People's Daily - January 26, 2026

Vigor and order for a vibrant and well-regulated society

By: 本报记者 张 洋 吴储岐

The morning light awakens the streets and alleys, and the 12345 citizen service hotline rings; community workers knock on the doors of the masses, resolving disputes in everyday conversations; volunteers walk the streets and alleys, conveying warmth with small acts of kindness; the night covers the urban and rural areas, and the lights of the rider stations are still softly lit.

Social work is related to the Party's long-term governance and the country's long-term stability and security, and to social harmony and stability and the people's happiness and well-being. On March 5, 2025, Xi Jinping (习近平), General Secretary of the Communist Party of China, made a powerful statement when participating in the deliberation of the Jiangsu (江苏) delegation at the Third Session of the 14th National People's Congress:

"Social work must be strengthened."

In recent years, under the strong leadership of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping (习近平) at its core, the social work system and mechanism have been continuously improved. Social work departments of Party committees at all levels have been established and fully performed their duties. Coordination mechanisms such as the Party building-led grassroots governance coordination mechanism and the emerging field Party building work coordination mechanism have been established and improved. The newly revised Organic Law of Villagers Committees and the Organic Law of Urban Residents Committees have been implemented. Efforts have been made to strengthen the construction of community worker teams, improve the volunteer service system in the new era, strengthen the service management of delivery workers and online delivery personnel, and implement the requirements of comprehensively and strictly governing the Party to strengthen the supervision of national industry associations and chambers of commerce. The social work policy and legal system has been continuously improved, and the Party's political and organizational advantages have been continuously transformed into social governance effectiveness. We unswervingly follow the path of socialist social governance with Chinese characteristics, making society both vibrant and orderly.

The Party's appeal, cohesion, and influence in emerging fields are constantly enhanced.

General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) emphasized: "We must focus on strengthening Party building in new economic organizations, new social organizations, and new employment groups, and constantly enhance the Party's appeal, cohesion, and influence in emerging fields."

In recent years, a large number of new economic organizations and new social organizations have emerged, especially new business forms represented by the platform economy, and there are approximately 84 million workers in new employment forms.

Making new employment groups feel the warmth of "home" and the care of Party organizations is one of the key tasks of Party committee social work departments in recent years.

In the early morning, 55-year-old delivery rider Yan Haiying (闫海营) wiped his food delivery box clean. He clicked on the rider application on his mobile phone, and the rider station information near Wujiaochang (五角场) Street in Yangpu District (杨浦区), Shanghai (上海) popped up, with clear markings for hot water supply and temporary rest areas. Finding a place to rest on the way to deliver food makes him feel at ease and warm.

In 2023, Yan Haiying (闫海营) came to Shanghai (上海) from his hometown in Henan (河南). In the beginning, he could only "run one order at a time, remember one road at a time." Later, he quickly felt the warmth of this city: friendly communities and buildings set aside rest areas, and building route maps were posted in conspicuous places; in the stations, microwave ovens, medicine cabinets, and charging equipment were all available. Yan Haiying (闫海营) said: "I used to worry that no one would take care of my children after school. Some streets have opened 'Kangaroo Baby Homes' to help with托管. With someone helping, I feel more at ease."

Warmth and respect are transformed into a sense of belonging, and also strengthen Yan Haiying's (闫海营) determination to get closer to the Party organization. When delivering food, he always says "I wish you a pleasant meal," and he always takes the garbage downstairs when he sees it in the corridor, and he also asks more about the needs of elderly people living alone. The Huandao (环岛) Business District Street Party Branch of Wujiaochang (五角场) Street in Yangpu District (杨浦区) paid attention to this enthusiastic rider when visiting new employment groups. In November 2025, Yan Haiying (闫海营) honorably became a probationary member of the Communist Party of China. On the day of his oath of admission to the Party, he was determined: "I have to be worthy of this identity."

Today, more and more new employment form workers like Yan Haiying (闫海营) across the country feel warmth, find organizations, and become a "new force" in urban governance.

Party committee social work departments, together with relevant departments, conduct in-depth research on where Party building in emerging fields is "new," where it is "difficult," and where it "lands." From providing daily conveniences such as rest, drinking water, and charging, to providing caring assistance for rights protection and vocational training, practical measures have enabled more new employment form workers to feel the warmth of the Party, and more and more people are taking the initiative to get closer to the Party organization.

Wherever there are masses, there is the Party's work; wherever there are Party members, there are Party organizations; wherever there are Party organizations, the role of Party organizations is fully发挥.

Walking into the fully automated assembly workshop of the Beiqi Foton (北汽福田) Shandong Zhucheng (山东诸城) plant, the machines roared, and the Party小组会 was held next to the work station: Which processes are still wasteful? Which line can be faster? Frontline Party member backbones wrote "golden ideas" on the whiteboard, discussed them on the same day, and tried them out the following week.

The difficulties in enterprise development are sometimes not in the workshop, but in funding, markets, and research and development. The Zhucheng (诸城) Municipal Party Committee Social Work Department of Shandong Province (山东省) explored a "Party building + service" linkage mechanism to coordinate relevant departments, banks, and enterprises. At the financing matchmaking meeting, policies were explained clearly and processes were streamlined; intellectual property pledge loans turned "intangible assets" into "real money." Practice has proved that strong Party building leads to strong development. Integrating Party building into enterprise production, operation, and management is a practical way to strengthen Party building in new economic organizations.

From streets and alleys to factory workshops, from online platforms to industrial chains, the network of the organizational system continues to extend, and the warmth of Party organizations continues to be传递. Through "two coverages" and through integrating education and management into services, the Party's appeal, cohesion, and influence in emerging fields are constantly enhanced.

In recent years, Party committee social work departments in various places have solidly promoted the Party's work and reform and development of industry associations and chambers of commerce, coordinated and promoted relevant industry management departments to发挥 their functional advantages, implemented the requirement of "managing the industry also requires managing Party building," promoted the comprehensive and strict governance of the Party to develop in depth in industry associations and chambers of commerce, promoted Party building to lead industry self-discipline, rectified outstanding problems in industry conduct and chaos in elections, strengthened the daily management and supervision of负责人, steadily promoted the adjustment and optimization of the structure and layout, and better发挥 the role of industry associations and chambers of commerce in serving the industry, serving society, and serving the masses.

Let the broad masses of people truly feel that the Party organization is around them and that warmth is in sight.

The stronger the grassroots, the stronger the country; the more stable the grassroots, the more stable the world.

General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) profoundly pointed out, "We must do a good job in Party building-led grassroots governance and grassroots政权建设" and "We must take serving the masses and benefiting the masses as the starting point and落脚点 of grassroots governance."

In the past, residents of the Lechangli (乐昌里) community in Weijin Road (卫津路) Street, Xinxing (新兴) Street, Heping District (和平区), Tianjin (天津) often had difficulty parking when they got off work—parking spaces were "抢," often leading to neighborhood disputes. Some people blocked the lanes in desperation, and some people parked their cars hard on the green belts, and many residents had to detour when passing by.

How to solve this "long-standing difficult problem"? The community Party committee took the initiative, visiting during the day to listen to needs and carefully observing with flashlights at night: When are vehicles most密集? Which ones are long-term占位? Which road is most prone to拥堵? They drew the survey results into a simple diagram and posted it on the bulletin board. Everyone understood at a glance: the root cause of the problem was insufficient space and unclear rules.

Urban management, housing construction, traffic management, and other departments, together with resident representatives, conducted on-site inspections and共同商议: Which corners can be optimized and utilized, which road can be changed to one-way, where is it more reasonable to install charging piles? In the end, the parking problem was gradually resolved.

The grassroots are the foundation of the Party's governance and the source of its strength. Today, all regions and departments have established a clear orientation of focusing on strengthening the grassroots, adhering to both补短板, 填空白 and提质量, 强功能, deepening the promotion of Party building-led acceptance of诉即办 work, and promoting the comprehensive progress and comprehensive excellence of grassroots Party organizations.

At the same time, Party committee social work departments and relevant departments in various places actively promote the implementation of the list of responsibilities of townships (街道), promote the improvement and完善 of the准入制度 for village (community) work matters, standardize挂牌 and certification matters... The rectification of formalism to reduce the burden on the grassroots is continuously promoted, the problem of "small horses pulling large carts" in grassroots governance continues to be solved, the effectiveness of grassroots governance continues to be improved, the relationship between the Party and the masses and between cadres and the masses is closer, and the Party's heart and the people's hearts are more凝聚.

In Dehou (德厚) Town, Wenshan (文山) City, Yunnan Province (云南省), the village market day is very lively, and a "stall" is particularly eye-catching: With the help of a few tables and a stack of leaflets, town and village cadres explain emergency避险, traffic safety, and惠民 policies to passersby. If everyone has any questions, they can get answers on the spot. When encountering elderly people with hearing impairments, young Party members slow down their speech and explain patiently.

"Now there is significantly more time to go to the villages." The感叹 of a cadre in Dehou (德厚) Town is a vivid footnote to the effectiveness of reducing the burden on the grassroots. In recent years, Wenshan (文山) City has first clarified the powers and responsibilities, so that the grassroots know what to do, what to cooperate with, and what should be taken back by higher-level departments; then it has straightened out the "文山会海," "滥挂牌," and "多头考核" that are缠手缠脚.

Today, the list is clearer, the meetings are more streamlined, the挂牌 is more standardized, and grassroots cadres are lightly armed, with more time and energy to go to the fields. The broad masses of people truly feel that there is someone to listen to their demands, someone to handle their affairs, and someone to solve their problems, that the Party organization is around them, and that warmth is in sight.

Form a social governance community where everyone is responsible, everyone fulfills their responsibilities, and everyone enjoys.

Social work, to a large extent, is doing mass work. Better凝聚 serving the masses is both the responsibility of Party member cadres and the basic method of carrying out work.

General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) pointed out, "Do a good job in凝聚 serving the masses," "We must better凝聚 serving the masses, improve the coordination mechanism of mass interests, improve the level of public services, and solve the urgent and difficult problems of the masses with heart and affection."

"My puppy is well-behaved and doesn't need a leash," "Children are afraid when they see dogs"... In Guangming (光明) Community, Fucheng (阜城) County, Hebei Province (河北省), residents once吵得不可开交 over civilized pet ownership, and even the cleaners frowned, "It's difficult to clean up."

The community Party committee did not rush to issue a notice, but first set up the table. The议事桌 does not speak empty words, but first speaks of feelings—what are you afraid of, what are you烦, what are the difficulties; then speaks of rules—how to avoid crowds when walking dogs, how to take elevators in a civilized manner, how to dispose of粪便; and finally speaks of responsibilities—who reminds, who persuades, and who supervises violations. After several rounds of discussion, residents jointly drafted the "Community Civilized Pet Ownership Convention," and several enthusiastic residents spontaneously formed a volunteer supervision team.

Adhering to co-construction, co-governance, and sharing, the众人的事情由众人商量. Today, similar consultation platforms like "Small Courtyard议事厅" are increasing across the country, forming a social governance community where everyone is responsible, everyone fulfills their responsibilities, and everyone enjoys.

Various places adhere to and develop the "Fengqiao (枫桥) Experience" in the new era, rely closely on the people, and earnestly solve contradictions at the grassroots level and resolve them in the bud. At the same time, the level of legalization of petition work is continuously improved, and the work of soliciting people's suggestions is carried out in depth, making it easier for the masses to express themselves, more timely coordination, and stronger guarantees.

Volunteer service is an important symbol of social civilization progress and an important channel for volunteers to serve others and contribute to society. In recent years, the vast number of volunteers, volunteer service organizations, and volunteer service workers have vigorously promoted the spirit of volunteerism, actively participated in the vivid practice of building a Chinese-style modernization, and strived to transmit truth, goodness, and beauty and spread positive energy in serving national strategies, serving the people's livelihood, and serving social governance.

Not long ago, late one night, the mountain roads in Songcun (宋村) Township, Chun'an (淳安) County, Zhejiang Province (浙江省) were slippery. The voice on the other end of the phone trembled: "Uncle Fang (方) fell at home!" Fang Liangzhong (方亮中) and Fang Xianhong (方先红), members of the "Neighbors" Elderly Assistance Team, dared not delay at all and rushed into the rain curtain at the first time to take the elderly to the hospital.

This race against time was not accidental. Under the guidance of the Chun'an (淳安) County Party Committee Social Work Department, Songcun (宋村) Township formed the "Neighbors" Elderly Assistance Team with Party members as the backbone, and regularly carried out volunteer activities such as providing convenient services, emergency assistance, and caring visits, paying attention to the lives of people living alone and the elderly, and using neighborhood warmth to protect the peace of the countryside.

This is a vivid microcosm of the widespread promotion of the spirit of volunteerism. In recent years, the Central Social Work Department has strengthened overall coordination, strengthened the management of volunteer service organizations, promoted the pilot work of Party building-led "professional social workers + volunteer service" integration, and organized activities such as "Volunteer Service in Thousands of Industries." The atmosphere of volunteer service being accessible and visible everywhere is becoming increasingly strong, becoming a powerful warm current surging in the new era.

More and more people are actively投身 the glorious cause of serving the grassroots and serving the masses.

General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) pointed out: "The effectiveness of grassroots social governance depends on the decisive factor of grassroots cadres. We must comprehensively consider the construction of the grassroots cadre team and gradually establish a high-quality and professional community worker team."

"As a social worker, what do you think are the differences between community service and property service?" "If the community is about to add service rooms, what principles should the functional layout of the Party-masses service center follow?" Not long ago, Shuangzha (双闸) Street, Jianye (建邺) District, Nanjing (南京) City, Jiangsu Province (江苏省) held a community service vocational skills competition.

The topics are not fancy, they are all实打实: How to resolve neighborhood disputes? How to make residents feel a sense of belonging to the community? In the simulated scenario, social workers have to come up with a plan in a short period of time, and they have to be able to explain it clearly, make sense of it, and do it. Sitting in the audience were community Party committee secretaries and resident representatives.

It's not just about knowledge, but also about methods, and even more about empathy. "It's very锻炼人, and it can be used when you return to the community," said Ding Shan (丁杉), a social worker from Xinhe (新河) Community, Shuangzha (双闸) Street.

With a sound mechanism and a strong team, we can better sort out the thousands of threads at the grassroots level and better solve the urgent and difficult problems of the masses. In recent years, various places have adhered to caring politically, caring for them in life, and supporting them in their work, especially actively exploring methods such as "promoting learning through competition and promoting work through learning" and "mentoring apprentices and honing skills in actual combat," allocating them according to standards, training them in layers, improving incentives, and畅通 development, and continuously improving the professional service level of social workers.

Social work is receiving increasing attention, and more and more people are actively投身 the glorious cause of serving the grassroots and serving the masses. As of now, a total of 2.025 million people have obtained social worker professional qualification certificates. Social work professionals are widely distributed in the fields of child welfare, elderly care services, social assistance, and community correction, becoming an important force in meeting the personalized and diversified needs of the masses and solving specific livelihood problems.

On the new journey, under the strong leadership of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping (习近平) at its core, and under the scientific guidance of Xi Jinping (习近平) Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, social work will surely continue to move towards high-quality development during the "15th Five-Year Plan" period, making new contributions to comprehensively promoting the construction of a strong country and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation with Chinese-style modernization.

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The Central Military Commission Issues the "Regulations on Electoral Work of Party Organizations in the Military"

Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, January 25th (Xinhua) - Recently, the Central Military Commission (中央军委) issued the "Regulations on the Election Work of Party Organizations in the Military" (《军队党组织选举工作规定》, hereinafter referred to as the "Regulations"), which will come into effect on February 1, 2026.

The "Regulations" adhere to Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era (习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想) as guidance, take the Party Constitution as the fundamental guideline, implement the general requirements of Party building in the new era and the Party's organizational line in the new era, actively adapt to the needs of the construction of the Party's organizational system in the military, summarize and absorb the practical achievements of the Party's internal election work in the military since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, highlight system design, pay attention to inheritance and innovation, and comprehensively regulate the election work of representatives to the Party's congresses and Party member congresses, Party committees and discipline inspection commissions at the regimental level and above, as well as Party committees, general branch committees, and branch committees at the grassroots level.

The "Regulations" are important Party regulations that regulate the election work of Party organizations in the military. They are of great significance for improving the Party's internal election system in the military, improving and implementing the Party's democratic centralism, enhancing the leadership, organizational, and executive capabilities of Party organizations, promoting the comprehensive strengthening of the Party's leadership and Party building in the military, and providing a strong organizational guarantee for winning the tough battle to achieve the centenary goal of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) (中国人民解放军).

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How can the emerging popular culture become even more brilliant? (Reader's Suggestion · Shared Attention)

By: 本报记者 栾心怡

The term "new mass literature and art" has been very popular recently. Some works by truck drivers and food delivery riders that I came across online were particularly touching. What's new about new mass literature and art? How can it be even more outstanding after "breaking the circle"?
　　——Netizen of People's Daily (人民网)

　　Literature and art are the bugles of the times, best representing the style of an era and leading the atmosphere of an era.
　　The "14th Five-Year Plan" proposes: "Prospering new mass literature and art under the conditions of the Internet." The Internet has broadened the space for the public to participate in literature and art. When mobile phone screens become draft paper and live broadcast rooms become micro-stages, the new mass literature and art of "everyone can create" writes a vivid footnote for the times.
　　What's new about new mass literature and art?
　　Let's look at two stories first.
　　In 1999, Liu Cixin's (刘慈欣) science fiction novel, an employee of a power plant, was published for the first time. More than 20 years had passed since he was first rejected by a magazine. He said that effort and luck are "x multiplied by y," and "if one is 0, the result is all 0." In that era, the extremely limited publishing channels blocked many people's literary dreams.
　　More than 20 years later, a short poem by food delivery rider Wang Jibing (王计兵) "dominated the screen," and the number of views quickly exceeded 20 million. With recognition, he wrote more and more, publishing 4 poetry collections in 3 years. He said that his unexpected popularity was very lucky, "like a grain of sand on the beach, suddenly illuminated by light"; he also talked about the inevitability of effort, "no seed can outrun spring, it will always germinate."
　　Some people say that in the Internet era, literature does not have "untimely talent," and creation has "no neglected talents." New technologies break down barriers, and the talents of the people gushing out, like hundreds of rivers converging into the sea, are surging into the tide of literature and art.
　　The newness of new mass literature and art is the newness of the subject.
　　Mass participation, mass co-creation, mass communication, and mass love. Farmers in the fields "chew out the taste of poetry" from wheat grains, and after-work workers tell themselves on the stand-up comedy stage... You, me, and him who bravely "open the microphone" are not only characters in the play, but also playwrights; they are protagonists, but also the true masters of literature and art.
　　The newness of new mass literature and art is also the newness of the times.
　　Unprecedented cultural confidence, the establishment of the world's largest education system... Chinese-style modernization is moving steadily and far, "laying the foundation" for new mass literature and art, and also driving the two-way rush of material civilization and spiritual civilization. We not only have towering buildings, but also the majestic Chinese national spirit building.
　　Let's look at the second question from netizens: After the new mass literature and art "breaks the circle," how can it be more outstanding?
　　The germination of new things is often accompanied by the pain of breaking ground. "Can 'dopamine literature' stand the test of time?" "Can fresh labels reduce the requirements for literary and artistic value?" The game between quality and traffic on the Internet also brings some worries.
　　Boutique products can be unconventional, "both standing tall and covering the sky." In terms of creation, the public has the conditions, the ability, and even more advantages, but first of all, we must clarify a truth: "All creative skills and methods serve the content." Literature and art should be popular, but they must never be vulgar, low, or kitsch. Only by firmly upholding the values of upward and good can we create masterpieces that will be passed down to future generations.
　　Why are we always willing to applaud the "heartbeat of the same frequency resonance"? This is precisely the key to the brilliance of new mass literature and art.
　　Let's listen to the answer from Shan Xiaohua (单小花), a farmer writer from Xiji County (西吉县), Ningxia (宁夏): "Just because I am in the lowest level of society, I have indeed experienced such things." "Contrast" is certainly eye-catching, but what stirs up ripples is ultimately the spiritual core of flowers blooming in sweat. Such works are simple and sincere enough.
　　At the same time, we must also see the realistic problem of mass creators "两句三年得 (liǎng jù sān nián dé - "two sentences in three years," it takes a long time to create even a few lines of poetry)," throughout the ages, to write works with bones and temperature, you still have to endure loneliness.
　　The hasty strokes in the gaps between labor, the moments of thinking in the roaring workshop, "both holding a hoe and holding a pen" are already not easy. We must hold an umbrella for grassroots creators, so that more people can have the mood to polish their works while working hard to live. The Xiji Magnolia Academy (西吉木兰书院) holds literary activities, and some farmers are in a hurry to come, "too late to wash off the mud on their hands"; writers from all walks of life in Dongguan (东莞), Guangdong (广东) went to the Lu Xun Academy of Literature (鲁迅文学院) for further study, and sighed that "dreams have never been so close"...
　　Looking forward to the changes of the times and the progress of China, the people's observation is the most敏锐, and the people's voices are the most moving. When the sound of keyboard tapping, the sound of singing and playing in the live broadcast room, and the sound of mobile phone shutters converge into the sound of the times, when the masses jointly draw the "Along the River During the Qingming Festival" (清明上河图) of literature and art with one stroke, the literary peak of the new era will be within reach.

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China Builds World's Largest Postal and Delivery Network (China's Industries Moving Towards New and Better)

By: 本报记者 韩 鑫

Northern lands, thousands of miles of ice; on Chagan Lake (查干湖), horses' hooves thunder.

In the depths of winter, at the winter fishing site of Chagan Lake (查干湖) in Jilin (吉林), live broadcasts and express delivery work together to help "northern fish fly south" at top speed.

Here, the camera focuses on the ice surface, the ancient rituals of traditional fishing and hunting, and the spectacular scene of "fish leaping from the ice lake," drawing exclamations from fans in the live broadcast room.

There, a line of cold chain vehicles and unmanned vehicles are ready to depart. From the lifting of the net on the ice lake to the preservation and packaging, direct delivery from the place of origin is combined with public, rail, and air transportation capacity, helping fresh fish arrive in Beijing (北京), Shanghai (上海), and other places as early as the next morning.

Small express deliveries connect cities and villages, linking online and offline, and are an important force in promoting the two-way flow of resources and smoothing economic circulation.

General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) attaches great importance to the construction of a modern logistics system, emphasizing that "logistics is the 'artery' of the real economy," and pointing out that "we must actively develop rural e-commerce and express delivery services."

With a clear strategy and direction, the mission of better connecting production and consumption and serving the real economy is even clearer.

Faced with external shocks and insufficient domestic demand, in 2025, the postal express delivery industry is firmly shifting its momentum towards innovation and optimizing its structure. The industry's development is making steady progress, and the role of the "artery" is being better played.

"Strengthening the arteries" means using new technologies to help "improve the efficiency of economic operation."

"It's very cost-effective to buy a new tablet computer with the new 'national subsidy'." At 10:00 a.m. on January 10 this year, Li Li (李莉), a resident of Chengdu (成都), Sichuan (四川), clicked to place an order. More than 10 kilometers away, a smart delivery by JD Logistics (京东物流) began—

Inside the intelligent warehouse, flying ladder robots and handling robots shuttle back and forth between the shelves, picking items accurately; after packaging is completed, the packages flow to the automatic sorting system for weighing, scanning, and consolidation, taking as little as 15 minutes; at the final stage, unmanned delivery vehicles and couriers cooperate to complete door-to-door delivery. From placing the order to receiving the goods, the entire process takes less than 2 hours.

Intelligent warehousing, automatic sorting, unmanned delivery... New quality productive forces are surging in various delivery links, becoming a vivid footnote to the express delivery industry's move towards innovation.

Technology weaves the warp and weft, and a world-leading intelligent logistics network is accelerating its formation—

The "main arteries" are being renewed day by day. Sorting centers above the industry scale have basically achieved automated operation, and the annual transportation volume of drones is nearly 4 million pieces... In 2025, opinions on accelerating the technological development of the postal industry were issued, and the entire industry rapidly shifted from labor-intensive to technology-intensive. The comprehensive transportation combination efficiency, the degree of informationization and organization, the service range, and the cost performance ratio are among the best in the world.

The "microcirculation" is accelerating its iteration. Electronic waybills have achieved full coverage, the installation rate of the Beidou (北斗) satellite navigation system on trunk vehicles exceeds 95%, and cloud computing and large models are widely used in demand forecasting, intelligent warehousing, intelligent scheduling, path planning, and other scenarios... A new generation of information technology is exerting its effects in all links of receiving, transferring, transporting, and delivering, continuously improving delivery efficiency and delivery accuracy, and increasing user satisfaction year by year.

Today, this rapidly changing express delivery network carries large-scale, high-frequency, and wide-area physical distribution day after day, supporting China's express delivery volume reaching a new height of nearly 200 billion pieces in 2025.

"Relaxing the arteries" means using new models to serve the "in-depth promotion of the construction of a unified national market."

In the twilight, the ZTO Express (中通快递) Shaanxi Xianyang (陕西咸阳) Transit Center is brightly lit. Inside the nearly 20,000-square-meter site, multi-layer conveyor belts operate at high speed, sending packages to 49 first-level outlets in Xinjiang (新疆).

"We use a centralized transportation model to pre-position packages from various places to Xinjiang (新疆) to the Xianyang (咸阳) transfer warehouse, and then uniformly distribute and directly send them," said the relevant person in charge of ZTO Express (中通快递). Express deliveries that once had to be transferred multiple times to enter Xinjiang (新疆) are now arriving directly in the north and south of the Tianshan Mountains (天山) at lower costs and faster delivery times. Since the commissioning of the centralized transportation warehouse in 2024, the volume of express deliveries entering Xinjiang (新疆) through this route has increased from an average of 60,000 pieces per day to 100,000 pieces.

Through measures such as transfer consolidation and centralized transportation, public-rail combined transportation, and integrated local warehousing and distribution, the average daily delivery volume of postal express items in Xinjiang (新疆) is currently about 6.1 million pieces, an increase of nearly 5 times compared with 2020, effectively releasing consumer vitality.

The proportion of "no free shipping" for online shopping in Inner Mongolia (内蒙古) has dropped to 1.38%; Tibet (西藏) has achieved same-day and next-day delivery for e-commerce shopping around Lhasa (拉萨), and 4-day delivery for remote cities and prefectures... In 2025, the State Post Bureau (国家邮政局) formulated and implemented working measures for the postal industry to serve the construction of a unified national market, continuously consolidating and improving the "free shipping" level of e-commerce express items in Xinjiang (新疆), Tibet (西藏), and other places, and the proportion of express delivery volume in the central and western regions of the country has steadily increased.

At present, China (中国) has built the world's largest postal delivery network with the largest number of beneficiaries. With the continuous improvement of network accessibility in the central and western regions, the shortcomings of delivery services will be transformed into potential for business growth, effectively promoting the better integration of the central and western regions into the unified national market.

"Extending the arteries" means using new hubs to promote "unimpeded domestic and international dual circulation."

At 5:00 a.m., at the Ezhou Huahu International Airport (鄂州花湖国际机场) in Hubei (湖北), a SF Airlines (顺丰航空) all-cargo aircraft took off fully loaded with goods amid a roar.

Among the various goods, the fresh flowers from Yunnan (云南) are particularly eye-catching. They are freshly picked the day before, enter the cold chain transfer station in the afternoon of the same day, and then take a cargo plane from Kunming (昆明) to Ezhou (鄂州) in the evening, before transferring to an international route for "air-to-air transfer," and arriving at Incheon International Airport (仁川国际机场) in South Korea (韩国) at 8:00 a.m. the next day. After a "relay race" across mountains and seas, the bunches of flowers are still fresh and vibrant.

"Air-to-air transfer" and end-to-end service allow more cross-waybill, cross-airline, and cross-border goods to operate efficiently in this Asia's first professional cargo airport, reaching the whole country overnight and connecting the world the next day. In 2025, the cargo throughput will reach nearly 1.5 million tons, setting a new record.

Observing the overall situation from a local perspective, the cargo and mail throughput of Ezhou Huahu International Airport (鄂州花湖国际机场) has jumped to the top five in the country, the construction of YTO's (圆通) Zhejiang Jiaxing Global Aviation Logistics Hub (浙江嘉兴全球航空物流枢纽) is accelerating, and postal express delivery hub clusters in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (京津冀), Yangtze River Delta (长三角), Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (粤港澳大湾区), and Chengdu-Chongqing (成渝地区) regions have basically taken shape... In 2025, the postal express delivery industry will deeply connect with the national comprehensive three-dimensional transportation network and the construction of national logistics hubs, accelerating the construction of a modern delivery service network system of "hub + channel + network."

In the past, carriages and horses were slow, but now same-day delivery is possible. Zhao Chongjiu (赵冲久), Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and Director of the State Post Bureau (国家邮政局党组书记、局长), said that bearing in mind General Secretary Xi Jinping's (习近平) earnest entrustment, the entire industry will accelerate the development of new quality productive forces in the industry, improve the layout of the delivery network, deepen industrial synergy and integrated development, and provide strong and effective postal express delivery service guarantees for achieving a good start to the "15th Five-Year Plan."

Following the "new" and moving towards "excellence," the name card of China's (中国) express delivery will become even brighter, allowing the beautiful vision of "**物畅其流**" (wù chàng qí liú - "goods flow freely," smooth circulation of goods) to continuously shine into reality...

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National electricity market transaction volume reached 6.6 trillion kWh in 2025

This newspaper's Beijing (北京) dispatch on January 25th (Reporter Ding Yiting (丁怡婷)) - The National Energy Administration (国家能源局) released data showing that in 2025, the cumulative national electricity market transaction volume reached 6.6394 trillion kilowatt-hours, an increase of 7.4% year-on-year, accounting for 64% of the total social electricity consumption, an increase of 1.3 percentage points year-on-year.

From the perspective of the transaction scope, the intra-provincial transaction volume was 5.0473 trillion kilowatt-hours, an increase of 6.2% year-on-year; the inter-provincial and inter-regional transaction volume was 1.5921 trillion kilowatt-hours, an increase of 11.6% year-on-year, of which the transaction volume across power grid operating areas was 3.4 billion kilowatt-hours.

From the perspective of transaction types, the medium and long-term transaction volume was 6.3522 trillion kilowatt-hours; the spot transaction volume was 287.2 billion kilowatt-hours. The green electricity transaction volume was 328.5 billion kilowatt-hours, an increase of 38.3% year-on-year.

In 2025, a normalized electricity trading mechanism across power grid operating areas was established. Based on the power trading organized by the State Grid (国家电网) and China Southern Power Grid (南方电网) respectively, an "online electricity mall" was established to ensure the efficient operation of the unified national electricity market system. During the peak summer period, the southern region supplied electricity to support Shanghai (上海), Zhejiang (浙江), and Anhui (安徽) for the first time; in October, the State Grid (国家电网) and China Southern Power Grid (南方电网) achieved inter-regional power allocation in the form of spot transactions for the first time.

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Ready to go; All set; Geared up

Starting from 00:00 on January 26, the national railway implemented a new train operation schedule. After the adjustment, the national railway arranged 12,130 scheduled passenger trains and 23,748 freight trains. The national railway's passenger and freight transportation capacity and efficiency have been further improved, and the supply of transportation products has been continuously optimized.

With the Spring Festival travel season approaching, railway departments are strengthening maintenance and repairs to fully ensure the safe travel of passengers. The picture shows a fleet of EMU (Electric Multiple Unit) trainsets ready to depart after maintenance at the Wuhan EMU Depot (武汉动车段), the largest EMU maintenance base in Central China, in the early morning of January 24.

Lei Sheng (雷声), reporter of this newspaper.

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China to Establish 1,139 New National Standard Reference Materials in 2025

According to data released by the State Administration for Market Regulation (市场监管总局): In 2025, China newly established 1,139 national standard reference materials, a year-on-year increase of 61.8%. Among them, 67 are national first-class standard reference materials, and 1,072 are national second-class standard reference materials. Up to now, China has cumulatively established 19,441 national standard reference materials, providing strong support for the high-quality development of the economy and society.

Standard reference materials are indispensable "rulers" and "weights" for carrying out chemical, biological and other testing activities, and are key elements in the construction of national metrological capabilities.

In 2025, the growth of standard reference materials in the medical and health field was relatively rapid, with a year-on-year increase of 231.9%. The environmental monitoring field approved and released the largest number of standard reference materials, with a total of 406, accounting for 35.6%. The food safety field approved and released the largest number of national first-class standard reference materials, with a total of 37, accounting for 55.2% of the national first-class standard reference materials approved and released in 2025.

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More Bus Routes Between Beijing and Hebei, Making Cross-Provincial Commuting More Convenient (Striving for the "15th Five-Year Plan" · First-hand Observations)

By: 本报记者 张腾扬

Promote the construction of major cross-regional and cross-basin channels to strengthen regional infrastructure connectivity.
　　——Excerpt from the "15th Five-Year Plan" Proposals

　　Around 6 a.m., the bus stop at Rongfengyuan Community in Dachang Hui Autonomous County (大厂回族自治县), Hebei (河北) Province, on the east bank of the Chaobai River (潮白河), is already bustling. Passengers orderly board a green-painted bus – the Dachang (大厂) to Beijing Subway Line 6 Lucheng Station (潞城站) express commuter line (hereinafter referred to as "Dachang Special 1 (大厂专1)").
　　The bus travels through the streets, crosses the provincial border, and drives onto the brand-new Changtong Road Chaobai River Bridge (厂通路潮白河大桥), stopping at the bus stop next to Lucheng Subway Station (潞城地铁站) in Tongzhou District (通州区), Beijing (北京) more than 10 minutes later. Commuters merge into the "pulse" of Beijing (北京), heading to their respective jobs.
　　"Before, to get to the subway station in Beijing (北京), I had to share a ride or ride an electric bike for several kilometers and then take a bus. Now, the bus stop is right outside my door, saving time, effort, and money. I deliberately got up early today to have breakfast at Wangfujing (王府井) before going to work," said passenger Yang Xiaohui (杨晓慧).
　　Living in the North Three Counties (北三县) of Langfang (廊坊), Hebei (河北), and working in Beijing (北京), many cross-provincial commuters like Yang Xiaohui (杨晓慧) travel between the two places every day. Before the opening of Dachang Special 1 (大厂专1) in May 2025, cross-provincial commuting was not convenient for residents in western Dachang (大厂).
　　"It felt like all my time and energy were spent on the road," said Yang Xiaohui (杨晓慧).
　　In fact, before the opening of Dachang Special 1 (大厂专1), there were already five bus routes between Tongzhou (通州) and Dachang (大厂), all extended outward by Beijing Public Transport Group (北京公交集团), with insufficient station coverage in Dachang (大厂).
　　Tongzhou (通州) and Dachang (大厂) are separated by the Chaobai River (潮白河), and the route direction is limited, so the "last mile" problem for residents' travel is still prominent.
　　In September 2024, the Changtong Road Chaobai River Bridge (厂通路潮白河大桥) was completed and opened to traffic, adding another main road between Tongzhou (通州) and Dachang (大厂), effectively alleviating the problem of traffic jams and detours for Dachang (大厂) residents entering Beijing (北京). But how to make good use of the newly opened bridge to make cross-provincial buses more convenient depends not only on smooth roads, but also on institutional connectivity.
　　The coordination platform jointly built by Beijing (京) and Hebei (冀) – the Executive Committee of the Integrated High-Quality Development Demonstration Zone of Tongzhou District (通州区), Beijing (北京市) and Sanhe (三河), Dachang (大厂), and Xianghe (香河) Counties of Hebei Province (河北省) – began to play a role. Since October 2024, the two places have used this regular joint meeting mechanism to efficiently communicate their needs. The Beijing Municipal Transportation Commission (北京市交通委), the Tongzhou District Transportation Commission (通州区交通委), the Dachang County Transportation Bureau (大厂县交通局), and the operating company Langfang Fumin Bus Company (廊坊富民公交公司) sat together to scrutinize every detail, from policy basis to station settings, from route direction to emergency plans.
　　Finally, the two places reached a consensus, and Tongzhou (通州) and Dachang (大厂) signed a bus route operation cooperation agreement to solve the pain points of cross-provincial commuting: Hebei (河北) is responsible for purchasing vehicles and independent operation, and relevant departments in Beijing (北京) provide necessary assistance. A new bus route originating from the coordination mechanism was born.
　　Opening the mobile phone map, you can see that the direction of Dachang Special 1 (大厂专1) is not "straightforward": in Dachang (大厂), it twists and turns deep into the community; while in Beijing (北京), it is "straight to the end," directly to the subway station.
　　"We do embroidery work to optimize the route," said Cao Ming (曹明), the driver of Dachang Special 1 (大厂专1). "We specifically pick community roads that are difficult for large buses to enter, covering corners that main routes cannot reach like capillaries." After opening and operating, the operator dynamically adjusts the route based on resident feedback, newly covering Rongfengyuan (榕枫园), David City (大卫城) and other communities, benefiting tens of thousands of residents.
　　At the provincial border checkpoint, Dachang Special 1 (大厂专1) takes a dedicated lane for quick inspection and enters Beijing (北京), going straight to Lucheng Subway Station (潞城地铁站) without stopping in the middle, shortening the time to the shortest possible. "All designs serve the two purposes of 'fast commuting' and 'in-depth service'," said Ma Yang (马阳), a cadre of the Dachang Hui Autonomous County (大厂回族自治县) Transportation Bureau. Dachang Special 1 (大厂专1) operates shifts concentrated in the morning and evening, accurately serving cross-provincial commuters.
　　To ensure service quality, the operator carefully selects new energy vehicles and configures small passenger cars to facilitate "going through streets and alleys"; selects excellent drivers, conducts special training, and formulates detailed emergency plans.
　　Currently, Dachang Special 1 (大厂专1) has connected 16 surrounding communities, benefiting approximately 50,000 cross-provincial commuters. Not long ago, the Dachang Special 2 (大厂专2) line from Dachang (大厂) to Luyang Station (潞阳站) of the Tongzhou District (通州区) subway was opened, and the cross-provincial bus operation model has been continued.
　　Bu Wei (卜伟), who lives in the Binhe Avenue Community (滨河大道社区) of Dachang (大厂), is a regular customer of Dachang Special 1 (大厂专1): "Taking this bus, traveling back and forth between the community and Lucheng Subway Station (潞城地铁站), saves about 1 hour per day compared to before. I spend the extra time with my family, and the sense of gain is real."
　　"Other counties and districts in Hebei (河北) near Beijing (北京) are also planning similar routes," said Ma Yang (马阳).

　　This issue is coordinated by: Cui Bin (崔斌)

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Tangible and accessible convenience in people's daily lives (Expert Commentary)

By: 陈福中

In recent years, in response to the commuting pain points of people in the "Three Northern Counties" (北三县) and other areas surrounding Beijing (北京), various regions have actively explored diversified solutions such as "customized express buses," cross-provincial buses, and commuter trains, achieving an upgrade from "having roads to travel" to "efficient and smooth travel." The Dachang Special Line 1 (大厂专1) and other cross-provincial bus routes are typical examples.

These measures not only help solve the pain points of cross-provincial commuting, reflecting the refinement and humanization of infrastructure interconnection, but also effectively promote the optimal allocation of production factors and labor, which helps to form a new pattern of regional economy with complementary functions and gradient development. The shortening of commuting time and the reduction of costs have created basic conditions for counties in Hebei (河北) to undertake industries and attract talents.

The coordinated advancement of public transportation construction in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (京津冀) region provides tangible and accessible daily convenience for the masses. This innovative achievement of institutional and mechanism coordination provides a model for other metropolitan areas and urban agglomerations to solve the problem of cross-administrative regional public transportation.

The "15th Five-Year Plan" (十五五规划) proposal puts forward that "we will promote the construction of large cross-regional and cross-basin channels and strengthen the interconnection of regional infrastructure." With the continuous deepening of transportation interconnection in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (京津冀), the regional spatial structure will be accelerated to reconstruct, laying a more solid foundation for building a higher-level integrated modern infrastructure network during the "15th Five-Year Plan" (十五五规划) period.

(The author is a professor at the School of Economics, University of International Business and Economics (对外经济贸易大学经济学院). This article was compiled from an interview with Zhang Tengyang (张腾扬), a reporter from this newspaper.)

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Industrial robots: From "obedient" to capable of autonomous decision-making (Economic New Perspective: Micro-perspective on full-year data)

By: 本报记者 王永战

In 2025, China's economy forged ahead against pressure, developing towards new and superior directions, and achieving its main expected goals satisfactorily.

The data in some areas is particularly impressive, and the secret to growth is hidden in the stories of individual micro-entities: in industrial robot R&D laboratories, experience the new direction of manufacturing; on production lines empowered by artificial intelligence technology, experience the superior direction of software services; in hot home appliance stores, experience the upgrading of consumption scenarios; in enterprises striving to explore the international market, experience the resilience of foreign trade... From today onwards, this edition will launch a series of reports entitled "Micro-Perspective on Full-Year Data" to perceive the strong pulse of China's economy together with readers.
　　——Editor

28.0%
In 2025, the added value of China's high-tech manufacturing industry above designated size increased by 9.4% year-on-year. A number of competitive and advantageous industries have emerged, and the output of industrial robots has increased by 28.0% year-on-year.

"There is a slight abnormal sound, and the arm is also shaking!" In the laboratory, a young man wearing glasses skillfully operated the self-developed sound detection system and concluded that the robot had a low-frequency sound and was shaking. Everyone gathered around to analyze the cause of the problem.

Recently, a technical problem-solving discussion was held in the Embodied Intelligence Laboratory of Chengdu Canop Robot Technology Co., Ltd. (成都卡诺普机器人技术股份有限公司). This is an industrial robot enterprise in Chengdu (成都), Sichuan (四川) that engages in the research and development and production of welding robots and handling robots.

The speaker, Pang Kai (庞恺), is the head of the Embodied Intelligence Laboratory. The robot is called "Lingshuo (灵烁)," a new product released by the company in August 2025, which is used in industrial sub-sectors such as welding, inspection, and sorting, and is undergoing upgrading and replacement.

"The shaking amplitude is small and difficult to observe with the naked eye, so it should not be due to mechanical design." After some discussion, Wang Hongsen (王鸿森), a mechanical engineer, took the lead in putting forward his point of view, "Could it be that there is a problem with the algorithm planning of the mechanical arm's movement trajectory?"

Gao Yuan (高源), an algorithm engineer, analyzed and replied, "The abnormal sound is coming from the right arm. The left arm uses the same algorithm, but there is no problem during movement."

Pang Kai (庞恺) turned his attention to Xiang Qinjiang (项勤建), the engineer in charge of the motor module: "You can collect the motor module data to see what went wrong."

"It is indeed possible that the parameters of the motor module are mismatched." After ruling out other possible causes, Xiang Qinjiang (项勤建) acted quickly, collected motor data, and began analysis...

Ever since "Lingshuo (灵烁)" began to be upgraded and replaced, such technical problem-solving discussions have been held almost every day.

"In the past, industrial robots executed corresponding operation commands according to pre-entered programs." When talking about why they developed the "Lingshuo (灵烁)" robot, Pang Kai (庞恺) frankly said that in recent years, a large number of non-assembly line production models have emerged in the industrial field, and the development of new robots that can autonomously identify, make decisions, and act has become a new issue facing the entire industry.

In response to the new situation, Canop (卡诺普) began to apply artificial intelligence technology and launched the research and development of new industrial robots.

Problems followed. "The industrial field is subdivided and complicated, and it is difficult to cope with different industrial scenarios with only one set of algorithms." Gao Yuan (高源) introduced that developing more intelligent industrial robots, algorithms are the core issue, which is also a development bottleneck facing the entire industry.

"After several rounds of discussions, we finally chose to apply a common technology base and train vertical models according to the application scenarios of robot welding, sorting, etc." Pang Kai (庞恺) introduced, "The company hopes that the new robot will have multi-modal perception capabilities such as vision, force, and semantic fusion, and can assist in 'managing' smart factories, just like the factory's 'workshop director'."

For this new type of robot, the company plans to adopt embodied intelligence technology. Humanoid industrial robots have a certain degree of human flexibility, which can effectively expand application scenarios, but the challenge is how to accurately realize scenario applications.

To this end, the R&D team is constantly empowering and testing the robot, and training its ability to respond to scenarios. "For example, if we find that the robot's arm is shaking during testing, we need to adjust the algorithm or the parameters of the motor module to make the movement smoother," said Pang Kai (庞恺).

Since "Lingshuo (灵烁)" is designed as a humanoid, it has more joints than traditional industrial robots, and the requirements for intelligence are also higher.

"'Lingshuo (灵烁)' has more than 20 joints, and we test them one by one, and conduct experiments for different application scenarios." Pang Kai (庞恺) said that the requirements for intelligence are high, so we constantly train vertical large models, and discover problems and optimize algorithms through experiments.

With the efforts of Pang Kai (庞恺) and his colleagues, "Lingshuo (灵烁)" has entered the market. The upgraded and replaced product is equipped with a microphone and receiver, and the "brain" is also installed in the robot's abdomen. The computing power level is gradually improved, and it is expected to be put into use in the first half of this year.

Deng Shihai (邓世海), the company's deputy general manager, said: "The industrial manufacturing industry is still constantly developing and changing. As an industrial robot enterprise, facing new situations and new challenges, we must continue to consolidate the underlying technology, introduce more application scenarios, optimize vertical models, and develop more mature industrial robots."

Driven by leading enterprises, the industrial robot industry in Chenghua Economic Development Zone (成华经开区), Chengdu (成都), Sichuan (四川), where Canop (卡诺普) is located, is developing steadily. "Since 2025, we have expanded customers for enterprises, introduced supporting parts enterprises, promoted the joint construction of internship bases with universities, and expanded talent reserves and customer resources." Liu Jun (刘军), deputy director of the Chenghua Economic Development Zone Management Committee (成华经开区管委会), said that the Economic Development Zone has gathered more than 120 robot-related enterprises, and the advantages of large-scale development are constantly showing.

This issue is coordinated by: Qi Jiarun (祁嘉润)

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Confronting the Gap, Promoting the Transformation of Industry from Large to Strong (Expert Commentary)

By: 李 陈

In 2025, China's industrial robot industry maintained a high-speed growth trend, and the industry development showed new characteristics. On the one hand, technological innovation and iteration accelerated. The deep integration of artificial intelligence large models, machine vision, and industrial robots promoted the transformation of industrial robot products towards high flexibility and intelligence, improving the precision and consistency of manufacturing processes such as welding, machining, and assembly. On the other hand, the breadth and depth of applications have been significantly expanded. The application fields of independent brand industrial robots have covered 71 major categories and 241 medium categories of the national economy, with strong demand in fields such as new energy, aerospace, and high-end equipment.

China's industrial robots have become an important force in promoting the development of the global robot industry. Its market share and industrial scale rank among the top in the world, but compared with leading international companies, there are still gaps in some aspects. For example, the accumulation of basic theory and original technology is relatively weak, and there is insufficient leadership in cutting-edge technology exploration and disruptive innovation. The performance and reliability of high-end products still have room for improvement, and some high-end application fields still rely on imported brands.

In the new year, to promote the industrial robot industry from large to strong, all parties need to work together. At the policy level, we should continue to implement the "Robot +" application pilot program, increase support for basic research and core technology breakthroughs, and continuously improve the standard system and pilot test base construction. At the enterprise level, we should strengthen the main position of innovation, deepen the integration of industry, academia, research, and application, accelerate the breakthrough of short-board technologies such as high-end reducers and industrial chips, and the iteration of mature technologies, and improve the level of independent control of core components. At the ecological level, we should support more universities and vocational schools to open robot-related majors. Deepen the digital transformation of manufacturing and open up more application scenarios. Guide financial capital to effectively support industrial innovation and development.

(The author is the Deputy Director of the Intelligent Equipment Research Office of the Institute of Industrial Policies of the China Center for Information Industry Development (中国电子信息产业发展研究院), and the article was compiled by Liu Wenxin (刘温馨), a reporter from this newspaper.)

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Ensuring Spring Festival Travel Rush is Well-Organized and Effective

This newspaper reported from Beijing (北京) on January 25th (Reporter Han Xin (韩鑫)): The Ministry of Transport (交通运输部) and eight other departments recently jointly issued the "2026 Comprehensive Transportation Spring Festival Travel Season Safety Production and Service Guarantee Overall Plan," proposing that during this year's Spring Festival travel season, transportation will operate at a high level, and natural disasters will be frequent and widespread. All efforts must be made to ensure the safety production and service guarantee of the Spring Festival travel season.

To ensure the effective and orderly operation of the 2026 Spring Festival travel season, the following measures will be the focus this year:

In highlighting the prevention and control of major risks, strengthen the charging service guarantee for new energy vehicles. Increase the charging capacity of service areas through measures such as adding fixed charging facilities, equipping high-power fast charging equipment, and deploying mobile charging facilities. Strengthen the smooth flow of traffic on busy road sections. Encourage the implementation of free vehicle rescue to improve the road network's ability to maintain smooth traffic. Publish real-time road condition information through multiple channels in a timely manner to guide the public to reasonably arrange travel times and routes. Strengthen the transportation guarantee for large passenger flows. Continue to implement "reservation for crossing the sea" at the Qiongzhou Strait (琼州海峡) in and out of Hainan (海南), advance ticket sales, and advance diversion and control, improve the linkage mechanism for suspension and resumption of navigation in foggy weather, and fully implement free return of leased vehicles in different locations on the island.

In strengthening comprehensive transportation organization, strengthen the allocation of comprehensive transportation capacity. Actively promote "air-rail," "air-bus," and "public-rail" intermodal transportation, and promote convenient services such as direct baggage check-in for passengers and "one-ticket" across transportation modes. Strengthen transportation service guarantees for key hubs. By increasing the number of trips and extending operating hours, do a good job in providing transportation service guarantees for urban buses, urban rail transit, and taxis (including online car-hailing) for passengers arriving and departing from hubs. Improve the service level of small and micro passenger car rentals. Guide leading car rental companies to increase the deployment of small and micro rental passenger cars in key cities, expand service networks, and expand the scope of free or low-cost return of vehicles in different locations.

In strengthening warm-hearted services during the Spring Festival travel season, the "Warm Journey" campaign will be launched this year. Guide operators of highway service areas to increase the supply of high-quality catering and goods, add mobile toilets, and increase the frequency of garbage removal. Strengthen travel service guarantees for key groups. At the same time, work with the human resources and social security departments to organize the "Spring Warmth for Migrant Workers" campaign, and do a good job in ensuring the travel of migrant workers returning home and returning to work in a concentrated manner by opening "point-to-point" chartered buses, special trains, and chartered flights. In addition, strengthen the care and concern for frontline employees during the Spring Festival travel season, especially truck, taxi, online car-hailing, and bus drivers, and crew members.

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Photo Report

On January 24th, Panlong Tiandi in Qingpu District (青浦区), Shanghai (上海), was adorned with lanterns and decorations, and the atmosphere of the Lunar New Year was gradually becoming stronger. As a pilot project and achievement of Shanghai's "urban village" renovation, Panlong Tiandi retains historical relics such as the Xianghua Bridge (香花桥) from the Yuan Dynasty and the Cheng Family Ancestral Hall (程家祠堂) from the Qing Dynasty, while also injecting modern commercial and cultural vitality. The photo shows tourists enjoying the colorful lanterns in Panlong Tiandi.

Photo by Wang Chu (王 初) (Image China)

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During the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, the quality certification improvement campaign for micro and small enterprises has assisted more than 85,000 enterprises.

According to the State Administration for Market Regulation (市场监管总局), during the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, the State Administration for Market Regulation (市场监管总局) continued to deploy and carry out actions to improve the quality certification of micro and small enterprises, focusing on solving management problems, effectively stimulating the internal driving force of enterprises, and achieving significant phased results. This was reported on January 25th from Beijing (北京) by our newspaper (reporter Lin Lili (林丽鹂)).

During the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, a total of 1,816 incentive policies were introduced across the country, providing financial credit support such as "certification loans" of approximately 123.5 billion yuan for micro and small enterprises, and reducing or waiving certification fees of more than 100 million yuan. Free training was organized covering 722,000 enterprises, providing precise assistance to more than 85,000 enterprises, helping to solve approximately 48,000 key quality problems, cultivating approximately 138,000 quality management talents, and indirectly driving approximately 143,000 new jobs.

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China Builds World's Largest Postal and Delivery Network (China's Industries Moving Towards New and Better)

By: 本报记者 韩 鑫

The northern land, thousands of miles of ice; on Chagan Lake (查干湖), the sound of horses' hooves echoes.

