China Commodities City Big Data Co., Ltd. (义乌中国小商品城大数据有限公司), the developer and operator of the large model. The "World Yiwu" (世界义乌) business and trade large model focuses on the vertical field of small commodity trade and builds a "data-model-application" collaborative innovation-driven system.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 谷业凯
January 1, 2026, after a 168-hour full-power continuous operation assessment, the Zhangzhou Nuclear Power Unit 2 of China Nuclear Power Co., Ltd. (中国核能电力股份有限公司), invested and controlled by China National Nuclear Corporation, was officially put into commercial operation, marking the full completion and commissioning of the first phase of the Zhangzhou Nuclear Power (漳州核电) project.
As China's first nuclear power unit to be completed and put into operation in the opening year of the "Fifteenth Five-Year Plan," the commercial operation of Zhangzhou Nuclear Power Unit 2 is a concrete action of China Nuclear Power to thoroughly study and implement the spirit of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, reflecting its responsibility to actively serve national strategies.
Since the "Fourteenth Five-Year Plan," China Nuclear Power has always taken General Secretary Xi Jinping's (习近平) series of important instructions and approvals on the development of the nuclear industry and nuclear power as its fundamental guideline, actively promoted high-quality development, and ranked third among global nuclear power companies in terms of installed capacity. It has achieved remarkable results in ensuring the safe operation of nuclear power, promoting the construction of major projects, and developing the multi-purpose use of nuclear energy.
The foundation of safety is continuously consolidated, supporting the leapfrog development of the industry scale.
In February 2025, Qinshan Second Nuclear Power Plant (秦山第二核电厂) adopted the method of opening the top of the plant for hoisting for the first time during the 217 overhaul, successfully replacing the stator of the generator of Qinshan Second Plant Unit 2, which was the first project in the country to replace the stators of large steam turbines and generators at the same time, laying a solid foundation for the subsequent power increase of the unit.
Qinshan Nuclear Power (秦山核电) is the birthplace of China's independent nuclear power and has been operating safely for more than 30 years. During the "Fourteenth Five-Year Plan" period, Unit 1 of Qinshan Nuclear Power Plant (秦山核电厂) became China's first nuclear power unit approved for a 20-year life extension. "This not only extends the life of the unit, but also enhances the confidence of China Nuclear Power," said the relevant person in charge of Qinshan Nuclear Power.
On the coastline of Fuqing (福清), Fujian (福建), six nuclear power units stand tall. Yang Wenxin (杨文昕), the operator of the world's first "Hualong One" ("华龙一号") unit, is on duty at the main control room console, shouldering the important responsibility of maintaining the normal operation of the unit.
Yang Wenxin's perseverance stems from her commitment to safety. In nearly 3 years of continuous training, Yang Wenxin studied more than 40 courses and underwent more than 100 assessments. She knows all the valves, instruments, various pipeline equipment, hundreds of system schematics, and thousands of interlocking logics by heart. She also turned the knowledge points into thousands of memory cards, and these valuable learning materials are circulated among colleagues preparing for the operator exam. In May 2025, the world's first "Hualong One" unit had been operating safely and stably for 1,000 consecutive days, continuously transmitting more than 37 billion kilowatt-hours of clean electricity to the society.
The foundation of safety is continuously consolidated, supporting the leapfrog development of the industry scale. By the end of the "Fourteenth Five-Year Plan," China Nuclear Power had cumulatively approved 18 units. As of January 1, 2026, the company controlled 27 nuclear power units in operation, with an installed capacity of 26,212,000 kilowatts; it controlled 18 nuclear power units under construction and approved for construction, with an installed capacity of 20,647,000 kilowatts, and a new energy controlled installed capacity of 41,572,700 kilowatts.
"Nuclear safety is the lifeline of the nuclear industry. We must always maintain a sense of awe for nuclear safety, always maintain a 如履薄冰 (rú lǚ bó bīng - "as if treading on thin ice," to be extremely cautious) attitude to protect nuclear safety, continuously optimize nuclear safety management capabilities, and improve the nuclear safety culture level of all employees," said Lu Tiezhong (卢铁忠), Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of China Nuclear Power.
Improve scientific research layout and make breakthroughs in three major areas.
In October 2025, the cold functional test of the primary circuit of the Linglong One ("玲龙一号") multi-purpose modular small reactor technology demonstration project in Changjiang (昌江), Hainan (海南), was successfully completed. As the world's first land-based commercial modular small reactor, the successful cold test of "Linglong One" reflects China's comprehensive strength in the design of new nuclear energy systems, high-end equipment manufacturing, and collaborative management of complex projects.
The prosperity of science and technology leads to the prosperity of enterprises. In recent years, China Nuclear Power has adhered to the "four orientations," improved its scientific research layout, and made breakthroughs in three major areas: applied basic research, operation and maintenance and construction in progress, and industrialization. During the "Fourteenth Five-Year Plan" period, China Nuclear Power's R&D investment totaled nearly 19 billion yuan, with nearly 1,500 patent applications and more than 4,000 authorized patents. One "from 0 to 1" breakthrough after another has equipped China Nuclear Power with a strong scientific and technological engine.
Walking into Sanmen Nuclear Power Station (三门核电站) in Zhejiang (浙江), various robots are deeply applied: radioactive underwater robots can complete the maintenance of water tank filter screens; intelligent chemical inspection robots can automatically inspect the secondary circuit sampling system; radiation-resistant magnetic adsorption wall-climbing robots replace maintenance personnel to conduct regular safety inspections of the containment at the top of the nuclear power plant... From industrial big data analysis to AI customized robots, from reactor digital twins to deep simulation training platforms, Sanmen Nuclear Power continues to promote the application of digital and intelligent technologies.
In terms of technological innovation, China Nuclear Power is accelerating the application of nuclear technology. "Heqi One" ("和气一号"), as China's first large-scale industrial nuclear energy steam supply demonstration project and one of the first "green and low-carbon advanced technology demonstration projects," was put into operation at the Tianwan Nuclear Power Base (田湾核电基地) in June 2024. The project supplies 4.8 million tons of industrial steam annually, equivalent to reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 1.07 million tons. On November 21, 2025, the carbon footprint factor of "Heqi One" was released, filling the domestic industry gap and enhancing the green competitiveness of Chinese products.
In June 2025, good news came from China's first isotope production technology brand "Hefu One" ("和福一号") project: after three batches of irradiation purification and trial verification, lutetium-177 produced by China relying on commercial heavy water reactors was officially supplied to the market, with an annual irradiation capacity of more than 10,000 curies, which can fully meet domestic market demand.
During the "Fourteenth Five-Year Plan" period, "Hefu One" was officially put into operation, cobalt-60 was supplied in large quantities, carbon-14 and lutetium-177 successively entered the market, and yttrium-90 glass microspheres have the ability to be produced on a large scale. Under the leadership of China Nuclear Power, the domestic nuclear medical industry has entered a period of rapid development.
Promote the deep integration of Party building and production and operation.
In October 2025, China Nuclear Power's "Party Building Leadership, Excellent Overhaul" exchange seminar was held in Hangzhou (杭州), Zhejiang (浙江). Six operating nuclear power bases and CNNC Maintenance conducted in-depth discussions and exchanges around the theme, and made every effort to ensure the safe and high-quality completion of China Nuclear Power's overhaul tasks.
Adhering to the Party's leadership and strengthening Party building are the "root" and "soul" of state-owned enterprises. China Nuclear Power has built a high-quality Party building system, carried out the "Excellent Party Building, First-class Management" creation activity for three consecutive years, actively promoted the deep integration of Party building and production and operation, and continued to carry out "Party Building to Promote Special Projects," embarking on a path of major scientific and technological breakthroughs under a new type of national system. In view of the large number of participating units in nuclear power projects and the difficulty in overall coordination, China Nuclear Power explored and established a joint Party building mechanism of "focusing on Party building around the project and promoting the project by doing a good job in Party building." A group of nuclear power project owner companies represented by "Hualong One" and fourth-generation nuclear power, together with the participating construction and research units of the project, have built a sound joint Party building system, realizing the deep integration of Party building work and project construction, and providing a strong organizational and political guarantee for the planned advancement of project construction.
Facing the "Fifteenth Five-Year Plan," China Nuclear Power will take enhancing core functions and enhancing core competitiveness as the dual drivers, and make comprehensive efforts in six dimensions: safety level, operating efficiency, industrial scale, international influence, technological innovation, and management effectiveness, steadily accelerating the construction of a world-class nuclear energy enterprise, and injecting strong impetus into China's energy structure optimization and green and low-carbon development.
Return to TopThis newspaper reported from Beijing on January 18th (Reporter Luo Shanshan (罗珊珊)): The reporter learned from the Ministry of Commerce (商务部) on January 18th that in 2025, China-Central Asia economic and trade cooperation achieved considerable development. The total import and export of goods for the year reached US$106.3 billion, a year-on-year increase of 12%, an increase of 6 percentage points compared with the previous year.
The trade scale reached a new high. The total value of China-Central Asia imports and exports exceeded the US$100 billion mark for the first time in history, maintaining positive growth for five consecutive years. China became the largest trading partner of Central Asian countries for the first time, and the proportion of Central Asia in China's foreign trade further increased.
The commodity structure is becoming newer and better. China's exports to Central Asia reached US$71.2 billion, a year-on-year increase of 11%. The growth of mechanical and electrical and high-tech products was strong, and the market share of "new three" products steadily expanded. Imports from Central Asia reached US$35.1 billion, a year-on-year increase of 14%. The types of non-resource products such as chemicals, steel, and agricultural products were further enriched.
New business formats are expanding and empowering. China-Central Asia cross-border e-commerce imports and exports maintained rapid growth, the construction of warehousing and logistics continued to advance, cross-border payment cooperation was fully launched, and the China-Central Asia Trade Smooth Cooperation Platform was officially listed and operated in Nanjing (南京), Jiangsu (江苏). "Silk Road E-commerce" has become an efficient bridge for facilitating trade.
Investment and trade are developing in an integrated manner. High-quality joint construction of the "Belt and Road" cooperation continues to deepen and become more practical. A number of large projects in the fields of connectivity, equipment manufacturing, green minerals, and modern agriculture are accelerating implementation, effectively driving the expansion of exports to Central Asia, and helping Central Asian countries industrial upgrading and economic revitalization.
Return to TopThis newspaper Beijing (北京), January 18th (Reporter Han Xin (韩鑫)) - The State Post Bureau (国家邮政局) and the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League (共青团中央) recently issued a notice, targeting young people employed in the express delivery industry, to jointly launch the 2026 "Express Delivery Industry Youth Service Month" campaign from January to early March. This initiative aims to further promote the "Warm Bee Action" to care for delivery workers, promote the establishment of convenient passage mechanisms, and set up service areas, etc., to solve practical problems such as "difficulty entering doors and difficulty delivering packages" faced by delivery personnel.
The notice pointed out that enterprises should be supervised to strictly implement the main responsibility for safe production and effectively prevent accident risks. Companies should be urged to clarify the wage standards for express delivery personnel during peak seasons, pay dispatch fees on time and in full, make overall arrangements for Spring Festival (春节) scheduling, and implement holiday subsidies and rotation leave policies in accordance with the law. Companies are encouraged to introduce incentive measures such as "stay-on-the-job subsidies" and "reunion subsidies." Unimpeded channels for reflecting reasonable demands should be ensured, malicious complaints should be identified, and the legitimate rights and interests of express delivery personnel should be protected in accordance with laws and regulations.
Return to TopBeijing, January 18th (Reporter Li Hongmei (李红梅)) - It was learned from the China Meteorological Administration (中国气象局) that China's first financial meteorological AI model, "Shangji (熵机)" (stock), has recently been released. "Shangji (熵机)" is jointly developed by Fudan University (复旦大学) and the National Meteorological Information Center (国家气象信息中心), aiming to explore the role of meteorological factors in financial asset pricing and provide innovative tools for risk management and investment decision-making.
According to reports, the application prospects of the "Shangji (熵机)" model include: listed companies in meteorological-sensitive industries can use the model to predict situations, maintain climate risk management and market value; financial institutions such as banks and insurance companies can apply it to equity pledge business risk management and explore innovative business models such as climate investment and financing; investors can use it as an auxiliary tool for quantitative investment; and the academic community can use the model output to test and improve asset pricing-related theories.
Return to TopLayout Design: Zhang Danfeng (张丹峰)
Return to TopBy: 孙存良 崔华滨
General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) emphasized at the second plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee: "We must adhere to expanding domestic demand as a strategic focus, and adhere to closely combining benefiting the people and promoting consumption with investing in things and investing in people." The Central Economic Work Conference held in December 2025 proposed: "We must adhere to closely combining investing in things and investing in people." Adhering to the close combination of investing in things and investing in people, based on the overall situation of Chinese-style modernization, deeply grasping the laws of economic and social development, realizing the historical transformation of the development mode from "material priority" to "material-human coordination," is a strategic measure to promote Chinese-style modernization in the new era, providing fundamental guidelines for the development of the "15th Five-Year Plan" period and even longer stages, demonstrating the party's sublimation of development concepts and innovation in investment practice in the new era. We must deeply understand the important significance of closely combining investing in things and investing in people, accurately grasp its scientific connotation and important requirements, actively explore effective paths, continuously optimize the investment structure, increase investment in people, strengthen institutional supply, pay attention to overall coordination, and integrate the mutual promotion and coordinated development of investing in things and investing in people throughout all fields and processes of economic and social development, laying a solid foundation for basically realizing socialist modernization by 2035, and striving to create a new situation in comprehensively promoting the construction of a strong country and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation with Chinese-style modernization.
The Contemporary Value of Adhering to the Close Combination of Investing in Things and Investing in People
Closely combining investing in things and investing in people is an enhancement and optimization of our country's investment concepts, directions, and priorities. Deeply practicing this major concept is of great and far-reaching significance for enhancing development momentum, expanding domestic demand, achieving common prosperity, and winning the strategic initiative in global competition.
An Important Engine for Achieving High-Quality Development: Making Development Momentum More Abundant. High-quality development is the theme of economic and social development during the "15th Five-Year Plan" period, and its essence is to rely on the improvement of total factor productivity to achieve effective quality improvement and reasonable quantity growth. In the past, we achieved historic achievements in infrastructure construction, industrial system construction, and other fields through large-scale investment in things, promoting China's economic aggregate to rank second in the world. As China enters a new stage of development, the traditional factor-driven model faces bottlenecks, and the marginal benefits of material investment are becoming increasingly obvious. High-quality development fundamentally depends on the accumulation and leap of human capital. Only by closely combining the material support of investing in things with the kinetic energy cultivation of investing in people, and improving the quality of the population through investment in education, training, health, and other fields while improving the modern infrastructure system, can we promote the transformation of economic development from scale-speed type to quality-benefit type. This transformation is not only a respect for the laws of productivity development, but also an inevitable requirement for enhancing development momentum and achieving high-quality development.
A Key Grasp for Building a New Development Pattern: Making Domestic Demand Stronger. The "Suggestions" of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee proposed: "A strong domestic market is the strategic support for Chinese-style modernization." Building a strong domestic market is an important support for building a new development pattern. From 2021 to 2024, the average contribution rate of domestic demand to China's economic growth reached 86.4%, demonstrating the strong resilience of the super-large-scale market. Closely combining investing in things and investing in people is a key grasp for expanding domestic demand and activating the kinetic energy of the domestic cycle. Investing in things and investing in people are like "hardware" and "software," jointly constituting the dual wheels driving domestic demand. Investing in things focuses on infrastructure improvement and industrial supply upgrades, providing "hardware" support for consolidating the domestic cycle by building a modern infrastructure system and developing advanced manufacturing. Investing in people, on the other hand, enhances residents' income levels, enhances consumption capacity, and releases consumption potential by increasing investment in education, medical care, elderly care, and other fields, injecting "software" kinetic energy into the formation of a strong domestic market demand. Adhering to the close combination of investing in things and investing in people promotes the formation of a virtuous cycle of new supply creating new demand and new demand leading new supply, thereby enhancing the endogenous power and reliability of the domestic cycle and building a solid foundation for building a new development pattern.
An Inevitable Requirement for Achieving Common Prosperity: Making Development More Inclusive. General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) pointed out: "Closely combine 'investing in things' with 'investing in people,' do our best and act according to our capabilities, establish and improve a population service system covering the entire population and the entire life cycle, and consider marriage, childbirth, parenting, education, employment, medical treatment, housing, and elderly care as a whole, so as to effectively promote the all-round development of people and the common prosperity of all the people." Achieving common prosperity requires not only the accumulation of solid material wealth as a foundation, but also the equalization of basic public services as a support to promote substantial progress in the all-round development of people. Investing in things is an important measure to consolidate the material foundation of common prosperity, while investing in people is the core path to promote people's livelihood improvement and promote social equity. The two are organically unified in the people-centered development thought. In recent years, our country has adhered to giving priority to ensuring and improving people's livelihood in fiscal expenditure, and fiscal investment in people's livelihood accounts for more than 70% of the national general public budget expenditure, fully demonstrating the policy orientation of investing in people. This practice of investing in people focuses on skills improvement, building a lifelong education system covering the whole people, and continuously cultivating the ability of workers to adapt to industrial changes; it also focuses on welfare security, continuously meeting the people's growing needs for a better life by improving a multi-level social security system that integrates urban and rural areas. Practice has fully proved that closely combining investing in things and investing in people is an inevitable requirement for realizing the organic unity of social value-added and the all-round development of people.
A Strategic Measure to Win Global Competition: Making the Bottom Line More Sufficient. In today's era, the global innovation landscape is accelerating its restructuring, the industrial chain supply chain is undergoing profound adjustments, and global industrial competition has shifted from capital-intensive competition to talent-intensive competition. General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) emphasized: "The competition of comprehensive national strength is ultimately a competition for talent. Talent is an important indicator for measuring a country's comprehensive national strength." Whoever can gain an advantage in human capital accumulation can take the initiative in the global value chain. Investing in things provides a material carrier for scientific and technological innovation, building a solid material foundation for scientific and technological self-reliance by building innovation platforms such as laboratories and new infrastructure; investing in people focuses on the cultivation and introduction of innovative talents, forming a "human capital dividend" and stimulating innovation and creativity. Investing in things and investing in people work together to not only promote high-level scientific and technological self-reliance, but also cultivate a large-scale, structurally reasonable, and high-quality talent team, thereby enhancing national core competitiveness, seizing the commanding heights in international competition, and providing strategic support for national rejuvenation.
Accurately Grasp the Core Essence of Closely Combining Investing in Things and Investing in People
Investing in things is the material basis for investing in people, and investing in people is the guarantee of the effectiveness of investing in things. The accumulation of things is the material prerequisite for the development of people, and the development of people is the fundamental purpose of the accumulation of things. The core essence of closely combining investing in things and investing in people lies in scientifically grasping practical requirements and realizing the dialectical unity of the accumulation of things and the development of people.
Optimize the Investment Structure to "Make Up for Shortcomings," Allowing "Things" and "People" to Work Together. Optimizing the investment structure is the basic project for realizing the coordinated development of investment in things and investment in people, and it is necessary to establish a scientific allocation mechanism between material capital and human capital. In terms of investing in things, adhere to the direction of intelligence, greening, and integration, focusing on investing in advanced manufacturing, new infrastructure, and other fields, while resolutely breaking down the blockages and obstacles in the construction of a unified national market and improving the accuracy of investment. In terms of investing in people, strengthen the strategic emphasis of human capital investment, build a life-cycle support system, vertically covering the capacity cultivation chain from preschool education to lifelong learning, and horizontally coordinating education, medical care, employment, and other diversified fields. This structural optimization is not an either-or substitution, but through the balanced development of livelihood investment and productive investment, allowing the input of things to serve the development of people, and allowing the progress of people to feed back the upgrading of things, forming a good ecology of mutual promotion and coordinated development.
Strengthen Institutional Supply to "Build the Foundation," Making the Guarantee of Coordinated Investment in "Things" and "People" More Solid. Strengthening institutional supply is the key to ensuring that the close combination of investing in things and investing in people is implemented effectively. It is necessary to accelerate the construction of a high-level socialist market economic system, give better play to the leading role of economic system reform, improve the macroeconomic governance system, and create a good institutional environment for investing in things and investing in people. Establish and improve a policy system that is conducive to the close combination of investing in things and investing in people, and guide resources to key areas and key links through fiscal, taxation, financial, and other policy means. Fully stimulate the vitality of various business entities, and encourage enterprises to increase investment in scientific and technological innovation and talent cultivation. Accelerate the improvement of the factor market-oriented allocation system and mechanism, and promote the rational flow and efficient allocation of capital, talent, technology, and other factors. Improve the talent evaluation and incentive mechanism, improve the evaluation system and compensation system oriented to ability and contribution as the core, and establish and improve a long-term mechanism for investing in people. At the same time, strengthen the protection of intellectual property rights, create a social atmosphere of respecting talent and advocating innovation, and allow the value of human capital to be fully demonstrated.
Adhere to the Concept of System to "Plan the Overall Situation," Making Development More Stable with Overall Consideration. Closely combining investing in things and investing in people involves multiple interest relationships, and it is necessary to adhere to the concept of system and promote it in a coordinated manner. Grasp the relationship between the government and the market, give play to the decisive role of the market in resource allocation, guide social capital to participate in people's livelihood fields and new infrastructure construction; and give better play to the role of the government, consolidate the bottom line of people's livelihood through planning guidance and policy guarantees, and realize the organic combination of an effective market and a promising government. Coordinate the relationship between the present and the long-term, focus on short-term stable growth, increase investment in key infrastructure and people's livelihood security; and focus on long-term development, increase investment in basic research, cutting-edge technology research and development, and basic education, and accumulate kinetic energy for basically realizing socialist modernization by 2035. Handle the relationship between the local and the overall, give play to the superimposed effect of regional coordinated development strategies, promote the optimal allocation of resources nationwide, avoid duplication of construction and waste of resources, and realize the coordinated investment and balanced development of things and people between regions.
Actively Explore the Practical Path of Closely Combining Investing in Things and Investing in People
To deeply practice the concept of closely combining investing in things and investing in people, it is necessary to base on the development goals of the "15th Five-Year Plan" period, find the entry point and breakthrough point, explore operable and implementable implementation paths, and promote the formation of a vivid situation in which investing in things and investing in people promote each other and synergistically increase efficiency.
Take Industrial Upgrading as the Traction to Promote the Deep Integration of "Things" and "People." Industrial upgrading is an inevitable trend of economic development and an important entry point for realizing the close combination of investing in things and investing in people. It is necessary to focus on building a modern industrial system, increase investment in the intelligent and green transformation of manufacturing, and strengthen the cultivation and introduction of talents in related industries, so as to accurately connect material investment with human capital investment. For example, in the process of developing advanced manufacturing, it is necessary to invest in the construction of intelligent factories, digital workshops, and other material infrastructure, and cultivate a group of high-quality talents who master advanced manufacturing technology and have innovative capabilities through industry-education integration, school-enterprise cooperation, and so on. The "Suggestions" of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee proposed to promote the development of education, science and technology, and talent in an integrated manner, which pointed out the direction for the coordinated investment of things and people in industrial upgrading. It is necessary to promote the establishment of innovation consortia between universities, scientific research institutions, and enterprises, cultivate talents in a targeted manner according to industrial needs, and accelerate the transformation of scientific and technological achievements. For example, in strategic emerging industries such as artificial intelligence and new energy, the combination of "order-based" talent cultivation and the construction of key technology research platforms can realize the co-frequency resonance of material capital and human capital.
Take the Improvement of People's Livelihood as the Focus to Promote the Balanced Coordination of "Things" and "People." General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) pointed out: "Adapting to the changes in the needs of the people, striving to run various people's livelihood undertakings well, and making the lives of the people better and better is the fundamental purpose of socialist production." The field of people's livelihood is the core direction of investing in people, and it is also a key grasp for improving the quality of people's lives and maintaining social fairness and justice. Compared with investing in things, our country still has shortcomings in investment in people's livelihood improvement and human capital cultivation. It is of great importance and urgency to increase investment in people during the "15th Five-Year Plan" period and even longer. The 2025 "Government Work Report" pointed out that it is necessary to promote more funds and resources to "invest in people" and serve people's livelihood, support the expansion of employment, promote the increase of residents' income and reduce burdens, strengthen consumption incentives, and form a virtuous cycle of economic development and people's livelihood improvement. It is necessary to focus on the urgent needs of the masses, increase the proportion of government investment in people's livelihood, increase public investment in areas such as fertility and parenting, education and medical care, inclusive elderly care, and culture and sports, strengthen inclusive, basic, and bottom-line people's livelihood construction, and expand effective investment covering the entire population and the entire life cycle. Employment is the foundation of people's livelihood, and the implementation of vocational training actions such as "skills illuminate the future" will help college graduates, migrant workers, and other groups achieve high-quality and full employment. It needs to be clear that the investment of things related to people's livelihood, such as the construction of digital villages and the renovation of old residential areas, is an important support for ensuring and improving people's livelihood. Increasing investment in people is by no means replacing "things" with "people," but rather using the improvement of people's livelihood as an anchor point to promote the coordinated and balanced development of investing in things and investing in people.
Take Innovation and Entrepreneurship as the Driving Force to Fully Release the Vitality of "Things" and "People." Innovation and entrepreneurship are important driving forces for promoting economic development and social progress, and are also effective ways to stimulate the vitality of closely combining investing in things and investing in people. It is necessary to strengthen human resource development and investment in the all-round development of people, create a good innovation and entrepreneurship environment, and increase policy support and financial investment in innovation and entrepreneurship. Strengthen the construction of innovation and entrepreneurship carriers, improve hardware facilities such as incubators and maker spaces, and provide software support such as entrepreneurship training and intellectual property services. By holding entrepreneurship competitions and establishing entrepreneurship funds, encourage scientific and technological personnel, college students, migrant workers, and other groups to innovate and start businesses, and realize the full release of human capital value. Guide social capital to participate in the construction of the innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem, both investing in the material conditions required for innovation and entrepreneurship, and supporting the cultivation and introduction of innovation and entrepreneurship talents. Improve the fault-tolerant and error-correcting mechanism, create an atmosphere that encourages exploration and tolerates failure, and allow various business entities to dare to invest and be brave in innovation. Through innovation and entrepreneurship, drive the iterative upgrading of material capital and the accumulation and appreciation of human capital, forming a virtuous cycle of "investment-innovation-appreciation."
Take Digital Transformation as Assistance to Improve the Efficiency and Effectiveness of "Things" and "People." Digital transformation is a major trend in economic and social development, and it also provides new opportunities and paths for closely combining investing in things and investing in people. It is necessary to accelerate the construction of digital China, promote the deep integration of digital technology and the real economy, and improve the digitalization and intelligence level of investing in things and investing in people. In terms of investing in things, use big data, artificial intelligence, and other technologies to optimize investment decisions, improve the accuracy of infrastructure and industrial projects, and improve the operating efficiency of material capital. At the same time, use digital technology to improve the efficiency of investing in people, such as developing online education and telemedicine, breaking through the limitations of time and space, and allowing high-quality education and medical resources to benefit the people more widely. Build an integrated digital service platform, integrate people's livelihood data such as education, medical care, and employment, and accurately identify talent gaps in different industries and regions by building a talent demand prediction model, so as to realize the intelligent matching and targeted allocation of human capital investment demand and supply. At the same time, strengthen the cultivation of digital talents, and create a composite talent team that understands both digital technology and industrial needs, so as to provide human support for digital transformation.
(The author is a special researcher at the Beijing (北京市) Xi Jinping (习近平) Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era Research Center)
Return to TopBy: 于 辉
At the democratic life meeting of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee held from December 25th to 26th, 2025, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) emphasized: "We must adhere to the eight-point regulation of the Central Committee as iron rules and rigid constraints, relentlessly rectify the stubborn maladies of the 'four winds' without any relaxation, and continuously promote the normalization and long-term effectiveness of work style construction." The key to work style construction lies in sustained effort and perseverance. General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) once used "Happy Three Li" and "Eighteen Bends" as metaphors: "There is a flat section of road halfway up Mount Tai (泰山) called 'Happy Three Li (快活三里),' where some people like to stop and rest after climbing. However, the porters generally do not stay here for long, because if they rest for too long, their legs will become 'lazy,' and it will be even more difficult to climb the 'Eighteen Bends (十八盘).'" This metaphor vividly and profoundly points out the principle that work style construction cannot be shaken, relaxed, or stopped.
"Happy Three Li (快活三里)" is not the end, and work style construction has no station. Work style problems are stubborn and recurrent; they will improve if you pay attention, but rebound if you relax. A temporary "Happy Three Li (快活三里)" is precisely a "gentle village" that erodes fighting spirit, and often hides the risk of a breach from "first exception" to "no precedent," and ultimately "forming a routine." The momentum of climbing accumulates from small steps; the solidity of work style lies in perseverance. Only by constantly being alert to the warning that "resting is slack, and stopping is retreating," facing the steepness of the "Eighteen Bends (十八盘)," and with the perseverance of pushing a boulder uphill and the courage to climb over slopes and cross barriers, can we constantly overcome the inertia trap and conquer the difficulties of work style, so as to usher in a peaceful and clear world on the road to the exam.
When climbing Mount Tai (泰山), the "Eighteen Bends (十八盘)" are high and steep, which is the greatest test of willpower and endurance. If you grit your teeth and break through, you can reach the "South Heaven Gate (南天门)" and the "Jade Emperor Peak (玉皇顶)"; if you lose heart and relax, you will struggle and give up halfway. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, our Party has promoted the anti-corruption struggle with the historical responsibility of "offending thousands of people, but living up to the 1.4 billion," achieving an overwhelming victory and comprehensively consolidating it, and has achieved historic and pioneering achievements in comprehensively and strictly governing the Party. The closer we get to the goal, the more cautious we must be from beginning to end; the more achievements we make, the more we must be as if walking on thin ice, and the more we must not have the mood of relaxing, resting, or being tired and slack. Once the mind "slips away" and the action "hangs in neutral," formalism and bureaucracy will soon change their appearance and become invisible and mutated, and unhealthy tendencies will grow secretly.
Work style construction has no "pause," and self-revolution has no "pause button." The more solid the ideological defense line is, the more stable the action position will be. The meeting of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee held at the end of last year emphasized: "We must unswervingly promote the anti-corruption struggle, without stopping for a moment or retreating for half a step, deepen the treatment of both symptoms and root causes, and comprehensively promote the courage to not be corrupt, the inability to be corrupt, and the unwillingness to be corrupt, and continuously enhance the comprehensive effectiveness of governing corruption." To win the tough battle and protracted war against corruption, we must break the thinking of "a gust of wind" and "campaign style," and work hard on constancy and length, strictness and reality, depth and detail. As the "key minority" of party-member leading cadres, we must not be "resting people" on the road of comprehensively and strictly governing the Party, but "climbers." We must dare to jump out of the "Happy Three Li (快活三里)" comfort zone, maintain the political determination of "always on the road," bravely climb the "Eighteen Bends (十八盘)," let the great spirit of Party building illuminate the original intention, integrate the "exam" mission into the blood, and truly cultivate the ideological foundation of not wanting to be corrupt from the depths of the soul, so as to stimulate the "goose flock vitality" with the "leading goose effect" and lead the Party's work style and political style to continue to improve.
The road ahead is never smooth, only the sober can walk steadily, and only the pragmatic can go far. Pushing a boulder uphill, every level you climb requires overcoming the earth's gravity; rectifying work style and discipline, every step you take requires resisting inertia thinking and slack psychology. From the gentle "Happy Three Li (快活三里)" to the steep "Eighteen Bends (十八盘)," every step forward is not only an increase in geographical altitude, but also a leap in spiritual realm. On the new journey, party organizations at all levels and every party member and cadre must be "porters" of the new era, with the determination of "this peak is the pillar of the world" and the tenacity of "do not resign from hard work to reach the top," persevere in promoting the comprehensive and strict governance of the Party, and work hard for a long time to rectify work style and discipline, forging every "present" into a solid step for managing the Party, governing the Party, revitalizing the Party, and strengthening the Party, so as to ensure that the Party always becomes the strong leadership core of the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics and promotes the Chinese-style modernization to go steadily and far.
Return to TopBy: 赵建军
Entrepreneurship is an important spiritual support for promoting high-quality development and accelerating the process of Chinese-style modernization. General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) pointed out: "Market vitality comes from people, especially from entrepreneurs and the spirit of entrepreneurship." "It is necessary to promote the spirit of entrepreneurship, dare to venture and be bold, and concentrate on strengthening, optimizing, and expanding enterprises." The "Suggestions" of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China proposed "promoting the spirit of entrepreneurship." The Central Economic Work Conference proposed "adhering to innovation-driven development and accelerating the cultivation and expansion of new driving forces" and made deployments, requiring strengthening the innovation subject status of enterprises, which is inseparable from the promotion of the spirit of entrepreneurship. The "15th Five-Year Plan" period is a critical period for laying the foundation and fully exerting efforts to basically realize socialist modernization. To consolidate and expand advantages, break through bottlenecks and constraints, strengthen weaknesses, and promote major breakthroughs in strategic tasks related to the overall situation of Chinese-style modernization, it is necessary to vigorously promote the spirit of entrepreneurship and better leverage the role of entrepreneurs, so as to help promote the sustained and healthy development of the economy and society.
Entrepreneurs are important actors in market economic activities. Since the reform and opening up, with the gradual establishment and continuous improvement of China's socialist market economic system, various business entities have grown vigorously, a large number of enterprises with strong core competitiveness have emerged, and a large number of entrepreneurs with courage and innovation have grown stronger. While making important contributions to promoting economic and social development, creating employment opportunities, and enhancing comprehensive national strength, these outstanding entrepreneurs have also formed an entrepreneurial spirit with innovative breakthrough awareness and scientific management concepts as the main content in their long-term practice, which constitutes the core and soul of the comprehensive competitiveness of enterprises and becomes a key factor in promoting the continuous development and growth of enterprises.
The Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping (习近平) at its core attaches great importance to the important role of the entrepreneurial group and the spirit of entrepreneurship in economic and social development. In April 2017, the Leading Group for Comprehensively Deepening Reforms of the Central Committee reviewed and approved the "Opinions on Further Stimulating and Protecting the Spirit of Entrepreneurship"; in September 2017, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council issued the "Opinions on Creating a Healthy Growth Environment for Entrepreneurs, Promoting the Spirit of Outstanding Entrepreneurs, and Better Leveraging the Role of Entrepreneurs." General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) has delivered important speeches on the growth of entrepreneurs and the promotion of the spirit of entrepreneurship on many occasions. At the symposium for entrepreneurs in 2020, he made a profound exposition on promoting the spirit of entrepreneurship from a strategic and overall perspective, hoping that entrepreneurs should enhance their patriotic feelings, dare to innovate, be role models of integrity and law-abiding, assume social responsibilities, and expand their international horizons. At the symposium for private enterprises in 2025, he emphasized that "the vast number of private enterprises and private entrepreneurs should be full of entrepreneurial and patriotic passion, constantly improve their ideal realm, cultivate their feelings for the country, become rich and think of the source, become rich and think of progress, promote the spirit of entrepreneurship, concentrate on strengthening, optimizing, and expanding enterprises, and firmly become builders of socialism with Chinese characteristics and promoters of Chinese-style modernization." General Secretary Xi Jinping's (习近平) important expositions profoundly expound the rich connotation, contemporary value, and practical requirements of the spirit of entrepreneurship, further enriching and developing Xi Jinping's (习近平) economic thought, and pointing out the direction and providing fundamental guidance for promoting the spirit of entrepreneurship and promoting the growth of entrepreneurs.
Enhancing patriotic feelings reflects a clear political nature. From Zhang Jian's (张謇) industrial salvation of the country in history and Chen Jiageng's (陈嘉庚) investment in education during the Anti-Japanese War, to Rong Yiren (荣毅仁) and Wang Guangying (王光英) actively participating in national construction after the founding of New China, and then to a group of entrepreneurs breaking through "bottleneck" problems in the new era, entrepreneurs contribute to national prosperity and national rejuvenation with the sincere heart of "loving those who benefit the country and hating those who harm the country." Their patriotic feelings are inherited in the same vein and become the spiritual support for high-quality economic development in the new era. Daring to innovate reflects a clear practical nature. Whether it is accelerating transformation and upgrading, cultivating core competitiveness, or overcoming external risks and challenges, breaking through difficulties and being reborn from the ashes, it is inseparable from entrepreneurs strengthening independent innovation in key areas and promoting the continuous innovation and development of enterprises. Honesty and law-abiding reflect a clear normative nature. Strengthening corporate governance and promoting exchanges and cooperation between enterprises in the socialist market economy, which is both a credit economy and a legal economy, establishing credibility is the primary prerequisite; only by being honest and trustworthy and governing according to law, and always operating within the scope of the law, can we improve our credibility and social influence and lay a solid foundation for doing business. Assuming social responsibility reflects a clear people-oriented nature. Society is a broad stage for cultivating enterprises and a material foundation for the survival and development of enterprises; entrepreneurs enhance their sense of mission to fulfill social responsibility and create more economic and social benefits in order to win the favor and support of the people. Expanding international horizons reflects a clear openness. In the era of economic globalization, enterprises can only achieve better development in higher-level opening up and accelerate the construction of world-class enterprises by caring about global issues and actively participating in global competition.
These five aspects support each other, are organically linked, and are unified in the practice of the socialist market economy. They not only adhere to the basic position of Marxist political economy, enrich and develop Marx's theory of human subjective initiative and economic subjects, but also take root in the thousands of years of commercial civilization of the Chinese nation, inherit values such as integrity and benevolence, and closely combine them with the actual economic and social development in the new era to carry out creative transformation and innovative development, and integrate them into modern corporate governance. It transcends the entrepreneurial spirit of the West, which is based on the assumption of "rational economic man" and rooted in individualistic culture, adheres to both righteousness and benefit, and works together to provide spiritual support and impetus for promoting and expanding Chinese-style modernization. As one of the great spirits included in the first batch of the spiritual pedigree of Chinese Communists, the spirit of entrepreneurship has become an important part of the national spirit, the spirit of the times, and the advanced socialist culture of the Chinese nation. In the new era and on the new journey, vigorously promoting the spirit of entrepreneurship can focus on the following aspects.
Strengthen ideal and belief education and socialist core value education, strengthen entrepreneurs' awareness of the rule of law, integrity, and discipline, encourage entrepreneurs to be self-reliant, thrifty, and promote enterprise innovation and development; at the same time, stimulate and protect the reform and innovation development awareness of entrepreneurs in time-honored enterprises, and cultivate and develop more leading enterprises with international influence. Create a good environment for the healthy growth of entrepreneurs, protect the legitimate rights and interests of entrepreneurs in accordance with the law, accelerate the establishment of a long-term mechanism for equal protection of various forms of ownership in accordance with the law, strengthen incentives and constraints for entrepreneurs' honest operation, and promote various forms of ownership to use factors of production equally in accordance with laws and regulations, participate in market competition openly and fairly, and receive equal legal protection. Further build a close and clear relationship between government and business, make good use of the comprehensive service platform for the development of the private economy, firmly establish a service awareness, understand the business situation of enterprises in a timely manner, help solve the practical difficulties of enterprises, and create a good social atmosphere for entrepreneurs to start businesses. Guide and encourage entrepreneurs to enhance their sense of honor and mission in fulfilling social responsibilities, and encourage entrepreneurs to actively participate in the implementation of major national strategies and expand new space for economic development.
(The author is the Party Secretary of Southwestern University of Finance and Economics)
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 王云娜
At the beginning of the new year, the Guangzhou Rural Commercial Bank (广州农商银行) headquarters' business hall ushered in a peak in business. Qiao Wen (乔文) (pseudonym), the head of a carbon fiber technology company in Guangzhou (广州市), Guangdong Province (广东省), arrived early in the morning to apply for a working capital loan tailored for "specialized, refined, and new" enterprises. From the initial contact to approval, it took less than 10 days. Qiao Wen (乔文) said, "Now, applying for loans here is standardized, transparent, and efficient, with great support for enterprises."
Why this change? It stems from the investigation and handling of a corruption case.
In early 2023, the Petition Office of the Guangzhou Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection and Supervision (广州市纪委监委) received an anonymous举报信举报信 reflecting that Yi Xuefei (易雪飞), the former president of Guangzhou Rural Commercial Bank (广州农商银行), had "excessively close interactions with multiple credit client enterprises and suspicious economic exchanges," which aroused the vigilance of investigators. "Previously, we had also received similar letters and reports about Yi Xuefei (易雪飞). During the investigation of other cases, we uncovered important clues related to Yi Xuefei (易雪飞)," said the case handler. In response, the Guangzhou Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection and Supervision (广州市纪委监委) decided to comprehensively investigate the problems and clues of Yi Xuefei's (易雪飞) violations of discipline and law.
Unveiling layers of appearances, the case handlers discovered a highly concealed chain of corruption crimes.
Since 2006, Yi Xuefei (易雪飞) has successively served as the vice president and president of Guangzhou Rural Commercial Bank (广州农商银行) (formerly the Guangzhou Rural Credit Cooperative Union (广州市农村信用合作社联合社)). Some corporate clients tried every means to get to know him, asking him to "give them a convenience" when approving projects.
Yi Xuefei (易雪飞) has worked in the bank since 1993 and knows that if he comes forward to take money and handle affairs, the traces will be obvious and easily investigated. Therefore, he decided to adopt the method of lending and collecting interest, disguising it as a civil and market-oriented form, to put a layer of "legal cloak" on his acceptance of money.
Where does the capital for lending come from? Proficient in lending business, he decided to 空手套白狼 (kōng shǒu tào bái láng - "empty hands snare a white wolf," to get something for nothing).
Yi Xuefei (易雪飞) used his brother-in-law, Liu Xiaofeng (刘晓峰) (pseudonym), to come forward on his behalf, engaging in investment, holding equity on his behalf, and transferring funds. He also found Zhang Haibo (张海波) (pseudonym), a credit client he had dealt with for many years, and asked him to use the equity registered in Liu Xiaofeng's (刘晓峰) name as collateral to apply for a loan from Guangzhou Rural Commercial Bank (广州农商银行). Under Yi Xuefei's (易雪飞) manipulation, since 2017, Zhang Haibo (张海波) has successively applied for a total of 24 million yuan in enterprise operating loans from Guangzhou Rural Commercial Bank (广州农商银行). After Yi Xuefei (易雪飞) coordinated the approval and disbursement of the loan, Zhang Haibo (张海波) transferred the loan funds four or five times, and finally all of them were transferred into Yi Xuefei's (易雪飞) wife's bank account.
This 24 million yuan obtained through loan fraud became Yi Xuefei's (易雪飞) "reserve fund" for engaging in subsequent illegal activities. As long as an enterprise came to him, Yi Xuefei (易雪飞) would readily agree and imply that the other party should express their gratitude to him by lending and collecting interest.
For example, in the first half of 2017, Dai Bin (代彬) (pseudonym), the actual controller of a company, approached Yi Xuefei (易雪飞), hoping to increase the company's loan credit line and speed up the loan approval process. Yi Xuefei (易雪飞) took the initiative to ask Dai Bin (代彬) whether the company still had "funding needs." Dai Bin (代彬) understood and took the initiative to express his willingness to borrow 12 million yuan privately from Yi Xuefei (易雪飞) at an annual interest rate of 15% for so-called company operations.
After that, when coordinating the approval of loans for Dai Bin's (代彬) company, Yi Xuefei (易雪飞) indirectly greeted the handling branch, using the guise of "supporting enterprises" to require the handling branch to "appropriately relax" the loan approval and speed up the loan disbursement.
Secretly, the transfer of benefits was also quietly carried out. After the bank disbursed the loan, Yi Xuefei (易雪飞) arranged for his wife to transfer 12 million yuan to Dai Bin's (代彬) company account, and signed a loan contract with Dai Bin (代彬) in his wife's name, noting that the annual interest rate was 15%. Yi Xuefei (易雪飞) required Dai Bin (代彬) to transfer the interest to his mother-in-law's bank account.
From 2017 to 2019, Dai Bin (代彬) cumulatively "returned interest" of 4.8 million yuan to the bank account provided by Yi Xuefei (易雪飞). It was not until 2019 that Yi Xuefei (易雪飞), fearing investigation, had to "reluctantly part with" and let Dai Bin (代彬) return the principal of 12 million yuan.
In February 2024, the Guangzhou Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection and Supervision (广州市纪委监委) formally filed a case for investigation against Yi Xuefei (易雪飞) for suspected serious violations of discipline and law, and took coercive measures against him in accordance with the law.
"We launched a 'host + special team' mechanism, and transferred professional accounting personnel from state-owned enterprises to form an asset analysis special team to conduct big data analysis on more than 200 accounts and more than 1.6 million capital flow details under the names of Yi Xuefei (易雪飞) and his family members," said the case handler.
The special task force and the discipline inspection and supervision group stationed in Guangzhou Rural Commercial Bank (广州农商银行) established a loan analysis special team to conduct a comprehensive investigation of multiple loans of more than 1 billion yuan approved by Yi Xuefei (易雪飞) and formed a loan analysis report.
The investigation mainly focused on two issues: First, the authenticity of the "loan" funding needs; second, the correlation between "lending" and "exercising power."
"From the perspective of the authenticity of the 'loan' funding needs, we have sorted out three 'strange' things about these loans," said the case handler. "First, abandoning the low for the high. The borrowers' enterprises are not small in scale and can normally obtain loans from banks at an annual interest rate of 5% to 6%, but they specifically seek personal loans from Yi Xuefei (易雪飞) at a very high annual interest rate. Second, having money but not repaying. Some business owners have paid Yi Xuefei (易雪飞) interest that has already exceeded the principal, and have hundreds of millions of yuan in their accounts, but never repay the principal. Third, enterprises actively increase interest rates. Yi Xuefei (易雪飞) and a business owner originally agreed on an annual interest rate of 12% for the loan, but a year later, the business owner proposed to increase the annual interest rate to nearly 20%, etc."
In addition, is there a correlation between "lending" and "exercising power"? The special task force conducted verification from three dimensions: capital flow collision, power exercise trajectory comparison, and asset change penetration. The results showed that the time nodes for Yi Xuefei (易雪飞) to approve some enterprise loans were often when he lent money to these enterprise leaders and collected loan interest.
According to the statistics of the special task force, since 2005, Yi Xuefei (易雪飞) has collected more than 18 million yuan in interest through lending and collecting interest. Faced with overwhelming evidence, Yi Xuefei (易雪飞) admitted to all the criminal facts of lending and collecting interest.
According to the investigation, Yi Xuefei (易雪飞) also has other corrupt behaviors. His suspected criminal issues have been transferred to judicial organs for review and prosecution and will be sentenced soon.
The handling of the case is not the end, promoting governance is the key. Since September 2024, the case handling department of the Guangzhou Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection and Supervision (广州市纪委监委) has worked together to promote Guangzhou Rural Commercial Bank (广州农商银行) to effectively grasp and implement case-based promotion of reform and case-based promotion of governance. At the same time, the Guangzhou Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection and Supervision (广州市纪委监委) has deeply explored common problems, deployed a special rectification of the problem of leading cadres' illegal lending in the city, promoted financial regulatory authorities to explore the establishment of an early warning mechanism for abnormal large-amount capital flows of public officials, and strengthened the publicity and education of laws and regulations.
"New types of corruption and hidden corruption are constantly innovating, but their essence is no different from traditional corruption. The key lies in the means and measures of supervision. We must actively adapt, innovate methods and means, and use 'technical rationality' to strengthen 'institutional rigidity'," said Yang Fei (杨飞), member of the Standing Committee of the Guangzhou Municipal Party Committee, Secretary of the Guangzhou Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection, and Director of the Guangzhou Municipal Supervisory Commission. The Guangzhou Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection and Supervision (广州市纪委监委) actively connects with the provincial public power big data supervision platform, promotes the use of the integrated platform for discipline inspection and supervision business, and continuously improves the level of smart anti-corruption and technological anti-corruption.
Return to TopBy: 邱阳平
New forms of corruption and hidden corruption cases exhibit many new trends and characteristics.
Many corrupt acts are no longer directly manifested as "one hand exchanging money, the other hand doing things," but are embedded in market activities, achieving the separation of time and space and the formal legitimacy of interest transfer. Option corruption, shadow shareholders, virtual currency bribery, etc., all exhibit characteristics such as the concealment of corrupt entities, the indirectness of exercising power, the marketization of interest transfer, and the delay of power-money transactions. In addition, new forms of corruption and hidden corruption cases mostly involve financial instruments, cross-border transactions, digital assets, and other areas where traditional supervision is weak. Some individuals involved in the cases are familiar with regulatory loopholes in finance and law, design avoidance schemes in advance, and attempt to evade investigation and scrutiny.
Investigating and dealing with new forms of corruption and hidden corruption is a long-term systematic project that requires a multi-dimensional approach combining technology, mechanisms, and personnel. The Guangzhou Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection and Supervision (广州市纪委监委) enhances systematic thinking, actively adapts to the new situations and trends in the anti-corruption struggle, deeply explores the power operation mechanisms in the exchange of interests, and uncovers the "marketization" and "legalization" of corrupt acts.
In the process of investigating and handling corruption cases, we will firmly grasp the essential attribute of "power-money transactions" and continuously improve the penetration of anti-corruption efforts. By refining evidence guidelines for new forms of corruption and hidden corruption issues, strengthening technological empowerment of anti-corruption efforts, improving the professional capabilities of discipline inspection and supervision cadres, continuously exploring and enriching effective methods for preventing and controlling corruption, promoting the normalization and long-term effectiveness of anti-corruption work, and eradicating the breeding ground for new forms of corruption and hidden corruption.
(The author is the Deputy Director of the Trial and Review Office of the Guangzhou Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection and Supervision (广州市纪委监委审理室), interviewed and compiled by Wang Yunna (王云娜), a reporter from this newspaper)
Return to TopBeijing (北京), January 18th (Reporter Wei Zhezhe (魏哲哲)) - This reporter learned from the National People's Assessor Work Conference held on the 17th that the work of the people's assessors has achieved new and important progress and remarkable results. As of the end of 2025, there were 340,000 people's assessors nationwide, a threefold increase compared to before the reform pilot program. Grassroots cadres, farmers, community workers, and people without fixed occupations accounted for more than 50%, demonstrating the broadness, representativeness, and authenticity of judicial democracy.
It is reported that the breadth and depth of people's assessors' participation in trials has steadily expanded. People's assessors participate more in cases involving group interests, public interests, cases of widespread public concern, and other cases with significant social impact. They also participate more in cases involving public safety, the national economy and people's livelihoods, and public order and good customs, making the people's participation in justice more extensive and sufficient.
Since the implementation of the People's Assessors Law, people's assessors nationwide have participated in the adjudication of 15 million cases, including more than 3.46 million criminal cases, more than 10.16 million civil cases, and more than 1.35 million administrative cases. They have formed seven-person collegial panels to hear more than 43,000 cases, and participated in the trial of a series of major cases such as the Chongqing (重庆) siblings falling to their deaths case, the Yu Huaying (余华英) child abduction case, and the pregnant woman falling off a cliff in Thailand, effectively enhancing judicial credibility.
At the same time, the role of people's assessors in participating in trials has been fully utilized. A system for selecting, cultivating, and publishing typical cases of people's assessors' participation in trials has been established, and the guarantee system for rights such as reviewing case files, investigating, asking questions, deliberating, and voting has been improved. A mechanism for using assessors based on the principle of random selection on a case-by-case basis, a judge guidance mechanism based on a list of factual issues, a balanced participation mechanism guaranteed by a scientific term of office and an upper limit on the number of cases participated in per year, and a participation authority allocation mechanism that separates factual trials from legal trials have been formed. The problem of "assessing without trying, trying without deliberating" has been better resolved, and the substantive participation of people's assessors has been effectively guaranteed.
In addition, the level of management and support for people's assessors' performance of their duties has continued to improve. A system for people's assessors to take an oath of office has been established, training, assessment, rewards, and punishments have been fully standardized, and guarantees such as personal safety and participation funds have been improved. The working environment for people's assessors has been improved, creating favorable conditions for people's assessors to perform their duties in accordance with the law, and the enthusiasm of people's assessors to participate in trials has continued to increase.
The Supreme People's Court (最高法) requires that the scope of cases in which people's assessors participate should be accurately grasped, the widespread and balanced participation in trials should be continuously promoted, full participation should be guaranteed, and the relationship between judicial democracy and professional needs should be effectively balanced. Attention should be paid to selecting and using people's assessors with professional knowledge in difficult, complex, and more professional cases such as maritime affairs, intellectual property rights, finance, environmental resources, and foreign-related matters. It is necessary to firmly grasp the procedural requirements that people's assessors and judges express their opinions in turn, and the presiding judge makes a final speech and summary, and that people's assessors and judges vote on the basis of joint deliberation, so as to ensure that the independent judgment of people's assessors is put into practice.
Return to TopShenyang, January 18th (Reported by Liu Hongchao (刘洪超)) – This reporter learned from the mobilization and deployment conference of the Liaoning Province Court (辽宁省法院) a few days ago: Starting immediately, the province's courts will launch a one-year concentrated rectification campaign targeting issues that damage the business environment, aiming to promote strict, fair, and honest judicial practices and effectively improve the quality and efficiency of trials and enforcement.
This rectification campaign focuses on three major areas: discipline and work style, judicial case handling, and the provision of judicial services. It targets 24 prominent issues, including handling "relationship cases," "favor cases," and "money cases," abusing discretionary power, ineffective identification and prevention of false litigation, non-standard "investigation, freezing, and deduction" measures, and a lack of targeted legal services in "judges entering enterprises." At the same time, based on typical cases of damage to the business environment in the province's courts in recent years, and combined with specific issues reflected in mass reports and complaints, a comprehensive "thorough investigation" and "thorough cleanup" will be carried out on the problems existing in the province's courts in the field of the business environment.
The rectification campaign adheres to the principle of "rectifying while investigating, rectifying immediately" and establishes a ledger of problems and rectification measures, implementing account-based cancellation management to ensure that rectification is implemented and effective. During the rectification period, the province's courts will adhere to open rectification, further broaden and unblock channels for reflecting problems, widely solicit opinions and suggestions from all sectors of society, and strive to improve the accuracy and comprehensiveness of problem rectification.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 田豆豆
Stepping into Huayuan Packaging (Xianning) Co., Ltd. (华源包装（咸宁）有限公司), on the production line, rows of paint buckets, beverage cans, and other metal packaging containers are continuously coming off the line, being packaged, and awaiting delivery. "In the past, we had to prepare for inspections once or twice a month. Now, the Market Supervision Bureau, Fire Department, Emergency Management Department, and other departments come together, and the company only needs to prepare for one inspection," said Li Zhaoxia (李昭霞), Administrative Manager of Huayuan Packaging (Xianning) Co., Ltd. (华源包装（咸宁）有限公司).
Since last year, in response to companies' complaints about excessively frequent inspections, arbitrary inspections, and repetitive inspections, Xianning City (咸宁市), Hubei Province (湖北省) has introduced a "positive list" and "negative list" to regulate administrative inspections involving enterprises, and implemented a "one-stop comprehensive inspection" for enterprises. In 2025, the frequency of law enforcement inspections involving enterprises in the city decreased by 36.8% year-on-year, and the time cost for enterprises to prepare for inspections decreased by 54%.
According to regulations, in principle, the total number of administrative inspections conducted by the same administrative law enforcement entity on the same enterprise each year should not exceed 2 times. The frequency of inspections for enterprises with higher risk levels is determined according to regulatory needs, and multiple inspections implemented by multiple administrative inspection entities on the same inspection object should, in principle, be combined into one.
In order to strengthen supervision of law enforcement behavior, Xianning (咸宁) is piloting a "scan-to-enter" mechanism. Not long ago, a comprehensive inspection team composed of law enforcement officers from the Xianning Municipal Civil Affairs Bureau (咸宁市民政局), the Market Supervision Bureau (市场监督管理局), and the Municipal Fire and Rescue Detachment (市消防救援支队) arrived at the entrance of a nursing home in the city. Before entering, the law enforcement officers first took out their mobile phones and scanned the code to register relevant information such as their unit and law enforcement certificate. This is a "scan-to-enter" WeChat mini-program developed by the Xianning Municipal Bureau of Justice (咸宁市司法局) and the Market Supervision Bureau (市场监督管理局). For enterprises that have been included in the pilot program, when they received inspections from which departments and personnel, and what problems were found, the background can record them in real-time and trace them at any time. If an enterprise receives inspections too frequently, the system will promptly remind them.
Enterprises vary in type and risk, and reducing the frequency of inspections in a 一刀切 (yī dāo qiē - "one knife cut," applying a single standard to all situations) manner may lead to a lack of supervision for a few enterprises. To this end, the Xianning Municipal Bureau of Justice (咸宁市司法局) has formulated the "Xianning City Enterprise Classification and Supervision Management Measures (Trial)" (《咸宁市企业分级分类监督管理办法（试行》), under which the judicial administrative organs supervise, manage, and guide the classification and supervision work, the market supervision department establishes a general enterprise risk classification and management mechanism, and key areas such as food and drugs, work safety, ecological environmental protection, and health establish professional enterprise classification standards. At present, the city has carried out classified supervision in 24 fields, such as food circulation, employer integrity behavior level, tax credit rating, and ecological environment credit rating, and flexibly adjusts the annual inspection frequency for business entities of different levels. For enterprises with good credit and standardized management, relevant departments reduce the frequency of inspections and try to achieve "no disturbance if there is nothing wrong."
Return to TopThe conscription physical examination for the first half of 2026 has officially begun, and young people in various regions are actively responding to the call and enthusiastically signing up.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 方 圆 本报通讯员 唐凤来
"Hello 'cloud farmers,' today I'll take you to see the first crop of strawberries grown in our greenhouse. Each one is carefully selected. Welcome to the Dongcun Village (东村村) strawberry garden for picking!" In the cold winter season, the strawberry greenhouse in Dongcun Village (东村村), Dong'an District (东安区), Mudanjiang City (牡丹江市), Heilongjiang Province (黑龙江省) is warm and cozy, and village officials are busy filming videos.
"Our village's strawberry greenhouse was built with funds connected to the comprehensive rural revitalization project. Last year, the picking garden was also selected as a high-quality scenic spot for the 'China Beautiful Village Leisure Tourism Tour.'" Speaking of the changes in the village, villager Liu Bao'an (刘宝安) began to talk at length, "In the past, how much project funds were spent and where they were spent could only be seen on a densely written piece of paper on the village committee's wall. People couldn't understand it, and they were always worried that there was something fishy going on."
This "unease" began to change after the village-level supervisors took their positions.
"We track and supervise every transaction that enters the village's accounts, every penny spent, and every project constructed. No matter how big or small the account, we urge the village to publicize each transaction on the 'Supervision at a Touch' platform for small and micro powers and on the village affairs column," said Zhao Yishan (赵义山), Discipline Inspection Committee Member of Dongcun Village (东村村) and Director of the Village Affairs Supervision Committee.
In order to standardize the operation of "small and micro powers" in rural areas, the Mudanjiang City (牡丹江市) Commission for Discipline Inspection and Supervision has continued to promote the comprehensive and strict governance of the Party to the grassroots level, equipping all 1,009 villages in the city with village affairs supervision committees and village-level supervisors to supervise village affairs such as village finances, project construction, land acquisition and demolition compensation, and the implementation of the "major issues" collective decision-making system. Village-level supervisors also bear the responsibility of being information officers, promptly feeding back the villagers' worries, anxieties, and concerns to relevant departments.