In the depths of winter, at the Chagan Lake (查干湖) winter fishing site in Jilin (吉林) Province, live broadcasts and express delivery work together to help "northern fish fly south" with extreme speed.

Here, the camera focuses on the ice surface, the ancient rituals of traditional fishing and hunting, and the spectacular scene of "fish leaping from the ice lake," drawing exclamations from fans in the live broadcast room.

There, a line of cold chain trucks and unmanned vehicles are ready to depart. From the moment the ice lake nets are raised to the fresh-locking packaging, direct delivery from the place of origin, combined with public, railway, and air transportation capacity, helps fresh fish arrive in Beijing (北京), Shanghai (上海), and other places as early as the next morning.

Small express deliveries connect cities and villages, and link online and offline, serving as an important force in promoting the two-way flow of resources and facilitating economic circulation.

General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) attaches great importance to the construction of a modern logistics system, emphasizing that "logistics is the 'artery' of the real economy," and pointing out that "we must actively develop rural e-commerce and express delivery services."

With a strategic direction set and goals clarified, the mission of better connecting production and consumption and serving the real economy becomes even clearer.

Facing external shocks and challenges of insufficient domestic demand, in 2025, the postal express delivery industry is firmly shifting its momentum towards innovation and optimizing its structure. The industry's development is progressing steadily, and the role of the "artery" is being better leveraged.

"Strengthening the arteries" means using new technologies to help "improve economic operating efficiency."

"It's a great deal to buy a new tablet computer with the new 'national subsidy'." At 10:00 AM on January 10 this year, Li Li (李莉), a resident of Chengdu (成都), Sichuan (四川) Province, clicked to place an order. More than 10 kilometers away, a smart delivery by JD Logistics (京东物流) was initiated—

Inside the smart warehouse, flying ladder robots and handling robots shuttle back and forth between shelves, picking items accurately. After packaging is completed, the package flows to an automatic sorting system for weighing, scanning, and bundling, taking as little as 15 minutes. Finally, at the delivery end, unmanned delivery vehicles and couriers work together to complete door-to-door delivery. From placing the order to receiving the goods, the entire process takes less than 2 hours.

Smart warehousing, automatic sorting, unmanned delivery... New quality productive forces surge in various delivery links, becoming a vivid footnote to the express delivery industry's move towards innovation.

Technology weaves the warp and weft, and a world-leading intelligent logistics network is accelerating its formation—

The "main arteries" are being renewed daily. Sorting centers above a certain size in the industry have basically achieved automated operation, and the annual transport volume of drones is nearly 4 million pieces... In 2025, opinions on accelerating the technological development of the postal industry were issued, and the entire industry rapidly shifted from labor-intensive to technology-intensive. The comprehensive transportation combination efficiency, the degree of informationization and organization, the service range, and the cost performance ratio rank among the top in the world.

The "microcirculation" is accelerating its iteration. Electronic waybills have achieved full coverage, the installation rate of the Beidou (北斗) satellite navigation system on trunk vehicles exceeds 95%, and cloud computing and large models are widely used in demand forecasting, intelligent warehousing, intelligent scheduling, route planning, and other scenarios... A new generation of information technology is exerting its effectiveness in all links of receiving, transferring, transporting, and delivering, continuously improving delivery efficiency and delivery success rates, and increasing user satisfaction year by year.

Today, this ever-changing express delivery network carries large-scale, high-frequency, and wide-area physical distribution day after day, supporting China's express delivery volume reaching a new height of nearly 200 billion pieces in 2025.

"Relaxing the arteries" means using new models to serve the "in-depth advancement of the construction of a unified national market."

In the twilight, the YTO Express (中通快递) Shaanxi Xianyang (陕西咸阳) Transit Center is brightly lit. Inside the nearly 20,000-square-meter site, multi-layer conveyor belts operate at high speed, sending packages to 49 first-level outlets in Xinjiang (新疆).

"We use a centralized transportation model to pre-position packages from various places to Xinjiang (新疆) at the Xianyang (咸阳) transit warehouse, and then uniformly distribute and directly send them," said the relevant person in charge of YTO Express (中通快递). Express deliveries that once had to be transferred multiple times to enter Xinjiang (新疆) are now arriving directly in the north and south of the Tianshan Mountains (天山) at lower costs and faster delivery times. Since the commissioning of the centralized transportation warehouse in 2024, the volume of express deliveries entering Xinjiang (新疆) through this route has increased from an average of 60,000 pieces per day to 100,000 pieces.

Through measures such as transit consolidation and centralized transportation, combined public-rail transportation, and integrated local warehousing and distribution, the average daily delivery volume of mail and express items in Xinjiang (新疆) is currently about 6.1 million pieces, nearly five times higher than in 2020, effectively releasing consumer vitality.

The proportion of online shopping in Inner Mongolia (内蒙古) that "does not include free shipping" has dropped to 1.38%; Tibet (西藏) has achieved same-day or next-day delivery for e-commerce shopping around Lhasa (拉萨), and 4-day delivery for remote cities and prefectures... In 2025, the State Post Bureau (国家邮政局) formulated and implemented working measures for the postal industry to serve the construction of a unified national market, continuously consolidating and improving the "free shipping" level of e-commerce express items in Xinjiang (新疆), Tibet (西藏), and other places, and steadily increasing the proportion of express delivery volume in the central and western regions of the country.

Currently, China (中国) has built the world's largest delivery network with the largest number of beneficiaries. With the continuous improvement of network accessibility in the central and western regions, the shortcomings of delivery services will be transformed into potential for business growth, effectively promoting the better integration of the central and western regions into the unified national market.

"Extending the arteries" means using new hubs to promote "unimpeded domestic and international dual circulation."

At 5:00 AM, at the Ezhou Huahu (鄂州花湖) International Airport in Hubei (湖北) Province, a SF Airlines (顺丰航空) all-cargo aircraft took off with a roar, fully loaded with goods.

Among the various goods, the fresh flowers from Yunnan (云南) were particularly eye-catching. They were freshly picked the day before, entered the cold chain transfer station in the afternoon of the same day, and then took a cargo plane from Kunming (昆明) to Ezhou (鄂州) in the evening, before transferring to an international route for "air-to-air transit," and flying to Incheon (仁川) International Airport in South Korea (韩国) by 8:00 AM the next day. After a "relay race" across mountains and seas, the bundles of flowers were still fresh and vibrant.

"Air-to-air transit" and single-order-to-the-end, more cross-waybill, cross-airline, and cross-border goods are operating efficiently in this Asia's first professional cargo airport, reaching the whole country overnight and connecting the world the next day. In 2025, the cargo throughput will reach nearly 1.5 million tons, setting a new record.

Observing the overall situation from a local perspective, the cargo and mail throughput of Ezhou Huahu (鄂州花湖) International Airport has jumped to the top five in the country, the construction of YTO's (圆通) Zhejiang Jiaxing (浙江嘉兴) Global Aviation Logistics Hub is accelerating, and postal express delivery hub clusters in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (京津冀), Yangtze River Delta (长三角), Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (粤港澳大湾区), and Chengdu-Chongqing (成渝) regions have basically taken shape... In 2025, the postal express delivery industry will deeply connect with the national comprehensive three-dimensional transportation network and the construction of national logistics hubs, and a modern delivery service network system of "hub + channel + network" will be accelerated.

In the past, carriages and horses were slow, but now same-day delivery is possible. Zhao Chongjiu (赵冲久), Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and Director of the State Post Bureau (国家邮政局), said that remembering General Secretary Xi Jinping's (习近平) earnest囑咐, the entire industry will accelerate the development of new quality productive forces in the industry, improve the layout of the delivery network, deepen industrial synergy and integrated development, and provide strong and effective postal express delivery service guarantees for achieving a good start to the "15th Five-Year Plan."

Advancing along the path of "newness" and moving towards "excellence," the business card of China's (中国) express delivery will become even brighter, allowing the beautiful vision of "smooth flow of goods" to continuously shine into reality...

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Further Enrich the Soil for China-Palestine Friendship and Cooperation (Starting Point China)

By: 本报记者 程是颉

"Studying in China changed my life." Zafar Uddin Mahmood (扎法尔·乌丁·马哈茂德), Chairman of the Pakistan "Understanding China" Forum and former Special Assistant to the Prime Minister of Pakistan, said in a recent interview with this reporter, "I have forged a lifelong bond with China. I hope that more young people from both countries can also form bonds and further deepen the soil for friendly cooperation between Pakistan and China."

In 1976, Zafar went to China to study, learning Chinese at the Beijing Language Institute (北京语言学院) (now Beijing Language and Culture University (北京语言大学)). From 1977 to 1982, he studied at Guangzhou Zhongshan Medical College (广州中山医学院) (now Sun Yat-sen University School of Medicine (中山大学中山医学院)). After graduating, Zafar chose to stay in China, engaging in investment and trade with China. In 1998, he was appointed Economic and Commercial Counselor at the Embassy of Pakistan in China. Subsequently, he also served as Consul General of Pakistan in Shanghai (上海) and Special Envoy for the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. After stepping down and returning to Pakistan in 2017, Zafar founded the Pakistan "Understanding China" Forum in 2020 and served as Special Assistant to the Prime Minister of Pakistan, making significant contributions to the development of China-Pakistan relations.

Looking back on his study abroad experience, what Zafar remembers most is the deep friendship he forged with his teachers and classmates. In Beijing (北京), Zafar and his classmates spent their first Chinese New Year's Eve at the home of a Chinese teacher. "Facing international students from all over the world, the teachers and Chinese classmates were warm and friendly, making us feel the warmth of home." Zafar's memories of his study abroad life decades ago are still vivid, as if he were talking about something that happened yesterday. His classmates also included former Ethiopian President Mulatu Teshome (穆拉图·特肖梅). For him and many international students, China is their shared "second hometown."

"In Guangzhou (广州), I met more Chinese friends and felt their full enthusiasm and high morale in the face of the rapidly developing era." Zafar sincerely praised the Chinese people's humility and diligence, as well as their optimistic attitude towards life full of beautiful expectations for the future. In his impression, Chinese friends always worked hard and fearlessly in the face of valuable development opportunities, eventually turning their dreams into reality.

Zafar studied, worked, and lived in China for 40 years, witnessing the rapid economic and social development and earth-shaking changes in China since the reform and opening up: from the completion and opening of the Guangzhou Baiyun Hotel (广州白云宾馆), the "first high-rise building in China" in 1976, to the urban skylines of various Chinese cities today, with their staggered heights and distinct characteristics; from China's introduction of its first batch of jet airliners from Pakistan, to China's independently developed high-speed rail and C919 large aircraft... "China's development and changes are too fast, too incredible," Zafar said emotionally.

Zafar said that China's development experience should receive more attention and research globally. As a witness and participant in China's development, he feels both extremely honored and deeply burdened with responsibility. "My mission is to let more people understand China and, through this approach, help countries in the Global South find development paths suitable for their own countries, achieve rapid economic and social development, and benefit the people of all countries."

To achieve this goal, Zafar founded the Pakistan "Understanding China" Forum, introducing China's development history and successful experiences to people from all walks of life in Pakistan through seminars, publications of books and periodicals, and other means, providing a reference for countries in the Global South, including Pakistan. The "Understanding China" Forum actively promotes Pakistani youth to understand China and conduct extensive exchanges with Chinese youth. Zafar said that as cooperation between Pakistan and China in various fields continues to advance, more and more Chinese companies are investing in Pakistan, and more and more Pakistani students are going to China to study; from the joint construction of the Karakoram Highway (喀喇昆仑公路) across the Khunjerab Pass (红其拉甫), the "world's highest border crossing," to the high-quality joint construction of the "Belt and Road" initiative to promote the construction of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, exchanges between the two countries in various fields are constantly deepening.

"China's development process contains rich experience, and the brilliant achievements China has made prove the important value of the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics," Zafar said, adding that China's development benefits from forward-looking economic policies, a stable social environment, and continuously improving governance capabilities in the process of reform and opening up. Summarizing and learning from China's development experience is of great significance to countries in the Global South.

"The development achievements China has made not only benefit its own people but also create opportunities for global development," Zafar said. "I am fortunate to witness China's development and feel a deep responsibility to share China's stories and experiences with more people."

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Striving to Break New Ground in Foreign Affairs Work During the "15th Five-Year Plan" Period

By: 本报记者 陈尚文

Editor's Note: Recently, the Central Propaganda Department (中宣部), the Work Committee of the Central and State Organs, the Ministry of Education (教育部), the Political Work Department of the Central Military Commission (中央军委政治工作部), and the Beijing (北京市) Municipal Party Committee jointly held a series of reports on the current situation and policies. On January 13, 2026, Ma Zhaoxu (马朝旭), member of the Party Committee of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Deputy Minister in charge of daily foreign affairs, delivered a special report entitled "In-depth Study and Implementation of the Spirit of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, Striving to Create a New Situation in Foreign Affairs Work During the '15th Five-Year Plan' Period." The following is an abstract of the report in a question-and-answer format.

During the "14th Five-Year Plan" Period, China's International Influence, Appeal, and Shaping Power Have Been Significantly Enhanced

Reporter: During the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, China's major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics has been comprehensively expanded. What specific important achievements have been made?

Ma Zhaoxu (马朝旭): Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, under the personal planning and leadership of General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) and under the scientific guidance of Xi Jinping's (习近平) Thought on Diplomacy, China's major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics has achieved all-round and groundbreaking historical achievements. During the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, facing the complex and volatile international situation, China's diplomacy has been pioneering and enterprising, overcoming difficulties, and the all-round, multi-level, wide-ranging, and three-dimensional strategic layout has been continuously improved, and China's international influence, appeal, and shaping power have been significantly enhanced.

First, the strategic guiding role of head-of-state diplomacy has been fully demonstrated. Head-of-state diplomacy is the highest form of China's diplomacy and plays a decisive role in China's major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics. During the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) visited 15 times, totaling 20 countries, met with more than 200 foreign heads of state and government who visited China, and presided over nearly 40 home-field diplomatic events or attended large-scale events in China. General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) conducted in-depth strategic communication with leaders of various countries, delivered important speeches at international multilateral summits, profoundly expounded the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind, proposed four major global initiatives, advocated an equal and orderly multipolar world and an inclusive and beneficial economic globalization, and used the personal charm of a world-class leader to make friends widely and deeply with the world, establishing a confident, self-reliant, world-minded, open, and inclusive image of a major country.

Second, the all-round diplomatic layout has been continuously deepened and expanded. The total number of countries that have established diplomatic relations with China has increased from 172 before the 18th National Congress to 183, and the number of partnership relations with countries and regional organizations has increased from 41 pairs to 153 pairs. The "circle of friends" has continued to grow, and the partnership network covers the globe. We have promoted the construction of a pattern of major-country relations featuring peaceful coexistence, overall stability, and balanced development. China-Russia relations have maintained a high level of steady operation, China-U.S. relations have achieved overall dynamic stability, and China-Europe pragmatic cooperation has progressed steadily. We convened the first Central Conference on Work Relating to Neighboring Countries since the founding of the People's Republic of China, reached a consensus with 17 neighboring countries on building a community with a shared future, achieved full coverage of building a community with a shared future in the Indochina Peninsula and Central Asia, and signed the upgraded China-ASEAN Free Trade Area 3.0 version agreement. China's political mutual trust and integration of interests with neighboring countries have been continuously deepened. We have strengthened solidarity and cooperation with developing countries, the overall positioning of China-Africa relations has been elevated to a new era of all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future, China-Arab mutually beneficial and win-win cooperation has accelerated, and major China-Latin America cooperation projects such as the Chancay Port and large-scale industrial parks have been completed one after another.

Third, we have firmly safeguarded national sovereignty, security, and development interests. We have dared to show our swords and resolutely fought on issues related to Taiwan, Hong Kong, Xinjiang, Tibet, the sea, and human rights, winning a series of major and tough battles. During the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, we took down three so-called "diplomatic allies" of the Taiwan authorities, and more and more countries have clearly opposed all "Taiwan independence" separatist acts and supported China's great cause of reunification. We have carried out routine rights protection patrols in the territorial waters of the Diaoyu Islands, announced the baseline of the territorial waters of Huangyan Island, and resolutely defended China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests. We oppose the politicization of human rights issues, continuously thwart the anti-China forces' attacks and smears against China, and form a strong momentum of support for China's legitimate position from hundreds of countries.

Fourth, the results of serving domestic high-quality development have been remarkable. The free trade zone network facing the world has been continuously expanded, promoting the entry into force and implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, and signing 23 free trade agreements with 30 countries and regions, becoming the main trading partner of more than 150 countries and regions. Eight consecutive sessions of the China International Import Expo have been held, with a cumulative intended transaction value of more than 580 billion US dollars. The high-quality joint construction of the "Belt and Road" has yielded fruitful results, a large number of major landmark projects and "small but beautiful" livelihood projects have taken root and operated smoothly, the "six corridors, six routes, multiple countries, and multiple ports" interconnection framework has basically taken shape, the cumulative number of China-Europe freight trains has exceeded 120,000, and in 2025, China's imports and exports to countries jointly building the "Belt and Road" increased by 6.3%. Unilateral visa-free entry was implemented for 48 countries, and transit visa-free entry was implemented for 55 countries. In the first three quarters of 2025, more than 20 million foreigners entered the country visa-free, an increase of more than 50% year-on-year.

Fifth, we have promoted the reform and improvement of the global governance system. Facing the impact of unilateralism and protectionism, we have proposed and promoted the implementation of global governance initiatives, firmly maintained the international system with the United Nations as the core and the international order based on international law, and actively participated in leading the formulation of international economic and trade rules. We have promoted the historic expansion of the BRICS cooperation mechanism and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, supported the African Union's accession to the G20, actively safeguarded the common interests of developing countries on multilateral platforms, and continuously strengthened the southern forces of global governance. Together with more than 30 countries, we jointly established the International Mediation Institute, filling the institutional gap in the field of international mediation. We have advocated the establishment of the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization to promote the benevolent and inclusive development of artificial intelligence.

Sixth, we have practiced diplomacy for the people and actively taken on responsibilities. The "five-in-one" overseas security protection system of the central government, local governments, embassies and consulates abroad, enterprises, and citizens has been continuously improved and developed, and overseas security work has gathered effective synergy. We have carried out emergency evacuation operations from Ukraine, Sudan, Lebanon, Iran, etc., achieving the goals of zero casualties and minimizing losses. We have promoted cooperation with relevant countries to combat transnational crimes, especially telecommunications network fraud, successfully rescued a number of trapped personnel, and repatriated tens of thousands of criminal suspects involved in fraud. We have achieved comprehensive mutual visa exemption with 29 countries, and the "gold content" of Chinese passports has been continuously improved. We have actively created overseas livelihood projects to strive for a safer environment for overseas Chinese citizens to start businesses, travel, and study abroad.

The key to achieving these achievements lies in the leadership and guidance of General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平). It is precisely because of General Secretary Xi Jinping's (习近平) strategic vision and overall planning that China's diplomacy has overcome difficulties and forged ahead in the face of major changes unseen in a century, and China has firmly occupied the initiative in the changing international situation. The key lies in the scientific guidance of Xi Jinping's (习近平) Thought on Diplomacy. This important thought adheres to the combination of the basic principles of Marxism with the specific reality of China's diplomacy and with China's outstanding traditional culture, profoundly revealing the essential requirements, inherent laws, and direction of advancement of major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics in the new era, providing fundamental guidelines and action plans for China's foreign affairs work in the new era.

Implementing the Four Major Global Initiatives and Promoting the Construction of a Community with a Shared Future for Mankind

Reporter: During the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) successively proposed four major global initiatives. How should we understand the great significance of the four major global initiatives?

Ma Zhaoxu (马朝旭): General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) proposed four major global initiatives, injecting stability and positive energy into the turbulent world from four dimensions: development, security, civilization, and governance.

Facing the major issue of promoting global development that mankind faces, in September 2021, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) proposed the Global Development Initiative when attending the general debate of the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly. The initiative advocates that countries adhere to development first, adhere to a people-centered approach, adhere to inclusive and universal benefit, adhere to innovation-driven development, adhere to harmonious coexistence between man and nature, and adhere to action-oriented principles, aiming to promote more robust, greener, and healthier global development, cultivate new drivers of global development, and build a global development community. The initiative has been supported and participated in by more than 130 countries and international organizations, 84 countries have joined the "Group of Friends of the Global Development Initiative," mobilized more than 23 billion US dollars in various development funds, and carried out more than 1,800 cooperation projects. We held the High-Level Dialogue on Global Development and established the Global Development Promotion Center, making tangible contributions to promoting global development.

Facing the complex international and regional situation and security governance problems, in April 2022, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) proposed the Global Security Initiative at the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference. The initiative emphasizes that mankind is an indivisible security community, advocates that countries adhere to a common, comprehensive, cooperative, and sustainable security concept, adhere to respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries and non-interference in internal affairs, adhere to abiding by the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter, adhere to attaching importance to the reasonable security concerns of all countries, adhere to resolving differences and disputes between countries through dialogue and consultation in a peaceful manner, and adhere to coordinating the maintenance of security in traditional and non-traditional fields, providing new ideas for international security cooperation. The initiative has been supported and appreciated by more than 130 countries and international and regional organizations, and the core concept has been written into more than 140 bilateral and multilateral documents. We launched the "Friends of Peace" group on the Ukraine crisis, facilitated the resumption of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran and the reconciliation of various Palestinian factions, promoted a ceasefire between Cambodia and Thailand, and mediated multiple rounds of talks between the parties involved in the Myanmar conflict, making Chinese contributions to maintaining common security and universal security.

Facing the greatest reality of the diversity of world civilizations and the urgent need to transcend the conflict of civilizations, in March 2023, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) proposed the Global Civilization Initiative at the High-Level Dialogue between the Communist Party of China and World Political Parties. The initiative advocates respecting the diversity of world civilizations, promoting the common values of all mankind, attaching importance to the inheritance and innovation of civilizations, and strengthening international cultural exchanges and cooperation, transcending civilization estrangement with civilization exchanges, transcending civilization conflicts with civilization mutual learning, and transcending civilization superiority with civilization inclusiveness, clarifying the realistic path for building a diverse and inclusive civilization ecology. We actively build a network of civilization dialogue and cooperation, initiate and participate in a series of mechanisms such as the Forum of Ancient Civilizations and the Asian Civilization Dialogue, and promote the United Nations General Assembly to establish the International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations, effectively promoting world civilization exchanges and mutual learning and the mutual understanding and affinity of people from all countries.

Facing the major proposition of what kind of global governance system to build and how to reform and improve the global governance system, in September 2025, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) proposed the Global Governance Initiative at the "Shanghai Cooperation Organization +" meeting. The initiative takes maintaining the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter and practicing the global governance concept of consultation, joint construction, and sharing as the basic guidelines, and takes sovereign equality, international rule of law, multilateralism, people-centeredness, and action-oriented principles as the core concepts, providing a systematic plan for reforming and improving global governance. The initiative has been responded to and supported by more than 150 countries and international organizations, and more than 40 countries have become founding members of the "Group of Friends of Global Governance." United Nations Secretary-General Guterres said that the Global Governance Initiative is rooted in multilateralism and highly consistent with the spirit of the United Nations. The international community believes that the Global Governance Initiative calls for unity at a time when the world is facing division, establishes pillars and beams when the foundation of the United Nations is shaken, clearly advocates shared rather than monopolized governance rules, and takes into account the greatest common denominator of different countries. It is an important measure to address global challenges and defend multilateralism, and a key step towards a more just and reasonable world.

The reason why the four major global initiatives are so popular is ultimately because they meet the needs of the times and conform to the aspirations of the people. The four major global initiatives advocate promoting prosperity through development, ensuring stability through security, increasing mutual trust through civilization, and seeking justice through governance, aiming to build a world of lasting peace, universal security, common prosperity, openness and inclusiveness, and cleanliness and beauty, and promote the construction of a community with a shared future for mankind. We must deeply understand the great significance of the four major global initiatives, continue to promote the initiatives to go deeper and more solid, and lead the great changes in the world to develop and evolve in the right direction of building a community with a shared future for mankind.

Conscientiously Implement the Strategic Deployment of the Party Central Committee and Create a More Favorable International Environment for Comprehensively Promoting the Construction of a Strong Country and the Great Rejuvenation of the Chinese Nation with Chinese-style Modernization

Reporter: During the "15th Five-Year Plan" period, China's development environment will face profound and complex changes. How do you view the main tasks of foreign affairs work?

Ma Zhaoxu (马朝旭): The Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee made a scientific judgment on China's development environment during the "15th Five-Year Plan" period, emphasizing that China's development is in a period where strategic opportunities and risks and challenges coexist, and uncertain and unpredictable factors are increasing. We must maintain strategic focus, enhance our confidence in victory, actively recognize, respond to, and seek changes, properly handle major relationships such as development and security, opening up and independence, and cooperation and competition, and implement the key tasks of foreign affairs strategic deployment to create a more favorable international environment for building a strong country and realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

First, promote the construction of a community with a shared future in the periphery. The periphery is where China settles down and thrives. We will thoroughly implement the spirit of the Central Conference on Work Relating to Neighboring Countries, uphold the concept of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit, and inclusiveness, and a shared future, consolidate strategic mutual trust with neighboring countries, and support regional countries in steadily following their own development paths. Deepen development integration, build a high-level interconnection network, and strengthen industrial chain and supply chain cooperation. Jointly maintain regional stability, actively mediate hot spots to cool down and stabilize, carry out security and law enforcement cooperation, and respond to various risks and challenges. Expand exchanges and interactions, facilitate personnel exchanges, and consolidate the foundation of public opinion.

Second, maintain the overall stability of major-country relations. We will implement the important consensus reached by the heads of state of China and the United States, resolutely safeguard national sovereignty, security, and development interests, and promote the healthy, stable, and sustainable development of China-U.S. relations. Consolidate the high level of political mutual trust and strategic coordination between China and Russia, deepen and expand pragmatic cooperation in various fields, and jointly maintain international strategic stability. Develop China-Europe relations on the basis of mutual respect, seeking common ground while reserving differences, open cooperation, and mutual benefit and win-win results.

Third, deepen solidarity and cooperation with developing countries. Promote the implementation of the results of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, host the "China-Africa Year of People-to-People and Cultural Exchanges," negotiate and sign an agreement on a common development economic partnership with African countries, promote the accelerated implementation of the "zero tariff" policy for African countries that have diplomatic relations with China, and continuously inject new impetus into the development of China-Africa relations. Host the second China-Arab States Summit, enhance China-Arab unity and mutual trust, accelerate the completion of the China-GCC free trade agreement negotiations, and promote cooperation in various fields to a new level. Promote the "five major projects" for jointly building a China-Latin America community with a shared future, and consolidate and expand the results of China-Latin America cooperation.

Fourth, lead the international order to develop in a more just and reasonable direction. Firmly practice multilateralism, safeguard the authority and status of the United Nations, and actively play the role of a permanent member of the Security Council. Promote the high-quality development of "Greater BRICS Cooperation" and advance the strategic layout of the "Five BRICS" in an integrated manner. Implement the results of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Tianjin Summit and build a good "Shanghai Cooperation Organization family." Actively participate in leading global climate governance, improve the rules and mechanisms in emerging fields such as artificial intelligence, "sea, air, network, and polar regions," promote the political settlement of hot issues, and build a more just and reasonable global governance system.

Fifth, jointly build the "Belt and Road" with high quality. Strengthen strategic alignment with co-building countries, deepen infrastructure "hard connectivity," rules and standards "soft connectivity," and people-to-people "heart connectivity" with the people of co-building countries. Improve the layout of a three-dimensional interconnection network, and promote the construction of major landmark projects and "small but beautiful" livelihood projects in a coordinated manner. Improve the development level of China-Europe (Asia) freight trains and accelerate the construction of the New Western Land-Sea Corridor. Deepen pragmatic cooperation in trade, investment, industry, and culture, and expand cooperation in fields such as green development, artificial intelligence, the digital economy, health, tourism, and agriculture.

Sixth, serve the expansion of high-level opening up to the outside world. Host the 33rd APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting, fully participate in G20 cooperation, and promote the reform of global economic and financial governance. Align with international high-standard economic and trade rules, steadily expand unilateral opening up and institutional opening up, and accelerate the process of regional and bilateral trade and investment agreements. Maintain the multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization as the core, oppose all forms of unilateralism and protectionism, resist discriminatory and exclusive standards and rules, and maintain the stability and smooth flow of global industrial chains and supply chains.

Seventh, strengthen the protection of overseas interests. Continue to strengthen the construction of foreign-related rule of law, and continuously enhance and improve the ability to counter sanctions, counter interference, and counter "long-arm jurisdiction." Actively build an overseas comprehensive service system, strengthen the early warning, prevention, and protection mechanisms for overseas interests and investment risks, strengthen international cooperation in security and other fields, and safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese citizens and legal persons overseas.

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Maintain High Vigilance Against Japan's Resurgent Nuclear Armament Dream (International Forum)

By: 尹晓亮

Japan's attempt to revise the "Three Non-Nuclear Principles" is tantamount to shaking the cornerstone of Japan's nuclear policy, challenging the global nuclear non-proliferation system, bringing major shocks to world peace, and increasing the risk of nuclear proliferation.

Japan has a habitual political preference for portraying itself as a "victim of nuclear weapons" after World War II, but rarely reflects on the fact that it was an "attempted perpetrator of nuclear harm" during World War II.

During World War II, in order to realize its expansionist ambitions of "spreading its power to all directions," Japan engaged in a speed race with the United States, Britain, and other countries in the research of atomic bombs, attempting to win the war of aggression with this. The Japanese Army and Navy respectively carried out atomic bomb development plans, but neither succeeded before the end of World War II. In November 1945, the U.S. military dismantled the cyclotron used by Japan to manufacture nuclear weapons materials and threw it into Tokyo Bay. It is hard to imagine the profound disaster that Japan, with its strong intention of external aggression, would have brought to the world if it had achieved nuclear armament earlier.

Japan's nuclear armament attempt did not disappear with its defeat in the war, but was like a temporarily dormant seed, quietly buried in the depths of the consciousness of Japanese right-wing elements. Recently, senior Japanese officials have hinted at the possibility of revising the "Three Non-Nuclear Principles," declaring that "the introduction of nuclear submarines is not ruled out," and threatening that "Japan should possess nuclear weapons." These statements are not isolated political ravings, but sensitive signals of Japan's accelerated shift in its security strategy. They clearly show that the "nuclear option," which has long been regarded as a taboo by the Japanese political world after the war, is being pushed into open political debate and is constantly breaking through the bottom line. The international community should see clearly the deep strategic intentions behind Japan's shift in nuclear weapons policy.

First, breaking through the post-war system and seeking the status of a "military power." The Japanese right wing has long promoted self-loosening and expansion of military power. The discussion surrounding nuclear weapons policy is intended to weaken the constraints of the post-war system and accumulate political capital for revising the "Peace Constitution" and seeking to become a "military power."

Second, using public opinion reaction to test policy boundaries. Japanese politicians use breakthrough statements such as "should possess nuclear weapons" and tentative discussions to judge the realistic resistance and room for maneuver of nuclear possession from domestic and foreign public opinion reactions, paving the way for subsequent policy revisions.

Third, enhancing independent deterrence and reshaping the division of labor within the U.S.-Japan alliance. Japan has never been at ease with its ally across the Pacific Ocean and regards "independent nuclear possession" as an option for Japan to reduce its dependence on the alliance relationship and enhance independent deterrence. The Japanese right wing is also eager to expand its participation in alliance nuclear issues and gradually increase its bargaining power in the alliance nuclear deterrence system.

Fourth, building attack capabilities and exerting strategic pressure on surrounding areas. Japan is trying to influence the strategic judgment and room for action of surrounding countries by strengthening its military deterrence capabilities in the Taiwan Strait, the East China Sea, and surrounding areas, so as to seek a more favorable position in the regional power structure.

The "Three Non-Nuclear Principles" established by Japan as a national policy after the war are both a product of Japan's reflection on its war crimes and a peaceful commitment to its return to the international community. It originated from the painful memories of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, took shape against the special background of the Cold War confrontation, and should have become Japan's self-restraint on militarism and its security commitment to its Asia-Pacific neighbors. Japan's attempt to revise the "Three Non-Nuclear Principles" is tantamount to shaking the cornerstone of Japan's nuclear policy, challenging the global nuclear non-proliferation system, bringing major shocks to world peace, and increasing the risk of nuclear proliferation.

"Later generations grieve for them without learning from them, and this will only cause later generations to grieve for later generations again." Maintaining the seriousness and integrity of the "Three Non-Nuclear Principles" is a responsibility that Japan must bear to history, to the region, and to future generations. Japan should learn from its own historical lessons of experiencing atomic bombings and thoroughly reflect on the profound suffering caused by Japanese militarism to the people of Asian countries, rather than using this to play the "victim card" and attempt to revive its old dream of nuclear armament.

The peace and prosperity of East Asia require the joint and careful care of all countries. Any words or deeds by Japan that touch the "nuclear red line" are a serious threat to the well-being of the people of the region. The international community must be vigilant against Japan's return to nuclear armament and jointly curb the spread of Japan's "new militarism."

(The author is a professor at the Center for World Modern and Contemporary History and the Institute of Japanese Studies, Nankai University (南开大学).)

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Photo Report

On January 23, the Ntoui-Ntchole road in Cameroon, constructed by China Railway 20th Bureau Group (中铁二十局), successfully passed its final acceptance and was officially handed over to the Cameroonian side. This marks the successful completion of the road's one-year warranty period, its full operation, and another important achievement in China-Cameroon infrastructure connectivity and pragmatic cooperation.

During the one-year warranty period, the project team strictly fulfilled its maintenance responsibilities, regularly inspecting and maintaining the road surface, ensuring the continued good operation of the road. The project has created more than 800 local jobs and assisted in the construction of a series of facilities benefiting the people, such as football fields, cultural centers, school buildings, drinking wells, and cocoa bean drying fields, effectively improving local people's livelihoods and winning wide praise from the local people.

The picture shows an aerial view of the project.

Zou Song (邹  松) and Pan Yutong (潘禹彤) reported with photographs.

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"Global Governance Forum (2026)" Held in Beijing

This newspaper reported from Beijing on January 25th (Reporter: Mou Zongcong (牟宗琮)) On January 24th, the "Global Governance Forum (2026)" hosted by Renmin University of China (中国人民大学) was held in Beijing (北京). During the forum, a launch event was also held for the new book "Global Governance Initiative: Working Together Towards a Community of Shared Future for Mankind" (in nine languages), along with the inaugural meeting of the "Global Governance Initiative" International Research Alliance. Ambassadors to China from various countries, along with Chinese and foreign experts and scholars, participated in the forum to discuss the ideological contributions and contemporary significance of China's (中国) proposed Global Governance Initiative, and how to build a more just and reasonable global governance system.

It is reported that "Global Governance Initiative: Working Together Towards a Community of Shared Future for Mankind" was organized and written by Renmin University of China (中国人民大学), published by Foreign Languages Press (外文出版社), and distributed globally. The "Global Governance Initiative" International Research Alliance was initiated by Renmin University of China (中国人民大学), and already has nearly 100 experts and scholars from nearly 50 countries and regions joining, and will establish four major cooperation mechanisms: joint research, information sharing, cross-border communication, and personnel exchanges, to build an open and inclusive international academic network.

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Air China Launches Direct Flight Route from Beijing to Abu Dhabi

This newspaper's Abu Dhabi dispatch on January 25th (Reporter Zhang Zhiwen (张志文)) With a China International Airlines passenger plane carrying 278 passengers landing at Abu Dhabi Zayed International Airport in the United Arab Emirates on the evening of the 24th, the inaugural flight of the Air China Beijing to Abu Dhabi direct route was successfully completed, marking the first direct connection between the capitals of China and the UAE operated by a Chinese airline.

The route is the first new international route opened by Air China in 2026, operated by Boeing 787 aircraft, with 4 round trips per week. The opening of the route further improves the Sino-Arab aviation network layout, providing a more efficient and convenient air passage for personnel exchanges, economic and trade cooperation, and cultural exchanges between the two countries.

Industry insiders believe that the opening of the direct flight route is an important milestone in Sino-Arab aviation cooperation, which will help improve the accessibility between the capitals of the two countries, promote tourism, business and cultural exchanges, and inject new impetus into the deepening of pragmatic cooperation between China and the UAE under the framework of the joint construction of the "Belt and Road" initiative.

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Community Updates: Benefiting the People and Warming Hearts (In-Depth Reading)

By: 本报记者 季觉苏 李俊杰 李凯旋

Cities are important carriers of modernization and important spaces for people's happy lives. At the Central Urban Work Conference in 2025, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) emphasized: "Promote high-quality urban renewal, high-level operation, and high-efficiency governance."

Creating street culture spaces, building community shared gardens, and promoting the installation of elevators in old buildings... Currently, various regions are practicing the concept of people-oriented cities, putting in enough "embroidery effort" in community renewal, meeting the needs of the masses according to local conditions, and bringing about great changes with "small and beautiful" initiatives, achieving good results that benefit and warm the people's hearts.

——Editor

A streetside hut in Changning District (长宁区), Shanghai (上海)——

Convenience Service Point, New Cultural Space

In a streetside hut, a "giraffe" unexpectedly pokes its head out. Recently, Zhang Yuanyuan (张元元), a resident of the Xingfu Residential District (幸福居民区) in Changning District (长宁区), Shanghai (上海), and her daughter Xiaoxia (小夏) saw such a rare scene and couldn't help but be attracted, pushing the door open to enter.

The room, only a few square meters in size, is arranged in a fun and interesting way: looking straight ahead, you can see the legs of the "giraffe," and visitors are taking photos next to it; looking up slightly, you can see the "giraffe's" belly, "It's like being in the same room with a real 'giraffe,' it's so interesting!" Zhang Yuanyuan (张元元) exclaimed.

This exhibition, called "Giraffe Home," is the work of architect Guo Zixuan (郭子萱), who hopes to use interesting and warm ways to make people think about "how to live together with different lives." The exhibition site is the "One Meter Market" hut in the Xingfu Residential District (幸福居民区). Its predecessor was an old telephone booth.

Ding Chenjia (丁晨佳), Secretary of the General Party Branch of the Xingfu Residential District (幸福居民区), introduced that in order to revitalize and utilize this space, the street and neighborhood committee conducted a survey and learned that residents valued convenience service functions, so they transformed it into a convenience service point. In May 2025, in response to the needs of residents, the community art incubator "Space Awakening Lab" was introduced, adding new functions of cultural exchange to the convenience service point.

The early "Weaving Pattern Exhibition" directly hung hundred-year-old pictorials and parchment manuscripts on the wall, inviting residents to watch and touch them. "We want everyone to realize that history can also become within reach," said curator Jiang Qisi (蒋绮思). Residents can not only feel the texture of the exhibits, but also perceive the close connection between culture and life.

In another "Thousand Birds Exhibition," the curator arranged thousands of bird-themed artworks in the room. The children were fascinated, and couldn't help but stand on tiptoe to see the works at high places. Some residents even brought their own parrots to visit the exhibition. On the day of the closing, Xiaoxia (小夏) also helped the curator pack up the exhibits, and was busy until the evening. This enthusiasm and friendship warmed the hearts of everyone present.

"After the micro-transformation, the small space of 'One Meter Market' is like a blind box, allowing people to discover new content every once in a while," said Zhang Yuanyuan (张元元).

In recent years, Shanghai (上海) has continued to promote culture into the community, from "Social Aesthetics Education" classes to citizen art night schools, from public stages to pocket exhibition halls, the tentacles of culture have extended to street corners. The "One Meter Market" hut shares culture and art in a small space, lighting up urban corners and daily life.

A shared garden in Hefei (合肥), Anhui (安徽)——

Community Corner, Neighborhood Happiness Corner

Morning light shines through the thin mist, sprinkling into the small garden of the Hetang Yuese (荷塘月色) residential area in Hefei (合肥), Anhui (安徽). Du Zongmei (杜宗梅), a resident, is busy managing the garden, weeding, loosening the soil, and watering, feeling very content.

In the garden, chrysanthemums and roses bloom enthusiastically despite the low temperature. "Now is not the most beautiful time," Du Zongmei (杜宗梅) picked up her mobile phone and flipped out a video, showing various hydrangeas competing for beauty, and residents strolling among them, "In spring, this place is like a sea of flowers!"

Outsiders generally don't know that this beautiful space in front of them was once a "difficult problem" that was disliked.

The Hetang Yuese (荷塘月色) residential area, located in Hetang Community (荷塘社区), Haitang Street (海棠街道), Luyang District (庐阳区), was delivered in 2006. As time went by, the corner plots of about 300 square meters in the residential area gradually became neglected. Some places were exposed and abandoned, with dust flying, and some places were circled into "private yards," piled with debris and garbage, which affected the appearance and hygiene.

At a residents' meeting in early 2025, a resident suggested: "Manage these corner plots and transform them into shared gardens!" This call resonated with many people. "There are some residents in the community who love to grow flowers and are willing to participate," said Wang Dingguo (汪定国), Secretary of the Party Committee of Hetang Community (荷塘社区). The community and property management quickly took action to clean up debris and level the site.

Renovation also requires funding. Under the leadership and advocacy of the community, the garden adopts a "co-construction, co-governance, and sharing" model, with the community, property management, and owners' committee all making certain investments. "It only took half a month to complete the renovation smoothly," Wang Dingguo (汪定国) recalled. After the shared garden was built, 12 residents volunteered to form a management team, formulate relevant covenants, and establish a "garden steward" system for rotating maintenance.

This transformation beautified the "face" of the community environment and enriched the "inside" of community governance. Nowadays, the large and small affairs of the shared garden are all managed independently by the residents, saving maintenance costs and further making the residents the masters of community governance. "In the past, we had to walk around these plots. Now, we have to come and see them and manage them every day," said Du Zongmei (杜宗梅).

The relevant person in charge of Luyang District (庐阳区) stated that the next step will be to replicate and promote the experience and practices of shared gardens, so that more communities can transform community "corners" into neighborhood "happiness corners" by promoting the "co-construction, co-governance, and sharing" mechanism.

An old residential area in Chengdu (成都市), Sichuan (四川)——

Elevators Installed in Old Buildings, Travel More Convenient

Carrying fresh vegetables bought back, chatting with neighbors downstairs, the elderly step into the elevator and go back to their respective homes. In the Nanguang Impression (南光印象) residential area in Yongxing Community (永兴社区), Jinjiang District (锦江区), Chengdu (成都市), Sichuan (四川), newly installed elevators have facilitated the lives of residents in old buildings.

The Nanguang Impression (南光印象) residential area was formerly the Nanguang Workers' Village (南光工人村), the staff dormitory area of the state-owned Nanguang Machinery Factory (国营南光机器厂). As time passed, the houses and residents grew older, and climbing up and down became a problem.

"Those in good health have to rest once or twice when climbing the stairs. Those with inconvenient legs and feet simply don't want to go out," said Zeng Zonglin (曾宗林), an 80-year-old resident. Many old neighbors moved to new residential areas with elevators because they found it difficult to go up and down the stairs, and he himself once considered moving.

In 2021, Chengdu (成都市) issued the "Implementation Opinions on Further Promoting the Independent Installation of Elevators in Existing Residences," prompting residents in the residential area to step up their research on policies and reflect their demands. In 2023, the renovation and upgrading of the Nanguang Impression (南光印象) residential area was launched, and the installation of elevators was included in the agenda.

"Good things take time." Huang Shiguo (黄世国), Deputy Director of the Yongxing Community (永兴社区) Neighborhood Committee, said that he initially received a request for mediation from the Nanguang Impression (南光印象) residential area - the installation of elevators requires a motion and vote by the owners, and everyone's demands are different, and there are very few units that reach a consensus.

What is the impact of the renovation on the main structure of the house; what if it affects lighting and generates noise...? "Residents have doubts, we can't sit in the house and respond based on feeling. We have to take action and explore solutions," Huang Shiguo (黄世国) said. By inviting elevator companies and quality inspection departments to the site for popular science, and leading residents to visit residential areas where elevators have been installed, many people's attitudes have changed, and they have become more and more united.

As opinions gradually converged, elevator construction began one after another. "I've been dealing with machinery and equipment for most of my life. Now that I'm old, I have to make the most of my residual heat," said Zeng Zonglin (曾宗林), an old worker who volunteered to serve as a quality supervisor and put forward many opinions on the quality of steel and welding effects.

Under the community's regular visits and inspections, various tasks were carried out in an orderly manner. In the summer of 2025, the twenty-third elevator in the Nanguang Impression (南光印象) residential area was put into use, achieving full coverage of elevator installation.

It is even more important to protect it after it is built. "The owners of the residential area regularly pay maintenance funds, and each unit selects representatives for management. The accounts are public, and the money is used with peace of mind," said Huang Shiguo (黄世国).

With the elevators installed, Zeng Zonglin (曾宗林) dispelled the idea of moving, and decided to renovate the old house and replace the home appliances. "People from outside are also willing to rent and buy houses here. Our residential area has become a 'sweet pastry'," Zeng Zonglin (曾宗林) said with a smile.

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Drones Prove Their Worth in Mountain Search and Rescue (On the Scene)

By: 本报记者 杨 迅

"My father is so old, I can't imagine the consequences if he couldn't be found. Thank you so much for helping us find the old man." In Yiyang City (益阳市), Hunan Province, public security police officers used drones to search and rescue an elderly man who had lost his way in the mountains, for which his family was very grateful.

Recently, the Dali Gang Police Station (大栗港派出所) of the Taojiang County Public Security Bureau (桃江县公安局) in Yiyang City (益阳市) received a request for help from the public, stating that an 80-year-old man had gone up the mountain alone in the morning to dig bamboo shoots and had not returned home by evening. His family asked neighbors to help search, but to no avail, so they requested the help of the police.

The Taojiang County Public Security Bureau (桃江县公安局) immediately activated the emergency search and rescue mechanism and reported the situation to the Yiyang City Public Security Bureau (益阳市公安局). "The mission is urgent, and the safety of the people is of paramount importance." Hou Qingchuan (侯晴川), Deputy Director of the Intelligence Command Center of the Yiyang City Public Security Bureau (益阳市公安局情报指挥中心), immediately assigned the task to the Taojiang County Public Security Bureau (桃江县公安局), dispatching He Kang (何康), a drone pilot from the Taojiang County Public Security Bureau (桃江县公安局), to carry equipment and rush to the mountains and forests to conduct search and rescue.

"At night, it is very difficult to search by manpower, but drones can play a unique advantage." He Kang (何康) introduced that after the drone takes off, it can conduct an all-round search of key areas through thermal imaging technology and lighting equipment. After more than ten minutes of aerial search, He Kang (何康) discovered a suspicious red dot and confirmed that it was a human figure moving. The public security police and the masses searching the mountain quickly found the elderly man who was already physically exhausted based on the precise positioning of the drone. The police escorted the old man down the mountain, took him to dinner, learned about what happened, and finally drove him home.

"I have been a drone pilot for two or three years. Usually, the Public Security Bureau will organize relevant training. Through learning, my operating skills have been greatly improved." He Kang (何康) said that drones are often used in public security work such as forest fire prevention, cracking down on illegal fishing, and security for large-scale events. "Being able to apply high-tech means to daily work and serve the masses makes me feel very accomplished."

Hou Qingchuan (侯晴川), who majored in geographic information science, has also accumulated rich work experience in the field of drones: in various large-scale events and daily patrols in Yiyang City (益阳市), he has promoted the deep integration of drone technology and police practice by commanding and dispatching police drone pilots, playing an important role in emergency response and rescuing the masses; in addition, he has also used drones to complete three-dimensional modeling of dozens of square kilometers of urban areas.

"In Yiyang City (益阳市), drones have been used in scenarios such as the 'Xiang Chao' competition and marathon races, and can also play a role in traffic guidance and public security patrols." Hou Qingchuan (侯晴川) introduced that Yiyang Public Security (益阳公安) also plans to establish a drone training command center to further expand the application scenarios of drones.

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2026 Spring Festival Gala Completes Second Rehearsal

This newspaper's Beijing (北京) dispatch on January 25th (Reporter Liu Yang (刘阳)): On January 25th, the China Media Group's (中央广播电视总台) "2026 Spring Festival Gala" successfully completed its second dress rehearsal. The entire program's flow was smooth and well-organized, highlighting an auspicious and joyful festive atmosphere, brimming with the happiness and warmth of family reunions.

The Spring Festival Gala stage reflects the vibrant scenes of life in every household. Original songs tenderly recount deep family bonds, pay tribute to ordinary perseverance, cherish the fate of encounters, and are dedicated to everyone who works hard. The farmers' chorus, with the joy of a bountiful harvest, takes to the Spring Festival Gala stage, singing out the solid confidence of full granaries. Heavy baskets, golden rice ears, and fiery red peppers paint a beautiful "abundance" scene. A song that integrates mythology and ethnic elements vividly presents a small horse with auspicious meaning from the "Classic of Mountains and Seas" (《山海经》) on the stage. Children hold hands, singing out their beautiful aspirations for the future.

The China Media Group (中央广播电视总台) Spring Festival Gala directing team will continue to strive for excellence in program arrangement, technological integration, and stage effects, endeavoring to present a "people's Spring Festival Gala" that is close to life and conveys warmth.

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Vigor and order for a vibrant and well-managed society.

By: 本报记者 张 洋 吴储岐

The morning light awakens the streets and alleys, and the 12345 Citizen Service Hotline rings; community workers knock on the doors of the masses, resolving disputes in everyday conversations; volunteers walk through the streets and alleys, conveying warmth with small acts of kindness; the night covers the urban and rural areas, and the lights of the rider stations are still softly lit.

Social work is related to the Party's long-term governance and the country's long-term stability and security, and to social harmony and stability and the people's happiness and well-being. On March 5, 2025, Xi Jinping (习近平), during his participation in the deliberation of the Jiangsu delegation at the Third Session of the 14th National People's Congress, made a powerful statement:

"Social work must be strengthened."

In recent years, under the strong leadership of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping (习近平) at its core, the social work system and mechanism have been continuously improved. Social work departments of Party committees at all levels have been established and fully perform their duties. Coordination mechanisms such as the Party building-led grassroots governance coordination mechanism and the emerging field Party building work coordination mechanism have been established and improved; the newly revised Organic Law of Villagers Committees and the Organic Law of Urban Residents Committees have been implemented; the construction of the community worker team has been strengthened, the new era volunteer service system has been improved, the service management of couriers and online delivery personnel has been strengthened, and the implementation of comprehensive and strict Party governance requirements to strengthen the supervision of national industry associations and chambers of commerce and other aspects of the system have been introduced... The social work policy and legal system has been continuously improved, and the Party's political and organizational advantages have been continuously transformed into social governance effectiveness. We unswervingly follow the path of socialist social governance with Chinese characteristics, so that society is both vibrant and orderly.

The Party's appeal, cohesion, and influence in emerging fields are constantly enhanced.

Xi Jinping (习近平) emphasized: "We should focus on strengthening Party building in new economic organizations, new social organizations, and new employment groups, and constantly enhance the Party's appeal, cohesion, and influence in emerging fields."

In recent years, a large number of new economic organizations and new social organizations have emerged, especially new business forms represented by the platform economy have flourished, with approximately 84 million new employment form workers.

Making new employment groups find the warmth of "home" and feel the care of Party organizations is one of the key tasks of Party committee social work departments in recent years.

In the early morning, 55-year-old food delivery rider Yan Haiying (闫海营) wiped his meal box clean. He clicked on the rider application on his mobile phone, and the rider station information near Wujiaochang Street (五角场街道), Yangpu District (杨浦区), Shanghai (上海) popped up, with clear markings for hot water supply, temporary rest, and other locations. Being able to find a place to rest on the delivery route makes him feel at ease and warm.

In 2023, Yan Haiying (闫海营) came to Shanghai (上海) from his hometown in Henan (河南). At first, he could only "run one order at a time, remember one road at a time." Later, he quickly felt the warmth of this city: friendly communities and buildings set aside rest stops, and building route maps were posted in conspicuous places; in the stations, microwave ovens, medicine cabinets, and charging equipment were all available. Yan Haiying (闫海营) said: "I used to worry that no one would take care of my children after school. Some streets have opened 'Kangaroo Baby Homes' to help with托管. With someone helping, I feel more at ease."