The Mudanjiang City (牡丹江市) Commission for Discipline Inspection and Supervision closely monitors key areas such as the management of rural collective "three assets," the use of funds benefiting the people and agriculture, and the supervision of rural funds, and follows up on the supervision of key rural revitalization project construction, including project approval, construction, fund allocation, and project acceptance. At the same time, it promotes the agricultural and rural departments to carry out self-examination and self-correction, investigate and deal with problems, and implement rectification. In order to standardize rural collective property rights trading behavior, it has formulated the "Standardized Management System for Rural Collective 'Three Assets'" and the "Management System for Rural Collective Monetary Funds." It has built the province's first prefecture-level rural property rights trading platform, opening up channels for transforming rural resources and assets into capital and funds, and realizing the revitalization, preservation, and appreciation of rural assets.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 吴月辉
Core Reading
Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs) are one of the most mysterious radio burst phenomena in the universe. Their duration is only a few milliseconds, but they can instantly release enormous energy equivalent to the total radiation of the sun for an entire week. How to unravel the mystery of the origin mechanism of these "cosmic radio pulse flashes"? On January 16, a research team led by the Purple Mountain Observatory (紫金山天文台) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (中国科学院), and composed of multiple research institutions at home and abroad including the National Astronomical Observatories of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (中国科学院国家天文台), announced in Pingtang County (平塘县), Guizhou Province (贵州省), that "China's Tianyan (中国天眼)" had found key evidence for the origin of Fast Radio Bursts.
On January 16, a research team led by the Purple Mountain Observatory (紫金山天文台) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (中国科学院), and composed of multiple research institutions at home and abroad including the National Astronomical Observatories of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (中国科学院国家天文台), announced in Pingtang County (平塘县), Guizhou Province (贵州省), that using "China's Tianyan (中国天眼)" – the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope (FAST) – they had for the first time captured the detailed evolution process of the Faraday rotation measure of a repeating Fast Radio Burst (FRB) undergoing a dramatic jump and then falling back, providing key observational evidence for the hypothesis that "Fast Radio Bursts originate from binary star systems." The relevant research results have been published online in the international academic journal *Science*.
Capturing a sharp rise and fall in the Faraday rotation measure, finding key evidence for the origin of Fast Radio Bursts.
Fast Radio Bursts are one of the most mysterious radio burst phenomena in the universe. Their duration is only a few milliseconds, but they can instantly release enormous energy equivalent to the total radiation of the sun for an entire week. Since their first discovery in 2007, the origin mechanism of these "cosmic radio pulse flashes" has been an important mystery in the field of astrophysics. The scientific community generally speculates that they are related to compact celestial bodies such as neutron stars, and the burst periodicity exhibited by some repeating Fast Radio Bursts suggests that their origin celestial bodies may be in binary star systems, but there has long been a lack of direct observational evidence to support this conjecture.
In order to solve this mystery, the research team used the ultra-high sensitivity advantage of "China's Tianyan (中国天眼)" to conduct more than two years of continuous monitoring of the repeating Fast Radio Burst FRB 20220529.
Wu Xuefeng (吴雪峰), Deputy Director of the Purple Mountain Observatory (紫金山天文台) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (中国科学院) and corresponding author of the paper, introduced, "A very important parameter in the monitoring is the Faraday rotation measure. This indicator reflects the density and magnetic field strength of the plasma on the propagation path of the radio signal. It is like a precise 'cosmic magnetic environment probe' that can help scientists capture changes in the environment around celestial bodies."
The researchers found that the Faraday rotation measure of the repeating Fast Radio Burst FRB 20220529 had been fluctuating slightly within a certain range for a year and a half. Until December 2023, the Faraday rotation measure of the repeating Fast Radio Burst showed a sharp rise, 20 times the usual level of change, and then fell back to the normal fluctuation range within just two weeks. This phenomenon is the first of its kind in the recorded history of Fast Radio Burst research.
Subsequently, through data analysis, as well as further model comparison and physical analysis, the researchers determined that the repeating Fast Radio Burst FRB 20220529 should originate from a binary star system.
A binary star system refers to a system in which two celestial bodies attract each other under the action of gravity and orbit each other around a common center of mass. "Assuming that the repeating Fast Radio Burst FRB 20220529 originates from an isolated neutron star, existing theories cannot explain such a large and rapid change in the magnetic environment; but if it is in a binary star system, violent activity from the companion star (such as coronal mass ejection) or the special geometric structure of the binary star orbit can naturally and reasonably explain why the Faraday rotation measure showed a sharp rise and fall," said Wu Xuefeng (吴雪峰). This discovery provides strong evidence that Fast Radio Bursts originate from binary star systems.
Discovering nanohertz gravitational waves, detecting asteroids, "China's Tianyan (中国天眼)" continues to produce breakthrough results.
"Since passing the national acceptance in 2020, 'China's Tianyan (中国天眼)' has maintained a stable and efficient operating state, and the scientific data generated has been growing year by year. In the last complete observation year, the total observation time of 'China's Tianyan (中国天眼)' exceeded 5,400 hours, and the new scientific data volume exceeded 17.5PB (petabytes)," said Sun Jinghai (孙京海), Deputy Director of the Operation and Development Center of "China's Tianyan (中国天眼)".
Sun Jinghai (孙京海) introduced that "China's Tianyan (中国天眼)" has always adhered to an open and shared operating model. "The vast majority of our observation time is used to support regular projects, as well as priority and major projects. In this observation season, we have also added support categories for key projects." According to statistics, users outside the National Astronomical Observatories of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (中国科学院国家天文台) account for more than 67% of the users of "China's Tianyan (中国天眼)"; in the observation of regular projects, the observation time collected and provided to the world exceeds 10%.
As the world's largest single-aperture radio telescope designed, built and operated independently by China, "China's Tianyan (中国天眼)" has been continuously producing breakthrough results in several cutting-edge fields since it was put into use, such as nanohertz gravitational wave detection, pulsar search, Fast Radio Burst research, and neutral hydrogen observation. In 2025, a series of important scientific research results were generated based on the observation data of "China's Tianyan (中国天眼)", including the discovery of rare millisecond pulsars and helium star systems in the field of pulsars.
In terms of radar astronomy exploration, scientists have also used "China's Tianyan (中国天眼)" to carry out the detection of near-Earth objects and asteroids.
"Using the high-sensitivity receiving capability of 'China's Tianyan (中国天眼)', we have currently increased the lunar radar imaging resolution from the kilometer level to the 10-meter level," said Sun Jinghai (孙京海). "Moreover, in this band, we can penetrate the lunar surface to study the geological structure of the lunar shallow surface, providing new research methods and data support for subsequent further lunar geological research and resource exploration."
"China's Tianyan (中国天眼)" has detected multiple near-Earth asteroids for the first time in China. Sun Jinghai (孙京海) revealed that these include several potentially threatening asteroids. "Through data analysis, we can accurately estimate the size, shape, and rotation period of the asteroids, and also reverse engineer their three-dimensional shape, providing important data support for further promoting asteroid scientific research, including asteroid defense," said Sun Jinghai (孙京海).
"China's Tianyan (中国天眼)" is steadily advancing its upgrade plan and will become a "cosmic super probe."
From independent and controllable key technologies to continuous leading scientific output, "China's Tianyan (中国天眼)" has proved China's hard power in high-end technology equipment research and development and basic research with practice, and contributed uniquely valuable Chinese wisdom and Chinese solutions to human exploration of the unknown universe and expansion of cognitive boundaries.
Although "China's Tianyan (中国天眼)" has performed excellently, challenges and limitations still exist. Sun Jinghai (孙京海) said that in order to get rid of the current situation of relying on imports for some equipment, the team is actively carrying out research on the localization of key components, including high-performance receivers, steel wire ropes, and actuators.
Sun Jinghai (孙京海) said: "Through multiple rounds of experiments, it has been proved that the current domestically produced steel wire ropes can meet the operating performance and reliability requirements of 'China's Tianyan (中国天眼)'. We plan to replace the domestically produced steel wire ropes for the first time in March and April this year to support operation."
In addition, according to the relevant负责人 (fù zé rén - "person in charge," responsible person) of the Operation and Development Center of "China's Tianyan (中国天眼)", "China's Tianyan (中国天眼)" is steadily advancing its upgrade plan. According to the plan, the project will build dozens of medium-sized aperture antennas around "China's Tianyan (中国天眼)" to build the world's only giant integrated aperture array with "China's Tianyan (中国天眼)" as the core.
This innovative design will make up for the natural limitations of single-aperture telescopes in spatial resolution, while improving observation sensitivity, achieving a qualitative leap in comprehensive observation performance, further consolidating China's leading position in the field of low- and medium-frequency radio astronomy, and actively responding to the fierce competition from international counterparts.
Jiang Peng (姜鹏), Deputy Director of the National Astronomical Observatories of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (中国科学院国家天文台) and Director of the Operation and Development Center of "China's Tianyan (中国天眼)", said: "In 2025, we have completed the construction of two core array antennas, and developed and deployed room-temperature low-noise array receivers. At the same time, we conducted joint observation experiments on the two antennas and 'China's Tianyan (中国天眼)', and successfully obtained interference fringes."
After the upgrade is completed, "China's Tianyan (中国天眼)" will become a more powerful "cosmic super probe", providing observational support for scientists to deeply understand the origin of Fast Radio Bursts, as well as solve a series of astrophysical mysteries that have plagued the academic community for a long time, such as the Hubble constant crisis and the missing baryon matter problem, promoting China's radio astronomy research to a higher level and deeper level, and injecting more lasting and stronger Chinese power into human exploration of the universe.
Return to TopBy: 刘 阳
Don't let traffic change the original color of innocence. The healthy development of children's micro-dramas requires the attention and action of the whole society.
Have you ever seen children's micro-dramas that focus on "cute baby daily life" and "parent-child records"? Recently, the Network Audiovisual Program Management Department of the State Administration of Radio and Television (国家广播电视总局) issued management tips for children's micro-dramas. The number of children's micro-dramas has increased. While enriching the themes and types of micro-dramas, there are also creative tendencies such as "adultization," "instrumentalization," and "entertainment," and targeted measures have been proposed in response.
Some children's micro-dramas design outrageous plots that challenge common sense in order to attract attention and traffic, which violates the physical and mental development of children, and is likely to mislead or even harm the child actors and the audience. Micro-dramas are emerging things, and children's micro-dramas are a sub-category of them. Previously, there was a lack of policies and regulations to regulate and manage them. The relevant departments issued management tips, proposing to "regulate the total amount and improve the quality," which is a correction to the development of the industry. In the long run, don't let traffic change the original color of innocence. The healthy development of children's micro-dramas requires the attention and action of the whole society.
To protect children's rights and interests, the tendency of "instrumentalization" must be corrected. Some parents are eager for quick success and believe that "one should become famous as early as possible," allowing their children to enter the performing arts industry too early. Some crews take advantage of this mentality of parents, arrange child actors to shoot overloaded, and perform violent, horror, emotional entanglement and other scenes, treating child actors as "tool people" to harvest traffic. The management tips issued this time clearly prohibit inducing families to pay high packaging fees in the name of "star making" and put an end to "gnawing on the young" commercial hype.
Returning to the child's perspective, the "entertainment" orientation must be curbed. Children's micro-dramas should stick to the original color of childlike innocence and naivete. Creation needs to be rooted in children's lives, follow the laws and characteristics of children's physical and mental development at all stages, and ensure that the characters' words and deeds, plots, and storylines are in line with the cognitive abilities, life experiences, and social moral standards of the corresponding age groups. High-quality children's micro-dramas should convey truth, goodness, and beauty on the basis of respecting children's nature, and vividly show the positive and upward spirit of young children with attentive and affectionate creation.
How to tell the contemporary stories of Chinese children is a must-answer question for the micro-drama industry. At present, micro-dramas have become one of the important carriers of mass cultural consumption, and the content themes are increasingly subdivided. In view of the particularity of the performance groups and audiences of children's micro-dramas, management departments and broadcasting platforms at all levels should further consolidate the responsibility for supervision and review, and be responsible for children, parents, the industry, and society. It is believed that gathering the consensus and strength of the whole society will surely create a clean and upright network ecology for children, and will also promote the standardized development of the micro-drama industry to a new level.
Return to TopThis newspaper's Guangzhou (广州) dispatch on January 18th (Reporter: Luo Aihua (罗艾桦)) The "Together to Pinglong (平龙) to Welcome the Future" 2026 "Cantonese Beauty Village Evening" New Year celebration was recently held in Pinglong (平龙) New Era Community, Huashan Town (花山镇), Huadu District (花都区), Guangzhou (广州), Guangdong Province (广东省), attracting thousands of on-site viewers. The "Virtue Nourishes Southern Guangdong (南粤) - Four Seasons Fashion" Spring Couplets Entering Thousands of Homes activity was launched simultaneously on-site. It is reported that a total of 30 "Cantonese Beauty Village Evening" series of activities will be held throughout Guangdong Province (广东省) this year.
The event's program was wonderful and diverse. The large-scale song and dance program "Lion Leaps Over Pinglong (平龙), Spring Tide Surges," which integrated lion dance and Cantonese opera elements, opened enthusiastically, igniting the atmosphere. The Tanbu Town (炭步镇) Cantonese Rhyme Society and the children of Xinhe Primary School (新和小学) in Huashan Town (花山镇) brought the nursery rhyme rhythmic gymnastics "Rain is Heavy" and the desk dance "Youth with Aspirations." The creative intangible cultural heritage dance "Lingnan (岭南) New Year in Gray Sculpture" brought ancient art to life on the stage, showcasing the cultural charm of Lingnan (岭南). In addition, there were also programs such as the acrobatics "Step by Step Higher," the puppet show "Encounter," and the skit "Skillful Hands Bring Flowers to Life," written and performed by community residents.
Return to TopThe "New Year Pictures: Festive Songs of the Year" exhibition recently opened at the Liaoning Provincial Museum (辽宁省博物馆). The exhibition mainly features Taohuawu New Year Pictures (桃花坞年画) and Yangliuqing New Year Pictures (杨柳青年画), and also includes Huanren woodblock New Year Pictures (桓仁木版年画) from Benxi (本溪), Liaoning (辽宁). The picture shows visitors viewing the exhibition.
Photo by Huang Jin Kun (黄金崑) (Image China (影像中国))
Return to TopThis newspaper's Xuancheng (宣城) report on January 18th (Reporter Xu Jing (徐靖)) - The reporter learned from the Xuancheng (宣城) City Market Supervision Bureau of Anhui (安徽) Province: The National Intellectual Property Administration recently issued an announcement, granting geographical indication product recognition to Xuan Inkstone (宣砚) and implementing its protection. So far, Xuancheng (宣城) City's "Four Treasures of the Study" (文房四宝) (Xuan Paper (宣纸), Xuan Brush (宣笔), Xuan Inkstone (宣砚), and Hui Ink (徽墨)) have all been recognized as national geographical indication products, marking a further improvement in the city's geographical indication protection system and new achievements in empowering the protection and inheritance of traditional culture through intellectual property.
Xuan Inkstone (宣砚), formerly known as Xuanzhou Stone Inkstone (宣州石砚), is a famous inkstone product among the Four Treasures of the Study (文房四宝). In July 2010, the Longtan Mountain (龙潭山) quarry site in Jingde (旌德) County, Xuancheng (宣城) City, was accidentally discovered, and the once "disappeared" Xuan Inkstone (宣砚) returned to people's sight. In 2014, Jingde (旌德) County was awarded the title of "Hometown of Chinese Xuan Inkstone (中国宣砚之乡)" by the China Stationery and Sporting Goods Association.
According to reports, the approval of Xuan Inkstone (宣砚) as a national geographical indication product is not only a recognition of its unique quality and cultural value, but also a concentrated reflection of the work achievements of Xuancheng (宣城) City's full-chain intellectual property protection. It is conducive to the local area further constructing a large intellectual property protection work pattern and establishing the brand of Xuancheng (宣城) geographical indication products.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 沈靖然
"Can you hear the brightest star in the night sky..." During the halftime break of the "Yu Chao" League, a clear and innocent singing voice rang out on the green field, performed by four children in school uniforms. Not far away, four teachers stood in a row: raising their hands, they formed chords; waving their arms, they kept the beat. They cooperated with each other, jointly playing a melodious melody.
They are from Chongqing Yunyang County Special Education School (重庆云阳县特殊教育学校), and the team has a hopeful name—the "Firefly River Project" band. In this band, some children are visually impaired, and some have hearing impairments, but they all have a heart that loves and yearns for music.
English teacher Deng Han (邓涵) is the person in charge of this band. "At first, I really didn't think about forming a band with the children," Deng Han (邓涵) said. At the school's New Year's Eve party in 2025, he sang a song while playing the guitar. Unexpectedly, after the performance, several children "blocked" him at the door of his office.
"Teacher, the 'pipa' you played was so beautiful, can we learn it?" Deng Han (邓涵) smiled. The "pipa" the children were talking about was actually a guitar.
It was from that question, full of misunderstanding but exceptionally sincere, that a seed quietly took root.
So, Deng Han's (邓涵) office became the earliest rehearsal room. During breaks, he would bring out the guitar and teach the children to touch the guitar, press chords, and follow the beat. Gradually, he discovered that some children had a very good sense of rhythm and followed quickly, and were particularly focused in the learning process.
In May 2025, he pulled in three other teachers to jointly form the "Firefly River Project" band. "We want to combine children of different types together and give play to their respective strengths," said instructor Chen Xudong (陈旭东). "Of course, we also want them to find joy in music."
The band members were finally determined, and several lovely and ignorant children walked into the rehearsal room with their instruments. But the challenge also presented itself: how should children who cannot see or hear learn instruments and practice singing?
To teach visually impaired children to play the piano, Deng Han (邓涵) gently placed their hands on the black and white keys, finding each note one by one, "This is do, this is mi..." One measure, over and over again, took an entire afternoon. Without sheet music, the music was slowly ground out between fingertips and ears.
To teach hearing-impaired children to play the guitar, band instructor Zhou Lei (周磊) turned the sound into a "picture." He drew wavy lines on paper to represent the ups and downs of the melody, and used arrows of different colors to indicate when to change chords and when to pause. The beat was relied on his arms waving time after time.
One child was initially sensitive to sound and unwilling to communicate with others. Drum kit instructor Luo Shengbing (罗圣冰) said: "All I can do is try to be more patient and careful." She slowed down the teaching speed to the slowest, first taking him to recognize and touch each drum, distinguishing the sounds and positions of different drums, then teaching him to familiarize himself with the markings of the drum beats in the score, and finally practicing basic beats. Once she noticed that the student's emotions were fluctuating, Luo Shengbing (罗圣冰) would stop to comfort him and pay attention to which drum beat he was more responsive to, pushing the practice forward little by little.
Practicing for more than 6 hours a day has made music an indispensable part of the children's lives. Now, they will actively go to the office to urge the teachers to practice. A song used to take a long time to grind over and over again, but now it only takes an afternoon for them to smooth out the rhythm of a new song. "At first, the children were very unconfident and afraid of not being able to learn," Deng Han (邓涵) said. "Now that they have practiced for a long time, they can feel the changes themselves and are becoming more and more open."
Step by step, the teachers led the children from the small rehearsal room to a larger stage. In August 2025, the "Firefly River Project" band participated in the "2025 Band China Youth Music Festival" national finals. When playing the chorus of "Sunflowers," the guitarist, who had been unable to hear sounds since childhood, suddenly "shouted" the three words "Sunflowers" along with the lead singer.
The silent world was deafening. "At that moment, I could feel that the children were truly integrated into the music and enjoying the music," Deng Han (邓涵) said with tears in his eyes.
"Although I can't speak, the instruments I play can make sounds." Through sign language, the reporter felt the children's love for music. "We hope to cultivate the interests of different children by discovering their shining points," said Ge Jianyun (葛建云), principal of Yunyang County Special Education School (云阳县特殊教育学校). "Through music, children can slowly enhance their ability to communicate with others, feel the meaning of life, and thus better integrate into society."
The night sky is vast, and there is more than one kind of starlight. Talking about the origin of the band's name, Deng Han (邓涵) said: "We hope that every child can shine like a firefly, gather together, illuminate themselves, and warm others."
Return to TopThis newspaper Beijing (北京) January 18th (Reporter Shi Fang (施芳)) The 40th Longqing Gorge Ice Lantern Festival (龙庆峡冰灯艺术节) recently opened in Yanqing District (延庆区), Beijing (北京市). With the theme of "Longqing Legend: A Tribute to the Classics," this year's festival features a 200,000-square-meter area of lanterns and ice sculptures, complementing the 300,000-square-meter natural glacier canyon landscape, creating a magnificent and magical ice and snow fairy tale world. The festival will last until early March.
The Longqing Gorge Ice Lantern Festival (龙庆峡冰灯艺术节) began in 1987. A major highlight of this year's ice lantern exhibition area is the fantasy ice world inspired by the classic domestic animation "Havoc in Heaven" (大闹天宫), with more than 20 large-scale themed ice buildings and more than 150 exquisite ice sculptures recreating classic scenes. Inside the exhibition area, the "South Heaven Gate" (南天门) ice building, which is 13.6 meters high, stands majestically and imposingly; in the "Peach Banquet" (蟠桃盛会) scene, the Yaochi Sendai (瑶池仙台) and Qiongjiang Yuye (琼浆玉液) are presented as ice sculptures, and the fairy peach-shaped lights are dazzling. The exhibition area also has 4 "famous scene screening points," which use the fusion of dynamic light and shadow and static ice sculptures to vividly reproduce classic scenes. In the lantern exhibition area, 18 large-scale themed lantern sets are matched with 180 exquisite small lanterns distributed in a staggered manner, with the Chinese zodiac New Year greetings, myths and legends, and auspicious meanings as the main line. A group of colorful lanterns create a strong festive atmosphere.
Return to TopBy: 林丽鹂 陈琪馨
As the "Great Cold" solar term approaches, down jacket sales are booming. Some netizens posted that a certain brand's down jacket, priced at over 2,000 yuan, only had a down fill weight of 86 grams, sparking heated discussions.
Some netizens call down jackets, thermal underwear, and insulated cups the "three-piece set" for winter warmth. How should these warm items be selected? Market supervision departments have issued consumer tips and invited experts to provide advice.
Down Jackets:
Pay Attention to Down Cluster Content, Beware of Inferior Products
"How do you tell if a down jacket is warm?"
"What should I do if my down jacket clumps after washing?"
Experts from the China Fiber Quality Monitoring Center answered consumers' questions: "Choose down jackets with plump down clusters and no hard stem impurities." "'Neutral detergent + gentle mode + drying and light patting' is the secret to maintenance."
Some down jacket merchants mislead consumers by confusing filling types and falsely labeling down cluster content. What standards should a qualified down jacket meet?
According to the new national standard "Down Garments" (GB/T 14272—2021), the following standards must be met:
Filling Standard: Only four types of natural down are allowed: "white goose down, gray goose down, white duck down, gray duck down." Products labeled with other materials are not genuine down products and should be directly excluded.
Down Cluster Content Standard: The new national standard has unified "down content" to "down cluster content" to prevent merchants from using broken down fibers to make up the numbers. Down cluster content refers to the percentage of down clusters in the down and feather filling, which is an important indicator of the thermal performance of down jackets. The higher the value, the stronger the warmth. Products with a down cluster content of no less than 50% can be called down jackets. It is recommended to choose products with a down cluster content ≥ 80%.
Fill Weight Standard: Refers to the total weight of the filled down, which should be selected in combination with the style, size, and usage environment. Generally, short down jackets are recommended to have a fill weight of 120-300 grams, and long down jackets are recommended to have 200-420 grams. In extremely cold regions, this can be increased by 20%-30%, but avoid excessive fill weight compressing the air and reducing warmth.
Fill Power needs to be adapted to the scene, with a conventional choice of 600-700FP, and above 800FP for extremely cold areas.
How to choose down jackets scientifically?
In addition to checking the indicators, simple operations can be used to further verify the quality of down jackets and avoid buying down jackets filled with "fake down" or "inferior down":
One Press: Measure Fill Power and Rebound Force: Press the down jacket firmly with your hand, and observe the rebound speed after releasing. High-quality down rebounds quickly and can quickly return to a fluffy state. If it collapses after pressing and rebounds slowly, it indicates that the down cluster content is low or contains more broken down fibers.
Two Pat: Check for Down Leakage and Dust: Gently pat the surface of the down jacket and the quilted areas to observe whether down feathers come out, and also pay attention to whether dust is produced. If there is a lot of down leakage or dust, it may be that the fabric density is low or the down cleanliness is not up to standard.
Three Rub: Distinguish Down Clusters and Feather Stems: Pinch the fabric with two fingers and rub it. High-quality down can feel small, soft feather stems; if you feel coarse, hard, and prickly feather stems, or feel "clumping" when rubbing, it may be mixed with feather shafts or inferior fillings.
Four Look: Check Standards and Information: Focus on checking whether the implementation standard on the washing label is GB/T 14272—2021. If the old standard is marked or there is no standard number, purchase with caution. At the same time, confirm whether the merchant has clearly marked the filling type, down cluster content, and fill weight. Products with vague or missing information are likely to be of poor quality.
Thermal Underwear:
Understand the Warming Principle, Choose Carefully
In recent years, some thermal underwear on the market have promoted the concept of "self-heating." Relevant officials from the State Administration for Market Regulation (国家市场监督管理总局) introduced that so-called "self-heating" does not exist. Clothing cannot "generate heat out of thin air" but can only scientifically store heat.
Currently, there are three main types of warming principles for thermal underwear on the market:
Static Heat Locking: Relies on "air insulation" to store heat. The underwear locks the air between the skin and clothing through fabric fluffiness or interlayer designs. Air has extremely poor thermal conductivity, which can effectively prevent body heat from flowing outward, just like wearing an invisible incubator for the body. This is also the logic behind the warmth of natural materials such as cotton, wool, and silk.
Dynamic Heat Storage: Relies on "moisture absorption and heat generation" to reduce coldness. After the hydrophilic groups in fibers (such as acrylic, viscose fiber, wool blends) combine with sweat, the kinetic energy of water molecules is converted into heat energy and released. At the same time, the absorbed moisture is firmly locked to prevent moisture evaporation from taking away a lot of heat. The essence is "reducing cold" rather than "increasing temperature."
Reflective Heat Locking: Relies on "thin film reflection" to reduce heat dissipation. Materials such as far-infrared fibers and metal films absorb the energy of sunlight and human body radiation and reflect it back to the body in the form of far-infrared rays. Far-infrared rays have strong penetrating power and can penetrate deep under the skin, bringing a warm feeling of "secondary heating." However, these materials are only for radiant heat dissipation and also need to be combined with a slightly fluffy structure or sealed design of the fabric to lock the air and block convective heat dissipation at the same time, enhancing the warming effect.
Most thermal underwear is made of blends of different materials. When purchasing, pay attention to checking the product composition label and noting the ratio of different fiber materials. It is recommended to give priority to the blended combination of materials with good warmth retention (such as cashmere, wool, acrylic), materials with good moisture absorption (such as cotton, viscose, modal), and other materials, which can ensure both warmth and comfort. At the same time, when purchasing goods, you must be wary of "trace gimmicks." When products use high-end materials such as "containing cashmere, mulberry silk" as selling points, you need to focus on their actual content. If the marked content is ≤ 5%, the warming effect is extremely small compared to ordinary blends.
The National Textile and Garment Product Quality Supervision and Inspection Center (Zhejiang) (国家纺织服装产品质量监督检验中心（浙江）) suggests that consumers should carefully look at the tag information when purchasing clothing. Thermal underwear worn close to the body must meet the Class B or above requirements in GB 18401—2010 "National Basic Safety Technical Specifications for Textile Products" (GB 18401—2010《国家纺织产品基本安全技术规范》), Class A for infant and child products, and Class C products cannot be worn close to the body. You can give priority to products that implement the standards FZ/T 73022—2019 "Knitted Thermal Underwear" (FZ/T 73022—2019《针织保暖内衣》) and FZ/T 73016—2020 "Knitted Thermal Underwear - Wadding Type" (FZ/T 73016—2020《针织保暖内衣 絮片型》). The insulation rate of these two types of products is at least 30% or more.
The underwear on the market labeled as "self-heating" is divided into two types: "moisture absorption and heat generation" and "far-infrared fiber heat generation." Moisture-absorbing and heat-generating underwear implements the standard FZ/T 73036—2010 "Moisture-Absorbing and Heat-Generating Knitted Underwear" (FZ/T 73036—2010《吸湿发热针织内衣》). Products must simultaneously meet the two indicators of "maximum temperature rise value ≥ 4.0 degrees Celsius and average temperature rise value ≥ 3.0 degrees Celsius within 30 minutes" before this standard is allowed to be marked. For underwear that claims to have far-infrared performance, you can check whether it has far-infrared performance test results or test reports.
Insulated Cups:
Identify Food-Grade Materials, Choose as Needed
In winter, the temperature is low, and insulated cups have become a daily necessity for many people. The National Daily Consumer Goods Quality Inspection and Testing Center (Shanghai) (国家日用消费品质量检验检测中心（上海）) introduced that the stainless steel materials for insulated cup liners are generally divided into 201, 304, 316, and 316L.
201 stainless steel has a high manganese content and poor corrosion resistance. It is not suitable as a food contact material. If it is used to hold high-temperature, acidic, alkaline, or salty drinks and foods for a long time, it is easy to cause the migration of metal elements such as manganese, chromium, and nickel, which poses a potential threat to human health.
304 stainless steel is a commonly used material in food-grade stainless steel with high cost performance. It is usually safe to hold juices and other drinks (such as lemon juice, orange juice) for a short time, but acidic substances may damage its surface oxide film, causing elements such as chromium and nickel to slowly dissolve.
316 and 316L stainless steel add the stabilizing element molybdenum to the 304 composition, which improves chlorine corrosion resistance, and has stronger corrosion resistance and stability, but the price is generally higher.
In addition to common stainless steel insulated cups, you can also choose titanium insulated cups. The density of titanium is about 40% smaller than that of stainless steel. It is lightweight, durable, and extremely corrosion-resistant. It does not easily retain odors, but the price is higher. It is recommended to give priority to insulated cups with "pure titanium" and a titanium content higher than 99.6%. It is not recommended to purchase titanium alloy or titanium-plated products. In recent years, a new type of insulated cup product has appeared on the market, with a ceramic liner and a stainless steel shell. The ceramic liner has strong corrosion resistance, but it is easily damaged, heavy, and has poor portability.
The National Steel Product Quality Inspection and Testing Center (Tangshan) (国家钢铁产品质量检验检测中心（唐山）) suggests that consumers should pay attention to choosing insulated cups that meet national standards such as GB 4806.9—2023 when purchasing, and check whether the liner is smooth and free of scratches. If the surface is damaged, it will destroy the protective film of the stainless steel, reduce corrosion resistance, and affect food safety and service life. For insulated cups used by children, give priority to styles with safety locks and anti-fall designs at the bottom. When purchasing, carefully check the "insulation performance" content on the label to confirm that it meets your own needs.
It is best to avoid using stainless steel insulated cups to hold acidic beverages (such as orange juice, carbonated drinks) and traditional Chinese medicine and other liquids for a long time. It is recommended to wash with a soft cloth and neutral detergent. Do not use steel wool, hard brushes, and other tools to avoid scratching the surface of the liner.
Return to TopThis newspaper's Beijing (北京) dispatch on January 18th (Reporter Li Xinping (李心萍)) - This reporter has learned from the China State Railway Group Co., Ltd. (中国国家铁路集团有限公司) that the 2026 Railway Spring Festival travel season will begin on February 2nd and end on March 13th, lasting 40 days. It is estimated that the national railway will transport 539 million passengers, an increase of 5.0% year-on-year. The peak passenger flow before the festival is expected to be February 13th (the twenty-sixth day of the twelfth lunar month), and the peak passenger flow after the festival is expected to be February 23rd (the seventh day of the first lunar month). Train tickets for the first day of the Spring Festival travel season will go on sale starting January 19th.
According to reports, the railway department will scientifically prepare the Spring Festival travel season train operation plan based on the daily and weekend train operation plans for the first quarter of 2026, and further arrange for additional passenger trains to be added. It is estimated that during the peak passenger flow period, a maximum of over 14,000 passenger trains can be arranged to operate on a single day, with a year-on-year increase of 5.3% in passenger capacity.
The Railway 12306 platform will simultaneously launch a limited-time free ticket refund service for passengers who mistakenly purchase tickets on January 19th. Starting from January 19th, if passengers purchase train tickets through the Railway 12306 platform (including websites, apps, etc.) with a travel date of February 2nd or later, and the train type is a domestic passenger train, or a cross-border passenger train with the origin or destination station being Hong Kong West Kowloon (香港西九龙), if they mistakenly purchase a ticket, they can apply for a refund online within 30 minutes of successful payment and more than 4 hours before departure, without incurring a refund fee.
According to reports, the current regulations for train ticket refund fees are as follows: no refund fee is charged for refunds made 8 days (inclusive) or more before departure; a refund fee of 5% of the ticket price is charged for refunds made more than 48 hours before the departure time of the station on the ticket; a refund fee of 10% of the ticket price is charged for refunds made more than 24 hours but less than 48 hours before the departure time of the station on the ticket; and a refund fee of 20% of the ticket price is charged for refunds made less than 24 hours before the departure time of the station on the ticket. The collection of refund fees for cross-border train tickets is subject to relevant cross-border transportation agreements.
If the ticket purchaser uses electronic payment to purchase the ticket, the ticket price will be refunded through the original channel; if points are used to purchase the ticket, the points will be returned through the original channel, and the validity period of the returned points will remain unchanged; each ticket purchaser is limited to one free refund transaction for mistakenly purchased tickets within a natural day, and this service is not available for changed tickets, reservations, or waiting list purchases. Refunds processed within the specified free refund period will not count towards the number of free refunds for mistakenly purchased tickets.
Return to TopAccording to reports from our newspaper in Beijing (北京) on January 18th (reporter Han Xin (韩鑫)), the Ministry of Transport (交通运输部) recently issued the "2026 Action Plan for Improving the Quality and Upgrading of Highway Service Areas." The plan proposes that this year, guided by the evaluation of service quality levels in highway service areas, the focus will be on key tasks such as charging facilities, toilet seats in public restrooms, standardized "Driver Homes," and the construction and renovation of open service areas. This aims to further enhance the service capabilities of service areas (including parking areas) and improve the travel experience for the public.
According to the "Plan," this year the transportation industry will accelerate the construction and upgrading of charging facilities in highway service areas, increase the number and proportion of high-power charging facilities, and plans to add more than 10,000 electric vehicle charging facilities (charging guns), of which high-power charging facilities (charging guns) will account for more than 25%; accelerate the renovation of toilet seats, optimize the layout of public restrooms, promote the proportion of toilet seats accounting for more than 20% of non-urinals, and improve the level of age-appropriate travel services.
The "Plan" clarifies that the next step will be to optimize the construction layout of "Driver Homes" in highway service areas, improve service functions and facilities, promote the standardization and normalization of "Driver Homes" in highway service areas, and continuously improve the quality of operation services; following the principle of "adapting to local conditions and implementing policies according to different categories," promote the construction of open service areas, and promote the construction of toll lanes or pedestrian passages to connect with the outside world in qualified highway service areas, and deeply integrate with the local economy.
Return to TopThis newspaper reported from Beijing on January 18th (Reporter Yang Yanfan (杨彦帆)) It was learned from the National Family Planning Association Work Conference held in Beijing recently that: In 2025, the China Family Planning Association (中国计生协) promoted the functional iteration and upgrading of more than 4,000 "Sunflower Parent-Child Cabins" nationwide, integrating eugenic and childcare guidance with community-embedded childcare services, and innovatively carried out inclusive childcare services such as "Parent-Child Cabin + Temporary Care, Timed Care, and Mutual Care."
Yu Xuejun (于学军), Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and Executive Vice President of the China Family Planning Association (中国计生协), introduced that the China Family Planning Association (中国计生协) continues to leverage the service radiation of the Eugenics and Childcare Guidance Center, carrying out the "Eugenics and Childcare Entering Thousands of Homes" campaign, covering more than 300,000 infant and toddler families; the "National Free Pre-Pregnancy Checkup Assistant" mini-program has been expanded to the "National Marriage and Childbearing Service Assistant," connecting to the National Government Affairs Service Platform, binding more than 1.6 million users, and providing services to more than 10 million people.
In 2026, the China Family Planning Association (中国计生协) will focus on carrying out publicity and advocacy for a positive view of marriage and childbearing, strengthening reproductive health services, deepening eugenic and childcare guidance services, implementing detailed assistance and security work, exploring the development of rights protection work, addressing shortcomings in services for the mobile population, and continuing to promote family health promotion work, and other aspects to coordinate key tasks.
The meeting also proposed to focus on the construction of a fertility-friendly society, take reform and innovation as the driving force, and continuously improve the level of service. It is necessary to carry out fertility-friendly actions, and unite more enterprises, social organizations, charitable organizations and other social forces to participate in and support the construction of a fertility-friendly society.
Return to TopIn response to the recent rain, snow, and cold wave weather, in recent days, Shandong (山东), Anhui (安徽) and other places have taken measures such as multi-departmental联动 (lián dòng - "joint action," coordinated efforts), cross-regional transfer and transportation, real-time tracking and dispatching, and improving vegetable reserves to ensure market supply, ensure that citizens' "vegetable baskets" are adequately stocked and prices are stable, and that the supply of essential goods for the people's lives is sufficient.
Return to TopAccording to the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (广西壮族自治区) Department of Finance, Nanning (南宁), January 18th (Reported by Pang Geping (庞革平)): In recent years, Guangxi (广西) has continuously optimized the allocation of financial funds and improved the student financial aid system to help solve the "back-to-school worries" of families in need. This year, Guangxi (广西) has allocated 4.348 billion yuan in student financial aid subsidies for 2026 in advance, including 87 million yuan for preschool education, 2.086 billion yuan for compulsory education, 1.91 billion yuan for senior high school, 240 million yuan for higher education, and 25 million yuan for border area special aid.
Guangxi (广西) relies on the comprehensive service platform for students from families with financial difficulties and the National Student Financial Aid Management Information System to connect databases of departments such as civil affairs and agriculture and rural affairs, and establish an automatic data comparison model for students from families with financial difficulties, realizing the shift from "people looking for aid" to "aid looking for people." Further strengthen the accurate identification of students from families with financial difficulties, especially strengthening the comparison and verification of student enrollment status, improve the level of accurate aid, and ensure that funds are used on the 刀刃上 (dāo rèn shàng - "on the blade," to use money where it is most needed).
Guangxi (广西) urges all regions to strictly follow the requirements of the autonomous region's student financial aid fund management methods, track and monitor the entire process of fund allocation, disbursement, and use, to ensure that funds are direct, fast, standardized, and efficient. The aid funds are directly and fully distributed to students or parents through channels such as "one card," and spot checks and return visits are carried out after the funds are distributed to track the use of funds, and academic guidance, employment assistance and other services are provided simultaneously to achieve a two-way effort of "aid + education."
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 潘俊强
With the continuous efforts and coordinated actions of the human resources and social security and public security departments, 37 workers of a project in Tongzhou District (通州区), Beijing (北京) were finally paid their owed wages of 779,500 yuan. A case of "refusing to pay labor remuneration" came to a successful conclusion.
In December 2025, the Tongzhou District (通州区) Human Resources and Social Security Bureau received a complaint about wage arrears and found that the labor service unit of a project misappropriated the project funds fully paid by the construction unit, violating the commitment to prioritize wage payments, resulting in wage arrears. After issuing several notices ordering corrections within a time limit and imposing penalties in accordance with the law, the unit still evaded its payment obligations. Therefore, the Tongzhou District (通州区) Human Resources and Social Security Bureau immediately launched a mechanism for connecting administrative law enforcement with criminal justice (hereinafter referred to as the "Administrative-Criminal Justice Connection Mechanism"), sharing investigation progress and jointly tackling difficult points in the case with the Tongzhou Branch (通州分局) of the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau (北京市公安局), and successfully helped 37 workers get their owed wages in less than a month.
In recent years, Beijing (北京市) has continuously innovated the working mechanism for rectifying wage arrears, and the Administrative-Criminal Justice Connection Mechanism is one of them. "With the diversification of economic forms, illegal acts in the field of labor security are becoming increasingly complex. The Municipal Human Resources and Social Security Bureau (市人社局) and the Municipal Public Security Bureau (市公安局) took the lead in establishing a close and efficient Administrative-Criminal Justice Connection Mechanism to streamline the channels for transferring cases by integrating administrative and judicial resources," introduced the relevant person in charge of the Enforcement Department of the Beijing Municipal Human Resources and Social Security Bureau (北京市人社局) . As a key institutional arrangement to protect the rights and interests of workers, the Administrative-Criminal Justice Connection Mechanism has a complete chain from administrative investigation and handling to criminal prosecution, forming a joint force to combat and greatly enhancing the deterrent effect on malicious wage arrears.
The Administrative-Criminal Justice Connection Mechanism is constantly deepening and has now been promoted throughout Beijing (北京). The human resources and social security and public security departments have formed a normalized communication mechanism for pre-case consultation, notification of major cases, and consultation on difficult issues, consolidating the foundation for linkage. The two sides have jointly formulated clear and operable case transfer standards and procedures to ensure seamless connection; standardized investigation and evidence collection collaboration, case handling and feedback to improve the effectiveness of combating; and coordinated the handling of sudden police situations and strengthened daily supervision to achieve early warning of risks, rapid response to disposal, and full coverage of supervision.
In the current "Secure Wages Beijing (安薪北京)" Winter Action, the human resources and social security and public security departments in each district are strengthening cooperation, and the joint combat force has been further enhanced. The Miyun Branch (密云分局) and Daxing Branch (大兴分局) of the Municipal Public Security Bureau (市公安局) respectively solved the cases of refusing to pay labor remuneration transferred by the human resources and social security departments, recovering more than 1.43 million yuan in owed wages for a total of 55 workers; in a case of refusing to pay remuneration investigated by the Daxing Branch (大兴分局) of the Municipal Public Security Bureau (市公安局), the criminal suspect was held criminally responsible in accordance with the law. In addition, since the launch of the "Secure Wages Beijing (安薪北京)" Winter Action, the city has relied on a digital supervision platform to weave a dense prevention and control network, inspecting 6,544 employers, resolving 4,095 cases of wage arrears, and recovering 67,498,800 yuan in wages for 8,305 workers.
Return to TopLayout design: Cai Huawei (蔡华伟)
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 韩 鑫
Core Reading
The Pinglu Canal (平陆运河), a backbone project of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor, is under construction. The project construction emphasizes the protection of the mangrove ecosystem, taking measures such as reducing suspended matter emissions during construction and using prefabricated wave piles to stabilize the bank slopes, safeguarding the mangroves along the Pinglu Canal (平陆运河) estuary.
At the beginning of the new year, four cross-canal bridges, namely Jinhai Bay Bridge (金海湾大桥), Wanshengtang Bridge (万胜塘大桥), Jiuzhou Bridge (旧州大桥), and Datianping Village Bridge (大田坪村大桥), located in Guangxi (广西), were simultaneously completed and opened to traffic, providing strong transportation support for the full connection of the Pinglu Canal (平陆运河), a backbone project of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor.
Going downstream from the Pingtang River (平塘江) estuary in Nanning (南宁), Guangxi (广西), the waterway enters Beibu Gulf (北部湾) along the Qin River (钦江). The lush green at the junction of land and sea is the "sea forest" of mangroves—they are interwoven into an important barrier maintaining the biodiversity of the bay and become a key node for ecological protection along the entire canal.
When a backbone project encounters a "sea forest," a series of ecological challenges arise. "Construction must be advanced in coordination with ecological protection," said He Junhui (何俊辉), Minister of the Engineering Management Department of the Pinglu Canal Group (平陆运河集团). After comprehensive management, the mangroves along the Pinglu Canal (平陆运河) estuary are full of vitality.
Major National Projects Relay to "Assist," Pollution Prevention Barriers Provide "Dust Coats" for Mangroves
Engines roar, cutterheads spin.
Under the sea, hard rocks are crushed into slag and, together with sediment, are continuously transported through closed pipelines to storage yards several kilometers away; on the sea surface, egrets flutter by, and large areas of mangroves stretch into the distance...
In August 2023, at the Pinglu Canal (平陆运河) estuary, China's first ultra-large self-propelled cutter suction dredger, "Tianjing" (天鲸号), was put into canal construction; more than 10 months later, as "Tianjing" (天鲸号) slowly sailed out of Maowei Sea (茅尾海), another large cutter suction dredger, "Tianhua" (天骅), took over the operation seamlessly.
Why do these "major national projects" take turns to "assist"? Behind this is a weighty "green" consideration.
"Excavating the canal requires blasting rocks and reefs," said Pang Bin (庞斌), an engineer at Guangxi Pinglu Canal Construction Co., Ltd. (广西平陆运河建设有限公司). Although traditional blasting techniques are convenient, they generate a large amount of suspended matter. In the short term, suspended matter will adhere to mangrove leaves, hindering their respiration and pore exchange; in the long term, these suspended solids may settle and cover the tidal flats, burying the breathing roots of the mangroves.
The project team introduced "Tianjing" (天鲸号) to transport slag through fully enclosed pipelines, achieving integrated control of "excavation, transportation, and discharge," greatly reducing the amount of underwater blasting in the canal and reducing the disturbance to the mangrove ecosystem from the source.
After the two large cutter suction dredgers entered the site, they quickly opened up the construction working surface, not only "digging fast" but also "discharging far." Compared with traditional blasting techniques, suspended matter emissions are greatly reduced.
To suppress suspended matter, it is necessary to control it from the source and protect it throughout the process. To minimize the diffusion of suspended matter generated during construction, the project team constructed a set of pollution prevention barriers, equivalent to putting a "dust coat" on the mangroves.
From the viewing platform of Qinzhou Oyster Plaza (钦州蚝情广场), one can see orange "streamers" undulating with the waves on the waterway at the estuary. These are another weapon to protect mangroves—pollution prevention curtains. Taking a closer look: the upper buoys are conspicuous, which can block floating debris on the surface of the sea; the lower curtain sinks to the bottom, which can effectively inhibit the diffusion of suspended matter to the bottom layer.
"These pollution prevention curtains are not fixed but are 'dynamically migrated and deployed in sections' as the cutter suction dredger excavates," said Chen Zhizong (陈志宗), the person in charge of the mangrove protection project of the China Communications Tianjin Navigation Bureau (中交天航局) Pinglu Canal (平陆运河) Channel 15 project. By setting up 2 to 4 defense lines at important nodes such as the edge of the waterway, the outside of the discharge outlet, and along the mangrove patches, effective protection of the mangroves is achieved. Up to now, a total of 77,000 meters of pollution prevention curtains have been migrated and deployed. This pollution prevention barrier will protect the mangroves until the channel dredging is completed. After the project is completed, it will be fully recycled and environmentally treated.
"Invisible Retaining Wall" Stabilizes Bank Slopes to Protect Roots, Timely Flushing Renews Branches and Leaves
If suspended particulate matter is the "air threat" to mangroves, then the traveling waves stirred up by ship construction are "underwater hidden arrows."
The Pinglu Canal (平陆运河) estuary construction section is about 13 kilometers long, with a total dredging volume of 14.91 million cubic meters, equivalent to nearly 6,000 standard swimming pools. During the peak construction period, there were dozens of construction ships operating simultaneously in the short 5-kilometer urban section of the upstream channel.
At the mouth of the bay, ships come and go, and the ship-induced waves constantly scour the bank slopes, which may cause tidal flat erosion and root exposure, endangering the foundation of the mangroves.
How to reduce the impact and make the mangroves "stand firm"?
"In the early stage of construction deployment, we considered traditional support methods, but they were rejected because of the long construction period, large disturbance, and high potential risk to mangroves," recalled Zhao Haifeng (赵海丰), project manager of the China Communications Tianjin Navigation Bureau (中交天航局) Pinglu Canal (平陆运河) Channel 15 project. After multiple demonstrations, the team boldly proposed a plan to construct an "invisible retaining wall" using prefabricated wave piles.
From September to November 2024, the first mangrove bank slope reinforcement and protection construction was carried out. Although it was only a small-scale test of 60 piles, it was related to the success or failure of more than 3,000 subsequent piles.
"The geological conditions in the construction area are complex, and it is difficult to form holes and easy to collapse holes," Zhao Haifeng (赵海丰) introduced. The team relied on tidal patterns to arrange the construction process, using a floating box amphibious pile driver to strictly control the hole diameter, verticality, and hole depth, and finally ensured that each pile was accurately embedded in the soil.
Today, in the mangrove area close to the channel and with unstable foundations, rows of wave piles are deeply rooted in the tidal flats, putting a layer of "armor" on the roots, effectively dissipating the energy of ship-induced waves. After rounds of tidal and rainstorm tests, the bank slope has always remained stable, protecting the mangroves to stand safely.
Protect the roots and clean the branches and leaves.
"The coming and going of ships will generate water wave vibrations, and the mud and dirt brought by the rising and falling tides will also adhere to the mangrove leaves, hindering photosynthesis and gas exchange, and reducing carbon sequestration efficiency," said Chen Zhizong (陈志宗). To this end, the project team launched a "green leaf renewal" action, taking advantage of low tide to invest multiple ship and machine equipment to wash in time according to the mud and dirt adhesion, so that the leaves regain their luster. Up to now, more than 18,000 mu of mangroves have been cleaned, continuously consolidating the ecological foundation of "blue carbon sink."
Launch a Combination of Measures, Multiple Parties Jointly Promote Ecological Protection
Water quality is the lifeline for mangrove growth. Excavating canals at the confluence of fresh and salt water may cause salinity fluctuations, affecting mangrove growth. The project team launched a combination of measures to protect the survival of this "sea forest"—
The team adopted a "drone aerial photography + manual on-site reconnaissance" dual-inspection mode to regularly monitor the growth of mangroves, timely discover and deal with problems such as mud adhesion and pests and diseases on the leaves, and ensure that various measures are accurate and effective. Chen Zhizong (陈志宗) introduced that in October 2023, the drone timely discovered the occurrence of mangrove pests near the Dadao (大岛) of Binhai Park (滨海公园), and quickly linked up with the forestry department to accurately kill the insects, and the diseased trees were effectively treated.
At key points of the construction site, water quality samples are regularly taken and tested for environmentally sensitive points such as ship operation areas, storage yard discharge outlets, and concentrated mangrove areas, effectively ensuring the goal of meeting water quality standards in ecologically sensitive areas.
Establish a tidal and species dynamic sharing mechanism, jointly carry out marine garbage cleaning... Build an alliance with forestry, marine and other departments to jointly promote ecological protection. "Canal navigation is not the end of mangrove protection, and the ecological monitoring and maintenance mechanism will continue to let the green project continue!" said Zhao Haifeng (赵海丰).
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 蒋雪鸿
Currently, China is under the influence of this year's first cold wave. Meteorological monitoring shows that on the daytime of January 18, temperatures in Inner Mongolia (内蒙古), the Northwest region, North China (华北), and Henan (河南), Hubei (湖北), Hunan (湖南) and other places dropped significantly. Freezing rain occurred in some areas of north-central Henan (河南). The National Meteorological Center (中央气象台) predicts that in the next three days, the cold wave will continue to affect the central and eastern regions, bringing strong winds, cooling, and large-scale rain and snow. At 18:00 on January 18, the China Meteorological Administration (中国气象局) upgraded the emergency response for major meteorological disasters (cold wave) from Level IV to Level III (cold wave, freezing, blizzard); the National Meteorological Center (中央气象台) continued to issue a yellow alert for cold waves, a yellow alert for freezing, and a blue alert for blizzards.
What are the characteristics of this cold wave? How long will it last? A reporter interviewed Zhang Tao (张涛), chief forecaster at the National Meteorological Center (中央气象台).
Generally speaking, cold waves bring cooling, rain, snow, and strong winds. Zhang Tao (张涛) introduced, "The extremity of this cold wave process is reflected in the precipitation and its complex phases, the strong cooling range, and the weaker winds."
Zhang Tao (张涛) introduced that this cold wave has five major characteristics. First, the impact range is large, especially on the south, while the north is relatively weak, and the northeast has almost no impact; second, the cooling and precipitation are very significant, and the range is also relatively large, but the wind is not strong. The cooling range is more significant in the south due to the warmer previous period; third, the range of rain and snow weather processes is relatively large, generally showing a trend of slowly pressing south as it penetrates south with the cold air; fourth, the phase of this large-scale rain and snow weather is complex and the conversion is obvious; fifth, the risk of freezing rain in this cold wave is high, especially in the south, where the risk of freezing rain is significantly higher than the risk of blizzards.
The precipitation phase of this process is complex and the conversion is obvious. Most areas will experience rain turning to sleet, freezing rain, ice pellets, and then snow. South of the Qinling (秦岭)-Huaihe (淮河) line, the phase transition is more significant, possibly involving the alternation of 2 to 3 precipitation forms, among which the characteristics of freezing rain are more prominent.
The disastrousness of freezing rain should not be underestimated. Zhang Tao (张涛) explained, "The disastrousness of freezing rain is far greater than that of snowfall and rainfall. Even a small amount of precipitation may be fine with rain and snow, but freezing rain may cause serious traffic interruptions, damage to power facilities, and other consequences."
He further explained that for the southern region, this rain and snow weather comes with the cold air. After the cold air arrives, a low-temperature freezing layer has formed near the ground. At this time, whether it is rain, sleet, freezing rain, or even wet snow, it may eventually form ice on the surface. "Therefore, judging from the characteristics of this cold wave process, what we need to be most vigilant about is the adverse effects that freezing weather may bring."
From January 19 to 20, the core impact period of this round of snowfall will begin, the range of rain and snow will rapidly expand, and the snowfall in some areas north of the Yangtze River (长江) will significantly increase. Heavy snow or blizzard levels can be reached in southern Shaanxi (陕西), southern Shanxi (山西), southwestern Shandong (山东), Henan (河南), northern Jiangsu (江苏), north-central Anhui (安徽), and northern Hubei (湖北).
At the same time, as the cold air penetrates southward, the minimum temperatures in Hunan (湖南), Guizhou (贵州) and other places will drop to freezing point from January 20 to 21. In particular, the cold air will encounter stronger warm and humid southerly winds in these places and form a confrontation, the amount of freezing rain will be greater, and it will last for 2 to 3 days.
Due to the previous warming weather, many places in China broke local records for the warmest period. With the arrival of this cold wave, there will be a major shift from warm to cold in some areas of central and eastern China.
"The cooling is particularly significant in the southern region. Due to the significant warming in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River (长江) in the early stage, the cooling range of this process is large, and the total cooling range can exceed 12 degrees Celsius, and can reach 16 degrees Celsius in some areas," said Zhang Tao (张涛).
The National Meteorological Center (中央气象台) predicts that this round of cold wave weather will gradually weaken and end on January 21, but the pattern of low temperatures in some eastern regions will continue until the end of the "fourth nine" period, that is, January 25. The temperature in Yunnan (云南), Guizhou (贵州), Guangxi (广西) and other places in the southwest will rebound earlier.
According to a report from our newspaper in Beijing on January 18th (Reporter Liu Wenxin (刘温馨)), from January 18th to 21st, a wide range of rain and snow weather processes will occur successively from north to south in the central and eastern regions of China. The precipitation phase in the area south of the Qinling Mountains (秦岭) - Huai River (淮河) is complex, with rain, snow, and freezing rain conversions. Among them, some areas in southern Shaanxi (陕西), central and southern Henan (河南), western Hubei (湖北), northern Hunan (湖南), and western Anhui (安徽) will experience blizzards, and some areas in southern Anhui, central and southern Henan, western Hubei, Hunan, Guizhou (贵州), and northeastern Chongqing (重庆) will experience freezing rain.
Given the wide range of impact, the large temperature drop, and the complex precipitation phase of this weather process, the risk of low-temperature rain, snow, and ice disasters is relatively high in some areas. According to the "National Emergency Plan for Low-Temperature Rain, Snow, and Ice Disasters," the National Disaster Reduction and Relief Commission decided to activate a Level IV emergency response for low-temperature rain, snow, and ice disasters in the four provinces of Anhui, Henan, Hunan, and Guizhou at 18:00 on January 18th. It requires all member units and relevant provincial disaster prevention, mitigation, and relief coordination agencies to attach great importance to it, focusing on the requirements of "ensuring safety, ensuring smooth flow, ensuring power supply, ensuring people's livelihood, and ensuring stability." They should improve the connection of plans and emergency联动 mechanisms, strengthen joint consultation and judgment, focus on key industries and fields such as transportation, electricity, communications, and people's livelihood, strengthen the pre-deployment of emergency rescue teams, materials, and equipment, carry out timely ice and snow removal and emergency repairs, and make every effort to respond to and deal with sudden risks and disasters, and strictly prevent casualties and major property losses.
The Henan working group dispatched by the National Disaster Reduction and Relief Commission Office in the early stage continues to assist and guide on the front line, and additional working groups have been sent to Hunan and Guizhou.
Return to TopBeijing (北京), January 18th (Reporter Wang Hao (王浩)) - A reporter learned from China South-to-North Water Diversion Group Co., Ltd. (中国南水北调集团有限公司) that during the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, the first phase of the South-to-North Water Diversion East and Middle Routes operated safely and smoothly, adding over 45 billion cubic meters of water to the north and serving over 52 million new people. Since the full commissioning of the project, it has cumulatively transferred over 85 billion cubic meters of water to the north, providing a stable and high-quality water source for 195 million people in 48 large and medium-sized cities in 7 provinces and cities, powerfully promoting the comprehensive management of groundwater over-extraction and the ecological environment restoration of rivers and lakes in the North China region.
In 2025, the comprehensive benefits of the South-to-North Water Diversion project were fully realized, exceeding the annual water transfer task. The water supply at the entrance of the Middle Route was 6.261 billion cubic meters, ensuring the drinking water safety of 118 million people along the route. The water supply at the entrance of the Shandong (山东) trunk line of the East Route was 1.322 billion cubic meters, reaching the designed water supply scale. The emergency water supply project of the East Route's northward extension supplied over 290 million cubic meters of water to Tianjin (天津) and Hebei (河北). The Middle Route project won the "2025 Top Ten Global Engineering Achievements". The South-to-North Water Diversion "Tianhe" large model was deployed and applied, the digital twin Middle Route 2.0 was completed, and the digital twin water network pilot system of the East Route and the digital twin Yangtze River (引江) to Han River (补汉) intelligent construction system were launched and operated.
During the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, the high-quality development of the South-to-North Water Diversion follow-up project was steadily promoted. The Yangtze River (引江) to Han River (补汉) project of the Middle Route started construction, the regulation and storage system was accelerated, the preliminary work of the West Route was accelerated, and the follow-up project of the East Route was continuously deepened. Next, China South-to-North Water Diversion Group (中国南水北调集团) will actively and proactively promote the planning and construction of follow-up projects, and at the same time actively participate in the construction of the national water network, accelerate the first phase of the Qaidam Basin (柴达木盆地) water resources allocation project and the Qinghai (青海) water network construction, and efficiently operate projects such as the Liaoyang (辽阳) Irrigation Area and the Pi-Shi-Hang (淠史杭) Irrigation Area.