Warmth and respect are transformed into a sense of belonging, and also strengthen Yan Haiying's (闫海营) determination to lean towards the Party organization. When delivering food, he always says "I wish you a pleasant meal," and he always takes the garbage downstairs when he sees it in the corridor, and he also asks more about the needs of elderly people living alone. The Huandao Business District Street Party Branch (环岛商圈街区党支部) of Wujiaochang Street (五角场街道) in Yangpu District (杨浦区) paid attention to this enthusiastic rider when visiting new employment groups. In November 2025, Yan Haiying (闫海营) gloriously became a probationary member of the Communist Party of China. On the day of his oath of admission to the Party, he was determined: "I have to be worthy of this identity."

Today, more and more new employment form workers like Yan Haiying (闫海营) across the country feel warmth, find organizations, and become a "new force" in urban governance.

The Party committee social work department, together with relevant departments, deeply studies where the "newness" of Party building in emerging fields lies, where the "difficulty" lies, and where the "implementation" lies. From providing daily conveniences such as rest, drinking water, and charging, to providing caring assistance for rights protection and vocational training, practical measures have allowed more new employment form workers to feel the warmth of the Party, and more and more people are actively leaning towards Party organizations.

Wherever there are people, there is the Party's work; wherever there are Party members, there is the Party's organization; wherever there is the Party's organization, there is the full play of the Party organization's role.

Walking into the fully automated assembly workshop of the Beiqi Foton (北汽福田) Shandong Zhucheng (山东诸城) plant, the machines roared, and the Party group meeting was held next to the workstation: Which processes are still wasteful? Which line can be faster? Frontline Party member backbones wrote "golden ideas" on the whiteboard, discussed them on the same day, and tried them out the following week.

The difficulties in enterprise development are sometimes not in the workshop, but in funds, markets, and research and development. The Social Work Department of the Zhucheng (诸城) Municipal Committee of Shandong Province (山东省) explored a "Party building + service" linkage mechanism to coordinate relevant departments, banks, and enterprises. At the financing docking meeting, policies were explained clearly and processes were streamlined; intellectual property pledge loans turned "intangible assets" into "real money." Practice has proved that strong Party building and strong development, integrating Party building into enterprise production, operation, and management, is a practical move to strengthen Party building in new economic organizations.

From streets and alleys to factory workshops, from online platforms to industrial chains, the veins of the organizational system continue to extend, and the warmth of Party organizations continues to be transmitted. Through "two coverages" and through integrating education and management into services, the Party's appeal, cohesion, and influence in emerging fields are constantly enhanced.

In recent years, Party committees and social work departments in various places have solidly promoted the Party's work and reform and development of industry associations and chambers of commerce, coordinated and promoted relevant industry management departments to give play to their functional advantages, implemented the requirement of "managing the industry also requires managing Party building," promoted the comprehensive and strict Party governance to deepen into industry associations and chambers of commerce, promoted Party building to lead industry self-discipline, rectified outstanding problems in industry conduct and chaos in elections, strengthened the daily management and supervision of persons in charge, steadily promoted the adjustment and optimization of structural layout, and better played the role of industry associations and chambers of commerce in serving the industry, serving the society, and serving the masses.

Let the broad masses of people truly feel that the Party organization is around and the warmth is in sight.

The stronger the grassroots, the stronger the country; the safer the grassroots, the safer the world.

Xi Jinping (习近平) profoundly pointed out, "We must grasp Party building to lead grassroots governance and grassroots political power construction" and "We must take serving the masses and benefiting the masses as the starting point and foothold of grassroots governance."

In the past, in the Lechangli community (乐昌里小区) of Weijin Road Community (卫津路社区), Xinxing Street (新兴街道), Heping District (和平区), Tianjin (天津), residents often struggled with parking problems when they came home from work - parking spaces were "grabbed," often causing neighborhood disputes. Some people blocked the lanes in desperation, and some people parked their cars hard on the green belts, and many residents had to detour helplessly when passing by.

How to solve the "long-standing difficult problem"? The community Party committee took the initiative to act, visiting during the day to listen to needs, and carefully observing with flashlights at night: When are vehicles most dense? Which ones are long-term occupied? Which road is most prone to congestion? They drew the survey results into a simple schematic diagram and posted it on the bulletin board. Everyone understood at a glance: The root of the problem lies in insufficient space and unclear rules.

Urban management, housing construction, traffic management and other departments and resident representatives conducted on-site inspections and jointly discussed: Which corners can be optimized and utilized, which road can be changed to one-way, where is it more reasonable to install charging piles... In the end, the parking problem was gradually resolved.

The grassroots is the foundation of the Party's governance and the source of its strength. Today, all regions and departments have established a clear orientation to grasp the grassroots level, adhere to both supplementing shortcomings and filling gaps and improving quality and strengthening functions, deepen the promotion of Party building to lead the acceptance of complaints and immediate handling, and promote the comprehensive progress and comprehensive excellence of grassroots Party organizations.

At the same time, Party committees and social work departments in various places, together with relevant departments, actively promote the implementation of the list of responsibilities of townships (streets), promote the improvement and perfection of the access system for village (community) work matters, standardize the listing and certification matters... The rectification of formalism to reduce the burden on the grassroots continues to advance, the problem of "small horses pulling large carts" in grassroots governance continues to be solved, the effectiveness of grassroots governance continues to improve, the relationship between the Party and the masses and between cadres and the masses is closer, and the Party's heart and the people's heart are more cohesive.

In Dehou Town (德厚镇), Wenshan City (文山市), Yunnan Province (云南省), the village market day is very lively, and a "stall" is particularly eye-catching: With the help of a few tables and a stack of leaflets, town and village cadres explain emergency avoidance, traffic safety, and people-benefit policies to passers-by. If everyone has any questions, they can get answers on the spot. When encountering elderly people with poor hearing, young Party members slow down their speech and explain patiently.

"Now there is significantly more time to go to the villages." The feeling of a cadre in Dehou Town (德厚镇) is a vivid footnote to the effectiveness of reducing the burden on the grassroots. In recent years, Wenshan City (文山市) first clarified the powers and responsibilities, so that the grassroots know what to do, what to cooperate with, and which should be taken back by the higher-level departments; then straightened out the "mountains of documents and seas of meetings," "excessive listing," and "multi-headed assessments" one by one.

Today, the list is clearer, the meetings are more streamlined, the listing is more standardized, and the grassroots cadres are lightly armed, with more time and energy to go to the fields. The broad masses of people truly feel that their demands are heard, things are handled, and problems are solved, the Party organization is around, and the warmth is in sight.

Form a social governance community where everyone is responsible, everyone fulfills their responsibilities, and everyone enjoys.

Social work, to a large extent, is doing mass work. Better cohesion and service to the masses is both the responsibility of Party members and cadres and the basic method of carrying out work.

Xi Jinping (习近平) pointed out: "Grasp the work of cohesion and service to the masses," "We must better cohesion and service to the masses, improve the coordination mechanism of the interests of the masses, improve the level of public services, and solve the urgent problems of the masses with heart and soul."

"My puppy is good, no need to leash it," "Children are afraid when they see dogs"... In Guangming Community (光明社区), Fucheng County (阜城县), Hebei Province (河北省), residents once quarreled endlessly over civilized pet ownership, and even the cleaners frowned, "It's difficult to clean up."

The community Party committee did not rush to issue a notice, but first set up the table. Don't talk empty words at the discussion table, first talk about feelings - what are you afraid of, what are you annoyed by, what are the difficulties; then talk about the rules - how to avoid crowds when walking the dog, how to take the elevator in a civilized manner, how to deal with feces; finally talk about responsibility - who reminds, who persuades, who supervises violations. After several rounds of discussion, the residents jointly formulated the "Community Civilized Pet Ownership Convention," and several enthusiastic residents spontaneously formed a volunteer supervision team.

Adhere to joint construction, joint governance, and sharing, and discuss the affairs of the public by the public. Today, similar consultation platforms like the "Small Courtyard Discussion Hall" are increasing across the country, forming a social governance community where everyone is responsible, everyone fulfills their responsibilities, and everyone enjoys.

Various places adhere to and develop the new era "Fengqiao Experience" (枫桥经验 fēng qiáo jīng yàn - "Fengqiao experience," a grassroots conflict resolution and community governance model), closely rely on the people, and effectively solve contradictions at the grassroots level and resolve them in the bud. At the same time, the level of legalization of petition work is constantly improving, and the work of soliciting people's suggestions is being carried out in depth, making it easier for the masses to express themselves, coordinate more timely, and guarantee more powerfully.

Volunteer service is an important symbol of social civilization progress and an important channel for volunteers to serve others and contribute to society. In recent years, the vast number of volunteers, volunteer service organizations, and volunteer service workers have vigorously promoted the spirit of volunteerism, actively participated in the vivid practice of building a Chinese-style modernization, and strived to transmit truth, goodness, and beauty and spread positive energy in serving national strategies, serving the people's livelihood, and serving social governance.

Not long ago, late one night, the mountain roads in Songcun Township (宋村乡), Chun'an County (淳安县), Zhejiang Province (浙江省) were slippery. The voice on the other end of the phone trembled: "Uncle Fang (方大伯) fell at home!" Fang Liangzhong (方亮中) and Fang Xianhong (方先红), members of the "Neighbors" Elderly Assistance Team, did not dare to delay at all, and rushed into the rain curtain at the first time to send the elderly to the hospital.

This race against time was not accidental. Under the guidance of the Social Work Department of the Chun'an County (淳安县) Party Committee, Songcun Township (宋村乡) established the "Neighbors" Elderly Assistance Team with Party members as the backbone, and carried out volunteer activities such as convenience services, emergency assistance, and care visits on a regular basis, paying attention to the lives of people living alone and the elderly, and guarding the peace of the countryside with neighborhood warmth.

This is a vivid microcosm of the widespread promotion of the spirit of volunteerism. In recent years, the Central Social Work Department has strengthened overall coordination, strengthened the management of volunteer service organizations, promoted the integration pilot work of Party building-led "professional social workers + volunteer services," and organized activities such as "Volunteer Action in Thousands of Industries." The atmosphere of volunteer service that everyone can do and is visible everywhere is becoming more and more intense, becoming a powerful warm current surging in the new era.

More and more people are actively engaged in the glorious cause of serving the grassroots and serving the masses.

Xi Jinping (习近平) pointed out: "The effectiveness of grassroots social governance depends on the decisive factor of grassroots cadres. We must consider the construction of the grassroots cadre team as a whole and gradually establish a high-quality and professional community worker team."

"As a social worker, what do you think are the differences between community services and property services?" "If the community is about to add service rooms, what principles should the functional layout of the Party and mass service center follow?" Not long ago, Shuangzha Street (双闸街道), Jianye District (建邺区), Nanjing City (南京市), Jiangsu Province (江苏省) held a community service vocational skills competition.

The topics are not fancy, they are all practical: How to resolve neighborhood disputes? How to make residents feel a sense of belonging to the community? In the simulated scenario, social workers have to come up with a plan in a short time, and they have to be able to explain it clearly, make sense, and do it. Sitting in the audience are community Party committee secretaries and resident representatives.

It is not only about knowledge, but also about methods, and even more about empathy. "It's very exercise, and it can be used when you return to the community," said Ding Shan (丁杉), a social worker from Xinhe Community (新河社区) in Shuangzha Street (双闸街道).

With a sound mechanism and a strong team, we can better sort out the complex affairs at the grassroots level and better solve the urgent problems of the masses. In recent years, various places have adhered to caring politically, caring for life, and supporting work, especially actively exploring methods such as "promoting learning through competition and promoting work through learning" and "mentoring apprentices and honing skills in actual combat," equipping according to standards, training in layers, improving incentives, and unblocking development, and constantly improving the professional service level of social workers.

Social work is receiving increasing attention, and more and more people are actively engaged in the glorious cause of serving the grassroots and serving the masses. As of now, a total of 2.025 million people have obtained social worker professional qualification certificates. Social work professionals are widely distributed in the fields of child welfare, elderly care services, social assistance, and community correction, becoming an important force in meeting the personalized and diversified needs of the masses and solving specific livelihood problems.

On the new journey, under the strong leadership of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping (习近平) at its core, and under the scientific guidance of Xi Jinping (习近平) Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, social work in the "15th Five-Year Plan" period will surely continue to move towards high-quality development, making new contributions to comprehensively promoting the construction of a strong country and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation with Chinese-style modernization.

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Photo Report

On January 24th, the natural ice rink of over 5,000 square meters on Lotus Lake in Beihai Park (北海公园) in Beijing (北京) opened to welcome visitors. The picture shows citizens and tourists playing on the ice rink.

Photo by Song Jiaru (宋家儒) (Image China (影像中国))

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Page 1 Editors: Hu Anqi, Zhang Shuaizhen, Zhao Zheng; Page 2 Editors: Yin Xinyu, Zhang Anyu, Cui Bin; Page 3 Editors: Han Xiaoming, Jiang Bo, Li Anqi; Page 4 Editors: Liu Nian, Han Chunyao, Liu Jingwen

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Rooting in Life to Ignite Cultural Power (Commentator's Observation)

By: 邹 翔

Cultural empowerment makes products more recognizable, industries more competitive, creates spiritual bonds that unite people, and fosters an inexhaustible source of development momentum.

To cultivate people with culture and educate people with culture, fostering an enterprising spirit, there are no difficulties that cannot be overcome, and no dreams that cannot be realized.

I recently moved and decluttered many items, but the refrigerator magnets and souvenirs I bought while traveling were "exempted" and found their place in my new home. Why do cultural and creative products take precedence in the "value ranking"?

Upon closer reflection, it's not just because cultural and creative products have exquisite designs and profound connotations, but also because they all have a memory closely tied to them, a period of time that cannot be easily relinquished.

Individual feelings and perspectives reflect the direction of trends. From refrigerator magnets becoming a social currency for young people to the popularity of the "Gu Zi (谷子) economy" and trendy blind boxes, from the "ticket stub economy" leveraging the integration of culture, commerce, tourism, and sports to the trendsetting of new Chinese architecture and fashion, the "visibility" of cultural elements in economic and social development is increasing. Ordinary objects gain unique meaning and carry profound emotions because of culture, vividly illustrating the role and charm of cultural empowerment.

President Xi Jinping (习近平) pointed out in his New Year's message in 2026: "The enthusiasm for museums and intangible cultural heritage continues to rise, new members are added to the list of World Heritage sites, Wukong (悟空) and Nezha (哪吒) are popular around the world, and ancient Chinese styles have become the 'top aesthetic' in the eyes of young people." Currently, the role of culture in increasing economic benefits, enhancing the charm of tourism and leisure, and adding vitality to urban-rural integration is becoming increasingly apparent. "Culture + Tourism" expands new spaces, and "Culture + Creativity" activates new momentum. Macro perspectives and micro feelings corroborate each other, demonstrating the breadth, depth, and effectiveness of the "Culture +" empowerment effect.

Empowerment is not an abstract concept, but a vivid practice immersed in daily life; it is not a simple addition, but the release of a multiplier effect in integration.

Someone who never drank coffee tried it after a collaboration between a particularly favorite cultural creation and a coffee brand, finding it "not bad," and gradually formed the habit of drinking a cup of coffee every day—this is the cultivation of consumption habits by culture. Walking in Jiajia Ancient Village (贾家古村), Gao'an (高安), Jiangxi (江西), the "Humility Wall" is impressive: many old houses have corners that are either rounded or have their edges removed and retracted to avoid sharp corners injuring pedestrians. The culture of harmony, courtesy, and empathy has been passed down through generations, promoting rural harmony—this is the nourishment of rural civilization by culture.

The premise of empowerment is meeting needs. Cultural empowerment makes products more recognizable, industries more competitive, creates spiritual bonds that unite people, and fosters an inexhaustible source of development momentum.

Pingjiang Road (平江路) in Suzhou (苏州), Jiangsu (江苏), the most well-preserved riverside old street in the ancient city, how can it possess both "form and soul"? The reason lies in the fact that it not only protects the tangible architectural forms and street regulations but also retains the intangible historical context and "Suzhou style." The reason why some antique streets and towns fall into the rut of uniformity and are criticized is that they only imitate the "form" of ancient streets and towns but do not obtain cultural meaning. This shows that cultural empowerment cannot be achieved by mechanical copying; it must grasp the core, combine with reality, understand people's hearts, and carry out creative "translation."

The value of cultural empowerment lies in people. By adhering to cultural construction that focuses on people and is implemented for people, and by enhancing the ability to provide cultural services and cultural products, we can continuously enhance the people's sense of cultural gain and happiness.

In the process of winning the battle against poverty, many places have guided many people to establish a sense of ownership by excavating and utilizing rural cultural resources, changing "wanting me to get rid of poverty" to "I want to get rid of poverty," and gathering the strength to forge ahead. The ancient legend of "Chang'e (嫦娥) flying to the moon" has spurred the dream of the Chinese people to find a way to go to the moon and see it, helping to create a new era of lunar landing legends. To cultivate people with culture and educate people with culture, fostering an enterprising spirit, there are no difficulties that cannot be overcome, and no dreams that cannot be realized.

As the Lunar New Year of the Horse approaches, cultural and creative products with horse elements of different shapes and forms are selling well in the market. The process of cultural empowerment is also the process of empowering culture. Innovation and creation carried out under the premise of mutual agreement and organic integration can not only rejuvenate the empowered object but also promote cultural prosperity and development. This cultural power, integrated into the blood and engraved in the genes, will surely lead an ancient nation through the smoke of history to the bright shore, empowering everyone to achieve a better self in the footsteps of progress.

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Let Volunteer Service Shine in the Sunlight (People's Commentary)

By: 夏祖奎

A beautiful cause deserves our dedicated protection. Ensuring that every act of kindness is clear and transparent will undoubtedly contribute to social progress, making life warmer and more hopeful.

Volunteer service is like a ray of warm light, illuminating others and warming society. Using small acts of kindness to convey truth, goodness, and beauty, and gathering positive energy, is an important measure of social civilization.

Recently, the Central Social Work Department (中央社会工作部) announced seven typical cases of prominent problems in the field of volunteer service, involving irregularities such as selling fake volunteer service hours and using volunteer service as a guise to attract traffic for profit-making activities. Public exposure is not only a stern warning to unhealthy tendencies but also demonstrates the determination to promote the high-quality development of volunteer service in the new era.

The essence of volunteer service is altruistic behavior that transcends material rewards, aimed at promoting public welfare rather than personal gain, conveying the spirit of dedication and mutual assistance, and shaping a warm and positive social culture. Problems such as fake hours and profit-seeking monetization distort the principles of volunteer service, such as being free of charge and integrity, allowing valuable volunteer resources to flow into the hands of speculators. If such chaos is not curbed, it will inevitably lead to the loss of participants and public questioning, ultimately damaging the entire volunteer service ecosystem.

Correcting the prominent problems existing in the field of volunteer service requires not only correcting the chaos but also smoothing out the negative impact. Strengthening warning education by publishing typical cases can not only deter those who have ulterior motives but also enhance public trust. By proactively exposing and strengthening rectification, allowing the whole society to see action and see results, we can safeguard the beautiful foundation of this cause.

A sound system is the "seat belt" for the steady and long-term development of volunteer service. The "15th Five-Year Plan" (十五五规划) proposal states: "Develop volunteer service and strengthen the management of volunteer service organizations." Volunteer service involves multiple parties and multiple links. Establishing and improving systems for volunteer registration, volunteer service team filing and review, activity release and review, complaint handling, and issuance of volunteer service certificates can achieve normalized supervision and long-term governance, making every step of service fair and standardized.

To allow volunteer service to operate in the sunlight, the responsibility of functional departments is indispensable. Henan (河南) takes Party building as the lead, promoting the deep integration of "social worker blue" and "volunteer red," and has embarked on a new path of grassroots co-construction, co-governance, and sharing; Shaanxi (陕西) has created the "Volunteer Sanqin" (志愿三秦) characteristic brand, incorporating volunteer service into the government's guiding catalog for purchasing services, providing a solid support for standardized development. From closely monitoring network platform inspections and strictly investigating profit-making diversions, to strictly controlling key links such as organizational registration and fund use, as long as supervisory responsibilities are implemented, illegal and irregular behaviors will have no chance to take advantage.

Sunlight is the best antiseptic, and unblocking supervision channels is necessary for volunteer service to maintain a healthy development trend. The chaos in volunteer service is often deeply hidden and spreads across platforms, making it difficult to fully cover with traditional supervision alone. This requires innovative supervision methods, using technology to empower and weave a dense supervision network, connecting online and offline, and running through pre-event, during-event, and post-event, placing every service under the gaze of supervision. At the same time, we must also activate the power of social supervision and public opinion supervision, encouraging everyone to be a "supervisor," leaving no hiding place for unhealthy tendencies.

A beautiful cause deserves our dedicated protection. Li Yanqi (栗岩奇), a volunteer in Tianjin (天津市), has insisted on donating blood more than 300 times, building a "Great Wall of Life" with 60,000 milliliters of blood. After the earthquake in Dingri County (定日县), Tibet Autonomous Region (西藏自治区) in 2025, 12 Western China Volunteer Program (西部计划) volunteers in Dingri (定日) rushed to the epicenter as soon as possible to search for and rescue people and transport supplies. Subsequently, they also joined the "Qingqing Children's Paradise" (青青儿童乐园) created by the local Communist Youth League (团委) to help children out of the shadow of the disaster. Ensuring that every act of kindness is clear and transparent will undoubtedly contribute to social progress, making life warmer and more hopeful.

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Seeking Space in Space (Microscopic)

By: 孟繁哲

Not long ago, China submitted a request to the International Telecommunication Union to add 203,000 new satellites for frequency and orbital resources, covering 14 satellite constellations, setting a new record for the number of applications submitted by China. The capacity of low-Earth orbit is limited, and satellite orbits and frequencies follow the principle of "first come, first served." The large-scale application is an advance layout for future industrial space.

The launch is also accelerating. Since the first batch of "Qianfan Constellation" (千帆星座) networking satellites was launched in August 2024, China has repeatedly launched intensively in the manner of "one rocket with 18 satellites"; the "Guo Wang Constellation" (国网星座) also achieved "three launches in nine days" last year. Large-scale application and high-frequency launches have the same direction: China is accelerating the networking of low-Earth orbit satellites.

What is a low-Earth orbit satellite? Simply put, it is a satellite that operates in an orbit from several hundred to 2,000 kilometers from the Earth's surface. Compared with high-orbit satellites, low-orbit satellites have low signal delay, low loss, and relatively low cost. They are widely used in communication, remote sensing, meteorological monitoring, and other fields. However, the coverage of a single satellite is limited. To achieve seamless global connection, multiple satellites must collaborate to form a network.

Today, many countries and commercial aerospace companies in the world are seizing the window period. According to the International Telecommunication Union's application data, the total planned number of low-Earth orbit satellites worldwide has exceeded 100,000, and the industry has officially entered a new stage of intensive networking and large-scale development.

Commercial aerospace has become a new engine for forming new quality productive forces. From the "Qianfan Constellation" (千帆星座) to the "Guo Wang Constellation" (国网星座), and then to the commissioning of the Hainan Commercial Aerospace Launch Site (海南商业航天发射场), China's commercial aerospace development is entering a fast lane. Data shows that by 2025, the scale of China's commercial aerospace industry will reach 2.5 trillion to 2.8 trillion yuan, with more than 600 related companies. Satellite manufacturing is shifting from "one policy per satellite" to mass production; rocket launch test processes are constantly compressed, moving towards the goal of higher frequency. Building its own low-Earth orbit satellite Internet as soon as possible is of great significance for mastering the initiative in international competition.

It should also be noted that key technologies such as China's reusable rockets are still in the verification stage, the density and expectations of satellite networking are still different, and the business model is still being explored. The construction of a low-Earth orbit satellite Internet requires a very large number of satellites. Considering the lifespan of about 7 years for each satellite, we need to deploy hundreds of satellites in one or two years to form an independent and controllable low-Earth orbit satellite Internet. The initial investment is large and the return cycle is long. From application to deployment, from technology to market, every step is a test.

Challenges have always been a catalyst for innovation. The low-Earth orbit satellite Internet is a new thing, and there is no ready-made experience to follow. We can only explore in practice and improve in iteration. For example, the "Qianfan Constellation" (千帆星座) project team adopts the strategy of "developing one generation, pre-researching one generation, and planning one generation," improving while launching, continuously optimizing the design based on on-orbit performance, and forming a rapid feedback loop. Technological innovation and application are often impossible to achieve overnight, but gradually mature in repeated trials and continuous iteration. The pragmatic path of "**小步快跑**" (xiǎo bù kuài pǎo - "small steps fast run," taking small steps and moving quickly) is the key to catching up and surpassing.

Collaborative innovation is also indispensable. Aerospace is a collection of cutting-edge technologies. The breakthroughs in upstream new materials and new components need to be verified by the midstream manufacturing sector, and the downstream application needs can drive technological research and development. Only by opening up these links can we transform single-point breakthroughs into system advantages. In April 2025, the China National Space Administration (国家航天局) initiated the establishment of a commercial aerospace innovation consortium, covering the entire industry chain of rocket research and development, satellite manufacturing, and launch sites, precisely to solve the bottleneck of scattered resources and insufficient collaboration.

Eliminating communication blind spots in remote mountainous areas, providing real-time communication for ocean-going ships, delivering remote sensing data for precision agriculture, and helping emergency rescue and disaster relief respond quickly... Commercial aerospace has rich application scenarios and strong market demand. In recent years, from the establishment of the Commercial Aerospace Department by the China National Space Administration (国家航天局), to the Shanghai Stock Exchange (上交所) unblocking the channel for commercial rocket companies to list on the Science and Technology Innovation Board (科创板), to the creation of special industrial funds in various places... The policy environment for commercial aerospace has been continuously optimized, and the innovation ecosystem is accelerating. Facing the future, with the coordinated cooperation of the "two hands" of the government and the market, and various innovative entities competing on the same stage, the confidence of China's commercial aerospace in achieving steady and long-term development will surely be stronger.

Looking up at the stars and being down-to-earth. By working persistently on technological breakthroughs and uniting efforts in industrial collaboration, one "Chinese star" (中国星) after another is merging into the vast galaxy, continuously expanding new space for high-quality development.

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Photo Report

Combining the Spring Festival atmosphere to carry out New Year custom experience activities; carrying out thematic safety education on issues such as food safety and network risks... Not long ago, the All-China Women's Federation (全国妇联) and 15 other departments issued a notice, jointly deploying the "Bring Love Home - Warm Heart Escort to Accompany Growth" 2026 winter vacation children's care service activities, so that the majority of children can spend a safe, warm, healthy, happy, and meaningful holiday.

This is precisely:

The Spring Festival is approaching, full of joy,
A fun holiday filled with happiness.
Young time needs to be cherished,
Warm care helps growth.

Shen Qiuwen (沈丘文)

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Human-machine symbiosis calls for genuine emotion (Perspective)

By: 曹晓洁

"If you could use one character to prove you are not artificial intelligence, which would you choose?" This essay prompt from a Chinese teacher in Shenzhen (深圳), Guangdong (广东) province, shone like a beam of light into our algorithm-dominated daily lives.

54 answers, 54 heartbeats—"Mom," "Anxious," "Slow"... These responses lacked a standard format, yet each word burned with sincerity. At that moment, we saw clearly: in an era of exponential AI evolution, what is truly scarce is the experience of life and the warmth of humanity.

For example, the character "Mom" points to the warm memories and unconditional love from where life originates. No matter how vast the data, how precise the algorithm, it cannot calculate how deep a mother's love is. It means someone is willing to accept our imperfections and cover for our failures; it means that no matter how far we go, there is a place that preserves our growth. This is a life experience that no code can generate, and it is also the emotional bond passed down through generations of humanity.

Furthermore, the character "Anxious" expresses the deep concern and worry humans feel for their own fate or the fate of loved ones when facing the unknown. The character "Slow" is a gentle resistance to the law of efficiency above all else, a pause and realization in our hurried lives. Aesthetic experience is an important part of human spiritual life, allowing us to transcend material things and utilitarianism, and pursue a higher spiritual realm.

The rapid development of artificial intelligence has brought about increased efficiency and innovative possibilities, sparking discussions about responsibility and ethics. Therefore, human-machine collaboration is an important way to address the challenges of artificial intelligence. Humans can provide emotion, creativity, and moral judgment, while artificial intelligence can provide efficiency, accuracy, and data processing capabilities. Artificial intelligence can assist doctors in diagnosing diseases, but the final treatment plan requires the doctor's professional judgment, humanistic care, and guidance within an ethical framework. This complementarity and integration have already achieved results in fields such as medicine, education, and artistic creation.

No matter how technology iterates, the inherent goodness of human nature is the most solid foundation. For educators, it is necessary to cultivate students' empathy, emotional expression, and management skills through emotional education; to cultivate students' moral awareness, sense of responsibility, and critical thinking through ethical education; and to guide students to explore the intersection of artificial intelligence and human creativity, and stimulate their innovative thinking and multi-dimensional expression through innovative education.

"What is most precious to us is the continuous 'unfinished'." In the age of artificial intelligence, we should cherish those "unfinished" aspects, as this is precisely the embodiment of human value. On the road of human-machine symbiosis, by always maintaining reverence for life, adherence to emotion, and love for creation, our path forward will become wider and wider.

(Excerpted and adapted from *China Education Daily* (中国教育报), originally titled "Illuminating the Path of Human-Machine Symbiosis with the Light of Humanity")

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Empathy: "As if I were telling the story" (The Chinese Path, the Chinese Dream: Every Individual is a Protagonist)

By: 詹飞飞

Settling disputes and stopping litigation is my duty and my pursuit. These four words seem simple, but they are not easy to do, and require constant consideration and practice. Friends who don't understand once said to me: "Isn't a judge just writing a judgment and stamping it?" A legal document can put an end to a case, but it may not truly resolve a dispute. What judicial workers pursue is not only "the matter is over," but a deeper "resolution of both the matter and the heart," achieving "harmony between people."

This profound understanding stems from an experience I had when I first started working. At that time, I was sent to deliver a judgment to a defendant. The case itself was very clear. The two parties had a dispute over greenhouse cooperation. The defendant withheld the plaintiff's vehicle. After mediation failed, the court made a judgment. This was a simple "errand," but as I walked on the country road, seeing the figures working hard in the fields, I couldn't feel relaxed. I couldn't help but think, it's easy to send out this judgment, but can it resolve the knots in the hearts of the two families? Holding the judgment, an idea became clearer: "No, I have to try again!"

I knew that speaking in legal jargon would definitely not resonate with farmers. So, after arriving in the village, I didn't go straight to his house, but instead inquired from various sources and found the respected village secretary, inviting him to visit the house together. At the farmer's greenhouse, the village secretary and I talked about neighborhood reputation, principles of being a person, and the legal consequences of not complying with the judgment, reasoning layer by layer, and every sentence went to the heart. In the end, the farmer sincerely returned the vehicle, and the plaintiff also withdrew the lawsuit. And I brought back the judgment that was not delivered.

This experience was like a seed, taking root and sprouting in my heart. The thoughts and feelings I gained from it have also been transformed into my own "methodology" for work. I realized that when listening to the parties "tell stories," we are already people in the "story" and can influence the direction of the "story." This is a heavy responsibility. Intermediate People's Courts may rarely have earth-shattering major cases, but those "small cases" such as those arising from thousands of yuan in debt may be a major matter for the parties involved, and litigation is often their last resort for resolving disputes. Only by always having the empathy of "as if I were the one suing," adhering to the prudence of "small cases are not handled small," sincerely listening, patiently understanding, and finding the point of convergence between emotion, reason, and law, can we form a suitable solution that lives up to the trust and expectations of the people.

From that persuasion by the village secretary, I also realized that the focus of the law is on each specific person. Only by building a bridge of trust with the masses and carrying out work in a language they can understand and in a way they are willing to accept can we open up the "last mile" that goes deep into people's hearts. Over the years, I have encountered parties who brought their children to court and were emotionally agitated. After clearing out the office and asking colleagues to help take care of the children, their tense nerves gradually relaxed, and they were willing to calm down and communicate rationally. I have also encountered elderly people who have known each other for decades but went to court over a promissory note. I guided them to recall the years of rural life and past friendships, persuading them that "money is borrowed out of friendship, the statute of limitations will pass, but your friendship should not expire," prompting repayment and reconciliation... By treating others as you would like to be treated, and exchanging hearts with hearts, the judiciary can gather the understanding and recognition of the masses in a trickle of warmth.

General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) emphasized: "The construction of the rule of law must not only focus on the end, treating the disease that has already occurred, but also focus on the front end, treating the disease that has not yet occurred." Judicial workers must not only be able to "listen to stories," but also take the initiative to go into the vast world to "tell stories." To protect the people's "money bags," we go into communities to tell stories about preventing financial risks. To care for the growth of young people, we established a legal education lecturer group and went into schools to tell stories about self-protection. To resolve conflicts at the grassroots level, we arranged for police officers to be stationed in comprehensive management centers to tell the masses stories about resolving disputes... When the story of the rule of law, like sunshine and rain, is sown into the hearts of more people, what will be nurtured is a sense of law-abiding and a sense of rules.

Every step on the road of the rule of law in China is full of glory. I feel deeply honored that I can become a ray of light in this magnificent journey, converging with the light of countless colleagues, and striving to illuminate every corner of social fairness and justice. In the future, I will continue to walk firmly and steadily on the road of serving the people with faith in the law and sincerity to the people, living up to expectations and fulfilling my mission.

(The author is a judicial assistant at the Dezhou (德州) Intermediate People's Court in Shandong Province (山东省).)

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Editor in Charge for this Edition: Li Bin, Li Hongxing, He Juan

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Building a Road to Prosperity in the Depths of the Wumeng Mountains (On the Front Lines of Major Projects)

By: 本报记者 叶传增

The Chongqing-Kunming High-Speed Railway (Chongqing to Yunnan Kunming High-Speed Railway) is an important component of the national "eight vertical and eight horizontal" high-speed rail network's Beijing-Kunming corridor. Currently, its engineering construction has fully entered the sprint stage, with 98% of the tunnels in Yunnan Province having been completed. Among them, the Binghui Tunnel, the first extra-long tunnel exceeding 20 kilometers on the Chongqing-Kunming High-Speed Railway, was successfully completed in August last year. This tunnel is deeply buried in the hinterland of the Wumeng Mountains (乌蒙山脉), with complex geological conditions. The construction team scientifically designed the plan and skillfully avoided risks. Recently, a reporter from this newspaper approached the construction team of the Binghui Tunnel on the Chongqing-Kunming High-Speed Railway to explore their perseverance and innovation here.
-- Editor

More than 10 types of high-risk problems, 22 working faces advancing simultaneously, and a daily average of up to 100,000 cubic meters of water inflow... The Binghui Tunnel on the Chongqing-Kunming High-Speed Railway is 21.17 kilometers long and is the first completed high-speed railway extra-long tunnel of more than 20 kilometers with a design speed of 350 kilometers per hour in Southwest China. Over the past few years, the construction team has innovated processes, worked day and night, and continuously overcome various geological and technical problems in tunnel construction, taking down this "throat project" for the southwest railway artery entering Yunnan.

"Building a 'Maze' in the Belly of the Wumeng Mountains"

The Binghui Tunnel, deeply buried in the hinterland of the Wumeng Mountains (乌蒙山脉), is located in Yiliang County (彝良县), Zhaotong City (昭通市), Yunnan Province (云南省). The tunnel adopts a double-hole single-line design and is a Class I high-risk tunnel, which is a controlling project of the entire Chongqing-Kunming High-Speed Railway.

The geology of the Wumeng Mountains (乌蒙山脉) is complex. The area through which the Binghui Tunnel passes integrates multiple unfavorable geological conditions such as low gas, karst, soft rock large deformation, rock burst, water inrush, and fault fracture zone quicksand. The daily water inrush reaches up to 100,000 cubic meters, with 14 extremely high-risk sections and 30 high-risk sections, which can be called a "geological museum." The complex geological environment makes it difficult for builders to move forward.

High risk level, large project scale, tight construction schedule... Xu Wen (徐文), chief engineer of the Erfenbu (二分部) of the China Railway Fifth Bureau (中铁五局) Chongqing-Kunming High-Speed Railway Project Management Department, admitted frankly: "Under the superposition of various unfavorable factors, there is a lack of experience to learn from in the construction of extra-long tunnels of more than 20 kilometers. We can only rely on our own innovative design to overcome difficulties."

The first thing facing the builders is how to scientifically design the most suitable construction plan for the Binghui Tunnel. Xu Wen (徐文) and his team surveyed the geology and surrounding rock in the tunnel during the day and studied drawings and deduced plans at night. After repeated discussions and evaluations with technical experts, Xu Wen (徐文) and his team boldly proposed a "fast construction scheme of advanced pilot tunnel."

This scheme uses the characteristics of the pilot tunnel to quickly excavate. The right line is first constructed ahead of the pilot tunnel. After exceeding a certain distance from the left line, the cross passage between the left and right lines is used as a link to add a left line working face. After the left line excavation progress catches up, the right line pilot tunnel widening is started. By analogy, a cross, balance, and continuous construction of the pilot tunnel, left line, and right line pilot tunnel widening is formed until the three are connected.

"In short, it is to increase the working face and exchange space for time." Xu Wen (徐文) introduced that the simultaneous construction of multiple working faces tests the precision of construction organization. During the construction period, the team continuously adjusted and dynamically optimized the plan. During the peak construction period, as many as 22 working faces in the tunnel were advancing simultaneously.

"A veteran with many years of tunnel construction experience exclaimed that this is simply building a 'maze' in the belly of the Wumeng Mountains (乌蒙山脉)!" Xu Wen (徐文) said.

By optimizing the plan, the left line of the Binghui Tunnel was completed 4 months ahead of the original plan, and the right line of the tunnel was completed 6 months ahead of schedule, which greatly improved construction efficiency and successfully achieved "short tunnel construction."

"We must block the 'Water Curtain Cave' in the tunnel"

Inside the tunnel, water poured down like a waterfall. The accumulated water submerged the calf, and the boots were soaked in the mud. It was difficult to move forward. "This is not a tunnel, it is clearly a 'Water Curtain Cave'!" Guo Xiaogang (郭晓刚), a senior engineer of Shijiazhuang Tieyuan Engineering Consulting Co., Ltd. (石家庄铁源工程咨询有限公司), who first arrived at the tunnel construction site in July 2022, was shocked by the daily water inflow of up to 100,000 cubic meters here.

"We must block the 'Water Curtain Cave' in the tunnel!" Guo Xiaogang (郭晓刚), who has many years of tunnel supervision experience, knows that the terrain of the counter-slope excavation makes it easy for water to accumulate in the working area, and drainage efficiency becomes a key factor affecting the construction progress.

He and the construction party studied the drawings and data together and drew a "Tunnel Bottom Height Difference Coefficient Diagram." During this period, Guo Xiaogang (郭晓刚) found that when the longitudinal slope difference exceeds 12 meters, the traditional drainage system may completely fail. "In the Binghui Tunnel, pumping water with a traditional single pump station is like scooping river water with a spoon, and it can't be pumped out at all." Guo Xiaogang (郭晓刚) said.

What to do? Guo Xiaogang (郭晓刚) and the technical staff of the team innovatively designed a "zoning interception + three-dimensional water control" plan. By sorting out the water inrush risk points and water flow paths, independent treatment units were divided, and specific measures such as "blocking, interception, drainage, and consolidation" were adopted to form a closed loop for water control.

Once, at a working face of the Binghui Tunnel, a sudden water inrush occurred during the excavation process, and the water volume soared to a maximum of 4,100 cubic meters per hour. Guo Xiaogang's (郭晓刚) team's water control plan was put to the test.

The on-site staff quickly implemented the water control emergency plan. The emergency pump set was quickly started, seizing the "golden 30 minutes" opportunity, pumping water while spraying concrete to seal the working face and block the water outlet. At the same time, double-layer pipe sheds were erected within 10 meters of the water inrush point, concrete sealing walls were poured, and special cement was injected into the annular grouting pipe for pressure stabilization to build a second line of defense.

Under the emergency lights, figures shuttled back and forth, and the roar of the water pump was intertwined with the roar of the water inrush. After 12 hours, this "big test" finally ended with a 92% drop in water inrush, and everyone successfully contained the danger.

Guo Xiaogang (郭晓刚) introduced that the Binghui Tunnel established a four-dimensional prevention and control system of "prediction-diversion-monitoring-emergency" during construction, which increased the construction efficiency of the water-rich section by 60% and created a "zero flooding, zero delay" achievement. On the day the tunnel was completed, Guo Xiaogang (郭晓刚) took down a water control "battle map" hanging in his office, which was marked with dense water hazard points - a total of 35.

"Embroidering' on the rock layer to ensure accuracy to the centimeter level"

One day, a violent roar rang out in the mountains. As soon as the smoke and dust dissipated, Wang Chong (王冲), deputy manager of the Erfenbu (二分部) of the China Railway Fifth Bureau (中铁五局) Chongqing-Kunming High-Speed Railway Project Management Department, stepped forward to check the newly blasted section. Under the strong light of the flashlight, the blasted rock wall was smoother, and the half-hole marks were clear and regular. "Success! 'Embroidery' is successful!" Wang Chong's (王冲) hand gently stroked the cold rock wall, and a smile finally appeared on the corner of his mouth. This was one day in August 2024. For this moment, he and his team had been "embroidering" in the dark for hundreds of days and nights.

The rock layers of the Binghui Tunnel are uneven in hardness. The traditional blasting method is like a "reckless man splitting firewood." The blasted rock walls are jagged, resulting in over-excavation and under-excavation of the roadway. "Over-excavation means more concrete needs to be sprayed for backfilling; under-excavation requires secondary treatment, which has high safety risks." Wang Chong (王冲) said that the effect of blasting directly affects the safety and efficiency of construction. How to break through the traditional blasting method is a "tough bone" that the team must gnaw.

To this end, Wang Chong's (王冲) team innovatively proposed the "energy-gathering hydraulic smooth blasting technology." This is a blasting method that integrates energy-gathering blasting and hydraulic blasting. The explosive explodes violently in the energy-gathering tube, and the high-pressure gas released is precisely cut through the energy-gathering groove, which can effectively break the rock and then present a smooth surface effect. The water wedge effect formed by the water bag at the moment of explosion not only enhances the diffusion of blasting energy, but also significantly reduces the harmful dust generated during blasting.

The theory is feasible, but the actual operation is full of difficulties. The angle of the energy-gathering tube, the position of the water bag, the amount of charge... These specific parameters are slightly different, and the effect is very different. The blasting effect was not ideal in the first few experiments. After each experiment, Wang Chong (王冲) had to turn on the flashlight and check the remaining borehole marks little by little, compare the blasting vibration data, and analyze the reasons. "This is like 'embroidering' on the rock layer to ensure accuracy to the centimeter level." Wang Chong (王冲) said.

In order to determine the best blasting parameters, Wang Chong (王冲) and the technicians introduced digital control technology, used intelligent blasting design software and a section laser lofting projector to accurately project the position, angle, and depth of each borehole onto the rock wall, and the drilling workers and charging workers operated accordingly. After blasting, the technicians immediately used a handheld 3D scanner to quickly collect data, compare it with the design model, find tiny deviations, and then make dynamic adjustments.

After repeated experiments, Wang Chong's (王冲) team summarized the blasting parameters and adjustment values for different lithologies. In the end, the effect after application far exceeded expectations: the blasting efficiency of the working face increased by 30%, and the average monthly progress increased by about 26%; the surrounding hole spacing was enlarged, the number of drilling holes was reduced, saving labor and blasting material costs; controlling over-excavation and under-excavation saved 52,000 cubic meters of sprayed concrete...

The mountains are continuous, and the excavation never stops. With the successive completion of the Binghui Tunnel and other tunnels, 98% of the tunnels in Yunnan Province on the Chongqing-Kunming High-Speed Railway have been completed, and the bridge and tunnel construction is about to be completed. The construction of the Chongqing-Kunming High-Speed Railway has fully entered the sprint stage. After the entire line is completed and opened to traffic, the travel time from Chongqing to Kunming will be greatly reduced, which will greatly improve the traffic convenience of the southwest region and the whole country and promote the coordinated development of the regional economy.

■Extended Reading

What are the difficulties in the construction of the Binghui Tunnel?

The Binghui Tunnel traverses the hinterland of the Wumeng Mountains (乌蒙山脉), alternately crossing basalt, mudstone, limestone, and coal series strata, passing through complex geological features such as seismic active fault zones and fold tectonic zones. It concentrates more than 10 types of high-risk problems such as karst development, a daily maximum of 100,000 cubic meters of water inrush, soft rock large deformation, rock burst, and low gas overflow. The construction team opened up 22 working faces for simultaneous excavation through the "2 horizontal tunnels + 2 inclined shafts + 1 flat guide" plan. During the peak period, it was necessary to coordinate thousands of builders to work 24 hours a day, and the management complexity was extremely high.

The project started in October 2021, using comprehensive exploration and intelligent construction technology, applying three-dimensional geological radar and TSP detection technology to forecast geological risks in advance, and combining equipment such as fully intelligent three-arm rock drilling jumbos and intelligent secondary lining pouring systems to dynamically adjust construction parameters. A combined scheme of "pressure relief diversion + refined grouting" was adopted to solve the problem of extremely large water inrush, and the entire tunnel was completed in August 2025.

The Chongqing-Kunming High-Speed Railway is about 700 kilometers long, of which the Yunnan section is 388.6 kilometers long, with a design speed of 350 kilometers per hour. It is the first high-speed railway in Yunnan Province with a design speed of 350 kilometers per hour. After the entire line is completed and opened to traffic, the travel time from Chongqing to Kunming will be greatly reduced.

(Organized by Ye Chuanzeng (叶传增), reporter of this newspaper)

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Providing Metrological Support for Monitoring Earth's Pulse (Innovation Story)

By: 李文一

Performing earthquake monitoring and forecasting requires long-term, continuous, high-quality observation data. Whether high-quality earthquake observation data can be obtained largely depends on the accuracy of the monitoring instruments.

In recent years, with the rapid development of earthquake monitoring technology, each earthquake monitoring instrument is like a precision "stethoscope" that senses the "pulse of the Earth." The calibration device built by our team is precisely the "health guardian" that safeguards these "stethoscopes," ensuring that the monitoring data captured by each instrument is accurate and reliable.

Metrology plays a very important role in judging whether the accuracy and reliability of earthquake monitoring instruments meet the standards. Taking the calibration device for instruments such as strong motion accelerometers as an example, it is necessary to achieve high-precision reproduction and low-distortion measurement of vibration signals in the ultra-low frequency range, which is technically difficult.

In addition, carrying out earthquake monitoring instrument calibration not only requires calibration devices, but also relies on scientific and unified test items, test methods, and judgment standards. Previously, the metrological verification regulations for earthquake monitoring instruments publicly released in China were not comprehensive enough, and there was a lack of authoritative technical basis for carrying out calibration work.

The process of overcoming these difficulties is a "精益求精" (jīng yì qiú jīng - "strive for perfection," constantly improving). After decades of technological accumulation and iteration, China has achieved a series of key results. On this basis, we have jointly worked with the Institute of Engineering Mechanics of the China Earthquake Administration (中国地震局工程力学研究所), the National Institute of Metrology (中国计量科学研究院) and other scientific research institutions, from the structural design of ultra-low frequency vibration tables and motion waveform feedback control to long-stroke ultra-low frequency vibration laser absolute measurement and data algorithm optimization, gradually breaking through a batch of core technologies and building special calibration devices such as ultra-low frequency vibration tables.

In order to verify the function of the calibration device, we carried out more than a hundred experiments in the laboratory. Scientific researchers, braving the severe cold and intense heat, went to field stations dozens of times to conduct instrument comparison tests, continuously optimizing and solidifying the testing process, and finally providing judgment standards for whether the instrument is "healthy."

Today, the National Earthquake Metrology Station (国家地震计量站) laboratory has a variety of calibration devices such as strong motion accelerometers, surface seismometers, and seismic intensity meters, which together constitute a solid defense line for the quality control of earthquake monitoring instruments. Here, we calibrate the monitoring instruments that are about to be installed, and only instruments that pass the calibration can obtain a "job qualification certificate."

Currently, China has built a comprehensive earthquake observation system composed of seismic station networks and geophysical station networks. More than 20,000 earthquake monitoring instruments all over the country are the "nerve endings" that sense the "pulse of the Earth." In the future, the scale of China's earthquake monitoring station network and the number of instruments will continue to grow. These calibration devices we have built are equivalent to establishing a "unified standard" and "quality center" for earthquake monitoring instruments, which will vigorously promote the standardization and standardization of earthquake metrology work.

Looking forward to the "15th Five-Year Plan," on the one hand, we must promote metrology services to "move," develop mobile metrology standard devices, and deliver the accuracy of the laboratory directly to the stations to achieve on-site calibration of important instruments. On the other hand, we must let metrology capabilities "look forward" and actively develop metrology methods for new-generation earthquake sensing technologies such as optical fiber and quantum, so that equipment is not yet available, but metrology precedes it.

(The author is a senior engineer at the First Monitoring Center of the China Earthquake Administration (中国地震局第一监测中心). This article was compiled and edited by Yu Sinan (喻思南), a reporter from this newspaper.)

■Reporter's Notes
Disaster Prevention and Mitigation: Greater Confidence

Scientific and technological innovation is an important support for improving disaster prevention and mitigation capabilities. Building high-precision earthquake monitoring instrument calibration devices ensures that every "nerve" of the earthquake monitoring network is sensitive and reliable, so that people's lives and property safety can be better protected.

Although humans cannot fully grasp the laws of earthquake occurrence in the short term, our understanding of earthquakes is constantly deepening. The application of some new technologies and new methods gives scientists more confidence in "dealing" with earthquakes. Breaking through the technical bottlenecks of earthquake early warning, rapid intensity reporting, etc., developing emergency response technologies for major infrastructure based on early warning information, and building the world's largest earthquake early warning network; establishing key models such as seismic activity, constructing technical methods for calculating seismic hazard, and more effectively supporting seismic disaster risk identification and assessment; developing a multi-scale simulation platform for urban earthquake disaster evolution, building a monitoring and evaluation system platform for major projects, and initially establishing an evaluation method for urban and rural seismic resilience... In recent years, China's earthquake science and technology has been continuously advancing, and we have more confidence in disaster prevention and mitigation.

Disaster prevention and mitigation should promote the transformation of risk governance to prevention before the event, and strive to "prevent problems before they occur." To cope with the challenges and impacts of various disaster risks, we need to continue to work hard and persevere. We look forward to a new level of earthquake science and technology innovation to help establish a scientific and efficient natural disaster prevention and control system and better serve the high-quality development of the economy and society.

■Further Reading
How to Make Earthquake Monitoring More Accurate

The main purpose of earthquake monitoring is to obtain and record ground vibration and dynamic changes in geophysical fields such as gravity, electromagnetism, and crustal deformation. The monitoring range mainly includes four major areas: seismometry, deformation, electromagnetism, and underground fluids. Among them, seismometric equipment can capture nano-volt level weak seismic wave signals through large dynamic and high-precision digital-to-analog conversion, providing reliable data for earthquake rapid reporting and early warning. Deformation, electromagnetic, and underground fluid monitoring equipment can identify millimeter-level annual deformation of faults, nano-Tesla-level weak geomagnetic changes, and 0.0001 degree Celsius deep groundwater temperature changes as much as possible to finely depict crustal movement and provide a basis for scientific judgment of seismic activity.

In recent years, a number of independently controllable earthquake monitoring new technologies and new equipment, such as Beidou (北斗) receivers, quantum gravimeters, marine buoy stations, distributed optical fiber seismometers, and deep well integrated observation systems, have begun to be put into practical application, effectively improving the level of earthquake monitoring. The new earthquake early warning artificial intelligence method developed by Chinese researchers can effectively reduce the magnitude deviation of earthquake early warning.

The comprehensive upgrade of "Earth's sensory nerves" and the deep integration of "data intelligent brain" are the trends in the development of earthquake monitoring. In the future, earthquake monitoring and early warning will move from "rapid early warning" to "precise early warning" and "risk perspective," providing intelligent security services for cities and major projects, and striving for more escape time for the public to minimize the risk of earthquake disasters.

(Compiled by Yu Sinan (喻思南), a reporter from this newspaper)

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Shanxi's total raw coal output to exceed 1.3 billion tons in 2025

According to recent reports from the Shanxi Province (山西省) statistics department, in 2025, the total raw coal production of industrial enterprises above designated size in Shanxi Province (山西省) exceeded 1.3 billion tons, an increase of 2.1% year-on-year, accounting for approximately 27% of the national output during the same period.

As a crucial comprehensive energy base in the country, Shanxi (山西) boasts abundant and diverse coal resources. Statistics indicate that during the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, Shanxi Province (山西省) added 150 million tons/year of new coal production capacity, with an average daily output consistently above 3.5 million tons, accumulating approximately 6.5 billion tons of raw coal production, accounting for nearly 30% of the national total. It has also supplied over 2 billion tons of thermal coal to 24 provinces at long-term contract prices, effectively ensuring the energy needs for the country's economic and social development.

Concurrently, Shanxi (山西) is comprehensively promoting the transformation of coal mining from traditional methods to green mining. Currently, it has cumulatively constructed 75 green mining demonstration coal mines, and over 200 additional coal mines are exploring and applying green mining technologies, making coal mining cleaner and more efficient.

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Photo Report

The Zaga Zangbo Signal Depot, located in Gangni Township, Amdo County, Nagqu City, Tibet, at an altitude of 4,886 meters, is the highest railway signal depot in the world. Since its establishment in 2018, the depot has been responsible for the daily maintenance and troubleshooting of signal equipment at the three high-altitude stations of Tanggula South, Zaga Zangbo, and Xuechama. Ten young employees have taken root and persevered here, with an average age of less than 32. The picture shows signal workers from the Zaga Zangbo Signal Depot heading to Zaga Zangbo Station (扎加藏布站) on January 24 to inspect signal equipment in windy weather.

Xinhua News Agency reporter Denzeng Nima Quzhu (旦增尼玛曲珠) photographed.

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2026 Zhejiang Spring Festival Consumption Season Kicks Off

This newspaper reports from Hangzhou (杭州) on January 25th (Reporter Liu Junguo (刘军国)). On January 25th, the "Shopping in China (购在中国), Happiness Fills Zhejiang (福满浙里)" 2026 Zhejiang (浙江) New Year Consumption Season, jointly organized by the Zhejiang Provincial Department of Commerce (浙江省商务厅) and other 9 departments, was launched in Hangzhou (杭州).

At the event, the Zhejiang Provincial Department of Commerce (浙江省商务厅) released a series of measures for the 2026 Zhejiang (浙江) New Year Consumption Season. Adhering to the close combination of benefiting the people and promoting consumption, focusing on the six major areas of "eating, living, traveling, shopping, and entertainment," 23 measures were introduced, and more than 1,700 consumption activities were held to allow the people to spend a happy, festive, and peaceful Spring Festival.

The "Shopping in China (购在中国), Happiness Fills Zhejiang (福满浙里)" Zhejiang (浙江) New Year Consumption Guide was also released at the launch ceremony, focusing on new trends in lifestyle choices, new experiences in cultural and tourism integration, new flavors in agricultural products, and new vitality in sports and trendy entertainment, covering nearly a thousand themed markets, ten major cultural and tourism consumption themes, and linking various business formats such as automobiles, home appliances, and catering.

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Editor in Charge for This Edition: Kang Yan, Song Yu, Zhang Zhiqi

Layout design: Zhang Fangman (张芳曼)

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Yizheng Damatou Protection and Development Project Sparks Controversy (Letters and Investigations)

By: 本报记者 史一棋 胡笑源 白光迪

Dear Editor,

The area near Damatou (大码头) in Yizheng City (仪征市), Jiangsu Province (江苏省) is a historic district along the Grand Canal (大运河). During the Ming (明) and Qing (清) dynasties, it flourished due to water transport and served as a physical testament to the Grand Canal's water conservancy facilities and the salt transport culture of Damatou. However, since the Damatou Protection and Development Project was included in the shantytown renovation plan in 2016, all original residents have been relocated. The construction team demolished several old houses designated as general immovable cultural relics and rebuilt them into new antique-style buildings, severely damaging the city's historical context and the emotional memories of its citizens.

Peng (彭) from Yizheng City (仪征市), Jiangsu Province (江苏省)

On January 14, after receiving the reader's letter, the reporter followed residents to the construction site of the Nanmen Damatou (南门大码头) Protection and Development Project in Yizheng City (仪征市), Jiangsu Province (江苏省) for investigation and interviews.

Readers reported that general immovable cultural relics were demolished; local cultural and tourism departments claimed only repairs were made, not demolition.

Walking into the Yizheng City (仪征市) Nanmen Damatou (南门大码头) Protection and Development Project under construction along a small road, what one sees is a large area of green dust-proof netting covering mud, weeds, and bricks. In the center of the construction site, thirty to forty newly built buildings with blue bricks and gray tiles stand, with horse-head walls and gable roofs displaying the architectural style of residential buildings in the Huaiyang (淮扬) area during the Ming (明) and Qing (清) dynasties.

Resident Mr. Peng (彭) said, "There were originally 12 residential buildings here that belonged to general immovable cultural relics, but they were all demolished during the renovation and replaced with antique-style buildings with a unified style, which is truly heartbreaking."

The reporter saw that the overall style of the existing buildings in Damatou (大码头) is relatively new, with no traces of residential use. Outside a house under construction, it was observed that the walls and roof of the building were not traditional brick-and-wood structures but were made of concrete. Workers were laying new tiles on the roof.

"This is the only old residential building in the Damatou (大码头) Protection and Development Project that has not been completely demolished," Mr. Peng (彭) pointed to a building on Hexi Street (河西街) that was surrounded by iron sheets. Approaching the building, one could see blue bricks, gray tiles, mottled white walls, and roof tiles of varying depths, with exquisite carvings on the wooden doors and windows... With the unique charm of an old house, it was distinctly different from the surrounding houses (see photo).

"The difference between genuine historical buildings and newly built antique-style buildings is obvious. Many imprints can only be formed over hundreds of years. If they are all demolished and rebuilt, it not only fails to meet the requirements of cultural relic protection but also destroys the city's true cultural texture," Mr. Peng (彭) told the reporter.

"During the shantytown demolition process, some old houses were indeed demolished," said Wang Wushan (王武山), Director of the Yizheng City (仪征市) Culture, Sports, Radio, Television, and Tourism Bureau (仪征市文体广电和旅游局). This was to excavate the ancient river course occupied by the Damatou (大码头) Protection and Development Project. "In order to restore the former appearance of the Damatou (大码头) Protection and Development Project, some infill buildings consistent with the original houses' style were rebuilt."

Wang Wushan (王武山) stated that for the 3 cultural heritage unit buildings and 12 general immovable cultural relic buildings, "according to the design plan, a method of only repairing and not demolishing was adopted." He said that Yizheng City (仪征市) had formulated a repair plan for each immovable cultural relic involved in the Damatou (大码头) Protection and Development Project.

The construction team directly modified the repair plan; the local cultural and tourism department believes it was a procedural error and has imposed administrative penalties.

Were the 12 general immovable cultural relic buildings "completely demolished" as Mr. Peng (彭) said, or "only repaired and not demolished" as the local cultural and tourism department claimed?

The reporter met Mr. Qian (钱), a former resident of Damatou (大码头). Nearly 70 years old, he used to live at No. 46 Hexi Street (河西街), one of the 12 general immovable cultural relic buildings. "My old house was built by my great-grandfather and is now 137 years old. In May 2025, this house was directly torn down." In the video shown by Mr. Qian (钱), the reporter saw that the excavator almost leveled the entire house, with broken bricks and fractured wooden pillars piled into a pile of rubble.

In response, the local cultural and tourism department stated that No. 46 Hexi Street (河西街) was not completely demolished. Hu Qiao (胡乔), Director of the Cultural Relics Management Section of the Yizheng City (仪征市) Culture, Sports, Radio, Television, and Tourism Bureau (仪征市文体广电和旅游局), showed the reporter some old bricks belonging to the remaining column bases and walls of the general immovable cultural relic buildings. How much raw material constitutes repair rather than reconstruction? He believes that there is no proportional standard difference between repair and reconstruction, "Each household can only have its own policy, and the principle of preserving the original architectural style, materials, and craftsmanship as much as possible should be followed when formulating a repair plan."

Mr. Qian (钱) said that at his request, three months after the house was demolished, the cultural and tourism department issued him a repair plan drafted by Yangzhou Architectural Design and Research Institute Co., Ltd. (扬州市建筑设计研究院有限公司), which stated that the residential building at No. 46 Hexi Street (河西街) should adopt a "roof lifting repair + partial dismantling" repair plan, "preserving original components, preserving the original form, using usable components of the original building, and repairing and restoring the walls with a basis," and should follow "the principle of not changing the original state of the cultural relic."

"They didn't follow the 'roof lifting repair + partial dismantling' plan at all, and directly leveled and rebuilt the old house where our family had lived for generations." Seeing this repair plan, Mr. Qian (钱) was even more heartbroken.

Regarding Mr. Qian's (钱) statement, Hu Qiao (胡乔) admitted that there were indeed cases where some buildings were not implemented according to the repair plan. "The repair plan was given by the design company after on-site investigation when the house had not been demolished. However, in the actual construction process, the construction team found that some materials did not meet the repair conditions, and some were directly demolished."

Taking No. 44 Duhuai Street (都会街) as an example, the original design plan was "roof lifting without dismantling," that is, repairing and replacing the roof and upper structure without dismantling the main wooden frame of the building, but the construction team adopted the construction method of "complete dismantling."

In response, Cao Hui (曹晖), Deputy General Manager of Jiangsu Guchen Construction Co., Ltd. (江苏古宸建设有限公司), which was responsible for the actual construction, explained, "The wooden components of the house were severely decayed and moldy, and the load-bearing capacity and stability were not sufficient to support the building, so the plan was changed during construction."

"'Complete dismantling' does not conform to the basic principles of 'minimum intervention' and 'preservation of original objects and original state' in cultural relic protection and repair," Jin Lei (金蕾), Deputy Chief Architect of Yangzhou Architectural Design and Research Institute Co., Ltd. (扬州市建筑设计研究院有限公司), told reporters. "Roof lifting without dismantling" is precisely to maximize the preservation of the historical information and authenticity of the building's main body. If the construction requires modification of the plan, the design party should be requested to redesign the plan and submit it to the Cultural Relics Bureau again for expert demonstration and approval.

Since Yangzhou Architectural Design and Research Institute Co., Ltd. (扬州市建筑设计研究院有限公司) took over the project in 2025, it has carried out repairs on 6 cultural relics, of which No. 46 Hexi Street (河西街) and 1 other site were not implemented according to the repair plan. Hu Qiao (胡乔) believes that in this case, the construction team's fault lies in failing to report for approval according to the procedure, and the Yizheng City (仪征市) Culture, Sports, Radio, Television, and Tourism Bureau (仪征市文体广电和旅游局) has imposed administrative penalties on it. He admitted that even if remedial measures are taken according to the rectification plan, the damage to the cultural relics is irreversible and can only be equipped according to the same specifications.

In terms of cost, demolition and reconstruction cost less. Jin Lei (金蕾) told reporters, "Repairing cultural relics is much more expensive than building a new building with the same appearance. Taking bricks and stones as an example, cultural relic repair and protection should use the original old bricks of the building as much as possible, and carry out picking and patching of the old bricks, strictly controlling the amount of picking and patching. Old bricks are not easy to find, and the price is almost 3 times that of new bricks." In the investment estimate of the repair plan for No. 44 Duhuai Street (都会街), the price of only the "main body repair project" accounts for more than 1/3 of the total budget quotation.

In response, Li Guangliang (李光亮), Deputy General Manager of Yizheng City Development Group (仪征城发集团), the developer, clearly stated that the repair of the Damatou (大码头) Protection and Development Project prioritizes cultural relic protection and will not demolish old buildings and build new ones because reconstruction is cheaper.

The developer said that the project has no formed plan and is taking it one step at a time.

Zhou Lina (周丽娜), Chief Planner of the Famous City Institute of Tongji University Urban Planning and Design Institute Co., Ltd. (同济大学城市规划设计研究院有限公司), pointed out in a paper published in 2019 that Yizheng City (仪征市) prospered due to the Grand Canal (运河) and has rich cultural resources, but there are few large-scale historical blocks remaining in the urban area. Only the Chengnan Damatou (城南大码头) block remains, with many cultural relics and monuments, concentrated traditional residential buildings, well-preserved historical environmental elements, and the traditional street pattern of the block still exists, which has high development and utilization value. The Damatou (大码头) Protection and Development Project is based on this block, and the three core streets, Shanghui Street (商会街), Duhuai Street (都会街), and Hexi Street (河西街), were once lined with shops and merchants gathered.

It is understood that the block was included in the shantytown renovation plan in 2016. The reporter saw that dozens of houses have been rebuilt on both sides of Duhuai Street (都会街); only one side of Hexi Street (河西街) has houses built, and the other side is a large open space; Shanghui Street (商会街) has not yet been repaired, and archaeologists are conducting exploration and excavation.

"The shantytown renovation headquarters was the leading department at the earliest stage, and the Housing and Construction Bureau's Acquisition Office was responsible for formulating the acquisition standards. The headquarters sent people to negotiate the acquisition with the residents," said Zhou Xuefeng (周雪峰), Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of the Yizheng City (仪征市) Housing and Urban-Rural Development Bureau (仪征市住房和城乡建设局).

After the acquisition work was completed, the municipal government decided that Chenfa Group (城发集团) would take over the Damatou (大码头) Protection and Development Project in 2020. "Chenfa Group (城发集团) had not done cultural relic protection and tourism development projects before, and we had no experience after taking over," Li Guangliang (李光亮) introduced. "The project's design unit has been changed 3 times, and the construction unit has been changed 4 times." In 2021, a real estate developer expressed its intention to Chenfa Group (城发集团) for overall development, but Chenfa Group (城发集团) refused, "We were afraid that handing it over to them would damage the historical and cultural value of this block."

In order to learn from the development and operation experience of similar projects, they have visited Guangdong (广东), Jiangxi (江西), Henan (河南) and other places for research, but Li Guangliang (李光亮) admitted that the effect is not ideal, "**这种县区级别的历史文化街区建设容易，经营比较难，基本没什么游客**" (zhè zhǒng xiàn qū jí bié de lì shǐ wén huà jiē qū jiàn shè róng yì, jīng yíng bǐ jiào nán, jī běn méi shén me yóu kè - "This kind of historical and cultural block construction at the county level is easy, but operation is more difficult, and there are basically no tourists."). He is not optimistic about the project's prospects and has no formed plan, taking it one step at a time.

"At present, we want to treat the Damatou (大码头) Protection and Development Project only as an open space for local citizens, and we don't expect to attract tourists from other places, and there are no excessive expectations in terms of operation," Li Guangliang (李光亮) said. The first phase of the project has invested nearly 300 million yuan, including the repair costs of historical and cultural relics, totaling 15,000 square meters of development and repair. We will build a little less first, "Given that there is still a large open space at the project site, there may be second and third phases of the project in the future."

As for the subsequent positioning and operation of Damatou (大码头), Li Guangliang (李光亮) said: "We hope to have some local intangible cultural heritage formats to fill it, and we are now in the stage of attracting investment. We also hope to attract young people by creating online celebrity landscapes and check-in points, and we will also introduce professional commercial operation companies. In short, we want to find various ways to make this block reappear its vitality and prosperity of that year."

Shantytown renovation is a livelihood project and an urban renewal project. The "Opinions of the State Council on Accelerating the Work of Shantytown Renovation" clearly pointed out that attention should be paid to maintaining the traditional style and characteristics of the city, and protecting historical and cultural blocks, historical buildings, and immovable cultural relics.

Zhou Qi (周琦), a professor at the School of Architecture of Southeast University (东南大学建筑学院), believes that in recent years, some urban renewal projects have adopted a model of large-scale demolition and construction, dominated by commerce and real estate, and choosing to relocate residents as a whole. "**实践中看，这类项目表面焕新，但割裂了历史街区的内在结构，难以延续其文化生命力，最终街区缺乏持续活力，历史风貌也容易流于符号化**" (shí jiàn zhōng kàn, zhè lèi xiàng mù biǎo miàn huàn xīn, dàn gē liè le lì shǐ jiē qū de nèi zài jié gòu, nán yǐ yán xù qí wén huà shēng mìng lì, zuì zhōng jiē qū quē fá chí xù huó lì, lì shǐ fēng mào yě róng yì liú yú fú hào huà - "In practice, these types of projects appear to be renewed on the surface, but they sever the internal structure of the historical block, making it difficult to continue its cultural vitality. Ultimately, the block lacks sustained vitality, and the historical style is also prone to becoming symbolic.").

The key to the protection of historical blocks lies in adhering to the concept of overall protection and living heritage. "Cultural heritage is not a static display of exhibits, but a historical space that carries real life. The daily life of residents, local social relations, and lifestyles are themselves important components of the urban fabric and cultural form." Zhou Qi (周琦) believes that adhering to the principles of protection first, rational utilization, and minimum intervention, and promoting the coordinated development of residents' lives, public spaces, and updated formats, is more conducive to realizing the overall protection and living heritage of historical blocks, and truly realizing the transition from "preserving" to "revitalizing."

In the Damatou (大码头) Protection and Development Project, all original residents have now been relocated.

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Water pipes laid for years, water still not connected (Around Town)

We are villagers from Hedong Village, Zhongchuan Township, Minhe Hui and Tu Autonomous County, Haidong City, Qinghai Province (青海省) (see picture). Several years ago, the village laid tap water pipes, and we thought we could finally drink safe tap water. However, the pipes were connected, but the water never came. We have reported this to relevant departments many times, but it has not been resolved. Now, hundreds of households in the village have difficulty accessing drinking water. We hope that relevant departments will pay attention and provide water as soon as possible to facilitate the people's access to water.

Netizen of the People's Daily "Leaders' Message Board".

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Suggestion

Soliciting Opinions Requires "Genuine Use" of Opinions

According to media reports, at a symposium on industry development held in a certain place, relevant departments solicited opinions from enterprises. Many enterprises conducted serious discussions and sent them to the designated email address as required. Unexpectedly, the emails sent have been in an "unread" state for a long time.

Soliciting opinions is an effective way to "**查问题、找短板、知不足**" (chá wèn tí, zhǎo duǎn bǎn, zhī bù zú - "investigate problems, find shortcomings, know deficiencies," to identify issues and areas for improvement), and it is also an important path to gather public wisdom, build consensus, and make decisions more scientific and democratic. However, in reality, some solicitations of opinions have become mere formalities. In name, they call for "**打开天窗说亮话**" (dǎ kāi tiān chuāng shuō liàng huà - "open the skylight and speak frankly," to speak frankly and openly), but in practice, it is a case of "you say yours, I do mine"; they say "humbly accept" with their mouths, but in action, they are "determined not to change." The widely circulated saying, "Whether to solicit or not is my business, whether you have opinions is your business, whether to adopt them or not is none of your business," is a sharp satire of this chaos.

To prevent soliciting opinions from becoming a mere formality, the key is to return the "solicitation" to the essence of "genuine use." First, the consultation process must be "open door." This means giving sufficient time for deliberation and using online platforms to break down physical and information barriers in terms of channels, ensuring the breadth and accessibility of the consultation, and allowing different voices to be presented equally. Second, the handling of opinions must be "closed-loop." Establish a complete chain from collection, sorting, analysis to feedback, so that every suggestion is traceable and accountable. For adopted opinions, it should be clearly stated how they are integrated into the policy; for those not adopted, a reasonable explanation should also be given to reflect basic respect for the suggester. Finally, serious corrections should be made to behaviors that engage in formalism, go through the motions, and disregard public opinion, forcing consultation activities to move from "paper" to "ground."

Zheng Yonggang (郑勇钢), Luzhou (泸州), Sichuan (四川)

Manage Electric Bicycles on Sidewalks

Not long ago, the author witnessed an electric bicycle speeding onto the sidewalk and injuring an elderly person. This is not the first time this has happened on this road. Because there are night markets on both sides of the road, attracting a large number of consumers, the road is narrow, and some electric bicycles travel on the sidewalks.

This phenomenon exists in many cities. Some non-motor vehicle lanes are not smooth, and some people ride on the sidewalks in order to save time or go against the traffic, shuttling through pedestrians, which is very dangerous. It is recommended to strengthen law enforcement inspections in response to this situation and impose fines and other penalties on those who ride illegally; technical means such as "electronic eyes" can also be used to promptly detect illegal riders on sidewalks and send reminders or penalties in the form of text messages. Finally, non-motor vehicle lanes should also be unblocked so that electric bicycles have a road to travel on and do not have to use sidewalks, ensuring the safety of citizens' travel.

Wang Hong (王洪), Shanghai (上海)

Changes in River and Lake Chiefs

Publicity Boards Should Be Updated in a Timely Manner

Recently, while walking by the lake, I found that the personnel on a publicity board for river and lake chiefs had changed significantly. The publicity board listed district-level river and lake chiefs, street-level general river and lake chiefs, and community river and lake chiefs, among others. Among them, the district-level river and lake chief had been transferred away for more than half a year, and the street-level general river and lake chief had been transferred away from the street. The author privately reminded a familiar community river and lake chief whether the publicity board needed to be replaced. The community river and lake chief replied that she had also been transferred to work in other communities and would report the matter to the relevant departments. Thus, the district, street, and community-level river and lake chiefs on the publicity board are no longer in their positions.

The publicity board indicates the various responsibilities of the river and lake chiefs. If these river and lake chiefs change, the publicity board should be updated in a timely manner to facilitate public supervision of their performance. Similar to river and lake chiefs, there are also forest and grass chiefs, road chiefs, field chiefs, street chiefs, etc. Various publicity boards stand conspicuously on the banks of rivers and lakes, at the entrances of forests and grasslands, and beside roads, farmland, and streets. If the publicity board is not worthy of its name for a long time, it will inevitably lose the meaning of publicity. It is recommended to do a good job in updating the information of the relevant responsible persons. At the same time, considering that there are many people involved and that personnel often change, it may be possible to make the name and telephone information into replaceable nameplates, so that the information can be updated without replacing the entire publicity board, thereby saving resources.

Wang Guojun (王国军), Yongqing County (永清县), Hebei (河北)

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Be wary of the "mobile phone-ization" trend in children's smartwatches (Focus on the People)

By: 本报记者 杨 柳

"Touching" to add friends, liking homepage posts, raising electronic pets, children are as if 着了迷一样 (zháo le mí yī yàng - "like being enchanted," completely engrossed or fascinated), holding their watches and playing with them every day." "If I don't buy a watch, I worry that my child will be isolated, but if I buy one, I worry that my child will be overly addicted"... Recently, many readers have written letters reflecting that the functions of children's smartwatches are becoming more and more complicated, showing a tendency towards "becoming like a mobile phone" and "adult-like." Some social functions are fostering vulgarity and a culture of comparison, breeding gray industrial chains such as刷赞(shuā zàn - "boosting likes") , selling accounts, and hacking systems. Some criminals even use the watch's private chat function to spread harmful information to children.

Ms. Chen (陈女士), a parent in Beijing (北京市), said that her child has used two generations of smartwatches from kindergarten to the third grade. Initially, it was to know the child's location and talk to the child at any time, but now the watch's social and entertainment functions are becoming more prominent. The watch is pre-installed with chat software, educational games, and red envelope payment applications, as well as virtual dress-up, points for likes, and social circle rankings, "like a small mobile phone."

According to the "In-Depth Research and Investment Prospect Forecast Research Report on China's Children's Smartwatch Industry from 2022 to 2027" released by the China Industrial Research Institute (中国产业研究院), the number of children aged 5 to 12 in China is currently about 170 million, and the market penetration rate of children's smartwatches is about 30%. Basically, one in every three children has a smartwatch, and the market penetration rate in urban children is at least over half.

The reporter's interview found that children's smartwatch friends can chat, video call, like or comment on each other, and even add strangers as friends through group chats. Ms. Xu (徐女士), a reader in Chongqing (重庆), said: "When my daughter wakes up in the morning, she goes to see if anyone has updated her friends' circle and if anyone has left a message. When she is doing her homework, she is also absent-minded, always wanting to see if any friends have sent messages."

Many parents worry that the complex functions of smartwatches will make their children addicted to them and affect their studies. At the same time, using watches to start "online social interaction" too early may reduce children's willingness to interact with people in the real world. Mr. Zhang (张先生) from Shaoxing (绍兴), Zhejiang (浙江) said that he just bought the latest children's smartwatch for his fourth-grade child. "After my child bought the watch, he listens to stories all day long. Sometimes when I call him, he doesn't respond."

Ms. Yan (严女士), a reader in Hubei (湖北), wrote that some children's smartwatches use the number of likes as a social "achievement indicator" and launch different levels of badges to encourage children to do tasks. In order to rank high and become so-called "big shots," children spend a lot of time busy "making friends" and mutually "boosting likes." "To刷满(shuā mǎn - "boost to the max") 3,000 likes every day, it takes nearly half a year to reach 600,000." A sixth-grade student said that in order to level up, he spent 4-6 hours a day active in the watch's social circle during the summer vacation.

The homepage circle function has even spawned industrial chains such as代养号(dài yǎng hào - "account farming"), boosting likes, and account leasing. The reporter found on the second-hand goods trading platform "Xianyu (闲鱼)" that an account with 630,000 likes on the homepage was sold for 600 yuan, and an account with more than 1 million likes could be sold for thousands of yuan. Some watches have built-in parental monitoring functions. However, in order to help children get rid of "constraints," some merchants even offer cracking services, and the usage time limits and application disabling functions set by parents can be lifted.

The investigation found that although some watch brands have set up keyword blocking in chat software, some criminals or commercial promotion agencies can still bypass the blocking and spread harmful information through private chats. For example, spreading pornographic and violent content, asking children to take photos of their body parts; distorting classic poems and turning them into funny jokes; using homophones of people's names to maliciously make nicknames and carry out personal attacks, etc. This content seriously threatens the physical and mental development of minors.

Recently, the mandatory national standard "Safety Technical Requirements for Children's Watches" was approved and released and will be officially implemented on January 1, 2027, marking that China's children's smartwatch industry has entered a new stage of standardization and safety.

Wang Feng (王枫), director of the Student Development Research Center of the Institute of Primary Education of the Shanghai Academy of Educational Sciences (上海市教育科学研究院), believes that on the one hand, families and schools should work together to strengthen care and love for children and adolescents, pay attention to cultivating diverse interests and hobbies, and provide "offline social" opportunities; teach children how to use telephone watches, and let children fully understand the boundaries of digital social interaction, the meaning of privacy, and the responsibility of online behavior. On the other hand, regulatory authorities should strengthen the full-chain supervision of children's watch manufacturers and distributors, curb and eradicate the industrial chain that induces children to participate in gray transactions and攀比消费(pānbì xiāofèi - "conspicuous consumption," consumption for the sake of showing off wealth or status) from the source, and let children's smartwatches return to the essence of safety tools and发挥正向功能(fāhuī zhèngxiàng gōngnéng - "play a positive role," to exert a beneficial influence).

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Responsible Editor for this Section: Zhao Bing

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New Consumption, New Forms Bring New Vitality (China's Consumption Moves Towards the New: Expanding the Supply of High-Quality Services)

Jiangxi Zixi (江西资溪), low-carbon tourism is transforming ecological advantages into development momentum, making green consumption a new fashion in tourism; Shandong Weifang (山东潍坊), traditional Chinese medicine is moving from clinics to markets and dining tables, attracting young people with new forms; Sichuan Chengdu (四川成都), the Chunxi Road (春熙路) business district is using technology to create immersive digital consumption scenarios... In recent years, new types of consumption such as green consumption, health consumption, and digital consumption have continued to grow, better meeting residents' diversified, personalized, and high-quality consumption needs, and nurturing new economic growth points.

-- Editor

Jiangxi Zixi (江西资溪) --
Low-carbon tourism, green consumption becomes a new fashion
By Yang Yanfei (杨颜菲), reporter of this newspaper

Dajueshan (大觉山) Scenic Area in Zixi County (资溪县), Fuzhou (抚州), Jiangxi (江西), has high mountains and dense forests, and fresh air. The cliff train slowly leaves the station, and the open mountains unfold before the tourists. "In the morning, take the cliff train to see the scenery in the mountains, and in the afternoon, drive the cliff flying car down the mountain to enjoy the beautiful scenery and greenery in an immersive way," said Wu Wenrun (吴玟润), a tourist from Jingdezhen (景德镇), Jiangxi (江西).

The "green" of Dajueshan (大觉山) is not only the beautiful scenery in the eyes of tourists, but also the epitome of the local development of low-carbon tourism.

"The cliff train line is 13.14 kilometers long and runs on cliffs 800 to 1100 meters above sea level. It is an aerial sightseeing system that integrates tourism and transportation functions," said Li Qiming (李启明), chairman of Dajueshan (大觉山) Scenic Area. The vehicles use a low-energy electric drive system with a maximum daily carrying capacity of 25,000 people, effectively reducing pollution and carbon emissions from fuel vehicles.

The cliff train slowly drove into the terminal station. Wu Wenrun (吴玟润) and her friends got off the train, enjoyed the scenery at the top of the mountain, took a short rest, and began to experience the scenic area's newly launched project - the cliff flying car.

"Relying on the Dajueshan (大觉山) ecological road, we have built this non-powered amusement project that glides on the terrain," said Li Qiming (李启明). The cliff flying car organically integrates sports experience with mountain landscape. The track is 3.8 kilometers long and winds down along the mountain, requiring no fuel throughout the entire process, achieving zero emissions and zero pollution.

"It's very cost-effective to exchange carbon coins for tickets." At the scenic area's visitor service center, tourist Deng Wenzhen (邓文珍) opened the "My Fuzhou (我的抚州)" mobile application and exchanged 50 carbon coins for a 30 yuan ticket voucher. This is the "carbon inclusion" mechanism promoted by Zixi County (资溪县). Tourists can accumulate carbon coin points on the online platform by cycling, walking, using public transportation, and sorting garbage. Carbon coins can be used to redeem hotel accommodation, cultural and creative products, etc., forming a closed loop of green behavior that is "behavior can be recorded, value can be converted, and consumption can be incentivized," which is becoming a new fashion in tourism.

"The scenic area has implemented the concept of green development from the beginning of its construction, and has continued to promote underground cables, garbage sorting and recycling, promotion of new energy transportation, and construction of ecological trails, laying the foundation for zero-carbon goals," said Li Qiming (李启明). The local government has also introduced relevant policies to provide financial subsidies for scenic spots to purchase low-carbon equipment.

It is understood that Zixi County (资溪县) has opened green cycling and ecological trails, connecting major attractions, homestays and villages, and building a low-carbon tourism scenic route. In the first 11 months of 2025, Zixi County (资溪县) received a total of 10.6371 million tourists, an increase of 8.96% year-on-year, and achieved a comprehensive tourism income of 4.721 billion yuan, an increase of 11.52% year-on-year.

Shandong Weifang (山东潍坊) --
Traditional Chinese medicine health preservation, new scenes "attract" young people
By Li Rui (李蕊), reporter of this newspaper

Moxibustion smoke curls up, and cupping wanders over the shoulders and neck. At the Weifang (潍坊) Fuhua (富华) International Exhibition Center, the health market held by the Weifang (潍坊) Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital is crowded with people, and a long queue has formed in front of the ear acupressure stall.

In the Traditional Chinese Medicine Disease Prevention Center of Weifang (潍坊) People's Hospital, people come in an endless stream to buy health-preserving tea. "You can put it in the office and drink it at any time. It's both healthy and fashionable," said Ms. Yang (杨女士), a citizen.

In the evening, stepping into the Yidu (鸢都) Apricot Forest (杏林) Food Therapy Kitchen in Kuiwen District (奎文区), Weifang (潍坊), a faint medicinal fragrance floats in the air. In front of the counter, there are various medicinal diets, teas, and pastries, attracting many young consumers to place orders.

In Weifang (潍坊), traditional Chinese medicine is entering the daily lives of young people in a more vivid and life-like manner.

"Speaking of traditional Chinese medicine resources, Weifang (潍坊) has Linyu (临朐) Salvia miltiorrhiza, Qingzhou (青州) hawthorn, and other medicinal materials that are famous at home and abroad," said Wang Bing (王冰), member of the Party Group of Weifang (潍坊) Municipal Health Commission and Secretary of the Party Committee of Weifang (潍坊) Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital. The local area gives full play to the advantages of traditional Chinese medicine resources, focuses on the word "food," and vigorously develops the planting of medicinal and edible traditional Chinese medicine. Weifang (潍坊) Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital and local hotels jointly established the Weifang (潍坊) Health-Preserving Medicinal Diet Research and Development Center to guide well-known catering institutions to launch medicinal diet dishes and drinks.

In May 2024, under the guidance of Weifang (潍坊) Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Yidu (鸢都) Apricot Forest (杏林) Food Therapy Kitchen began operations. Sugarcane, water chestnut, and coconut, Liangzhi (凉饮) nectar, Angelica dahurica and Angelica sinensis beef noodles... Chinese herbal teas and special diets have become new favorites among local young people.

"We have carefully selected more than 100 kinds of medicinal and edible medicinal materials and local authentic medicinal materials to develop a series of foods such as medicinal diet teas, porridges, soups, and pastries," said Zhang Yongchao (张永超), director of the Clinical Nutrition Department of Weifang (潍坊) Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital.

While deeply cultivating diet, Weifang (潍坊) promotes traditional Chinese medicine health services to go out of clinics and integrate into people's daily lives. In 2023, Weifang (潍坊) Municipal Health Commission and the Culture and Tourism Department jointly launched 4 municipal-level and 10 county-level traditional Chinese medicine health tourism routes, attracting many young people to check in.

Medical institutions are also actively expanding service scenarios. "Facing young people, we have launched a health market. Doctors and nurses have become 'stall owners' and brought traditional Chinese medicine to places with a sense of life. The activities are almost always full, attracting many young people to participate," said Chen Yan (陈艳), director of the Traditional Chinese Medicine Promotion and Exchange Center of Weifang (潍坊) Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital.

"Traditional Chinese medicine health preservation has now become an essential part of my daily life. It's both stress-relieving and fashionable," said Liu Xinmin (刘鑫民), a citizen waiting in line for cupping at the health market.

Sichuan Chengdu (四川成都) --
Technology empowers, popular business districts move towards intelligence
By Wang Yongzhan (王永战), reporter of this newspaper

Walking into the Parkson (百盛) Shopping Center in the Chunxi Road (春熙路) business district of Jinjiang District (锦江区), Chengdu (成都), Sichuan (四川), a robot interactive experience event is underway. Inside the mall, a robot dog turns and jumps, attracting bursts of applause from citizens and tourists.

The Chunxi Road (春熙路) business district covers an area of 5 square kilometers and brings together more than 1,000 domestic and foreign brands. In order to enrich the experience of citizens, the business district integrates technological elements and has created a number of new smart cultural tourism scenarios. At the same time, through the "Cloud Chunxi (云上春熙)" service platform and the "Code Tour Jinjiang (码上游锦江)" mini-program, the business district management service is promoted to be intelligent.

Outside the Parkson (百盛) Shopping Center's outdoor naked-eye 3D large screen, a panda seems to be climbing out of the screen. "We use naked-eye 3D, artificial intelligence and other technologies to set up a number of new smart cultural tourism scenarios inside and outside the mall to attract citizens and tourists to interact and participate," said Xia Shujun (夏书军), general manager of Sichuan Fashion Parkson (四川时尚百盛) Commercial Development Co., Ltd.

In the Sino-Ocean Taikoo Li (远洋太古里) commercial complex in the Chunxi Road (春熙路) business district, smart service scenarios appear frequently. In a store, Mr. Li (李先生), a citizen, opened the "Fashion Chunxi (时尚春熙)" mini-program of the "Cloud Chunxi (云上春熙)" service platform and verified and redeemed the "Chunxi Coupon (春熙券)" he had grabbed, saving 20 yuan.

Smart services benefit consumers and merchants. The "Fashion Chunxi (时尚春熙)" mini-program has functional modules such as hot store recommendations, and also promotes citizen consumption by holding promotional activities with "Chunxi Coupons (春熙券)".

Smart services empower government management and guidance. Entering the government service port of "Cloud Chunxi (云上春熙)", all kinds of data are clear at a glance: in the business district operation module, data indicators such as entry rate and tax payment rate are clearly visible; in the safety hazard reporting module, thousands of hazard and investigation information are clear at a glance. "The platform also realizes real-time data information sharing with emergency, cultural and tourism and other departments," said Chen Zhaoxia (陈朝霞), the relevant person in charge of the platform operator, Wanhua Chunxi (万花春熙) Technology Co., Ltd.

When foreign tourists walk into the International Finance Center section of the business district, the "Code Tour Jinjiang (码上游锦江)" QR code signs in front of each store are very eye-catching. In July 2025, Jinjiang District (锦江区) launched the "Code Tour Jinjiang (码上游锦江)" mini-program to facilitate overseas tourists to visit and consume in the business district. "The mini-program sorts out the various merchant information in the business district, which is convenient for tourists to reach with one click," said the relevant person in charge of the Jinjiang District (锦江区) Bureau of Commerce. "We will also use new technologies such as 5G Internet, holographic technology, and AR (augmented reality) to create more cultural tourism integration consumption and business district service scenarios."

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"New Consumption" Is More Than Just "New" (Editor's Notes)

By: 韩文榕

What is new consumption? Medicated diet dishes are widely loved, smart services cover popular business districts, and low-carbon concepts are integrated into tourist attractions... This new type of consumption, based on new technologies, new business forms, and new models, is gradually entering daily life.

Why cultivate and strengthen new consumption? It meets consumers' new consumption needs: Can digital technology make consumption scenarios more convenient? Can we obtain healthier new products in life? Can green concepts be integrated into the entire consumption process? New consumption brings more intelligent, healthier, and greener new connotations, and also enhances consumers' happiness index.

To respond to new demands, there must be new tricks. Traditional community supermarkets are connected to instant retail platforms, increasing store traffic; various places are creating healthy tourism routes, making high-quality products more abundant; and tourists are encouraged to use "carbon coins" to redeem tickets, stimulating environmental protection motivation. While revitalizing the existing traditional consumption market, new consumption also continuously activates new consumption hotspots.

Connected to the "small days" of thousands of households, and also related to the "big ledger" of economic development, the continuous evolution of new consumption will inject a continuous stream of vitality into high-quality economic development.

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Promoting the healthy and sustainable development of intercity railways

According to a report in this newspaper from Beijing on January 25th (Reporter Liu Zhiqiang (刘志强)), the National Development and Reform Commission (国家发展改革委) recently issued the "Opinions on Promoting the Healthy and Sustainable Development of Intercity Railways" (关于推进城际铁路健康可持续发展的意见) (hereinafter referred to as the "Opinions"). This is the first time the state has issued a document specifically for intercity railways, which will further strengthen policy guidance and support, and promote higher quality and more sustainable development of intercity railways.

Intercity railways are an important mode of transportation within urban agglomerations. A spokesperson for the National Development and Reform Commission (国家发展改革委) stated that in recent years, the state has coordinated the planning and construction of intercity railways, actively creating "urban agglomerations on rails" in some key areas, which has strongly supported the in-depth implementation of major regional strategies and new urbanization strategies.

The main contents of the "Opinions" include the following aspects:

Clarify the functional positioning. Intercity railways are the backbone passenger transport mode between node cities in urban agglomerations, focusing on meeting the short- and medium-distance travel needs of passengers for 1 to 2 hours of commuting, leisure, and business. It is required to strictly prohibit the disguised construction of high-speed railways and urban rail transit in the name of intercity railways, and to distinguish them from long-distance railway main lines and urban internal transportation in terms of function.

Clarify the standard conditions. Adhering to the principle of being moderately forward-looking but not excessively forward-looking, and demand-oriented, it is proposed that the recent two-way passenger flow density of newly built intercity railways should not be less than 15 million passengers/year. Projects for intercity railways parallel to existing trunk railways should be constructed prudently. Areas where the passenger flow density of existing intercity railways has not reached 50% of the expected target after 5 years of operation should suspend new intercity railway projects. It is clarified that newly built intercity railways should generally be laid on the ground, and the design speed is generally 120-200 kilometers per hour.

Clarify the implementation procedures. The construction plan of intercity railways shall be jointly prepared by the provincial development and reform, transportation, and natural resources departments, and submitted to the National Development and Reform Commission (国家发展改革委) for approval.

Clarify regulatory requirements. The National Railway Administration (国家铁路局) is required to perform the duties of the industry supervision and management department, and local governments are responsible for supervising the quality and safety of projects. Implement the expenditure responsibilities of local governments, clarify that the capital contribution ratio of new intercity railway projects shall not be less than 50%, and no illegal debt financing is allowed. Areas where existing intercity railways have not achieved cash flow balance after 10 years of operation should also suspend new intercity railway projects to prevent debt risks.

Clarify the management system. Establish an implementation mechanism of national overall planning and provincial responsibility, give play to the joint efforts between departments, between the central and local governments, and between the government and enterprises, and clarify that the National Development and Reform Commission (国家发展改革委) will, together with the Ministry of Natural Resources (自然资源部) and other departments, coordinate and promote the development of intercity railways, and relevant provincial departments will organize and implement the specific work of intercity railway planning, design, construction, and operation.

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Liaoning Accelerates the Construction of a Pilot-Scale Public Service Network

By: 本报记者 郝迎灿

In the Panjin Fine Chemical Pilot Plant Base (盘锦精细化工中试基地) in Liaoning (辽宁), 22 high-standard pilot workshops are located, complete with power workshops, hazardous waste warehouses, analysis and testing buildings, accident emergency pools, and other facilities. "We focus on five key areas, including catalysts, pharmaceutical intermediates, and electronic chemicals. Currently, nine pilot projects have achieved industrialization, contributing to more than 3 billion yuan in investment," said Zhang Jianguo (张建国), head of the base.

Liaoning Province (辽宁省) focuses on key areas such as equipment manufacturing, fine chemicals, and new materials to build pilot plant bases, construct a pilot public service network that connects concept verification, pilot-scale maturation, and industrial application, and promote the deep integration of technological innovation and industrial innovation. By the end of 2025, the province had built 70 provincial-level pilot verification platforms, released 219 pilot public service items, and carried out more than 4,000 pilot projects.

Since the "14th Five-Year Plan," Liaoning Province (辽宁省) has successively formulated and promulgated the "Liaoning Province (辽宁省) Science and Technology Achievement Transformation Pilot Base Project Management Measures (Trial)" and the "Liaoning Province (辽宁省) Science and Technology Achievement Transformation Pilot Base Performance Evaluation Management Measures (Trial)," strengthening management evaluation, promoting the improvement of operation and management mechanisms of various pilot bases, improving management systems such as technology transfer and technical services, and clarifying intellectual property rights and income distribution. Liaoning Province (辽宁省) has so far allocated a total of 180 million yuan in special funds to support the development and construction of pilot bases, accelerate the upgrading of pilot facilities and equipment, and the introduction and cultivation of pilot talents.

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Photo Report

The "China Snow Town" scenic area in Mudanjiang City (牡丹江市), Heilongjiang Province (黑龙江省), is covered in white snow, attracting many tourists to enjoy the winter fun recently. In recent years, the local area has discovered high-quality tourism resources and promoted the healthy development of the tourism industry by organizing characteristic competitions, folk activities, and so on.

Photo by He Huawen (何华文) (Xinhua News Agency (新华社) issued)

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Electric Vehicles Can Earn Money by Discharging Power

By: 本报记者 尹晓宇

At a little after 4 PM, in the Xihu Town (溪湖小镇) residential area of Changzhou (常州), Jiangsu Province (江苏省), Mr. Jiang (蒋先生), a car owner, was discharging his new energy vehicle using a charging gun, with the numbers on the charging pile's meter flashing.

"The current discharge power is 20 kilowatts, and the amount of electricity supplied is 10.5 kilowatt-hours." Mr. Jiang showed the "e Charging" APP on his mobile phone, saying that since installing the V2G (vehicle-to-grid) pile in his community at the end of August last year, his new energy vehicle has cumulatively discharged more than 300 kilowatt-hours to the grid. "After 10 PM, the car will automatically replenish power using off-peak electricity prices. Charging and discharging not only benefits me but also supports the grid's peak shaving and valley filling."

New energy vehicles charging when electricity prices are low and discharging to the grid like a "power bank" when electricity prices are high is a V2G pilot program being carried out in Changzhou (常州). In April 2025, the National Development and Reform Commission (国家发展改革委) and other departments released the first batch of pilot projects for large-scale vehicle-to-grid interaction applications, with Changzhou (常州) being the only pilot city in Jiangsu (江苏).

How to maximize the benefits of charging and discharging? Staff from the State Grid Changzhou Power Supply Company (国网常州供电公司) found in their research that in residential areas, new energy vehicles are mainly parked from 6 PM to 8 AM the next morning, while office parking lots have vehicles concentrated during daytime working hours. These two time periods correspond exactly to the peak load of the power grid—the evening peak in electricity consumption coincides with vehicles returning to residential areas, and the midday peak in photovoltaic power generation corresponds to office parking hours. Based on this, they designed a "valley charge + peak discharge + midday supplement" model—using charging piles in office areas to consume photovoltaic green electricity for replenishment at midday, discharging to the grid in residential areas during the evening peak electricity consumption period, and then charging at off-peak electricity prices late at night.

The Wuxing (五星) charging station in Zhonglou District (钟楼区) of Changzhou (常州) is one of the busiest public charging stations in the area. Due to subsidies for charging service fees, it attracts many car owners. Ms. Li (李女士), who works near the Wuxing (五星) charging station, showed reporters her charging and discharging records: replenishing 10 kilowatt-hours at the Wuxing (五星) charging station at noon, costing less than 7 yuan; discharging 15 kilowatt-hours during the peak period after returning home in the evening, earning 18 yuan; and spending about 4 yuan to charge 10 kilowatt-hours late at night. "It's equivalent to me driving to work and back without spending money and even earning 7 yuan, which can result in more than 200 yuan in income per month," said Ms. Li (李女士).

V2G construction requires active investment from operators. At the Xingxing Charging (星星充电) Xinqiao Park (新桥公园) charging station in Xinbei District (新北区) of Changzhou (常州), 10 120-kilowatt dual-gun V2G piles are running continuously. Pan Yefeng (潘叶峰), Operations Director of Xingxing Charging (星星充电) in Jiangsu Province (江苏省), introduced that the site adopts a revenue-sharing model with the Xinqiao Sub-district (新桥街道), the charging piles use products manufactured by the company itself, and Changzhou (常州) also has corresponding subsidy policies. Since the station was put into operation, it has been running smoothly, and the investment return cycle is within a reasonable range.

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Big Data Helps Jujubes Undergo "Seventy-Two Transformations" (High-Quality Development on the Front Lines: Treasures of a Small City)

By: 本报记者 邵玉姿

What foods can jujubes be made into? Dried jujubes made with traditional techniques, milk-flavored stuffed jujubes popular among young people, and codonopsis pilosula jujubes suitable for health preservation... In Cangxian County (沧县), Cangzhou City (沧州市), Hebei Province (河北省), there can be many answers.

Cangxian County (沧县) has a history of more than 3,000 years of cultivating Jinsi jujubes (金丝小枣), with a planting area of 191,000 mu and a large jujube trading market. In recent years, under the leadership of leading enterprises, the local area has used technologies such as big data and artificial intelligence to promote the "cross-border" innovation of the jujube industry, and Internet-famous products are constantly being updated.

"Every year, we select 1,000 out of 10,000 product ideas to make samples, and then select 100 from the samples for trial sales. Based on the feedback from the trial sales, we finally select 10 products for mass production," said Wang Yunfei (王云飞), general manager of Cangzhou Meizao Wang Food Co., Ltd. (沧州美枣王食品有限公司), in the exhibition hall. Behind him, the exhibition shelves are filled with various jujubes and dried nut foods produced by the company.

How are so many ideas generated? "Based on the original R&D system, we use the recipe engine big data model to provide creative sources." In 2023, Wang Yunfei (王云飞) had the idea of integrating food R&D with artificial intelligence technology. In the same year, he found a team from Fudan University (复旦大学) to cooperate and jointly develop the recipe engine big data model.

"With the help of the recipe engine, a product idea can be generated in 30 seconds," Wang Yunfei (王云飞) introduced. The recipe engine integrates data such as production, formulas, raw material characteristics, and market demand, and constructs a knowledge graph covering multiple dimensions such as food technology, raw materials, and market trends. By dynamically analyzing content data from e-commerce platforms, content platforms, and industry information websites, it automatically generates product ideas.

"The system can automatically generate ideas, and it can also carry out targeted design according to needs." Wang Yunfei (王云飞) entered "design a health-preserving snack with jujubes, ginseng, longan, and wolfberry as the main raw materials" into the system. After a while, the system generated two product ideas, and information such as raw material ratio, product renderings, process parameters, packaging suggestions, and cost estimates were also displayed one by one.

"The recipe engine has changed the traditional product R&D model, allowing us to shift from experience-driven to data-driven, which greatly improves product R&D efficiency." Wang Yunfei (王云飞) said that after the recipe engine was put into use, the company's products increased from the original 8 to more than 50 now, and product sales have also continued to increase.

In addition to relying on big data to enrich product categories, some companies also rely on big data to improve production and operation.

Walking into the digital operation center of Hebei Huaju Food Co., Ltd. (河北华聚食品有限公司), on the big screen of the production and sales data platform, the sales dynamics of the company's products are displayed in real time, and data such as order distribution heat map, product sales ranking, delivery progress bar, and channel share analysis are clear at a glance.

"These visualized data are the 'smart brain' that guides our production and operation." Sun Zehui (孙泽辉), chairman of Huaju Food (华聚食品), introduced that relying on the digital platform, the company has not only built an e-commerce sales network, but also optimized the product structure on the production side. "In the past two years, according to market data analysis, we have discontinued dozens of products with low sales and low efficiency." Sun Zehui (孙泽辉) said that the reduced "production space" has allowed the company to turn to developing more new products.

Data also connects the "ecological chain" of group development. Sun Zehui (孙泽辉) said that relying on the data platform to realize resource sharing, the company actively integrates logistics, warehousing, wholesale markets and other resources to drive the common development of small and medium-sized enterprises.

"We actively promote the construction of the jujube industry cluster, promote the optimization and upgrading of the jujube industry chain, and encourage enterprises to use digitalization to increase variety, improve quality, and create brands," said Cai Yong (蔡勇), director of the Cangxian County Science, Technology, Industry, Information and Commerce Bureau (沧县科技工信和商务局). At present, there are more than 3,000 jujube-related processing and sales enterprises in Cangxian County (沧县), with an annual deep processing of about 300,000 tons of jujubes.

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This edition's editors: Lü Zhongzheng, Wu Kai, Huang Jinyu

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The Strategic Significance and Practical Requirements of Vigorously Boosting Consumption (Rational Perspective on the Economic Situation)

By: 余蔚平

Consumption is the "ballast stone" and primary driving force of economic growth. General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) attaches great importance to expanding consumption, emphasizing that "we must accelerate the efforts to make up for the shortcomings in domestic demand, especially consumption, so that domestic demand becomes the primary driving force and stabilizing anchor for economic growth." The Central Economic Work Conference held at the end of last year identified the key tasks for economic work in 2026, the first of which is to "adhere to domestic demand as the mainstay and build a strong domestic market." The "Suggestions" of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China proposed "vigorously boosting consumption." This is a scientific judgment and strategic deployment made by the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping (习近平) at its core, based on a profound understanding of the domestic and international development trends, highlighting the great significance of boosting consumption for promoting Chinese-style modernization. We must earnestly study, deeply understand, and implement it.

Vigorously Boosting Consumption Has Significant Strategic Significance

Consumption is the foundation of the national economy and an important engine for promoting economic growth. The report of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China proposed "enhancing the fundamental role of consumption in economic development," the "Decision" of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China proposed "improving the long-term mechanism for expanding consumption," and the "Suggestions" of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China proposed "adhering to the strategic base point of expanding domestic demand, adhering to the close combination of benefiting people's livelihoods and promoting consumption, investing in things and investing in people," and "expanding effective investment," etc. This fully reflects the consistent emphasis of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping (习近平) at its core on boosting consumption and expanding domestic demand. We must deeply recognize the important practical significance and far-reaching strategic considerations of vigorously boosting consumption.