Return to TopOn January 17th, the newly renovated Fuzhou Panda World (福州熊猫世界) in Fujian (福建) officially reopened. Five giant pandas from Chengdu (成都), Sichuan (四川), after a 20-day acclimatization period, officially met the public.
It is reported that the Cross-Strait (Fuzhou) Giant Panda Research and Exchange Center (海峡（福州）大熊猫研究交流中心) is the technical support unit for Fuzhou Panda World (福州熊猫世界), focusing on giant panda protection, scientific research, and popular science education. It has bred giant pandas such as "Basu" (巴斯), the prototype of "Pan Pan" (盼盼), the mascot of the 1990 Beijing Asian Games (北京亚运会), which are deeply loved by the public.
All of the above pictures were taken by Xinhua News Agency (新华社) reporter Wei Peiquan (魏培全).
Return to TopThis newspaper's Beijing (北京) January 18th dispatch (Reporter Pan Junqiang (潘俊强)) Recently, the 2026 Beijing (北京) Spring Festival Flower Fair kicked off at the Beijing Flower Trading Center (北京花卉交易中心). This event will last until March 10th, spanning important festivals such as New Year's Day, Spring Festival, and the Lantern Festival, presenting a grand flower gardening event for citizens and tourists in the capital.
This event, by building a national flower industry exchange platform, attracts famous Spring Festival flowers from all over the country to participate in the exhibition, launching a diverse experience scene integrating viewing, purchasing, and recreation, allowing citizens and friends to reap a full sense of happiness and gain in the process of appreciating, buying, and planting flowers. The event creates the Beijing Flower Trading Center (北京花卉交易中心) in Fengtai District (丰台区) and Jingbei Flower World (京北花世界) in Changping District (昌平区) as the two major core venues in the north and south, linking 23 flower markets, 100 key parks, 100 gardening stations, 400 key flower shops, 600 online merchants on the "Beijing (北京) Flower Industry Chain Digital Platform," 29 subway "A Little Flower" locations, and multiple online platform merchants throughout the city, building a "two-venue leading, hundred-point linkage, thousand-store resonance" integrated network, and radiating to drive the active participation of multiple cities and regions across the country.
Return to TopLayout design: Cai Huawei (蔡华伟)
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 巩育华 刘洪超
Developing and revitalizing football is an inevitable requirement for building a strong sporting nation and a fervent expectation of the people. In recent years, China's football talent development system has been accelerated, the integration of sports and education has been continuously deepened, and the youth training ecology has quietly changed. Starting today, this edition launches a series of reports on "Youth Football Training Observation," going deep into Liaoning, Jiangsu, Shandong, Guangdong, Sichuan, and other places to trace practical explorations, record small changes, and witness new models and challenges in football talent development.
——Editor
The weather is fine, just right for practicing football. Walking into Northeast Road Primary School (东北路小学) in Shahekou District (沙河口区), Dalian (大连), Liaoning Province (辽宁省), a bright football field is very eye-catching. More than 100 children are divided into multiple teams, practicing skills such as passing, shooting, and goalkeeping under the guidance of coaches. Sweat soaked the children's jerseys, and their small faces were tanned.
Northeast Road Primary School (东北路小学) is quite famous in the football world: In 1954, the school incorporated football into the Young Pioneers activities, upgrading football from an extracurricular hobby to a regular campus education content, laying the foundation for more than 70 years of football tradition; in 1984, it began to promote the development of youth training, cultivating more than 400 players from League A and above clubs, and sending more than 100 players to national teams at all levels. Well-known players such as Jia Xiuquan (贾秀全), Dong Fangzhuo (董方卓), Yu Hanchao (于汉超), and Wang Dalei (王大雷) all started here...
How has this primary school promoted football youth training for 42 years? How does Dalian (大连) solve the "retirement at age 12" problem? The reporter came to Dalian (大连) to find out.
Building a diversified football curriculum system, the school team maintains training intensity throughout the year.
As the coach's whistle sounded, young goalkeeper Chen Yuhao (陈禹皓) dived to save the ball, falling to the ground again and again, and getting up again and again, resetting his ready position... For 42 years, regardless of severe cold or scorching heat, the whistle on the football field has never stopped.
"From the initial dirt playground to today's eleven-a-side standard football field, from exploring on our own to introducing a scientific training system, Northeast Road Primary School (东北路小学) has always been committed to developing campus football," said Principal Dong Jianhui (董剑辉). The school has built a diversified football curriculum system: first and second grades have football enlightenment classes every week, third to sixth grades have advanced classes, and 8 training teams are maintained throughout the year, including 6 age group echelons, 1 goalkeeper team, and 1 women's football team, with more than 20 people in each echelon. More than 30 people are selected to join the training every year, and the football atmosphere here is very active.
An old photo records the hardships of the beginning. In 1986, Dalian (大连)-籍 player Liu Zhongyun (柳忠云) became a coach at Northeast Road Primary School (东北路小学) and gradually formed a coaching team, cultivating batches of football talents. Now in his seventies, he still comes to the school to guide from time to time. "I can't be idle, I just love to watch the children play football, watching them grow up little by little." The old man doesn't say much, but his voice is loud. Shahekou District (沙河口区) also promotes the "school-community linkage" model, introducing professional coaches into the campus, and cooperating with municipal clubs to form a dual-track teaching mechanism of "professional coaches + subject teachers."
In the school's football exhibition hall, more than 100 championship trophies include 12 international championships and 35 national championships. As a national campus football characteristic school, Northeast Road Primary School (东北路小学) adheres to the concept of health first and the integration of sports and education, and incorporates football education into the teaching quality evaluation system. The school not only developed a football-based curriculum, but also integrated basic skills and physical training into the big break, ensuring that every child has at least one football class per week.
The school team insists on more than two hours of high-intensity training every day, with more than 300 days of training throughout the year, and an average of more than 30 games per year per person. Dong Ruichen (董睿宸), a sixth-grade player, said: "Because I like it, I don't feel tired, and I am especially happy when I play a good ball!" Coach Lin Dahai (林大海) has lost count of how many Spring Festivals he has led the team to winter training in the south. He introduced that the school has explored a model of "linking classes and training, combining internal and external, and emphasizing both popularization and excellence." If the children miss classes due to away games, the school will arrange for the main subject teachers to make up the classes as appropriate to ensure that their studies are not affected.
Implementing through-train cultivation, opening up a "one-stop" enrollment channel.
For youth training, solving the "retirement at age 12" problem is very important. Many children play football from an early age, but give up due to the contradiction between learning and training in the stage of elementary school升初中, resulting in a large loss of talent.
How to solve it? Dalian (大连) has introduced a series of reform measures, among which the "one-stop" training model for football talents has attracted attention.
Born in Dalian (大连) in 2005, Zhu Pengyu (朱鹏宇) studied at Northeast Road Primary School (东北路小学), was selected for the national youth team in 2019, and signed with Dalian Yingbo Football Club (大连英博足球俱乐部) in 2024. In the final battle of the 2024 China League One, he scored a key goal in the 90th minute, helping the team successfully advance to the Super League, a scene that was talked about by many fans.
From Zhu Pengyu's (朱鹏宇) growth trajectory, the effectiveness of "one-stop" training can be seen. "I started playing football in kindergarten, and was selected by the coach of Northeast Road Primary School (东北路小学) during the game, and entered the school to receive systematic training." The reporter met Zhu Pengyu (朱鹏宇) at the Dalian Football Youth Training Base (大连足球青训基地). Unlike his fierce style on the field, he was slightly shy in life. In junior high school, he studied at Dalian No. 21 Middle School (大连市第二十一中学) and went to the youth training base after school every day to receive professional and international training. In the high school entrance examination, he was admitted to Dalian Yuming High School (大连育明高中) as a football specialty student, and was admitted to Beijing Sport University (北京体育大学) in 2023.
"Northeast Road Primary School (东北路小学) has advantages in selecting materials, and the municipal and district education departments allow it to recruit football specialty students across school districts and even across districts." Yu Lijun (于丽君), chief of the An Tiwei Section of the Education Bureau of Shahekou District (沙河口区教育局安体卫科科长) in Dalian (大连), introduced that the district has built a talent selection mechanism for different age groups. In the primary school stage, Northeast Road Primary School (东北路小学) is the district-level central school for football, and Yuhua Primary School (玉华小学), Central Primary School (中心小学), Jinxiu Primary School (锦绣小学), and Nanping Primary School (南平小学) are the key football schools in the area, and more than 20 primary schools are popularizing schools, working together to cultivate football seedlings.
In the junior high school stage, Shahekou District (沙河口区) lists No. 4 Middle School (第四中学), No. 21 Middle School (第二十一中学), No. 79 Middle School (第七十九中学), Gezhi Middle School (格致中学), and Zhixing Middle School (知行中学) as football characteristic schools. Among them, No. 21 Middle School (第二十一中学) receives outstanding players from Northeast Road Primary School (东北路小学) as a whole, Gezhi Middle School (格致中学) can enroll students across regions, and other key schools can also recruit reserve talents across school districts, forming a campus football ecology of "popularization with breadth, elites with height, and sustainable development."
Yang Ying (杨莹), full-time member of the Education Working Committee of the Dalian Municipal Party Committee (大连市委教育工委专职委员), said: "In recent years, the Dalian Municipal Education Bureau (大连市教育局) has always taken football education as its foundation, adhering to the principle of 'grasping both hands', grasping popularization on the one hand, facing all students; and grasping improvement on the other hand, facing elite forces." At the popularization level, Dalian (大连) includes football classes in the compulsory physical education courses of primary and secondary schools, and holds class leagues every year to strengthen the physique and temper the will of young people; at the improvement level, it selects a group of football characteristic schools, connects the "one-stop" training mechanism, forms municipal youth football echelons, and invites retired players and professional coaches to lead the training, selecting good seedlings from children and cultivating good seedlings. With the promotion of multiple measures, the reform results have gradually emerged. In the past 5 years, Shahekou District (沙河口区) alone has cumulatively sent 21 players to national teams at all levels, and more than 80 people have embarked on the road of professional football.
Dalian (大连) deploys 95 schools for the cultivation of football reserve talents.
This season, Dalian Suoyu Bay Football Stadium (大连梭鱼湾足球场) has repeatedly broken the record for the number of spectators in the Chinese Super League; in taxis, drivers naturally chat with passengers about football,眉飞色舞 (méi fēi sè wǔ - "eyebrows fly colors dance," to beam with joy; to be elated) telling interesting stories about playing football... In Dalian (大连), the football atmosphere is concrete and life-like. As a key city for national football development, Dalian (大连) has been deeply cultivating the football industry in recent years and has been continuously making efforts in campus football and youth training systems.
At present, Dalian (大连) has deployed 95 schools for the cultivation of football reserve talents, including 74 primary schools and 21 junior high schools. In March 2025, the "Dalian Municipal Youth Football Talent 'One-Stop' Training Reform Pilot Work Plan" was issued, clarifying that football reserve talents in the compulsory education stage can enjoy cross-district enrollment policies, and establishing two channels for junior high school升高中: one is the football specialty student channel, and the score can be reduced for high school entrance examination; the other is the direct promotion channel for football talents, and the 8 provincial demonstration high schools in the five districts of the city that recruit specialty students are all established as direct promotion schools for football reserve talents, and students who meet the conditions can directly enter school. In 2025, 4 high schools will be piloted, and 20 junior high school students for direct promotion of football will be identified. In addition, the local area is also actively expanding the path for football talents to enter universities.
In 2025, Dalian (大连) will fully popularize football education in primary and secondary schools, with the participation of no less than 70% of the total number of students in school, further consolidating the basic football population. By 2026, the city will have 300 campus football characteristic schools, and the number of schools for the layout of youth football talent training will increase to 100, gradually forming a "one-stop" training mechanism of regional small connection, overall regional coordination, and deep integration of sports and education, strengthening the function of football education, and sending more reserve forces for youth training and professional football.
"'One-stop' football talent training system revolves around the integration of sports and education, building a training path covering all age groups, injecting new vitality into the 'Football City'," said Wang Wenyong (王文勇), deputy director of the Dalian Municipal Sports Bureau (大连市体育局副局长) and vice chairman and secretary-general of the Municipal Football Association (市足协副主席兼秘书长). "Its main advantage lies in policy foundation and system connection. By establishing a special working class for municipal football and introducing a series of support policies, coupled with an average annual special fund investment, we have built the 'four beams and eight pillars' for cultivating seedlings, and also established a talent pool with nearly a thousand professional coaches."
(Guo Mingxuan (郭明暄) also contributed to this article)
This issue is coordinated by: Shi Zhe (史哲)
Layout design: Zhang Danfeng (张丹峰)
By: 巩育华
At Northeast Road Primary School, I encountered many fervent gazes. This fervor allows one to glimpse why a primary school can produce hundreds of professional players, and also allows one to feel the power of the integration of sports and education.
Dalian is implementing a "through-train" model to explore a better path for cultivating youth football talent. More than 280 schools have incorporated football classes into their compulsory curriculum, with "Class Super League," "District Mayor's Cup," and "Mayor's Cup" progressing level by level. Students can directly enter key local middle schools based on their football expertise... A growth path that runs through all age groups and integrates learning and training is unfolding in this "football city," and also allows people to see the hope of China's football building a solid foundation for talent.
Hope is hidden in specific stories. Whether it is children who "want to play football and are not afraid of hardship" or coaches who have persisted in youth training for more than 40 years, they are always moving. "In the past, I worried that playing football would affect my studies, but now that I play football well, I have more choices," one parent said, putting aside their concerns. The dynamism of football unites people's hearts. What the green field witnesses is not only the birth of football stars, but also the growth of generations of young people—allowing talent to blossom, allowing love to have a place to belong, and allowing every child to gain physical and mental health, experience friendship and cooperation, and open up more possibilities in life through football.
Hope is also hidden in the increasingly perfect football ecosystem. From basic enlightenment on the green field after school and systematic training in tiered teams, to the "green channel" for promotion to higher grades and schools, and then to the orderly connection with professional clubs... Policies, campuses, and the market resonate in the same frequency, supporting a flourishing football ecosystem, making Dalian (大连) a fertile ground for football, and also allowing the spirit of sports to take root in the city's fabric.
As night falls, the lights of the Suoyu Bay Football Stadium (梭鱼湾足球场) light up. Running figures and crisp shouts are intertwined, forming a moving night scene of the "football city." Football youth training is by no means a "**速成工程**" (sù chéng gōng chéng - "quick success project," a project aimed at achieving quick results), requiring the joint efforts of all parties, and even more requiring sustained effort. From school characteristics to urban heritage, what runs through is the love for football, leaving broad room for imagination for Chinese football.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 曾亦辰
As the first rays of dawn appear, on the playground of Chengdong Primary School (城东小学) in Kangle County (康乐县), Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture (临夏回族自治州), Gansu Province (甘肃省), the children of the Wushu club are taking advantage of the winter vacation for intensive training. In the rows of teams, third-grade student Gao Lingrui (高凌蕊) performs the movements with precision, her thighs and calves steadily fixed, her back straight as a pine tree.
Not long ago, at the 10th World Traditional Wushu Championships, Gao Lingrui (高凌蕊) won first place in the Girls' Group A (11 years old and under) Shaolin Boxing event.
After training, Gao Lingrui (高凌蕊) demonstrated a set of Wushu movements to the reporter. She assumed a horse stance, took a deep breath, and adjusted her posture and strength; then, she kicked straight forward, chopped her palm against her side waist, punched, stepped, turned, and exerted force—the movements were clean and crisp.
On the field, Gao Lingrui (高凌蕊) won the championship with this set of flowing Shaolin boxing techniques. "I was a little nervous when I went on stage, but I wasn't nervous once I started boxing." She performed excellently during the competition.
In the eyes of Guo Zhengjun (郭正军), Gao Lingrui's (高凌蕊) Wushu coach, standard movements are her most crucial winning weapon: "Her basic skills are very solid, the flexibility of her waist and legs is well-coordinated with her strength, she has power and momentum, so she can display spirit and energy."
Spirit and energy are another characteristic of Gao Lingrui's (高凌蕊) boxing. Every time she performs a move, she focuses her eyes and looks solemn. At a young age, she is quite determined and calm. "This kind of look also needs to be trained." Guo Zhengjun (郭正军) introduced that Gao Lingrui (高凌蕊) usually trains very hard. In preparation for the World Championships, her daily training increased from 3 days a week to 4 days, repeating each basic movement until she achieved "flat, stable, and accurate."
Practicing Shaolin boxing has brought many changes to Gao Lingrui (高凌蕊). "Boxing has allowed me to make more friends." Gao Lingrui (高凌蕊) said with a smile. For her, the meaning of Wushu has long surpassed physical fitness and become a language of communication.
After practicing Wushu, Gao Lingrui's (高凌蕊) personality has become more cheerful and confident. "Even her walking posture has become a bit more heroic." In the eyes of her head teacher, Ma Lanhua (马兰花), practicing Wushu has made Gao Lingrui (高凌蕊) more courageous, "She will try to solve any difficulties she encounters at school independently."
Driven by Gao Lingrui (高凌蕊), more students at Chengdong Primary School (城东小学) have signed up to join the Wushu club. "When I grow up, I want to be an athlete and show Shaolin boxing on a bigger stage," Gao Lingrui (高凌蕊) said.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 刘硕阳
A window separates the snowy outdoor world from the bustling indoor environment, creating two distinct realms. Inside the National Training Base of Beijing Sport University (北京体育大学), the athletes of the Chinese Taekwondo Team (中国跆拳道队) are undergoing winter training. The latest statistics show that the Chinese Taekwondo Team (中国跆拳道队) won a total of 38 gold, 33 silver, and 50 bronze medals in the 12 international competitions it participated in during 2025, reaping a considerable harvest.
Entering a new Olympic cycle, the World Taekwondo Federation (世界跆拳道联合会) has adjusted the way Olympic qualifications are obtained for taekwondo, setting the period from June 1, 2024, to May 31, 2028, as the Olympic qualification ranking period. All points earned before May 31, 2024, will be reset to zero. Starting June 1, 2024, the Chinese team will participate in several events, including the World Taekwondo Grand Prix, the Nagoya Asian Games (名古屋亚运会), and the World Taekwondo Grand Slam, all of which are of great significance for obtaining qualifications for the Los Angeles Olympics. Tian Feipeng (田飞鹏), the leader of the Chinese Taekwondo Team (中国跆拳道队), introduced that the Chinese team has formulated corresponding selection criteria for the dispatch of athletes to each international competition, and a strong atmosphere of healthy competition has now formed within the team.
According to the relevant rules of the World Taekwondo Federation (世界跆拳道联合会), the top 28 athletes in the world rankings of each weight class are eligible to participate in high-level international competitions such as the World Taekwondo Grand Prix. As of January 2024, 16 athletes from the Chinese team are currently ranked among them. It is understood that after this winter training, the team will travel to Europe in early March to participate in events such as the Dutch Open and the Belgian Open, kicking off the new season.
Return to TopThis newspaper reported from Beijing on January 18th (Reporters Sun Longfei (孙龙飞) and Yang Lei (杨磊) from People's Daily Online) The first group of "Sunshine Sports" image ambassadors meeting and the East-Central-West coordinated promotion of "Sunshine Sports" activities, hosted by the China School Sports Federation, was recently held in Beijing (北京). Hui Ruoqi (惠若琪), Gong Lijiao (巩立姣), Yang Qian (杨倩), and 9 other world champions were hired as the first group of "Sunshine Sports" image ambassadors.
The China School Sports Federation signed cooperation agreements with representatives from eastern cities and central and western assistance counties. In the future, all parties will work together to promote "Sunshine Sports" in schools, help the east shape cities through competitions, create a high ground for the development of school sports, and the east will mobilize resources to support the development of school sports in the west, to achieve a 互助共赢 (hù zhù gòng yíng - "mutual help win-win," mutual assistance and benefit for all).
Return to TopLocal time January 3rd to 17th, the 2026 Dakar Rally was held in Saudi Arabia. After competition, Qatari driver Nasser Al-Attiyah won the overall automobile championship for the sixth time, and Argentine driver Luciano Benavides won the motorcycle championship. Among the Chinese drivers, Han Wei (韩魏) (Han Wei Team (韩魏车队)) ranked twenty-sixth in the automobile group, and Sunier (苏尼尔) ranked thirty-fifth in the motorcycle group, both setting the best records for Chinese drivers.
The Dakar Rally was founded in 1978 and is held annually, attracting a series of the world's top drivers to participate. Many participating drivers commented that this is an extremely difficult event. Why is that?
In terms of terrain, the track crosses sand seas, deserts, steep sand dunes and bushes. A sand ridge is as high as tens of meters, and a single sand trap takes time to rescue oneself.
In terms of climate, the daytime temperature is as high as forty to fifty degrees Celsius, and the temperature drops sharply to freezing at night. Sandstorms that affect visibility are also frequently encountered.
In terms of physical fitness, 15 days of fierce battle cover approximately 8,000 kilometers, with only 1 day of rest. Drivers drive continuously for several hours in violent bumps, and can only use road books and equipment specified by the organizing committee to determine the direction.
In terms of strategy, fuel consumption, tire wear, and maintenance time must be carefully calculated. The leader seems to have the upper hand, but must bear the greatest navigation risk - being responsible for paving the way. Followers can drive along the traces and take the opportunity to overtake on safe road sections. Dynamic game play makes the championship competition more intense.
(Reported and compiled by Zeng Huafeng (曾华锋), reporter of this newspaper)
Return to TopThis newspaper Beijing (北京) January 18th dispatch (Reporter Li Shuo (李硕)) On the 18th, the 2026 Australian Open tennis tournament unfolded its first day of the main draw. In the first round of the women's singles, Chinese player Bai Zhuoxuan (白卓璇), who broke through from the qualifying rounds, was full of tenacity and narrowly defeated Russian player Pavlyuchenkova in a hard-fought 2 hours and 43 minutes, achieving her first Australian Open main draw victory of her career and advancing to the second round of the women's singles. Bai Zhuoxuan (白卓璇) will challenge world number one Belarusian star Sabalenka in the second round of the women's singles. In the first round of the men's singles held on the same day, Chinese player Zhang Zhizhen (张之臻) lost to Argentine player Cerundolo and missed the second round of the men's singles.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 刘仲华
U.S. President Donald Trump announced on social media on January 17 that tariffs of 10% would be imposed on goods imported from Denmark (丹麦), Norway (挪威), Sweden (瑞典), France (法国), Germany (德国), the United Kingdom (英国), the Netherlands (荷兰), and Finland (芬兰) starting February 1. Trump said the tariff rate would increase to 25% from June 1 until an agreement is reached with the relevant parties on the United States' "comprehensive and complete purchase of Greenland (格陵兰岛)." The European Union and several European countries strongly condemned this. On January 18, the aforementioned eight European countries issued a joint statement stating that the threat of increased tariffs undermines transatlantic relations and risks triggering a dangerous vicious cycle, and that the eight countries will respond in a "united and coordinated" manner.
"Every insult, threat, tariff, and lie has strengthened our resolve."
Greenland (格陵兰岛) is the world's largest island and an autonomous territory of Denmark (丹麦). Since taking office, Trump has repeatedly threatened to acquire Greenland (格陵兰岛) and has stated that he does not rule out the possibility of using force. Denmark (丹麦) and other European countries have expressed strong opposition to this. In response to the U.S.'s "island grab" plot, Denmark (丹麦) has recently strengthened its military deployment in Greenland (格陵兰岛). Seven European countries, including France (法国), Germany (德国), Sweden (瑞典), Norway (挪威), Finland (芬兰), the Netherlands (荷兰), and the United Kingdom (英国), have also announced that they will send troops to participate in the Danish-led "Arctic Endurance" military exercise. Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen (特罗尔斯·波尔森) revealed that soldiers from several NATO countries will be stationed in Greenland (格陵兰岛) on a rotational basis to demonstrate Europe's security concerns in the Arctic region to the United States.
On the 17th, Trump announced the imposition of tariffs on the eight European countries. On the same day, European Council President Charles Michel (科斯塔) and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (冯德莱恩) issued a joint statement pointing out that respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity is a fundamental principle of international law and is crucial for Europe and the entire international community. The EU stands in solidarity with the people of Denmark (丹麦) and Greenland (格陵兰岛). The military exercises coordinated by Denmark (丹麦) and its allies are aimed at strengthening Arctic security and do not pose a threat to any country. The joint statement emphasized the importance of dialogue and stated that Europe will remain united and coordinated, and firmly defend its sovereignty.
Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen (拉斯穆森) emphasized: "The purpose of Europe's increased military presence in Greenland (格陵兰岛) is to strengthen security in the Arctic region." He revealed that Denmark (丹麦) is in close contact with the European Commission and other partners on this matter to jointly discuss countermeasures. Chairman of the Danish Parliament's Defense Committee, Rasmus Jarlov (拉斯穆斯·亚勒乌), said: "Every insult, threat, tariff, and lie has strengthened our resolve. Denmark's (丹麦) and Greenland's (格陵兰岛) response is final: we will never hand over Greenland (格陵兰岛)."
French President Emmanuel Macron (马克龙) stated that France is committed to upholding the sovereignty and independence of all countries in the world and, in accordance with this, supports Denmark (丹麦) in maintaining its sovereignty, and therefore decided to participate in the exercises organized by Denmark (丹麦) in Greenland (格陵兰岛). The Greenland (格陵兰岛) issue concerns Arctic security and the security of Europe's borders. "No intimidation or threat can shake us. Tariff threats are unacceptable and untimely. Europe will be united and coordinated to jointly defend European sovereignty," Macron (马克龙) said.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer (斯塔默) issued a statement saying that the UK's position on Greenland (格陵兰岛) is very clear: "It is part of the Kingdom of Denmark (丹麦), and its future should be decided by the people of Greenland (格陵兰岛) and the people of Denmark (丹麦)." Starmer (斯塔默) pointed out that "imposing tariffs on allies pursuing NATO's collective security is completely wrong," and the UK will directly engage with the U.S. government.
"We will not allow ourselves to be blackmailed." Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (克里斯特松) said that Sweden (瑞典) is in intensive discussions with other EU countries, Norway (挪威), and the United Kingdom (英国) to seek a joint response. Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre (斯特勒) said that such threats are "unacceptable" and have no place among allies. Finnish President Alexander Stubb (斯图布) urged the United States to resolve differences through dialogue rather than unilateral pressure. German government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit (斯特凡·科内柳斯) emphasized that Germany (德国) is coordinating possible responses with its European partners. Dutch Foreign Minister Hanke Bruins Slot (戴维·范韦尔) said that the U.S.'s imposition of tariffs on European countries to obtain Greenland (格陵兰岛) is an "illegitimate" act of "blackmail" and does not rule out the possibility of the EU taking countermeasures.
"The U.S.'s use of tariffs and economic threats to forcibly pursue illegal territorial claims is outrageous."
Faced with the U.S.'s tariff threats, EU public opinion emphasizes that it will unite to defend its sovereignty and interests. EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell (卡拉斯) said that the U.S.'s move may lead to economic damage to both the U.S. and Europe, ultimately backfiring.
According to the EU-U.S. trade agreement reached last July, the EU originally agreed to eliminate tariffs on U.S.-produced industrial goods and provide preferential market access for U.S. seafood and agricultural products in exchange for the U.S. imposing a 15% tariff on most EU goods imported into the U.S. After the U.S. announced the imposition of tariffs, several members of the European Parliament stated that, given the U.S.'s threat to Greenland (格陵兰岛), the trade agreement would not be passed, and they also called for the use of anti-coercion instruments to respond to the U.S.'s imposition of tariffs.
Bernd Lange (贝恩德·朗格), Chairman of the European Parliament's Committee on International Trade, said that the U.S.'s move is using tariffs as a "political weapon" to coerce Europe into making concessions. He urged the European Commission to immediately initiate relevant procedures for anti-coercion instruments to make a "clear response" to the U.S.'s unilateral actions. Kathleen Van Brempt (凯瑟琳·范布伦普特), Vice-Chair of the European Parliament's Committee on International Trade, believes that "the U.S.'s use of tariffs and economic threats to forcibly pursue illegal territorial claims is outrageous," and that approving the EU-U.S. trade agreement in this situation is "not pragmatic, but foolish."
Manfred Weber (曼弗雷德·韦伯), Chairman of the European People's Party Group, the largest group in the European Parliament, clearly stated: "Given the U.S.'s threats, the European Parliament will not be able to approve the previously reached EU-U.S. trade agreement, and the zero-tariff measures on relevant U.S. products must also be suspended." Valérie Hayer (瓦莱丽·阿耶), Chair of the Renew Europe Group, said that the U.S. government's actions are "unacceptable" and that Europe should shift from dependence to taking deterrent measures. She suggested that the EU clearly consider launching anti-coercion instruments, saying that "this tool is designed to deal with this kind of economic coercion." Karin Karlsbro (卡琳·卡尔斯博罗), the group's MEP responsible for coordinating trade affairs, believes that the EU-U.S. trade agreement no longer has sufficient support within the parliament, and if U.S. coercion continues, the possibility of taking retaliatory tariffs or using anti-coercion instruments cannot be ruled out.
"The U.S.'s provocations and blackmail once again prove that Europe must draw a line between itself and the United States."
On January 17, demonstrations were held in Denmark (丹麦) and Greenland (格陵兰岛) to protest the U.S.'s attempt to "control" or "buy" Greenland (格陵兰岛). According to statistics, more than 20,000 Danish people gathered in Copenhagen (哥本哈根), the capital, to support Greenland (格陵兰岛) and call for respect for its right to self-determination. In Greenland (格陵兰岛), thousands of people held demonstrations in Nuuk (努克), the capital, and other towns. The demonstrators chanted slogans such as "Never sell Greenland (格陵兰岛)."
The British newspaper *The Guardian* reported that the entry of European troops into Greenland (格陵兰岛) is, on the one hand, to explore the possibility of establishing a long-term military presence in the region, and on the other hand, to show the United States that NATO's European members attach importance to Arctic security. The U.S.'s tariff threat marks an unprecedented escalation of its actions to seize Danish territory.