An Active Choice Following Economic Laws. General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) pointed out: "Development must be scientific development that follows economic laws." Consumption plays a fundamental role in economic development, which is a general law of economic development. From the perspective of world economic history, when a country enters the later stages of industrialization and urbanization, the demand for large-scale investment and construction declines, and the efficiency, return rate, and driving effect of investment gradually decline, and economic development will inevitably shift to a new stage with consumer demand as the main driving force. In the process of major developed economies moving from the middle- and high-income stage to the high-income stage, the driving effect of consumption on economic growth has been significantly enhanced. As a developing country with a population of more than 1.4 billion, China is in a critical stage of moving towards a high-income country. Putting boosting consumption in a more prominent position is not only an active move but also an inevitable trend. For a large country, with a large domestic market and a complete industrial system as a solid foundation, boosting consumption and expanding domestic demand have a solid foundation, which is conducive to coping with major power games and external shocks. Vigorously boosting consumption and expanding domestic demand are conducive to leveraging China's unique advantages of an economy dominated by domestic demand and internal circulation, promoting sustained and healthy economic development, and maintaining effective qualitative improvement and reasonable quantitative growth. Especially in the current complex and volatile external environment, vigorously boosting consumption can ensure the normal operation of the economy and overall social stability under extreme conditions, and firmly grasp the initiative of development.

A Strategic Choice for Building a New Development Pattern. General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) pointed out: "To build a new development pattern, we must adhere to the strategic base point of expanding domestic demand." International experience shows that domestic demand as the mainstay and consumption as the engine are prominent features of a large country's economy. Consumption is the ultimate demand and an organic unity of the end point and new starting point of a country's economic cycle. It can connect production, distribution, circulation, and other links, so that the economic system can cooperate closely and operate efficiently. The core logic of vigorously boosting consumption lies in making the economy "heat up" by making consumption "warm up," forming a spiral upward trend of consumption leading production innovation and production supply creating new consumption, and injecting continuous endogenous growth momentum into economic development. The "15th Five-Year Plan" period is a critical period for basically realizing socialist modernization, and the status and role of boosting consumption and expanding domestic demand are even more prominent. From an international perspective, the complexity, severity, and uncertainty of the external environment are increasing, and the growth model that has relied on investment and exports as the main drivers of economic growth in the past needs to be adjusted; from a domestic perspective, the current characteristics of strong supply and weak demand in China are relatively obvious, and the role of consumption as the "main engine" of economic growth and the "ballast stone" of economic stability is even more prominent, and making up for the shortcomings in consumption has become an inevitable choice. China is the world's most potential consumer market, with huge growth space. Vigorously boosting consumption is the key to unblocking the national economic cycle, and it is also conducive to gathering global resources and elements, making good use of both domestic and international markets and resources, and expanding new space for economic development.

An Inherent Requirement for Practicing the People-Centered Development Thought. General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) pointed out: "The people's yearning for a better life is our goal." Consumption is connected to the macro economy on one end and the daily life of the people on the other. It is not only an important driving force for economic growth but also a direct reflection of the people's needs for a better life. Vigorously boosting consumption is precisely to improve the people's living standards and allow the people to share the fruits of economic and social development through consumption channels. This is a concrete interpretation of development for the people, development relying on the people, and development results shared by the people, and it is also an important yardstick for measuring the quality of economic growth. At present, China has entered a stage of high-quality development, with per capita gross domestic product (GDP) exceeding 13,000 US dollars, and the people have more expectations for a better life, and the expansion and upgrading of consumption demand is the general trend. Consumer hotspots such as smart wearable products, cosmetics, fitness equipment, outdoor products, pet food and supplies, infant and child products, trendy toys, jewelry, and domestic trendy clothing are emerging one after another, and new consumer growth points are emerging in competition. Vigorously boosting consumption, enriching consumption supply, and improving consumption levels can continuously improve people's well-being, enhance the people's sense of gain, happiness, and security, and allow the fruits of Chinese-style modernization to benefit all the people more and more equitably.

Accurately Assess the Growth Space and Development Trend of Consumption in China

In recent years, China's consumer market has developed rapidly. In 2024, the total retail sales of consumer goods reached 48.3 trillion yuan, and in 2025, it exceeded 50 trillion yuan, ranking second in the world. In 2025, the contribution rate of domestic demand to economic growth exceeded 67%, of which the contribution rate of consumption reached 52%. At the same time, it should be noted that China's consumption growth potential is still large. The Central Economic Work Conference held at the end of last year proposed the "five musts" of regularity understanding, the first of which is that we must fully tap economic potential. This requires us to accurately assess the growth space and development trend of consumption in China.

From an international comparison, China's residents' consumption rate is generally low, and the consumer market has a large growth space. At present, China's residents' consumption rate is about 40%, which is still 10-20 percentage points lower than that of developed countries, especially the proportion of service consumption is low. Considering the high savings tradition of Chinese residents, there is still huge room for improvement in future consumption. It should be seen that the economic fundamentals are the basis for promoting the growth of the consumer market. For example, the stability of the employment market is the cornerstone of income security, which can not only directly enhance residents' consumption willingness and improve residents' consumption capacity but also stabilize people's expectations for future life, thereby releasing consumption potential; another example is that the quality and upgrading of the manufacturing and service industries can provide more high-quality and personalized products and services, stimulate residents' consumption demand, and form a virtuous circle of supply creating demand. China's economic foundation is stable, has many advantages, is resilient, and has great potential. The supporting conditions and basic trends for long-term improvement have not changed. Although there are still some difficulties in boosting consumption at present, such as the low proportion of residents' disposable income, unstable income expectations, weak consumption willingness, and structural shortage of high-quality consumption supply, most of these are problems in development and transformation, which can be solved through efforts. Firmly believe in confidence, make good use of advantages, respond to challenges, and continuously consolidate and expand the momentum of steady economic improvement. On this basis, increase income and reduce burdens to enhance consumption capacity, create effective demand with high-quality supply, and enhance consumption willingness by optimizing the consumption environment. Consumption potential will be further stimulated.

From the perspective of supporting factors, the increase in income of urban and rural residents and the in-depth promotion of new urbanization will promote the further expansion and quality improvement of the consumer market. This is mainly reflected in three aspects. First, residents' income is steadily increasing, consolidating the consumption base. During the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, the average annual actual growth of per capita disposable income of Chinese residents was 5.4%, which was basically synchronized with economic growth. At the same time, the ratio of per capita disposable income between urban and rural residents decreased from 2.56 in 2020 to 2.31 in 2025. China has built the world's largest education system, social security system, and medical and health system, and economic growth has been truly transformed into residents' sense of gain, happiness, and security. With the further increase in residents' income and the narrowing of the income gap, the expansion of the consumer market has a solid foundation. Second, the middle-income group is growing, promoting consumption upgrading. China has the world's largest and most growing middle-income group. With the high-quality development of the economy and the solid promotion of common prosperity for all the people, the size of the middle-income group will be further expanded, pushing consumption to a new level. Third, new urbanization is steadily advancing, expanding consumption space. According to estimates, every 1 percentage point increase in China's urbanization rate can add more than 200 billion yuan of consumption demand every year. In 2025, China's urbanization rate of permanent residents was 67.89%, which will be further improved in the future. At the same time, China's urbanization rate of registered residents is lower than the urbanization rate of permanent residents. With the steady increase in the urbanization rate of registered residents, the scale of residents' consumption will be further expanded.

From the perspective of development trends, the quality improvement and upgrading of the consumption structure will fully stimulate the potential for domestic demand growth. At present, China's per capita GDP has exceeded 13,000 US dollars, and residents' consumption is in a stage of accelerating upgrading to development-oriented and quality-oriented, and the quality improvement and upgrading of the consumption structure will bring huge potential for domestic demand growth. First, commodity consumption is upgraded to high quality. With the increase in residents' income and the innovation of consumption concepts, commodity consumption will be upgraded from survival-oriented to improvement-oriented and development-oriented, and the consumption potential of durable consumer goods, high-quality life, and personalized needs is large. For example, at the end of 2025, the number of household cars owned by every 100 households in China reached 52.9, which is lower than the level of some countries such as Germany at the same stage of development, and there is still some room for development in the future. Second, the potential of service consumption is large. International experience shows that the consumption structure generally has to go through the development path of "non-durable consumer goods - durable consumer goods - service consumption," and the period when per capita GDP rises from 10,000 US dollars to 30,000 US dollars is the golden period for the development of service consumption. Some developed countries have increased the proportion of service consumption to varying degrees during this development stage. With the continuous improvement of China's service supply, the demand for service consumption such as medical care and elderly care will increase rapidly. Third, the potential of new consumption is accelerating. In recent years, China's new consumption demand is strong, growing well, and full of vitality. Under the guidance of technology-driven and technology-enabled, digital consumption, green consumption, and health consumption will grow rapidly. Since the "14th Five-Year Plan," China has continued to promote the high-quality development of e-commerce, and the overall scale of digital consumption has exceeded 23.8 trillion yuan, ranking first in the world's largest online retail market for more than 10 consecutive years. Looking forward to the "15th Five-Year Plan" and the longer term in the future, digitalization will continue to integrate into all fields of production and life, further opening up the broad space of the new consumer market.

Firmly Grasp the Practical Requirements for Vigorously Boosting Consumption

The Central Economic Work Conference held at the end of last year proposed "deeply implementing special actions to boost consumption," which will continuously release consumption potential, promote the sustained, stable, and healthy development of the consumer market, and further enhance the fundamental role of consumption in economic growth. To this end, we must focus on the key point of residents' consumption, scientifically coordinate supply and demand, lead new supply with new demand, create new demand with new supply, and promote the virtuous interaction between supply and demand; scientifically coordinate the present and the long-term, both based on the present, timely research and introduce powerful measures to promote consumption, release the policy warmth and market signals of supporting consumption with "real money," and focus on the long-term, improve the policy system for boosting consumption, and consolidate the institutional foundation for expanding consumption; scientifically coordinate inclusiveness and precision, both improve inclusive support policies directly reaching consumers, and give targeted inclination to consumption in key groups and key areas; scientifically coordinate market unity and adapting to local conditions, give play to the two initiatives of the central government and local governments, steadily promote the unification of rules and systems in the large consumer market, eliminate market segmentation, and at the same time encourage local governments to take the initiative to act and introduce measures to promote consumption that are in line with local realities. In particular, efforts should be made in the following aspects.

Increase Residents' Income, Enhance Residents' Consumption Capacity, and Let the People "Be Able to Consume." Consumption is a function of income, and residents' consumption capacity and willingness largely depend on employment and income growth. The Central Economic Work Conference held at the end of last year proposed "formulating and implementing a plan to increase the income of urban and rural residents." To implement this requirement, it is necessary to coordinate the promotion of employment, increase income, and stabilize expectations, and take multiple measures to enhance residents' consumption capacity. Improve the income distribution system, adhere to distribution according to work as the mainstay and coexist with multiple distribution methods, improve the mechanism for determining, reasonably increasing, and guaranteeing the payment of workers' wages, increase the proportion of residents' income in national income distribution, and increase the proportion of labor compensation in the initial distribution. Expand the size of the middle-income group and steadily promote common prosperity. Deeply implement the employment-first strategy, improve the employment promotion mechanism, strengthen the coordination of industry and employment, stabilize and expand employment through multiple channels, optimize the policy environment for entrepreneurship to promote employment, combine with changes in the situation to increase the efforts of enterprises to stabilize jobs, and actively support high-quality and full employment for key groups such as college graduates and migrant workers.

Improve People's Livelihood, Relieve Residents' Worries, and Let the People "Dare to Consume." The social security system is a safety net for people's lives and a stabilizer for social operation. The Central Economic Work Conference held at the end of last year proposed "adhering to the people's livelihood as the most important thing and striving to do more practical things for the people," and made key deployments. Improving the social security system is conducive to enhancing residents' consumption willingness. It is necessary to accelerate the development of a multi-level and multi-pillar old-age insurance system, increase the participation rate of flexible employees, migrant workers, and new employment form personnel, improve the multi-level medical security system, and expand the coverage of unemployment and work-related injury insurance. Adhere to doing our best and acting according to our ability, so that the improvement of people's livelihood is adapted to the level of economic development, neither lagging behind economic development nor doing things that exceed the stage of development. Reasonably increase the proportion of public service expenditure in fiscal expenditure, and steadily increase investment in key people's livelihood areas such as education, medical care, elderly care, fertility and parenting, and housing. Steadily promote the equalization of basic public services, improve the scope and content of basic public services, focus on increasing investment in inclusive, basic, and guaranteed people's livelihood construction, narrow the gap in basic public services between regions, urban and rural areas, and achieve a better combination of benefiting people's livelihood and promoting consumption.

Expand the Supply of High-Quality Goods and Services, Meet Diversified Consumption Needs, and Let the People "Be Willing to Consume." Combining benefiting people's livelihood and promoting consumption, expanding the supply of high-quality goods and services can better meet residents' diversified consumption needs. The Central Economic Work Conference held at the end of last year proposed "expanding the supply of high-quality goods and services." To implement this requirement, it is necessary to expand service consumption with relaxing access and integrating business formats as the focus, and articles can be made around policy support, promotion activities, platform carriers, opening up to the outside world, standard leadership, and development environment, and actively develop new consumption formats, new products, and new models. Strengthen brand leadership, standard upgrading, and new technology application, and promote the expansion and upgrading of commodity consumption. Actively create an atmosphere and optimize the environment, promote the integrated development of commerce, tourism, culture, and sports, create a number of new consumption scenarios with a wide driving range and high visibility, and stimulate the vitality of the consumer market. Cultivate international consumer center cities and expand inbound consumption. Standardize market order and maintain a fair and orderly consumption environment. Strengthen consumer rights protection and establish efficient and convenient consumer rights protection channels.
Improving the system and mechanism for boosting consumption, actively releasing market signals that strongly support consumption, and effectively stimulating residents' consumption potential. Promoting consumption is a systematic project that requires the cooperation of all parties to form a joint force. We must strengthen the coordination of fiscal, taxation, financial, industrial, investment, and other policies with consumption policies to build a policy system that is more conducive to promoting consumption. Coordinate the use of policy tools such as financial subsidies and loan interest discounts, and increase the intensity of inclusive policies that directly reach consumers. Establish and improve management methods that adapt to new consumer formats, new models, and new scenarios, and improve market supervision procedures. Implement paid staggered vacations to promote holiday consumption. Improve the consumption policy evaluation mechanism, deeply analyze the support effects on commodity consumption, service consumption, urban consumption, and rural consumption, and continuously improve the effectiveness and accuracy of policies to boost consumption.

(Author is the Vice Chairman of the Economic Committee of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference)

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Being pragmatic is an essential quality for communists (Ideological Perspectives)

By: 宋雄伟

At the democratic life meeting of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee held at the end of 2025, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) emphasized: "Communists are materialists, pragmatism is an essential quality, and we must seek truth from facts, be pragmatic and realistic, and work hard." This important exposition concentrates the distinct characteristics of a Marxist political party, profoundly reveals the pragmatic spirit of Chinese Communists, and provides scientific guidance and fundamental principles for the vast number of party members and cadres on the new journey to create achievements worthy of history and the people with a spirit and style of seeking truth from facts, being pragmatic and realistic, and working hard.

Marx pointed out: "Men make their own history, but they do not make it just as they please; they do not make it under circumstances chosen by themselves, but under circumstances directly encountered, given and transmitted from the past." Such conditions are objective reality. Pragmatism means proceeding from objective reality, paying attention to practical results, and solving problems. It is the fundamental requirement for Communists to understand and transform the world. The premise of pragmatism is seeking truth. Seeking truth means respecting facts, pursuing truth, and exploring laws. What our party faces is never an abstract social form, but a real society in a specific stage of development and with distinct practical characteristics. Objective laws are always inherent in and deeply hidden behind these complex phenomena, and are not directly displayed in front of people. For many realistic problems with long-term, systematic, and structural characteristics, only pragmatism is the methodology to continuously approach the laws of social development and find the laws of problem evolution. This methodology requires Communists to continuously open up the path of understanding truth in practice and achieve the concrete historical unity of the subjective and the objective, theory and practice, and knowledge and action.

To be pragmatic, we must resolutely oppose formalism and bureaucracy. The essence of formalism is detachment from reality, it is subjectivism and utilitarianism, and the root cause is the misalignment of the view of political achievements and the lack of a sense of responsibility. The root cause of bureaucracy is detachment from the masses, it is the serious idea of official standard and the distortion of the view of power. Formalism and bureaucracy have long-term and complex characteristics, and have new variants and new manifestations under different conditions, such as emphasizing "face" and neglecting "substance"; emphasizing "leaving traces" and neglecting "paying attention"; emphasizing "being outstanding" and neglecting "exerting effort"; and so on. Pragmatism is an important ideological weapon to prevent formalism and bureaucracy. This requires Communists to neither exaggerate achievements nor evade problems; neither copy experiences nor blindly pursue so-called "innovation", but always respect objective laws and base themselves on realistic conditions when thinking about problems, making decisions, and doing things, so as to 有多少汤泡多少馍 (yǒu duō shǎo tāng pào duō shǎo mó - "soak as much steamed bun as there is soup," do only as much as resources allow) and "open every lock with its own key" (一把钥匙开一把锁).

The key to pragmatism lies in whether the work is down-to-earth and whether the methods are effective. Communists must take investigation and research as a basic skill, both "dissecting sparrows" (解剖麻雀), conducting typical analysis of individual cases, and systematically examining multiple dimensions to grasp the overall situation, so as to truly identify problems and put forward practical countermeasures. Strengthening investigation and research, the primary task is to comprehensively and truthfully listen to the voices from the grassroots. When Comrade Xi Jinping (习近平) worked in Zhengding (正定), Hebei (河北), he set up a square table on the street and sat with the people to ask for opinions and answer questions on the spot. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, General Secretary Xi Jinping (习近平) has often communicated face-to-face and heart-to-heart with the people in farmers' courtyards and fields, listening to their urgent needs and concerns. This profoundly inspires us that Communists must put down their airs and immerse themselves in the grassroots, be down-to-earth and understand the situation, and not only listen to praises but not listen to honest advice, only listen to pleasant words but not listen to unpleasant words, so as to truly discover the problems faced by the people, reflect the voices and opinions of the people, and summarize the valuable experience created by the people, and ensure that all work is actively implemented and steadily advanced.

The focus of pragmatism is to work hard in a down-to-earth manner. "Grasping truly" means daring to take responsibility and face contradictions directly, without evasion or shirking responsibility; "working practically" means being down-to-earth and making long-term efforts, without engaging in superficialities or doing superficial work. The "15th Five-Year Plan" period is a crucial period for laying the foundation and fully exerting efforts to basically realize socialist modernization. To win strategic initiative in fierce international competition, we must firmly grasp the essential quality of pragmatism of Communists, always maintain strategic determination and historical patience, neither be eager for quick success and instant benefits, nor be passive and slack, and under the premise of respecting laws, work year after year and hammer after hammer, consolidate and expand advantages, break through bottlenecks and constraints, strengthen weaknesses and shortcomings, and unremittingly strive for the great cause of building a strong country and national rejuvenation.

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Accelerating the Systemic Transformation of Mainstream Media (Special In-Depth Thinking)

By: 郭全中

Xi Jinping (习近平), General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, pointed out: "We must accelerate the integrated development of media to give mainstream media strong communication power, guidance, influence, and credibility." The "Suggestions" of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee proposed: "Deepen the systematic reform of mainstream media, promote the integrated management of news publicity and online public opinion, and improve the guiding ability of mainstream public opinion." Since the new era, under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping (习近平) at its core, China's media integration has developed in depth, and the transformation of mainstream media has entered a critical period characterized by "systematicness." This transformation is by no means a piecemeal repair, but a comprehensive and systematic transformation involving creative concepts, production processes, evaluation systems, organizational structures, and other aspects. In the first year of the "15th Five-Year Plan," mainstream media need to focus on three aspects: communication thinking, communication positions, and communication functions, to accelerate the construction of an all-media communication system, accelerate the systematic transformation of mainstream media, and consolidate and strengthen the mainstream ideological public opinion of self-confidence, self-improvement, and unity and struggle under the new situation, to provide strong spiritual power and public opinion support for promoting Chinese-style modernization.

Promote the shift in communication thinking from "supply-oriented" to "effect-oriented." In the current situation of continuous growth in user demand, mainstream media can only grasp the laws of modern news communication and implement the important deployment of the "Suggestions" of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee on "deepening the systematic reform of mainstream media" by clearly grasping "what content users need" and "how effective the communication is," to better serve the strategic task of "solidly promoting the construction of a strong cultural country." On the content production side, big data should be fully used to analyze user profiles, and content production needs should be deduced based on user needs, to achieve precise planning and precise delivery, and improve the matching degree between content and users. For example, People's Daily (人民日报) New Media innovatively uses algorithms to promote the precise matching of massive content with users' personalized needs, and realizes differentiated and precise communication while conveying mainstream values. In terms of the evaluation system, an evaluation system adapted to all-media production and communication should be constructed. The evaluation of communication effectiveness in the all-media era cannot only look at traditional indicators such as the number of articles published, the number of pages, the circulation, and the ratings, but must adhere to effect-oriented, and explore the construction of an evaluation system with correct orientation, scientific standards, and real data. For example, Shanghai United Media Group (上海报业集团), Sichuan Radio and Television (四川广播电视台), and other mainstream media have further optimized the evaluation system in accelerating the systematic transformation, adhering to the equal emphasis on the breadth and depth of communication, and using high-quality content to spread positive energy and win large traffic.

Promote the shift in communication positions from "traditional home field" to "Internet main battlefield." Xi Jinping (习近平) emphasized: "To promote the integrated development of traditional media and emerging media, we must follow the laws of news communication and the laws of emerging media development, strengthen Internet thinking, and adhere to the complementary advantages and integrated development of traditional media and emerging media." This requires the resources, strength, and focus of mainstream media to shift to the Internet, especially to mobile terminals. This is not a simple "move," but the "occupation" and "intensive cultivation" of the main battlefield by the main force. In terms of the production and communication work mechanism, mainstream media must grasp the laws of Internet communication, innovate and recreate the editing and production process adapted to traditional media production and communication, form an integrated production and communication work mechanism adapted to Internet communication, solve the contradiction that the traditional production process is not adapted to the rhythm of the Internet, and better adapt to the non-linear, real-time, and interactive communication characteristics of the Internet. In terms of resource allocation, excellent talents, the latest technology, and greater investment should be concentrated on new media platforms, and high-quality platforms should be vigorously built. For example, central media have successfully built new media platforms such as the People's Daily (人民日报) client and the China Media Group (中央广播电视总台) "Yangshipin (央视频)," and local media have continued to incubate multiple new media platforms such as "Southern Plus (南方+)" and "Chao News (潮新闻)." Mainstream media's full efforts to build independent and controllable new media platforms will help directly grasp core user data and communication nodes, get rid of excessive dependence on commercial platforms, and expand the communication power and influence of mainstream media. In the transformation of the discourse system, mainstream media must adapt to the discourse system of the Internet and the new needs of the audience, and shift to "user-oriented." The main force cannot only produce traditional text and graphic reports, but must actively use short videos, live broadcast new media methods, and combine 5G, artificial intelligence, virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and other technologies to produce converged media products, and use online language to attract young audiences. For example, the People's Daily (人民日报) Douyin account uses a relaxed and lively narrative style and youthful visual expression to convey positive energy, and uses the appeal and social influence of short videos to build emotional identity in interaction with the audience, and realize the cross-circle communication of mainstream values.

Promote the expansion of communication functions from "single publicity function" to "comprehensive service platform." Xi Jinping (习近平) pointed out: "We must solidly grasp the construction of county-level media convergence centers to better guide the masses and serve the masses." Mainstream media are not only information providers, but also a hub connecting the Party and the government with the people, and must play an effective role in promoting the modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity. Consolidating and strengthening the mainstream public opinion position through serving and uniting users is an inherent requirement for following the online mass line. In terms of news services, strengthen local news service capabilities. At present, some mainstream media have problems such as blindly chasing hot spots and producing homogeneity, while local news serving the local people is relatively insufficient. For local mainstream media, more energy should be put on providing local news services to open up the "last mile" of news services. In terms of the construction of comprehensive service platforms, while providing news and information, we must deeply embed people's livelihood services, government services, business services, and smart city operations. For example, People's Daily Online (人民网) has built online mass work platforms such as the "Leaders' Message Board (领导留言板)," which builds a bridge for the masses to reflect their demands and the government to understand public opinion, and helps improve the effectiveness of social governance.

(The author is a professor at the School of Journalism and Communication, Minzu University of China (中央民族大学))

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How a Deliberative Council Turns "Bright Ideas" into "Golden Fruit" (New Practices in Grassroots Governance)

By: 本报记者 祝佳祺

Shanbei Tun (山背屯) in Liuliao Village (六寮村), Fushi Town (浮石镇), Rong'an County (融安县), Liuzhou (柳州), Guangxi (广西), has an "Autumn Maple Deliberation" (秋枫议事) sign hanging on an autumn maple tree at the village entrance, next to a *Herissantia* flower corridor, where villagers gather in twos and threes to chat. A nearby publicity board details the topics, times, and implementation of villagers' deliberations over the past two years, along with honorary plaques such as "National Village-Level Deliberation and Consultation Innovation Experimental Pilot Unit" and "Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region 'Beautiful Guangxi' Village Construction Demonstration Village," telling the story of Shanbei Tun (山背屯).

"Now everyone is more united, and everyone's opinions are fully listened to regarding the affairs of the village, and things are getting better and better," said Li Xihe (李锡和), secretary of the Shanbei Tun (山背屯) Party branch, pointing to the clean cement road in the village.

However, a few years ago, the scene here was quite different. Poor infrastructure, chaotic construction, and frequent conflicts... "In the past, the villagers' organization was disorganized, people were not united, and it was very difficult to implement work," said He Yi (何毅), secretary of the Fushi Town (浮石镇) Party Committee. Liuliao Village (六寮村) has 10 natural villages, and each village cadre is responsible for contacting 2 natural villages. He Ni (何妮), the organization member of the town Party committee, is one of the village cadres responsible for Liuliao Village (六寮村). "Every week when I meet with the village cadres, sorting out the things to be done takes up most of the time." He Ni (何妮) admitted that village affairs are complex and diverse, and relying solely on a few village cadres to promote them is not only inefficient, but also often leads to insufficient work due to the dispersion of energy.

"To solve the village affairs well, we need to find a good starting point. How to organically combine Party building leadership and villagers' autonomy to ensure coordinated efforts from top to bottom?" He Yi (何毅) said, "There are many thoughtful and capable people hidden in the village. How to mobilize their strength?"

"The village attaches importance to weddings and funerals. The 'wok spatula' (锅铲子), who can cook good dishes, has an important position in the village, with good interpersonal relationships and strong appeal; the 'wheels' (车轮子) are often outside all year round, knowledgeable and have a broader perspective; the 'chatterbox' (话匣子) is enthusiastic and lively, speaks humorously, and can liven up the atmosphere," said Li Xihe (李锡和). Could we convene a group of capable people to join the council and supervisory committee, on the one hand, to mobilize everyone to participate together, and on the other hand, to "set an example" for villagers to participate in deliberation?

Under the guidance of the higher-level Party organization, and with reference to the village-level institutional settings, Shanbei Tun (山背屯) established a Villagers' Deliberation Council and a Supervisory Committee, and at the same time standardized four basic processes: collecting topics, the Party branch determining topics, the council deliberating and consulting, and the supervisory committee supervising implementation. The members of the council are mainly composed of capable people in the village, and the members of the supervisory committee are mainly composed of veteran Party members, veterans, veteran cadres, and retired teachers.

Now that the organization has been established, how should deliberations be conducted? According to the principle of "seven deliberations and three non-deliberations," deliberate on the seven major issues that the masses care about and can be resolved, and do not deliberate on matters that violate the Party's policies, relevant national laws and regulations, matters that the higher-level Party committee and government have clear requirements for and explicitly prohibit, and matters that have not been approved by the villagers' representative meeting.

At the first deliberation meeting, everyone sat in a room, discussing several topics in a chaotic manner, and could not reach an agreement for a long time. "At the beginning of the deliberation, whether in terms of process or rhythm, it was relatively chaotic." In the early stages, He Ni (何妮) attended the deliberation meeting many times to guide and correct deviations in a timely manner.

How to improve deliberation efficiency and accurately grasp the direction of deliberation? Under the guidance of the Fushi Town (浮石镇) Party Committee, the government, and the village committees, and with reference to the advanced experience of other regions, the rules of deliberation initially took shape—

"The moderator is neutral; participants raise their hands to speak in an orderly manner; stick to the matter at hand and do not engage in verbal attacks; do not question the motives of others; do not interrupt others' speeches; discuss one matter at a time, and if this consultation is fruitless, it will be left for the next consultation." In this way, Shanbei Tun's (山背屯) "Six Deliberation Rules" were introduced, further clarifying deliberation discipline.

The first thing that Shanbei Tun (山背屯) agreed on was to determine a fixed deliberation venue. Some villagers reflected: "It is not a good idea to always deliberate in villagers' homes, as it easily affects normal life." So a deliberation meeting was quickly launched, and everyone agreed to add a second floor to the shared canteen. But where does the money come from? How to spend it?

"According to the principle of 'collective benefit, collective responsibility,' the deliberation building is a project jointly enjoyed by all villagers in the village. As long as the village collective economy has available funds, it will be given priority from the collective account, so that collective resources can truly serve the collective," said Li Xihe (李锡和). "According to the construction experience of the shared canteen, adding a second floor is estimated to cost 70,000 yuan, and the village funds are sufficient."

But when it came to using collective funds, the members were in trouble. "In the past, many matters in the village were not transparent enough, and the villagers were not confident. They always thought that the village collective income should be distributed to individuals. The village had money but did not dare to spend it or did not know how to spend it," said He Ni (何妮). "'One thing, one disclosure' cannot just stay on the slogan. From the start of the project to its implementation, members of the supervisory committee must follow it from beginning to end, especially the links that are prone to problems, such as raw material procurement and construction promotion. All expenditures must be truthfully registered and must not be ambiguous."

"We will post the details of the expenditure of funds on the publicity column and send them to the villagers' WeChat group at the same time, so that there is an explanation from beginning to end," said Li Fuxian (李福贤), a member of the supervisory committee.

More than a month later, the second floor was completed. Seeing the significant results, the villagers' enthusiasm for deliberation was even higher. Some people suggested that villagers are accustomed to chatting outdoors, and it is easier to collect public opinion in these places, so the renovation and upgrading of places such as "Autumn Maple Deliberation" (秋枫议事), "Pavilion Deliberation" (凉亭议事), and "Courtyard Deliberation" (庭院议事) were completed one after another.

Today's Shanbei Tun (山背屯) has cement roads leading to the doorsteps of homes. The natural village with a total population of less than 400 people has parking lots, opera stages, shared canteens, village history museums, libraries, and other facilities. To build these facilities, the village collective economy and villagers raised more than 900,000 yuan, and the government's total investment did not exceed 750,000 yuan.

In recent years, "study tours" have become popular, and Shanbei Tun (山背屯) has become increasingly popular. The role of the deliberation council has become more apparent. Shanbei Tun (山背屯) conducted deliberations on the content, venue, personnel, funding, logistics and safety guarantees of the study tour activities of the Chang'an Town (长安镇) Central Primary School (中心小学) in Rong'an County (融安县). Villagers actively participated, and members of the supervisory committee supervised safety and financial issues. The whole process was smooth and efficient.

Today, Rong'an County (融安县) has proposed the "Rong Yi Xin An" (融议心安) mass deliberation and consultation model based on summarizing the experience of mass deliberation in Liuliao Village (六寮村), which has been promoted throughout the county. Various places have further innovated according to their own circumstances. For example, the village and village groups in Sanpo Village (三坡村), Siding Town (泗顶镇) have established village councils, enriched personnel, and refined the division of labor, which not only makes it convenient for the masses to find corresponding personnel to reflect problems, but also lays the foundation for the rapid coordination and implementation of work. Lilicun Tun (里村屯) used more than 60,000 yuan of self-raised funds and collective funds, and the masses invested labor to complete the walkway in the cave and the mountain walkway. "Each has its own division of labor, and cooperates with all its strength, so things are done quickly," said Huang Yipeng (黄忆鹏), a member of the council.

Since 2024, the "Rong Yi Xin An" (融议心安) model has covered about 90% of the villages in the county, collecting more than 800 mass topics, resolving more than 500 potential conflicts, and solving more than 1,000 urgent and difficult problems for the masses.

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Ensuring Effective and Fruitful Deliberation Among the People (Cadre Reflections)

By: 胡 帆

There is no small matter at the grassroots level. Properly handling major and minor issues in rural areas is the focus and difficulty of grassroots governance. Rong'an County (融安县) adheres to the people-centered concept in grassroots governance, gives full play to the wisdom of the masses, and explores and promotes the "Rong Yi Xin An (融议心安)" village council system.

Grassroots governance once faced the dilemma of "cadres doing the work while the masses watch," and situations of minor issues becoming major, major issues being amplified, and difficult problems getting stuck occurred from time to time. In the process of promoting "Rong Yi Xin An (融议心安)," each village not only built a village-level council platform of "people's affairs discussed by the people, people's affairs handled by the people, and people's affairs managed by the people," fully guaranteeing the masses' right to discuss matters, but also established a number of councils with the characteristics of each village and a clear division of labor, improving the efficiency of deliberation. From the resolution of disputes and conflicts, the route planning for the hardening of village roads, to the development direction of characteristic industries, villagers sit together to discuss and handle them together. Party member cadres actively guide, fully listen to villagers' opinions, the procedures for deliberative consultation are gradually improved, and the enthusiasm of the masses is also gradually increased.

The effectiveness of this system is reflected in the smiles on the faces of the masses and also written in the changes in the countryside. The homestead problem that was once disputed was properly resolved after consultation by the council; idle land was built into a characteristic planting base through collective consultation, driving villagers to increase their income... Trying every means to attract the masses to participate in grassroots governance, so that everyone can "discuss well and have results," truly realizing that the affairs of the people are handled through consultation by the people.

(The author is a member of the Standing Committee of the Rong'an County (融安县) Party Committee and Minister of the Organization Department. This article was compiled by Zhu Jiaqi (祝佳祺), a reporter from this newspaper.)

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47 Departments Answer 870 Questions On-Site (Whole-Process People's Democracy: First-Line Observations)

By: 本报记者 潘俊强

"I am particularly concerned about childcare and want to understand the progress of public kindergartens running nursery classes," "The elderly meal assistance points have not yet achieved full coverage, and I hope to meet the elderly's dining needs as much as possible"... At 7 pm on January 24, an inquiry activity by Beijing Municipal People's Congress deputies and a consultation activity by CPPCC members, dubbed "setting up stalls," opened with a series of questions and answers. Various working bodies of the Standing Committee of the Beijing Municipal People's Congress, relevant departments of the municipal government, and 47 departments including the Beijing High People's Court and the Beijing People's Procuratorate "set up stalls" at the Beijing Conference Center (北京会议中心) conference building to communicate face-to-face with representatives and members from all walks of life and jointly explore solutions to problems.

"The water pressure in some high-rise residential areas is unstable," "The construction, management, and protection of waterfront spaces should be strengthened"... Liu Songbo (刘松波), Deputy Director of the Beijing Municipal Water Affairs Bureau (北京市水务局), communicated with representatives and members while taking notes. "Face-to-face communication is more direct and efficient," said Liu Songbo (刘松波). "Representatives and members come from all walks of life, have rich experience and a mass base, and can not only discover problems but also have some good ideas." Since last year, through full contact and exchange with representatives and members, the Beijing Municipal Water Affairs Bureau (北京市水务局) has handled 87 pieces of opinions and suggestions from representatives and members relatively well.

At the "stalls," the "policy packages" and "service packages" of various departments have also become essential for "setting up stalls." The Beijing Municipal Civil Affairs Bureau (北京市民政局) transformed policies involving civil affairs into easy-to-understand cartoons, printed on a colorful leaflet called "All You Need to Know About Civil Affairs Services." At the "stall" of the Beijing High People's Court (北京市高级人民法院), there were promotional materials based on cases, as well as books specifically about the work of the court, providing rich materials for representatives and members to understand judicial trials and other work. The Beijing Municipal Bureau of Commerce (北京市商务局) also turned the "stall" into a live-streaming sales site. "I am very honored to be able to communicate face-to-face with representatives and members and promote to everyone," said Pu Xuedong (朴学东), Director of the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Commerce (北京市商务局). Moving towards the "15th Five-Year Plan," Beijing (北京) will deepen the construction of the "Capital of Performing Arts" and "City of Museums," explore new connotations of cultural and entertainment consumption, create new tourism consumption scenarios, and stimulate new vitality in sports consumption.

On the evening of the event, a total of 1,141 people participated in the interaction, raising 870 questions. The departments accepting inquiries and consultations were fully prepared. The "top leaders" of each department led the team, and some departments had all members of the leadership team present. They provided quick answers on the spot for questions such as legal and policy consultations. For some questions that could not be answered on the spot, they were also recorded, followed up after the meeting, and implemented as soon as possible.

The heads of various departments stated that the issues and demands raised by representatives and members are the direction of their future work, and they must resolutely implement them, solve the urgent and difficult problems of the people, and continuously enhance the people's sense of gain, happiness, and security.

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Operating loans for small and micro enterprises must not be used for property purchases or stock speculation.

This newspaper reported from Beijing on January 25th (Reporter Qu Xinming (屈信明)). The reporter learned recently from the National Financial Regulatory Administration (金融监管总局): The National Financial Regulatory Administration (金融监管总局) and the Ministry of Public Security (公安部) continue to increase their work synergy and severely crack down on prominent illegal and criminal activities in the "black and gray industry" in the financial field, and announced a batch of typical cases.

Illegally lending under the guise of "buying a house on behalf." From 2019 to 2023, a certain investment company and its main members, Huang Moumou (黄某某) and others, lent funds in the name of services such as "buying a house on behalf" (also known as "advance payment for buying a house"). The company used its own funds to advance part of the house purchase price to help home buyers buy houses in full, and then required the home buyers to mortgage the houses they purchased in full, assisted the home buyers in forging loan application materials to obtain operating loans from banking financial institutions, and received and controlled the operating loan funds issued by the bank through related companies to complete the recovery of advance funds. At the same time, they helped home buyers replace the mortgage loans they should have borne with operating loans with lower interest rates. The company obtained income by charging a certain percentage of advance interest, lawyer witness fees, loan assistance service fees, and third-party company usage fees. From 2022 to 2023, Huang Moumou (黄某某) and others lent a total of 56.39 million yuan to 14 people with an actual annual interest rate of over 36% through "buying a house on behalf" and other businesses. The relevant person in charge of the relevant department of the National Financial Regulatory Administration (金融监管总局) introduced that small and micro enterprises, individual industrial and commercial households, and small and micro enterprise owners are the key operating entities supported by the national inclusive financial policy. Operating loans are financial products established to meet their operating needs and must not be used for prohibited areas such as buying houses, speculating in stocks, and investing in wealth management.

In addition, the two departments also released cases such as Gong Moulin (宫某林) and others recruiting "white households" to carry out loan fraud and fraudulently obtaining loans, and Song Mou (宋某) and others carrying out contract fraud in the name of "short-term surrender of insurance." Relevant departments will strengthen the close linkage between administrative supervision and criminal justice, build an efficient co-prevention model of "industry screening clues, public security handling cases, and public co-prevention," and form a long-term mechanism of "collaborative governance, combining crackdown and prevention."

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Photo Report

Shuangjiang Lahu, Wa, Blang, and Dai Autonomous County (双江拉祜族佤族布朗族傣族自治县) in Lincang City (临沧市), Yunnan Province (云南省) has more than 340,000 mu of tea gardens, with abundant and high-quality tea resources. In recent years, the county has established a strict tea quality evaluation and traceability system, actively guiding e-commerce platforms and live-streaming enterprises to connect with the traceability center for product selection, further opening up sales channels from the place of origin to the market. In 2025, the number of people directly employed in e-commerce in Shuangjiang County (双江县) will exceed 3,000. The picture shows tea farmers participating in tea promotion activities in Mengku Town (勐库镇), Shuangjiang County (双江县) on January 22.

Xinhua News Agency reporter Gao Yongwei (高咏薇) photo

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Liaoning Province Strictly Investigates Petty Corruption in the Fisheries Production Sector

This newspaper reported from Shenyang (沈阳) on January 25th (Reporter Liu Hongchao (刘洪超)) In response to regulatory loopholes in fishery safety production and corruption issues such as dereliction of duty and transfer of benefits in related work, the Liaoning Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection and Supervision deeply integrated the special rectification of fishing vessel safety with the centralized rectification of corruption problems around the masses. It took the lead in establishing a supervision and accountability work team, implementing upgraded handling and direct investigation. Focusing on key links such as ship inspection, fishing port supervision, crew certificates, and port transfer approvals, it closely monitored key groups such as administrative law enforcement personnel, shipowners, and captains to carry out "full-chain" investigations, and severely investigated and dealt with "micro-corruption" in the fishery production field, such as 靠港吃港、靠船吃船 (kào gǎng chī gǎng, kào chuán chī chuán - "relying on the port to eat from the port, relying on the ship to eat from the ship," taking advantage of one's position to seek personal gain in the fishing industry).

The Liaoning Provincial Public Security Department designated off-site case filing jurisdiction and carried out a "Special Action to Crack Down on Illegal and Criminal Activities Involving the Sea and Fishing" to deeply investigate illegal profit chains that endanger fishery safety production. As of now, Liaoning (辽宁) has cumulatively solved 52 cases of suspected major liability accidents, taking criminal compulsory measures against 138 people; investigated and handled 97 administrative cases such as unlicensed driving of motorized vessels and forging or altering vessel household licenses, with administrative penalties for 109 people; and discovered 172 clues of public officials suspected of violating discipline and the law. Fifty-two people have already voluntarily surrendered to discipline inspection and supervision agencies.

In terms of system construction, Liaoning (辽宁) is exploring the establishment of a classification, grading, and zoning management system for fishing vessels. Based on factors such as length and material, fishing vessels are refined into four levels, clarifying requirements for wind and wave avoidance and operating range, and improving a full-chain, dynamic, closed-loop recall mechanism to ensure timely transmission of early warning information. In terms of regulatory innovation, Liaoning (辽宁) upgraded the intelligent supervision system for marine fishing vessels, implementing real-time monitoring of port entry and exit reports and navigation trajectories, establishing electronic archives for ship inspections and crew certificates, realizing "one ship, one file, one person, one file," and eliminating problems of "mismatched ship and certificate" and "mismatched person and certificate."

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Manage and Utilize Special Bonds Effectively, Enhance the People's Sense of Gain

By: 本报记者 郑洋洋

It is the height of winter, but the Qingxu County People's Square (清徐县人民广场), located next to the Qingxu County Government (清徐县政府) building in Taiyuan (太原), Shanxi (山西) Province, is bustling with activity, as many residents dance, exercise, and film videos there. He Yongping (何永平), a resident, often comes here to participate in activities and conveniently charges his car in the Huimin Parking Lot (惠民停车场) beneath the square.

"The Huimin Parking Lot opened at the end of 2024. Parking is convenient, and charging is cheap!" said He Yongping (何永平). In fact, the special bond funds used for the construction of this parking lot had been misappropriated. The smooth opening of the parking lot is closely related to a notification and a rectification.

In November 2024, the Office of the Central-Level Special Work Mechanism for Rectifying Formalism and Reducing Burdens at the Grassroots Level, together with the General Office of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (中央纪委), issued a notice on three typical problems of rectifying formalism and reducing burdens at the grassroots level. Among them, Qingxu County (清徐县), Shanxi (山西) Province, was found to have violated regulations by using funds to repair the roof of the government office building and construct landscape ornaments in the square, which aroused social concern.

The "**形象工程**" (xíng xiàng gōng chéng - "image project," projects designed to impress rather than serve a practical purpose) was right on the local People's Square: tall silver lotus sculptures, huge landscape stones, copper plate ground carvings, and many artificial coconut trees. These disharmonious landscape ornaments were particularly eye-catching.

"Every time we pass by here, it is a reminder to us," said Li Jingjing (李京京), Secretary of the Qingxu County Party Committee (清徐县委书记). After being notified, the Qingxu County Party Committee (清徐县委) and the County Government (县政府) established a leading group for rectification work, formulated a rectification plan, and successively rectified the notified problems such as project funds, and promoted the rectification of problems in the management of special bond projects by **举一反三** (jǔ yī fǎn sān - "infer three from one," to draw inferences about other cases from one instance).

"The notification made us wake up in time and **及时止损** (jí shí zhǐ sǔn - "stop loss in time," to cut losses promptly)," said Li Jingjing (李京京). "A total of 24.98 million yuan was involved in the misappropriation. After the notification, we immediately rectified the situation and recovered all the funds. The relevant personnel involved have also been dealt with according to laws and regulations."

For the shortcomings and institutional loopholes in project decision-making processes and the management and use of special bond projects exposed in the notification, the Qingxu County Party Committee (清徐县委) and the County Government (县政府) systematically investigated and carried out comprehensive rectification.

Wei Chunlei (魏春雷), the former Director of the Qingxu County Finance Bureau (清徐县财政局) and a fourth-level researcher, experienced the process of illegally engaging in "**形象工程**" (xíng xiàng gōng chéng - "image project," projects designed to impress rather than serve a practical purpose). He said, "Regarding the application for special bonds, there used to be a phenomenon of '**捡到篮子里都是菜**' (jiǎn dào lán zi lǐ dōu shì cài - "everything in the basket is a vegetable," accepting anything and everything without discrimination), and the checks were not strict, giving lawbreakers an opportunity to take advantage of, and ultimately harming the interests of the people."

At the end of November 2024, Qingxu County (清徐县) revised and issued the *Qingxu County Government Special Bond Project Management Measures* (《清徐县政府专项债项目管理办法》), which strengthened the performance tracking and monitoring responsibilities of relevant departments, stipulated that special bond funds shall not be arbitrarily misappropriated for projects outside the information disclosure materials, and stipulated that the Finance Bureau (财政局) should track the performance progress of special bond projects and order rectification for projects that significantly deviate from the target.

"Now, we strictly follow the requirements and refine the application content. We resolutely reject projects that cannot generate benefits or do not meet the investment requirements. In 2025, the county has rejected more than 20 unqualified special bond projects," said Wei Chunlei (魏春雷). Qingxu County (清徐县) insisted on using a point to drive the whole area, promoting the extension from "**解剖一个问题**" (jiě pōu yī gè wèn tí - "dissecting a problem," thoroughly analyzing a problem) to "**解决一类问题**" (jiě jué yī lèi wèn tí - "solving a class of problems," solving similar problems). Sixteen institutional mechanisms in eight aspects were revised.

After filming the short video, He Yongping (何永平) also went to the supermarket next to the parking lot for a stroll. The supermarket opened at the end of December 2025 and is part of the special bond project "Urban Parking Lot Huimin Project" ("城市停车场惠民工程").

Dong Xiaolong (董笑龙), a member of the Standing Committee of the Qingxu County Party Committee (清徐县委常委) and Deputy County Chief, introduced that since the rectification, Qingxu County (清徐县) has promoted the operation and use of the People's Square (人民广场), and organized large-scale chorus and auto show activities. In July 2025, the supermarket project was introduced in strict accordance with the procedures. Today, the daily traffic of the square has reached an average of 2,000 people.

Attaching importance to potential achievements and benefiting the long-term has become the consensus of local cadres. Li Jingjing (李京京) introduced: "Next, we must establish a correct view of performance, plan more work that is in line with reality and the wishes of the masses, and **杜绝** (dù jué - "prevent," to put a stop to) engaging in '**面子工程**' (miàn zi gōng chéng - "face project," projects done for appearances) and '**形象工程**' (xíng xiàng gōng chéng - "image project," projects designed to impress rather than serve a practical purpose)."

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Fuzhou, Fujian Launches "Uniting Hearts for Fortune" Year-Round Public Welfare Campaign

This newspaper Fuzhou (福州) January 25th (Reporter Liu Xiaoyu (刘晓宇)) On the 24th, the 2026 Fuzhou (福州), Fujian Province (福建省) new social stratum people's "New Benevolence Fuzhou (福州) · Unite Hearts Gather Fortune" series of public welfare theme activities officially launched, and the "Unite Hearts Gather Fortune" annual public welfare activities were launched simultaneously. This event was sponsored by the United Front Work Department of the Fuzhou (福州) Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China (中共福州市委统战部).

The event focuses on four key areas: "Benefiting Enterprises and Empowering, Warming Rongcheng (榕城), Cultural Inheritance, and Rural Revitalization," and plans seven major public welfare projects. Among them, the "Unite Hearts Village Evening" aims to build a cultural linkage platform between new social stratum people and rural masses, and help urban-rural integration and comprehensive rural revitalization; the "Unite Hearts Benevolence Fair" public welfare market is divided into two major sections: "Unite Hearts Service Corner" and "Fengwu Fuli Purchase Area." The former provides public welfare services such as legal consultation and free clinics, and the latter displays and sells characteristic agricultural and sideline products, combining on-site interaction with consumption to help farmers... An initiative was also released at the event, calling on new social stratum people to join hands, be of one heart and one mind, 同心同向 (tóng xīn tóng xiàng - "same heart same direction," to be of one mind), use kindness as a lamp, and fulfill their promises with action.

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Editors of this page: Ji Jianming, Zhao Xiaoxi, Li Peiyang

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"Going the Extra Mile": Healthcare Services Show Warmth (Frontlines of People's Livelihood)

By: 本报记者 陆凡冰

Core Reading

How can it be easier for people in mountainous areas and islands to see a doctor, and how can high-quality medical resources be brought down to the grassroots level? Zhejiang has solved the problem with three innovations: smart mobile clinics solve the problem of "seeing a doctor far away" by "moving" the hospital into villages and communities, providing one-stop services for examinations and prescriptions; door-to-door follow-up visits solve the "management difficulty" by delivering medical care to key populations such as the elderly with chronic diseases; and overall planning of personnel and finance ensures "sustainability" by allowing medical resources to take root in the countryside through integrated talent flow and long-term financial incentives.

Mountainous areas, islands, and remote rural areas are the "nerve endings" that are most difficult to reach in the medical and health service system. How to let high-quality medical resources "cross mountains and seas" to reach the people? This is a difficult problem that must be solved to promote the construction of a Healthy China.

As a demonstration zone for high-quality development and construction of common prosperity, Zhejiang has innovatively constructed a "fixed + mobile + Internet + AI" primary health service model. "Smart Mobile Hospitals" shuttle between mountainous areas and islands to provide diagnosis and treatment services for the masses, and strive to promote the integration of the basic public health service system and capabilities.

Smart Hospital "Moves" to the Doorstep

At dawn, Xia Xiaoxiao, a mobile clinic doctor from Shatou Town Central Health Center in Yongjia County (永嘉县), Wenzhou (温州市), checked the medicine box and boarded the mobile clinic vehicle printed with "Smart Mobile Hospital" to go to the Lingxia Village (岭下村) Party and Mass Service Center about 10 kilometers away.

"Dr. Xia (夏医生), I have a cold these days and my chest feels a little tight," said Wang Honglan (王洪兰), an 83-year-old villager in Lingxia Village (岭下村). Xia Xiaoxiao retrieved the electronic health records from the vehicle-mounted computer information system, checked Wang Honglan's (王洪兰) health records, and prescribed medicine after the consultation. Wang Honglan (王洪兰) said with emotion: "In the past, I had to take a car to the town to see a doctor, which took most of the day. Now this mobile clinic drives directly to the village, and can also measure blood sugar and do electrocardiograms. It's really much more convenient."

This convenience is due to the "fixed + mobile" medical and health service supply model developed by Zhejiang (浙江) in response to its landform characteristics. Zhejiang (浙江) has a reputation of "seven mountains, one water, and two fields." Villages are scattered and transportation is inconvenient. In the past, the "physical coverage" model of building physical village health rooms faced the dilemma of "being able to build, but not being able to afford to maintain, and not being able to retain people." The current "fixed + mobile" model introduces "smart mobile hospital" mobile clinic vehicles as mobile carriers on the basis of fixed services relying on county medical community and township health centers as the main body, and provides "one-stop" mobile medical services such as routine diagnosis and treatment, remote consultation, appointment referral, health checkups, and chronic disease follow-up to the people in a "fixed time, fixed location, and fixed person" manner.

The efficient implementation of these services is inseparable from the "smart brain" carried by the mobile clinic vehicle. The doctor diagnosis and treatment information platform of the mobile clinic vehicle is embedded with a medical artificial intelligence-assisted diagnosis system, which can provide support such as intelligent auxiliary diagnosis, knowledge retrieval, medical record quality control, and rational drug use suggestions.

Illuminating the "Blind Spot" of Mountain Medical Care

In the early morning, in Jingning She Autonomous County (景宁畲族自治县), Lishui City (丽水市), Liu Yan (柳艳), deputy director of the Hexi Street Community Health Service Center, carefully checked the mobile clinic appointment form: "Today, we are going to Dajun Township (大均乡) to follow up with an elderly person with moderate to severe osteoporosis. Have all the medicines been brought?" The team members responded and checked to ensure that there were no errors. In the afternoon, when the mobile clinic slowly drove into Dajun Township (大均乡), what awaited it was not only the villagers waiting for treatment, but also the deep expectation for health in the depths of the mountains.

In order to make the service more standardized, Zhejiang (浙江) has uniformly formulated the entire process standard for mobile clinics, covering links such as demand collection, material preparation, waiting management, diagnosis and treatment services, data collection, and medical waste disposal.

Targeting key populations such as patients with chronic diseases and the elderly with limited mobility, Yongjia County (永嘉县) has further expanded its service content on the basis of mobile clinics, providing precise care through door-to-door follow-up visits and free medication for chronic diseases.

"Grandma, have you been sleeping well lately? Are you still dizzy?" In the home of Chen Suwei (陈碎微), an 85-year-old in Lingxia Village (岭下村), Yongjia County (永嘉县), Xia Xiaoxiao (夏小小) measured her blood pressure with portable equipment while asking softly. The old woman has difficulty moving her legs and feet, and it used to take half a day to go to the town health center to see a doctor; now doctors come to her door for regular follow-up visits, as natural as chatting at home.

Teng Chongmin (滕翀敏), Party Secretary and Director of the Yongjia County Health Bureau, introduced: "We use the chronic disease AI system to screen out key populations who have not sought medical treatment for a long time, should be managed but are not managed, and are missed. We arrange family doctors to visit the homes of those who should be visited but have not been visited to ensure that health management is not missed." In addition, Yongjia County (永嘉县) has provided free basic medicines for patients with chronic diseases for four consecutive years, benefiting more than 160,000 people.

At present, the number of mobile clinic vehicles in Zhejiang Province (浙江省) has reached more than 500, and more than 1,500 standardized mobile clinic sites have been built. In 2025, 62,000 mobile clinic trips were completed, 64,000 medical personnel were dispatched, and 397,000 medical services were provided. Among them, Yongjia County's (永嘉县) 30 mobile clinic vehicles divide the area according to the "15-minute medical service circle," with each vehicle covering 5 to 7 administrative villages. The "blind spot" of mountain medical care is being illuminated one by one.

Cultivating Primary Health Talents

The mobile clinic vehicle has driven into the mountains, but to truly take root, it is still necessary to answer several key questions: How can doctors be retained? How can funding be sustainable? How can services not be distorted?

In April 2025, Zhejiang (浙江) launched the "County-Township-Village Integration" management reform of medical and health talents. By innovating the talent introduction and training mechanism, it changed the previous "separate recruitment" to "unified introduction and training." "In the past, townships recruited people themselves, which was not attractive enough. Now we have built the 'Zheyi Pin' unified recruitment platform, implemented unified recruitment and unified signing by the leading hospital, and one exam is universal throughout the province," said a relevant person in charge of the Zhejiang Provincial Health Commission. Among the positions launched in 11 pilot counties in 2025, the clinical recruitment ratio reached 1:13.5, and all 5 mountainous and island counties completed recruitment.

Not only can they be "recruited," but they must also be "used well." Zhejiang (浙江) promotes the county-level unified management of medical community establishment and the rational flow of personnel. New entrants will be uniformly trained by the county hospital for 5 years before being allocated for use. At the same time, a "through train" system for young primary doctors has been established. Doctors under the age of 40 with a college degree or above can apply to the county hospital for training and work. This talent management mechanism effectively breaks down the barriers to talent flow within the county, allowing young doctors to take root, develop, and stay at the grassroots level.

At the grassroots level, the medical staff of many health centers are often distracted by administrative and logistical affairs, making it difficult to focus on medical services. To this end, Zhejiang Province (浙江省) relies on the "County-Township-Village Integration" management reform of medical and health talents to implement full-staff post management. It guides medical communities to re-determine 6 types of posts, including administrative, physician, nurse, medical technician, public health, and worker, according to actual needs, and promotes the concentration of administrative functions to the general hospital and the inclination of post resources to the clinical front line, and continuously enhances the strength of primary medical care.

Jingning County (景宁县) took the lead in practice as a pilot, achieving a 14.3% reduction in grassroots administrative positions and an 8.5% increase in clinical frontline positions. "Grassroots doctors are freed from complicated affairs and truly focus on medical services, serving the health of the people more efficiently," introduced Zhou Qifei (周奇斐), Deputy Party Secretary and Deputy Director of the Jingning County Health Bureau. At the same time, Jingning (景宁) innovatively constructed a regionalized service model, promoting "discipline integration" through "talent integration," focusing on strengthening the construction of specialized departments urgently needed by the grassroots people, such as traditional Chinese medicine, rehabilitation, and chronic disease management, and continuously improving grassroots service capabilities and public satisfaction.

Funding is the basis for ensuring the sustainability of services. Zhejiang Province (浙江省) follows the principle of "**建得起、用得好、可持续**" (jiàn dé qǐ, yòng dé hǎo, kě chí xù - "can be built, used well, and sustainable," emphasizing the importance of affordability, effectiveness, and long-term viability in resource allocation and project development) and establishes a stable investment and incentive guarantee mechanism. The provincial finance clarifies the standards and subsidizes mobile clinic vehicles in mountainous and island counties at a standard of 150,000 yuan per vehicle per year, covering expenses such as mobile clinic vehicle operation and maintenance, driver wages, and vehicle-mounted information and communication. In terms of performance incentives, the policy clarifies that medical personnel from township health centers (community health service centers) participating in mobile clinics are included in the scope of the project purchased by the compensation mechanism reform in the county (city, district) where they are located, and meal allowances are issued in accordance with regulations. In addition, including mobile clinic services in the cumulative calculation of grassroots work experience for licensed physicians to be promoted to associate senior technical titles makes mobile clinics a "plus" for the professional development of medical personnel.

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Soaking in hot springs in winter: moderation is key to good health (service window)

By: 本报记者 郝迎灿 辛 阳

In winter, soaking in hot springs is a popular leisure activity for many. Experts warn that staying in enclosed environments with high temperature, high humidity, and poor ventilation, such as hot springs and saunas, for extended periods can lead to heatstroke. It is best to pay attention to controlling the water temperature, time, and bathing methods to avoid health risks while dispelling cold, warming the body, and relieving stress.

"We have recently received patients who experienced dizziness, fatigue, and even coma due to spending too long in hot springs. After diagnosis, these patients were found to have heatstroke," said Sun Zhijun (孙志军), Chief Physician of the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine at Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University (中国医科大学附属盛京医院). "Heatstroke, also known as severe heatstroke, occurs when the body's heat cannot dissipate in a hot and humid environment. If the body's internal temperature rises sharply to above 40 degrees Celsius in a short period, it can damage multiple organs such as the brain."

Sun Zhijun (孙志军) reminded that the water temperature should not be too high when soaking in hot springs, preferably controlled between 38-40 degrees Celsius. A single soak should be 10-15 minutes, and you should slow down when getting up to avoid dizziness or falls due to changes in body position. Replenish water appropriately and avoid drinking alcohol or smoking in the hot spring pool to reduce the risk of accidents. "If you feel chest tightness, palpitations, dizziness, or profuse cold sweats, don't try to endure it. Leave the pool immediately and rest in a ventilated place. If the symptoms do not improve, seek medical attention promptly," said Sun Zhijun (孙志军).

Wu Yan (吴严), Chief Physician of the Department of Dermatology at Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University (中国医科大学附属盛京医院), reminded that in winter, taking hot baths and soaking in hot springs requires attention to protecting the skin and avoiding damage to the skin barrier. "The water temperature should not be too high to avoid excessive removal of the natural sebum film on the skin surface. The time should not be too long, as prolonged exposure to a humid and hot environment can lead to excessive hydration of the stratum corneum, further weakening the skin barrier function and exacerbating dryness and itching," said Wu Yan (吴严).

Wu Yan (吴严) suggested that after drying the body, moisturizing cream should be applied immediately when there is still a trace amount of moisture on the skin surface. It is advisable to choose products containing ingredients such as ceramides, squalane, and hyaluronic acid. Patients with sensitive skin or inflammatory skin diseases such as eczema should be cautious, as high temperatures may worsen skin damage, and the minerals in hot springs may also cause irritation.

Ji Hong (汲泓), Chief Physician of the Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine at Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University (中国医科大学附属盛京医院), introduced that scientific bathing can help with winter nourishment, but it is necessary to follow the principles of "moderate, timely, and suitable": dry and keep warm immediately after washing, avoid drafts and cold water; soak until slightly sweating; bathing is not suitable after meals, when hungry, tired, or after drinking alcohol; the elderly, infants, pregnant women, and people with diabetes or cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases have relatively poor thermoregulation ability and are at higher risk; after bathing, you can sit for a while and drink warm ginger and red date tea or light salt water to replenish body fluids.

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Beijing to Add Robotics as a Professional Title Evaluation Category

According to a report from this newspaper in Beijing on January 25th (reporter Pan Junqiang (潘俊强)), the Beijing Municipal Human Resources and Social Security Bureau recently officially issued the "Beijing Municipality Robot Professional Title Evaluation Trial Measures" (hereinafter referred to as the "Measures"). This adds a robot professional title evaluation category within the engineering technology series, precisely matching the talent evaluation needs of the robotics field. The Measures target professional and technical personnel engaged in robot core components, algorithms and software, complete machine design and manufacturing, system integration and application, and will be officially implemented from 2026. The first evaluation will be launched in July this year.

The Measures propose to build a full-chain, multi-level robot professional title evaluation system to accurately match the industry's development needs for talent evaluation. The evaluation profession is subdivided into four major directions: core components, algorithms and software, complete machine design and manufacturing, and system integration and application, realizing the precise connection between talent evaluation and industry needs. At the same time, the professional title level setting is complete and standardized, including four levels: primary (assistant engineer), intermediate (engineer), senior (senior engineer), and principal (principal engineer), building a full-cycle career development ladder from young backbones to top leading talents.

The Measures clarify that professional and technical personnel in state-owned enterprises and institutions, non-public economic organizations, and social organizations in Beijing (北京) are included in the scope of professional title evaluation in Beijing (北京). In terms of evaluation criteria, the Measures further highlight the innovation ability, quality, effectiveness, and contribution of talent evaluation, taking performance results as the core, and focusing on examining the actual performance of professional and technical personnel in terms of technological breakthroughs, achievement innovation, scientific and technological achievement transformation, and industrial contribution. At the same time, the winning results of various national robot technology and skill competitions will also be included in the conditions for exceptional declaration of senior professional titles, opening up a "fast track" for the growth of high-level technical and skilled personnel.

The relevant person in charge of the Beijing (北京) Municipal Human Resources and Social Security Bureau stated that they will continue to track the implementation effect of the policy, dynamically optimize the evaluation standards and evaluation process, and make professional title evaluation a "catalyst" for gathering outstanding talents in the robotics field and stimulating industrial innovation vitality, providing a solid talent guarantee for the high-end and intelligent development of the Beijing (北京) robotics industry.

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Multiple departments jointly launch the 2026 "Spring Warmth for Migrant Workers" service campaign

This newspaper Beijing (北京), January 25th (Reporter Qiu Chaoyi (邱超奕)) -- Recently, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security (人力资源社会保障部), the Ministry of Public Security (公安部), the Ministry of Civil Affairs (民政部), the Ministry of Justice (司法部), the Ministry of Transport (交通运输部), the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (农业农村部), the Ministry of Culture and Tourism (文化和旅游部), the National Health Commission (国家卫生健康委) and other departments jointly issued the "Notice on Launching the 2026 'Spring Warmth for Migrant Workers' Service Action," making arrangements for the service and security work for migrant workers during the Spring Festival.

According to reports, the notice puts forward a series of heart-warming measures, including going deep into the grassroots frontline where migrant workers are concentrated, extensively carrying out visits and condolences, and promptly resolving the sudden and urgent basic living difficulties encountered by migrant workers; proactively investigating travel needs for returning home and returning to work, and organizing "point-to-point" chartered buses, special trains (carriages), airplanes and other transportation services as needed, providing convenience for migrant workers to purchase tickets in a centralized manner; intensively organizing various online and offline special recruitment activities, and classifying and releasing job information; according to employment training intentions, promoting a "job demand + skills training + skills evaluation + employment service" four-in-one project-based training model; organizing a wide range of cultural and artistic activities to enrich the spiritual and cultural life of migrant workers; carrying out free clinics in rural areas, community health activities, and widely promoting health knowledge; safeguarding the labor security rights and interests of migrant workers, and unblocking channels for migrant workers to protect their rights, etc.

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Shanxi Launches Action to Improve the Quality of Childcare Services

This newspaper Taiyuan (太原) January 25th (Reporter Ma Ruishan (马睿姗)) It was learned from the Shanxi Provincial Health Commission (山西省卫生健康委员会) that the Shanxi Provincial Health Commission (山西省卫生健康委员会) and the Shanxi Provincial Family Planning Association (山西省计划生育协会) have jointly issued relevant notices, deciding to launch a 2-year special action to improve the quality of childcare services throughout the province, aiming to comprehensively improve the standardization and specialization of childcare services and meet the people's needs for high-quality childcare services.

According to relevant requirements, by the end of 2027, the standardization level of childcare service institutions in Shanxi Province (山西省) will be significantly improved, the filing rate of institutions will be greatly increased, the management system will be more sound, the integration of medical care and education will be effectively deepened, the overall quality of practitioners will be enhanced, the comprehensive supervision mechanism will be continuously improved, the quality of childcare services will be continuously improved, and the satisfaction of parents and society will be significantly improved. To this end, Shanxi Province (山西省) has clarified seven key tasks: comprehensively carrying out self-assessment of service quality, vigorously standardizing childcare services, improving and implementing a system of institutional norms, deepening the integration of medical care and education model, strengthening the construction of talent teams, improving the cross-departmental comprehensive supervision mechanism, and strengthening the social publicity of policies and knowledge. From January to June 2026, each county (city, district) will guide all childcare service institutions in its jurisdiction to complete the self-assessment of service quality. From July to December 2026, childcare service institutions will report the self-assessment and rectification to the county-level health administrative departments. From January to December 2027, the achievements of the first year of action will be summarized and evaluated, advanced experiences and typical cases will be sorted out, and publicity and promotion will be carried out.

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Guangxi Allocates Funds to Help Disaster-Affected People Safely Overwinter

Nanning, January 25th (People's Daily reporter Pang Ge Ping (庞革平)) - The reporter learned from the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (广西壮族自治区) Department of Finance that in order to earnestly ensure the basic livelihood of disaster-stricken people, Guangxi (广西) recently allocated 237 million yuan in natural disaster relief funds to help disaster-stricken areas carry out temporary winter and spring livelihood assistance work.

Since 2025, many parts of Guangxi (广西) have successively suffered from natural disasters such as floods, typhoons, droughts, hail, and geological disasters, and the production and life of some people are facing difficulties. The funds allocated by Guangxi (广西) this time will focus on solving the practical difficulties faced by disaster-stricken people in terms of food, clothing, and heating, and support various regions in carrying out the "Warm Winter" campaign. Finance and emergency management departments at all levels in Guangxi (广西) will adhere to the principles of "classified assistance, key assistance, and precise assistance," carefully investigate the needs of people in difficulty, earnestly and meticulously implement various winter and spring assistance tasks, strengthen supervision and management, and jointly manage and use winter and spring assistance funds well to ensure that the funds are used for their intended purpose.

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"Saving people is an instinct ingrained in their bones" (Helping Hand)

By: 本报记者 叶传增

On a winter morning, in the faint dawn light of Mengzi City (蒙自市), Yunnan Province (云南省), Yan Jinyu (严金玉), the head nurse of the Neonatal Department of Mengzi City People's Hospital (蒙自市人民医院), keenly noticed an abnormality in a vehicle that had stopped on the road on her way to work. She quickly stepped forward to inquire and found the driver unconscious inside the car. Yan Jinyu immediately called the police and dialed the emergency number in time, rescuing the driver from danger.

This was not the first time Yan Jinyu had stepped forward on the street. In 2025, she extended a helping hand four times in critical moments, transforming into a guardian of life.

On April 6, 2025, at the intersection of Tianma Road (天马路) and Yinhe Road (银河路) in Mengzi City (蒙自市), traffic was heavy when a middle-aged woman riding an electric bicycle suddenly fell heavily from the back seat, convulsing and unconscious on the right-turn lane. With traffic close at hand and secondary injuries possible at any time, Yan Jinyu, who was passing by, decisively rushed into the lane and knelt on the road to rescue her. She quickly checked the injured person's vital signs, carefully cleared her oral secretions, and turned her head to one side to ensure smooth breathing. Seeing that the woman's teeth were clenched, she quickly rolled a tissue into a small ball and placed it between the woman's teeth, both to prevent the injured woman from biting herself and to prevent being bitten by the injured woman while helping to clear foreign objects from her mouth. For 3 minutes, she knelt on one knee without moving until the woman's convulsions gradually eased. The clothes on Yan Jinyu's back were already soaked with sweat, and her knees were reddened by the rough road surface.

On October 17, 2025, at the intersection of Chaoyang Road (朝阳路) and Yucai Road (育才路) in Mengzi City (蒙自市), a sudden car accident broke the tranquility of the morning. Yan Jinyu, who was driving her child to school, passed by and immediately parked her vehicle safely, hurriedly settled her child in the car, and quickly rushed to the injured person who had fallen to the ground. "I am a nurse from the Municipal People's Hospital (市人民医院), don't be afraid, I'm here to help you!" Yan Jinyu leaned over to check the injured person's condition and decisively stopped the bleeding and temporarily fixed the injured area. While racing against time to seize the golden opportunity for treatment, she softly comforted the injured person and stabilized their emotions.

On October 30, 2025, in the deep of night, an elderly man suddenly had an epileptic seizure and fell to the ground. Yan Jinyu, who was passing by, did not hesitate at all and immediately stepped forward to rescue him, staying by the old man's side throughout the process, patiently waiting for his symptoms to ease, and quietly left only after his family arrived.

Rescuing people on the street four times in a year, each time acting without hesitation, and each rescue being professional and calm. Some people call Yan Jinyu a "street heroine," but she humbly said: "I am just fulfilling the duties of a medical worker, and saving people is a professional instinct 刻在骨子里 (kè zài gǔ zi lǐ - "engraved in the bones," deeply ingrained; an innate or deeply rooted characteristic)."

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Editor in Charge for This Edition: Cheng Chen, Qin Ruijie, Liu Zihe

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Industrial and Commercial Bank of China: Providing Comprehensive Financial Solutions to Facilitate the Construction of a Science and Technology Powerhouse

Currently, a new round of technological revolution is advancing rapidly, with accelerated integration of technology and industry, and the strategic importance of technological innovation is constantly highlighted. The Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China proposed to "accelerate high-level self-reliance and self-strengthening in science and technology, and lead the development of new quality productive forces." The Central Economic Work Conference held at the end of 2025 emphasized, "Adhere to innovation-driven development and accelerate the cultivation and expansion of new driving forces." As a large state-owned bank, the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (中国工商银行) is deeply integrated into national strategies, refining its financial services in the "five major areas," and launching a "specialized institutions, special actions, exclusive products, specialized risk control, and exclusive guarantees" five-pronged service system for technology finance. By creating comprehensive financial solutions and innovating the "financing, intelligence, technology, and integration" service model, it continuously increases support for the upgrading of traditional industries, the expansion of emerging industries, and the cultivation of future industries, promoting a virtuous cycle of "technology-industry-finance."

Increasing financing efforts to inject financial impetus into enterprise development.

Promoting the tilt of financial resources towards the field of technological innovation and vigorously developing technology finance is an inevitable requirement for achieving deep integration of technological innovation and industrial innovation. Providing more suitable and efficient financial services for technology-based enterprises is an important issue that technology finance needs to address.

In Yinzhou District (鄞州区), Ningbo City (宁波市), Zhejiang Province (浙江省), there is a specialized, refined, and new "little giant" enterprise focusing on the manufacturing of new display materials. With the advantage of product quality, its market share continues to increase, and the "growing pains" also follow. The Ningbo Branch (宁波市分行) of the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (中国工商银行) learned during the "Thousands of Enterprises and Households Visit" campaign that the enterprise urgently needed working capital and promptly recommended the highly suitable "Little Giant Loan" to the enterprise. The "Little Giant Loan" is a product tailored by the Ningbo Branch (宁波市分行) of the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (中国工商银行) for specialized, refined, and new "little giant" enterprises, supporting pure credit methods, flexible quotas, suitable terms, and reasonably relaxing the requirements for profitability and cash flow in view of the growth curve of technology-based enterprises, in line with the actual development rhythm of the enterprise. With the nearly 10 million yuan credit loan provided by the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (中国工商银行), the enterprise successfully solved the financing problem. As of the end of December 2025, the balance of technology loans from the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (中国工商银行) was 6 trillion yuan, and the balance of loans to technology-based enterprises was 2.7 trillion yuan, becoming an important force in supporting technological innovation.

The Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (中国工商银行) regards specialized, refined, and new "little giant" enterprises as the intersection of technology finance, manufacturing finance, and small and medium-sized enterprise financial services, and formulated the "Special Improvement Work Plan for Financial Services for Specialized, Refined, and New 'Little Giant' Enterprises" to increase financial service efforts. As of the end of December 2025, the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (中国工商银行) had provided credit services to more than 7,500 specialized, refined, and new "little giant" enterprises, with a coverage rate of over 50%.

In addition to credit funds support, the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (中国工商银行) is also committed to providing comprehensive financial services for technology-based enterprises throughout their life cycle, and the "equity-loan-bond-insurance" service system has been initially established. In terms of equity business, the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (中国工商银行) actively meets the equity financing needs of technology-based enterprises through its group's comprehensive subsidiaries. As of the end of December 2025, it has completed the full coverage of fund cooperation intentions and fund establishment in pilot cities for financial asset investment companies (AIC), with an intended scale of over 200 billion yuan.

Strengthening intelligence support to promote a virtuous cycle of "technology-industry-finance."

The Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei National Technology Innovation Center (京津冀国家技术创新中心) is one of the three comprehensive national technology innovation centers in China and is the specific management agency for the national key R&D program's disruptive technology innovation key special project. Serving the achievement transformation needs of technology-based enterprises and new R&D institutions has always been a difficult problem that needs to be answered, worked in the same direction, and solved jointly by the policy level, financial institution level, and enterprise level.

At the "Financial Street Release" special event of the 2025 Financial Street Forum Annual Conference, the Beijing Branch (北京市分行) of the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (中国工商银行) and the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei National Technology Innovation Center (京津冀国家技术创新中心) officially released the "Disruptive Technology Innovation Special Loan" and successfully issued the first such loan to a specialized, refined, and new small and medium-sized enterprise. This product focuses on enterprises undertaking key special projects for disruptive technology innovation, adhering to the concept of "investing early, investing small, investing long-term, and investing in hard technology," adopting a pure credit method, and comprehensively covering all stages of technology research and development and achievement transformation in terms of loan amount and term, providing a new path for supporting the transformation of enterprises' technological achievements and is a beneficial attempt by commercial banks and new R&D institutions to jointly support achievement transformation.

The Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (中国工商银行) has also launched the "R&D Scenario Financial Support" service model, taking supporting enterprises' R&D activities as an important starting point for solving technology finance, and launching a series of exclusive products such as "Technology M&A Loan" and "Talent Loan" for each stage and link of R&D, integrating internal and external resources, providing enterprises with comprehensive intelligence support such as strategic planning, intellectual property, market analysis, and financial management. At the same time, it joins hands with government agencies, scientific research institutes, universities, technology-based enterprises, etc. to create an innovation community for the transformation of scientific and technological achievements, and help promote the coordinated development of industry, academia, and research.

Deepening technology empowerment to achieve a "two-way rush" between finance and technology.

A smart power enterprise in Hebei (河北) has been deeply involved in key areas such as power system automation, smart grid equipment R&D, and new energy applications for many years, and its products are used in many multinational enterprises and key projects. The continuous expansion of the business map has put forward higher requirements for the enterprise's financial management level. After learning about the enterprise's needs, the Hebei Branch (河北省分行) of the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (中国工商银行) took the initiative to provide technology support, immediately formed a professional team, deeply understood the enterprise's pain points, and tailored a complete set of smart treasury solutions for the enterprise, realizing the panoramic view of the enterprise's account, the automation of payment and settlement, and the intelligent allocation of funds, which not only greatly improved the efficiency of financial operations, but also effectively realized the data-driven financial decision-making and the intelligent monitoring of the entire process of funds, providing a solid financial guarantee for the enterprise's development.

As a leading bank in the field of technology finance in China, the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (中国工商银行), while supporting the growth of enterprises with funds, also actively explores in-depth cooperation with enterprises in the field of technology application. On the one hand, it gives full play to its innovation advantages and provides enterprises with comprehensive technical support from account services to fund supervision, from technical consulting to technical output, and from data services to platform empowerment; on the other hand, it uses scene characteristics to introduce AI technology to empower the daily operation and credit decision-making of commercial banks, realizing a "two-way rush" between finance and technology.

Supporting integrated development and exploring the vast ocean of technology finance.

Against the background of expanding high-level opening up, enterprises' global layout is gradually moving from exploration to deep cultivation. Zhejiang (浙江) is a major province of private economy and a highland for "going out" enterprises. A leading enterprise in the low-voltage electrical appliance industry in Zhejiang Province (浙江省) has always been an active participant in globalization. From relying on foreign trade enterprises to carry out business in the early stage to building a full-industry chain overseas platform in the later stage, the enterprise faces diversified financial service needs such as fund management, cross-border settlement, and risk control at different stages of development.

The Zhejiang Branch (浙江省分行) of the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (中国工商银行) has cooperated with the enterprise for more than 25 years. In the long-term service process, the Zhejiang Branch (浙江省分行) of the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (中国工商银行) has tailored a full-cycle, intelligent financial service plan for the enterprise: from local account opening and account optimization support to intelligent settlement and foreign exchange hedging, opening up the "expressway" for enterprise fund flow; from treasury system expansion to industry chain credit circulation, activating the enterprise's global development "fund pool"; from global salary payment and tax payment to full-process risk early warning, building a compliance "safety net" for the enterprise. With the all-round support of the Zhejiang Branch (浙江省分行) of the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (中国工商银行), the enterprise has effectively expanded its fund flow channels, and its business network has covered more than 140 countries and regions, and it continues to steadily expand the international market.

At present, the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (中国工商银行)'s overseas service network covers 69 countries and regions, serves as a RMB clearing bank in 12 countries, and its service network covers six continents and major international financial centers around the world, with the service capability of "one-point access and global response." In response to the increasing demand for "going out" financial services from technology-based enterprises, the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (中国工商银行) provides all-round services around enterprises' supply chain management, daily operation, treasury management, cross-border settlement and other scenarios, helping technology-based enterprises achieve a high-level start and high-standard operation in the achievement transformation stage, and seize international market opportunities.

During the "15th Five-Year Plan" period, the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (中国工商银行) will thoroughly study and implement the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China and the plenary sessions of the 20th Central Committee, focusing on the main line of financial work of preventing risks, strengthening supervision, and promoting high-quality development, taking high-quality party building as the guide, and comprehensively promoting the five transformations of "intelligent risk control, modern layout, digital intelligence driving force, comprehensive service, and ecological system," By providing comprehensive financial solutions, strengthening the full-cycle and diversified financial services for various technology innovation entities, and continuously building a "leading and strong bank in technology finance," we will contribute ICBC's strength to building a strong country in science and technology.

Data source: Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (中国工商银行)

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A "Carbon Ticket" Exchanges for Ecological Dividends (Beautiful China: Expanding Channels for Realizing the Value of Ecological Products)

By: 本报记者 刘新吾

Core Reading

In Kaizhou District (开州区), Chongqing (重庆), the 8,784-ton carbon sink assets of the Hanfeng Lake National Wetland Park (汉丰湖国家湿地公园) were traded for 703,000 yuan, achieving the country's first reservoir water ecological carbon sink transaction. Transforming the benefits of water ecological restoration into quantifiable carbon assets provides a referential case for the realization of water ecological value in reservoirs across the country, and also opens up a new path for ecological restoration and carbon sink capacity improvement in the Yangtze River Economic Belt (长江经济带).

In winter, within the Hanfeng Lake National Wetland Park (汉丰湖国家湿地公园) in Kaizhou (开州), Chongqing (重庆), the lake water glistens, and the distant mountains are shrouded in mist, presenting a picturesque landscape.

"This used to be a barren beach. Who would have thought that it would become a treasure land now, capable of producing 'carbon tickets' to make money!" exclaimed citizen Chen Guanjun (陈冠军).

The "carbon ticket" mentioned by Chen Guanjun (陈冠军) originated from the country's first reservoir water ecological carbon sink transaction achieved last year. On June 16, 2025, the 8,784-ton carbon sink assets of the Hanfeng Lake National Wetland Park (汉丰湖国家湿地公园) were purchased by China Three Gorges New Energy Huainan Photovoltaic Power Generation Co., Ltd. (三峡新能源淮南光伏发电有限公司) for 703,000 yuan, marking a significant step in the exploration of establishing a mechanism for realizing the value of water ecological products in water conservancy projects.

Why can water ecology be realized in Hanfeng Lake (汉丰湖)? This starts with nearly 20 years of ecological restoration.

Hanfeng Lake (汉丰湖) is an inland artificial lake nurtured by the Three Gorges Project (三峡工程). The 15-square-kilometer water area has formed a drawdown zone of nearly 42.78 square kilometers. The water level difference of more than 20 meters has created a dry-wet alternating environment, which has caused problems such as soil erosion, vegetation degradation, and reduced biodiversity. Restoring these problems is imperative.

"In 2008, Kaizhou District (开州区) built a water level regulation dam in the Wuyangba (乌杨坝) area downstream of the urban area, reducing the water level difference of Hanfeng Lake (汉丰湖) from more than 20 meters to less than 5 meters, greatly reducing the area of the drawdown zone," said Li Peifu (李培付), Deputy Director of the Kaizhou District Water Resources Bureau (开州区水利局), pointing to the water level regulation dam in the distance. "This provides a foundation and creates conditions for subsequent ecological restoration."

Kaizhou District (开州区) has successively invested 2.49 billion yuan in special funds for the follow-up work of the Three Gorges (三峡), and implemented a "three-pronged approach of engineering management area, ecological restoration area, and reserved protection area" to implement policies by zones. In the engineering management area, projects such as water level regulation dams and concrete slope protection are constructed to stabilize the shoreline and reduce soil erosion; in the ecological restoration area, wetlands are rebuilt to enhance biodiversity; in the reserved protection area, the original ecosystem is protected to reduce human interference.

Among them, in the ecological restoration area, ecological systems with multiple belts and multiple functions are constructed through fish ponds and forest swamps to restore ecology. For example, above an altitude of 175 meters, 100,000 mu of evergreen broad-leaved trees are connected into a continuous area; in the area between 165 meters and 175 meters above sea level, 500 mu of flood-tolerant trees construct a forest swamp project; in the fish pond area between 140 meters and 165 meters above sea level, 600 mu of aquatic crops weave an ecological grid, realizing "green trees on the top of the mountain—forest and shrubs around the waist of the mountain—wetlands protecting the feet of the lake shore."

After nearly 20 years of continuous efforts, this place has become an ecological paradise: when the water level rises in winter, the trees transform into underwater forests; when the lotus flowers bloom in the fish pond area in summer, it becomes an aquatic garden, providing habitats for various birds. According to statistics, more than 20,000 migratory birds, including Chinese mergansers, now inhabit this area every year.

However, the carbon sink value of Hanfeng Lake (汉丰湖), which has long played an ecological function, has been "sleeping" in the reservoir. How to transform green waters and green mountains into gold and silver mountains?

"Wetlands have dense vegetation and rich species, and have strong carbon sequestration and storage functions, making them very important 'carbon reservoirs'," said Li Peifu (李培付).

Since 2022, Kaizhou District (开州区) has been exploring reservoir water ecological carbon sink trading. On the one hand, the carbon sink assets of the drawdown zone of the Hanfeng Lake National Wetland Park (汉丰湖国家湿地公园) and the land area set by the ecological management project around the lake are calculated by combining satellite remote sensing monitoring technology with ground sampling surveys. On the other hand, through the mechanism of "vegetation carbon sequestration—soil carbon increase—hydrological emission reduction—biological synergy," evergreen broad-leaved trees and other aquatic plants are planted, aquatic animals are regularly released, and a digital management platform for the lake is built to systematically enhance the carbon sink capacity of the drawdown zone ecosystem while achieving carbon sequestration.

After scientific calculation of carbon sink reserves by the Chongqing Institute of Green and Intelligent Technology (重庆绿色智能技术研究院) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (中国科学院), from 2023 to 2024, the carbon sequestration of only 8.32 square kilometers of the restored area reached 8,784 tons, equivalent to the carbon absorption capacity of 26.68 hectares of forest. After the asset value was assessed by an evaluation agency, the 8,784-ton carbon sink assets were listed for sale and eventually purchased by China Three Gorges New Energy Huainan Photovoltaic Power Generation Co., Ltd. (三峡新能源淮南光伏发电有限公司).

Why is this company happy to buy carbon sinks?

"After we purchase water ecological carbon sink products and obtain carbon sink transaction certificates, we can alleviate the pressure of carbon emission control during the future capacity expansion period, and we can also use them for carbon asset reserve and value-added management in the later stage to accumulate energy for future development," said Wei Liangru (魏良如), general manager of the company.

A carbon sink transaction transforms the water ecology of Hanfeng Lake (汉丰湖) into a "carbon ticket," and also brings ecological dividends to Kaizhou District (开州区)—this "carbon ticket" will be specifically used for the maintenance of the Hanfeng Lake (汉丰湖) ecological management project and carbon sink monitoring.

"This is not a simple transaction, but a transformation of water ecological restoration benefits into quantifiable carbon assets," said Liu Zimin (刘自敏), professor at the School of Economics and Management of Southwest University (西南大学). This transaction marks the realization of a full-chain value transformation of "ecological restoration—carbon sink accounting—market transaction—capital feedback" in the Yangtze River Basin (长江流域) in China, providing a referential case for the realization of water ecological value in reservoirs across the country, and also opening up a new path for ecological restoration and carbon sink capacity improvement in the Yangtze River Economic Belt (长江经济带).

Next, the Ministry of Water Resources (水利部) will focus on issuing the "Guidelines for Carbon Monitoring, Accounting and Evaluation Methods for Large and Medium-sized Reservoirs" based on the practice of Hanfeng Lake (汉丰湖), summarize and promote the experience of this transaction, further improve the theory and methods of reservoir carbon sinks, and promote the establishment of a reservoir carbon sink monitoring and accounting system, statistical system and trading mechanism.

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How to Realize the Economic Value of Reservoir Carbon Sinks? (Further Reading)

By: 王宝珍

Reservoir carbon sequestration refers to the process by which reservoir ecosystems absorb and fix carbon dioxide through photosynthesis and biochemical processes of aquatic plants, microorganisms, etc., possessing multiple ecological, economic, and social values.

The economic value of reservoir carbon sequestration can be realized through a closed-loop process of "ecological carbon sequestration - quantitative accounting - market transformation - benefit feedback." The specific realization mechanism can be divided into the following 4 links:

Ecological carbon sequestration mainly involves aquatic plants converting carbon dioxide into biomass carbon through photosynthesis. In addition, after carbon dioxide dissolves in the reservoir water, a series of chemical reactions occur, fixing and permanently storing the carbon dioxide.

Quantitative accounting involves converting the reservoir carbon sequestration volume into tradable and verifiable "carbon assets" through standardized accounting methods, connecting with the market to realize value. Based on the carbon sequestration accounting standards for ecosystems and combined with the ecological characteristics of reservoirs, a "vegetation carbon storage + water carbon storage + bottom mud carbon storage" accounting model is constructed, clarifying the calculation methods, monitoring indicators, and measurement cycles for carbon sequestration. Then, a qualified third-party institution verifies and certifies the accounting results, and the verified carbon sequestration volume is registered on a carbon trading platform or relevant competent authority to form a "carbon sequestration certificate."

Market transformation is to transform the verified carbon sequestration volume into economic benefits through policy guidance and market mechanisms, mainly including two models: One is direct realization in the carbon trading market, selling the reservoir carbon sequestration volume to companies that need to fulfill carbon emission reduction obligations. The second is the diversified realization of the value of ecological products, based on reservoir carbon sequestration, combined with ecotourism, fisheries, water source protection, etc., to create a "carbon sequestration +" composite value model.

The value realization of reservoir carbon sequestration is not a one-time transaction. Through benefit feedback, a sustainable cycle of "protection - appreciation - re-protection" can be formed. For example, investing carbon sequestration transactions or industrial income into reservoir ecological maintenance, carrying out pollutant treatment, restoring drawdown zone vegetation, and establishing a long-term reservoir carbon sequestration monitoring system can further enhance the reservoir's carbon sequestration capacity.

(The author is the Deputy Dean and Researcher of the School of Green and Intelligent Environment, Yangtze Normal University (长江师范学院), interviewed and compiled by Liu Xinwu (刘新吾), a reporter from this newspaper.)

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Why Does Laba Garlic Turn Green? (Telling You About Nature)

By: 赵 铮

Higher acidity, lower temperature, and appropriate time are important factors that promote the greening of Laba Garlic. Pickling on the Laba Festival (腊八节) ensures that the Laba Garlic is in its best "emerald green" state on New Year's Eve.

January 26th this year is the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month in the Chinese lunar calendar. In addition to the widely known Laba Congee, there is also a flavorful delicacy that begins to be made on this day, and that is Laba Garlic.

Laba Garlic is made by peeling garlic and pickling it in vinegar. This method can reduce the spiciness of raw garlic and make it easier to eat. What is amazing is that during the pickling process, the garlic cloves gradually change from white to emerald green. The "green and crisp" Laba Garlic has become a common delicacy on the Spring Festival table for many families.

So, why does Laba Garlic turn green?

In low-temperature, acidic environments, garlic undergoes a series of biochemical reactions, in which alliinase in garlic plays an important role. Alliinase exists in the cells of garlic and is the key to garlic's unique pungent taste. When in a low-temperature environment, the alliinase in garlic is activated. The activated alliinase "meets" sulfur-containing compounds in garlic cells in an acidic environment, and after a series of reactions, pigments of different colors are produced, thus changing the color of the garlic in our eyes. In this process, the initially formed pigment is a blue pigment, which gradually transforms into a yellow pigment as the chemical reaction progresses, and the green color of Laba Garlic is the product of the coexistence of blue and yellow pigments.

In addition, an acidic environment is essential. Vinegar can increase the permeability of cell membranes, allowing the garlic to turn green without the cell walls being destroyed. However, the precise molecular mechanism of garlic color change is still being explored by scientific teams. The small Laba Garlic also contains great knowledge.

In short, higher acidity, lower temperature, and appropriate time are important factors that promote the greening of Laba Garlic. In fact, as long as these three conditions are met simultaneously, the purpose of making garlic green can be achieved. So, why do people like to pickle it on the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month? This is both due to the limitations of past living conditions and the inheritance of cultural customs.

In the past, refrigerators were not yet popular, and natural conditions were the only way to achieve a low-temperature environment. The Laba Festival (腊八节) is usually in the coldest period of the year, which can meet the low-temperature element for making Laba Garlic green. At the same time, because the color of Laba Garlic will change from blue to yellow over time, people have summarized from experience that pickling on the day of the Laba Festival (腊八节) can make the Laba Garlic in its best "emerald green" state on New Year's Eve, contributing a bright green color to the New Year's Eve dinner on the table.

Nowadays, with the blessing of modern technology, pickling Laba Garlic is no longer limited by time and space, and people choose to make Laba Garlic on the Laba Festival (腊八节), which is not only a pursuit on the tip of the tongue, but also a sense of ritual for the New Year. Jars of made and sealed Laba Garlic seem to be reminding us that the footsteps of the Spring Festival are getting closer and closer, and the moment of warm reunion is coming.

(The author is an associate researcher at the Network Popular Science Department of the China Science and Technology Museum (中国科学技术馆), and this report was compiled and edited by Shi Fang (施芳), a reporter from this newspaper.)

Email for topic clues: rmrbstb@peopledaily.cn

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Significant achievements in the protection of rare and endangered species in national nature reserves along the Yangtze River Economic Belt

This newspaper reported from Beijing on January 25th (Reporter Gu Zhongyang (顾仲阳)) - The reporter learned from the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (生态环境部) that the assessment results of ecological environment protection in 145 national nature reserves in the Yangtze River Economic Belt (长江经济带) show that significant achievements have been made in the protection of rare and endangered species in the region during the "14th Five-Year Plan" period.

Wild animal populations continue to grow. The Hubei Yangtze Tian'ezhou Baiji Dolphin Nature Reserve (湖北长江天鹅洲白鱀豚保护区) has built the world's largest ex-situ conservation population of Yangtze finless porpoises, becoming a model for cetacean conservation in the world. The Asian elephant population in the Yunnan Xishuangbanna Nature Reserve (云南西双版纳保护区) has increased from 227 to 293, and the habitat area has been expanding year by year.

The living space of wild plants continues to expand. The Anhui Jinzhai Tianma Nature Reserve (安徽金寨天马保护区) has built a rare plant breeding base, successfully cultivating more than 200,000 rare seedlings such as Yinlumei and Dabie Mountain pine, and solving the problem of natural regeneration of rare plants through "ex-situ breeding + in-situ conservation." The Guizhou Maolan Nature Reserve (贵州茂兰保护区), as the core area of the "South China Karst" World Natural Heritage Site, protects 45 species of national key protected wild orchid plants. The Zhejiang Fengyang Mountain-Baishanzu Nature Reserve (浙江凤阳山—百山祖保护区) has increased the number of rare and endangered plant Baishanzu fir from less than 10 at the time of initial discovery to more than 500 through artificial propagation and wild return.

In recent years, the national nature reserves in the Yangtze River Economic Belt (长江经济带) have become a hotspot for the discovery of new species, the list of rare and endemic species has been continuously updated, and the diversity, stability, and sustainability of ecosystems are steadily improving.

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A Barren Slope of the Past, Now a Thousand-Mu Plum Garden

On January 24, the Guizhou Plum Garden (贵州梅园), located in Gui'an New District (贵安新区), Guizhou (贵州) Province, officially opened, attracting many tourists to enjoy the plum blossoms and sightsee.

The Guizhou Plum Garden (贵州梅园) was once a barren slope with a fragile ecosystem. In recent years, the local area has transformed it into a plum blossom-themed tourist attraction through an "ecological restoration + industrial blood production" model. Currently, the park has a total area of 1,800 mu, with more than 50,000 plum trees of more than 270 varieties planted.

Xinhua News Agency reporter Yang Wenbin (杨文斌) photographed and reported.

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Cold air continues to affect central and eastern regions.

This newspaper's Beijing (北京) January 25th dispatch (Reporter Jiang Xuehong (蒋雪鸿)) On January 25th during the day, weak rain and snow appeared in Shaanxi (陕西), Shanxi (山西), and other places, and cooling occurred in the eastern part of Northwest China and North China.

The Central Meteorological Observatory (中央气象台) predicts that for the remainder of January, cold air will remain active, with two main processes: the 25th to 27th and the 29th to 31st.

From the night of the 25th to the 27th, weak cold air will continue to affect the central and eastern regions, bringing a temperature drop of 3-6 degrees Celsius, and in some areas more than 8 degrees Celsius. Light snow or sleet will occur from west to east in the central and eastern parts of Inner Mongolia (内蒙古), the western and northern parts of North China (华北), the central part of Northeast China (东北地区), and the western and southern parts of Huanghuai (黄淮); light rain will occur in Jianghan (江汉), Jianghuai (江淮), Jiangnan (江南), South China (华南), and Guizhou (贵州), with moderate rain in some areas. Overall, the rain and snow in this process will be relatively weak. In addition, from the night of the 26th to the 28th, heavy to very heavy snow will occur in high-altitude areas of southwestern Xinjiang (新疆), and western and southern Tibet (西藏), with extremely heavy snow in some areas of southwestern Tibet (西藏).

From the 29th, cold air will also affect the central and eastern regions. From the 29th to the 31st, there will be a 4-8 degree Celsius temperature drop in the Northwest and central and eastern regions, with local drops reaching around 10 degrees Celsius; light snow or sleet will occur in the eastern part of Northwest China, North China, the western part of Huanghuai, Jianghan, Jianghuai, and the western part of Jiangnan, with moderate to heavy snow in some areas, and local blizzards; freezing rain will occur in some areas of western Hunan (湖南), western Hubei (湖北), and northern Guangxi (广西).

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Editor in Charge for this Edition: Zhang Ye, Yang Xiaoyu, Zhang Yifu

Layout Design: Shen Yiling (沈亦伶)

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This place has trained over 14,000 Level E coaches (Building a leading sporting nation: Observations on youth football training)

By: 本报记者 白光迪

With approximately 3 months remaining until the kickoff of the 2026 "Jiangsu Super League" ("苏超"), all 13 city-level teams in Jiangsu (江苏) have departed for Yunnan (云南), Hainan (海南), Guangdong (广东), and other locations to engage in high-intensity winter training and refine their lineups. This enthusiastic preparation, coupled with the continuous improvement of the "Jiangsu Super League's" competitive level, is inseparable from the solid foundation laid by the local systematic coach training program.

To popularize basic football knowledge and strengthen guidance for youth and amateur football, Jiangsu Province has been offering E-level coach training courses since 2018. It has successfully conducted approximately 450 sessions, training over 14,000 E-level football coaches. What is an E-level coach? What role do they play in promoting youth football training? Our reporter conducted interviews to find out.

As an entry-level qualification, E-level coach training is the "first point of contact" for youth training.

The Chinese Football Association divides coach training into five levels: professional, A, B, C, and D. E-level coach training is not a mandatory course required by the Chinese Football Association but is established by local member associations as a basic entry-level qualification, making it the "first point of contact" in the youth training system.

"Run! Get the shooting action right!" At the football field of Xinbei District Experimental Middle School (新北区实验中学) in Changzhou (常州), Jiangsu Province, trainee Chen Zhihao (陈志豪) clapped his hands while guiding players to complete the positioning and shooting training exercises. For him, this was not only a training session but also an exam.

This was the examination site for the football E-level coach training course organized by Jiangsu Province. Chen Zhihao and other trainees needed to understand the structure of a complete football training session in advance and attempt to design a 15-minute lesson plan for a specific technique (such as passing with the inside of the foot). In addition to this exam, trainees also had to take a written test and other subject exams to obtain the E-level coach certificate.

Jiangsu Province began offering E-level coach courses in 2018. "Mainly to alleviate the shortage of school football coaches," recalled Wang Rong (王融), director of the Technical Department of the Jiangsu Provincial Football Association (江苏省足球运动协会). In those years, although there were more than 6,000 football teachers in Jiangsu Province, fewer than 1,500 D-level football coaches were registered.

Jiang Xiaoping (蒋晓平), vice chairman and secretary-general of the Suzhou Football Association (苏州市足协), explained that E-level coaches are mainly aimed at children and adolescents in the introductory stage. For a long time, grassroots schools and community clubs have generally faced shortages of personnel and a lack of professionalism, resulting in inconsistent training content, intensity, and scientific rigor for children. Systematically expanding the E-level coach ranks can allow more children to access standardized, safe, and progressive introductory training near them, significantly lowering the barrier to participating in football.

In the evening, at the Xutai Football Field (旭泰足球场) in Suzhou (苏州), more than a dozen junior high school students were engaged in group matches, with coach Liu Wendi (刘文迪) providing guidance from the sidelines. Liu Wendi, 24, works for a foreign company in Suzhou Industrial Park (苏州工业园区). He participated in the university football team and obtained an E-level coach certificate, now qualifying him to engage in youth football training. "These children are all students from nearby schools. They usually gather to play football, and I volunteer to coach them in my spare time," said Liu Wendi. "Seeing the children's level continuously improve under my guidance is very rewarding."

In recent years, to widely conduct football E-level coach training courses, Suzhou has contacted local football youth training institutions and universities to cooperate in opening classes, and has released training course registration notices through WeChat official accounts, WeChat groups, and other channels to expand publicity as much as possible. With the continuous expansion of various channels, the personnel structure of the training courses has gradually changed. "In the past few years, the main groups were football professionals or grassroots physical education teachers, but in recent years, many football enthusiasts and university students have joined, and these two groups account for more than 60% of the training course participants," said Jiang Xiaoping.

Focus on practical training to help more children get started correctly.

On the football training field of Nanjing Sport Institute (南京体育学院), Wei Liang (魏亮), a teacher at the School of Sports Training (Football Academy) (运动训练学院（足球学院）), is guiding football major students to complete a training session. Having been engaged in football teaching for more than 30 years, he participated in compiling the Jiangsu Football Association's E-level coach training course. "E-level coach training includes basic technical action training such as shooting, passing, and positioning, which is conducive to coaches helping more children get started correctly," said Wei Liang.

According to reports, the E-level training course emphasizes basic technical teaching methods, the laws of child development, sports injury prevention, and simple competition organization skills. These contents directly determine whether children can train correctly and safely. Jiangsu has introduced more physical training concepts, sports medicine knowledge, and training monitoring methods into the course, which can effectively reduce incorrect movements in the enlightenment stage and allow children to be on the correct technical path from the beginning.

In terms of curriculum setting, the E-level coach course is divided into theoretical teaching and practical training. "We have deliberately increased the proportion of practical training, such as allowing coaches to arrange venues and set up one or two training sessions to improve their practical ability to lead teams," said Wei Liang. The E-level coach course training lasts for 4 days, and students must participate in theoretical written tests and practical comprehensive tests to obtain a coach certificate.

Zhao Wenjie (赵文杰) is a student majoring in sports training at Nanjing Sport Institute. He received professional football training at Yuhuatai Middle School (雨花台中学) in Nanjing since he was a child, and has coached youth training after college. "E-level coach training has greatly improved my coaching level. For example, I have a more global awareness and will think about the division of labor for each person in the team and conduct overall coordination," said Zhao Wenjie.

"In the past, I often set training goals for young players, such as juggling the ball 100 times or shooting 50 times, but the young players often couldn't concentrate, and the training effect was poor. Through E-level coach training, I realized that I should pay attention to cultivating the interest of young players and formulate training plans that meet their age and cognition," said Zhao Wenjie. Now he will convert training tasks into sports games, increase fun and confrontation, and the learning efficiency of young players has been greatly improved.

More resources are invested in the grassroots to make the youth training "base bigger and the foundation more stable."

Not long ago, Niu Xiaolong (牛小龙), a professional-level coach of the Chinese Football Association, completed the task of teaching the football D-level coach training course held in Suzhou. Currently, he is mainly responsible for D-level training and also participates in E-level course teaching. He is one of the first E-level coach lecturers in Jiangsu Province. "Being a lecturer has given me a deeper understanding of training and tactics."

The level of lecturers directly affects the quality of training. According to Wang Rong, Jiangsu organizes special training for E-level lecturers every year to improve their teaching ability and professional concepts. At present, there are more than 20 E-level lecturers in the province, most of whom have B-level qualifications.

Nowadays, more and more E-level coaches are entering the professional youth training system, and the talent team is constantly growing. At 5 pm, Xu Ke (许克), a youth training coach of Nantong Zhiyun Football Club (南通支云足球俱乐部), arrived at the venue and began to arrange training projects. He loved football since he was a child and regretted not being able to embark on a professional path.

In 2018, information about an E-level coach training awakened Xu Ke's football dream. He decisively signed up and obtained an E-level certificate and joined Nantong Zhiyun Football Club. After that, he obtained D-level and C-level certificates and has now become a youth training coach of the club.

On weekdays, Xu Ke's schedule is very tight. The club cooperates with local primary schools to carry out campus football classes. He goes to school at 6 am to teach, returns to the base after 8 am to prepare lessons, participates in seminars in the afternoon, prepares for evening training content in the evening, and guides the training of elite echelons in grades 2 to 3 in the evening. "E-level training allowed me to re-engage with football and invest in a career I love," said Xu Ke. "Seeing the children continue to improve, all the efforts are worth it."

In order to promote the professional development of grassroots coaches, the Yangtze River Delta region is actively promoting the mutual recognition mechanism of E-level coach certificates. At present, the football associations of Shanghai (上海), Jiangsu, and Zhejiang (浙江) mutually recognize the E-level certificates issued by each other and provide the same qualification treatment in subsequent promotions, broadening the development channels for more grassroots coaches.