Portuguese military expert Rafael Martins (拉斐尔·马丁斯) said that the U.S.'s move "constitutes an open and clear provocation." Portuguese historian Rui Loureiro (鲁伊·洛里多) believes that the U.S.'s approach ignores both the international order and historical common sense, and attempts to solve sovereignty issues with "19th-century power politics," which will only exacerbate confrontation. Branka Latinović (布兰卡·拉蒂诺维奇), Vice President of the Serbian European Movement International Relations Forum, said: "The United States treats sovereign territory as tradable real estate, which is tantamount to shaking the foundation of international law."
Marcel Fratzscher (马塞尔·弗拉茨舍), President of the German Institute for Economic Research, said that unless Europe demonstrates a unified position, deepens integration, stands up straight, and takes more sensible actions, Trump's pressure will never end. He emphasized that the EU urgently needs to strengthen global partnerships—especially cooperation with China (中国) and other international actors—to more effectively protect its economic interests.
Rasmus Sønnergaard (拉斯穆斯·森诺高), a senior researcher at the Danish Institute for International Studies, believes that the U.S.'s imposition of tariffs on European countries may ultimately lead to a full-scale trade war between the U.S. and the EU, and make it more difficult to resolve the Greenland (格陵兰岛) issue through diplomatic means. Jesse Klaver (耶塞·克拉韦尔), leader of the Dutch GreenLeft-Labour Party alliance, said, "The U.S.'s provocations and blackmail once again prove that Europe must draw a line between itself and the United States. Blindly complying and flattering will not work. Europe needs to respond quickly with unity and strength."
(Reported from Berlin (柏林) on January 18 by this newspaper)
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 宋亦然
The Brazilian government recently released an announcement stating that between 2022 and 2024, approximately 17.4 million people in the country were lifted out of poverty. The poverty reduction process has significantly accelerated, increasing by 74% compared to the previous rapid improvement period from 2003 to 2014, and the proportion of low-income people has fallen to the lowest level on record. Wellington Dias (韦林顿·迪亚斯), the Minister of Social Development and Assistance, Family and the Fight Against Hunger of Brazil, stated that these poverty reduction achievements are the result of the synergistic effect of Brazil's economic development and social policies, and that "more and more people are embarking on a path of sustainable poverty alleviation through stable employment or self-employment." He believes that Brazil's rapid economic growth in recent years has brought more employment and entrepreneurial opportunities to low-income people, and the resulting increase in income and consumption capacity has further promoted sustained economic growth.
The growth of the job market has laid the foundation for Brazil to advance its poverty reduction efforts. Data shows that from the beginning of 2023 to March 2024, Brazil added approximately 2.2 million new formal employment positions; in November 2025, the number of formal employees in Brazil rose to 49.09 million, a record high. It is worth noting that the proportion of informal employment in Brazil has decreased simultaneously, reflecting a significant increase in the stability of household income. Among them, the impoverished population has become a direct beneficiary of the growth in the job market. In the first half of 2025, 80% of the 1.22 million new formal employment positions in Brazil were filled by members of impoverished families registered in the Unified Registry System, and this proportion was as high as 98.8% in 2024. Research by the Getulio Vargas Foundation (瓦加斯基金会) shows that in 2024, the labor income growth rate of Brazil's poorest population reached 10.7%, far exceeding the average labor income growth rate of 7.1%, providing important support for consolidating poverty reduction achievements.
In advancing poverty reduction work, the Brazilian government regards strengthening social security as a fundamental project. In recent years, Brazil has comprehensively restored and upgraded the "Family Allowance Program (家庭补助计划)," achieving the dual goals of ensuring basic living standards and promoting social development by adding conditions such as children's school enrollment, vaccinations, and regular prenatal check-ups for pregnant women. At the same time, the Brazilian government has reformed and upgraded the Unified Registry System for impoverished families, improving data accuracy and dynamic updating capabilities to ensure the precise allocation of subsidy resources. On this basis, the Brazilian government, through the implementation of policies such as the "Zero Hunger Brazil Program (无饥饿巴西计划)," integrates the efforts of multiple departments, including public health, education, and social assistance, to quickly and accurately identify impoverished families and implement targeted interventions to reduce the living burden of low-income groups.
Supporting the development of micro and small enterprises and entrepreneurship injects lasting momentum into Brazil's poverty reduction efforts. Micro and small enterprises are the most dynamic component of the Brazilian economy. From January to November 2025, Brazil added 4.6 million small enterprises, an increase of 19% year-on-year. These micro and small enterprises, distributed in industries such as catering, retail, and repair, are not only the capillaries of the Brazilian economy but also the main force in absorbing employment. In July 2025, 80% of formal employment contracts in Brazil came from micro and small enterprises; in the first seven months of 2025, micro and small enterprises had created more than 850,000 jobs. Décio Lima (德西奥·利马), Director of the Brazilian Micro and Small Business Support Service (巴西小微企业支持服务局), stated that "micro and small enterprises are becoming the backbone of supporting economic recovery and social poverty reduction," and many impoverished families have achieved steady income growth by relying on micro and small enterprises.
To stimulate the vitality of micro and small enterprises, the Brazilian government has launched a series of support measures. The Brazilian Micro and Small Business Support Service recently cooperated with relevant financial institutions to provide financial support such as low-interest loans and diversified financing channels specifically for micro and small enterprises, breaking the bottleneck of financing difficulties for micro and small enterprises. Relevant负责人 of the agency emphasized that these measures will not only enable more low-income entrepreneurs to obtain financial and knowledge support, but also inject a continuous stream of momentum into Brazil's consolidation of poverty reduction achievements and the realization of inclusive development.
(Reported from Rio de Janeiro (里约热内卢) on January 18 by 本报)
Return to TopXinhua News Agency, Tehran, January 17 (Reporters Shadati (沙达提) and Chen Xiao (陈霄)) According to a report by the Islamic Republic News Agency (伊朗伊斯兰共和国通讯社) on the 16th, the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (伊朗外交部) strongly condemned the Group of Seven's (七国集团) recent statement interfering in Iran's internal affairs, calling the statement a clear example of double standards.
The Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (伊朗外交部) said in a statement that Iran guarantees the basic rights of its people, including the right to peaceful protest, in accordance with the constitution, and will take action to fully protect the safety and public order of its citizens, and defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity from any foreign threats and aggression.
The statement said that the Iranian people will never forget that in June 2025, the United States (美国) and other Group of Seven (七国集团) member states supported Israel's military aggression against Iran and killed hundreds of Iranians.
Return to TopXinhua News Agency, Los Angeles, January 17th (Reporter Gao Shan (高山)) -- U.S. media reported on the evening of the 17th, citing U.S. Department of Defense officials, that approximately 1,500 paratroopers from the U.S. Army's 11th Airborne Division are on alert and may be deployed to Minnesota.
American Broadcasting Company (美国广播公司) and The Washington Post (《华盛顿邮报》), among other media outlets, quoted informed officials who declined to be named as saying that these active-duty soldiers belong to two battalions of the U.S. Army's 11th Airborne Division. The division is stationed in Alaska and specializes in cold-weather combat.
According to The Washington Post (《华盛顿邮报》), the U.S. Army issued an order to prepare for deployment, calling the move "prudent planning" in case violence escalates in Minnesota. According to American Broadcasting Company (美国广播公司), soldiers from the 11th Airborne Division were recalled to base during the holidays and are on standby as a rapid reaction force.
On January 7, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (美国移民与海关执法局) personnel shot and killed 37-year-old U.S. woman, Rain Nicole Goode (蕾恩·妮科尔·古德), who was driving a car, during an operation to arrest illegal immigrants in Minneapolis (明尼阿波利斯市), Minnesota's largest city, triggering local tensions and high attention from national public opinion. In recent days, protests have continued in Minneapolis (明尼阿波利斯市), sparking clashes. Minnesota (明尼苏达州) officials announced on the 17th that the state's National Guard had entered a "standby status."
Return to TopXinhua News Agency, Kinshasa, January 17th (Reporter Shi Yu (史彧)) The Congolese (DRC) anti-government armed group "M23 Movement" claimed on the 17th that it had decided to fully withdraw from the eastern DRC town of Uvira. The DRC government stated on the same day that this was a "false information tactic" by the "M23 Movement."
"M23 Movement" spokesperson Kanyuka told the media that the organization had decided to fully withdraw its armed personnel from Uvira, which would be "fully responsible by the United Nations and the international community." He also said that this move was aimed at "creating opportunities for the regional peace process." The organization did not announce details of the personnel withdrawal.
DRC government spokesperson Muaya (穆亚) said at a press conference held in the capital Kinshasa (金沙萨) that evening that the "M23 Movement's" statement was "meaningless" and a "false information tactic." He said that the government is committed to "restoring national authority" in the occupied areas, and "the withdrawal will only truly take effect when the services of national institutions are fully restored."
Since January 2025, the "M23 Movement" has continuously launched offensives in North Kivu Province (北基伍省), South Kivu Province (南基伍省), and other places in the DRC, seizing several important cities. After the "M23 Movement" occupied Bukavu (布卡武), the capital of South Kivu Province (南基伍省), in February, Uvira temporarily assumed the function of the province's temporary administrative center. In October of the same year, the DRC government and the "M23 Movement" signed a ceasefire monitoring and verification mechanism agreement in Doha (多哈), the capital of Qatar (卡塔尔). In November, the two sides signed a framework agreement in Doha (多哈), promising to build mutual trust through dialogue, promote the stabilization process in stages, and resolve the root causes of the conflict. On December 10, the "M23 Movement" claimed to have occupied Uvira, and a few days later, the organization claimed to have "begun withdrawing troops from Uvira."
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 刘文璋
The 2025 edition of the crime white paper recently released by the Japanese Ministry of Justice (日本法务省) shows that in 2024, Japanese police recognized more than 737,600 criminal cases, an increase of 4.9% over the previous year, and the number of cases has been on the rise for three consecutive years. The white paper shows that criminal cases throughout the year are characterized by a high proportion of property crimes, frequent new types of organized crime, and the use of social media for criminal activities. The significant increase in sex crimes reflects many problems in Japan's social governance.
From the perspective of case composition, property crimes account for the highest proportion. In 2024, more than 501,500 theft cases occurred in Japan, accounting for nearly 70% of the total number of criminal offenses throughout the year. Fraud cases increased most significantly, with approximately 57,300 cases occurring throughout the year, an increase of 24.6% year-on-year. Among them, special fraud cases represented by telecommunications fraud exceeded 21,000, which is the main type of fraud crime.
The Japanese Ministry of Justice (日本法务省) believes that the increase in fraud cases is closely related to the spread of "anonymous and mobile organized crime." This new type of crime model recruits "dark part-time" personnel through social media to form temporary criminal gangs. The mastermind behind the scenes and the front-line implementers form a layered "firewall" structure, which has low crime costs, strong concealment, and is easy to reorganize after the gang is disintegrated, which brings great difficulties to police investigation work. Yuichi Sakurai (樱井雄一), a retired Japanese police officer, said that high remuneration attracts many young people to participate in it, and robbery and fraud cases caused by "dark part-time jobs" occur frequently.
Regarding the repeated prohibition of "dark part-time jobs," Miyuki Sekiguchi (关口美由纪) of the Information Analysis Department of Japan Credit Information Service Co., Ltd. believes that it mainly stems from dual factors at the economic and social levels. On the one hand, Japan's non-regular employment group continues to expand, the income level of young people has declined, and many young people are attracted by conditions such as "high income" and "same-day settlement" due to the impact of rising prices and future uncertainties, and become assistants to criminal gangs; on the other hand, there is insufficient positive guidance from families and schools, and some young people have weak ethical concepts and a sense of social responsibility, which reduces their psychological threshold for participating in criminal activities.
The improper use of social media has further fueled the spread of crime. The Japanese National Police Agency (日本警察厅) stated that in addition to new types of organized crime and special fraud, crimes involving minors and drug smuggling cases committed using social media are also on the rise. Some criminal gangs also transfer and conceal criminal proceeds through encrypted assets to evade supervision and investigation. The increase in sex crime cases is another prominent situation reflected in the white paper. In 2024, serious sexual assault cases such as rape increased by 45.2% nationwide in Japan, reaching 3,936 cases; indecent assault cases increased by 14.7%, reaching 6,992 cases. Takahito Shimada (岛田贵仁), a professor in the Department of Data Science at Shiga University (滋贺大学), believes that because the reporting rate of sex crime victims is low, official statistics are only a part of the actual cases, and the actual situation is more complicated.
Takahito Shimada (岛田贵仁) believes that the current expansion of the gap between the rich and the poor in Japanese society, coupled with rising prices, has led to an increase in people's anxiety about their future lives, and this social mood is an important factor in driving up the crime rate. How to curb the spread of new types of crime, improve social governance, and alleviate people's livelihood anxiety are important challenges that the Japanese government needs to address.
Return to TopSanxia Brazil Company launched a goat milk entrepreneurship project to help residents explore ways to get rich. China Construction Malaysia Company's "Lighting Up the Mountains" volunteer activity brought clean electricity to remote mountainous areas. China Harbour established a sea turtle incubation base at the Tema New Container Terminal in Ghana to protect marine biodiversity... In recent years, while carrying out business overseas, Chinese companies have fulfilled their social responsibilities through specialized and diversified volunteer service projects. These "small but beautiful" projects not only solve the urgent needs of local residents, but also showcase China's image through knowledge transfer and humanistic care, building a "bridge of hearts" with the people of the host country.
Sanxia Brazil Company Goat Milk Entrepreneurship Project –
"Making Our Lives More Confident"
By Chen Yiming (陈一鸣), reporter of this newspaper
"The wind power project has not only brought clean energy, but also employment opportunities. I hope there will be more such projects," said Claudino Castro, head of the New Palmeira Olio d'Agua community in Brazil.
In New Palmeira, Paraíba State, northeastern Brazil, wind turbine blades slowly rotate in the vast expanse of land. In the past, the scorching sun made the land arid and barren, resulting in meager returns from traditional agriculture, and many families worried about food and clothing. With the full-capacity grid connection of the Sanxia Brazil Company Palmeira Wind Power Project (三峡巴西公司帕尔梅拉风电项目), the largest overseas onshore wind power project of China Three Gorges Corporation (中国三峡集团), in 2025, a path to prosperity led by green energy is quietly extending.
Residents of Paraíba State have a strong preference for goat milk products. Cacti are one of the few plants that can grow here, and they happen to be suitable as goat feed. Relying on the stable power supply brought by wind power, Sanxia Brazil Company and the Brazilian Mayo Institute for Sustainability jointly launched a goat milk entrepreneurship project to help local residents explore ways to increase income through large-scale goat breeding, goat milk production, and processing of goat cheese, jam, and other higher value-added derivative products through volunteer services.
Diyana Barbosa, a resident of the Olio d'Agua community, is one of the first farmers to participate in the project. Her family initially raised only 4 goats, but gradually increased to nearly 20. Now, they can produce about 5 liters of goat milk per day. Through scientific breeding and management training, she is planning to further increase goat milk production and sell some male goats to increase income. "The goat milk entrepreneurship project makes our lives more confident," Barbosa said.
Currently, the goat milk entrepreneurship project covers 69 households with approximately 300 residents in 5 communities in New Palmeira. Carlcon Oliveira, technical director of the Mayo Institute for Sustainability, said: "In the future, the daily milk production of each family is expected to increase by another 2 to 2.5 liters, and the project will also be included in the Brazilian local government's agricultural support plan to enhance its sustainability and long-term competitiveness."
In addition to the goat milk entrepreneurship project, Sanxia Brazil Company has also carried out a series of income-generating and entrepreneurial pilot projects in New Palmeira, such as dairy cow breeding, honey collection, and fruit and vegetable planting. The project adopts a participatory construction method, allowing local community residents to participate in project design and implementation. "The technical training and resource support provided by Chinese companies have not only increased the income of local residents, but also enhanced their awareness of collaboration and generated a sustained positive social impact," said Lars Diederichsen, general manager of the Mayo Institute for Sustainability.
Yang Yan (杨艳), chairman of Sanxia Brazil Company, said that carrying out multi-level and down-to-earth income-generating and entrepreneurial pilot projects in New Palmeira, deeply integrating the construction of clean energy facilities with overseas volunteer services, not only helps low-income groups in the local area increase their skills, but also demonstrates the determination and ability of Chinese companies to fulfill their social responsibilities. "Chinese companies are not only supporters of funds and technology, but also partners in capacity building," she said.
China Harbour Ghana Sea Turtle Incubation Base –
"Protecting Life on the Coastline"
By Zheng Xiang (郑翔), reporter of this newspaper
On the northern shore of the Gulf of Guinea in Africa, moonlight casts a layer of brilliance on the beach. Where the waves gently surge, adult sea turtles emerge one after another, slowly crawling onto the tidal flats, skillfully digging nests for laying eggs. "During the sea turtle egg-laying season in Ghanaian waters from October to March each year, I collect sea turtle eggs from the surrounding beaches and send them back to the incubation base," said Yau, a sea turtle conservation expert.
In 2019, after the start of the Tema New Container Terminal project in Ghana, China Harbour Engineering Company Ltd. (中国港湾工程有限责任公司) specifically established a sea turtle incubation base. This sea turtle incubation base, built to simulate natural incubation conditions, can accommodate up to 10,000 sea turtle eggs for incubation at the same time. The base is covered with suitable sea sand, and sand pits of different depths and humidity are set up according to the incubation habits of different sea turtles. Each sand pit is marked with an expected incubation time, and the top is equipped with a fence for temporary placement of juvenile turtles, which is convenient for safe transportation to the beach for release in the future.
"The terminal project involves a wide range and overlaps with sea turtle egg-laying areas. Building a dedicated sea turtle incubation base and opening up egg-laying channels are necessary protection measures," said Yan Fa (严发), head of the Environmental and Social Permit Department of the China Harbour Ghana Tema New Container Terminal project. China Harbour has also established a cooperation mechanism with the Ghana Environmental Protection Agency, the Ghana Fisheries Commission, and other institutions to form a professional sea turtle protection team. At its peak, the incubation base is staffed with 10 employees, including 6 sea turtle conservation experts who patrol the beaches in shifts 24 hours a day to monitor sea turtle activity.
Since the spring of last year, China Harbour, together with the Environmental and Safety Department of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, has cooperated with the Institute of Marine Affairs of the University of Ghana to carry out multiple sea turtle protection trainings, explaining basic conservation knowledge and establishing online feedback channels. Once staff members find a sea turtle nest on the beach, they can obtain remote protection guidance from experts by simply taking a photo and uploading it. "In early December last year, we successfully intervened in a leatherback turtle nest that was endangered due to excessive temperature, and 23 juvenile turtles were able to hatch safely," said Retchid, head of the Environmental and Safety Department of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority.
To date, the sea turtle incubation base has collected nearly 22,000 sea turtle eggs, hatched more than 17,000 sea turtles, and has a hatching rate of nearly 80%. In addition to sea turtle protection, the Chinese team also conducts quarterly monitoring of marine biodiversity in the project area, including plankton, seabed vegetation and seabed animals, intertidal plants, birds, and fish, effectively protecting local biodiversity. "We hope to further unite our efforts to jointly protect life on the coastline," said Kumar, environmental protection manager of the China Harbour Ghana Tema New Container Terminal project.
Today, sea turtle conservation work in the waters near the Tema New Container Terminal in Ghana has become routine. Every sea turtle breeding season, China Harbour joins hands with the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority to organize professionals to go deep into the surrounding communities to carry out sea turtle protection science popularization and publicity. Through lectures, film screenings, posters, radio explanations, and other forms, they popularize sea turtle egg-laying knowledge to local residents and enhance community awareness of sea turtle protection. Retchid said that such activities are of far-reaching significance, "making sea turtle conservation an action that more people, especially the next generation, can actively participate in."
China Construction Malaysia Company "Lighting Up the Mountains" Volunteer Activity –
"The Chinese 'Moon' Lights Up My Home"
By Zhang Niansheng (章念生), reporter of this newspaper
"It's lit!" Someone shouted, and the children immediately ran over, chasing and playing under the lights. The warm light poured down from the eaves, shining on their faces full of joy.
This is the third time that volunteers from China Construction Malaysia Company (中国建筑马来西亚有限公司) have entered the mountains to carry out the "Lighting Up the Mountains" volunteer activity. Since 2023, in order to help improve the well-being of indigenous residents in the mountainous areas of Malaysia, the "Blue Ocean Benefit Road" volunteer team of China Construction Malaysia Company has joined hands with Malaysian non-governmental public welfare organizations and local enterprises to go deep into several villages in the hinterland of the mountainous areas of Malaysia and continuously carry out the "Lighting Up the Mountains" volunteer activity.
Due to the long distance and limited access to the mountains, the volunteers set off shortly after 4 a.m. to install solar lights in Ayit Laba Village, Perak. On the way, they recalled the scene when they first entered the only school in the village: a kerosene lamp was lit in the room, the flame was very small, and the light barely illuminated the corner of the table. A child was lying on the table writing, his eyes almost touching the homework book. A volunteer asked: "Do you do your homework like this every day?" The child nodded and said: "It's getting dark, I have to finish writing quickly."
Some indigenous villages in the mountainous areas of Malaysia are scattered in the mountains and forests that the power lines cannot reach, and the villagers have been living a life of working at sunrise and resting at sunset. "We want to develop, but not at the cost of harming the mountains, which are the foundation of our generations," said Bati, the village chief of an indigenous village in Pahang, during the first "Lighting Up the Mountains" volunteer activity, which made the volunteers of China Construction Malaysia Company give up some "fast and economical" solutions and finally choose solar lighting equipment. "Installing a lamp is also building a bridge between people's hearts," said a young employee who participated in the volunteer activity.
Carefully surveying the terrain, studying the lighting conditions, and determining the installation points... The volunteers cooperated and gave full play to the advantages of construction enterprises to ensure that each solar panel could absorb sunlight to the maximum extent. They also provided "one-on-one" guidance to the villagers, teaching them to wrap the solar panels with sleeves to ensure safe electricity use. Knowing that the solar lights will accompany them for many years, the children in the village are particularly careful about these maintenance details. A child squatting next to him whispered to his companion: "We are not afraid of rain like this."
Suddenly, the drone used to record the installation process lost control and fell into the water. Several children jumped into the water without hesitation to retrieve it and ran all the way back to the volunteers. Even without verbal communication, everyone present was deeply moved.
As the last solar light was debugged, the entire village was shrouded in warm light. The children ran under the lights, looked up at the lights, and looked down at each other's illuminated faces. This scene made Yang Yi (杨毅), the leader of the volunteer service team, couldn't help but think of what a child in another village had said to him: "The Chinese 'moon' lights up my home, and I can read at night."
(Wang Wenyuan (王文苑) and Kou Zhe (寇哲) also contributed to this article)
Return to TopBy: 朱健刚
As the high-quality joint construction of the "Belt and Road" initiative continues to deepen and become more practical, Chinese enterprises are carrying out professional and localized volunteer services overseas, becoming a bond that benefits local people and deepens exchanges and cooperation, and a vivid annotation of practicing the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind.
Volunteer service is a positive action for Chinese enterprises to fulfill their social responsibilities and demonstrate Chinese morality. Overseas volunteer service by Chinese enterprises is an important part of the "people-to-people connectivity" project of the high-quality joint construction of the "Belt and Road" initiative. These volunteer service projects are close to local people's livelihoods and respond to people's concerns, focusing on education, medical care, environmental protection and other shortcomings in people's livelihoods in the project locations, transforming "blood transfusion" into "hematopoiesis," and conveying the Chinese wisdom of "teaching a man to fish." Overseas volunteer services by Chinese enterprises transform abstract responsibility into tangible warmth for people's livelihoods, making Chinese morality visible, tangible, and heartwarming.
Volunteer service is a flexible engine for deepening public diplomacy and building an international relationship of "harmony and coexistence." Overseas volunteer services by Chinese enterprises adhere to the principles of joint consultation, joint construction, and shared benefits, and stimulate the dynamism of local communities through equal cooperation. Volunteers work side by side with local grassroots organizations and people, combining Chinese experience with local endowments through technology transfer, skills training, and other methods, to achieve the transformation from "going out" to "staying." This 润物细无声 (rùn wù xì wú shēng - "moistening things silently," to exert a subtle influence) practice makes public diplomacy more humane and persuasive, creating a good atmosphere for deepening international cooperation.
Volunteer service is a solid support for consolidating the public opinion foundation for the high-quality joint construction of the "Belt and Road" initiative. The key to sound relations between states lies in amity between their peoples, and the key to amity between their peoples lies in mutual understanding. Overseas volunteer services by Chinese enterprises are based on long-term considerations, and through multi-dimensional practices such as education and enlightenment, technological empowerment, and cultural integration, they deeply connect with the economic and social development needs of the host countries, not only effectively stimulating the local endogenous development momentum, but also enhancing understanding and trust among people through sincere interaction, transforming economic achievements into social recognition, and laying a solid social foundation for the high-quality joint construction of the "Belt and Road" initiative to shift from "sketching" to "fine brushwork."
Looking to the future, Chinese enterprises should continue to aim for systematization, professionalization, and branding, improve service capabilities, and make overseas volunteer services a "golden key" for integrating China and foreign countries and creating a shared future. When more Chinese enterprises take root locally with the volunteer spirit of dedication, friendship, mutual assistance, and progress, overseas volunteer services will surely gather surging momentum for jointly promoting modernization and global development and prosperity.
(The author is the chief expert of the Social Governance Research Institute of Zhejiang University (浙江大学).)
Return to TopLayout design: Cai Huawei (蔡华伟)
Return to TopBy: 赵展慧
"The 1st of January, which I had been 心心念念 (xīn xīn niàn niàn - "thinking of something every moment," constantly bearing in mind), has finally arrived. Others are waiting for the New Year's Eve countdown, but I'm here checking my credit report. New policies, a new year, a new journey, getting better and better." On the first day of 2026, a netizen shared on social media that they had repaid their overdue debts before the end of last year, and this year they happily saw their overdue records "cleared." The comments section was filled with netizens posting screenshots of their credit reports, responding: "I'm among the first batch of people to have their credit records updated."
These words full of New Year's expectations are related to a recently introduced new policy. At the beginning of the New Year, a one-time credit repair policy has officially been implemented. Overdue information that meets the relevant conditions will not be displayed in personal credit reports.
This new policy is a "small step" in personal credit repair, and also a "big step" in the construction of a trustworthy society, reflecting the leaps and progress in the development of the financial industry, the construction of the market system, and social governance in the new era.
The policy details convey financial warmth. First, look at the applicable conditions of the policy. Overdue information can only be applied if it occurred between January 1, 2020, and December 31, 2025, which means that non-malicious defaulters affected by factors such as the epidemic, as long as they have small overdue amounts and repay them within the specified time, can "erase" their bad records and get a chance to restart their credit.
Then, look at the implementation method of the policy: "exempt from application and enjoy immediately," without charging any fees, and also providing two additional free inquiries about one's own credit report. Precise assistance, simplified procedures, and reduced or waived fees, every policy detail is a warm response to the difficulties of people's livelihoods in special times.
The policy orientation demonstrates the people's stance. While providing individuals with an opportunity for error correction, credit repair also helps financial institutions more accurately identify individual credit status by removing the label of "risk group" in the financial system from non-malicious defaulters. At the same time, the policy reintegrates "former defaulters" who have repaired their credit into the service scope, enhancing the accessibility and coverage of financial services. This is a new space for financial institutions to expand inclusive financial business, and a new practice of "financial work must stand firmly on the people's stance."
What is restarted is not only personal credit, but also some economic vitality restricted by default. After credit repair, individuals can re-release entrepreneurial vitality and consumption potential with financial support. Credit repair unblocks more economic capillaries, promotes the expansion of domestic demand, promotes a virtuous cycle of the economy, and also enhances the ability of financial services to serve the people and the real economy.
The policy concept reflects governance upgrades. The introduction of the one-time credit repair policy not only gives non-malicious defaulters an opportunity to correct their mistakes, but also conveys a strong policy signal - as long as they take the initiative to correct their mistakes and dare to take responsibility, default is not irreversible. This policy concept can effectively reduce the "破罐子破摔" (pò guàn zi pò shuāi - "break the pot and smash it," to give up on oneself after making a mistake) mentality of defaulters, guide them to actively remedy the situation, and form a virtuous cycle of credit governance.
The optimization of this financial policy, in fact, also reflects the upgrading of the social governance system, including the credit system. A more complete social governance system needs both the rigid constraints of "punishment" to ensure fairness and justice, and the flexible mechanism of "repair" to leave room for correction. From punishment to parallel punishment and repair, it shows that the current social governance mechanism is finding a more refined balance in tolerance and prudence, leaving more buffer and "endurance" space for various subjects under the premise of the rule of law, which is conducive to promoting the formation of a more resilient economic and social development environment.
Credit is the cornerstone of a market economy. Continuously improve credit construction, so that every trustworthy person can travel unimpeded, and that those who occasionally make mistakes can also have the opportunity to start again. A credit society that has both "teeth" and warmth will surely stimulate a continuous stream of new impetus for high-quality economic and social development.
Return to TopBy: 本报记者 武少民 赵展慧 葛孟超
Opening a shopping page, the words "Support 0 yuan order" appear. Entering the payment page and selecting "Buy Now, Pay Later" allows you to purchase goods for 0 yuan and pay after confirming receipt... In recent years, this new consumption model called "Buy Now, Pay Later" has rapidly emerged, initially appearing in e-commerce shopping scenarios and now extending to cover hundreds of convenient scenarios.
With the popularity of convenient payment and deferred payment habits, the number of "Buy Now, Pay Later" users and transaction frequency in China have grown rapidly. An international market research company estimates that the "Buy Now, Pay Later" loan market in China will be nearly one trillion yuan by 2025. What impact does "Buy Now, Pay Later" have on consumer behavior? What are the risks behind the convenience? The reporter conducted an investigation into this.
Effectively Enhancing Consumption Willingness, Achieving a Win-Win for Platforms, Users, and Merchants
From dozens of yuan for food to hundreds of yuan for skincare products and thousands of yuan for clothing, online shopping enthusiast Zhang Lin scrolls through her shopping list on her phone: "These are all the results of 'Buy Now, Pay Later'." Zhang Lin feels that she has become more "generous" - trying three different sizes of the same clothes; hesitating about lipstick colors, ordering them all to see the actual products. "Buy it first and try it, anyway, you don't have to pay first. If you return the goods, you don't have to pay anything throughout the process, and it also reduces refund disputes with merchants," Zhang Lin said, adding that this function actually makes up for the shortcoming of online consumption compared to physical consumption, which is the inability to try products for free.
"Buy Now, Pay Later" is also welcomed by many merchants. "It's a benefit for quality merchants like us. After accessing the 'Buy Now, Pay Later' function, the sales of goods have increased by more than 30%," the head of a Shenzhen (深圳) pants e-commerce company in Guangdong (广东) told reporters. Although the return rate has increased somewhat, the retention rate of goods has also increased. "Some customers originally only planned to buy one item, but with this service, they suddenly ordered several items, and if they liked them after trying them on, they kept them all." The owner of a skincare product e-commerce store on Taobao (淘宝) introduced: "Our live broadcast pre-sale cycle is relatively long. With this function, we don't need to occupy consumers' funds for a long time, which significantly boosted order volume last year."
To date, major e-commerce platforms such as Pinduoduo (拼多多), Taobao Tmall (淘宝天猫), Xiaohongshu (小红书), Douyin (抖音), and Dewu (得物) have all integrated the "Buy Now, Pay Later" function. This imported product originating from overseas, combined with China's (中国) e-commerce development practices, has fully integrated into consumers' lives.
"The two most important factors in e-commerce consumption scenarios are consumption ability and consumption willingness. Unlike foreign countries, where it is mainly used to enhance consumption ability, 'Buy Now, Pay Later' entered China (中国) around 2018, and its core function has gradually evolved into enhancing consumption willingness," said the head of the "Buy Now, Pay Later" business of a domestic e-commerce platform. At that time, China (中国) already had relatively mature consumer finance products to solve the problem of insufficient consumption ability, so "Buy Now, Pay Later" was initially somewhat "unsuited to the environment." Subsequently, it transformed in a timely manner and developed into a tool mainly for solving insufficient consumption willingness, such as consumers not daring to place orders rashly due to uncertainty about the quality of goods or whether they meet their own needs. "Buy Now, Pay Later" effectively reduces the decision-making threshold for consumption and the trust cost for merchants.
In addition to cultivating e-commerce consumption scenarios, "Buy Now, Pay Later" is accelerating localization. Pay after use, eat after use, borrow after use, and send after use are emerging one after another, and the application scenarios have been extended to all aspects of life services such as takeaway, shared bicycles, shared power banks, and express delivery. By increasing user activity for platforms, bringing more purchase intentions to resident merchants, and making consumption and payment more convenient for consumers, "Buy Now, Pay Later" brings a win-win situation for all parties.
Of course, the "Buy Now, Pay Later" service has certain usage thresholds and is not open to all merchants and consumers. Hui Xiaoren (惠晓仁), head of online business at WeChat Pay (微信支付), introduced that, taking the "Buy Now, Pay Later" service through WeChat Pay (微信支付) as an example, for users, the opening standard is based on WeChat Pay (微信支付) score. When a user's WeChat Pay (微信支付) score reaches a certain value (usually above 550 points) and meets conditions such as complete identity authentication information and stable payment behavior, they can choose to use it among merchants that support the service. For merchants, the platform will conduct multiple rounds of evaluation on their business qualifications, return and exchange service capabilities, complaint rates, etc. to ensure consumer experience. "'Buy Now, Pay Later' has played a role in promoting consumption. The number of active users and transaction scale of this service in 2025 has increased significantly compared to 2024," Hui Xiaoren (惠晓仁) introduced.
"Buy Now, Pay Later" Requires More Consideration of One's Abilities, and the Accumulation of Risks Should Not Be Underestimated
At the beginning of the year, after experiencing "Buy Now, Pay Later" for a year, Xiao Liu (小刘) decisively closed the service: "It's a bit like a credit card, but without a clear bill. I was shocked when I calculated it at the end of the year and found that I had spent so much."
Xiao Liu's (小刘) experience is not uncommon. The "unfelt" consumption brought by "Buy Now, Pay Later" is smooth, but it can also lead to the trouble of "unfelt" debt. The consumption accumulated by some users unknowingly exceeds their affordability. Many people worry, if they cannot complete the "pay later," will they have to pay extra fees or even affect their personal credit?
After investigation, the reporter found that the operating models behind "Buy Now, Pay Later" vary, mainly divided into two categories: sales credit services and consumer credit. The impact of default depends on the situation.
Because domestic "Buy Now, Pay Later" is more focused on enhancing consumption willingness, the first type of model is more common, including "Buy Now, Pay Later" services based on WeChat (微信) credit score and Alipay (支付宝) Sesame Credit (芝麻信用) score. Unlike consumer loans, credit cards, and other financial businesses, this type of model is essentially a platform providing sales credit services with a guarantee, and does not involve lending. The platform uses big data formed through transactions and other behaviors to calculate users' credit scores, and uses risk control models and technical support to identify consumers and merchants that meet the conditions for "Buy Now, Pay Later." The flow of funds also mainly occurs between these two, without going through financial institutions.
"This type of model is more of an internet life service, aimed at reducing transaction friction between merchants and users. If consumers fail to pay in time, there will be no overdue fees in the short term, and it will not be linked to the People's Bank of China (中国人民银行) personal credit reporting system," Hui Xiaoren (惠晓仁) said. However, the system will remind users to pay through WeChat (微信) messages and will continue to try to deduct money at a certain frequency. If users fail to fulfill their obligations for a long time, their WeChat Pay (微信支付) score may decrease, which will affect the use of services such as deposit-free and "Buy Now, Pay Later" in the future.
The second type belongs to consumer loans, which can simultaneously enhance consumption ability and consumption willingness. The platform issues scenario-based consumer loans to consumers by relying on its own online microfinance companies with financial licenses or in conjunction with financial institutions. If users default, they will incur overdue fees, affect their personal credit, and may even face legal litigation risks if they do not repay for a long time.
"'Buy Now, Pay Later' is convenient, but considering one's abilities is fundamental." Huang Xingchao (黄兴超), a partner at Beijing Anjie Law Firm (北京安杰律师事务所), believes that "unfelt" payment is more likely to promote irrational consumption among consumers, increasing personal debt risk and credit risk. At the same time, some platform behaviors objectively fuel these risks. For example, some platforms default to opening "Buy Now, Pay Later" for qualified users, and consumers are authorized to use related services without knowing it; some set "Buy Now, Pay Later" as the default or preferred option, increasing the possibility of misoperation; some service agreements are obscure and difficult to understand, and the definition of default risk is unclear, which is easily misunderstood and ignored by consumers; it is easy to open with one click, but the entrance to close the service cannot be found...
From a more macro perspective, "Buy Now, Pay Later" may also accumulate certain financial risks. "The 'Buy Now, Pay Later' belonging to the consumer loan model is accelerating its expansion after being combined with a large number of consumption scenarios, and the hidden financial risks should not be underestimated," Chen Wen (陈文), a researcher at the School of Economics and Management of Inner Mongolia University (内蒙古大学经济管理学院), analyzed. Some platforms pursue "extreme convenience" and rapid commercial conversion, and avoid regulatory requirements in terms of interest rate disclosure, user suitability management, and data reporting for consumer finance by using the appearance of "payment tools." In the joint loan model, the risks of these underlying assets may penetrate into the broader financial system through cooperative banks, especially small and medium-sized banks with weak risk resistance capabilities.
Always Take Consumers as the Core, and Put Risks into the "Cage" of Supervision
"Buy Now, Pay Later" is also gradually improving in its growth.
The Implementation Regulations of the Consumer Rights Protection Law, which came into effect on July 1, 2024, and the recently released "Supervision and Management Measures for Online Trading Platform Rules," detail the obligations of platform enterprises in online transactions, consumer rights protection, and other aspects, which has a strong guiding significance for platforms to provide "Buy Now, Pay Later" legally and compliantly.
Relevant industry associations actively issue self-discipline initiatives and reminders. For example, the Shanghai Consumer Rights Protection Commission (上海市消保委) proposed that platforms should allow consumers to independently choose whether to open "Buy Now, Pay Later," should inform consumers of their rights and obligations in detail through service agreements, and should fully explain the advantages of "Buy Now, Pay Later" as well as the consequences of overdue payments and related risks.
Platforms continue to improve services based on user feedback. "We are working with merchants to strengthen prompts in the 'Buy Now, Pay Later' interface, including order time, estimated deduction amount, and estimated delivery time information, and at the same time, we are promoting merchants to avoid inducing consumption and inducing opening, and to protect consumers' right to choose independently," Hui Xiaoren (惠晓仁) said.
To promote the further standardized and healthy development of "Buy Now, Pay Later" and block "risk points," it is necessary for all parties to work together. Experts suggest that a comprehensive governance system covering regulatory departments, e-commerce platforms, and industry institutions should be gradually built.
Platforms should consolidate their main responsibilities and build a solid risk control defense line. Fan Yunpeng (范云朋), deputy researcher at the Institute of Finance of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (中国社科院金融研究所), said that when providing "Buy Now, Pay Later" services, platforms should clearly indicate if financial services are involved, avoid packaging credit arrangements as mere payment tools or promotional means, let consumers clearly know the total payment cost and due date, and obtain clear consent in the confirmation link to prevent irrational debt due to insufficient information.
Regulatory departments should strengthen compliance management and increase law enforcement efforts. Chen Wen (陈文) suggested that "Buy Now, Pay Later" should be included in a unified credit management framework, reasonably set total quotas and monthly cumulative limits, and the system should automatically trigger enhanced review or take restrictive measures for users with repayment risk characteristics to avoid accumulating low-quality credit risk in the process of expanding consumption scenarios.
Huang Xingchao (黄兴超) believes that financial regulatory departments and market regulatory departments should formulate more targeted rules and guidelines for related new payment and credit services, unify authorization processes, information disclosure standards, and responsibility division. At the same time, law enforcement inspections should be strengthened on behaviors such as inducing opening and automatic loan transfers that are not transparent, and normalized supervision should be implemented in combination with complaint data and transaction monitoring.
"The core of 'Buy Now, Pay Later' services is always consumers. Convenience is based on safety, and no matter how powerful the technology and business model are, they cannot replace consumers in thinking and decision-making," Chen Wen (陈文) said. Only through strict supervision, solid risk control, and sufficient consumer protection measures can "Buy Now, Pay Later" truly become a "lubricant" for promoting consumption, rather than a "fuel" for inducing risks and social problems.
Return to TopBy: 杨 赫
Strengthening the coordination and cooperation of fiscal and monetary policies is an important part of improving the macroeconomic governance system and enhancing the effectiveness of macroeconomic governance. Faced with new situations and new problems in economic operation, fiscal and monetary policies should not be merely a simple "tool coordination," but should achieve "deep coupling" in theory and mechanism. In this context, the new book "Mother of Money and Anchor of Risk" by Liu Shangxi (刘尚希) and others provides us with a key to deconstructing this grand proposition at the right time.
For a long time, Western economic theory has regarded fiscal and monetary policies as two relatively independent parallel systems from the dimensions of institutional design, theoretical models, policy objectives, and financing constraints. However, this binary division perspective is difficult to explain the increasingly integrated practices in the modern economy. Especially in the context of unresolved stock risks, emerging kinetic energy being cultivated, and the accelerated evolution of major power games, the effective coordination of fiscal and monetary policies is even more important.
The book proposes that fiscal policy is the mother of modern credit money, and sovereign currency is essentially the embodiment of national credit, providing theoretical support for us to understand the current macroeconomic policy operations. When we examine the central bank's open market trading of treasury bonds, we should not simply regard it as a means of liquidity adjustment, but should see that treasury bonds have the dual attributes of a monetary policy carrier and a capital market pricing benchmark. It is an important bridge connecting fiscal policy and monetary policy, and a concrete manifestation of the unity of national credit.
The book's discussion on the "anchor of risk" also accurately addresses the key to doing a good job in economic work at present. As external environmental uncertainty increases, fiscal and monetary policies should jointly commit to building a policy framework based on the "minimization of public risk" orientation. Specifically, the lack of effective demand often implies micro-subjects' concerns about future uncertainty. At this time, simply relying on monetary easing may face the dilemma of "pushing a rope." We must rely on proactive fiscal policies and better coordination between fiscal and monetary policies to enhance the certainty of the macro environment and improve micro-subject expectations by converging public risks.
We have seen that in promoting large-scale equipment renewal and trade-in of consumer goods, the government, by providing interest subsidies and guarantees, essentially bears part of the risk cost, injects "certainty" into the market, and reduces the lending risks of financial institutions and the investment costs of enterprises, thereby leveraging more social capital and bank credit into the real economy. The recent executive meeting of the State Council (国务院), which specifically studied and deployed a package of policies to promote domestic demand through fiscal and financial coordination, is the latest practice of strengthening the coordination and linkage between fiscal and financial policies.
The value of theory lies in responding to the issues of the times. This book inspires us that to improve the macroeconomic governance system, we must adhere to the concept of systems, coordinate fiscal and monetary policies from the height of national credit and public risk, improve macroeconomic governance in line with the times, and give full play to the synergy of various policies. Through closer fiscal and financial policy coordination, we will surely be able to anchor the future of China's economy to move steadily and far in the wind and waves, and promote new and greater achievements in high-quality development.
(The author is the President of the Modern Finance Research Institute of the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (中国工商银行))
Return to TopCartography: People's Daily Digital Communication Company (人民日报数字传播公司)
Return to TopBy: 李君强
At the turn of the year, people often use a single character or word to look back on the days that have passed.
Recently, the "Chinese Character Review" activity selected the "Character and Word of the Year" for 2025: the domestic character is "韧" (rèn - resilience), and the domestic word is "深度求索 (DeepSeek)" (shēn dù qiú suǒ - deep exploration). This combination of character and word provides a window for observing China (中国) in 2025.
In the "Modern Chinese Dictionary," "韧" (rèn - resilience) means "when subjected to external force, it deforms but does not easily break; soft but strong," which is a kind of unassuming strength.
In the past year, the once-in-a-century changes have accelerated, and the world has been intertwined with turmoil. Objectively speaking, in the reality of intensified turbulence, it is not easy to achieve the goals and tasks of economic and social development, but China (中国) has handed in a resilient answer sheet: in terms of economic growth, the annual economic growth in 2025 is expected to be around 5%, continuing to rank among the top major economies in the world; in terms of innovation capability, the annual innovation index ranks among the top ten in the world for the first time, with more than 190,000 valid patents related to robots; in terms of opening up to the outside world, the Hainan Free Trade Port (海南自由贸易港) officially launched the full island customs closure operation; in terms of people's livelihood security, the number of new urban jobs nationwide in the first 11 months was 12.1 million, completing the annual target ahead of schedule...
Where does resilience come from? When a ship encounters wind and waves, it depends on the choice of course, but more on the helmsman's determination. Taking chips as an example, in the face of unreasonable blockade and suppression by individual countries, we have stabilized the direction with strong strategic determination, and taken accelerating the realization of high-level scientific and technological self-reliance as the way to break the situation. Under the centralized and unified leadership of the Party Central Committee (党中央), the advantages of the new type of nationwide system have been fully utilized. Today, the innovation capabilities of China's (中国) entire chip industry chain are accelerating, and high-end chip achievements are emerging one after another. Looking back after overcoming the wind and waves, this "chip breakthrough battle" has not only forged the industry, but also tempered our confidence and confidence in firmly setting the course.
This resilience also comes from thousands of specific people. No matter how grand the goal is, it needs to start from small things, "**心往一处想、劲往一处使**" (xīn wǎng yī chù xiǎng, jìn wǎng yī chù shǐ - "think in the same direction, exert strength in the same direction," to work together with one heart), the silent dedication of countless workers in their respective positions, and the belief of countless ordinary people to live their lives well and get things done, when gathered together, are enough to form a powerful force to ride the wind and waves.
If "韧" (rèn - resilience) symbolizes the power to stand firm under pressure, then "深度求索 (DeepSeek)" (shēn dù qiú suǒ - deep exploration) symbolizes the wisdom to go further. As the word of the year, it originates from the field of artificial intelligence. The domestic artificial intelligence large model DeepSeek became popular in January 2025 and was praised by foreign media as the "Oriental dark horse" in the field of AI. Up to now, the meaning of the word "深度求索 (DeepSeek)" (shēn dù qiú suǒ - deep exploration) is no longer limited to the technical scope, but also symbolizes the development path of accumulating steps to reach thousands of miles.
This "overtaking on a curve" is not accidental. Before DeepSeek became popular, its founder Liang Wenfeng (梁文锋) once said, "Some explorations cannot be avoided." "Many competitions are stage-based, and being too entangled in short-term competition can easily lead to losing direction."
When the technological revolution and industrial transformation are accelerating, imitation and replication are difficult to achieve true breakthroughs. Only by not avoiding problems in key areas and not taking shortcuts in tackling core technologies can we constantly approach real problems and solve real problems, and then exchange solid accumulation for truly sustainable progress.
But how easy is it to go deep? Deep exploration itself means time, patience and continuous trial and error - being willing to continue investing when there is no immediate return, and still choosing to take another step forward in repeated failures. Moments wrapped in doubt and anxiety often require the most courage.
Looking at "韧" (rèn - resilience) and "深度求索 (DeepSeek)" (shēn dù qiú suǒ - deep exploration) together, I can't help but think of opening mountains and building roads and encountering large stones, often relying on a sledgehammer to drive the steel drill bit by bit. One or two times is not enough, only repeated efforts, shaking the hands painfully or even cracking them, will the stone loosen and crack. If the position is not right and the force is not enough, only a white spot can be left on the stone surface, and no matter how sharp the steel drill bit is, it can only be abandoned halfway.
Going deep requires resilience to support it; transforming resilience into results requires deep exploration to open up space. Just like paving roads and hitting stones, the hand must be steady and able to withstand the pain, and it must also be continuously exerted to gradually knock out the opening. Whether it is the long-term investment in basic research, the continuous tackling of key core technologies, or the continuous promotion of industrial transformation, it is like competing with "hard stones." There is no shortcut to take, and stopping halfway often leads to nothing. Only by relying on persistence and patience can we usher in a real breakthrough.
The story of China (中国) in 2025 is full of pressure and challenges, but also full of persistence and exploration. Withstanding the wind and rain and moving forward, and moving forward again, the road will surely extend under our feet, and time will eventually provide the answer.
By: 本报记者 吴月辉
In mid-January, the temperature in Datong, Shanxi (山西大同) had dropped below -10 degrees Celsius, and the wind was biting, but what the reporter felt was a different kind of heat.
Inside a factory building in Yungang Economic and Technological Development Zone (云冈经济技术开发区), the newly commissioned 200-ton-per-year T1000 high-end carbon fiber production line was running continuously. Bundles of silvery-white carbon fiber filaments shuttled through precision equipment, undergoing processes such as oxidation and carbonization, eventually transforming into high-performance carbon fiber with a dark, glossy sheen.
Carbon fiber is a lightweight, high-strength material, known as "black gold," and is indispensable in fields such as aviation, aerospace, and industrial manufacturing.
In the past, facing technological blockades and product embargoes, China's high-end sectors using carbon fiber fell into a state of "food shortage," and many important cutting-edge equipment were left "with no rice to cook" (无米下炊 (wú mǐ xià chuī - "no rice to cook," to be in a situation where one cannot proceed due to lack of resources)).
At the urging of Academician Shi Changxu (师昌绪), China began to attach great importance to the localization research of carbon fiber and launched the 863 Program. Among them, the mass production task of T300 aerospace-grade carbon fiber was mainly undertaken by the Shanxi Institute of Coal Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences (中国科学院山西煤炭化学研究所) (hereinafter referred to as "Shanxi Coal Chem Institute (山西煤化所)").
Since then, from T300 to T1000, from laboratory samples to factory-scale ton-level mass production, overcoming obstacles all the way, Shanxi Coal Chem Institute (山西煤化所) spent 20 years to complete the localization path of this high-end carbon fiber.
Breaking the Situation—
Racing against time, achieving mass production of T300 aerospace-grade carbon fiber in 3 years
One day in the spring of 2005, at the Kuangou Conference Center (宽沟会议中心) in the suburbs of Beijing (北京), Sun Yuhan (孙予罕), the then director of Shanxi Coal Chem Institute (山西煤化所), received an "impossible mission" – to achieve mass production of T300 aerospace-grade carbon fiber before June 30, 2008.
"T300" is a carbon fiber grade developed by Toray Industries (东丽公司) of Japan (日本), where "T" represents tensile strength, and the larger the number, the higher the mechanical performance indicators of the carbon fiber.
It took Toray (东丽) of Japan (日本) 15 years from laboratory to mass production of T300, while China (中国) had to achieve it in 3 years. Was it possible? With no experience to follow, starting completely from scratch, everyone felt unsure.
At that time, Shanxi Coal Chem Institute (山西煤化所) had more than 30 years of accumulation in the research and development of high-performance carbon fiber and was one of the earliest research institutes of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (中国科学院) to study carbon fiber. Nevertheless, T300 carbon fiber was still in a state of "having samples but no products" for the institute.
"It's no problem to prepare a few filaments, but it's difficult to mass-produce and meet extremely stringent indicator requirements," recalled Lü Chunxiang (吕春祥), a researcher at Shanxi Coal Chem Institute (山西煤化所). "Frankly speaking, everyone was not even very clear about what performance indicators 'aerospace-grade' included at that time."
With a mission on their shoulders, there was only one way forward.
After rapid analysis and judgment, Sun Yuhan's (孙予罕) team made a bold decision: not to follow the old path of "continuous polymerization method" taken by Japan (日本) and the United States (美国). That kind of process is like a highway with no forks; once something goes wrong, the entire line has to be shut down for investigation. In the end, the team chose the "intermittent polymerization method," like walking up stairs, adjusting immediately if a step is wrong, even if it takes a few more steps, at least they can see the direction. But this also meant facing a "parameter maze" – a temperature difference of 1 degree Celsius or a pressure increase of 0.1 MPa would cause the carbon fiber to break.
Under tremendous pressure, team members plunged into the laboratory, setting up cots. "Every day, hundreds of sets of data had to be recorded, and then the incorrect parameters were crossed out one by one," an old researcher recalled. "During the most difficult times, we did 20 experiments a day, our fingers were soaked in chemical reagents and peeling, and we woke up in the middle of the night thinking, 'Was the spinning speed not adjusted properly?'"
At the same time, the construction of the pilot-scale engineering test line for precursor fiber was also underway at the Xiaodian (小店) pilot base in Taiyuan (太原).
This battle was not fought alone. The Chinese Academy of Sciences (中国科学院) coordinated multiple affiliated units to work together: the Institute of Chemistry (化学研究所) developed oiling agents, and the Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry (上海有机化学研究所) and the Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry (长春应用化学研究所) undertook the development of sizing agents.
With everyone's joint efforts, node tasks were completed on schedule.
In June 2007, the pilot test of T300 carbon fiber achieved phased results.
At the end of September 2007, precursor fiber lines and oxidation carbonization production lines with larger scales and production capacities were built in Yangzhou (扬州), Jiangsu (江苏).
…………
On June 30, 2008, the deadline required by the state, in the workshop of the production line in Yangzhou (扬州), Jiangsu (江苏), the first roll of stably mass-produced T300 aerospace-grade carbon fiber was slowly rolled out. Since then, China (中国) has also become the third country after Japan (日本) and the United States (美国) that can independently produce aerospace-grade carbon fiber.
That day, there was no celebration. Everyone just carefully wrapped the material samples and sent them to Beijing (北京) overnight – everyone knew that this was just the beginning.
Subsequently, with the joint efforts of the entire industry, China (中国) has successively achieved breakthroughs in high-performance carbon fiber technology, and carbon fibers of grades such as T700 and T800 have gradually achieved breakthroughs and mass production.
Climbing High—
The research and development of a new generation of autonomous technology must move forward by leaps and bounds, and there must be no retreat
Under the support of national policies and industrial plans, China (中国) has made great progress in the production technology, equipment technology, and application of high-performance carbon fiber, but the overall technical level of the carbon fiber industry is still behind developed countries such as the United States (美国) and Japan (日本), and key areas of carbon fiber have not yet achieved stable production of hundreds of tons per line.
"To meet the comprehensive autonomous security needs of carbon fiber and its composite materials for high-end equipment, we must break through the low-cost and large-scale production technology of high-strength carbon fiber and the stabilization production technology of high-strength medium-modulus carbon fiber and high-strength high-modulus carbon fiber," said Zhang Shouchun (张寿春), deputy director of Shanxi Coal Chem Institute (山西煤化所) and project leader.
The real "Mount Everest" in the field of carbon fiber is T1000 and higher-level high-performance carbon fiber. This ultra-fine fiber, which can carry a load of about 200 kilograms, has a tensile strength of over 6600 MPa and is crucial for national heavy equipment.
Therefore, aiming at this higher "mountain," Zhang Shouchun (张寿春) led the team of Shanxi Coal Chem Institute (山西煤化所) to start a new journey.
The manufacturing process of T1000 high-performance carbon fiber is called dry-jet wet spinning, which is known in the industry as the "watershed process" and is also one of the core technologies most strictly blocked by foreign countries.
"Simply put, dry-jet wet spinning is to extrude the polymer solution from the spinneret, allowing the liquid stream to 'fly' a few millimeters in the air before entering the coagulation bath," said Zhang Shouchun (张寿春).
Don't underestimate these few millimeters, which have stumped countless engineers: the spinneret of large equipment is densely packed with thousands of micron-sized micro-holes, and the high-pressure fluid spurts out at high speed, which is equivalent to tens of thousands of thin streams passing through the air layer at the same time, without a trace of shaking. In an industrial environment, machine vibrations, air conditioning airflow, liquid level fluctuations, etc. can all cause the filaments to break. If one filament has a problem, it will affect hundreds or thousands of surrounding filaments, resulting in the batch scrapping of raw materials.
Again, there are no parameters to refer to, starting from scratch.
"Due to technological blockades, we are crossing the river by feeling the stones (摸着石头过河 (mō zhe shí tou guò hé - "feel for stones to cross the river," to proceed cautiously by feeling one's way)). Although it is difficult, the research and development of a new generation of autonomous technology must move forward by leaps and bounds, and there must be no retreat," said Zhang Shouchun (张寿春).
In a research discussion, team members suddenly had an inspiration. "Isn't the process of this dry-jet wet spinning similar to the way we make helao noodles (饸饹面), a common food in Shanxi (山西)? Put the helao bed (饸饹床) on the pot and squeeze the kneaded dough into it. If the dough is kneaded to different degrees of softness and hardness, the taste will be different. Let's think about how to knead the dough to the right degree of softness and hardness so that it doesn't easily stick to the sieve plate."
Racking their brains to design and demonstrate research plans, experts and team members discussed and exchanged ideas again and again, constantly improving ideas and iterating technologies. After countless days and nights of perseverance and failed attempts over more than 3 years, the team finally successfully independently developed the dry-jet wet spinning process and achieved the laboratory preparation of T1000.
Integration—
In a workshop at minus 20 degrees Celsius, "tearing" the last line of blockade
New problems then followed: between laboratory samples and industrial mass production, there is an engineering gap that is difficult to cross by one's own strength alone.
At this moment, Shanxi Huayang Group (山西华阳集团) became an important partner. Shanxi Huayang Group (山西华阳集团), formerly known as Shanxi Yangquan Coal Industry (山西阳泉煤业), once ranked among the world's top 500 companies and has the largest anthracite production base in the country.
As a long-established state-owned enterprise, Huayang Group (华阳集团) is actively exploring transformation, and entering the high-performance carbon fiber industry has become a new direction.
"Our core advantage is that we have a relatively complete coal chemical industry chain and production management experience," said Liu Xun (刘勋), deputy general manager of Shanxi Huayang Carbon Materials Technology Co., Ltd. (山西华阳碳材科技有限公司).
On one side is an enterprise with funds, understanding of engineering, but needing core technology injection, and on the other side is a research team with technology but lacking industrialization capabilities. The two sides hit it off.
In 2022, the Datong Municipal Government (大同市政府), Shanxi Huayang Group (山西华阳集团), and Shanxi Coal Chem Institute (山西煤化所) jointly signed an agreement to jointly build a high-performance carbon fiber production base in Datong (大同).
In 2024, the project officially entered the construction phase. Zhang Shouchun's (张寿春) team and Huayang Group's (华阳集团) engineering team formed a joint team and stationed at the Datong (大同) base as soon as possible. It happened to be the cold winter, and the temperature in the workshop was minus 20 degrees Celsius. The equipment was frozen and leaking oil. They wrapped themselves in military coats to install equipment and debug parameters, staying for several months.
The industrialization process is full of challenges.
The most dangerous time was when the spinneret was just replaced, and thousands of filaments suddenly broke collectively. The team investigated for 3 days and found that the slope of the pipeline differed by 0.5 degrees, resulting in uneven flow of the solution. "It's like drinking milk tea with a straw, you can't suck it up if the angle is wrong," said Zhang Shouchun (张寿春).
In November 2025, the T1000 high-performance carbon fiber at the Datong (大同) base achieved stable mass production. When the first roll of material came off the line, the old workers of Huayang (华阳) were excited when they touched the roll of filaments.