"The threshold for the E-level coach certificate is relatively accessible, enabling Jiangsu to invest more training resources in counties and grassroots. Township schools and rural clubs can therefore establish their own coaching teams, giving more children the opportunity to encounter football," Wang Rong introduced. E-level coaches not only expand the football population but also make Jiangsu's youth training "base bigger and the foundation more stable," making the source of talent more diverse and providing a broader foundation for future selection of high-level athletes.

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Be a Good Cultivator of Football Youth Training (Editor's Notes)

By: 高 佶

Nurturing the seedbed of youth football training, the coaches on the sidelines are crucial. They not only teach how to play football but also shape the future of Chinese football as cultivators.

To be a good coach, one must first be knowledgeable. Being able to thoroughly understand the technical and tactical aspects of football, and also accurately grasp the physical and mental characteristics of children of different ages, is the foundation of scientific cultivation.

Just being knowledgeable is not enough; knowing how to teach is also a major test. How to transform complex football knowledge into training content that children can understand and play with? The coach's "transformation" skills are key to whether knowledge can take root in the hearts of children.

Most important is the original intention of nurturing people. Sports are also education: the tacit understanding of teamwork, the resilience to face failure, the grace to respect opponents... These details beyond football skills may be life lessons that nourish the growth of young players even more than winning or losing.

Promoting the development of youth football training requires the careful cultivation of cultivators, and excellent cultivators also cannot be separated from the nourishment of fertile soil—continuous growth opportunities, clear career paths, and more respect and security. When more and more coaches carefully water and cultivate, Chinese football will also flourish and be lush. 俯身耕耘 (fǔ shēn gēng yún - "stoop down cultivate," to work diligently and conscientiously).

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Striving for greater heights

By: 本报记者 刘硕阳 陈晨曦

The 2026 AFC U23 Asian Cup final took place at the Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Stadium in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on January 24th, local time. Facing the defending champion Japan, the Chinese team, which reached the final for the first time, conceded two goals in each half, ultimately losing 0-4 and finishing as runner-up. This is also the best result in the Chinese team's history in the U23 Asian Cup.

From the final whistle to the subsequent award ceremony, disappointment and regret were written on the faces of the Chinese players. "The defeat is certainly disappointing, but even when trailing by a large margin, the players were bravely fighting, and I am very proud of their performance." As U23 National Football Team coach Antonio said, this Chinese team has brought too many surprises in this tournament. Previously, the Chinese team had participated in the U23 Asian Cup five times, winning only two games out of 15 and failing to advance from the group stage each time. In this tournament, the Chinese team not only successfully broke through from a group surrounded by strong teams such as Australia, but also did not concede a goal in the five games before the final, building a young "steel defense."

After winning the runner-up, the State General Administration of Sport (国家体育总局) and the Chinese Football Association (中国足球协会) sent congratulatory letters to the team. This is the first time in 22 years that a Chinese men's national football team has reached the final of a continental tournament, igniting new hope for the revitalization of Chinese football.

On one side are honor and achievement, and on the other side are reflection and growth. Looking back at the journey of the entire tournament, seeing the gap and facing the shortcomings are "keywords" mentioned by many players. Defender Hu Hetao (胡荷韬) said that he must recognize his own strength, reflect on his performance in the final, and give back to the fans with better levels and attitudes in future training and games. "We have a long way to go, and the defeat in the final cannot erase our fighting spirit," midfielder Xu Bin (徐彬) said after the game. Regarding the future, goalkeeper Li Hao (李昊), who performed well in this tournament, is full of confidence, "Work hard to win back the games that should be won, stand firm in my position, and strive to go higher."

After the conclusion of this U23 Asian Cup, some participating players will return to their clubs to prepare for the new season's league, while others will venture overseas. Continuing to move forward and constantly improving are also the common expectations of players and fans. This autumn, this team will also represent China in the Nagoya Asian Games, and many eligible players, including Wang Yudong (王钰栋), are expected to step onto the next U23 Asian Cup and launch an impact on the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games qualification. In the future, there is a broader stage waiting for them.

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Sui Wenjing/Han Cong win pairs figure skating silver

This newspaper reported from Beijing on January 25th (Reporter Liu Shuoyang (刘硕阳) and Ji Fang (季芳)) On the afternoon of the 25th, the 2026 ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships concluded at the National Indoor Stadium. Beijing Winter Olympics champions Sui Wenjing (隋文静) / Han Cong (韩聪) won the silver medal in pairs skating with a score of 200.99, which is also the only medal won by Chinese athletes in this competition. Jin Boyang (金博洋) finished sixth in the men's singles, Zhang Ruiyang (张瑞阳) finished tenth in the women's singles, and Wang Shiyue (王诗玥) / Liu Xinyu (柳鑫宇) finished ninth in ice dance.

The pairs free skating was held on the evening of the 24th. Sui Wenjing (隋文静) / Han Cong (韩聪), who were temporarily ranked first after the short program, were the last to appear. This Chinese pair, troubled by injuries, made mistakes in the free skating and ultimately won the silver medal with a score of 200.99. The American pair, Alisa Efimova / Misha Mitrofanov, won the championship with a score of 205.34. After the competition, Sui Wenjing (隋文静) said that recent injuries have had a certain impact on this Four Continents Championships, and they are actively adjusting for the Milan Winter Olympics.

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The 4th China Mountaineering and Outdoor Industry Conference Held

The newspaper Beijing (北京) January 25th (Reporter: Zeng Huafeng (曾华锋)) From the 24th to 25th, the 4th China Mountaineering and Outdoor Industry Conference and the 21st National Mountaineering and Outdoor Club Activities, themed "Green Movement in the Mountains and Fields, Intelligent Drawing of the Outdoors," were held in Tai'an City (泰安市), Shandong Province (山东省). The event was hosted by the Mountaineering Movement Management Center of the State General Administration of Sport (国家体育总局登山运动管理中心), the Chinese Mountaineering Association (中国登山协会), the Shandong Provincial Sports Bureau (山东省体育局), and the Tai'an Municipal People's Government (泰安市人民政府), and organized by the Tai'an Municipal Sports Bureau (泰安市体育局), with the assistance of Titan Media Group Co., Ltd. (体坛传媒集团股份有限公司).

Chang Jiandong (常建东), Deputy Director of the Mountaineering Movement Management Center of the State General Administration of Sport and Vice Chairman of the Chinese Mountaineering Association, introduced that in 2025, the National Climbing Team participated in 13 world competitions, winning a total of 22 medals, including 11 gold, 6 silver, and 5 bronze, and obtained 6 Asian Games qualifications. The ski mountaineering project obtained 1 mixed relay qualification for the Milan Winter Olympics and 2 places for the men's and women's sprint events, achieving full participation in all events. Li Zhixin (李致新), Chairman of the Chinese Mountaineering Association, introduced that China's mountaineering and outdoor sports projects continue to expand, the number of participants continues to grow, the facility network is accelerating its construction, and market vitality and consumer enthusiasm are constantly stimulated.

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Further progress on the ice

By: 本报记者 郑 轶 陶相安

Walking into the training hall of the China Administration of Sport for Persons with Disabilities (中国残疾人体育运动管理中心) in Shunyi (顺义), Beijing (北京), the red slogans hanging on the wall are particularly eye-catching – "Bearing the overall situation in mind, confident and open, facing difficulties head-on, pursuing excellence, and creating the future together." The powerful spirit of the Beijing Winter Olympics inspires every athlete.

The 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Paralympics will be held from March 6th to 15th, and the Chinese Wheelchair Curling Team is fully preparing for the competition. On the training ground, wheelchairs glide across the white ice, long poles steadily push the curling stones, and the team members shout out the numbers on the stopwatch... These seemingly simple curling actions are repeated hundreds of times every day, from speed to route to accuracy, striving to refine every detail and strive for "further progress."

Established for nearly 20 years, the Chinese Wheelchair Curling Team has repeatedly achieved excellent results. From achieving China's first Winter Paralympic gold medal breakthrough at the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Paralympics to defending their title at the 2022 Beijing Winter Paralympics, they have carried the banner of Chinese sports for persons with disabilities with their tenacious fighting spirit.

In March last year, the Chinese Wheelchair Curling Team won the World Championship for the fourth time and secured a spot in the Milan-Cortina Winter Paralympics. In July last year, the team began preparing for the competition. Currently, 12 athletes are participating in the training camp, and eventually 7 will be selected to participate in the Winter Paralympics wheelchair curling mixed team and mixed doubles events.

"In recent years, we have achieved good results in international competitions, and many teams are aiming at us for research and analysis," said Yue Qingshuang (岳清爽), coach of the Chinese Wheelchair Curling Team. "Stepping off the podium, everything starts from scratch. Our goal is to bring out our training level in the competition and focus on ourselves."

Today, this team includes both seasoned veterans and energetic newcomers. The daily training is packed, and the team members are fully engaged and encourage each other. If a curling stone is not thrown satisfactorily, everyone actively communicates, and the entire team maintains a high degree of tacit understanding and full enthusiasm.

The main competitors of the Chinese Wheelchair Curling Team in the Winter Paralympics include the Canadian team, the Swedish team, the Norwegian team, and the South Korean team. Yue Qingshuang (岳清爽) introduced that after the preparation work started, the team first completed physical fitness reserves, then switched to a training mode combining ice and land, and also organized overseas exchange competitions. "In the sprint stage, we will further strengthen basic training and prepare mentally," said Yue Qingshuang (岳清爽).

Team member Zhang Qiang (张强) has not yet participated in the Winter Paralympics. He actively seeks advice and learns from the veteran players, and constantly improves his skills, tactics, and mentality. "Curling tests mental and thinking abilities, and requires careful consideration." Currently, the list of Chinese Wheelchair Curling Team members participating in the Winter Paralympics has not yet been announced. Zhang Qiang (张强) admitted that regardless of whether he is finally selected, he enjoys the process very much.

As dusk approaches, the internal team competition is still in full swing. In Yue Qingshuang's (岳清爽) view, the charm of wheelchair curling lies not only in the competition on the track, but also in allowing athletes with disabilities to rediscover the direction and strength of their lives.

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"Two-way Motivation" Amidst the Clang of Barbells

By: 本报记者 李 硕

Amidst the deafening clang of barbells, Olympic champion Liu Huanhua (刘焕华) snatched 173 kilograms, a new high for his winter training, yet readily "admitted defeat." On January 23rd, during the Chinese Weightlifting Team's media open day, he engaged in a "competition" with his teammate Qu Hongcheng (瞿宏城), who practices clean and jerk: he conceded 5 kilograms to see who could lift more. "Qu Hongcheng (瞿宏城) lifted 170 kilograms. According to the plan, I will only attempt 175 kilograms next week. This week focuses on building a solid foundation, so I won't disrupt the rhythm," Liu Huanhua (刘焕华) said with a smile.

This competition was about weight, but it ignited the fiery atmosphere of the team's training. In December 2025, the Chinese Weightlifting Team began its winter training in Beijing (北京). In the new Olympic cycle, the International Weightlifting Federation has made significant adjustments to the weight classes, and almost all athletes have to face the choice of "upgrading" or "downgrading." At the same time, the team itself is at a critical juncture of generational change. The training roster includes nearly 70 people, all born after 2000, with those born after 2005 accounting for 40%, and the youngest member being only 15 years old.

How to ensure the rapid growth of young talent while fully stimulating the new vitality of veteran athletes has become a challenge for the team.

Challenges breed change, and this winter training demonstrates the characteristics of "veterans leading the new, and the new promoting the old." In the training hall, the youth storm and the champion's foundation are intertwined, forming a virtuous cycle of "two-way motivation." The veterans actively step out of their comfort zones, teaching by example and passing on the torch. Two-time Olympic champion Li Wenwen (李雯雯), in order to compete in her third Olympic Games, chose to "start from scratch." Li Wenwen (李雯雯) successfully snatched 130 kilograms, her best result in winter training. She said, "The young athletes are energetic and have the spirit to fight, which motivates us to improve together." During winter training, Liu Huanhua (刘焕华) often guides young athletes on technical essentials. He believes that the process of exchange is also a process of deepening self-understanding, and that the excellent traditions of the Chinese Weightlifting Team must be passed on.

The young athletes have injected new vitality into this champion team. Liu Mengjia (刘梦佳), a 17-year-old who was selected for the national team for the first time, feels excited and fulfilled. The national team's scientific methods and support system allow her to devote herself to training without distraction. Chen Jian (陈戬), who won the gold medal in the men's 67kg class at the 15th National Games, returned to the national team and felt a strong atmosphere of positivity and competition.

Faced with the re-"positioning" of weight classes, the athletes have a calm attitude and clear plans. Liu Huanhua (刘焕华) has moved up from the 102kg class when he won the Paris Olympics to the 110kg class. He plans to "eat normally first, stabilize the weight, and compress it a little," and then gradually gain weight after the training intensity increases, aiming directly at the Asian Games and World Championships in the second half of the year. Luo Shifang (罗诗芳), the champion of the women's 59kg class at the Paris Olympics, will move up to the 61kg class. She said, "I can eat more, and now my strength has already increased."

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Photo Report

Recently, the General Mountain International Ski Resort (将军山国际滑雪度假区) in Altay, Xinjiang (新疆阿勒泰) has attracted many ski enthusiasts from all over the country. The picture shows ski enthusiasts riding the ski resort's cable car.

People's Daily reporter Lei Sheng (雷声) photographed it.

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This edition's editors: Gong Yuhua, Shi Zhe, Gao Ji

Layout Design: Zhang Fangman (张芳曼)

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Strengthening Dialogue and Cooperation, Jointly Promoting Inclusive Growth (International Perspective)

By: 本报记者 许海林 颜 欢 郭梓云 尚凯元

The World Economic Forum's (世界经济论坛) 2026 Annual Meeting concluded on January 23 in Davos (达沃斯), Switzerland (瑞士). Participants generally agreed that the world economy is at a critical juncture of transitioning between old and new drivers of growth. Artificial intelligence, green transformation, the digital economy, and other accelerating evolutions will become the most promising engines of growth in the future. The forum called for bridging differences through dialogue and stabilizing expectations through cooperation, jointly promoting global inclusive growth and injecting more stability and positive energy into the world economy.

"Dialogue is a Necessary Condition for Promoting World Progress"

Currently, geopolitical risks continue to rise, impacting the global economic order and restricting economic development prospects. The World Economic Forum's "Global Risks Report 2026" shows that geoeconomic confrontation is the primary global risk in 2026, followed by regional armed conflicts, extreme weather events, social polarization, and the proliferation of misinformation. Among these, the rise in economic risks is the most significant. Mirek Dusek, Executive Director of the World Economic Forum, said: "Geoeconomics is the new geopolitics. In this new era, we need more dialogue, imagination, and entrepreneurship to regain momentum."

The World Economic Forum's latest "Chief Economists Outlook" report shows that 53% of the chief economists surveyed believe that the global economy will still face multiple uncertainties in the coming year. Gita Gopinath (古兰沙), Chief Economist of the International Monetary Fund (国际货币基金组织), said: "Risks such as asset revaluation volatility and the accumulation of debt are intertwined with the reshaping of the geoeconomic structure and the risks arising from the application of artificial intelligence technology, which will continue to constrain the stable operation of the world economy." Kristalina Georgieva (格奥尔基耶娃), Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, said in the closing discussion that the current multipolar world faces more challenges, but the ability of all parties to respond to risks is also increasing.

Ngaire Woods (恩盖尔·伍兹), Dean of the Blavatnik School of Government at the University of Oxford (英国牛津大学), said: "Reaching a consensus on building a future together through equal dialogue and learning from each other's development experiences is the key to resolving international disputes and solving development problems." Saadia Zahidi (萨迪娅·扎希迪), Managing Director of the World Economic Forum, said that countries should assume the common responsibility of shaping the future direction of development and promote pragmatic cooperation with a long-term perspective.

Børge Brende (布伦德), President of the World Economic Forum, called for strengthening dialogue and cooperation, resolving conflicts and promoting inclusive growth in his closing remarks. "Dialogue is the only way to stabilize market expectations and resolve differences and contradictions. Dialogue is a necessary condition for promoting world progress. True dialogue is never easy; it requires patience, commitment, and creativity."

"The Importance of Global Cooperation is Becoming Increasingly Prominent"

International organizations such as the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank (世界银行) have repeatedly warned that trade protectionism is one of the main threats facing global economic recovery. Many participating experts and scholars expressed strong concerns about protectionism and unilateralism, believing that trade protection policies will not only weaken global innovation vitality but also exacerbate global development imbalances, with a more significant impact on developing countries. Erica Fuchs (艾丽卡·福克斯), Professor of Engineering and Public Policy at Carnegie Mellon University (美国卡内基梅隆大学), said that global protectionism is more severe than at any time since World War II, and international cooperation seems increasingly difficult but urgent.

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (伊维拉), Director-General of the World Trade Organization (世界贸易组织), said at the meeting that the global trade sector has suffered the most severe impact in 80 years, and trade rules have been weakened. "I do not agree with some unilateral trade actions. We need to make changes, and we need trade diversification. We must enhance resilience at all levels to cope with future uncertainties."

Wale Edun (瓦莱·埃敦), Nigerian Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, told this reporter that the world is currently evolving from high globalization to fragmentation, the multilateral system is continuously weakening, and the uncertainty of trade and technology rules is rising, affecting long-term investment expectations, while investment is a key support for developing countries to achieve development. Mohammed Al-Jadaan (穆罕默德·贾丹), Saudi Minister of Finance, said that no country can independently face the current problems in the world. It is necessary to promote more dialogue and cooperation and support institutions such as the World Economic Forum, the World Bank, and the World Trade Organization because they are needed to provide support in addressing the world's uncertainties.

Peter Howitt (彼得·豪伊特), the 2025 Nobel Laureate in Economics and Canadian economist, said: "The benign competition brought about by international trade is the core driving force for promoting global technological progress and productivity improvement. Trade protection policies essentially weaken this innovation mechanism and ultimately harm the overall interests of the global economy."

André Hoffmann (安德烈·霍夫曼), Acting Co-Chair of the Board of Directors of the World Economic Forum, said: "In the current situation, the importance of global cooperation is becoming increasingly prominent, and fragmented development models will only further amplify various risks."

"Let New Technologies Better Serve the Common Interests of All Mankind"

The World Economic Forum pointed out in the report "The Future Prospects of the New Economy: Geoeconomics and Technology in 2030" that technological progress and the geoeconomic landscape are the two core forces shaping the global economy in 2030. The degree of geopolitical stability and the speed and scope of technology application will jointly determine the future development direction of the global economy. However, new technological progress also brings new risks and challenges, requiring the international community to strengthen collaborative governance and response. The "Global Cybersecurity Outlook 2026" report shows that artificial intelligence, geopolitical fragmentation, and the surge in cyber fraud are redefining the global cyber risk landscape at an unprecedented rate.

Philippe Aghion (菲利普·阿吉翁), the 2025 Nobel Laureate in Economics and French economist, said at the meeting that long-term global prosperity depends not only on technological progress but also on the coordinated efforts of technological innovation and institutional improvement. Guiding through public investment, strategically supporting the research and development of cutting-edge technologies, and maintaining a fair and competitive market environment can stabilize investment expectations and stimulate economic vitality. Christine Lagarde (拉加德), President of the European Central Bank (欧洲央行), said that taking artificial intelligence as an example, it is a capital-intensive, data-intensive, and energy-intensive industry that requires all parties to strengthen cooperation to tap the potential of industrial development. It also requires all parties to coordinate and jointly regulate to address technological risks.

Many participants said that in the wave of the new technological revolution, the lack of effective coordination among all parties may further widen the global development gap. While promoting technological innovation, the international community needs to balance efficiency and fairness and ensure that all countries equally enjoy development opportunities. Luiz Monteiro (路易斯·蒙泰罗), Vice President of Corporate Affairs at Unico (全球技术公司), a Brazilian global technology company, told this reporter that new technologies such as generative artificial intelligence are constantly improving their functions, providing new tools for high-quality economic and social development, but also increasing the risks of fraud and deepfakes. "The international community should build a consensus on cooperation, jointly build a safe, orderly, and inclusive digital space, and formulate unified technology governance rules through multilateral consultations to allow new technologies to better serve the common interests of all mankind."

Yoshua Bengio (本吉奥), a professor at the University of Montreal (加拿大蒙特利尔大学), believes that the international community needs to build a more systematic global technology governance system. "By formulating international treaties and improving transnational coordination mechanisms, we can prevent the abuse of new technologies and avoid a single entity monopolizing the right to formulate global technology rules." Participants called for building an inclusive global technology governance pattern to provide guarantees for the healthy development of new technologies and allow technological progress to truly promote global common prosperity.

(Reported by this newspaper from Davos (达沃斯), Switzerland (瑞士))

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Syria Struggles to Advance Political Reconciliation Process

By: 本报记者 黄培昭

The Syrian Interim Government's Ministry of Defense issued a statement on January 24, saying that the ceasefire period in all war zones of the Syrian Interim Government forces would be extended for another 15 days. The extension of the ceasefire period is to facilitate the transfer of "Islamic State" personnel detained in northeastern Syria to Iraq. The "Syrian Democratic Forces" (叙利亚民主力量) also confirmed the consensus reached with the Syrian Interim Government on extending the ceasefire.

On January 18, the Syrian Interim Government and the "Syrian Democratic Forces" (叙利亚民主力量) reached a new ceasefire and comprehensive integration agreement. According to media reports, the core content of the agreement between the two parties includes: the "Syrian Democratic Forces" (叙利亚民主力量) will hand over the administrative and military power of the Raqqa and Deir ez-Zor provinces under its control to the Syrian Interim Government, and gradually integrate into the Syrian Interim Government army system; the "Syrian Democratic Forces" (叙利亚民主力量) will hand over the camps and administrative institutions responsible for detaining "Islamic State" personnel to the Syrian Interim Government. The Syrian Interim Government's Ministry of Defense immediately stopped relevant military operations. On January 20, the two sides also reached a consensus on a series of issues concerning the future development of Hasakah Province. The Syrian Interim Government's Ministry of Defense stated that relevant military operations would be suspended from 20:00 on the 20th for a period of 4 days.

The "Syrian Democratic Forces" (叙利亚民主力量) have long controlled large areas of northern and eastern Syria. In March 2025, they signed a relevant integration agreement with the Syrian Interim Government, agreeing to integrate into national institutions, but the implementation of the agreement has stalled. Recently, conflicts broke out between the two sides in the city of Aleppo (阿勒颇) in northern Syria, and a ceasefire understanding was later reached.

The international community has cautious expectations that the agreement between the two parties will promote Syria towards ending the separatist state in the northeast. Analysts believe that at present, various forces inside and outside Syria are still in a complex game. The core goal of the Syrian Interim Government is to restore the country's effective rule over all its territory and disarm the "Syrian Democratic Forces" (叙利亚民主力量) and incorporate them into the national system. The core demand of the "Syrian Democratic Forces" (叙利亚民主力量) is to reach some form of political arrangement with the central government on the premise of protecting the rights and safety of the Kurdish community. In fact, there are different voices and resistance within the "Syrian Democratic Forces" (叙利亚民主力量) regarding giving up autonomy and fully integrating into the Syrian national structure, and the political negotiations on the integration process are difficult. On the one hand, they hope to gain legitimate status through the agreement and eliminate Turkey's military threat; on the other hand, they worry that completely disarming will lose their autonomous capital and the ability to cope with future uncertainties. The hesitation and partial withdrawal shown in the handover process reflect this dilemma.

Currently, sporadic exchanges of fire and military deployments between the two sides are still continuing. According to media reports, troops from both sides still have signs of confrontation and troop increases near the contact lines in Hasakah Province and other places, and accuse each other of violating ceasefire commitments. This distrust and military preparation cast a shadow over the implementation of the agreement. The Syrian Interim Government forces combat command stated on January 24 that the "Syrian Democratic Forces" (叙利亚民主力量), dominated by Syrian Kurdish armed forces, recently transferred the "Kurdistan Workers' Party" (库尔德工人党) armed forces from the Qandil Mountains (甘迪勒山区) in Iraq to Hasakah Province (哈塞克省) in northeastern Syria, threatening regional stability, and stated that the Syrian Interim Government forces are assessing the battlefield situation to determine the next step. The "Syrian Democratic Forces" (叙利亚民主力量) stated that the Syrian Interim Government forces are conducting organized military preparations and logistical deployments in northeastern Syria, which may drag the region into a new conflict.

According to media reports, during the handover of the management rights of multiple prisons, incidents of ineffective supervision and prisoner escapes occurred. For example, a riot and escape of "Islamic State" detainees recently occurred in the Shedadi prison (舍达迪监狱) in Hasakah Province (哈塞克省), which is managed by the "Syrian Democratic Forces" (叙利亚民主力量). The US Central Command said on January 21 that the US military began transferring "Islamic State" personnel detained in northeastern Syria to Iraq that day to ensure that "terrorists continue to be held in secure detention facilities." According to the US "Wall Street Journal" (《华尔街日报》), citing US officials, given that the Syrian Interim Government has begun to control the eastern and northeastern regions of the country that have long been occupied by Kurdish armed forces, the United States is considering completely withdrawing US troops from Syria.

Syria's difficult progress in the political reconciliation process shows that true peace requires a more solid foundation of mutual trust, more detailed security arrangements, more inclusive political solutions, and a more favorable regional environment. The international community should adopt a constructive attitude, support all parties in Syria to overcome difficulties, and move firmly in the direction of a political solution, rather than fanning the flames or seeking private interests. Only in this way can the Syrian people truly usher in the dawn of peace and stability.

Sun Lei (孙磊), China's Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations, stated at the Security Council's open meeting on the Syrian issue a few days ago that China firmly opposes all forms of terrorism and emphasized that any terrorist activity is the most serious threat to international peace and security and must not be tolerated. The international community's expectations for Syria are generally consistent. They all hope that Syria will steadily promote an inclusive political transition, resolutely combat terrorism, effectively protect the rights of ethnic minorities, restore its economy as soon as possible, and embark on a path of sustainable development. China is willing to work with the international community to play a constructive role in helping Syria achieve security, stability and development.

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Sino-Egyptian Joint Archaeological Team Announces Significant Archaeological Discoveries

Cairo, January 24 (Reporter Huang Peizhao (黄培昭)) The Sino-Egyptian Luxor Montu Temple Joint Archaeological Team announced on the 24th that it had successfully cleared a previously unknown sacred lake architectural site in the Karnak Montu Temple ruins area in Luxor Province (卢克索省), Egypt.

According to the archaeological team, the newly discovered sacred lake covers an area of more than 50 square meters and is a well-preserved ancient artificial reservoir facility with a clear structure. Together with the previously known sacred lake of the Montu Temple, it forms a unique layout of the north and south sacred lakes standing side by side within the walls, and is therefore also called the South Sacred Lake. The sacred lake is a necessary component of ancient Egyptian temple architecture and is considered a sacred source of water, exclusively for use in rituals performed within the temple.

"The discovery of two sacred lakes in the same temple area is a first in the history of Egyptian archaeology, filling a gap in Egyptology and Egyptian history. The South Sacred Lake is also the only sacred lake in the history of Egyptian archaeology to have been systematically and scientifically excavated, providing us with valuable first-hand information and samples for studying ancient Egyptian sacred lakes," said Researcher Jia Xiaobing (贾笑冰), the Chinese head of the Sino-Egyptian Luxor Montu Temple Joint Archaeological Project.

"This discovery is rare and is the result of years of hard work by the joint archaeological team," Hand Ali (汉德·阿里), an Egyptian member of the joint archaeological team and the general inspector of the Montu Temple, told reporters that the four walls of the South Sacred Lake are built of large sandstone blocks, the foundation is well preserved, and there are stone steps on the east wall that lead to the bottom of the lake for ancient priests to fetch water.

In the Osiris Temple area, after 8 years of field excavation, the joint archaeological team successfully excavated the complete architectural structures of the second to fifth Osiris Temples, unearthed dozens of Osiris statues of different sizes and materials, and several stone fragments related to the holy women of the late ancient Egyptian period. This provides new archaeological evidence for further restoring the history of Thebes (底比斯) (now Luxor (卢克索)), the ancient Egyptian capital under the rule of the holy women of the Twenty-fifth to Twenty-sixth Dynasties.

The Montu Temple was built around 1391 to 1355 BC. The Montu Temple ruins area covers a total area of about 106,000 square meters, of which the temple area within the walls covers an area of about 24,000 square meters. To date, the joint archaeological team has excavated a total area of about 2,300 square meters.

Since 2018, the first Sino-Egyptian joint archaeological team, jointly formed by the Institute of Archaeology of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (中国社会科学院考古研究所) and the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (埃及旅游与文物部), has officially carried out archaeological excavation and research work at the Montu Temple. The project has received strong support from the Zhengzhou Municipal Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology (郑州市文物考古研究院) in Henan Province and the Institute of World History of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (中国社会科学院世界历史研究所).

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Photo Story

A large-scale winter storm swept across the south-central United States, including Texas (得克萨斯州) and Kansas (堪萨斯州), from the night of January 23rd to the 24th, bringing widespread snowfall, sleet, and low temperatures. According to media reports, 22 states across the United States have declared a state of emergency, and more than 13,000 flights have been canceled due to the weather. The picture shows a pedestrian walking in the wind and snow in St. Louis (圣路易斯), Missouri (密苏里州) on the 24th.

Xinhua News Agency (新华社)

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Cuban President Inspects Defense Exercises, Emphasizes Defense Readiness and Unity

Xinhua News Agency, Havana, January 24th (Reporter Jiang Biao (蒋彪)) According to the official website of the Cuban Presidential Palace on the 24th, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel (迪亚斯—卡内尔) inspected the national defense combat exercise that morning, assessing the coordination of various components of the territorial defense system.

Díaz-Canel (迪亚斯—卡内尔) pointed out at the start of the exercise: "The best way to avoid aggression is to make the imperialists have to weigh the cost of aggression against Cuba. This largely depends on Cuba's preparation for such military operations."

Díaz-Canel (迪亚斯—卡内尔) emphasized after the exercise that the exercise is "of great significance in the current situation." He highly praised the level of combat readiness, cohesion, and collaboration demonstrated by the participants, saying that this proves that Cuba's systematic, rigorous, and intensive preparedness plan for the entire territorial defense system "has achieved concrete results," while further enhancing patriotism, anti-imperialist spirit, and national unity. Díaz-Canel (迪亚斯—卡内尔) said that by preparing to defend the motherland, unity can be achieved. "And when we are united, history has proven that we can always achieve victory."

Currently, relations between Cuba and the United States are in a state of high tension. Earlier this month, the United States launched a large-scale military strike against Venezuela. U.S. President Donald Trump (特朗普) then hinted that Cuba might be the next target of U.S. attention. On the 11th, Trump (特朗普) once again put pressure on Cuba, threatening that if Cuba does not "reach an agreement" as soon as possible, it will face "zero oil and zero funds" flowing into Cuba. Díaz-Canel (迪亚斯—卡内尔) said that Cuba will not actively attack or threaten any country, but is prepared to defend every inch of its territory.

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Data Falsification Incidents Frequent Among Japanese Companies

By: 本报记者 刘文璋

The Japan Nuclear Regulation Authority recently decided to conduct on-site inspections of Chubu Electric Power Company (中部電力) headquartered in Nagoya City (名古屋市) and its Hamaoka Nuclear Power Plant (浜岡核電站) due to suspected data falsification in the review materials for the nuclear power plant's restart. The company will also face administrative penalties in accordance with relevant laws. According to Japan's *Yomiuri Shimbun*, the Hamaoka Nuclear Power Plant is located in the expected epicenter of the "Nankai Trough Earthquake" (南海海槽大地震), and its safety has long been a concern. This falsification incident will further exacerbate public anxiety.

The Hamaoka Nuclear Power Plant suspended all units at the request of the Japanese government after the Great East Japan Earthquake on March 11, 2011. In order to have Units 3 and 4 of the Hamaoka Nuclear Power Plant pass the review for restart, Chubu Electric Power Company applied to the Nuclear Regulation Authority between 2014 and 2015, requesting a review of whether these two units met the new regulatory standards. Passing this review is a prerequisite for restarting the nuclear power plant. On the 5th of this month, Chubu Electric Power Company held a press conference admitting that the company's 2019 report to the Nuclear Regulation Authority on the maximum earthquake ground motion assessment intentionally selected data favorable to the company and underestimated the possibility of the maximum earthquake ground motion that could occur. Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno (木原稔) stated at a press conference regarding this incident: "This may shake the public's trust in the safety of nuclear energy use, and it is something that should not have happened."

Data falsification in Japanese nuclear power plants is not an isolated case. In 2020, the Nuclear Regulation Authority suspended the restart review of Unit 2 of the Tsuruga Nuclear Power Plant (敦賀核電站) in Fukui Prefecture (福井県) after it was discovered that geological data had been altered without authorization. In 2023, the Nuclear Regulation Authority announced another suspension of the restart review process for Unit 2 of the Tsuruga Nuclear Power Plant due to repeated errors in the materials provided by the operator.

In recent years, data falsification by Japanese companies has been spreading. In 2017, Kobe Steel (神户制钢) admitted to falsifying inspection data for some copper and aluminum products, supplying substandard products to customers. Its products involved approximately 200 companies, including automobiles, aircraft, high-speed trains, and military industries. In 2021, Mitsubishi Electric (三菱电机) was exposed for long-term falsification of inspection data, with the falsification lasting for more than 30 years. In 2024, 38 models from five automakers, including Toyota (丰田) and Mazda (马自达), were exposed for irregularities and certification fraud in the mass production certification application process. Kawasaki Heavy Industries (川崎重工業) admitted that the company had improperly altered test data for marine engines, involving a total of 673 marine engines. IHI Corporation (IHI), a major Japanese heavy industry company, also announced that one of its subsidiaries had been falsifying fuel efficiency data for more than 4,000 engines since 2003. A series of falsification incidents have seriously affected the international reputation of Japanese manufacturing.

Regarding the frequent occurrence of data falsification incidents in Japanese companies, Kazuhiko Takano (高野一彦), a professor at Kansai University (关西大学), directly pointed to the "closed internal atmosphere" of Japanese companies. According to an analysis by *Nikkei*, the top-down command transmission model within Japanese companies is deeply ingrained, and the opinions of front-line employees cannot be conveyed to management. The atmosphere of "the superiors have the final say" has fostered a tendency to "turn a blind eye" even when abnormalities are noticed, providing a breeding ground for large-scale violations. The Toyota Group's investigation committee believes that the lack of supervision due to the internal atmosphere of the company and the failure to separate product development and certification testing departments are the core reasons for the falsification.

The pressure and loopholes in management execution have further compressed the space for compliance. Haruhiko Higuchi (樋口晴彦), a permanent director of the Japan Crisis Management System Research Association, believes that Japanese companies generally face objective problems such as tight schedules, unreasonable target setting, and a shortage of personnel and budget resources, but management has not faced these problems squarely. "Under the dual effect of objective resource shortages and huge target pressures, people in a weak position within the company are forced to choose illegal operations." *Nikkei* analyzed that front-line employees are both entangled in their own work and, because they "dare not say what they want to say and are unwilling to say it," they can only succumb to pressure and choose data falsification and other illegal methods to complete tasks. An employee of Mitsubishi Electric said: "Management knows about the data falsification but tacitly approves it, and even requires 'priority to be given to ensuring delivery dates.'"

Moe Matsumoto (松本萌), a Japanese journalist, wrote in *Nikkei Business* that the frequent occurrence of data falsification incidents in Japanese companies exposes "a management that is not good at learning from failures." If Japanese companies cannot completely eliminate mechanism defects and the "closed internal atmosphere," face up to and eradicate their own problems, the chaos of falsification may be difficult to truly eliminate.

(Reported from Tokyo (东京) on January 25)

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Iranian Military Says It Is Ready to "Respond to Any Enemy Adventurism"

Tehran, January 24 (Xinhua) -- (Reporters Chen Xiao (陈霄) and Shadati (沙达提)) According to a report by the Islamic Republic News Agency (伊朗伊斯兰共和国通讯社) on January 24, the Deputy Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (伊朗伊斯兰革命卫队), Vahidi (瓦希迪), stated that "We are better prepared than during the '12-Day War' and are ready to respond to any adventurous behavior by the enemy in a way that they will regret."

Vahidi (瓦希迪) stated in a public speech on the 24th that the enemy, while claiming to support the Iranian people during the recent riots, committed countless crimes within Iran. The goal of the United States (美国) and its accomplices is to dismember Iran (伊朗), undermine Iranian unity, and place Iran (伊朗) under their rule. He stated that the Iranian people have proven that all anti-government groups are dependent on Iran's (伊朗) enemies and have no independence; there is extensive cooperation between separatists and enemy intelligence agencies.

U.S. (美国) President Trump (特朗普) stated on January 22 that a "large fleet" is heading to the Middle East (中东) region. Fox News (福克斯新闻网) previously reported that as tensions with Iran (伊朗) escalate, the United States (美国) is increasing its troop presence in the Middle East (中东) region, including at least one aircraft carrier, and will also deploy more missile defense systems in the region.

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This section edited by: Zou Zhipeng, Zhang Huizhong, Chu Jun

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Chongqing Liangjiang New Area: Undertaking New Missions, Embarking on New Journeys, Accelerating the Construction of a Significant Growth Pole and Power Source for a Modernized New Chongqing

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Dialogue and cooperation are not luxuries, but necessities (authoritative forum)

The recent annual meeting of the World Economic Forum 2026, themed "The Spirit of Dialogue," attracted nearly 3,000 representatives from more than 130 countries and regions around the world from various fields. All parties generally believe that although the landscape of global cooperation is very different from the past, collaborative paths and the spirit of dialogue are still crucial; dialogue and cooperation are not luxuries, but necessities for this world.

This issue invites six Chinese and foreign guests to jointly explore how to increase trust through dialogue and promote win-win cooperation in the current situation where unilateralism and protectionism are rising, global trade continues to be under pressure, and the world economy is moving forward with turbulence.

Janusz Piechociński (Former Deputy Prime Minister of Poland, Chairman of the Polish-Asian Chamber of Commerce)
Sun Lipeng (孙立鹏) (Deputy Director and Researcher, Institute of American Studies, China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations)
Ding Chun (丁纯) (Professor, Institute of World Economy, School of Economics, Fudan University)
Dean Baker (Senior Economist, Center for Economic and Policy Research, USA)
Marcos Pires (Professor of Political Economy, São Paulo State University, Brazil)
Hidetoshi Tashiro (Chief Economist, Infinite LLC, Japan)

(I)
The ocean of the world economy needs to be interconnected. The goal of all countries should be to achieve more open trade.

Ding Chun: President Xi Jinping (习近平) pointed out at the opening ceremony of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in 2017: "It is impossible and does not conform to the historical trend to allow the ocean of the world economy to recede into isolated small lakes and small rivers." This important assertion profoundly reveals the inherent laws of economic globalization.

From an economic perspective, mankind's pursuit of development and well-being is essentially to constantly break through geographical restrictions, dismantle institutional barriers, and promote the cross-border flow of production factors such as commodities, capital, and technology, thereby liberating productivity and improving overall efficiency. Globalization is not a policy choice of one country or one time, but a structural trend formed under the joint action of technological progress, deepening industrial division of labor, and market expansion. It is an irreversible world trend.

In the context of insufficient communication and damaged mutual trust, economic and trade frictions are easily magnified into systemic confrontation. Emphasizing the importance of dialogue is to hope to establish a buffer mechanism through communication, reduce strategic misjudgments, and prevent the artificial division of the global market. At present, the reform of the World Trade Organization is facing heavy resistance. Multilateral dialogue platforms such as the World Economic Forum provide important channels for all parties to exchange opinions and manage risks, which is very important.

While expanding high-level opening up, China firmly safeguards the multilateral trading system and enhances the confidence of all countries in multilateralism through practical actions such as not seeking new special and differential treatment. The ocean of the world economy needs interconnection and dialogue, and China's actions are important measures to improve global economic governance.

Dean Baker: The prominent problem facing the current international economic order is that individual countries openly disregard international rules and take unilateral actions. The practical significance of dialogue is becoming increasingly prominent. From a practical level, the benefits of handling trade disputes through negotiations far outweigh the short-term benefits of unilateral actions such as imposing high tariffs. The goal of all countries should be to achieve more open trade, and this goal is best achieved through negotiations. China plays an irreplaceable role in promoting communication and coordination, advocating rational dialogue, and safeguarding multilateral cooperation.

Marcos Pires: From a historical and practical perspective, open cooperation is one of the key conditions for developing economies to achieve sustained growth and promote industrial upgrading. As the world's second largest economy, China's firm promotion of high-level opening up and its firm safeguarding of the multilateral trading system are not only conducive to its own economic transformation and upgrading, but also send a clear and positive signal to the international community.

The experience of Latin American countries shows that open cooperation enables developing economies to integrate into larger international markets, participate in the division of labor in the global value chain, connect with international standards, and gradually absorb advanced technologies and learn management experience, thereby creating conditions for industrial structure optimization and capacity building. Opening up also has a certain "external constraint" effect, which helps promote domestic reforms and improve policy transparency and economic governance.

Of course, opening up is not the same as laissez-faire. For Latin American countries, truly effective open cooperation must be combined with their own industrial policies, education systems, and technological investment in order to transform "participation in the international division of labor" into "self-capacity building" and achieve more resilient and sustainable development.

Janusz Piechociński: Faced with common challenges such as climate change, regional conflicts, and energy transition, the international community has no choice but to take the path of dialogue and understanding. If every country only focuses on promoting its own products and services in its regional market, how can we expect partners and competitors to open their markets to us? What is really needed now is not to destroy existing rules and simply divide the world into "us" and "them," but to reform and improve global trade rules through dialogue.

Hidetoshi Tashiro: The Chinese and American economic and trade teams have achieved positive results after several rounds of consultations, and the Sino-US economic and trade relations have been eased in stages. This in itself shows that in a highly interdependent global economic system, replacing cooperation with comprehensive confrontation is not realistically feasible. On the "ocean" of the world economy, huge and complex global supply chain networks are intertwined. Attempting to artificially cut off the supply chain and isolate one's own economy into an "isolated small lake" is neither realistic nor sustainable.

(II)
Strengthening dialogue and cooperation can promote common development. Maintaining and reforming the multilateral trading system is the common responsibility of all countries.

Hidetoshi Tashiro: Reviewing the evolution of the international trading system over the past century, it can be clearly seen that the multilateral trading system was established through difficult games and compromises, and the results were hard-won.

In the 1930s, trade wars and tariff barriers exacerbated the Great Depression, and this painful lesson prompted countries to reflect on the cost of protectionism. The General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade of 1947 played an important role in promoting trade liberalization in practice. In 1994, the "Uruguay Round" reached the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization. The establishment of the WTO in January 1995 marked a new stage in the institutionalization and regularization of the multilateral trading system.

After China joined the WTO in 2001, the vitality of global trade was significantly enhanced, fully demonstrating the supporting role of the multilateral mechanism in world economic growth. Maintaining and reforming the multilateral trading system is the common responsibility of the international community and the only way to avoid repeating historical mistakes.

Sun Lipeng: In recent years, individual countries have frequently resorted to unilateral trade measures, which have damaged the authority of the WTO and increased the uncertainty of the global economic and trade system. History and reality tell us that in the face of trade disputes, the real way out is to enhance one's own endogenous development momentum, rather than attempting to achieve so-called "self-protection" through tariff barriers.

Marcos Pires: In the long run, trade protectionism will weaken the competitiveness of domestic industries. High tariffs not only raise production and consumption costs, suppress technological innovation, but also block the free flow of international capital, technology and talent, making domestic industries gradually lose their advantages in global competition and become more vulnerable.

In the context of the current highly interconnected global economy, trade frictions will not only push up international trade costs, weaken corporate investment intentions, and increase global economic uncertainty, but also disrupt global supply chains and reduce global production efficiency. Countries jointly maintain the multilateral trading system, enhance dialogue and cooperation, and can promote common development and progress.

Dean Baker: Countries are highly dependent on trade, and industrial chains are deeply intertwined. The importance of international trade to the world economy is unprecedented. Imposing tariffs will push up terminal prices, raise residents' living costs, erode actual purchasing power, and have a particularly prominent impact on low- and middle-income groups. Maintaining tariff barriers in the long term will only drag down economic growth. The overall benefits of handling disputes through dialogue and consultation are far greater than imposing tariffs.

(III)
No country can cope with global challenges alone. Every dialogue should start with unity.

Marcos Pires: The significance of the multilateral system lies not only in reducing transaction costs, but also in giving small and medium-sized economies the opportunity to participate in economic activities on an equal footing. Since the end of World War II, the multilateral trading system has provided a relatively stable and predictable institutional environment for countries at different stages of development to participate in international trade.

The universality and non-discrimination principles of WTO rules reduce the institutional threshold for developing countries to enter the international market, so that small and medium-sized economies enjoy basically equal trade rights with large countries at the legal level. It is precisely based on a stable regulatory environment that many emerging market countries in Latin America and Asia have been able to achieve leapfrog development and hundreds of millions of people have been lifted out of poverty.

The multilateral trading system is not perfect, but for developing countries, it is still a "public good that can be improved but not replaced." The WTO is facing pressure for reform, but we must insist that the goal of reform is not to weaken multilateralism, but to make it more fair, inclusive and effective.

Dean Baker: China has achieved remarkable development achievements after joining the WTO, and countries such as Malaysia and Vietnam have also achieved rapid economic growth in opening up to the outside world. The value of the multilateral trading system lies not only in expanding the scale of trade, but also in providing a relatively fair and stable development environment for countries at different stages of development. Weakening this system will make developing countries face greater uncertainty and risks.

Sun Lipeng: All countries should work together to oppose trade protectionism and safeguard the authority of the WTO. To promote various reforms of the WTO, especially in reducing trade costs, improving the level of facilitation, narrowing the digital divide, and improving trade in services and green trade, the vast number of members should further step up cooperation, and use pragmatic cooperation and 抱团取暖 (bào tuán qǔ nuǎn - "huddling together for warmth," to stick together to overcome difficulties) to hedge against the economic risks brought about by trade protectionism.

Janusz Piechociński: In the current complex and turbulent international situation, the international community needs to strengthen dialogue and understanding, rather than overturning the rules and consensus that have been gradually built up in multilateral cooperation over the past few decades. The world is facing multiple challenges such as climate change, geopolitical conflicts, energy transition and economic uncertainty, and no country can cope with them alone. For this reason, every dialogue should start with unity, based on mutual respect and pragmatic cooperation, and be committed to finding more effective and inclusive ways of cooperation within the existing regulatory framework than in the past.

China's foreign policy has always maintained a high degree of continuity and predictability. Even in the context of increased trade frictions and external pressure, China's position remains clear and stable, always advocating resolving differences through dialogue and consultation, and opposing the replacement of multilateral rules with unilateral measures. China insists that all countries have common interests in international affairs, and emphasizes achieving mutual benefit and win-win results in open cooperation. This stable and rational policy orientation injects certainty into the world economy.

Ding Chun: Since the 1950s, the actual scale of global trade has expanded by about 40 times, fully demonstrating that the rules-based open system has an irreplaceable fundamental role in releasing global productivity.

More importantly, this system shows significant inclusiveness. As of the end of 2023, the number of middle-income economies defined by the World Bank has increased to 108, covering approximately 75% of the world's population and contributing nearly 40% of the global economy. A large number of facts show that it is precisely through integrating into the multilateral trading system that these economies have been able to accelerate the process of industrialization, expand the scale of employment, and increase residents' income. Multilateral trade is by no means a closed arrangement in which "a few countries benefit," but an important channel for most countries to share development opportunities.

Maintaining the multilateral trading system is not because it is perfect, but because it is still the most effective institutional barrier to prevent the world economy from becoming fragmented. Faced with new issues such as the digital economy and green transformation, a multilateral trading system with vitality can continuously update rules and guide expectations through negotiations, and incorporate new growth momentum into an orderly track.

(Reporters Qu Pei (屈佩), Yu Limin (禹丽敏), Li Zhiwei (李志伟), Chen Yiming (陈一鸣), and Zhu Yueying (朱玥颖) of this newspaper interviewed and compiled the report)

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This edition's editors: Hou Lulu, Qu Pei, Han Shuo, Wang Xiaobo

Layout design: Cai Huawei (蔡华伟)

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Moving towards the new, securing a foothold requires finding the right interface (Weekly Economic Review)

By: 王 浩

New policies and measures are being implemented one after another, focusing on the new "new three" (新“新三样”).

Let's start with robots. Beijing (北京) recently established its first professional title for robots and will launch its first evaluation in July to ensure that talent demand keeps up with the industry's popularity. Shanghai Customs (上海海关) is registering robots to better support the industry's development through accurate statistics. From taking its first steps to running on the field and soaring into the air, the robot industry is accelerating its evolution.

Next, let's look at artificial intelligence. The "Special Action Implementation Opinions on 'Artificial Intelligence + Manufacturing'" (《“人工智能+制造”专项行动实施意见》) has been introduced, with 21 specific measures to promote the deep integration of artificial intelligence and manufacturing, providing "hands-on" assistance to manufacturing enterprises in their transformation and upgrading. Artificial intelligence will drive explosive growth in high-end manufacturing and emerging consumption.

Finally, there are innovative drugs. In 2025, China's (中国) approval of innovative drugs for上市 and the total amount of foreign authorized transactions will reach record highs. The National Medical Products Administration (国家药监局) will accelerate the上市 of clinically urgently needed drugs through four channels: breakthrough therapy drugs, conditional approval, priority review and approval, and special approval.

Artificial intelligence, biomedicine, and robot research and application are at the forefront of the world. Why are these three frequently mentioned as the new "new three"? Robots are a comprehensive integration of various modern technologies, artificial intelligence is the "smart brain" of thousands of industries, and innovative drugs embody cutting-edge life sciences and biotechnology. From the perspective of a modern industrial system, the new "new three" are not only emerging industries driven by cutting-edge leading technologies, but also a driving force for the renewal of traditional industries. From the deep transformation of the "old three" to the steady development of the "new three", and then to the vigorous pursuit of the new "new three", the solid steps of the industry towards the new reflect the rise of new quality productive forces.

The "new" behind it is speed. Taking the lead and seizing opportunities are the keys to gaining a foothold.

Aiming at the new "new three", strive for the first move. Beijing (北京) has proposed cultivating a globally leading artificial intelligence industrial ecosystem; Zhejiang (浙江) will accelerate the development of emerging industrial clusters such as artificial intelligence, aerospace, low-altitude economy, and biomedicine; Guangdong (广东) plans to build "artificial intelligence + robots" into a high-tech, high-growth, and large-scale industrial cluster. The sense of urgency comes from a sense of crisis. The deep integration of technological innovation and industrial innovation is shortening the "time difference" from samples to products. Only by planning ahead, implementing scientific policies, and seizing fleeting opportunities can we turn crises into opportunities, seize the initiative, and win advantages, win the initiative, and win the future in fierce competition.

Striving towards the "new" is the attitude at the beginning of the year. Reviewing the latest policy trends, the deepest feeling is that we should adapt to local conditions, seek truth from facts, and use new methods to care for new things and respond to new challenges. The National Development and Reform Commission (国家发展改革委) issued management measures to better leverage the positive role of government investment funds in serving national strategies and promoting industrial upgrading. Six departments issued new regulations, clarifying that new energy vehicles must be scrapped with "vehicle-electricity integration" (车电一体). A new batch of 25 cross-border trade facilitation measures to be replicated and promoted nationwide has been announced to support the development of the "Air Silk Road" (空中丝绸之路), etc. Policies move with the times and change with the situation, escorting the economic ship to sail steadily and far.

Slow within the fast reveals determination. Striving for position requires more dislocation to find the interface in the spatial coordinates and give full play to their strengths.

Find the interface between one's own advantages and the overall national situation, and show great talent in deeply participating in the construction of a unified national market. Pursuing the "new" is not about ignoring reality and blindly following the trend, but about basing oneself on regional differences and serving the needs of the overall situation with the characteristics of one region. Shenzhen (深圳), Guangdong (广东), relies on the advantages of the Pearl River Delta (珠三角) manufacturing cluster to invest early, invest small, and invest in hard technology in the embodied intelligence industry. The construction of the Chongqing (重庆) Artificial Intelligence Bay Area (人工智能湾区) has been launched, and 12 cases such as "Yu Vehicle Going Overseas" (渝车出海) have been released. This inspires us that only by facing up to objective differences and cultivating unique advantages can we eliminate the pursuit of everything and find the track for new development, "both for one region to add glory and for the overall situation to add color" (既为一域争光、更为全局添彩) (jì wèi yī yù zhēng guāng, gèng wèi quán jú tiān cǎi - "both for one region to add glory and for the overall situation to add color," contribute to both local and overall development).