A 200-ton/year T1000 production line took only 17 months from construction to completion. Behind the speed is the support of adhering to the integrated promotion path of industry-university-research-application and the collaborative innovation model of "government-enterprise-research."
Zhang Shouchun (张寿春) said: "Through close cooperation, researchers and enterprise personnel have formed an efficient working team, jointly overcoming various difficulties in the construction of the production line and ensuring the smooth progress of the project."
Wang Fei (王飞), a senior engineer at Shanxi Coal Chem Institute (山西煤化所), is the on-site person in charge of the carbon material project. After arriving at the site in September 2024, he has been fighting on the front line. "Every day around 6 pm, we have to hold a meeting on site, including equipment manufacturer personnel and enterprise technical personnel. At the meeting, everyone reports the progress of each workshop, the installation progress, the construction difficulty, etc., and if there are any problems, we discuss them together and solve them in a timely manner."
Sometimes there are also differences. For example, in terms of temperature and pressure control. Researchers often have very high requirements for precision, requiring control to 0.2 degrees must be 0.2 degrees, while some enterprise personnel cannot understand this: "Why does it have to be so precise? Is it okay if it's one or two degrees off?"
"After communication and running-in, everyone's understanding finally reached a consensus, and the cooperation became more and more tacit and smooth," said Wang Fei (王飞).
Having participated in the research and development process from T300 to T1000 high-performance carbon fiber, Zhang Shouchun (张寿春) also has a lot of thoughts. "The next generation of products must be laid out in advance. The entire process from basic research to industrialization of carbon fiber is very long, and it is difficult to have a big leap in improvement in one or two years."
In the next few months, the project will complete the debugging and optimization of all equipment on the production line. This will become an important production base for high-end carbon fiber materials in China (国内) and is expected to provide domestic key raw material support for the development of strategic emerging industries.
"This race against time, we are still on the road," said Zhang Shouchun (张寿春).
Return to TopBy: 马春浩
On January 11th, the "Tianma-1000" (天马—1000) unmanned transport aircraft successfully completed its first flight test. All flight data showed good performance, and many netizens affectionately called it a smart "air cargo Lala."
The "Tianma-1000" (天马—1000) is a medium-altitude, low-cost transportation platform independently developed by us, with excellent comprehensive performance: a maximum load of 1 ton; a maximum range of 1,800 kilometers, achieving half-day delivery for emergency transportation; 5 minutes to complete loading and unloading of ton-level materials, and intelligent route planning and autonomous obstacle avoidance capabilities.
At the beginning of the development, we hoped that the "Tianma-1000" (天马—1000) could fundamentally solve the dilemma of "inaccessible, unaffordable, and unsustainable" material transportation in special areas, and be able to achieve single-trip, large-scale delivery of food, medicine, equipment and other materials needed for several days in the face of remote area supply, emergency rescue, and emergency material transfer scenarios. This requires the "Tianma-1000" (天马—1000) to have strong adaptability, the shorter the take-off and landing distance, the better, and to have all-terrain and all-weather environmental adaptability.
Stringent performance requirements place extremely high demands on the aerodynamic layout of the aircraft. Traditional R&D programs mainly rely on physical wind tunnel tests. However, physical wind tunnel tests are time-consuming and costly. To this end, the team tried to take a digital rapid R&D innovation path of "no wind tunnel test."
Based on this goal, I led the team to build a full-process digital R&D system based on high-precision aerodynamic calculation, flight mechanics simulation, structural optimization design and control rate iteration technology. The first flight test proved that the simulation data and the actual flight data are in high agreement.
The "Tianma-1000" (天马—1000) has a minimum take-off and landing distance of less than 200 meters, and can safely take off and land on non-hardened sites such as grassland and compacted dirt roads. Its ascent limit reaches 8,000 meters, and it is not afraid of complex weather conditions such as rain, snow, fog, and haze, truly achieving flexibility and convenience, and greatly improving supply resilience and response speed.
This is not the end. In order to continuously improve adaptability, I proposed a modular architecture design to achieve a one-platform, multi-purpose idea. The team developed a set of "plug-and-play" standardized interfaces. Users only need to replace different cargo holds to switch different function modes, truly realizing "one machine with multiple functions." This means that the "Tianma-1000" (天马—1000) can be transformed into a tireless "eye in the sky," or it can become a "sentry in the sky" connecting the central nervous system, or it can become an "air support" on call, making the high-efficiency, low-cost unmanned aerial vehicle application model feasible for large-scale promotion.
From technological breakthroughs to product implementation, I and the team members have always had a core goal: to break through industry bottlenecks and fill gaps in the field. In the future, we will continue to rely on the technological advantages of China North Industries Group Corporation (兵器工业集团) and the strong aggregation capabilities of the low-altitude industry chain in Shaanxi Province (陕西省) to continuously iterate and upgrade the "Aisheng·Tianma" (爱生·天马) series of products, expand multi-dimensional and multi-domain application scenarios, and inject more powerful scientific and technological impetus into the high-quality development of China's (我国) low-altitude economy.
(The author is the project chief engineer of Xi'an Aisheng Technology Group Co., Ltd. (西安爱生技术集团有限公司) of China North Industries Group Corporation (中国兵器工业集团). This reporter Li Xinping (李心萍) interviewed and compiled the report.)
Return to TopBy: 范 稳
Not long after the 2022 Spring Festival, I packed my bags and headed to Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture (红河哈尼族彝族自治州) in Yunnan Province. I was going to "ride" a century-old train and fulfill a long-awaited "date." Spring comes early in the south, so early that the wildflowers all over the mountains have already bloomed with the vigor of summer. I am quite familiar with this hot land. More than ten years ago, in order to write a book reflecting the history of the construction of the Yunnan-Vietnam Railway, I traveled to every county along its route. At that time, I secretly made an appointment with it: I would come back again to write another book for it.
The creative impulse came from the century-old Bisezhai Railway Station (碧色寨). This border railway station may be unique in China. The Yunnan-Vietnam Railway was a product of the Sino-French War (1883-1885). At that time, the Qing government won victories on some battlefields, but still signed an unequal treaty with the French government in subsequent negotiations, namely the "Ten Articles of the Sino-French Convention on Vietnam," which stipulated that if China built railways in the future, it should "negotiate with French people who are engaged in this business." Just like the Western powers earlier used坚船利炮 坚船利炮 (jiān chuán lì pào - "strong ships sharp cannons," powerful military force) to bombard open the gates of coastal China, in 1910, the French used locomotives to smash open the gates of southwest China. We had no sovereignty over this railway. It was entirely invested, constructed, and managed by the French. Important positions such as station masters, dispatchers, and technical engineers along the line were all French. Bisezhai (碧色寨) was originally an unknown Yi village, but the train awakened it from a thousand years of slumber and made it a special-class station on this line. The French had everything: foreign houses, gardens, tennis courts, bars, dance halls, and railway police stations. At that time, it was the end of the Qing Dynasty. The country was declining, the people were ignorant, and Yunnan was even more remote and inconvenient to access. Many ethnic areas were still in the primitive stage of slash-and-burn agriculture. When the French began to build the railway, some Chinese gentry and people with a strong sense of national self-esteem believed that this was a national humiliation, and that the train would break the traditions they had adhered to for hundreds of years. They did not hesitate to use force to resist the French railway. This war ended in tragedy, and the French train still roared into this lonely and desolate plateau in a barbaric and arrogant manner.
It is conceivable that the magical reality brought by the whistling train and the complex feelings of the locals included fear, bewilderment, anger, and humiliation. However, what is quite dramatic is that there is a mining city famous for its tin production, Gejiu (个旧). The tin here was already sold to the European market in those days. However, people used horses to carry the tin ingots from the mine and load them onto the French trains. When they discovered that the tin ingots carried by an entire caravan could not even fill a corner of the train car, the shock they received was far greater than when they first saw the "monster" train.
Just one year later, those Chinese gentry who had resisted the French trains began to raise funds to build their own railways in order to transport the tin from the mines and resist the French coveting of the Gejiu (个旧) mines. They hired French engineers to design the railway line and purchased the latest models of steam locomotives from Europe. After decades of arduous construction, a narrow-gauge railway with a gauge of only 600 mm was finally built from the tin capital Gejiu (个旧) to Bisezhai Station (碧色寨). This railway line is only 177 kilometers long, starting from Gejiu (个旧) and ending at Bisezhai (碧色寨), and later extending to Jianshui (建水) and Shiping (石屏), like a "ladder" erected on the plateau. The locomotives crawling on this "ladder" are very small, like toys on the earth, swaying and driving in the mountains, with a speed of only ten kilometers per hour, not even faster than a young man running, but the people on the southern border of the plateau have realized their dream of going to the world. Two railways with different gauges (the gauge of the Yunnan-Vietnam Railway is 1000 mm) meet here, but do not connect. This is a meaningful precaution.
It was during an interview at Bisezhai Station (碧色寨) that I first encountered the "Gejiu-Bisezhai-Shiping Railway" (个碧石铁路). It is located at one end of the old station built by the French. From the station building and tracks to the locomotives, everything is smaller. At that time, I stood on the tracks, looking back at the yellow-walled and red-tiled Bisezhai Station (碧色寨), and then looking east at the "Gejiu-Bisezhai-Shiping Railway" (个碧石铁路) station, which is also in the French architectural style, I felt like I was standing at a historical node. Western civilization and Eastern civilization collided head-on here. A sleeping giant was shocked, hurt, and then奮起一躍 奮起一躍 (fèn qǐ yī yuè - "rouse oneself leap," to rise with great effort and determination) to defend its dignity. The people of Yunnan took the road rights into their own hands, which not only prevented the French from coveting them, but also prevented them from provoking any excuse for a "railway war." In fact, the French Indochina authorities had been trying to use the railway as a vanguard to expand their colonial sphere of influence in southern China, and the "Gejiu-Bisezhai-Shiping Railway" (个碧石铁路) effectively blocked their illusions. I vaguely felt that this wonderful history must contain a moving story.
I believe that the railway is a huge metaphor. It not only connects different cultures and ethnic groups, but also connects the past, present, and future. More than 100 years ago, the railway was like our Internet today. Whoever had the railway first would gain the first opportunity for development. The railway built by the French is like a double-edged sword, making us知恥而後勇 知恥而後勇 (zhī chǐ ér hòu yǒng - "know shame then valor," to be ashamed of past defeats and then rise up with courage). In Yunnan (云南), a land where many ethnic groups coexist, I have been paying attention to the exchange and collision of different cultures, from living customs to spiritual beliefs, from folk exchanges to commercial exchanges. I am more inclined to the continuation and interweaving of history and reality. The prosperity of any era must be related to its historical accumulation and inheritance, wise learning and catching up, and the indomitable national character. The "Gejiu-Bisezhai-Shiping Railway" (个碧石铁路) was the first private railway in western China more than 100 years ago. It was a "road of ambition" built by the pioneering people of Yunnan (云南) to protect road rights and mining rights and to strengthen the nation.
In the late 1990s, the "Gejiu-Bisezhai-Shiping Railway" (个碧石铁路) finally completed its historical mission. Along the weedy roadbed, I searched for the figures of the road builders of that year. The abandoned stations and blockhouses were mostly ruins, the collapsed tunnel walls were covered with two or three centimeters of soot, and the rusted spikes were buried in the dust. Like an archaeologist, I salvaged this not-so-distant history, as if I could still hear the sound of the train whistle faintly coming from the other side of the mountain.
At the beginning of my field investigation for this work, I set a rule that I should not write about the railway just for the sake of the railway. The key is to write about the changes of the times and the rejuvenation of the nation; to write about people, the fate of people, the styles of different eras, and also to write about the temperature and legends on the cold rails. And the southern Yunnan (云南) region where the story takes place has a particularly rich and splendid local culture - in fact, every piece of land in Yunnan (云南) contains extremely rich cultural resources, and the red culture is also exciting and moving. The first party congress of Yunnan (云南) was held in this area, and the first railway workers' strike led by the Communist Party of China also took place on this railway line. In particular, those who advocated the construction of the "Gejiu-Bisezhai-Shiping Railway" (个碧石铁路) were a group of gentry and local sages with a strong sense of family and country. They used the spirit of the Foolish Old Man to build their own national "road of ambition." What supported them in building the railway was not only funds and technology, but also our national self-esteem and cultural beliefs. Therefore, I also embedded a story of the rise and fall of a century-old family in this book. The changes of a century-old railway and the railway feelings of several generations of a century-old family can constitute the two main lines of this novel "Qing Yunti" (《青云梯》).
Today, we have entered the era of high-speed railways. In order to cooperate with the joint construction of the "Belt and Road" initiative, Yunnan (云南) is vigorously promoting the grand project of the "South Asia Grand Passage." The planned three railway lines will cross the Hengduan Mountains (横断山脉) and different national borders, respectively, closely connecting Yunnan (云南) with Southeast Asian countries. Among them, the China-Laos Railway has been successfully opened to traffic. It is conceivable that one day in the future, the "Eastern Express" from Kunming (昆明) to Singapore will be bathed in the morning glow on the shore of Dianchi Lake (滇池) and dyed with the sunset glow of the South Pacific. The infinite scenery along the way will attract the fiery eyes of the world!
I also went deep into the high-speed rail construction site under construction and interviewed a group of new generation road builders born in the 1980s and 1990s. Some of them are undergraduates, masters, and doctoral students, and some are migrant workers from rural areas. The high-speed railways they are building are also a century apart from the narrow-gauge railways that once existed on this land. A hundred years ago, trains could only run at a speed of ten kilometers per hour, but now they can reach a speed of more than 300 kilometers per hour even on the plateau. High-speed trains often fly above the colorful clouds. I once saw such a picture in the Lancang River Grand Canyon (澜沧江大峡谷): above the millennium caravan post road, crossing the canyon are suspension bridges, highway bridges, expressway bridges, and high-speed railway bridges. Four different eras of bridges fly across this canyon in the air, like a bridge museum on the earth. The epitome of the development of the times can be so vivid and brilliant.
This colorful land of Yunnan (云南) is always constantly inspiring and nourishing my creative inspiration. From the narrow-gauge railway more than 100 years ago to the high-speed railway today, I hope to vividly reproduce the changes of the times and social progress by writing about the fate of several generations of railway workers. When dealing with novels with historical themes, I always try to use history to observe reality and let the light of reality shine into the depths of history. We should not only learn from history, but also re-examine and evaluate history. Looking back on the past, the historical changes of a railway are a huge symbol. In this great historical process, literature should be "present."
Return to TopBy: 马未歇
The footsteps of the Lunar New Year of the Horse are approaching, and the classic song "Horse, Please Slow Down" by soprano singer Ma Yutao (马玉涛) always echoes in my ears. The melodious melody is full of praise and lingering affection for the new look of China's socialist modernization. In the WeChat Moments, auspicious words such as "Success Upon the Horse's Arrival" (马到成功), "Whipping the Horse to Go Faster" (快马加鞭), "Qiji Galloping" (骐骥驰骋), and "Galloping Horse Welcoming Spring" (奔马迎春) are frequently spread. The dialectical thinking about fast and slow also lingers in my mind for a long time with the approaching sound of hooves.
Undoubtedly, this is an era of "fast." Travel has long bid farewell to the slow pace of old-fashioned locomotives, communication has also shed the long wait of distant postal routes and letters carried by wild geese, and even reading has pressed the "acceleration key." The manufacturing industry is changing with each passing day. In unmanned workshops, robotic arms dance precisely. What once took months of meticulous work can now be completed in the blink of an eye.
"Fast" can be called the engine of progress of the times. It is precisely because we have broken the shackles of tradition and adhered to the development concept of being both good and fast that we have been able to complete the industrialization process of developed countries in just a few decades. It is precisely because we are determined to maintain a fast and efficient pace of progress that we have been able to continuously break through in the field of science and technology, realizing the leap from following to running alongside, and then to leading.
The premise of "fast" should be "steady" and "good." Only when it is steady can fast be sustainable and produce good results. Therefore, fast must follow the laws of development and adhere to scientific principles. If we blindly pursue fast and seek quick success without regard to reality, not only will it be difficult to achieve our goals, but it may also be counterproductive. At best, we will achieve half the result with twice the effort; at worst, we will stumble and suffer. Some places once blindly launched projects in pursuit of economic growth. Some companies are willing to cut corners in order to seize market opportunities. This kind of "fast" that abandons the fundamentals and pursues the superficial becomes farther and farther away from the original intention the faster it runs.
Steadiness is the result of long-term accumulation. Therefore, there is an accumulation of slowness in fast, and there is also a power of fast hidden in slowness. The Tao Te Ching says: "Who can make the muddy water clear by quieting it? Who can bring forth life by resting?" Only by calming down and precipitating can we clarify the direction; only by stabilizing and accumulating strength can we revitalize. Just like a rocket soaring into the sky, the "fast" of roaring into the sky is backed by the "slow and meticulous polishing" of countless scientific researchers day after day - the meticulous carving of each part and the repeated verification of each set of data are all accumulating the energy for take-off in slow and meticulous work. Another example is the "Zhangqiu Iron Pot" (章丘铁锅), which is popular all over the country. The twelve processes are progressive, and the 36,000 hammerings forge quality. It is this unhurried "slow work" that allows it to quickly win the market and become "a pot hard to find" (一锅难求). The old saying goes, "Slow work yields fine products" (慢工出细活 - màn gōng chū xì huó - "slow work produces fine work," careful work produces high-quality results), word by word, is a truth that has been tested by time.
For ordinary people, fast and slow are even more the dialectic of life. It is an inspiring attitude towards life to whip the horse and rush around the world when young. It is also a transparent attitude towards life to slow down and sort out life after retirement. Fast and slow are never an either-or opposition, but a complementary unity. When it is time to be fast, we must be fast and seize opportunities with a sense of urgency; when it is time to be slow, we should be slow and polish the quality of the world with an attitude of striving for perfection.
After all, the true meaning of life never lies in how fast you run, but in how steadily you walk and how far you run. Fast and slow are suitable, and only then can you achieve your goals. (方得始终 - fāng dé shǐ zhōng - "only then obtain beginning end," to carry something through from beginning to end).
Return to TopBy: 左 右
In the year I turned six, drug poisoning following a high fever caused me to lose my hearing in both ears, and my world plunged into silence.
From the age of 6 to 24, I was in a state where I couldn't communicate with people normally. It wasn't until I took a job teaching children to write compositions that I practiced mouth shapes and breathing in front of the mirror every day, learning to use my diaphragm to generate power and learning to vocalize. Even today, I am still practicing speaking.
I have always believed that sound does not necessarily need to be heard by the ears. Poetry is my voice. When my poems are recited and heard, they become my voice, my way of communicating with the world. The truly beautiful sounds are buried deep in the heart, in a very, very deep place, and need to be listened to with the heart. And I have heard it countless times with my heart and accepted my imperfections.
My poetry collection, "Silence of All Sounds" (万籁俱寂), was included in the "In Pursuit of Starlight: New Popular Literature Series" published by Shaanxi Xinhua Publishing and Media Group (陕西新华出版传媒集团), with a total of more than 180 poems. Three years ago, I began to organize the collection, thinking only of writing down in poems the details of my entanglement with sound, my time spent in silence, my struggle with fate, and my reconciliation with life. I never thought about how it would relate to the new popular literature. It wasn't until the manuscript was submitted that I realized that what it carries is precisely the true essence of the new popular literature: no matter what situation you are in, you must maintain your love and longing for life.
Over the years, I have been searching for sound, searching for work, and searching for love in a silent world. There has been a lot of sadness, unwillingness, helplessness, and even despair, but I have been looking for a breakthrough, a way to help me out of my predicament. Fortunately, I found it—through writing and reading, transforming my physical difficulties into unique poetic expressions, conveying my love for a silent life, and conveying the tenacious power of using poetry to fight against fate and explore the essence of life.
For me, reading is the light that illuminates the silent years and, even more, the key to solving life's problems. Before, I always felt that my experiences were full of difficulties, until I read *The Story of My Life* in junior high school, and I realized that my experiences were not worth mentioning in front of Helen Keller (海伦·凯勒). This is a book that changed my life. When I read the phrase "strive to do good deeds" in *Liao Fan's Four Lessons* (《了凡四训》), I initially thought it was just ordinary reasoning, but later I began to teach children to write compositions and went to schools to give public welfare lectures time and time again, and I understood the profound meaning. As I did public welfare, many good changes took place in my style of being and doing things.
Since I was a child, I have been writing, 摸着石头过河 (mō zhe shí tou guò hé - "crossing the river by feeling the stones," to do something cautiously, to proceed carefully by feeling one's way). No one has given me guidance. I like to read the novels of Chen Yan (陈彦), as well as the short stories of Yu Hua (余华) and Chi Zijian (迟子建), the essays of Shi Tiesheng (史铁生), and the poems of Yisha (伊沙). It is the words of these famous writers that have opened windows for me. I pondered the subtle differences between essays and novels between the lines, learning how to transform the bits and pieces of life into words.
My life is like a journey of upgrading and fighting monsters. The bumps that once seemed insurmountable have all found answers in books. In a silent world, reading and writing are my way of communicating with life and my confidence in communicating with the world. The poems and essays I have written have become my loudest voice—they have been translated and introduced to farther places in the world. Even though life is silent, I live an incredibly brilliant life because of reading and writing.
Return to TopBy: 艾诺依
Please keep this ticket that will sprout.
Fasten the seatbelt woven from stars.
Every seat leads to a secret realm.
The fuel of dreams has been fully loaded.
Beneath the icy layers of time, greenery flourishes.
The flapping wings in amber and the supernova bloom simultaneously.
Equatorial star clusters burst from the pomegranate.
Tea stems will stand upright as the direction of a compass.
We collect streams as postage stamps,
And stamp the clouds as drifting postmarks.
Passing by an ancient porcelain kiln site,
We borrow the moonlight of celadon glaze to dress wounds.
Passing through the undulating wheat fields of the plains,
We exchange letters from afar with the scarecrows.
Every grain of sand remembers the migratory bird routes.
Every cloud writes the sheet music of whale pods.
We carry seeds with different accents,
Sharing the hometowns in our backpacks:
Some take out dried waves,
Some unfold folded terraces.
And outside the window, fireflies are carrying
Constellations smaller than grains of rice.
No need to look for the terminal station sign.
Every pause grows a platform.
Waking up in a sea of dandelions—
Discovering the spring mud of the entire universe held in the palm of your hand.
Oil painting "Sea of Clouds in Huangshan," by Liu Haisu (刘海粟), collection of the National Art Museum of China (中国美术馆).
Return to TopBy: 谭 岩
My hometown is located in the hilly area of western Hubei (鄂西) Province. The weather is mild, and there is plenty of sunshine, making it a good place for all things to grow. On the rolling hillsides, there is a vine plant that grows in the thickets of thorns. This is yellow ginger, which is slightly bitter but delicious, and can also be used as medicine. When I think of my childhood, the scene of digging yellow ginger is still vivid in my mind.
After entering winter, after several severe frosts, everything withers, and there is less farm work. The season for digging yellow ginger has also arrived. The lush leaves of the brambles have fallen off, but a long-stemmed vine with black leaves still clings to the brambles like wire. When the cold wind blows, the black withered leaves on the long-stemmed vine rustle. An experienced older companion points with his hand and says, "That's yellow ginger!" So everyone scrambled to get into the thickets, followed the vines to their roots, pulled away the fallen leaves, and dug down along the vine roots. Sure enough, sections of root-like yellow ginger were exposed. Holding a few sections of yellow ginger and crawling out of the thickets, if you weren't careful, your face or hands would be scratched by the thorns, oozing blood, and your clothes would be torn. Back home, you would inevitably be scolded by your parents.
When the children brought back the yellow ginger, their mother would wash off the dirt and sand and cut it into slices to dry in the sun. When the dried yellow ginger slices had accumulated to a pound, they would be taken to the purchasing station or Chinese medicine shop in the street to sell. The yellow ginger dug from the thickets eventually turned into two exercise books or a few pencils. Digging and selling yellow ginger became a source of subsidy for the tuition fees of rural children.
Nowadays, everyone's life is better, and the requirements for food are higher. Yellow ginger, which grows in the mountains, is very popular. After entering winter, batches of cooked yellow ginger are seen on the streets. Women push bicycles and peddle along the street, with a large basket hanging on one side of the back seat, filled with bunches of cooked yellow ginger tied with palm leaves. To dig so much yellow ginger, how many thickets must be crawled through, and how many scars must be left on the hands and face! However, on the faces and hands of the women, in addition to the roughness left by the wind and sun, there are no wounds left by thorns. When asked the reason, the woman smiled and said that yellow ginger can now be grown artificially like sweet potatoes and potatoes. Not only can baskets of it be cooked and sold in the city, but it can also be packaged and loaded onto large trucks and sold to the purchasing stations of medicinal material factories - planting yellow ginger has become an important way for the villagers to get rich.
After listening to the woman's introduction, I took the time to return to my hometown. Sure enough, the mountains and fields were planted with slopes of yellow ginger. Yellow ginger is no longer a memory of poverty, but a testimony to the new life of the villagers.
Return to TopBy: 王祥夫
To be honest, I didn't used to like listening to the local opera in our area. The local opera in our area is called "Shuahair" (耍孩儿), which has a somewhat strange name. There is a "Shuahair" tune in Yuan Zaju, and it is said that the singing method is similar to the current one. The roles in "Shuahair" are relatively complete, including male, female, painted-face, clown, and other roles, so it can be said that this is a small but very mature local opera genre.
The reason why I woke up early this morning and thought of this small opera genre is because someone downstairs was exercising while singing "Shuahair." Singing "Shuahair" requires using the back of the throat to make sounds. I don't understand the singing methods and pronunciations of operas, but I know that its pronunciation position is relatively far back. People who study the singing methods and pronunciations of "Shuahair" say that it has similarities with the "Khoomei" of Inner Mongolia. They both make sounds from the back of the throat, which are pressed very low and constantly vibrate. This singing method is rare in other opera genres.
In our area's countryside, in addition to the major operas of Beilu Bangzi and Jin Opera, "Shuahair" is also popular. Walking on the country roads, if "Shuahair" is being sung somewhere, you can hear the cheerful gongs and drums from afar. The percussion accompaniment of "Shuahair" is very elaborate, almost running through the entire singing of each character, so it seems very lively. From initially disliking "Shuahair" to gradually liking it, it is actually because it is my second local accent. As for "Peach blossoms are red, apricot blossoms are white," and "Sheep belly towel with three blue stripes," I don't think there's anything special about them. I live in the northernmost small city in northern Shanxi (山西), and both this place and Inner Mongolia (内蒙古), which goes northwest across this place, like to sing "Shuahair." Almost everyone can sing a bit of it.
I know that Mr. Sun Li (孙犁) has heard of this small opera called "Shuahair," but Mr. Sun Li mistakenly remembered "Shuahair" as "Shuahouer" (耍猴儿). Mr. Sun Li listened to "Shuahair" in Fanshi County (繁峙县) when he was recuperating there. The place where he recuperated was on a mountain, and that place was called "Hao'erliang" (蒿儿梁). Now "Hao'erliang" is gone. I don't know if there are still "Shuahair" troupes in Fanshi County now, but I think there may still be some in the countryside. Even now, there are still many amateur small troupes in the countryside that gather and disperse from time to time. Once the busy farming season is over, they organize themselves, lively and bustling, and go everywhere to perform, earning a little money or exchanging it for a good meal—a good meal in the northern countryside is just yellow rice cakes stewed with meat, there are no other tricks. What kind of opera did Mr. Sun Li listen to at that time? Did he understand it at all? I don't know. But what is certain is that Mr. Sun Li's hometown does not have this kind of opera.
The "Shuahair" opera troupes are generally not large. The "Shuahair" troupe in our area once adapted "Shajiabang" (沙家浜). After the play was rehearsed, they invited us to watch it. The actors performed on stage, and we watched below. Everyone felt that it was not like the original at all. We didn't dare to say it was unsuccessful, we only said it was not like the original. How could it be successful to adapt such a big play from the southern water towns with a small opera located in the north of the north?
My friend Ma Hai (马海) sings "Shuahair" extremely well. The section that Ma Hai likes to sing the most is what we call "Old Shopkeeper." The character of the old shopkeeper is a clown role. When he appears on stage, he holds an egg in his hand, and his singing is very humorous: "Shake an egg, **打平伙** (dǎ píng huǒ - "pool resources," to share food and drink together), stir the pot, not much stuff but lively." The "dapinghuo" in the countryside means that everyone brings some things and gathers together to eat, drink, and have fun. Not only here, but many places have the habit of "dapinghuo." You bring some food, he brings some food, it's very lively. And being able to sing the word "dapinghuo" on the stage, I haven't heard it in other operas, so I feel particularly close to it.
I am increasingly fond of this small opera called "Shuahair."
Walking on the country roads, like these days, it is already the beginning of winter, and the harvested farmland is empty and quiet. Walking and walking, you can see the village in the distance, and you may also hear the faint sound of gongs and drums in the distance. Once the busy farming season is over, people are free, and the countryside becomes lively. The familiar "hehehehe" singing in the gaps between the gongs and drums comes from afar. All of this makes people feel that the world is particularly vast and yet close to our lives, with unspeakable worldly affairs and urban life in between.
One more thing, Mr. Zhao Shuli (赵树理) of our province also liked opera very much, but I don't know which kind of Shanxi (山西) opera he liked, Jin Opera (晋剧), Pu Opera (蒲剧), or Meihu Opera (眉户剧)? I can't say. Because when I went to the Provincial Writers Association (省作协) on Nanhua Men East Fourth Street (南华门东四条) to participate in various literary activities, he had already passed away for many years.
This edition's email: dadi@peopledaily.cn
We welcome submissions from our readers. Submissions must be original and not submitted to multiple publications (**一稿多投** (yī gǎo duō tóu - "one manuscript multiple submissions," submitting the same article to multiple publications)).
Return to Top