Find the interface and follow the trend. Four departments are promoting the mutual recognition of vocational skill certificates to promote the rational and smooth flow of skilled personnel. The Ministry of Commerce (商务部) has deployed the improvement of the modern market and circulation system and the improvement of the modern business and circulation system. With the help of the development trend of the unified national market, attracting and gathering resources and elements, the pace of various places towards the new can be more vigorous.

Moving towards the new, opportunities and challenges coexist, and speed and rationality are taken into account. Standing firm, finding the interface, and advancing side by side will surely promote the steady and steady progress of the Chinese (中国) economy on the track of high-quality development.

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Turning Scraps into a Hundred-Billion-Yuan Industry: An Export Business Story from a Hidden Gem City (Financial Depth)

By: 本报记者 王东辉 张文豪

The machines process the flat steel strips into curved shapes, laser printers precisely mark the scales, and workers skillfully nail hooks, install springs, and tighten screws... In the depths of winter, despite the intense cold, the steel tape measure production workshops in the High-tech Zone of Yucheng County (虞城县), Shangqiu (商丘), Henan (河南) are bustling with activity.

In the 1980s, in Yucheng (虞城), this small city in eastern Henan, the steel tape measure industry was still characterized by family-run workshops. The older generation of practitioners relied on recycling steel tape measure scraps to process the strips, assembling them by hand, and selling them door-to-door. Today, Yucheng County (虞城县) has built a complete industrial ecosystem integrating research and development, production, and sales, forming a steel tape measure industrial cluster worth tens of billions of yuan.

Data shows that Yucheng County (虞城县) has more than 2,000 steel tape measure enterprises, with an annual output of 1.5 billion steel tape measures, accounting for 85% of the national sales share and more than 65% of the global market share. The products are exported to more than 120 countries and regions in Europe, America, and Southeast Asia, with an annual output value of 12 billion yuan.

Relying on continuous innovation, Yucheng County (虞城县) uses new technologies to lead product upgrades and new concepts to explore the market. The small steel tape measure continues to write the story of industrial iteration and upgrading.

More refined craftsmanship——

Innovation enriches the supply of high-quality products

In the product showroom of Henan Xuanshi Tools Co., Ltd. (河南玄石工具有限公司), various steel tape measures are displayed on the shelves, from the most ordinary steel tape measures to the latest generation of laser rangefinder steel tape measures. The increasingly exquisite appearance and constantly enriched measurement functions demonstrate the gradual advancement of steel tape measures towards high-end products.

Among them, a pure silver hollow steel tape measure attracts attention with its outstanding "appearance." "This tape measure is a very representative innovative achievement of ours and can be regarded as a star product," said Liu Guohui (刘国会), the company's general manager, picking up a tape measure. "The launch of this tape measure was a turning point in our company's development and a successful practice for us to promote the steel tape measure industry towards high-end products."

Back to 10 years ago, the steel tape measure industry in Yucheng County (虞城县) was accustomed to the previous low-level production and low-price sales, with serious homogenization competition. Practitioners had not seriously considered how to move towards high-end products.

At that time, Xuanshi Tools Co. (玄石工具公司) faced development bottlenecks. "Being in this state for a long time will limit the company's growth. I think the steel tape measure industry can move towards high-end products, and companies must take the lead in transforming to high-end products to have development opportunities," said Liu Guohui (刘国会).

Now that the development positioning and direction are clear, how should it be done?

"Research and development innovation! Only by producing differentiated and higher-quality products can we stand out. Some product innovations and improvements may usher in a new stage of development for the company." In 2017, even though the company's operating conditions were not satisfactory, Liu Guohui (刘国会) still decided to invest funds in developing new products.

Research and development innovation is not about closing the door and building a car, but about responding to needs and leading the market. "We found that the previous tape measure shells were sealed. When used on construction sites, the circlip would be stuck by sediment, accelerating damage. After hollowing out, water and sand can pass directly through, leaving less residue, which can adapt to complex scenarios such as construction sites with a lot of sand and water," said Liu Guohui (刘国会).

The market is a testing ground for innovative achievements. In 2019, the hollow steel tape measure was widely welcomed by the market as soon as it was launched. "We took the hollow steel tape measure to Shanghai (上海) to participate in the hardware exhibition. The new product was very popular, bringing us cash flow, and the company overcame the financial difficulties," said Liu Guohui (刘国会). "Around 2022, we improved the material of the hollow steel tape measure, using stainless steel for the circlip and tape strip, which can prevent dust, water, and rust."

This hollow stainless steel tape measure has 39 patents, and its service life is three times longer than that of ordinary steel tape measures. The unit price is as high as 70 yuan, and sales have increased from more than 6 million pieces in 2022 to more than 30 million pieces in 2025. "Now about 10,000 orders pour in every day," said Liu Guohui (刘国会).

Today, the steel tape measure industry in Yucheng County (虞城县) is gradually moving towards high-end products. At the industry level, the introduction of intelligent automated production lines has increased production efficiency by more than 50%; at the enterprise level, 3D modeling technology is used for product design, shortening the new product development cycle by 1/3.

Enterprises are actively launching new products. Some add laser ranging modules to traditional steel tape measures, which can accurately measure curved surfaces and automatically calculate the area and volume of objects; some combine cloth tape measures and steel tape measures into one, making them lighter; some launch refrigerator magnet tape measures, which also have cultural and creative attributes... These innovations enrich the functions of traditional steel tape measures and meet the diversified usage needs in different scenarios.

Wider channels——

Going overseas to explore broader markets

"This steel tape measure is very exquisite in craftsmanship, has excellent dustproof, rustproof, and antifouling functions, and is deeply loved by overseas customers." At Fujian Fuzhou Changle Qiguan Weis Trading Co., Ltd. (福建福州市长乐区奇观伟思贸易有限公司), a live broadcast on a cross-border e-commerce platform is in full swing. The salesperson is holding a hollow steel tape measure and introducing the product's appearance design and functional characteristics to overseas customers.

Lin Qifeng (林奇锋), the general manager of the company, has been cooperating with Xuanshi Tools Co. (玄石工具公司) for more than two years. Lin Qifeng (林奇锋) said that from channel distribution to joint design, the cooperation between the two companies is becoming increasingly in-depth.

"In addition to cooperating with trading companies, we are also deeply cultivating cross-border e-commerce platforms such as Amazon to expand sales channels. Currently, we have achieved stable shipments in the European and American markets," said Liu Guohui (刘国会).

Henan Baisheng Ruler Industry Co., Ltd. (河南百盛尺业有限公司) is also doing well on cross-border e-commerce platforms. In the production workshop of Baisheng Ruler Industry Co. (百盛尺业公司), the two newly added production lines are operating at full capacity. In the factory area logistics channel, the goods waiting to be loaded are piled high, and these products will be shipped to countries such as the United States and Germany.

Li Qianzhi (李倩芝), the person in charge of Baisheng Ruler Industry Co. (百盛尺业公司), had already been exposed to cross-border e-commerce when she was in school. For her, using cross-border e-commerce platforms for sales is her specialty. "Most of our customers are old customers who have been cooperating for a long time, and they are contacted through cross-border e-commerce platforms." During the period near the Spring Festival, Baisheng Ruler Industry's overseas orders increased by 30% year-on-year, and it is in a state of explosive orders. The production line is basically operating at full capacity, and the company has completed 80% of its existing orders.

In October 2017, the Henan Shangqiu Bonded Logistics Center (河南商丘保税物流中心) was sealed and put into operation. Relying on the bonded function and policy superposition advantages, the center actively plays the role of a comprehensive foreign trade service platform, providing effective support for the export of steel tape measures and driving the development of the export-oriented economy in Shangqiu (商丘) and surrounding areas. "The center comprehensively improves its foreign trade service capabilities for the hardware and measuring tool industry through measures such as accelerating customs clearance, reducing logistics costs, and providing financial support," said a staff member of the Bonded Logistics Center.

In many years of hard work in the international market, Yucheng County (虞城县) steel tape measure enterprises have developed strong resilience. At present, facing fluctuations in the foreign trade market, steel tape measure enterprises are actively adjusting their layout to stabilize orders and exports.

"We are promoting the construction of overseas warehousing bases, placing the source of goods in the target market country in advance, increasing the exposure of products with the help of local e-commerce platforms and offline channels, and achieving rapid delivery," said Liu Guohui (刘国会).

Relying on high-quality products to cultivate the market stickiness of European customers; opening up markets in Latin American countries such as Mexico; increasing the proportion of domestic sales to 80%... Li Qianzhi (李倩芝) introduced that the company took the initiative to lay out markets outside the United States in 2019, and the fluctuations in the overseas market in 2025 had almost no impact on Baisheng Ruler Industry's business. "Looking at it now, the measures taken in advance were very correct."

Relying on regional industrial brands and strong industrial strength, in 2025, Yucheng County's (虞城县) export volume of measuring tools, mainly steel tape measures, increased by nearly 10% year-on-year.

More famous——

Creating brands to leap to the upstream of the value chain

"'Xuanshi' is the brand we are currently focusing on building in the domestic market," said Liu Guohui (刘国会), pointing to the icon on the steel tape measure. To move towards high-end products, we must expand the brand effect and increase the added value of products.

Building a brand is a necessary path to leap to the high end of the value chain. Although the steel tape measure industry in Yucheng County (虞城县) has developed for about 40 years, steel tape measure enterprises mostly do OEM processing business, and their brand competitiveness is weak.

But the road to creating a brand is not easy. Well-known domestic hardware companies are fiercely competitive, and they lack popularity in foreign markets. Liu Guohui (刘国会) introduced that Xuanshi Tools Co. (玄石工具公司) is a newly registered enterprise that integrates the existing Ruier Tuo Measuring Tools Co., Ltd. (锐尔拓工量具有限公司) and the Hardware and Measuring Tools Industry Research Institute (五金工量具产业研究院) in order to be able to unite the company's strength and create a well-known brand.

In recent years, the reputation of Yucheng County (虞城县) steel tape measures has gradually increased, providing a good foundation for the branding operation of enterprises.

The brand is supported by quality. Xuanshi Tools Co. (玄石工具公司) focuses on segmented scenarios, develops personalized, high-quality, and diversified products, and forms brand memory points with unique appearance and rich functions. "The company adopts a dual-brand operation strategy, using the 'Xuanshi' trademark in the domestic market and the 'PROBON' trademark in the overseas market," said Liu Guohui (刘国会). "The brand effect needs to be accumulated little by little. We do OEM processing for domestic and foreign companies while selling with our own brands, 'walking on two legs.'"

On cross-border e-commerce platforms, Xuanshi Tools Co. (玄石工具公司) sells products under its own brand. Whenever developing new customer groups and markets, Liu Guohui (刘国会) will also negotiate with customers whether they can do some sales under their own brand in addition to OEM processing. Over time, the company's branding operation has achieved some success.

"In the domestic market, the products we used to sell were 100% OEM. Now, own brands can account for more than 20% of the products we sell. In the overseas market, own brands also account for 60% of the products we sell," said Liu Guohui (刘国会).

Today, many measuring tool enterprises in Yucheng County (虞城县) have registered their own trademarks and are gradually promoting their own brands.

"No foreign trade, no big; no brand, no strong." This is Li Qianzhi's (李倩芝) personal experience after doing business for so many years. In the course of daily accumulation, the company has established good relationships with foreign customers. On the one hand, while doing OEM sales, it asks foreign customers to slowly assist in promoting its own brand. On the other hand, it jointly creates and develops new products with foreign customers to enhance their brand recognition of "Baisheng (百盛)."

In addition, some companies are also actively applying for international standards and industry certifications. For example, Keming Measuring Tools (珂铭工量具) has passed ISO quality system certification and EU CE certification, and its brand awareness has been greatly improved in the international market. It is currently transforming to a high-end brand.

Promoting the landing of the China Steel Tape Measure Quality Inspection Center (中国钢卷尺质检中心) to provide key support for enterprises to cope with export certification; organizing enterprises to participate in global exhibitions and setting up a Yucheng (虞城) special zone to help enterprises "break through in groups"... Over the years, Yucheng County (虞城县) has taken many measures to help enterprises enhance their brand awareness, promote the industry to move towards the high end of the value chain, and continuously polish the "Yucheng Steel Tape Measure (虞城钢卷尺)" brand.

"In March of this year, the China International Hardware and Measuring Tools Industry Expo (中国国际五金工量具产业博览会) will be held in Yucheng County (虞城县) to provide a platform for enterprises to explore domestic and foreign markets. We are also stepping up efforts to establish the Henan Measuring Tools Association (河南省工量具协会) to further unite the industry's development efforts and promote the industry's development towards new and better directions," introduced the relevant person in charge of the Yucheng County (虞城县) Party Committee.

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The Historical Wisdom of the Ever-Normal Granary System (Learning Economics Through History)

By: 侯杨方

Before the birth of modern economics, ancient Chinese people had already explored a set of methods to regulate market fluctuations in practice. Among them, the most intelligent is the "Pingzhun" (平准) technique, where "ping" (平) means to stabilize, and "zhun" (准) means standard. In short, it is that the government stabilizes prices at a reasonable level by buying and selling key commodities. The theoretical basis of this method is the simple law of supply and demand: when a certain commodity is in oversupply and the price plummets, the government steps in to purchase it and support the price; when this commodity is in short supply and the price soars, the government sells its reserves to lower the price. Between one purchase and one sale, the violent fluctuations of the market are smoothed out, reducing the impact on normal life.

In the successful practice of the Pingzhun system in ancient China, the earliest and most important form was the regulation of grain. Grain is one of the most important commodities in ancient times, related to the food problem of every household. "Low grain prices hurt farmers, high grain prices hurt the people" (谷贱伤农，谷贵伤民), excessive fluctuations in grain prices, whether rising or falling, would cause serious social problems. Therefore, the ancient government stored a large amount of surplus grain from farmers in bumper years to prevent the market grain price from falling below the farmers' cost line; and opened granaries to sell grain at a stable price in disaster years to prevent grain prices from rising to the point where people could not afford to eat.

The successful operation of the Pingzhun system is inseparable from several key conditions. The first is information. The government must accurately grasp the dynamic changes in prices in various places. In ancient times, there were special institutions, such as the Pingzhun Department (平准署) in the Han Dynasty (汉代) and the Market Department (市司) in the Song Dynasty (宋代), responsible for collecting and summarizing price quotations from various places, so as to judge when to buy, when to sell, and how much to buy and sell. Without this information system, Pingzhun is like the blind touching an elephant. The second is reserves. The government must have sufficient funds and storage capacity. Pingzhun needs to buy in with real money at low prices, and needs a place to properly store the purchased materials. This requires a scientific and complete storage system and strong financial support. The last is discipline. The purpose of Pingzhun is to stabilize the market, not to compete with the people for profit. The implementing agencies are subject to moral standards and administrative discipline, plus the supervision of the supervisory institutions, to prevent the use of information advantages and financial advantages to manipulate the market for personal gain.

With the improvement of the ancient market mechanism, the scope of application of the Pingzhun system gradually expanded. Salt, iron, silk and other important commodities related to the national economy and the people's livelihood were included in the regulatory objects of "Pingzhun." The ancient government set up special institutions in various places to be responsible for specific operations, and even established the "Junshu" (均输) system and cooperated with "Pingzhun" to optimize the transportation of tribute and the allocation of materials, using the efficiency differences and transportation convenience of local products to achieve a wider range of resource allocation within the unified country.

The successful operation of the Pingzhun system did play a role in stabilizing the market and ensuring people's livelihood, but there were also failures in history. When the ancient court was in financial distress or lost its political goals and administrative discipline, "Pingzhun" was prone to deviate from its original intention and become a means of accumulating wealth from a tool for regulating the market, and even forced buying and selling, competing with the people for profit. Such "Pingzhun" would exacerbate market chaos and people's suffering, and accelerate the demise of the dynasty.

Although the Pingzhun system is a product of more than 2,000 years ago, the wisdom contained in it is still enlightening today. The open market operations, strategic material reserve system, and agricultural product purchase and storage policies of central banks in various countries today are aimed at stabilizing market expectations and are in line with the ancient Chinese Pingzhun system in principle.

Historical experiences and lessons also remind us that the Pingzhun system established to tame the market must follow the laws of the market. Its regulatory goal is to stabilize the market and suppress fluctuations beyond the normal range, rather than replace the market. Normal fluctuations in market prices are a signal for resource allocation, which do not need to be and should not be completely smoothed out. Therefore, respecting market laws and 顺势而为 (shùn shì ér wéi - "act according to the circumstances," to adapt to the situation and act accordingly), the role of the Pingzhun system can be better played.

In the final analysis, the essence of the Pingzhun system lies not in the specific operating skills, but in the sense of balance that both respects the market and does not let it go. Good regulation is to extend a "visible hand" when the market is about to fall, help it, and allow the market to better and efficiently realize the function of allocating resources.

(The author is Professor Zhou Bin (周斌) from the Institute of Chinese Historical Geography at Fudan University (复旦大学), compiled by a reporter from *National Humanities History* (《国家人文历史》).)

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Editor in charge of this edition: Ge Mengchao

Layout Design: Wang Zhepeng (汪哲平)

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China UnionPay Attends World Economic Forum Annual Meeting, Continuously Improves Global Payment Network Layout, and Serves High-Quality Development of Cross-Border Trade and Economy

Recently, China UnionPay (中国银联) was invited to attend the Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum (Winter Davos Forum) held in Davos, Switzerland. In the thematic round table meeting, focusing on key issues such as China's economic development trends, innovation-driven momentum, and global economic contributions, China UnionPay (中国银联) demonstrated its innovative practices and achievements in serving the construction of China's domestic economic cycle system, cultivating and developing new quality productive forces, and promoting global economic cooperation.

Adapting to New Development Trends

Promoting Consumption Upgrading with Payment Innovation

Currently, the global economy faces multiple risks and challenges, but "resilience" remains an important keyword to summarize China's economy. In 2025, China's gross domestic product (GDP) (国内生产总值) totaled 140 trillion yuan, an increase of 5.0% over the previous year at constant prices. At the policy level, China continues to build a new development pattern with the domestic cycle as the mainstay and the domestic and international dual cycles promoting each other. At the same time, it implements special actions to boost consumption and expand the supply of high-quality consumer goods and services, providing a fundamental guarantee for sustained economic growth.

From the demand side, new consumption trends, new business formats, and new scenarios are constantly emerging. China UnionPay (中国银联) data shows that in 2025, the scale of digital payments in China's consumer sector will steadily increase; new business formats such as live streaming e-commerce, cross-border e-commerce, instant retail, and the sharing economy will develop rapidly; ice and snow consumption demand will surge, with consumption amount growth exceeding 50%; cross-border payment consumption will steadily increase, with inbound consumption amount increasing by more than 60%, and residents' consumption is accelerating its shift from traditional commodity consumption to diversified, high-quality, and intelligent new consumption scenarios.

Under this trend, China UnionPay (中国银联), based on payment, uses technological innovation and service upgrades to help expand and improve the quality of the consumer market. By building a payment acceptance network covering online and offline, domestic and overseas, optimizing the payment experience, and reducing transaction costs, it effectively activates consumption potential, provides solid support for enhancing commercial vitality, and injects a continuous stream of momentum into China's sustained economic growth.

AI Empowers New Quality Productive Forces

Actively Building an Artificial Intelligence Application Ecosystem

Currently, emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence are becoming key forces driving the development of new quality productive forces and sustained economic growth. Among them, the payment industry is becoming a frontier position for the application of AI technology.

In terms of efficiency improvement, AI achieves cost reduction and efficiency improvement in all dimensions of personal execution, enterprise operation, industrial collaboration, and decision-making management by applying it to repetitive work, optimizing decision-making links, amplifying production capacity boundaries, and eliminating process breakpoints. Focusing on the field of payment security, China UnionPay (中国银联) has built an intelligent risk control system, and AI-assisted risk control expert rules have built a solid defense line for the safe and compliant development of digital payments. Focusing on service optimization, China UnionPay (中国银联) has created the "Nihao China" APP for foreigners coming to China, providing one-stop services based on natural language interaction through intelligent agents to meet the personalized payment needs of overseas users.

In terms of model optimization, AI is promoting the transformation of various industries from "passively executing instructions" to "actively responding to needs," giving rise to a series of brand-new business forms. In recent years, leading global payment companies have successively deployed intelligent agent payment. China UnionPay (中国银联) has released MCP intelligent payment services in the industry, which not only embeds traditional payment capabilities but also innovatively launches "agent-style" payment services. Users can complete the entire process of consumption from demand proposal to final payment through dialogue interaction. This model innovation not only improves the convenience and personalization of payment but also integrates payment into the entire consumption scenario, providing a new path for the digital upgrade of the business ecosystem.

In terms of ecological transformation, the arrival of the intelligent business era is promoting the transformation of business from "experience-driven" to "data-intelligence-driven." AI enables payment to break through the traditional positioning of a "fund settlement tool" and become one of the core infrastructures for the intelligent upgrade of economic activities. Based on the new "four-party model," China UnionPay (中国银联) actively explores the construction of an intelligent agent payment ecosystem in conjunction with all parties in the industry, and is committed to providing global users with the intelligent payment "China UnionPay (中国银联) solution" to promote the development of the payment industry in a more open, collaborative, and intelligent direction.

Deepen Global Cooperation

Connecting the World with Payment Interconnection as a "Bridge"

In the face of the complex environment of increased uncertainty in global trade policies, China has always unswervingly promoted high-level opening up to the outside world, providing opportunities for the world with its own development. Payment, as a "capillary" connecting all links of cross-border trade, investment, and personnel exchanges, is becoming an important link in promoting international cooperation.

Under the guidance of high-level opening-up policies, China UnionPay (中国银联) actively practices the international development strategy of combining "going global" and "bringing in," and continues to improve the global payment network layout. In terms of "going global," UnionPay (银联) cards have now been issued in 83 countries and regions overseas, with a cumulative issuance of nearly 300 million cards, and the acceptance network has been expanded to 183 countries and regions, covering more than 75 million overseas merchants, building a wide-coverage and multi-level global payment network, providing stable and convenient payment guarantees for two-way investment, trade exchanges, and personnel exchanges between China and foreign countries. China UnionPay (中国银联) conforms to the global digital payment trend, innovatively launches a QR code payment interconnection business solution, and actively promotes the interconnection of digital infrastructure and rule standards in different markets, so that China's payment technology and services can go global.

In terms of "bringing in," the institutional opening up of China's payment field continues to deepen, and the level of opening up to the outside world and the breadth of international cooperation have been significantly improved. China UnionPay (中国银联) has continuously deepened its cooperation with major international card organizations such as American Express (运通), Mastercard (万事达), and Visa in the fields of card issuance, acceptance, innovative payment, and infrastructure, jointly improving the level of domestic payment facilitation and better serving the exchanges of domestic and foreign personnel. At the same time, China UnionPay (中国银联) actively promotes the integration of high-quality resources at home and abroad, jointly builds an open and collaborative ecosystem, and explores innovative cooperation models such as N2N (network-to-network) and G2G (government-to-government) with card organizations, clearing networks, and Internet platforms to accelerate the construction of a new "four-party model" for cross-border payment that benefits all parties and promotes win-win cooperation.

Looking to the future, China UnionPay (中国银联) will continue to be based in China and serve the world, focusing on promoting the high-quality development of the payment industry, continuously deepen technological innovation, accelerate the deep integration of new technologies such as AI and payment business, and continuously improve the quality and efficiency of serving the real economy; help the interconnection and standardized development of the global payment market, provide more valuable services to global partners, merchants, and cardholders, and contribute more to promoting global economic cooperation and achieving common prosperity.

Data source: China UnionPay (中国银联)

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Counting Airplanes in My Hometown Sky

By: 蔡崇达

Before I was six years old, the sky in my hometown was simple: the blue sky served as the stage curtain, welcoming the old actors of sunlight, clouds, and rain in turn, as well as the occasional collaboration of these elements, creating evening glows or rainbows. Typhoons and rainstorms were rare heavyweight guests, always appearing abruptly, pulling lightning and thunder as accompanying dancers, bouncing all over the place for a day, and then leaving suddenly and neatly, leaving behind a clean, bright sky.

Until I was six years old, a new character suddenly appeared in the sky of my hometown. I still remember that day when I woke up and saw Ah Tai (阿太) (my maternal grandmother's mother) looking straight up at the sky in the courtyard. I asked Ah Tai (阿太) what she was looking at. Ah Tai (阿太) said that there was a silver, sturdy-looking needle in the sky, and that the needle was pulling a white cloud-made thread, flying in the sky, not knowing what it was going to weave. I looked up and saw the "sturdy needle" that Ah Tai (阿太) was talking about, and the wind also brought a burst of roaring sounds, huffing and puffing, like the breathing of a giant beast. My father also came out to take a look, and he said that it was an airplane. He said that an airport had been built to the north of us, and that those flying from south to north were coming to us, and those flying from north to south were leaving us. My Ah Tai (阿太) said, "I know about airplanes. My second son who went to Nanyang (南洋) (Southeast Asia) mentioned in his last telegram that airplanes would be coming to our hometown, so he could come back to see me more often in the future."

Since then, my Ah Tai (阿太) no longer went to the harbor by the sea to stare blankly, waiting to see if any ships from Nanyang (南洋) would dock, as she had done before. Instead, she pulled up a rattan chair, sat in the courtyard, squinted her eyes, and watched one plane after another fly across her sky. Every day when the whole family had dinner, Ah Tai (阿太) would also report the numbers, saying seriously, "I counted today, 12 planes brought people to us, and 12 planes took people away." She said, "That's great, the people who leave will come back, and the people who come back have the ability to leave."

I said, "What's so good about that?" My Ah Tai (阿太), who was born in the late Qing Dynasty and was over 80 years old at the time, said, "You don't know, in the past, it wasn't easy to leave, and it wasn't easy to come back."

In fact, it wasn't just my Ah Tai (阿太) who was counting. For a while, everyone in Dongshi Town (东石镇), young and old, liked to count airplanes. Every time they faintly heard a rumbling sound, everyone would stop at the same time, searching the sky for the plane's踪影. The white clouds that used to be liked for their ability to change into various shapes, no matter how hard they tried to change, were just a nuisance. Everyone didn't care what shape they would change into today, but cared about which cloud was hiding the plane that could bring people in and take people away.

I thought, perhaps it was because there were always so many young people who wanted to leave, and there were always so many old people waiting for people to come back.

It must have been when I was in the third grade of elementary school that I came back from school one day, and Ah Tai (阿太) happily announced that the people from the post office had just told her that her second son—that is, my second great-uncle—would be back in a week. Ah Tai (阿太) said that she asked the people from the post office to send a telegram to ask which day and time his flight was. The people from the post office were puzzled, "How can an old woman in her eighties or nineties still want to know the flight? Ah Tai (阿太) said, "I need to know the time so I can wait for the plane in the courtyard."

Finally, the day came when my second great-uncle was coming back. Ah Tai (阿太) pulled up a chair and sat in the courtyard waiting to count the planes as soon as it dawned. My second great-uncle's plane was landing around 10 a.m. At about 9:30 or 9:40, Ah Tai (阿太) shouted for us to come to the courtyard quickly. She said, "Your second great-uncle's plane is coming." Her ears weren't very good, and she asked nervously, "Did you hear the sound?" We said, "We heard it." She confirmed, "Is the south that way?" We said, "Yes." She held her breath and stared at the sky to the south. Slowly, the shadow of the plane was looming in the clouds, until it gradually became clear. Ah Tai (阿太) excitedly shouted at the sky, "Second son, your mother is here." I laughed at Ah Tai (阿太) and said, "Second great-uncle can't hear you." Ah Tai (阿太) thought about it and felt that it made sense, so she quickly waved at the sky. I laughed and said, "Ah Tai (阿太), second great-uncle can't see you." "Who says? We can see his plane, so he can see us," Ah Tai (阿太) said.

More than an hour later, my second great-uncle arrived in Dongshi (东石). It took almost an hour to drive from the airport to Dongshi (东石) at that time, so it seemed that he was anxious to find Ah Tai (阿太) as soon as he got off the plane. Ah Tai (阿太) was of course happy to see her second son, but she didn't ask anything else when they met. She immediately asked: "Did you see me on the plane just now?" My second great-uncle was stunned and didn't understand what Ah Tai (阿太) was asking. I quickly explained, and my second great-uncle understood and said, "Mother, how could I see you?" "Who says? That's because you didn't look carefully enough. When you go back, remember to sit by the window and try your best to see if you can see me, your mother."

In fact, my second great-uncle wanted to take Ah Tai (阿太) to Nanyang (南洋) on that trip. Ah Tai (阿太) refused. Ah Tai (阿太) said, "The roots of us old people are connected to the soil, and all the children are going to fly to the sky. I can't fly, I can't go to the sky you're going to, and you must never come back to where I am."

"It's good enough for me to guard this place where you can see me in the sky," Ah Tai (阿太) said.

On the day my second great-uncle was leaving, my Ah Tai (阿太) didn't want to go to the airport to see him off. She excitedly told her second son that in the future, whether he was flying to or from, as long as he passed by Dongshi (东石), he must try his best to find her location. Ah Tai (阿太) also assigned a task: "After you return to Nanyang (南洋), you must send me a telegram to tell me, did you see me on the plane this time?" My second great-uncle didn't know why, but as soon as he heard Ah Tai (阿太) say this, the old man started to cry. Ah Tai (阿太) quickly comforted her child: "Don't cry, don't cry, it doesn't matter if you can't find me, anyway, I'm definitely here."

In fact, that was the last time my second great-uncle returned to Dongshi (东石). I only found out later that he had been diagnosed with late-stage lung cancer, and my second great-uncle wanted to spend the last moments of his life with his mother. Later, Ah Tai (阿太) told me that my second great-uncle really sent her a telegram from Nanyang (南洋), saying that he really saw Ah Tai (阿太). He also said that he even saw Ah Tai (阿太) calling out his name loudly. Ah Tai (阿太) was very sure of this: "People flying in the sky can see the people who stay on the ground."

Since the sky in my hometown had airplanes constantly flying over, my Ah Tai (阿太) often looked at me and said, "In the future, our family's Black Dog Da (黑狗达) will also take a plane to work in a big place." Which young man in the town doesn't yearn for the outside world? Of course, I hoped so too. But I would still worry and ask: "Then what about you, Ah Tai (阿太)? Will you go outside with me then?" Ah Tai (阿太) said, "I'm not going, I'm from this soil, I can't go to the sky. I'll wait for you here, and you remember, every time you fly over your hometown, look down and find me."

When I was in the second year of high school, my father suffered a stroke and became hemiplegic. Since then, in my family's courtyard, we often saw my Ah Tai (阿太) accompanying my father sunbathing, and counting airplanes by the way. Ah Tai (阿太) counted and said, "You have to get better quickly. When you get better in the future, you have to follow Black Dog Da (黑狗达) on a plane to the big city. You also have to look on the plane to see if you can find me."

After graduating from university, as Ah Tai (阿太) and my parents wished, I found a job in a big city. Ah Tai (阿太) still chose to wait in the courtyard at home, waiting to see the plane that would carry me to a distant place, while my hemiplegic father insisted that my mother help him, limping to the airport to see me off. My father didn't say much along the way, but when I had to go through security and board the plane, he suddenly said: "Can you send me messages every day to tell me where you are? I can't see you in the future, but I want to know where you are." My father also said: "Tell me where you're going to take a plane to every time." I asked, "Did Ah Tai (阿太) tell you to do this?" My father said yes, and then said, "I also want to know, I will also wait in the courtyard to see the plane carrying you." Seeing my father's eyes were red, I still said: "But, not all routes pass over my hometown."

I first went to Guangzhou (广州), and then to Beijing (北京). In those years, my job was as an in-depth reporting journalist. Wherever there was a news event, I would fly there. Several times, the plane's route had to pass over the sky above my hometown. I would remember Ah Tai's (阿太) words and try my best to book a window seat. When I was about to pass over my hometown, I would lie on the舷窗 and keep searching, searching for the place where my family was, searching for the house where my family lived. Several times, I found the coastline of my hometown, found the river of my hometown, found the main road back home, and found the dense houses where we lived, but I never found my family's courtyard, and I never saw my Ah Tai (阿太) and my father.

One day, my mother called me specifically, saying that Ah Tai (阿太) had asked her to call. Ah Tai (阿太) insisted that my mother tell me that in the future, on the plane, I should not only look for my home, but also look for Ah Tai's (阿太) old house in Guocen Village (郭岑村). My mother said that Ah Tai (阿太), who was over 90 years old, secretly climbed onto the roof to repair it, fell down, and broke her leg. Now she can no longer visit other grandchildren's homes and can only stay in the old house. My mother also told me that when I came back for the New Year, Ah Tai (阿太) would definitely ask you if you saw her waving on the plane, and you must say that you could see her. "Do you know that every time a plane passes by, your Ah Tai (阿太) and your father always have to look up quickly," my mother said.

I said, "Don't worry, I did see her." My mother, who had never been on a plane, was stunned for a moment and asked, "So you can really see home from the plane?" My mother finally said, "If that's the case, you should still send some flight times to your father. He looks up at the sky and often murmurs to himself, not knowing which plane is carrying our family's Black Dog Da (黑狗达)."

In the third year of my work away from home, my father passed away. A year later, my Ah Tai (阿太) also bid farewell to this world. I don't know how many times they looked up to count airplanes for me in these years, and how many times they really saw the plane carrying me flying across their sky. I resigned and lived in my hometown for more than half a year. During that half year, I often sat in the courtyard of my old home, sat in the place where Ah Tai (阿太) and my father looked up at the plane, looked up at the sky, thinking about how many hometowns there are in this world, how many people try to let their children fly out, fly to the sky that they can't reach, and then lonely guard the hometown that their children can't return to, looking up for their children's figure that they can never actually see.

Because of my work in the media, after Ah Tai (阿太) and my father left, I still took a plane every week, flying over the hometowns of countless people. For a long time, I no longer wanted to book a window seat, and I didn't dare to look down, because I knew that under my route, there was no longer the waiting of Ah Tai (阿太) and my father. During that time, I always felt empty in my heart. I began to understand that the place where we place our hearts is our hometown; I began to understand that if the route of our lives cannot find a place to settle, then life is not a flight, but a wandering without knowing the way forward—people without a source will eventually not find a destination.

In 2013, I began to try to find my hometown again, to find them in my hometown. Therefore, I sought help from literature and memory. When I turned around and walked into the depths of my memory, it was as if I was lying on the 舷窗 of the plane that was flying over my hometown again. This time, I saw them. I fixed them in words. This is *Skin and Flesh* 《皮囊》 and *Destiny* 《命运》.

In 2014, I had my own child. When I held her in my arms, I thought, I must accompany her to find her possibilities, her sky. I also thought, I must become a place where she can always come back to at any time. Then I knew that I actually wanted to become her home and hometown, the place that can lift her off and can also look down and find her at any time on the route of her own life—just like my Ah Tai (阿太) and my father.

It was also at that moment that I finally knew that it was precisely because Ah Tai (阿太) and my father had been trying to become my hometown that I could become a person who always had a home to return to. This time, it was my turn to become my child's hometown.

May all people in distant places, on the route of life, be able to see their hometown and family as soon as they turn their heads; may all people counting airplanes in their hometowns, as soon as they look up, be able to see that the plane carrying the person they are thinking of is flying to the distance, and also flying back to their hometown.

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On "Quirks" (Jin Tai Musings)

By: 刘效仁

Southern Song Dynasty poet Xin Qiji (辛弃疾) wrote, "Alas, in life, unsatisfactory things are 十常八九 (shí cháng bā jiǔ - "eight or nine times out of ten," meaning that life is mostly unsatisfactory)." In the writings of scholars, life is often portrayed as short and bitter. Humans have seven emotions: joy, anger, sorrow, contemplation, grief, fear, and fright. Joy only accounts for 1/7 of them.

Fortunately, humans have wisdom, placing "joy" first, which means living happily. How to be happy and joyful? It's worth cultivating one or two good hobbies. In the words of Liang Qichao (梁启超), "All people must constantly live in interest; only then does life have value." Good hobbies and interests can cultivate the mind, broaden the horizons. Yuan Hongdao (袁宏道), a Ming Dynasty writer, bluntly said, "In my observation, people in this world who have tasteless language and detestable faces are all people without hobbies." Forming a detestable face is mostly due to unresolved knots in the heart. If one knows how to change one's thinking, there can be joy in hardship, and hardship can be transformed into joy. With joy on one's brow, the face is not only pleasing to others but also pleasing to oneself.

People have different personalities, and hobbies are naturally diverse. These hobbies, as long as they can make life more fulfilling, whether they cultivate the mind, nurture the character, or strengthen the body, are all worth having. Mi Fu (米芾), a Northern Song Dynasty calligrapher, was obsessed with stones. When he first took office in a local area, he saw a strange stone in the government office and actually bowed to the stone. Zheng Banqiao (郑板桥), a Qing Dynasty painter, loved orchids and bamboo, "specializing in painting orchids and bamboo for more than fifty years, not painting anything else." It is said that Ji Kang (嵇康), a famous figure of the Wei and Jin dynasties, had a hobby of forging iron, swinging the hammer shirtless, sweating profusely but enjoying it—exercising the body in labor and enjoying the joy of labor is indeed very good. Tao Yuanming (陶渊明) of the Eastern Jin Dynasty loved farming, "returning home with a hoe under the moonlight." Not bending his back for five pecks of rice, but bending over and stooping to harvest one or two more pecks, facing the yellow earth and with his back to the sky, is actually not bad.

I also have a hobby, which is reading. I love reading miscellaneous books and eating mixed grains. I pick them up and read them, and occasionally write a reading note. In fact, when it comes to loving reading, one should learn from Du Yu (杜预) of the Wei and Jin dynasties. The *Book of Jin·Biography of Du Yu* (《晋书·杜预传》) records that Emperor Wu (武帝) once said to Yu (预), "What hobby do you have?" He replied, "I have a *Zuo Zhuan* (《左传》) hobby." Du Yu (杜预) read the *Zuo Zhuan* (《左传》) thoroughly and also wrote a *Collection of Commentaries on the Spring and Autumn Annals: Zuo Tradition* (《春秋左氏经传集解》). His "reading notes" can be described as profound and a true accomplishment in reading.

Can leading cadres have hobbies? The answer is yes. Official duties are laborious, both mentally and physically. If you have free time, you might as well tend flowers and grass, write poetry and paint, using hobbies for leisure and leisure to nourish the spirit. When the body and mind are relaxed, the enthusiasm for work may be even greater. Bai Juyi (白居易) of the Tang Dynasty loved to write poetry, creating nearly 3,000 poems in his lifetime. Many poems depict the hardships of the people, such as "The Charcoal Seller" (《卖炭翁》), "Watching the Wheat Harvest" (《观刈麦》), and "The Old Man of Duling" (《杜陵叟》). From these poems, one can see his connection to the people, his compassion, and his sense of responsibility. The *Old Book of Tang* (《旧唐书》) commented that "In Hangzhou (杭州) and Suzhou (苏州), he had beneficial policies, and the people still remember him today."

However, leading cadres are, after all, mainly engaged in official duties and prioritize work. If they treat hobbies as their main occupation and official duties as a side job, or even engage in transactions through their hobbies, they will not only fail to cultivate their minds but will also harm themselves and others. I saw a piece of news. Yu Ze (于泽), the former vice president of PICC (中国人保), had a hobby of raising pigeons, raising more than 400 at most. In daily life, he often stood on the roof to observe the pigeons' flight, observing and carefully recording the frequency of wing vibrations and the altitude of circling—if any pigeon flew with difficulty, he would individually adjust the training plan. One pigeon had won the "Overall Third Place" in a national competition, and another pigeon was auctioned for a sky-high price of 2 million yuan. Tragically, "elegant hobbies" became channels for transferring benefits, and under the wings of the elegant pigeons, there were shadows of power-money transactions. At the end of last year, Yu Ze (于泽) was under investigation by the organization for suspected serious violations of discipline and law.

Hobbies are beneficial to people, and people should also be beneficial to society. If hobbies make people useless to society and ashamed of the ethics of heaven and earth, then hobbies become "bad habits." Such hobbies must never be allowed!

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Massage Therapist in a Small Town (Encounters)

By: 周蓬桦

At noon in the dead of winter, I found myself back on the streets of the small town. I parked the car in an open space and walked into the beef soup shop. The proprietress was busy in front of the stove. A glance into the kitchen revealed three chefs adjusting the meat filling and chatting. Upon inquiring, I learned that the owner was not from this town but from Wuwei, Gansu (甘肃武威). His family had moved to Shandong (山东) for over ten years, and the shop had been doing well.

I ordered a shredded beef pancake and a beef ball and dried tofu soup. The proprietress sliced half a portion of beef tripe, saying it was freshly braised and offered me a taste. I quickly waved my hand, saying I had gout and the doctor had warned me to avoid animal organs. She listened and asked how long I had had gout. I said it had been over ten years, incurable, only controllable, and I had to be careful with my diet. While speaking, the proprietress recommended a massage therapist in town, saying the results were excellent, that he came from a family of traditional Chinese medicine practitioners, and that the prices were reasonable. Her old cold legs and cervical spondylosis had been cured by the massage therapist over the past year. I was skeptical.

Leaving the beef soup shop, I followed the navigation to the address given by the proprietress and found the massage parlor on another street. Pushing aside the thick felt curtain, a wave of warmth hit me, mixed with the unique medicinal smell of a clinic. I recalled the proprietress's introduction: the massage therapist was a well-known eccentric in the town: not very enthusiastic to people, and reluctant to chat with customers; not actively soliciting customers, nor adding WeChat; basically not serving people from outside the town. Thinking of this, I couldn't help but feel a little apprehensive, yet I couldn't suppress my curiosity and insisted on experiencing it.

The massage therapist's surname was Bi (毕), a middle-aged woman. Seeing me enter, she glanced at me expressionlessly and continued with what she was doing. I explained my purpose, and she frowned slightly, thought for a moment, and said that the clinic was not open to outsiders in principle, but since a fellow villager had recommended me, she wouldn't refuse. After speaking, she motioned for me to lie face down on the massage bed and asked me to turn off my phone to ensure the effect. Initially, I still wanted to "get closer," so I asked her if she knew someone in town. The massage therapist "hmm"ed. I asked, "Do you know him?" The massage therapist "hmm"ed again, and said nothing more. Later, I learned that this was the massage therapist's deliberate act—to maintain a purely professional relationship with customers.

I lay on the bed, my face buried in the groove. "Ouch!"—no sooner said than done, the massage therapist had swiftly applied force to my neck, shoulders, and back, with skillful techniques, and a surge of heat seemed to rise from my back. This was an unprecedented experience. Besides enduring the pain, I also had to experience the thorough "repair" as if being torn to pieces. Fortunately, I was always facing down, concealing my grimacing expression. After suffering from gout, my knees were the hardest hit area, often making it difficult to squat and exert strength. When the massage reached my legs, I specifically reminded her, but it seemed too late—I heard a crisp crack. I couldn't help but sit up, but the massage therapist's expression remained indifferent, ordering me to lie down properly, saying to persevere a little longer.

Finally, it was over. The massage therapist asked me to get off the bed and jump a few times on the ground. I did as I was told, and my whole body felt miraculously relaxed, my leg joints seemed to have regained their flexibility, and my feet were more powerful.

A hint of a smile appeared on the massage therapist's face, saying that people who come for the first time will feel pain, but it is effective, and it will become easier and easier in the future. She explained that my leg joint cavities had become narrow due to gout stones, and needed to be squeezed and expanded to gradually restore flexibility. Some massage therapists make their customers feel comfortable, but her massage causes pain—but if you are afraid of pain, the effect will be reduced. Then she asked: if I couldn't bear it, I could stop there. I quickly replied: no, I will come again, your technique goes straight to the root of the problem, and every push is done with full strength.

Later, I learned that the reason why this small-town massage therapist did not widely publicize her services was that she considered it difficult for the townspeople to see a doctor, and she was willing to provide preferential services at low prices to repay her neighbors. The bustling repeat customers every day are also mostly residents of the town. The massage therapist is the "cold outside, warm inside" type, with a very good reputation in the neighborhood, and the walls are covered with banners spontaneously presented by the villagers.

The car slowly drove away from the town. Looking back through the rearview mirror, the old tile roofs of the ancient town had condensed into a mass of ink shadows. In this hidden folk society, how many unknown people and stories are still hidden?

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Protagonist of Love

By: 吴颖丽

The clouds simply offer their purity,
　　expressing affection to the meandering rivers and lands.
　　The lambs simply use their devout kneeling suckling,
　　to pay respect to their mothers.

　　And those happy mushrooms,
　　can always hold the hands of their companions,
　　making a flourishing response to the thunderstorms.

　　In the Hulunbuir Grassland (呼伦贝尔草原),
　　the protagonist of love is not you,
　　nor is it me.

　　The love on the grassland,
　　belongs to those things you can never fully know.
　　Those tiny things,
　　that you often laugh off.

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Photo Report

Chinese painting "Winter Sweet," by Yu Xining (于希宁), collection of the National Art Museum of China (中国美术馆).

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The Snow on the Eighth Day of the Twelfth Lunar Month

By: 王 军

Light streamed into the room through the cracks in the eaves. I pulled back the quilt covering my face and looked up, the sky outside the window already bright.

The sound of my father coughing came from the other end of the room. Father was getting up. I hoped in my heart that he would quickly light the stove in the small room. That way, we could run over to warm ourselves after we got up.

"There's over a foot of snow in the yard," Father said, opening the door to the main room and looking at the snow in the yard.

Last night, before going to bed, Mother came to us and said, "Tomorrow is the Laba Festival, get up early and help with some work."

Mother wanted us siblings to go to the cellar in the back mountain to get some beans to cook Laba porridge for the festival.

Father had been burning firewood in the stove of the small room for half a day, and we could hear the crackling of the flames while lying in bed. Seeing that we weren't moving in the inner room, Father urged us to get up quickly.

After getting dressed, we ran to the small room. There was already deep snow in the yard, and snowflakes were still falling from the sky. As I passed through the yard, a piece of snow fell into my neck, and my body shivered involuntarily. I shrank my head and looked around the eaves, the snow was really heavy, it must have fallen in the middle of the night, and there was a thick layer accumulated on the roof and in front of the threshold.

Mother was washing the old earthenware pot that had been hidden behind the kitchen door for more than half a year, saying that Father had gotten a bone from the market the day before yesterday and was going to stew it today. I was overjoyed, thinking that this was for us to celebrate the Laba Festival, and there would be something good to eat.

Everyone in the village had gotten up. Some men were clearing the snow from the ground in front of their houses, afraid that it would freeze and become slippery, making it easy to fall.

My younger brother and I took brooms and shovels and first cleared a path through the snow in front of the door, and then piled the snow on the ground towards the corner of the house. Over there, the wind blew from the trees, and the snow fell with a creaking sound, and some scattered snowflakes fell on our faces, giving a cold feeling.

Following Mother's instructions, I picked up a basket and rope and walked towards the cellar in the back mountain with my younger brother. My younger sister followed behind, constantly calling for us to wait for her.

The snow was deep, and we couldn't find the original path. We walked towards the hillside, sinking deep with each step. Sometimes we stepped on the grass under the snow and accidentally slipped and fell, lying flat on our backs in the snowdrift. My younger sister laughed non-stop behind us.

When we arrived at the cellar, we cleared the snow from the haystack, opened the cellar entrance, waited for a while, and then used the rope to lower my younger brother down. While lowering the rope, I called out to my younger brother, asking him if he felt dizzy or had chest tightness, until he stood safely in the cellar before I released the rope in my hand.

Father often told us that the cellar was deep and there was no oxygen inside for a while, so we had to open the cellar entrance and wait for a while before people could go down. He said that if you feel dizzy, quickly pull the person up with the rope and let them lie on the ground for a while, and they will be fine.

There were two or three varieties of beans in the cellar, yellow, red, and a large purple one. Mother told us to take a little of each, and also take some sweet potatoes.

The beans and sweet potatoes were all loaded into the basket. After I pulled the basket out of the cellar with the rope, I pulled my younger brother out of the cellar with all my strength.

That day, I happily walked back through the snow carrying the basket. The downhill road was slippery, and I accidentally fell into a snowdrift, and the sweet potatoes in the basket rolled more than ten feet away, and the beans were scattered all over the ground. My younger brother was startled when he saw it. My younger sister ran over and stretched out her small hand to pick up the sweet potatoes in the distance. I quickly put my hands into the snow and scooped the scattered beans into the basket. My younger brother squatted in the snowdrift, picking them up one by one. I was afraid of losing one, so I quickly stopped him and told him to scoop them up together with the snow. My younger sister stared at me with wide eyes: "Wouldn't that let Mom know?"

"It's okay, when we get back, put them in a basin and melt the snow with water, and the beans will all be revealed," I said without looking up, continuing to grab the snow in that snowfield, looking for the scattered beans.

When we got home, as soon as we entered the gate, Mother looked at the snow on our bodies, but didn't pay much attention. She just told us to quickly brush off the snow on our bodies and go into the house to warm our hands by the stove, and warm up our bodies.

I went straight to the kitchen, put down the basket, picked up the sweet potatoes, and then picked out a large vegetable basin, poured in the snow and beans, and then stirred it with my hands while adding water. Mother shouted at me from afar: "Wash it several times."

Seeing that the snow had all melted, I used a slotted spoon to scoop out the beans and put them into another vegetable basin. The water in the large vegetable basin was blackish-green, some rotten leaves and vegetation were floating on the water, and there was even a layer of sediment at the bottom of the basin.

When I took the water out of the kitchen and walked into the yard to pour it out, Mother happened to pass by. She glanced at the dirty water in the basin and those rotten branches, and seemed to understand what had happened, but she didn't say anything, just told me to quickly wash the beans clean so that they could be put into the pot next to the stove.

The pot next to the stove was steaming, and the aroma of the bone had floated from the blackened roof to the eaves in the yard. Snow water was constantly dripping from the tiles, and I wanted to reach out and catch it to moisten my throat.

That year, on the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, I picked up the bone porridge cooked by my mother, and the beans that were sunk at the bottom of the bowl...

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Looking back, the years are filled with deep affection.

By: 王本道

Another new year arrives in the blink of an eye. I sit quietly by the window at this moment, enjoying the winter sunshine. Having retired from my work post for nearly 20 years, a threshold now stands before me—I am about to enter my eighties. Past experiences and books I've read appear in my mind like a montage after many years. Moving my family from Harbin (哈尔滨) to Yingkou (营口), the "Up to the Mountains and Down to the Villages Movement" in the late 1960s, and briefly engaging in education and journalism after returning to the city, with most of my time spent working in Party and government organs, have all left deep imprints in my heart.

The same past event or experience evokes very different moods and feelings when recalled at different stages of life. From the late 1960s to the mid-1970s, I, in my twenties, suffered several unjust treatments on my path of growth, which changed the trajectory of my life. Although these problems have dissipated with the implementation of many policies after the reform and opening up, they once accumulated in my heart for a long time. As I grew older, especially after retiring from my work post, I gradually felt that good or bad are all part of life, and joy or displeasure are all gifts of time. Hardships and tribulations will only make our steps more steady and our hearts stronger.

Although my age has entered "old age," life has not stopped. "Old" is also the beginning of a new stage of life. The British philosopher Bertrand Russell said, "If a person has a keen interest in things outside of himself and engages in appropriate activities, then his old age may be well spent." After entering old age, if one can try to develop an interest in things in life that one had no time to attend to in the past, one will feel the vitality of life surging throughout the body, to the point of forgetting one's age. Therefore, old age is just an irresistible cycle of years. Of course, to age gracefully and serenely is not just about living in seclusion and relying on nostalgia; there should also be a new beginning. In this way, one can both leave something for future memories and enjoy a rich and colorful present life.

Thinking carefully, a person's life is also like the cycle of the four seasons in nature, sometimes with favorable weather and sometimes with rain, snow, and frost. When we stumble through it, we will realize that seemingly ordinary days are constantly brewing moving lines of poetry. Approaching eighty, I am willing to join young or old friends in looking back on the past, cherishing the future, and making every moment into the shape we like. 风调雨顺 (fēng tiáo yǔ shùn - "favorable weather," good weather for growing crops, metaphorically meaning everything is going smoothly).

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Editor in Charge for This Section: Zhou Shuyi

This edition's email: dadi@peopledaily.cn

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